billion book
Chapter 228
Chapter 228
Charlie had previously informed John that the listening device had been disrupted by an
electromagnetic field, rendering the operation to
monitor their conversation impossible.
Despite this explanation, he found himself answering the same questions posed by the shareholders
once again.
“That night, Cecilia and I were passing by the equipment room when electromagnetic radiation
interfered with the listening device,” Charlie recounted.
The shareholders remained skeptical, questioning the dimensions of the Yancey family’s equipment
room. “How big is the electrical room at the Yancey residence? Does it take you two minutes to walk
away from the interference?”
“The equipment room is not particularly spacious, and usually, it takes us less than 20 seconds to
move out of range. However, on that day, Cecilia paused at the entrance to look at the blooming
wisteria flowers. If you’re not convinced, I can take pictures of it during my next visit to the Shaw
family.”
“Sure, I’ll be waiting for those photos.”
With that, the shareholders hung up the phone.
The shareholder saw Charlie as a pawn, a mere tool to be wielded.
In the realm of pawns, directives are handed down, and their feelings are of little concern.
At this moment, three of the four shareholders of Wolf Killer had gathered.
The man who was on the phone with Charlie asked, “How credible do you think Sevan is?”
While he had never placed much trust in Charlie, he had, with unwavering faith, appointed him as the
leader.
However, things were different now.
Charlie hailed from the Shaw family. Despite his history of harboring resentment and engaging in
harmful actions against them, the suspicion that he might be operating as a double agent could not be
entirely dismissed.
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A man who was fluent in Clusian chimed in, “Time will tell. Let Jeffrey go to Acocester in advance and
catch Sevan off guard.”
Another shareholder nodded in
9. 9. Preement. “That does seem to be the
quickest and best course of action. If Sevan manages to deceive us, it could deal a devastating blow to
Wolf Killer.”
Taking down their headquarters would not dismantle the entire organization, but it would certainly dent
their morale.
Wolf Killer was an essential cog in the machinery of Sirius Clan in Clusia,
Wolf Killer was an
and they could not afford to have their lair usurped and their name tarnished.
The Clusian–speaking member continued, “Going to Acocester is not without risks. We ought to make
thorough preparations before we dispatch Jeffrey.”
The affluent and influential were not particularly fond of risking their lives, nor were they eager to
relinquish their lavish lifestyles.
“But we shouldn’t pin all our hopes on Sevan. We must apply additional pressure on him and come up
with a strategy to capture Cecilia.” “Our recent operations have repeatedly encountered failures, and
we don’t have many reliable people that we could hire here in Clusia…” As the three of them
deliberated on their plans for capturing Cecilia, Charlie received a call from Jeffrey.
“Mr. Jennings, I have arrived in Acocester. Should I proceed to the military hospital as planned?”
Jeffrey had risen to prominence as a potential major shareholder not only due to his competence but
also his willingness to take risks and seize opportunities.
While the others debated sending him to Acocester, he had already taken the initiative to arrive there.
Charlie, while not taken by surprise by Jeffrey’s call, adopted a surprised demeanor for the sake of
maintaining appearances.
“Professor Farsons, you’ve arrived so suddenly. Why didn’t you inform me beforehand?”
“I thought you might be preoccupied with other matters, Mr. Jennings, so I didn’t want to disturb you.
Should I head to the military hospital immediately, or should I find a hotel first?”
In Charlie’s position, delaying Jeffrey’s arrival at the military hospital
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would arouse suspicion.
Charlie, of course, knew that Jeffrey’s early arrival in Acocester was a test of his loyalty.
Yet, he remained unfazed.
“Professor Farsons, you may have to find a hotel first. The military hospital has stringent protocols, and
gaining access to the laboratory requires prior authorization. While your access has been granted, the
earliest available slot for access is tomorrow. If you wish to schedule it for today, you will need to
reapply.”
This was not an invented excuse but the standard procedure for civilian visitors.
Jeffrey was aware of this.
He smiled and replied, “No problem, I’ll secure a hotel room first. After all, I’m not the one in a hurry.”
