Chapter 1094

"Why is that any of your business?" Corvus's expression turned frigid, his gaze locking onto her with blatant hostility. His tone made it clear he wasn't playing around.

"Just curious." Juniper blinked, her thick, long eyelashes fluttering as she gave him a half-smile. "Someone you'd spend tens of millions to save isn't just a nobody."

Corvus pressed his lips into a hard line, refusing to answer, the air around him practically freezing.

"Is he a researcher? Or a test subject?"

Juniper tilted her chin up, exposing his secrets without an ounce of hesitation. "Dr. Nocturne told me you guys were extracting his blood."

"Specter." The lethal warning in Corvus's eyes intensified. He gritted his teeth. "You crossed the line."

"Oh." Juniper scoffed, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "And then?"

Her attitude screamed: *I crossed the line. What are you gonna do about it?* She was unbearably arrogant. No wonder she became the boss of Subterra Vanguard at such a young age.

"Don't forget what Subterra Vanguard's Binary Oracle does for a living," Juniper threw over her shoulder as she walked away. "There's nothing I can't find out. The only secrets that stay hidden are the ones I don't care to look for."

"See you around!"

Ending the conversation on her terms, Juniper flagged down a passing cab. As she slid into the backseat, she waved dismissively at him through the window. "I'll think about your offer. Subterra Vanguard loves money, but we never work with people who lack sincerity."

"Aren't you afraid I'll partner with the Sigma Network and turn on you?" Corvus sneered, his eyes dark with malice.

"Wow." Juniper's red lips parted in exaggerated shock. "I had the guts to blow up their base, you think I'm scared of them coming after me? The head of the Sigma Network is a petty, vindictive bastard who holds a grudge over nothing. If you team up with him, he'll probably kill you first."

"But hey..." Juniper leaned against the car window, her tone infuriatingly casual. "Give it a shot. Let's see who's easier to negotiate with-me, or that old fox."

Corvus was rendered completely speechless. He had walked in here assuming he had Subterra Vanguard by the throat. He thought the leverage would force her into submission. He hadn't expected this kid to be playing 4D chess with him.

But as he watched her profile through the glass, Corvus had a momentary lapse in focus. The way she spoke, the subtle shifts in her expression... she reminded him a little of Theia.

"Boss, what's our next move?" his subordinate asked respectfully. "Can we trust Specter?"

"Maybe." Corvus got into his own car, pulling the mask off his face, his expression unreadable. "But the protocol is everything. I have to stay vigilant."

"If..." He paused for several seconds before murmuring, "If she can actually wipe out the Sigma Network for us, I'll consider bringing her in fully."

When that day came, all of Borealia would belong to him. Combined with his existing forces, he would be more than powerful enough to crush Subterra Vanguard.

Even if she figured out the full extent of his plans, what could she possibly do to stop him?

After getting out of the cab, Juniper ducked into a bustling commercial district, weaving through a labyrinth of side streets and alleys.

Once she was absolutely certain she wasn't being tailed, she slipped into a mall restroom. She ripped off the wig, scrubbed the heavy makeup from her face and changed into a set of comfortable clothes.

She was back to being just Juniper Payne. She hopped onto her beat-up

little e-scooter, which she had

parked nearby ahead of time, and zipped over to the Schwartz Group building

*Bang-*

The door to the CEO's office swung open. Juniper caught a glimpse of the man sitting behind the desk. She chucked her bag onto a chair and collapsed face-first onto the Teather sofa.

"Leave us," Shanley instructed, closing the file he was holding and handing it to Felton.

"Yes, sir."

Felton sneaked a glance at Juniper. Sensing the dangerously volatile mood in the room, he practically sprinted out the door.

As the door clicked shut, Shanley walked over to the sofa. He leaned his tall frame over her, resting a warm hand against the side of her cheek.

"You met him?"

"Yeah." Juniper kept her eyes closed, her voice muffled against the cushions. "The old bastard. He's still completely on guard around me."

They had agreed that blowing up the Sigma Network's research base would secure the partnership, but he refused to give her any actual intel on their core operations.

Old bastard!

Sneaky, manipulative old bastard!