Richard Booth stood behind his mahogany desk, his face dark wit

ss Adelaide was taken away by a squad of heavily armed u

glass onto the wood, splashing amber

en been back for a month and she's a

desk, fanning the flame

ing her of her inheritance rights immediately, be

y back and forth, roar

d that girl has! Let her rot

offee, her lips curving into a triumphant sneer as she

ssive blast doors of an underground defense research base. The blast doors parted with a heavy hydraulic hiss, allowing the convoy to pu

risp white anti-static lab coat with a red badge representing top-level national defense cl

inal calculation for the quantum encry

straight to th

teenth set of var

ong fingers blurred over the virtual keyboard. Around the room, the country's top s

nth variable group. The algorithmic framework for the

s face fell i

take at least three months, but the Depa

pulling a swivel chair over to sit do

? Give me thi

n creeping forward at a visible pace. Twenty minutes later, a clear chime echoed through

l white-haired professors with reddened, tearful eyes. Adelaide t

ll leave the physical encaps

y and handed her a cup of

ional treasure! You saved

ok a sip of

sure the final payment hits

a special restricted number. She pressed answer, and the gruff, energetic voice of Archiba

ou done with

d slightly for the old man w

t. How are you feeling la

et out a he

mily dinner tonight, and you have to

frowned

I don't like those k

into a series of dramatic, w

p again these past few days. If only

sighed he

Text me the time and add

ugged off her white lab coat

need to head over to

erground base's garage and entered a Manhattan tunnel, car