?Chapter 1396:


    The situation promised even moreplex challenges ahead. Who could orchestrate such widespread chaos?


    “The mastermind doesn’t seem to hold a high position,” Harlee suggested, wiping away the old diagram to begin anew on the whiteboard.


    “Let’s take another look at these frontpanies.”


    As Harlee outlined the details, she mapped out the frontpanies they had scrutinized thus far, exining, “To start, thesepanies are minor and blend seamlessly into their respective sectors. Moreover, each is cleverly paired with a major corporation, using these legitimate businesses as cover. And, crucially, at critical moments, they resort to self-sacrificial measures, either to rescue allies or to harm enemies.”


    The room fell silent, every member hanging on her words.


    Harlee continued, “For example, the Gill Group, previously linked with the Agur family, typifies these front operations. The brilliance of the mastermind’s strategy lies in the disappearance of the front entity post-sess, halting further scrutiny dead in its tracks.”


    Harlee paused and then added, “Anyone persistent enough to dig deeper into these fronts inevitably triggers their nned copse, drawing their pursuers into a disastrous downfall.”


    Pursuing the Floral Fish emblem further would only lead to a strategic defeat for them. Every potential lead seemed to vanish.


    Franco’s expression turned grave. Unaware, he had almost fallen into this meticulously set snare, endangering not just himself but also Harlee.


    Desmond, sensing the tension, chimed in with concern, “Are we trapped between needing to investigate and the danger of doing so?”


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    “Indeed,” Harlee said, her analysis of the afternoon’s findings leading to this stark realization. Reluctantly, she acknowledged the chilling effectiveness of the mastermind’s tactics.


    Harlee leaned back in the beanbag chair, casually drawing her conclusion.


    “However, it’s not aplete deadlock. Currently, N is overseas and untraceable. That makes understanding this mastermind critical.”


    If this person was truly the one pulling the strings behind N, or perhaps N’s partner, then Harlee could use this mastermind to turn the tide and change the current disadvantageous situation.


    The atmosphere was tense. They couldn’t investigate the Floral Fish but still had to find the mastermind. It was like being without any leads yet needing to track down a killer.


    Harlee dered, “The best course of action now is to leave a small group behind to feign falling into their trap and investigate the Floral Fish, while the rest of us work quickly to identify the mastermind and dismantle their entire n.”


    Failing to act swiftly might allow N to nk them in the future, from which recovery could prove difficult.


    “I’ll handle the preparations immediately!” Desmond said, rising sternly. He moved toward the window and began coordinating over the phone.


    Now responsible for the overarching strategy, Desmond’s efficiency had soared. A single call from him would set the decoy team on the Floral Fish trail and ensure protective measures were in ce for their own operatives. Their strategy would imitate the enemy’s, yet they aimed to avoid any loss of life.


    Relief briefly flickered across Harlee’s usually cold gaze. The ranks of the Shadow Moon Society were expanding, a sign of gradual progress. That was sufficient for now. Improvement seemed inevitable.


    Franco, his hands clenched tightly, made a noticeable cracking sound. After a moment, he looked up at Harlee with determination.


    “Harlee, I’m set on uncovering this mastermind.”


    He was determined to capture this elusive enemy. He was eager to challenge this shadowy foe directly.


    “Alright, let’s strategize,” Harlee responded, approaching the whiteboard once more. She began to outline crucial traits.


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