The Tycoon's Odyssey
Chapter 97 - 97: 97:Under Attack

Knowing the stat points and having one advanced-level guard card rotting with himself, Evan decided to utilize them strategically.

First, he allocated the two stat points to his Strength.

Stat points can't be put into charisma and he didn't need charms. His agility was quite good and for intelligence, there were things in the system to boost that.

Moreover, the skill upgrade card could only be used for skills that were below the Professional level, so he used it to upgrade his fighting skills to the advanced stage and this brought him a great deal of challenge.

Previously, the system had upgraded his fighting skills to intermediate, but his body wasn't durable or strong enough to utilize those skills effectively.

Now, with the advanced upgrade, he knew that if he dared to use advanced skills, it was likely that his bones would break and his muscles would be ripped.

If by instinct or as a reflex he were to attack and subconsciously use these moves, his body would surely be injured.

Having done this, he moved on to the next task in his mind: to hire a bodyguard.

_____

The young man walked through the expansive, well-lit lobby of Sentinel Shield Security, his movements slow and deliberate as he relied on a cane for support. A plaster covered his right foot, and a brace was strapped to his right arm, evidence of recent injuries. The modern, open space of the lobby, with its large windows and natural light, provided a stark contrast to his somber demeanor.

He approached the briefing area, where several candidates awaited his evaluation. Each candidate's profile was displayed on digital screens mounted on the walls, showcasing their skills and impressions.

They stood up to greet the young man.

"Hello! My name is Evan."

Evan addressed the group with a cold, commanding tone. "I'm here to assess your capabilities and readiness to join my team. Given the recent events, I expect nothing less than absolute professionalism."

He began with the first candidate, whose profile prominently appeared in his eyes.

Evan had a few sets of conditions for hiring a bodyguard for himself.

First, the person shouldn't have a family.

Second, he shouldn't be part of any criminal organization or similar group.

Third, they must at least have beginner-level fighting skills.

[ Name: Aaron Kelly

Skills: Intermediate Fighting Skills

Impression: 15 ]

Evan studied Aaron closely, "Your skills are acceptable. Explain why you should be considered despite this."

Aaron, visibly nervous, tried to make his case. "I've been in high-pressure situations before, and I'm committed to improving my skills."

Evan nodded curtly and moved on to the next profile.

[ Name: Brian Carter

Skills: Beginner Fighting Skills

Impression: 12 ]

Brian stood stiffly, avoiding eye contact. "I'm new to this line of work, but I'm eager to learn and willing to put in the effort."

Evan's expression remained impassive. "Eagerness alone doesn't suffice."

Finally, Evan's eyes fell on a huge, bulky figure with a scar.

[ Name: Mac Thompson

Skills: Advanced Fighting Skills

Impression: 18 ]

Mac, a former special forces agent who retired early due to injury, stood with confidence.

"I have extensive combat experience and have been in numerous critical situations. I understand the gravity of this role," he declared.

Evan's gaze sharpened as he assessed Mac's response. His advanced skills and composure made him a more promising candidate.

"It seems I found a jackpot. In fact, I should look for retired army personnel," Evan thought.

After reviewing all the profiles, Evan made his decision. He would select Mac for further evaluation and training, given his advanced fighting skills and potential for growth.

Evan was confident that he could help Mac overcome his injury.

As Evan finished his assessment, he turned to his remaining bodyguards. "You will work with Mac to integrate him into the team. Ensure that he meets the required standards."

_____

Next-Gen Innovations...

In a spacious office room, Aria sighed heavily, staring at stacks of paper lying around. Things slowly became chaotic and big for her to handle as the company grew rapidly out of nowhere without a stable foundation.

Due to being busy and holding off in ULS, they lost time filling the vacancies. And now with Evan's hysteria, taking employees was very difficult as Evan was dead set on scrutinizing every minute detail possible.

And why won't he do this after having been forced to go through such trouble?

In fact, if she was in his place she would have also been cautious as things like these were enough to engrave a lifelong trauma, so all she wished was for Evan to become better.

But as a result, till now she didn't even have a secretary and knew that she didn't have the right to complain. After what she had done, it would be the right way for her to pay back.

And with a guilty heart, she had been working hard day and night without taking rest to avert those obscure thoughts. Still, she couldn't help but feel distracted.

She didn't regret disclosing about Evan when her parents were threatened since it was something that she had no choice, but what she regretted the most was why she decided to even send the program to Pears.

She hated it...she hated that decision of hers.

She knew that the people at the top were eccentric, yet she couldn't believe that they would resort to such extreme means.

As Evan had said, the prospect of Breach Protector was beyond what Pear had offered to them as people would pay as much as they wanted in the name of security.

Thankfully, that bastard Steve still had some conscience, and two days later he had transferred 200 million USD as a selling price.

Aria knew that this was done not to appreciate them, but rather in fear of Suri's wrath.

While Aria mused and gloated herself for her poor vision in frustration, she heard loud screams. Someone had entered the office without even properly knocking on the door.

Frustrated, Aria was about to reprimand the guy but swallowed her words, seeing the person's pale and frightened expression.

Aria rose abruptly from her seat, her expression shifting from calm to concern in an instant.

"What's the problem?" she demanded.

The employee, visibly shaken, struggled to maintain composure under Aria's intense gaze. "It's our network, ma'am," he stammered.

"We're under attack. It appears to be a sophisticated hacking attempt. Our security systems detected unusual activity a few minutes ago. The intrusion detection system flagged multiple unauthorized access attempts, and it seems they've managed to bypass our initial layers of security."