Chapter 94

The Watson Group temporary office.

The desk was messy, with papers scattered everywhere.

Teresa sat in front of the computer, dark circles under her eyes, looking exhausted.

On the screen in front of her was a list of core data that had survived the attack, compiled overnight, along with sections that needed to be restored.

Michael sat across from her, also having stayed up all night, his brow furrowed with worry.

"Mr. Collins, Ms. Bennett."

The head of the technical department walked in with dark circles under his eyes, holding a preliminary report, his voice hoarse.

"We've completed the initial analysis of the attack source. The attacker was very cunning. The methods are 87% similar to the Smith Group attack report from three years ago that we have in our files."

This number made both Teresa and Michael's hearts sink.

Such a high similarity rate almost confirmed it was the same group of people.

"Three years ago, Synergy Innovations Group."

Teresa repeated in a low voice, her fingertips unconsciously tapping on the desk.

Luke, a name almost forgotten by Meadowbrook City's business community, had appeared again.

Michael finished his call with the cybersecurity department and looked at Teresa. "I just contacted some friends in the cybersecurity department. They pulled up some peripheral records from back then."

He paused slightly and pressed his lips together. "Three years ago, during the Smith Group attack incident, although there was no direct evidence pointing to Synergy Innovations Group, the two companies were in fierce competition at the time, and Synergy Innovations Group was the prime suspect."

"Also, just before Synergy Innovations Group went bankrupt, Luke's assistant suddenly disappeared and hasn't been found to this day. That person was reportedly a hacking genius."

"So Luke has probably come back with his old team."

Teresa continued, her tone somewhat cold. "Only this time, his target has become us."

"More precisely, it's you, Teresa."

Michael looked at her, his eyes filled with undisguised concern.

"From the Oscar incident, to the leak, to this devastating attack, everything points to you. Why is Luke targeting you? Do you have history with him?"

Hearing this, Teresa was stunned for a moment, then shook her head in confusion. "I've never even met him. I've only heard his name in financial news and from Simon's occasional mentions."

She frowned. "Simon mentioned before that Luke was a madman who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals, but after Synergy Innovations Group went bankrupt, everyone thought he was either dead or in hiding."

"Looks like we all underestimated him."

Michael stood up and walked to the window.

In the early morning, with the first light of dawn, the city was gradually waking up.

He looked down at the view outside, murmuring.

"An opponent who has laid low for three years, made a comeback, and struck so ruthlessly right from the start. Teresa, we need to be extremely careful from now on."

Teresa neither agreed nor disagreed. Suddenly remembering something, she looked at Michael again. "Michael, we still need to tell Mr. Watson about this, but we also need to control who knows about it."

"Yes, I'll report to him later. Also."

Michael turned around, looking at her exhausted but determined face, his voice unconsciously softening.

"You need to rest too. The final presentation is in just a few days. You're the backbone of the team - you can't collapse first. And Daisy needs you too."

At the mention of Daisy, Teresa's eyes instantly softened.

But she had been so busy lately that she hadn't seen Daisy in a long time.

Thinking of this, her eyes filled with guilt. "Samantha is taking care of her. Once we get through these few days, I'll definitely spend quality time with her."

However, if Luke was really targeting her as Michael said, then Daisy might also be in danger.

Thinking of the potential threats Daisy might face, her heart tightened again.

Just then, Michael's email notification sounded.

He clicked it open - it was an anonymous email with just one sentence and an encrypted attachment.

[Watch out for Luke, he's back.]

Michael's pupils contracted slightly. He opened the attachment and found a comparison of some attack signature codes from the Smith Group project server back then, along with records of financial transactions between Synergy Innovations Group and a certain overseas hacker organization before its bankruptcy.

Michael and Teresa exchanged glances, both seeing shock in each other's eyes.

Who sent this?

Someone who knew they were investigating and provided such crucial clues.

Michael quickly worked to decrypt the attachment. The information inside was scattered but very clearly pointed in one direction, and was even more detailed than what they currently had.

Especially the financial transaction records - although the amounts weren't large and the accounts had been transferred multiple times, they vaguely showed connections to an overseas underground money exchange.

"Who could it be?"

Teresa frowned, unconsciously saying a name.

"Simon?"

This was the first possibility that came to her mind.

Simon definitely knew more about Luke than they did, and he had a motive to warn them.

After all, if the Watson Group was taken down by Luke and the Horizon Group project fell through, allowing Synergy Innovations Group to make a comeback, it wouldn't be good for the Smith Group either.

"Possibly."

Michael pondered.

"But we can't rule out other people in the know, or that Luke is deliberately creating confusion. But regardless, this information is very valuable. I'll have people follow this lead."

He looked at Teresa. "If it really is Simon, then he's done something right this time."

Teresa pressed her lips together and didn't respond.

Even if it was Simon, this couldn't make up for the harm he'd caused in the past, or the hidden dangers he'd created by allowing Anna to get close to Daisy.

But she didn't have the energy to analyze Simon's motives right now. She just wanted to quickly root out the mole, perfect the proposal, and protect Daisy.

"Let's deal with what's in front of us first."

Teresa pushed down those chaotic thoughts and refocused her attention on the screen.

Over the next few days, the Watson Group temporary office entered an almost sealed, high-pressure state.

Everyone felt that invisible tense atmosphere, but for the project, for the team, everyone was holding their breath and working hard.

Michael used quite a few personal connections to trace the source of the anonymous email and verify the authenticity of the attachment, while also implementing stricter electronic and physical security upgrades to the office environment.

After learning that Luke might have made a comeback, Matthew was silent for a long time, only giving Teresa and Michael one reminder: "Be careful."

On the evening of the third day, less than 72 hours before the final presentation.

Teresa finally took a break from the pile of blueprints and data to return to Samantha's apartment to get a change of clothes and see Daisy.

She quietly opened the door. Only a small night light was on in the living room. Samantha was curled up on the sofa watching a show, already somewhat drowsy.

Hearing the noise, she rubbed her eyes and sat up. After seeing the familiar figure, she became much more alert. "Teresa, you're back? Have you eaten?"