With that, Jeffrey concluded the call.
The corners of his initially upturned lips now drooped, and his lowered gaze grew icy cold.
He immediately briefed the other three shareholders on the situation.
After a unanimous decision was made to no longer use Charlie as a pawn, the latter made a call to
Jeffrey.
“Professor Farsons, I’ve just contacted Cecilia. She has made
arrangements with the Shaw family to contact the military hospital, and the director has granted you a
special permit to access the military hospital. You are now clear to proceed to the laboratory for your
research on the antidote.”
This did not dispel Jeffrey’s suspicion.
However, the current circumstances favored him, so he naturally chose to avoid creating further
trouble.
He had arrived at the military hospital not only to monitor Christopher and Cecilia but also to tap into
the extensive influence of retired high–ranking military personnel.
The older generation of military officers still held significant power and influence that did not diminish
with retirement.
This made them an ideal resource for expanding his business within the domestic market.
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Shortly after, Jeffrey arrived at the military hospital, and Charlie was waiting for him at the main
entrance.
“Professor Farsons, your journey must have been quite challenging. You probably haven’t had lunch
yet. Allow me to join you for a meal. We can discuss Christopher’s situation, and I’ll brief you on the
military hospital’s protocols.”
Jeffrey had no reason to refuse, so he accompanied Charlie to a
restaurant near the hospital.
Meanwhile, as Charlie attempted to delay Jeffrey, Cecilia headed to the laboratory. There, she
discreetly concealed the actual progress of the experiments and focused on ways to mitigate potential
side effects.
A critical set of data stored in multiple Petri dishes held vital information that must remain untouched,
as it could not afford to be compromised. Cecilia, however, noted the anxious and furtive demeanor of
the three Taboratory technicians, raising her suspicion.
She reassured them, saying, “Take your time to wait for the results of the experiment. There’s no need
to panic. I’ll head to the restaurant to keep Jeffrey occupied.”
After saying that, she left the laboratory.
However, as soon as she entered the elevator, she received a message from Charlie.
He texted: [I couldn’t keep Jeffrey. We’re already waiting for the elevator downstairs. How are things
progressing on your end?]
Due to Jeffrey’s heightened suspicions, if it appeared that Charlie’s actions were deliberately causing a
delay, Charlie’s plan would likely backfire.
Jeffrey had not used the tapped phone for his communication. Instead, it was the phone in which
Cecilia had installed hidden software with chat functionality.
Only someone familiar with how to access this software would recognize its presence on the phone.
Cecilia replied, “Leave it to me.”
She did not provide a direct response, leading Charlie to presume that her business in the laboratory
was likely incomplete due to the limited time.
Nevertheless, her affirmation brought him a sense of relief.
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Cecilia took the elevator down to the first floor.
When the elevator door slid, Cecilia found herself standing before Charlie and Jeffrey.
Jeffrey, the man they had made such a concerted effort to capture, wore a faint but unsettling smile.
He entered the elevator and stretched out his hand to Cecilia. “Hello, Ms. Yancey. I’m Jeffrey. Have
you come to fetch me?”
“Not exactly.”
With a curt response, Cecilia dragged Jeffrey out of the elevator.
A sense of bewilderment gripped Jeffrey, who had been taken aback by Cecilia’s unexpected actions.
As the elevator doors sealed shut, he turned his cold gaze to Cecilia.
“Ms. Yancey, what is the meaning of this?”
“I have something to discuss with Professor Farsons, and the waiting area in the lobby would be a
more suitable place for our conversation. Neither the special care floor nor the laboratory is conducive
to noisy discussions.”
Jeffrey furrowed his brows, perplexed by Cecilia’s decision. He was on the cusp of explaining that his
sole purpose was to conduct research and that he harbored no intentions of causing disruption.
However, before he could speak, Cecilia dragged him to the lobby’s lounge and sat him down.
In a deep voice, Jeffrey questioned, “Ms. Yancey, what do you wish to discuss with me?”
