Chapter 126

Chapter 126

Seraphine's POV

I immediately called for Soren. "Get me the list of everyone with access to the core database and wait for me to find evidence."

"Yes, understood." Soren hurried out.

I sat down and opened my computer.

The person didn't know hacking techniques and hadn't hidden their tracks at all. After tracking and analyzing, I pinpointed the traces to one computer.

That computer model...

I narrowed my eyes.

It belonged to a diligent but unremarkable female employee in the project department named Yara Garcia.

How could it be her?

I'd never really paid attention to this woman. She did things by the book and was quite inconspicuous among the crowd.

Turns out she was a deeply embedded corporate spy.

I straightened up and pushed the door open to leave.

People in the department were already looking anxious, unsure what was happening.

After I entered, I cleared my throat lightly in the office area. "Who's Yara? Come with me to the office for a talk."

In an instant, everyone looked at Yara.

Yara's face went pale, panic flashing in her eyes. She followed me out with her head down.

Whispers arose behind us.

"Oh my god, I heard there's a spy stealing data in the project department. Could it be her?"

"She usually seems pretty honest, she shouldn't do something like this."

"How could this happen..."

I ignored those voices and sat at the desk, calmly observing Yara.

From her appearance, I really couldn't tell anything was wrong.

Yara looked at me too, biting her lip, asking cautiously: "I heard the core database of our project department was copied. Is that true? I'm really worried too, wondering what happened."

Seeing her still playing dumb, I found it amusing: "So who do you think did it?"

"I... I think it should be hackers. Only hackers could access our database. I don't think it was someone from inside." Yara looked at me hopefully.

I smiled without showing my hand: "It wasn't hackers. ShadowFox already set up external protection locks. It could only be someone from inside."

Yara's face started turning pale. She lowered her head, not daring to speak.

I narrowed my eyes and said coldly: "I had someone restore yesterday's tracking records. The traces of the data copying operation were on your computer."

Yara's breathing became rapid: "I, I didn't! I didn't do such a thing. Maybe someone used my computer trying to frame me."

She spread her hands to me, smiling bitterly: "Look at me, Ms. Whitaker. How could someone like me do this kind of thing?"

"Someone like you? Seems you have a pretty clear definition of yourself—someone who would absolutely never get involved in this kind of thing, honest and dutiful, just a regular worker?"

Yara smiled bitterly. "I am that kind of person, so..."

I didn't let her finish. I slammed the desk and stood up. "The evidence is solid, and you're still making excuses! Tell me clearly, who put you up to this? What's the purpose? If you don't talk, you're not leaving the company today. You're coming with me straight to the police station!"

Yara trembled all over, her face completely drained of color. She was so scared she dropped to her knees. "I'm sorry! Ms. Whitaker! I didn't mean to, I was forced..."

After saying this, she finally broke down and stopped guarding her words so tightly, collapsing on the floor. "They took my brother. They said if I didn't help them get the project materials, they'd make my brother disappear! Ms. Whitaker, I had no choice. I couldn't just watch my brother die!"

So there was a hidden story after all.

My heart sank.

Using family members as leverage—that was definitely something Orion would do.

No wonder he had no power or influence and no position in the company, yet several people were willing to work for him.

Turns out he used this method to threaten people's family members.

I felt a wave of frustration, staring at her intently: "Who threatened you and took your brother?"

"I don't know exactly who they are..." Yara sobbed. "Two years ago, my brother went missing, but he'd send money back from time to time. He said he was working for someone, living well, told me not to worry. But a few days ago, a strange number suddenly contacted me, telling me to get the core data of this project. They said my brother has been in their hands all along, and if I dared disobey, they could get rid of my brother without a trace!"

I slowly frowned.

I hadn't expected Orion to use this kind of method.

He was ruthless enough.

I stood up and walked to Yara: "If you want to save your brother, you can only cooperate with me. These people are shameless—they'd never really let your brother go. If blackmailing you worked the first time, there'll be a second time."

Yara trembled: "Then what can I do?"

"Make up for your mistake. Give me all their contact information and everything else."

Yara looked up at me, her eyes full of fear. "Will you let me go if I do that?"

I stared at her, saying word by word: "The company hasn't suffered any losses, and the project materials haven't been leaked. If the information and contacts you give me are valuable and can trace them, I'll let you go. Otherwise, you and your brother should prepare to disappear from this world. I won't be able to help you then."

Yara flinched, bit her lip, and tremblingly pulled out her phone from her pocket.

I glanced at her, turned back to pick up the desk phone, and called Soren. "The whole department can return to normal now. Tell everyone that no one in this project department stole any materials. It was just a system problem, a false alarm. Order some coffee and cakes for everyone to calm them down."

Yara looked at me hopefully, her eyes full of gratitude: "Thank you for being willing to preserve my reputation."

I knew she did this because of her family, so I wasn't that angry anymore. "I have no deep grudge against you, no need to destroy you completely. You can naturally continue working at this company in the future. Alright, send me the contact information from your phone."

Yara thanked me repeatedly, wiped her tears, and left.

I narrowed my eyes, took out my phone, captured a few screenshots of Amara and Orion meeting at the restaurant, and sent them directly to Amara's email using an encrypted anonymous account.

They were already starting to move against me impatiently.

Then I'd make them panic first.

I was thinking when the office door was suddenly knocked.

Heath came in, looking troubled: "Seraphine, there's something you need to get, but Octavius might be looking for it too."

I paused, my gaze turning cold. "Then I definitely need to get my hands on it. What is it?"