Chapter 110

The clock on the wall of the control room read 3:17 AM as

Camille stood by Hannah Zhao's workstation, watching streams of code flicker across multiple screens. A faint blue glow bathed the room in ethereal light, casting long shadows across the faces of the twelve er six hours.

“It's time,” Hannah said, looking up at Camille with red-

rimmed eyes that nonetheless sparkled with determination. "The first section of the Grid is ready for activation."

Camille nodded, her heart pounding against her ribs. "Everyone in position?”

Through her earpiece, Alexander's steady voice confirmed, "Security teams are in place. The suspected saboteur is

working on the east junction, thinking he's alone while preparing the final circuits."

"And whoever it is has no idea we've replaced everything?" Camille asked Hannah.

Hannah's lips curved into a smile that

held no humor. "Not unless they actually test the components, which doesn't appear to be part of their instructions. Whoever it is, they're following the sabotaged plans to the letter, installing modified circuits tha seventy-two hours after full activation."

Camille took a deep breath, steadying herself against the edge of the desk. This wasn't just a business venture

or even a simple triumph over Rose and Herod. The Phoenix Grid represented something more profound-

her rebirth from the ashes of Camille Lewis into someone new, someone who

created rather than destroyed.

"Let's bring it online," she said quietly.

Hannah's fingers flew across the keyboard. "Initiating power

sequence to Section A. Substation One coming online in five, four, three, two..."

The room fell silent as

the main display showed a schematic of the Grid's first section, a network of intersecting lines spanning six city blocks. For a heart- stopping moment, nothing

happened. Then, one by one, the connection points illuminated, bright blue dots spreading through the network like stars appearing in the evening sky.

"Power flow stable," called out Rishabh from his monitoring station. "All junction points green. Transformer loads at expected levels." "Voltage regulation is holding," added

Elena, her voice tight with concentration. "No fluctuations detected."

"Security protocols

active," said Marcus, his fingers moving rapidly across his keyboard, "No unauthorized access attempts."

Camille found herself holding her breath as the indicators continued to light up across the display. This

was it, the moment they would discover if their countermeasures

had worked, if they had truly managed to outmaneuver Rose and Herod's

sabotage.

1/6

Chapter 110

"Section A fully operational," Hannah announced finally, swiveling in her chair to face the room. “Ladies and gentlemen, we have successfully brought the first section of the Phoenix Grid online."

Cheer erupted from the exhausted team, the sound of it washing over Camille like a wave. She closed her eyes briefly, allowing herself to feel the victory.

"Remarkable work," came Victoria's voice from the doorway. Camille hadn't heard her enter. "But I presume we're maintaining appearances?"

appears we're following the sabotaged blueprints exactly. Our corrections are invisible unless someone physically inspects the component Victoria nodded, her silver hair catching the blue light from the

came through the speakers. "Currently packing up his tools, looking

encrypted, but our team picked up the word

more confident Rose and Herod feel, the more likely they are

the

known many enemies in

as the Prestons. Herod's father would be proud of his son's

"We have something they

through the comm

complex data flows. "I've implemented what I

minor issues

the normal startup process. If anyone's monitoring our systems remotely, they'll see

flaws preparing

the backup power systems?" Victoria

just as you requested," Hannah confirmed. "If anything goes wrong, we can shift

interruption, no

felt a strange mixture of emotions as she watched the

her creation pulse with life. Pride in

destroy it. And something else, a quiet satisfaction that went

the group and walking to the large windows overlooking

Dawn was still

but New York never truly slept. Lights twinkled in office

apartments, people going

their lives unaware of the battle being waged in the shadows. Somewhere out there,

stared back at her from the glass-a woman

barely resembled Camille Lewis anymore, that trusting woman who

"Penny for your thoughts?"

her. He had arrived in person,

hers in

who I've become,” she admitted. "When Victoria found me, all I

to make

creating something that

difference between you and Rose. She

to face him. "Do you

we've discovered the sabotage?"

shook his head. "If she

mistakes. Everything suggests

their trap is

"Two more

official launch," Camille said quietly. "Everything we've worked for

down to that moment."

countered, taking her hand. His

project

your whole

looked down

the hospital room where they had first met years ago,

that their paths had crossed twice, once when she was simply kind to a stranger, and again when that

across the room. "You

returned to the central console where

up

to a flashing indicator. "Someone's trying to view the activation data from

it?" Victoria

fingers flew across the keyboard.

multiple proxies, but..

appears to be a penthouse

"Herod's building," Alexander

“They're wondering if their sabotage is

give them exactly what

the honeypot data. Let them think

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255