"He''s giving you Sigma Network?" Michael swallowed hard, his attitude softening considerably. "And all his assets under the Schwartz Group, too?"


    Sigma Network''s factories, properties, research institutes... they were countless. And on top of that, the Schwartz Group''s assets...


    Wow. The number was toorge to evenprehend.


    "You know..." Michael cleared his throat, an awkward smile spreading across his face. "Maybe the leader of Sigma Network isn''t as detestable as we thought."


    The other masters shot a look at Michael. Was he talking about the man, or the man''s money?


    "What nonsense are you talking about?" Catherine shot Michael a fierce re before turning to Juniper and asking calmly, "Is he good to you?"


    "Mhm," Juniper nodded, her answer surprisingly simple. "He is. He buys me candy."


    What in the world? The formidable leader of Subterra Vanguard, won over by candy?


    "It''s obvious," Michael scoffed, muttering under his breath, "The man literally served himself up on a tter for me to kill, just to see you."


    Catherine was speechless. That was true. No wonder she thought the man was out of his mind. Turns out he was just hopelessly lovesick.


    "So you two only discovered each other''s identities during the firefight a few days ago?"


    "Mhm." Juniper nodded obediently, still eating her candy.


    "No wonder the leader of Sigma Network let our people go," Catherine mused with a slight frown. "Kiddo, does it have to be a bad guy like him?"


    They knew her personality well. She was cold and detached, not one to fall in love easily. If she had, it must be the real thing.


    "A bad guy?" Juniper licked her lips, a smallugh ying in her clear eyes as she nced at the masters. "We''re not exactly saints ourselves, are we?"


    The other masters coughed, awkwardly averting their gazes. Why did she have to say the quiet part out loud?


    .n


    "So, Sigma Network for Specter, and all his personal assets for her too," Michael excitedlyid out the prose and cons for the others. "In the future Specter will be the head of both major powers. If the leader of Sigma Network ever dares to mistreat her, she could crush him easily. He might be a bit older, but he''s handsome and has a good physique. He''s a decent match for our Specter."


    All things considered, it wasn''t a bad deal.


    "Do your brothers know about this?" Catherine asked thoughtfully. "They know."


    "Alright, then, "Catherine didn''t press the issue further. "If your family agrees, we won''t interfere," she said gently. But let me make this clear the leader of Sigma Network ever mistreats you, we will never let him off the hook."


    The next time, Michael''s bullet wouldn''t miss.


    "Don''t worry," Juniper said, tilting her head back with azy smile, her eyebrow arched. "He won''t get the chance to mistreat me."


    "That''s true," Catherine conceded with a pout. Juniper would take anything, but she would never take a loss.


    Before leaving, Michael remembered to add, "The online yoff for the World Hacker Competition is this afternoon at three."


    "Oh." Juniper blinked. She had forgotten about that. In thest match, Shanley had been relentless. She wondered if he could still act so tough now.


    In the infirmary, Shanley leaned against the headboard, his eyes fixed unblinkingly


    on the door. He looked like a statue, waiting for her.


    "Are the five masters very important to Specter?" Shanley asked the subordinate standing nearby.


    "Of course," the subordinate replied, a newfound politeness in his tone now that he knew this archenemy was the boss''s boyfriend. "The five masters watched Specter grow up. Theyre closer to her than hebown. family."