Chapter 247
Chapter 247
The next day, the signing ceremony began. When Audrey arrived, Declan was already waiting in the conference room with his legal team.
"Ms. Clark, punctual as promised." Declan stood up, extending his hand with a smile.
Audrey shook his hand, her tone casual. "Mr. Ross is quite punctual as well."
Both parties took their seats on opposite sides of the long table.
The contract terms had already been reviewed three times. Both legal teams had confirmed every clause—there were no points of dispute.
What now lay on the table was the final version. Declan picked up his pen, flipped to the last page of the contract, and signed his name smoothly in the signature box before stamping it with the corporate seal.
The entire process was clean and efficient, without a single complication.
"Pleasure doing business with you." Declan extended his hand.
Audrey grasped it, offering a slight smile. "Pleasure doing business. Congratulations, Mr. Ross—you can finally fulfill your father's dream."
After the ceremony ended, Declan didn't linger. He left the conference room quickly with his team.
Audrey stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, watching as several black sedans pulled out of the Brown Group's main gate one after another. Her expression remained calm, undisturbed.
The legal counsel approached. "Ms. Clark, the contract has been filed."
"Good. Thank you for your hard work."
The counsel hesitated before speaking. "Ms. Clark, are you really going to give him the entire technology?"
Audrey turned around, smiling faintly. "I signed the contract. Of course it's real."
The counsel looked like she wanted to say more, but ultimately just nodded and left the conference room.
Audrey stood by the window a moment longer, gazing down at the bustling street below, before unhurriedly picking up her phone and sending Ethan a message.
[He got it.]
Ethan replied, [Got it. I'm already building the underlying architecture for the new system. First version should be up and running within two weeks.]
Audrey looked at the reply on her screen, smiled slightly, and walked out of the conference room.
When Declan returned to his office, he couldn't wait to have his assistant place the bound technical documentation on his desk. He personally unsealed the package and pulled out the printed materials inside.
A thick stack—all printed technical specifications. This was what he'd been dreaming of.
For the entire afternoon, Declan locked himself in his office, poring over those technical documents page by page.
Declan looked at the technical consultant across from him. "Well?"
The consultant hesitated before speaking. "Mr. Ross, this system is indeed complete. The underlying architecture design is very clear. From the documentation, there are no intentionally omitted sections."
Declan's brow twitched slightly. "What do you mean?"
"But getting it operational requires a certain technical threshold. Not just anyone can handle it."
The consultant continued, "Even though we've acquired the technology rights, without top-tier computer experts involved, we won't be able to maximize its potential."
"Then hire people," Declan said. "Whatever it costs."
The consultant considered this. "Alright, I'll draft the candidate profile, though it might be difficult to find them."
Meanwhile, in the study at the Brown Mansion, Ethan sat before his computer, fingers flying across the keyboard.
Audrey walked in. "How's it going?"
"Better than expected. I've completely decoded Black Raven's underlying logic. White Dove's new system will completely overturn everything Black Raven had."
Soon, the White Dove Cultural Development Foundation was running smoothly. Arabella had finished all the visual design work, the new system development was progressing steadily, the studio's daily operations were managed by the team, and the Brown Group projects didn't require her constant supervision.
Now was the time to do what she'd always wanted to do.
Audrey shared her plans with Vincent.
"You're sure?" Vincent asked.
"Yes. I'm leaving tomorrow."
Vincent studied her carefully. "You really plan to go alone? You don't want me with you?"
"I should go by myself. We don't know the situation there yet. Taking too many people would only draw attention."
"At least take a bodyguard."
"I can protect myself."
Vincent looked into her calm, determined eyes and let out a soft sigh. "When you get there, send me at least one message every day."
"Okay."
The next morning, Audrey drove to the airport and boarded a flight to Suncrest City.
After landing, Audrey hailed a taxi.
"Oakspire."
She settled into the back seat and gave the address.
The driver was a middle-aged man in his fifties or sixties. "Oakspire? There's hardly anyone there now. What are you going there for?"
"Visiting family," Audrey said. "I have relatives who used to live there."
The driver glanced at her through the rearview mirror but didn't press further. He stepped on the gas, and the car pulled away from the airport.
From the airport to Oakspire took nearly an hour.
The road conditions weren't great—some stretches were extremely bumpy.
The landscape on both sides of the road had a desolate quality to it.
When they reached Oakspire, Audrey walked slowly down the main street.
Oakspire was quiet. Most of the shops on either side were shuttered.
She stopped in front of a café that looked slightly more intact than the rest.
The door was open. Inside sat an elderly person who appeared to be the owner. The old man looked up. "You're not from around here, are you? What brings you here?"