Chapter 626

Chapter 626

The technician standing in front of Gregory nervously swallowed. "It's confirmed. We tracked the repair path of the Windsor Game Company system from yesterday. The source IP points to The Windsor Manor, and further analysis of the traffic characteristics..."

"That's enough." Gregory raised his hand to interrupt and turned to a thin figure in the corner of the room. "Blackwind, what's your take?"

The young man wearing a black mask, the second-ranked hacker in the world, slowly lifted his head, his eyes bloodshot.

He had maintained this posture all night, trying to figure out why he had failed.

"No way." Blackwind's voice was hoarse, his fingers tapping nervously on his knee. "Absolutely no way. I've studied 'Ghost's' attack patterns over the past year. That kind of algorithm logic requires at least ten years of experience."

Gregory sneered and pushed a tablet in front of him.

On the screen was a candid photo of Gabriel standing in front of the Windsor Game Company's main computer, his small hands on the keyboard, his expression focused beyond his years.

"Henry's eldest son, Zoey's kid, not even four years old yet," Gregory said slowly. "You've spent the past year feeling so ashamed that you couldn't confidently face others, all because of this little kid."

Blackwind abruptly stood up, the chair screeching against the floor.

He ripped off his mask, revealing a pale face and tightly clenched lips. "This photo is fake! Or someone is remotely controlling him!"

"Get a grip." Gregory said coldly. "There are precedents internationally. Three years ago, there was a six-year-old hacker prodigy abroad, and last year, a five-year-old broke into a bank system."

He stood up, straightening his suit sleeves. "This time, however, this prodigy happens to be our enemy."

Blackwind stared at the innocent face in the photo, his chest heaving.

For a year, he had imagined countless times what 'Ghost' might look like—perhaps a reclusive old professor or an elite agent from an intelligence agency.

But it should never be a child still in preschool!

"I want to meet him." Blackwind suddenly said, a manic gleam in his eyes. "We need to have a face-to-face showdown. He must have help. If it's a one-on-one..."

Gregory impatiently cut him off. "Don't be childish. Do you think this is an esports competition?"

He pressed the intercom on the desk. "Prepare the 'elimination' plan. Target: Henry's eldest son, four years old. Photo has been sent."

Blackwind's face turned pale. "You're going to kill him? No! I haven't..."

"Shut up!" Gregory barked, his eyes behind his gold-rimmed glasses as cold as a snake's. "If that little brat grows up with the support of the Windsor Game Company's resources, he will be our greatest threat. We must eliminate him early."

Blackwind's hands clenched into fists at his sides, his nails digging into his palms.

He watched as Gregory's subordinates left to carry out the order, his heart filled with unwillingness and anger.

For a year, he had dreamed of defeating 'Ghost' to prove he was truly the best.

But if 'Ghost' died, this humiliation would never be washed away.

When the office was empty, Blackwind quickly pulled out an encrypted phone and entered a string of codes.

A tracking interface popped up on the screen, showing the location of the assassination team, thanks to a tracking program he had secretly planted in Gregory's system the night before.

"Ghost," he muttered to himself, a dangerous light in his eyes. "No one will harm you before I defeat you."

By evening, the scent of osmanthus filled the garden of Franklin's villa.

Travis was darting around the lawn, showing Franklin his new "dinosaur dance," while Gabriel sat quietly next to Franklin, his small hands moving quickly on a tablet.

"And then Gabriel just started typing really fast, and all the grown-ups were stunned!" Travis reenacted the scene from yesterday, his chubby face flushed with excitement.

Franklin laughed and lifted Travis over his head. "Amazing! Our Gabriel is so talented!"

Zoey walked over with a cup of water, just in time to hear Franklin's words.

She set down the cup and said softly, "Dad, please keep this a secret. Henry is worried that Gabriel's identity being exposed could be dangerous."

Franklin nodded, his expression becoming more serious. "Of course."

He put Travis down and turned to the quiet Gabriel. "Gabriel, can you tell Grandpa how you learned all this?"

Gabriel looked up, his clear eyes shining in the sunset. "I just read Mom's books and tried writing code."

He tilted his head. "The numbers and symbols seem to arrange themselves in my mind."

Franklin was stunned.

This description reminded him of something Ophelia had said over twenty years ago when she was obsessed with cryptography, always saying that the complex equations "danced" before her eyes.

"Your mom used to say the same thing..." Franklin suddenly stopped, realizing he had misspoken.

He looked at Zoey, his eyes filled with complex emotions. "Zoe, I've missed so much of your life, and Gabriel's and Travis's too."

What he knew about Zoey's childhood was all from what Zoey had told him herself.

Until six months ago, he hadn't even known he had a daughter named Zoey.

Zoey sat down next to Franklin and gently held his hand. "It's not too late now."

A glimmer of tears flashed in Franklin's eyes, which he quickly blinked away.

He looked at Henry, who was talking to the butler not far away, and said with emotion, "Henry is really good to the kids, treating them as his own. You chose well."

Zoey followed Franklin's gaze and smiled. "Yes, he treats Gabriel and Travis better than their biological father ever could."

This comment was like a small thorn, lightly pricking Henry's heart.

He happened to walk over and hear it, the juice he was bringing for Gabriel slightly shaking in his hand.

Their biological father was right in front of them, but he couldn't acknowledge them.

"Tomorrow is the weekend," Henry changed the subject, handing the juice to Gabriel. "I plan to take them to the new science museum. Zoe, would you like to join us?"

"Of course," Zoey replied with a smile, not noticing the complex emotions in Henry's eyes.

Travis immediately hugged Henry's leg. "Dad! Are there dinosaurs at the science museum?"

"There are moving T-Rex models." Henry bent down to pick up Travis and kissed his juice-stained cheek.

Franklin watched this scene and nodded with satisfaction. "Wonderful. Seeing you all like this puts my mind at ease."

He had always regretted not having biological children, which was why he had adopted a daughter. Who could have guessed that Chloe would be so ungrateful?

In the end, fate had not been unkind to Franklin. Although he and Ophelia were separated by death, Ophelia had left him a daughter, ensuring he wouldn't be lonely in his old age.

Zoey and Henry had a warm dinner with Franklin. Afterward, they told him about Gabriel and Travis's birthday party in three days before driving back to The Windsor Manor with the already asleep Gabriel and Travis.