Cecilia, with urgency in her eyes, offered an explanation, “Professor Farsons, you must help save
Christopher.”
She continued, offering a thorough account of Christopher’s condition and delving into her inquiries
about Jeffrey’s previous research on the antidote.
For at least half an hour, they engaged in a subtle, strategic exchange, each trying to outwit the other.
In the end, it was Jeffrey who decided to put an end to the discussion. “Ms. Yancey, I believe we have
spoken at length. Why don’t you personally show me his condition? Please, lead the way.”
Jeffrey was keenly aware that the two of them were intentionally stalling
The True Lady Strikes Back
him.
As he rose to his feet from the lounge chair, he shot an intimidating glance in Charlie’s direction.
“I think I’ve wrapped up my business here. If there’s nothing else for me,
burns in the burn unit,” Charlie spoke up. I’m off to tend to the facial skin
With that, he left the lobby.
After stepping into the elevator, he leaned against the wall, adopting a lazy posture, a faint smile
gracing the corners of his lips, which bore
scars.
“Jeffrey, you’ve recklessly ventured into Acocester, but don’t, for a second, think you’re free to leave,”
Charlie muttered inwardly.
Although Charlie was unaware that Jeffrey was one of the four major shareholders, he believed Jeffrey
deserved to face the consequences for his involvement in drug–related activities.
This was the perfect opportunity to eliminate him, and Charlie had no intention of letting Jeffrey
escape.
Meanwhile, inside the elevator, Jeffrey felt a tickle in his nose and rubbed it with his hand, asking, “Ms.
Yancey, do you not wish for me to see Mr. Forte?”
Cecilia shot back, “Why are you so insistent on seeing Chris? Wasn’t the information I provided about
the poison detailed enough? Do you believe that observing a poisoned patient will necessarily aid in
detoxification?”
Her doubts were valid, given that antidotes were typically developed through analyzing the poison itself
rather than by observing its effects on
a person.
Jeffrey remained calm as he clarified, “Traditional medicine relies on observing, listening, asking
questions, and pulse diagnosis. So, observing a patient’s symptoms after poisoning can be quite
helpful. Perhaps it will significantly aid in detoxification.”
He was adamant about witnessing Christopher to determine if the poison in him had been removed.
If Christopher had indeed been cured, it would imply that Charlie had betrayed them.
Cecilia, fully aware of Jeffrey’s true intentions, nodded. “You can watch Christopher, but only from
outside the sterile ward. Is that acceptable?”
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“That’s fine.”
Jeffrey was a doctor, and he was able to discern the true nature of Christopher’s ailment with a single
glance.
As they ascended the stairs, he added, “After Christopher takes the antidote, he needs to be observed
while taking his medicine…”
Before Jeffrey could finish his words, Cecilia interrupted him, “What, are you going to use Christopher
as a lab rat?”
Her voice remained steady, but her icy gaze sent a chill through the elevator, lowering its temperature.
Surely, administering medication and monitoring simultaneously was not something a doctor would
typically suggest.
It was a proposal that only someone who did not value lives might make. Hey stare at Jeffrey
intensified, her eyes piercing. Her gaze bore into Jeffrey, a skeptical expression crossing her face.
Cecilia found it hard to reconcile Jeffrey’s professional demeanor as a pharmacologist with the situation
at hand.
As Cecilia’s forceful presence weighed down on him, beads of sweat started to form on Jeffrey’s
forehead.
As he neared suffocation, the elevator doors mercifully opened.
Fresh air, tinged with the scent of disinfectant, poured in, allowing him to breathe again and alleviating
the oppressive tension.
He did not answer Cecilia’s question until he got out of the elevator.
“Ms. Yancey, you’ve misunderstood me. Even if we develop an antidote for an unknown poison, we
can’t guarantee its effectiveness. We need to observe it promptly to avoid unforeseen side effects.”
“You’re absolutely right, Professor Farsons. I hope you can develop the antidote as soon as possible.”
With that, Cecilia walked toward the glass wall of the sterile ward.
