Chapter 449: A Second Chance!!

"My name is Miles Sterling."

"Chairman of Sterling Enterprises."

The words finally settled.

Hannah slowly blinked.

"What...?"

Ryan looked toward Owen.

Owen looked toward Caleb.

Connor’s face had gone pale.

Lucy, who had only just stopped crying, seemed even more nervous now.

The fear in the room changed.

A few moments ago, they had been afraid of being caught.

Now they understood exactly whose event they had infiltrated.

Whose company they had tried to compromise.

And whose name NULL had been casually discussing like a target.

Only days ago...

Someone among them had joked that Sterling Enterprises would fall.

Now its Chairman was sitting right in front of them.

Miles noticed the change immediately.

He sighed.

"Am I really that scary?"

No one answered.

He looked at Owen.

"How old are you?"

Owen swallowed.

"Twenty-one."

Miles looked at the rest.

"Twenty?"

"Twenty-one?"

A few of them nodded.

Miles leaned back.

"I’m twenty-three."

Owen stared.

"You’re just twenty-three?"

Miles smiled.

"Yes, Owen."

"Just twenty-three."

Ryan slowly looked at him again.

Miles continued,

"So stop looking at me like some seventy-year-old businessman is sitting in front of you."

That broke the tension slightly.

Not much.

But enough.

Miles rested both hands together.

"I know everything about you."

Their expressions tightened again.

Miles immediately added,

"Relax."

"I’m not threatening you."

He looked toward Hannah.

"You all have excellent academic records."

Then toward Caleb.

"Good enough that none of you needed to do something stupid like this."

Nobody spoke.

Miles continued,

"You all have good technical skills."

"Your professors speak highly of you."

"And honestly..."

He looked around the room.

"Even if your project failed completely..."

"You could still graduate and find very good jobs."

Ryan lowered his eyes.

Miles asked,

"So what was it?"

No answer.

"Greed?"

Owen’s expression changed.

"Or..."

Miles continued,

"Are you really that serious about your project?"

Ryan finally spoke.

"We are serious."

Miles looked toward him.

Ryan’s voice became firmer.

"We are very serious about it."

"That’s why we participated in Launchpad in the first place."

Miles nodded.

"I know."

Ryan stopped.

Miles continued,

"I can see it."

"You don’t look like people who threw something together in a weekend."

He pointed toward one of the closed laptops.

"You’ve spent time on it."

"Probably too much time."

A few of them looked at each other.

Miles smiled faintly.

"You’ve argued about it."

"Stayed awake at night."

"Changed things."

"Started over."

"Made plans."

"Scrapped plans."

He looked toward Ryan.

"And you’re still here."

Ryan nodded slowly.

Miles continued,

"That’s determination."

Then his expression became serious.

"So why take the wrong way?"

No one had an answer.

Miles looked toward Hannah.

"Do you think your project isn’t good enough to succeed legitimately?"

Hannah immediately shook her head.

"No."

Her reply came quickly.

"Definitely not."

Miles waited.

She continued,

"We believe in it."

"We believe in our hard work."

"And our idea."

Miles nodded.

"Good."

He looked around.

"Then act like it."

Hannah lowered her eyes.

Miles leaned forward slightly.

"You’re all smarter than the way you’ve behaved since coming here."

That landed harder than anger would have.

He continued calmly,

"This is simple."

"I don’t want students ruining their futures because someone dangled easy money in front of them."

Lucy looked down.

Miles continued,

"You have a bright future ahead."

"All of you."

"So what exactly were you thinking?"

Nobody answered.

Miles looked from one to another.

"You aren’t little kids."

"You understand consequences."

"You understand what unauthorized access means."

"You understand what happens if you help someone compromise a secured event."

Owen clenched his hands.

Miles continued,

"So did he scare you?"

Owen looked up.

Miles smiled faintly.

"No."

He answered his own question.

"He didn’t."

The students looked toward him.

Miles continued,

"He doesn’t have the guts."

That surprised them.

Lucy asked quietly,

"You know him?"

Miles looked toward her.

Then smiled.

"Well..."

"That’s one detail I’d rather keep you out of, Lucy."

Lucy stared.

Connor finally asked,

"You really know all our names?"

Miles turned toward him.

"You’re Connor."

Miles pointed gently.

"He’s Caleb."

Then looked across the others.

"Owen."

"Ryan."

