?Chapter 1333:


    “Can I see the footage from thatst match?” Freya asked.


    Ellis shook his head, disappointment flickering across his features. “Doubt it still exists. No one thought to save it.”


    Freya paused, her mind already moving ahead. “If it’s allowed, I can retrieve it myself.”


    “Go ahead!” Ellis granted without hesitation. This kind of thing was well within his authority.


    They returned to base that afternoon, the clock just a little past three. After a short break, Freya went looking for Ellis. When Marlon heard she was digging up the old match, curiosity got the better of him, and he tagged along.


    Given the time that had passed—and the security walls around the system—it took Freya more than an hour to uncover the footage.


    There were two files.


    One was from their team’s viewpoint; the other, from the opposition.


    Freya dove into their coding and strategies, dissecting every detail with razor-sharp focus, analyzing how she would have cracked it had she been in the enemy’s shoes.


    Ten minutester, she closed all the windows with a single tap.


    “How was it?” Marlon asked, clearly itching to know.


    Freya didn’t embellish. “Impressive.”


    Marlon’s smile froze in ce.


    He turned to Ellis, the question hanging in his eyes. Did that mean she couldn’t beat them?<ffa> Fresh chapters posted on F?ndNovel</ffa>


    Ellis gave a small shake of his head.


    Marlon blinked, confused. Was Ellis really that certain?


    “What’s the wager?” Freya asked.


    “If you win,” Marlon exined, “they give back the two members they stole. If you lose, they get to pick someone from our side.”


    If Ellis hadn’t been this sure of himself, he never would have dared make such a bold bet. But now, uncertainty whispered at the edges.


    “Let’s up the stakes,” Freya said, her voice cool and measured. “If the rules are the same asst time, I can beat them within an hour. If Frederick assists, make it forty minutes.”


    Marlon stood dumbfounded. Even Ellis nced at her, eyes narrowing slightly.


    “They weren’t at full strengthst time,” Marlon warned.


    “I know,” Freya said with quiet certainty. She had seen the pattern in their attacks—the holes, the hesitation. “I can still win.”


    “We’ll go with her n,” Ellis said, calm yet resolute. “Tell me what you want from them. I’ll take care of the negotiation.”


    “Seriously?” Marlon’s excitement was hard to miss.


    Ellis nodded. “Yeah.”


    Without wasting a second, Marlon rattled off his list of requests.


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