Chapter 768
Chapter 768:
Skye nodded slowly. “We need to secure the supply lines. Victoria, can you get us a list of the compromised vendors p>
“Already done,” Victoria said, tapping the file. “But there’s something else. The money trail Julian found, it doesn’t just go to shell companies. It funnels into a single project code-named ‘The Baron p>
“The Baron,” Liam repeated. “Who is he p>
“Not a who,” Victoria corrected. “A what. It’s a high-stakes laundering operation running out of Las Vegas. It’s the Architect’s wallet. If you want to stop him, you have to bankrupt him p>
“Vegas,” Skye mused. “That fits. High cash flow, easy to hide transactions p>
“It’s a trap,” Liam warned. “They want us to leave the city p>
“Or maybe,” Skye said, her eyes narrowing, “they’re protecting something there. Something more than just money p>
The financial squeeze began at noon. Vendors called to cancel contracts. Shipping companies reported sudden “maintenance issues.” The invisible hand of the Syndicate was closing around Kensington Global’s throat.
Skye and Liam turned the conference room into a war room. Pizza boxes were stacked on the side table; coffee flowed like water.
“We’re bleeding cash,” Julian reported from his corner. “If we can’t ship product, we default on the retail agreements. Penalties alone will bankrupt us in a week p>
“We need a bridge,” Skye said, staring at the whiteboard. “We need to bypass the traditional logistics p>
“We use Oracle,” Liam suggested. He leaned over the table, sleeves rolled up. “Your distribution network for the tech hardware. It’s independent. We piggyback Kensington’s goods on Oracle’s trucks p>
“That violates Oracle’s exclusivity contracts,” Skye pointed out. “The board at Oracle will scream p>
“Let them scream,” Liam said, looking at her. “You own the majority now. Force it through p>
Skye hesitated. It was a risky move. It merged their companies in a way that would make them inseparable targets.
𝗦ha𝗋е 𝗒o𝘶𝘳 𝖿𝖺𝗏𝗈r𝗂te𝘴 𝘧r𝘰m 𝘣𝘦𝗅ոo𝗏𝗲𝗹𝘴.𝗰o𝗺
“Do it,” Skye said to Julian. “Initiate the merger of logistics. Code name: Lifeline p>
Liam smiled, a genuine, tired smile. “You’re dangerous when you’re decisive p>
“I learned from the best,” she shot back.
Her phone buzzed. Unknown Number.
Skye answered it on speaker. “This is Sterling p>
“Ms. Sterling.” The voice was distorted, metallic. The same voice from the facility. The Architect.
The room went deathly silent.
“You are proving to be… resilient,” the voice said. “Rescuing your father was impressive. But keeping him alive will be expensive p>
“What do you want?” Skye demanded.
“I want the algorithm,” the Architect said. “The source code Richard Sterling wrote twenty years ago. The code he hid in your mind p>
Skye froze. “I don’t know what you’re talking about p>
“You do. You just haven’t unlocked it yet. Bring me the code, Skye. Or the financial ruin of your legacy will be the least of your problems. Next time, I won’t target the company. I’ll target the man in the hospital bed p>