Chapter 858 Gathering Storms

• Her pedigree had always been there, etched beneath the softness—the daughter of statesmen, raised between command bunkers and ballroom chandeliers.
• With Connor, she chose the gentle role, content to let his shadow shield her, yet never blind to the dangers beyond the gate.
• Connor finally muted the television, turning fully toward her. "Blue Research Center has been expanding for years, and with growth comes appetite," he said, voice a low, even rumble. "As you noted, the state can't punish them—unless we obtain evidence of crimes heinous enough to turn public opinion into a weapon. Otherwise, they remain untouchable, because too many countries depend on their work. That dependency is their armor. Even I might not walk away clean if I go toe-to-toe with them."