"Hannah."

"Lucy."

Miles continued,

"I’ve been watching the Launchpad."

The students became confused again.

Miles smiled.

"Not just you."

"Everyone."

He looked toward Lucy.

"For example..."

"Lucy helped a younger school student win one of the afternoon activities."

Lucy looked surprised.

Miles continued,

"You could’ve taken the answer yourself."

"But you let her speak."

"She got the credit."

"You just helped her organize her thoughts."

Lucy’s expression softened slightly.

Miles looked toward Owen.

"Owen."

"You’re already group leader."

Owen blinked.

Miles continued,

"And your group has two participants older than you."

"You still managed to get selected."

Owen looked down.

Miles turned toward Caleb.

"Caleb aced the quiz session."

Caleb’s eyes widened.

"Every question except one."

Caleb almost smiled.

Miles continued,

"Hannah..."

She looked toward him.

"You somehow ended up on stage with the band during the music event."

Hannah’s face immediately turned awkward.

Ryan looked at her.

She muttered,

"They asked for volunteers."

Miles smiled.

"You volunteered very enthusiastically."

For the first time, a small laugh almost escaped someone.

Miles looked toward Ryan.

"You asked so many questions during the mentor session that the speaker gave you extra ten minutes afterward."

Ryan’s expression changed.

Miles continued,

"And you wrote everything down."

Then Connor.

"You..."

Connor straightened slightly.

"Public speaking."

Connor blinked.

Miles nodded.

"You’re very good."

"Clear voice."

"No unnecessary words."

"Good confidence."

Connor looked genuinely surprised.

Miles continued,

"And regardless of today’s activities..."

"All six of you have won multiple hackathons before."

Silence returned.

But it was different now.

Less defensive.

Less afraid.

Miles leaned back.

"Don’t think I came here with a script."

He smiled.

"You can give me the name of almost any Launchpad participant."

"I’ll tell you how their day went."

Ryan looked at him carefully.

Miles continued,

"Because we care."

"Me."

"The Foundation."

"The mentors."

"The operations team."

"The people who have been working almost day and night to make this program happen."

He glanced toward the hidden equipment.

"We didn’t build this because we needed another event."

"We built it for people like you."

The words made the room quieter.

Then Miles’ expression changed.

"And the man you trusted..."

He reached inside his jacket.

The students immediately tensed.

Miles noticed.

He sighed.

"Relax."

He pulled out a folded sheet.

Then placed it on the table.

A copy of an airline ticket.

Owen looked toward it first.

Miles pushed it forward.

"He’s leaving tomorrow."

Nobody moved.

Miles continued,

"Did any of you know that?"

The six students looked down.

That was answer enough.

Miles nodded slowly.

"I thought so."

Ryan looked at the ticket.

Miles continued,

"You think he’ll stay for you?"

"Help with your project?"

"Build your careers?"

"Protect you if something goes wrong?"

No one spoke.

Miles tapped the ticket once.

"The moment he finishes what he came here to do..."

"He leaves."

"And you stay."

He looked at Owen.

"With the consequences."

Then Hannah.

"With your university."

Then Ryan.

"With your parents."

Then Lucy.

"With whatever happens to your future."

Lucy wiped her eyes again.

Miles’ voice softened.

"I’m not your teacher."

"I’m not your guardian."

"And I’m not sitting here to scold you."

He paused.

"I’m twenty-three."

He smiled slightly.

"You can treat me like an older brother if that makes this easier."

The students looked toward him.

Miles continued,

"But as long as you’re part of Sterling Launchpad..."

"Your safety is my responsibility."

He looked toward all six.

"So I’m asking you once."

"You still want this chance?"

Nobody answered immediately.

Then Owen stood.

Miles looked toward him.

Owen bowed his head slightly.

"We want it."

His voice trembled.

"Please forgive us."

Miles remained silent.

Owen continued,

"As team leader..."

"I apologize on everyone’s behalf."

Ryan looked toward him.

Owen clenched his fists.

"I shouldn’t have supported this in the beginning."

"I thought..."

He stopped.

Miles waited.

Owen continued,

"I thought if we got the money first..."

"We could deal with whatever came later."

He laughed bitterly.

"That sounds stupid now."

Miles replied calmly,

"It was stupid."

Owen nodded.

"I know."

Hannah stood next.

"We’re sorry, Mr. Sterling."

