CHAPTER 48: PRS 48

Today, with a bit of a break from Phoenix Systems, Isabella Clark and Alesio Xander, who happened to be in City XX, immediately headed to the student city to inspect the progress of the Lulas Corporation project.

Coincidentally, it only takes two and a half hours to get to the student city by land from City XX.

Although the first phase of units had already sold out, the marketing team was feeling the pressure. Many customers reported being intimidated by Armada Group to cancel their purchases. They were overwhelmed by the situation, and the head office continued to receive a steady stream of complaints.

Not only was marketing fearful, but the engineering division was also suffering the worst.

Several times, building materials were stolen mid-way, delaying construction. The matter had been reported to the police, but no action was taken, as if the authorities were turning a blind eye.

Finally, Alesio intervened. As a business partner and shareholder, Isabella didn’t want to lose money, so she joined in. She wanted to see the project’s true state, and of course... she wanted to see her competitors for herself.

"How are you going to deal with them?" Isabella glanced at Alesio curiously. "I don’t think this Armada Group is easy to deal with. They’ve been ruling the city for too long. They must have many connections and strong backing."

Alesio smiled slightly, not answering immediately. "What do you think is the best way to deter them from doing anything again? I’m curious about your thinking, Isabella."

Isabella leaned back. "I’m not a patient person. I’m not a kind person either. They’ve already harmed many people. Our marketing team is terrified, the engineering division is on the verge of giving up, and consumers are terrorized... So... how about we just cut them down?" she said, playing with her eyebrows mischievously. "I mean, if we don’t pull out weeds by the roots, they’ll just grow back and ruin the garden, right?"

Alesio laughed softly. "I like that. I really like your way of thinking. It would be great if this student city were cleansed of rotten people like them. A city as beautiful as that doesn’t deserve to be ruled by thugs in suits."

Isabella pulled her hair back. "Then, let me make your point. Just sit quietly and watch the show."

He pulled his laptop onto his lap—a thin laptop with a Phoenix logo and a security system that only he could access.

Their relationship was much closer now. They no longer spoke formally, and this often made Alesio feel... comfortable. Too comfortable, even.

Tak... tak... tak...

Isabella’s fingers moved quickly across the keyboard, her eyes fully focused on the screen.

Alesio didn’t disturb her. He began working on his iPad, finishing some project documents.

Meanwhile, Alexo and Siva, who was currently serving as driver and security guard, sat in the front seat on high alert.

Going to the student city today felt like going to war.

The Armada Group was a major power that had been firmly entrenched in the city for over ten years.

Isabella was no ordinary hacker. She was the most dangerous hacker in the underworld, though few people knew it.

To her, Armada Group’s security?

Like a cardboard wall.

He moved the mouse a few times and:

"Click..."

"Amateur security," he muttered under his breath. "They think a standard firewall can stop someone like me? How naive."

The names of those involved, lists of bribes, dirty projects, and even secret conversations—he scanned them all and saved them in a folder.

Once everything was collected, Isabella smiled lopsidedly. "Farewell, Armada Group. May you enjoy your own destruction."

ENTER.

BOOM!

Not a physical explosion, but an explosion of information on the internet.

In a matter of seconds, all of Armada Group’s corruption was public:

• Government project fraud

• Misappropriation of funds

• Deterioration of building quality

• Bribery of officials

• Names of involved parties

Everything was clearly visible and spread across all news platforms.

Even the regional head and the police chief of the student city were implicated.

The headquarters in the capital immediately dispatched an investigative team.

Alesio looked on in amazement. "Good job, Isabella. Very fast and clean. I haven’t even finished signing a single document yet."

The girl blinked proudly. "Of course. I never mess around when it comes to work. Besides, people like them don’t deserve any mercy."

But as they rounded the corner leading to the main street of the student town, Alexo frowned.

"Sir... there are three cars following us from behind," he said quietly but tensely. "They’re keeping a consistent distance. This can’t be a coincidence."

One car tried to close in on our right. The other two pressed in from behind.

Isabella closed her laptop. "What’s going on? Why is things so tense?" she asked, glancing behind her.

Alexo didn’t have time to respond...

DOR!!!

A spontaneous exclamation escaped his mouth. "Shit! They’re shooting!"

The rearview mirror shattered.

The sound of gunfire was deafening on the street that should have been busy, but... it was strangely quiet, as if deliberately empty.

Alesio immediately retrieved his gun from under his seat and handed it to Isabella and Siva. "Are you two ready?"

