Chandler turned to Cullen with an inviting smile. "Since you're already here, why not stay and join our discussion?"

"Sure," Cullen replied with a casual nod.

After exchanging brief pleasantries, Chandler redirected his attention to Maxwell, Dario, and the others seated around the table. "Now, where did we leave off?"

Dario straightened in his chair. "We were deliberating on the appropriate response protocol if we detect a foreign probe entering our controlled airspace."

Niall found herself naturally drawn into the intellectual exercise, her mind already spinning with potential approaches.

"What's your take on this?" Chandler asked, his gaze sweeping the table before settling warmly on Veronica. "Ver, any thoughts?"

Earlier, the unexpected arrival of Cullen and Niall had interrupted Dario and Veronica before they could fully formulate their opinions. Now, given another chance, both paused to consider their responses.

Something about Chandler's familiar address caught Niall's attention. Ver? The intimate nickname rolled off his tongue with obvious fondness. She couldn't help noticing how Chandler's entire demeanor softened when addressing Veronica—a genuine admiration evident in his expression. A subtle frown creased Niall's brow at this observation.

Just then, Veronica broke the contemplative silence. "What if we simply take control of their probe and return it to them?"

Her suggestion prompted immediate laughter from both Chandler and Doran. Dario's face lit up with recognition as he gave Veronica an approving thumbs-up.

Rather than immediately judging the merit of her idea, Chandler's eyes sparkled with interest. "You're that confident in your technical capabilities?"

Veronica hesitated momentarily before responding with a hint of uncertainty that belied her words. "It... shouldn't be too difficult?"

Maxwell chuckled appreciatively. "That's how truly skilled people always speak—with understated confidence."

"Precisely," Chandler agreed with a knowing smile.

The brilliance of Veronica's suggestion gradually unfolded through their discussion. Ophelia had long positioned itself as a peaceful nation maintaining harmonious relations with neighboring countries. Returning a foreign probe, whether its trespass was intentional or not, represented diplomatic courtesy and could prevent unnecessary conflicts.

Yet beneath this seemingly gentle approach lay a powerful demonstration of technological superiority. Successfully gaining control of another nation's probe without triggering security protocols would clearly establish Ophelia's technological dominance. Once the other country realized what had happened, they would not only be frustrated but also significantly more cautious in their future dealings with Ophelia.

Initially, Niall hadn't grasped the strategic elegance of Veronica's solution. As she listened to the technical analysis from Chandler and the others, understanding gradually dawned on her—Veronica's approach subtly yet effectively showcased the nation's technological prowess.

A flicker of discomfort crossed Niall's face. Could Veronica actually execute such a sophisticated maneuver? Or had the international acclaim for her recent paper inflated her confidence beyond her actual capabilities?

Glancing sideways, Niall caught a faint smile playing across Cullen's lips, suggesting he too appreciated the ingenuity of Veronica's proposal. The realization startled her. Could Cullen truly believe that Veronica—

Doran's voice broke through her thoughts. "Cullen, it seems your thinking aligns with Ver's perspective?"

"Yes," Cullen confirmed simply.

Before Niall could fully process this, Doran continued, "Would you elaborate on the advantages of this approach?"

Cullen proceeded to articulate the key strategic benefits with remarkable clarity. Only through his detailed explanation did Niall fully comprehend the multilayered brilliance of the strategy—not merely its technical aspects, but its broader geopolitical implications.

It became apparent that Dario, Chandler, and Cullen had immediately grasped all these nuances the moment Veronica had finished speaking. Niall, by contrast, had needed Cullen's comprehensive breakdown to reach the same understanding.

As this realization sank in, she noticed Doran observing her with a perceptive smile. "Ms. Crystal, you've been frowning. Is there something still unclear to you?"

Though Doran's question came with a friendly smile and likely genuine concern, Niall couldn't prevent the heat rising to her cheeks. Doran had obviously noticed her delayed comprehension and addressed it directly.

Despite her embarrassment, Niall quickly composed herself and responded with graceful honesty, "Yes, I only just caught up with everyone's line of thought."