Compared to his previous condition, Christopher’s health had seen significant improvement, and he
was now pretending to be asleep. Looking peaceful and handsome, he beckoned Cecilia with a
tempting allure, as if inviting a kiss.
Jeffrey, standing beside her, appeared somewhat taken aback by Christopher’s apparent well–being.
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Logically, without taking the antidote, he should be in critical condition by now.
He tentatively said, “Mr. Jennings had mentioned that it was a severe case, which is why I arrived early.
I did not anticipate Mr. Forte’s condition to be this good.”
“That’s all thanks to Christopher’s capable girlfriend. I’ve been giving him acupuncture daily and
detoxifying through medicinal baths. This approach not only helps counteract the poison’s toxicity but
also eliminates some of its adverse effects. Unfortunately, the detoxification process is rather slow, and
the poison continues to damage his liver. That is why we’re seeking help from you in developing the
antidote.” Jeffrey had always been aware of Cecilia’s medical background. After all, they had met at a
medical conference before.
However, he was truly impressed by her medical expertise.
“Ms. Yancey, you have my assurance that I’ll do everything in my power. Let’s proceed to the
laboratory now.”
Cecilia stood still and asked, “Aren’t you here to see Chris? Shouldn’t you tell me if you have noticed
anything unusual when you looked at him?” Jeffrey found himself momentarily speechless.
His purpose for being there was solely to examine Christopher’s condition following the poisoning.
Cecilia’s question caught him off guard, but he chose not to express his confusion.
Maintaining a casual tone, he replied, “Mr. Forte seems to be in good health. I have ample time to work
on the antidote. Rushing could lead to mistakes, and we wouldn’t want that.”
Despite any suspicions Cecilia might harbor toward Jeffrey, she had no choice but to rely on him for
detoxification.
Cecilia remained silent and called a nurse to escort Jeffrey to the laboratory.
She let Jeffrey go, as she had received a notification from the laboratory technician.
The test results for the Petri dishes had been released, so there was no reason to delay or keep
Jeffrey.
As Jeffrey entered the elevator, Cecilia headed into the sterile ward.
She playfully pinched Christopher’s pale cheek and said with a smile, “You can stop pretending now.
Jeffrey has left.”
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As Christopher opened his eyes, Cecilia’s pink lips drew near, planting a soft kiss on his forehead.
Before he could respond, Cecilia leaned back. Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.
While Christopher watched her with a dissatisfied look, Cecilia sat down beside his hospital bed and
took out her phone, saying, “There might be some good news. Let’s have a look.”
With that, she unlocked her phone and accessed the data sent by the laboratory technician.
Rather than delving into the detailed process, she scrolled to the results section at the bottom of the
page.
In the results section, she found a straightforward sentence that read: [The parameters of Petri dish 4
indicate that herb–paris can significantly reduce the side effects of the antidote.]
In other words, the antidote could now be administered to Christopher. Excitement overwhelmed
Cecilia as she cradled the man’s face and planted a firm kiss on his lips.
“This is great news! All the efforts these days have finally paid off, and you won’t have to suffer
anymore.”
Christopher was equally overjoyed.
He no longer had to be a burden, lying in the hospital bed, causing Cecilia so much worry.
“Ceci, let’s start implementing our plan.”
To leave the hospital and make their way to the Shaw residence, they needed a legitimate reason to
avoid arousing suspicion from Wolf Killer. Cecilia nodded determinedly, assuring, “I’ll arrange it right
away.”
Subsequently, rather than making an immediate call, she brought up the topic of Jeffrey.
Leaning in close to Christopher’s hospital bed, she spoke in hushed tones that only they could hear.
“Chris, I have a hunch that Jeffrey’s identity is more complex than it appears. He’s not just a core
member of Wolf Killer. There’s more to him.”
Christopher hesitated to provide any feedback, as he had never interacted with Jeffrey before and had
not conducted any prior investigation on him.
Nonetheless, he trusted Cecilia’s instincts.
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He lowered his voice and asked, “Ceci, are you suggesting that Jeffrey might very likely be one of those shareholders Aiden has never met?”