Miles looked toward her.

She continued,

"We’ll do whatever you tell us."

"If you still give us a chance."

Ryan nodded.

Caleb too.

Connor remained quiet, but his expression said enough.

Lucy wiped her face and nodded as well.

Miles sighed.

Then smiled faintly.

"Sit."

They sat again.

Miles continued,

"I’m not going to put any of you in danger."

That immediately got their attention.

He looked toward Owen.

"I only want information."

Owen nodded quickly.

Miles continued,

"Who exactly is behind this?"

"Do you know?"

The students looked toward one another.

No one answered.

Miles understood.

"Alright."

"What about his plan?"

"What exactly is he trying to do?"

Owen swallowed.

Miles continued,

"I know there’s some kind of script involved."

Ryan’s expression changed.

Miles noticed.

"So there is."

Ryan slowly nodded.

Miles became more attentive.

"Digital attack?"

"Or something else?"

Owen looked toward the others.

Then back at Miles.

"We’ll tell you everything."

Miles leaned back.

His expression relaxed.

"I’m all ears."

...

The conversation lasted longer than Miles expected.

But he didn’t rush them.

At first, the students spoke nervously.

Stopping.

Correcting one another.

Looking toward the door every few seconds.

Miles let them.

The more they talked, the easier it became.

He didn’t threaten them.

Didn’t raise his voice.

Didn’t remind them repeatedly who he was.

He simply listened.

Asked questions when needed.

Made sure they understood what not to do next.

By the end...

Lucy had stopped crying.

Ryan no longer looked like he was about to run.

Owen’s shoulders had relaxed.

Even Hannah looked less defensive.

Before leaving...

Miles repeated only one thing.

"Behave normally."

He looked at them.

"Don’t suddenly become distant."

"Don’t act scared."

"Don’t ask him suspicious questions."

"And don’t try anything on your own."

Owen nodded.

"He’ll notice."

"He might."

Miles stood.

"But I know him."

A faint smile appeared.

"If you act normal..."

"He’ll believe what he wants to believe."

Ryan asked,

"What happens to us now?"

Miles looked toward him.

"You continue Launchpad."

Ryan stared.

"That’s it?"

Miles smiled.

"That’s it."

Hannah looked surprised.

Miles continued,

"Tomorrow your university sends another escort."

"You participate."

"You learn."

"You compete."

"Like everyone else."

Lucy whispered,

"And after Launchpad?"

Miles shrugged.

"Depends on how good your project is."

For the first time...

A few of them smiled.

Miles pulled his hood up again.

Then looked toward the room.

"And clean this mess."

He pointed toward the hidden equipment.

"But don’t remove anything he expects to see."

Owen nodded.

"Understood."

Miles opened the door.

Then stopped.

He looked back.

"One more thing."

Everyone looked toward him.

Miles smiled.

"Good luck."

Then left.

...

A few minutes later...

Miles sat inside his car.

The vehicle remained parked farther down the road from SeaShell Homestays.

He looked through the side window.

Then...

A familiar hooded figure appeared.

NULL.

Walking casually toward the homestay.

Hands inside his pockets.

Completely unaware that the six students he had been using had already spoken to Miles.

Miles watched him disappear inside.

A small smirk appeared.

"Still the same, huh?"

He leaned back.

His expression became colder.

"I’ll find out who’s behind you, NULL."

He looked toward the entrance.

"And whoever it is..."

His eyes narrowed.

"...will reap exactly what they sowed."

Miles started the car.

Then pulled away from the road.

...

His phone rang a few minutes later.

Charles.

Miles answered through the car system.

"Boss?"

Miles kept his eyes on the road.

"They don’t know."

Charles immediately understood.

"Who hired him?"

"No."

Miles continued,

"They know what NULL asked them to do."

"They know parts of his plan."

"But they don’t know the client."

Charles sighed.

"Then we have no choice."

Miles nodded.

"We stop him."

"Yes."

A pause.

Then Miles said,

"Get me a fake gun."

Charles went silent.

"A what?"

"A fake gun."

Charles sounded completely confused.

"Boss..."

"Yes?"

"Why?"

Miles smiled faintly.

"Fingers versus fists isn’t fair, right?"

Charles started laughing.

"Sometimes... I really don’t understand you."

Miles smiled.

"You don’t have to."

Charles recovered.

"Fine."

"I’ll arrange it."

