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When the scandal surrounding EverBright Group first broke, rumors swirled that it implicated members of the state legislature. Some whispers even suggested higher-ranking figures were involved. But as EverBright Group collapsed, those murmurs faded into the background. After all, with the corporation gone, no one was particularly eager to keep digging up old dirt.

While combing through documents, Mr. Truman stumbled upon something intriguing—a clear thread connecting the dots. Whether it was EverBright Group or Listoan Group, which had its own share of troubles later on, both entities seemed to funnel benefits in the same direction.

In the federal system, this wasn't unusual. Large corporations without powerful political allies often found themselves vulnerable—to environmental investigations, tax bureau audits, and other probes. These inquiries might not destroy a company outright, but they could create enough panic within its ranks to destabilize it. For publicly traded companies, the impact was even more pronounced; negative headlines sent stock prices plummeting, serving the interests of competitors who sought to either deflate market value or pave the way for acquisition.

The unraveling of EverBright Group revealed cracks in the system, but many pieces of evidence had been deliberately erased—no coincidence there. Most individuals tied to the core of the scandal were foreign nationals, and by now, they'd either fled the country or left voluntarily. Would they return to face further investigation? Not a chance.

After two grueling days of research, Mr. Truman identified a key figure: Gap. Before EverBright Group's downfall, Listoan Group had maintained close business and financial ties with them, and at the center of it all stood Gap, an auditor from Listoan. As deputy head of the auditing team (with his superior holding the titular role but doing little actual work), Gap possessed critical knowledge about the flow of funds within Listoan Group. He undoubtedly knew things others didn't.

Early the next morning, Truman tasked someone with investigating Listoan's case. Unlike EverBright Group's convoluted mess, Listoan's records remained untouched, making it easy to uncover Gap's current status. What Truman discovered made him chuckle bitterly—or perhaps marvel at fate's irony. Among the files, he spotted a familiar name: Lynch.

From the start of his career in Sabin City, Lynch had managed to ruffle feathers at both the the federal tax bureau and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Though those minor offenses were eventually smoothed over, his profile never dropped. The file mentioned how Gap had instructed his wife to hide crucial evidence. Initially, the state prosecutor intended to charge Vera alongside Gap, but thanks to Lynch's intervention, the case against her was dismissed due to insufficient evidence.

Fate, it seemed, loved coming full circle.

"Wales," Truman said, "that bastard we discussed may have been receiving kickbacks from EverBright Group and Listoan Group until something—or someone—cut off the flow."

"There's nothing left to squeeze out of EverBright Group, but I've found someone who might be useful: Mr. Gap. During his time as Listoan's auditor, he would've had intimate knowledge of their financial dealings. If we play our cards right, we might get him to talk—you know what I mean."

Lynch chuckled dryly. "Frame him? Set him up? Or pin something else on him?"

Truman cut him off sharply. "I'm not joking around. Do whatever it takes to get me what we need."

"I'm stuck in Bupayne with Wales breathing down my neck like a rabid dog. You're in York State—I'll arrange backup. Help me out."

Instead of agreeing immediately, Lynch asked, "How exactly do you expect me to help?"

"Make the key players tell the truth."

After hanging up, Lynch stared at the phone receiver, equal parts incredulous and unsurprised. When the governor moved to dismantle Listoan Group, the company hadn't put up a fight—and that struck Lynch as odd. In the federal landscape, any major corporation, especially one propping up a local economy, usually had some high-level connections. Yet Listoan fell without resistance. At first, Lynch assumed bad luck or the governor's clout explained it. Now, though, he suspected otherwise.

Listoan and EverBright Group shared the same benefactor—but when EverBright's scandal broke, that lifeline was severed, leaving Listoan defenseless. Had EverBright not dragged them down, taking out Listoan wouldn't have been so easy.

Lynch sighed. Fate was a funny thing. Scatter a family, and sooner or later, they'll find their way back together.

About twenty minutes later, the villa doorbell rang. The newly appointed head of security from Blackstone Security answered it. Moments later, the visitors were ushered into the living room. Both Lynch's men and the two representatives from the National Security Council (NSC) appeared tense.

Lynch understood why but let the tension hang.

"Mr. Lynch," one NSC agent began, "per orders, we'll follow your directives until this mission concludes. And…" His hand hovered near his pocket before stopping abruptly as two of Lynch's guards gripped their holstered pistols.

After a suffocating pause, the agent slowly pulled out an ID badge and placed it on the table. "Until this operation ends, you'll serve as a special consultant for the NSC. This is your documentation. Headquarters has already registered you."

Seeing the small booklet eased the tension. Lynch picked it up, examining the photo inside. He couldn't recall when it was taken—perhaps lifted from a newspaper archive. Beneath the picture lay a string of numbers and job descriptions.

Handing the ID to his security chief, Lynch instructed, "Verify it."

Two minutes later, the chief returned. "Confirmed with Bupayne's Security Council."

Lynch nodded, stowing the badge away. Rising from the couch, he headed toward the bar. "Drink?"

He grabbed a bottle. "To our collaboration?"

---

Meanwhile, deep inside a prison, Gap sat reading legal textbooks. Convicted for his role in Listoan's fraud and concealing evidence, he faced eight years behind bars. With the trial ongoing and public attention elsewhere, additional charges could extend his sentence. To protect him from potential threats, authorities transferred him from Sabin City Jail to another facility.

Despite his circumstances, Gap considered himself fortunate. His cellmate wasn't violent, hadn't assaulted him, and allowed peaceful conversation. A stroke of luck.

Gap planned to use his time wisely. Passing the bar exam was step one; becoming a lawyer while incarcerated would establish his worth. Prisoners often sought legal advice but couldn't afford traditional attorneys. A fellow inmate-turned-lawyer could offer services in exchange for protection—a mutually beneficial arrangement.

Just then, his cellmate returned, looking dejected. Setting aside his book, Gap asked, "What's wrong?"

His cellmate, Michael, had just visited his family and clearly wasn't pleased. Without a word, Michael retreated to his bunk, turning away like a wounded animal retreating to its den.

"You've helped me a lot since I arrived," Gap said, marking his page and closing the book. "Let me return the favor. Before I came here, I worked as an accountant for a big firm. While I can't directly solve your problems, maybe I can offer advice."

After a long silence, Michael finally spoke, cradling his head in despair. "My wife… she's pregnant."

The room fell deathly silent.

Based on what Gap knew, Michael had entered prison earlier than him. If his wife had been pregnant before his incarceration, the child should've already been born. That meant only one thing: the baby wasn't his. A tragic tale indeed.

"Michael," Gap said gently, sitting beside him and patting his shoulder, "we all face challenges. Believe me—we'll get through this."

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