Skip to content
Novel Catalog
As Branden approached the figure in black, a sense of anticipation filled the air. His every step was calculated, deliberate, as he closed the distance between himself and the person sitting with their back turned. He didn’t need to see the face to know who it was—Catherine, the enigmatic leader of Hacker Alliance, the woman who had been causing him both intrigue and frustration.
Catherine, engrossed in her calculations, didn’t acknowledge his presence at first. Her fingers danced over the keys of her laptop, oblivious to the figure silently approaching.
Branden’s footsteps finally stopped, and he stood just behind her, watching her for a moment. Despite the tension in the room, her composure was unshaken. Her focus on the screen, as if nothing else mattered, only added to her mystique.
With a calm that seemed to defy the gravity of the situation, Branden spoke, his voice smooth and cool. “You always seem to be one step ahead, don’t you?”
Catherine’s fingers paused, but she didn’t turn around. She already knew it was Branden; his presence was undeniable, even in silence. She didn’t need to look to know who it was. Her voice was steady, almost amused. “I could say the same about you.”
Branden smiled, the expression flickering briefly on his face, but there was no warmth in it. He leaned casually against the edge of the rooftop, his gaze never leaving her back. “You’re quite the strategist, Catherine. But you should know, not all games can be won by calculation alone.”
Catherine’s fingers resumed their rapid typing, her attention still fully on her task. “I never rely on just one method. It’s all about adaptability. And timing.”
Branden let out a low chuckle, walking a few steps closer. “And yet, here you are, sitting in front of me. Your plans… they don’t seem as flawless as you think.”
At that, Catherine finally stopped typing and slowly turned her chair to face him. Her eyes, sharp and calculating, met his. “I’ll let you in on a little secret, Branden. It’s not about whether or not your plans are flawless. It’s about who controls the timing—and right now, I do.”
Branden’s lips curled into a slight grin, but his eyes betrayed a glint of challenge. “Is that so? I think you’re underestimating me.”
The atmosphere between them shifted, thick with unspoken tension. Neither was willing to back down. Branden’s confidence in his abilities clashed with Catherine’s unshakable resolve.
Catherine stood up, slowly closing the distance between them. She was poised, her every movement deliberate, carrying the air of someone who knew exactly what she was doing.
“You seem confident,” she said, her voice a mixture of curiosity and subtle warning. “But let me remind you: arrogance has a way of making people forget their mistakes.”
Branden didn’t flinch. Instead, he stepped forward, his presence towering over her. “Mistakes? I don’t make those, Catherine. You’ll see that for yourself.”
For a brief moment, there was silence. Their eyes locked, two powerful individuals on opposite sides of the game, both sizing each other up.
But then, just as quickly as the tension had built, Branden took a step back and offered a rare, genuine smile. “I suppose we’ll both see just how well our plans play out.”
Catherine watched him for a moment longer, her lips curling into a knowing smile. “Indeed. The game is far from over.”
And with that, the night stretched on, the two of them aware of the battle yet to unfold—a battle not just for control of the chip, but for something much deeper. The real question was, who would come out on top in the end?