Briar’s piercing gaze was almost as if he could read minds, reminding Katelyn of Vincent’s intense look from earlier.
Though similar to Vincent’s, Briar’s eyes conveyed a different kind of fierceness.
Vincent’s eyes were sharp like a dagger, while Briar’s resembled a sheathed blade, still emitting a faint coldness.
His extensive life experiences had turned him inward, giving him a somewhat grim demeanor.
Because of this, Katelyn was direct, hiding nothing as she broached the subject.
“Briar, someone impersonated me to infiltrate a firewall and access confidential data earlier today. Do you have any idea who this hacker might be? Are they pretending to be TS?”
Briar pondered, a flicker of disdain crossing his features. “As if they could really…”
“The fact is, I’m at a loss myself. That’s why I came to you.”
“The hacker was competent, nearly breaching the firewall. Despite my efforts, I still can’t pinpoint who they are.”
While explaining, Katelyn pulled out her phone to show Briar a screenshot of the hacker’s attempt on Vincent’s company.
As Jaxen had observed, individual habits lead to unique identifiers, allowing those familiar with these people to recognize these nuances.
Briar examined the phone, scanning the intricate codes displayed.
Katelyn furrowed her brows and continued, “I only took online orders for the first two years and later stopped doing this for three years. I believe I hold no grudges against other hackers, but could this be a targeted attack against me?”
Verified and published at g ln ovels.
Briar responded with a relaxed smile, “The hacker has some skills. He’s definitely trying hard to mask his identity well, though his methods are still lacking. I’ll assist in investigating this and keep you informed.”
After reviewing the information, Briar handed her phone back. Katelyn accepted it, nodding emphatically in gratitude.
“Thank you so much, Briar.”
Leaning back in his chair, Briar waved off her thanks casually. “You’re welcome. After all, we’re close friends.”
Katelyn smiled at him.
Briar was not just a close friend. He also played the roles of mentor and father figure to her.
Despite the age difference, they shared a deep, unspoken understanding.
While spending time with Briar, Katelyn noticed it was 10 P.M. as the clock chimed.
She glanced at the clock and then picked up her helmet. “I need to head home now. I’ll come by another day,” she said.
Briar, supporting himself with his crutch, nodded and smiled in agreement. “Okay.”
Katelyn then left the tavern and mounted her motorcycle. Dressed in tight leather that highlighted her figure, she waved goodbye to Briar, lowered her helmet’s visor, and started the engine. In a moment, she vanished into the night.
Unbeknownst to her, Briar’s warm smile faded as soon as she turned away.
The light from the streetlamps cast a glow on one side of his face, leaving the other half obscured by shadow, reflecting the dual nature of his emotions.
Katelyn sped home, arriving in under thirty minutes. Upon returning, she took another hot shower and once again fortified the firewall for Vincent’s company.
This security measure was only a temporary solution. She needed to find an opportunity to implement a more permanent fix at Adams Group.
Meanwhile, several high-definition photographs secretly taken of her crossing the bridge lay scattered across a desk.
Her silhouette was especially striking in these images. In a dimly lit room, a figure looking at one of the photographs murmured in surprise, “Is that Katelyn Hailey?”
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