An eleven-figure loss! The old bastard really yed for keeps!


    "Alright." Juniper looked up, her voice low and raspy. "Give me theputer."


    "On it." Lue immediately opened theptop and ced it in front of Juniper, adding a helpful reminder, "If you want to dominate the market in three days, you''ll have to handle this yourself to block Sigma Network''s malicious attacks."


    "I know."


    As Juniper replied, her fingers flew across the keyboard. In moments, an eleven- figure sum was transferred from her private ount to Subterra Vanguard.


    Her expression soured as she stared at the long string of zeros in the transaction record. You could threaten her life, but never her wallet. It would take her months to earn all that money back, and now, thanks to that old bastard at Sigma Network, it was all down the drain.


    Great. Her feud with the old man had just gotten deeper.


    "By the way," Lue said, noticing Juniper''s foul mood. She poured her some juice and offered a bowl of snacks. "The World Hacker Competition is at the end of next month. The prize money is huge this time. More importantly, Sigma Network ispeting."


    "Oh?" Juniper''s attention shifted from her dessert to Lue''s face. "Is the old manpeting himself?"


    "That''s the word," Lue confirmed, cracking open a pistachio. "I guess their prestige took a major hit after their team, Cybeic Shadows, lost to our Binary Oracle for the third year running. The head of Sigma Network is probably stepping in personally to avoid looking bad."


    “Is that all?” Juniper''s lips curled into a cold smile, her clear eyes narrowing. "I doubt it."


    “Huh?” Lue paused for a second before the realization dawned on her, her eyes widening in shock. "You mean, he''s trying to lure you into the open to take you down?"


    "So he wants a piece of me, does he?" Juniperughed it off, a casual air about her. "Fine. I''ll join thepetition this year."


    As if she was scared!


    Seeing how unfazed Juniper was, Lue quietly took a sip of her drink, already mourning the head of Sigma Network in advance.


    "I''m going to the restroom."


    After finishing her food, Juniper stood up and headed out. On her way, she


    identally bumped into someoneing out of the restroom.


    "Sorry about that," Juniper said politely after a moment of surprise.


    "It''s fine." Miranda was about the same height as Juniper, and from this angle, she got a clear view of the girl''s unmasked face.


    Wow, what a stunning youngdy! Bright eyes, a radiant smile, and skin as fair as snow, allplemented by an impossibly refined aura. As a director who had met countless celebrities, Miranda had never been Sonstantly captivated? This gig was a first!


    "Are you―" Miranda started to speak, but the youngdy had already walked past


    her and into the restroom.


    Oh well. Miranda adjusted her own


    mask in the mirror, reminding herself that she''d been out of the


    industry for years. She was just


    trying to night out to


    have a


    need to stir up trouble.


    After washing her hands, Miranda started walking back, but she hadn''t gone far before a group of drunk young men blocked her path.


    "What''s your problem?" the leader slurred, reeking of alcohol as he staggered toward Miranda. "Do you know who I am? You trying to get yourself killed, blocking my way?"


    Though angered by his crude words, Miranda held her tongue, mindful of her public identity. She simply stood to the side to let them pass.


    But seeing her silence, the drunks


    grew bolder, their eyes roaming over her with it intent. Though she was in her fifties, Miranda had aged gracefully. In the dim hallway light, with her mask on, the men mistook her for a woman in her twenties. Cóntent