Chapter 46 Unreliable Christopher

Chapter 46 Unreliable Christopher

Emily's POV

This place is about four hundred and seventy miles from Silverlight City. Christopher had chosen it.

That evening, the three of us gathered again to discuss how to close the deal with the company tomorrow.

Christopher spoke enthusiastically, going on and on about the advantages of the place.

"The company may have gone bankrupt, but it controls essential products the government can't do without. After Flint Advanced Defense Technologies went bankrupt, the factory and equipment were seized, but the Department of Defense's highest-level production resources weren't completely canceled. Most importantly, there's an irreplaceable element—this is the only civilian factory in Zephyria that can produce core load-bearing chassis!"

"Plus there's a Cold War legacy—a third-line workshop with independent air and biochemical filtration systems. Add to that a private heavy freight railway directly connecting to the Great Lakes deep-water port, and a super high-capacity independent hydraulic power system that was built to cool the furnaces, drawing water directly from the Luminous River bottom and bypassing the municipal water system entirely."

"A company with such natural advantages—once we take it over and get it running properly, making money hand over fist won't be an issue. Emily, that three hundred million you owe? We could pay it back in no time."

"I've put a lot of thought into this for you over the past month. Touched?"

I rolled my eyes at him. Touched? Not a chance.

After he finished, I calmly replied, "I spent three whole days researching this place."

"You're only telling us the good parts, not the bad, right?"

"The company and factory may be bankrupt, but the 'ghosts' inside are still there. Don't forget, there are at least several hundred experienced engineers and technicians who know the core mechanical blueprints by heart. They were laid off with unpaid wages, and these people tend to be very conservative."

"More importantly, before going bankrupt, the factory buried large amounts of heavy metal waste. The EPA has already fined them 2.5 billion dollars."

"Huge environmental liabilities, plus local hostility toward outsiders—with conditions like these, you still want to choose this place?"

"Do you have a death wish?"

I couldn't shake the feeling that Christopher had another motive for taking over this place.

This damn bastard never tells the whole truth.

I already considered him a friend, yet he still habitually hid things from me. Just you wait—if I ever figure it out...

Christopher couldn't help but applaud. "Joshua, look at her professionalism. Three days and she's already uncovered all this. Look at you—out early, back late every day, and no one can even find you."

Joshua shrugged. "I'm just giving you and Emily some private space."

Watching them bicker, I smiled briefly, but my expression soon fell again.

How did I end up owing so much money?

What gave me the confidence?

"Alright, alright, let's make a decision. Majority rules. Those who agree to go, raise your hands!"

I glared at Christopher and kept my hand down, but Joshua raised his.

Christopher nodded in satisfaction. "Good. Motion passed with three votes. Early flight tomorrow morning, go back and get some rest."

"Emily, you're leaving Silverlight City tonight after living there for eight years. Feeling reluctant? Want me to keep you company?"

I grabbed my slipper and threw it at him. "No need! And stop calling me Emily!"

Christopher caught the slipper, held it to his nose, and sniffed it with an intoxicated expression.

"Smells good."

"Ugh, pervert."

I turned and went back to my room—Elizabeth's room from when she was alive. I used to sleep here with her all the time.

I took out the letter she'd written.

Even though I'd read it many times, reading it again still made me sad.

In the letter, she wrote about her guilt toward me and her helplessness regarding Bruce.

She revealed that she had left her family to marry Bruce's father and had eventually realized that her father's judgment had been right—she had poor judgment when it came to men.

She asked me to apologize to her father in Lumaria if I ever had the chance.

I hadn't expected Elizabeth to be from Lumaria.

I wanted to go, but I was restricted from leaving Zephyria. Even this trip to Luminous City required special approval.

I put the letter back into the envelope and carefully stored it away.

When I get the chance, I'll definitely go.

Don't worry, Elizabeth.

From now on, I'm going to live for myself.

Christopher's face suddenly appeared in my mind.

Maybe not just for myself.

Early the next morning, we boarded the plane to Luminous City.

At ten o'clock, we got off the plane.

It was the peak of summer, and the heat was unbearable. I wiped the sweat from my forehead.

"Christopher, as the company boss, you can't let your two core employees go hungry, right?"

I don't know if it was because I'd spent too much time with him, but even my tone had become more playful.

Christopher grinned and put an arm around my shoulder. "Of course not. Come on, I'll treat you guys to a big meal."

He dragged Joshua and me into a random restaurant.

I ordered pasta.

After the waiter left, Christopher spoke up. "Actually, there's something I didn't tell you guys. When this company went up for bankruptcy court auction, I already bought all its assets for ten million dollars."

Hearing this, even my pasta lost its appeal.

He had already bought it? So he hadn't told us before because he was afraid I wouldn't come? This bastard.

I couldn't help but mock him. "Spending ten million dollars to take on over two billion dollars in debt—you really are something else."

"You flatter me. I'm quite confident," he replied casually.

After eating, we headed to the company.

The moment we arrived, we were immediately surrounded by a crowd so dense we could barely move.

A rough count showed at least a hundred people.

They were holding banners and shouting for their wages.

I turned to Christopher. He shrugged. "Maybe news of my acquisition leaked out. Or maybe they come here every day to demand payment."

There was no way they came every day.

"What are you going to do?" I asked him.

Christopher replied matter-of-factly, "Pay them."

"What a waste of money!"

He leaned closer with a mischievous smile. "What's wrong? Feeling the pinch? After all, it's your money too. Does it hurt to spend it?"

I rolled my eyes. "Get lost. I'm never marrying you. Men are all the same—useless."

Joshua, dragged into this for no reason, protested, "Hey, I think I'm an exception."

I looked at the crowd as someone shouted, "They're the new owners!"

The crowd surged forward, shaking the vehicle so violently it felt like it might tip over.

They shouted for their money.

"Christopher, what do we do?"

Christopher rubbed his head, looking slightly dizzy. "I thought you'd have a solution. Aren't you a designer?"

"Do you even know what a designer does?" I shot back, then turned on the vehicle's external speaker.

My voice rang out clearly.

"Everyone, calm down! We'll pay the wages you're owed!"