Chapter 989

The Binary Oracle hadn't found a single shred of information. Not even a secondary photograph.

Sanctum Holdings lived up to its name. They were ghosts.

"They also put out that massive bounty for Dr. Nocturne..." Luella rubbed her nose, asking cautiously, "Juniper, do you want to meet him in person?"

This man was plotting to destroy Borealia before inevitably turning his guns on Australis. He was a ticking time bomb.

Extremely dangerous.

"Let's test their sincerity first," Juniper said lazily, her eyes still glued to her mobile game.

"You got it."

Five minutes later, Luella practically burst through the video call screen, buzzing with adrenaline. "Juniper! Juniper!"

Shanley walked into the room carrying a plate of sliced mango, immediately greeted by Luella's highly punchable face.

Him again. Did Subterra Vanguard literally have no other employees?

"I quoted them five hundred million," Luella said, her face taking up the entire camera frame, eyes shining like diamonds. "And they agreed without a second thought! They want you to evaluate a patient who has been comatose and legally brain-dead for years."

"I'll take it." Juniper didn't even look up from her game, her tone completely nonchalant.

Five hundred million. She'd be a fool to turn down that kind of cash.

Besides, it was the perfect excuse to evaluate this mysterious mastermind face-to- face.

"Excellent." Luella seamlessly switched lines to confirm the logistics with the Sanctum Holdings proxy.

"The fifty percent deposit has already cleared. The appointment is set for the morning after next." Luella reported through the phone. "But they have a massive list of security demands. They insist Dr. Nocturne comes completely alone."

"It's a trap. It's too dangerous." Shanley picked up a napkin to gently wipe a drop of juice from her lip.

"I can handle it." Juniper had anticipated this exact scenario. She smiled coolly. "Subterra Vanguard brokered this deal. If he still wants his precious alliance, he wouldn't dare touch me."

"Juniper..."

Shanley frowned, his eyes swirling with deep, protective anxiety. He was genuinely terrified this man was one of her old enemies Because as her rival, he knew exactly how a ruthless enemy's mind worked.

"Relax." Juniper locked her phone, leaned in, and planted a soft kiss on his lips. "I'm tired. Carry me to bed."

"Alright." Defeated, Shanley scooped her up into his arms, carried her into the bedroom, and gently laid her down.

After coaxing her to sleep, Shanley stepped out onto the balcony and dialed Flint. "Do we have any updates on her parents?"

"No concrete locations yet, Boss." Flint reported respectfully. "Out of all the siblings, only Jimmie and Harold have any real memories of them, and even those are fragmented."

Jimmie recalled that their parents were constantly on the run from an unknown threat, forcing the family to relocate endlessly. They always moved to highly remote, isolated areas.

To avoid detection, the children were

strictly forbidden from interacting with outsiders they weren't even allowed to use their real names, relying entirely on numbers like 'Number One' or 'Number Two'.

Harold provided a slightly more actionable clue...

Their parents were obsessed with advanced medical texts, frequently discussing complex theories regarding genetics' and 'cellular growth' A significant portion of

Harold's foundational medical

f

knowledge, had actually been taught to him by their parents.

"Our current hypothesis is that Ms. Payne's parents were either elite doctors or highly specialized medical researchers. As for why they were being hunted, we're still digging."

"Good." A faint smile touched Shanley's lips. "Authorize massive bonuses for the intel teams. If they can locate her parents before next spring, they can pick out any luxury car or mansion they want."

"B-Boss..." Flint nearly bit his own tongue in shock. Once he regained his composure, he asked cautiously, "Why the deadline of next spring?"

"Next spring, Juniper turns twenty."

Turns twenty? Flint stared at his phone, completely utterly bewildered by the cryptic statement.

"Felton, what the hell does the boss mean by that?"

"At twenty, she reaches the legal age for a marriage license," Felton replied flatly,

dead serious. "The boss wants to lock it down legally before he takes things all the way."