O <


    Chapter 262 Can I Take Freya With Me


    Freya found herself utterly tongue-tied. She instinctively dismissed Natasha''s words without giving them a second thought.


    After ncing at Natasha-still hunched over theptop, diligently trying to crack the virus-Freya stepped away to dry her clothes.


    The outfit Natasha had handed her resembled a pair of soft, loose pajamas. While it was decent enough to wear indoors, it certainly wasn''t ideal forbat or any sort of rigorous activity.


    Thankfully, Freya''s own clothes dried quickly, and she slipped back into them while Natasha remained absorbed in her work. Everything else had been neatly restored to its original ce.


    When Natasha finally finished, she looked up and noticed Freya had already changed. "Freya, don''t you like the clothes I gave you?"


    "They''re not suitable for going out."


    "You could just stay here and sleep in this room. I''ll speak to Brendan."


    "He won''t agree,"


    "Then I''ve got other clothes. You can pick whatever you like."


    "No, thanks," Freya declined calmly. "I''m heading out now. Thank you."


    Seeing Freya act so distant made Natasha feel a pang of difort. She couldn''t shake the feeling that Freya''s coldness stemmed from viewing her as some sort


    of creep.


    Luckily, the virus had been dealt with, so Natasha simply followed along.


    Brendan, noticing the two women had taken longer than expected, furrowed his brows slightly. "What took you so long?".


    "It was my fault," Natasha confessed. "My mentor nted a virus in myptop and just now tracked my location. She probably knows exactly where we are."


    "K?"


    "Yes."


    Brendan instinctively turned his gaze toward Freya.


    Right after Natasha had stepped away from theptop, it hade under attack. Could that really be a


    coincidence?


    00%


    15:53


    III


    =


    <


    "Myptop got backed while she was besh me wake expliced fury, Conning sex to da mate her"


    If sheid everything bare, they all definitely think the wee boy chay daha tended to hold CA details


    in


    Ashley, overbearing bits of their exchange, word ons eied by how freys had managed to pull it off


    Freya had never openly admitted she was 7, but we an awrything that had haysened, Ashley and certain "Did you find her location?" Brendan wah


    "I couldn''t find her," Natasha said it with confiction. "Didn''t I tell you? I can beat anyone else, bor if it''s my


    but mentor, I absolutely lose."


    K was on another level.


    Brendan''s eyes remained unreadable, but he didn''t say anything more


    No one could surpass K in the world ofputing-but without aputer, she was just a regr person With that thought in mind, Brendan discreetly sent out a message from his phone.


    While things on Brendan''s end had be rtively calmer, elsewhere the mood was entirely different.


    After receiving Freya''s message about Butterfly Ind, Greta and her friends immediately set off Trent and Frederick began making their own preparations.


    Ellis had started contacting his connections.


    As for Kristian, he received a text from an unlisted number. It was clearly a virtual line, but he immediately knew it was Freya who had sent it.


    Just seeing that she was safe made him breathe easier.


    The sea breeze was sharp at this hour, and with only a thin shirt on, Kristian shivered but didn''t move.


    After reading Freya''s message, he made a call. When the other line picked up, he asked, "Have you pinpointed Freya''s location?"


    "Yes," came the quick reply. "She''s on Brendan''s ship. Based on their current trajectory, there are three possible destinations-Butterfly Ind, Cloud Ind, and Graham. It''s unclear where they''re ultimately headed."


    "No matter which ce it ends up being, I just want her safe," Kristian stressed.


    The person on the other end of the phone replied, "No problem."


    After ending the call, Kristian felt a small wave of relief settle over him.


    Brendan''s men were monitoring his every move, so the moment he ended that call, it was reported.


    Brendan turned to Natasha and ordered her to check who Kristian had contacted.


    But they came up empty.


    "Didn''t you say no one could beat you except K?" Brendan''s tone hinted at skepticism, as though he thought


    24.5%


    mo


    15.53


    O<


    Natasha was ying games.


    "The person Kristian called is either my mentor or someone''s phone she created encryption for," Natasha stated firmly. Based on the interception I encountered,


    the phone owner is likely someone who utilized her top -tier secure phone system."


    Brendan was stunned.


    Meanwhile, Freya remained pensive.


    She had once sold a highly secure phone system to five individuals. Could Kristian be connected to one of them?


    "Are you certain the person he contacted isn''t K?" Brendan pressed. "Positive,” Natasha replied without hesitation. "If it were my mentor, she''d likelymunicate through text."


    "Look into everyone she sold that system to. Find out who they are," Brendan ordered at once. "When you''ve got names, give them to me."


    Natasha was speechless.


    Brendan arched a brow. "Why aren''t you searching?"


    "I can''t dig up anything about my mentor," Natasha answered candidly. "No one


    can trace her transactions."


    Brendan regarded her silently, swirling the wine in his ss.


    After a while, he seemed to ept it.


    "If we can''t find her, then so be it. Once we get to Sweet Ind, whether she


    shows up or not won''t change


    anything."


    By then, his attention would be focused on executing his n.


    Even if K did appear, she wouldn''t be able to stop him.


    "Natasha." Brendan set down his ss. "Come with me for a moment."


    Natasha stood and followed him out to the deck. She leaned on the railing, letting the wind clear her mind, and asked, "Why did you bring me here?" "When we get to Sweet Ind, take a yacht and leave," Brendan said, eyes fixed


    on the open sea. No one could guess what he was truly thinking. "I''ve already arranged everything. Whatever happens next won''t concern you."


    "Can I take Freya with me?"


    "No, you


    can''t."


    "Alright." Natasha didn''t argue or press him further. That was exactly why Brendan


    had kept her around all


    this time.


    Ashley stood at a distance, watching them near the edge of the ship, biting her


    lower lip. Finally, she managed to get Freya alone for a moment. "Freya... I''m


    sorry..."


    "You did well," Freya murmured, just loud enough for her to hear.


    Even in that kind of situation, Ashley had still thought of her. That was rare.


    58.9%


    2


    m2 N


    15:53


    O III


    O<


    Ashley''s eyes went red instantly. She was afraid Brendan might set his sights on Freya and eventually uncover who she really was.


    "If things get dangerous, don''t worry about me. Just go," Freya instructed quietly.


    She didn''t know what she was walking into, but she wouldn''t let Ashley get caught


    in it.


    "What about you?" Ashley asked.


    "I''ve got someone who''ll help," Freya assured her.


    Ashley still felt uneasy but knew better than to argue.


    Freya had already thought about taking Brendan down right here on the ship and


    forcing his crew to reroute toward her friends. It would be clean and efficient.


    But then she thought of Brendan''s nature.


    He''d sooner blow up the ship than let anyone foil his ns.