Miles’ expression became serious again.

"Tell me about Citadel."

Charles immediately shifted tone.

"All targets neutralized."

Miles listened carefully.

"The Rhythm Street surveillance?"

"Handled."

Charles continued,

"And tomorrow is big on both fronts."

Miles looked toward the road ahead.

"The warriors are ready?"

"Yes."

Charles continued,

"They’re prepared to raid the dead soldiers’ hideout."

Miles’ grip tightened slightly around the steering wheel.

"We’ll be ready for NULL here."

Charles paused.

"Tomorrow could get messy."

Miles smiled faintly.

"Then make sure our people are cleaner."

Charles laughed.

"Understood."

Miles continued,

"Wish them luck."

"I will."

A brief silence.

Then Charles said,

"Good night, Boss."

"Good night."

The call ended.

Miles continued driving toward Pearl Villa.

The city had already begun getting quiet .

Then...

Miles noticed someone walking near the side of the road.

A teenage girl.

He almost drove past.

Then slowed.

Something about her looked familiar.

Miles looked again.

Then stopped the car near the curb.

He lowered the passenger-side window.

"Hope?"

The girl stopped.

Then turned.

Her eyes widened.

It was the same teenage girl Miles had met at the convenience store a few days earlier.

The one who had helped him pick candy.

She walked closer.

"Brother..."

Then suddenly corrected herself.

"I mean..."

"Mr. Sterling?"

Miles smiled.

"You can call me Brother."

Hope looked slightly embarrassed.

Miles continued,

"My little sister Hope said thank you."

Hope blinked.

"For the flowers."

Then she remembered.

"Oh."

Her expression brightened.

"She liked them?"

"A lot."

Miles smiled.

"She smelled them for almost five minutes."

Hope laughed.

"I’m glad."

Miles looked around.

Then at the darkening road.

His expression became slightly serious.

"It’s getting late."

"Where are you going?"

Hope looked ahead.

"Home."

"Walking?"

She nodded.

Miles frowned.

"Why?"

"My bicycle broke."

She pointed vaguely behind her.

"I left it at the store."

Miles looked toward the direction she had come from.

"You worked today too?"

"Yes."

"This late?"

Hope smiled awkwardly.

Miles sighed.

"You really shouldn’t work this late."

Hope looked down.

"Your parents aren’t worried?"

"They are."

Miles waited.

Hope continued,

"It’s just..."

"The store was very busy today."

"We were short staffed."

"So I stayed."

Miles looked at her for a second.

Then unlocked the passenger door.

"Get in."

Hope immediately shook her head.

"No."

Miles raised an eyebrow.

"You don’t have to drop me."

"It’s okay."

Miles looked at the road again.

"Where do you live?"

Hope hesitated.

"It’s not very far."

"Good."

Miles nodded.

"Then it’ll be a short drive."

Hope smiled nervously.

"Really, you don’t have to."

Miles looked directly at her.

"Now that I’ve seen you walking alone..."

Hope stopped.

Miles continued,

"I’ll keep thinking about whether you reached home safely."

He gestured toward the seat.

"So..."

"It’s better for both of us if I just drop you myself."

Hope stared at him.

Miles added,

"Please get in."

There was no force in his voice.

Just concern.

Hope finally smiled.

Then opened the door.

"Okay."

She sat inside.

Miles waited until she closed the door.

Then started driving again.

Hope looked around the interior of the car.

Then toward Miles.

"You really are different."

Miles glanced toward her.

"From what?"

"Other rich people."

Miles laughed.

"Rich?"

Hope smiled.

Miles continued,

"Believe me..."

"If I had a bicycle today instead of this car..."

He looked toward her.

"I’d still ask you to sit on it."

Hope laughed.

"Seriously?"

"Of course."

He smiled.

"Maybe you’d have to hold the groceries."

Hope laughed again.

Then looked toward him.

"You have a wife, right?"

Miles nodded.

"Yes."

Hope smiled.

"She’s very lucky."

Miles looked ahead.

"She says the same thing."

Hope giggled.

Miles smiled.

Then...

His eyes moved briefly toward her hands.

Something caught his attention.

A mark near her wrist.

His smile faded.

"Is that a bruise?"

Hope immediately pulled her sleeve down.

"Where?"

Miles looked toward her.

"Your wrist."

Hope covered it more carefully.

"What bruise?"