"They want a warm welcome, we’ll serve you," Isabella said quickly, checking her bullets with practiced movements. "Siva, you take the left side. I’ll take the right."

"Ready, Boss!" Siva replied with burning enthusiasm.

Both of them immediately rolled down their windows.

DOR! DOR! DOR!

Bullets echoed through the air.

"Hit!" Isabella shouted as she saw the right car’s tire burst.

The right car lost control.

SRAAKKK!!

BRUAAGGHH!!

One enemy car rolled into a rice paddy.

The other car crashed into a lamppost.

Alesio commanded firmly, "Keep going. Don’t stop. If we stop, we die."

"Understood, sir!" Alexo replied, stepping on the accelerator harder.

As if nothing had happened, they resumed their steady drive.

The Xander family bodyguards, who had been following from a distance, also took up guard positions after seeing the situation. But Isabella had already finished almost everything.

The counterattack failed, but it wasn’t the only one.

As soon as they entered the student town, more cars followed them. About six cars surrounded them.

"Turn left. It’s quiet there," Siva instructed quickly. "I know this road. We can deal with them without involving civilians."

He was familiar with the area because his family had once lived in this big city.

The car turned onto a small road with vast rice fields on both sides. It was far from any residential areas. A perfect spot for a firefight.

"Let’s get out and deal with them," Alesio said coldly. "I’m sick of being chased like rats."

As soon as the car stopped, everyone got out, their pistols cocked.

The enemy came out too.

The battle broke out.

DOR! DOR! DOR!

DOR!

CRACK!

"I love a warm welcome like this!" Isabella shouted, shooting two enemies at once. "You think I’m only good at computers?!"

"Boss, on the right!" Siva shouted warningly.

"I knew it!" Isabella spun quickly and fired straight at her target.

The battle was intense.

The enemy was formidable, but Isabella and Alesio were better trained.

After a few minutes, it was all over. The enemy’s bodies lay strewn across the ground. The Xander family’s men, who had been on guard from a distance, quickly cleared the area without leaving a trace.

They got back into the car.

"I didn’t think they were serious about killing you," Isabella said with a sigh. "I mean, I knew they were bad, but to kill on the highway? They’re really desperate."

"I guess so," Alesio replied casually with a chuckle, as if he hadn’t nearly lost his life. "But they picked the wrong target. They don’t know who they’re dealing with."

Isabella and Siva stared at him in horror.

Alexo suddenly braked.

Everyone was propelled forward.

"Hey! What are you doing?!" Alesio snapped in surprise. "We just narrowly escaped death and you’re trying to kill us with your brakes?!"

Alexo stared at his boss in the rearview mirror, then glanced at Isabella and Siva, who had clearly noticed Alesio’s earlier reaction.

Alesio frowned. "What’s wrong? Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something wrong with my face?"

Isabella took a deep breath and then said, blushing, "You... look so handsome when you laugh so freely. I rarely see you laugh like that. Usually you’re always serious and cold."

Throbbing.

Alesio fell silent.

His face was hot.

His heart felt like it was going to jump out of his chest.

He even clutched his chest.

"W-wei... what’s wrong with you?!" Isabella stepped closer, waving her hands in front of the man’s face. "Alesio! Hello?! Breathe normally! Don’t die now! We’ve survived the shooting, don’t die from praise!"

Alexo covered his face with his palms. "The big guy’s become an idiot now..." he muttered resignedly. "I’ve never seen him like this before."

Siva blinked in confusion. "Become an idiot? What do you mean? Did he get hit in the head by a bullet?"

Alexo pointed at Alesio, who was still smiling foolishly. "There. Look at him. He looks like a teenager who just received a compliment from his crush."

Siva turned... and smiled brightly. "Wow... so sweet! Finally, Mr. Alesio shows his human side!"

But the sweet atmosphere was shattered when Isabella patted Alesio’s cheek several times.

"Wake up! Don’t be so awkward now! We still have to check on the project, remember?!"

Smack. Smack.

Alesio snapped back to reality. "I-I’m... fine. Just... a little surprised by what you said earlier."

Siva snorted jealously. "It’s not just your boss who’s stupid. Mine is just as stupid. You two are like teenagers falling in love for the first time.

Alexo simply nodded in agreement. "Agreed. These two are clearly attracted to each other, but they’re both terrible at expressing their feelings. When will they ever get together?"

"Hey! You two shouldn’t just comment on your boss!" Isabella protested, her face flushed.

"We’re just stating the facts, Boss," Siva replied innocently with a mischievous smile.

Alesio could only shake his head, but the smile didn’t leave his face.