Chapter 650

Evelyn Ross's voice rang out, firm and clear.

The entire conference room fell into a dead silence.

Benjamin Wright frowned deeply, a flicker of complex emotion passing through his cloudy eyes.

Grace Lorenz hurriedly grabbed her sleeve. "Evelyn, don't... This really has nothing to do with you..."

"Who says it doesn't?"

Evelyn shook off her hand, her gaze sweeping across the room. "I am the First Senior Sister of the Cortez Sect. Matters of the Special Operations Division are my matters. I have the right to speak."

She took a step forward, placing herself between Benjamin Wright and the others.

"Grace is my friend. Benjamin Wright is her grandfather. As long as I am here today, no one will lay a finger on them."

Her words were like a stone thrown into a calm lake.

The conference room erupted.

The gratitude people had felt for Evelyn moments ago vanished, replaced by a shift in their expressions.

Marcus Wright's face turned ashen. "First Senior Sister, we respect you, but you cannot shield a spy!"

"That's right! Is the First Senior Sister in cahoots with him?"

"The rules of the Special Operations Division cannot be broken! Merit is merit, fault is fault. They cannot be conflated!"

"If we set this precedent today, who will follow the rules in the future?"

Questions and accusations rose like a tide.

Evelyn merely looked coldly at Marcus Wright.

"Yesterday, I was the one who saved Leo Wright."

Her voice was calm, yet carried undeniable force. "I was the one who defeated King."

Marcus Wright was taken aback. "Yes... but what of it?"

"I am using that merit to spare them from humiliation."

Evelyn enunciated each word clearly. "Do you accept this trade or not?"

Marcus Wright's face darkened completely.

"First Senior Sister! The Special Operations Division has never had a rule allowing merit to offset fault! You are trying to break the sect's regulations!"

"Regulations?"

Evelyn laughed, a hint of mockery in her smile. "Marcus Wright, have you forgotten? The Cortez Sect and the Special Operations Division have never been in a superior-subordinate relationship."

She took two steps forward.

"I am the First Senior Sister of the Cortez Sect. From today onward, I decide the terms of cooperation between the Cortez Sect and the Special Operations Division."

"If you want the Cortez Sect's future assistance to be forthcoming, you will grant me this favor."

"Otherwise—"

She paused, her eyes sharp as blades. "It won't be so easy for the Special Operations Division to request help from the Cortez Sect in the future."

Marcus Wright trembled with anger.

"I thought you were a reasonable person... I never imagined you would be so unreasonable!"

"Unreasonable?"

Evelyn scoffed. "I'll make myself clear right now. The choice is yours."

She turned to face Benjamin Wright.

"Today, anyone who dares to touch the old man will have to get past my fists first."

As her words fell, she raised her hand and swept it through the air.

A gust of wind whistled.

The members of the Special Operations Division instinctively took a step back.

The memory of her defeating King with a single move yesterday was still vivid in their minds.

No one dared to step forward.

Benjamin Wright sighed.

"Young lady, you don't have to do this..."

"Old fool, be quiet."

Evelyn didn't turn her head. "Today, I want to see if the First Senior Sister of the Cortez Sect truly has a voice within the Special Operations Division."

She looked back at Marcus Wright.

"And I also want to see if the Cortez Sect should continue its cooperation with the Special Operations Division."

These words carried immense weight.

Marcus Wright clenched his jaw.

Benjamin Wright stared blankly at Evelyn's back.

He suddenly understood.

This girl wasn't trying to protect him—she was using this method to turn the matter into a power struggle between the Cortez Sect and the Special Operations Division.

This way, whether he was punished or not was no longer a question of "should a spy be punished."

It became a question of "is the First Senior Sister of the Cortez Sect's face worth enough."

The only cost was...

Evelyn herself had become the target of everyone's anger.

Benjamin Wright opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing.

He knew that once this girl decided on something, no one could change her mind.

Marcus Wright stared fixedly at Evelyn.

The members of the Special Operations Division were also furious.

The First Senior Sister they had revered moments ago now seemed like a bully who abused her power.

"First Senior Sister, are you aware of how arrogant you're being? Does your master know?!"

"If the Cortez Sect Leader knew you were acting like this, he would surely discipline you!"

"Even the Cortez Sect Leader treats Marcus Wright with respect! What gives you the right to be so arrogant?!"

Accusations flooded toward her like a tidal wave.

Evelyn lowered her eyes.

"I have the authority to make decisions for the Cortez Sect."

A light, almost casual sentence, yet it silenced everyone.

Marcus Wright stared at her for a long time before suddenly letting out a cold laugh.

"Fine. Very well."

He turned to Benjamin Wright, his eyes icy. "Old man, you've raised a fine granddaughter. I wondered why you suddenly brought her into the Special Operations Division... So this was the connection."

"This matter will be reported truthfully to my superiors."

"First Senior Sister, just you wait."

With that, he turned and stormed out.

The conference room was once again enveloped in dead silence.

Evelyn let out a quiet sigh of relief.

Just then, her phone vibrated.

She looked down.

A message from Fox appeared:

[You lost.]