NOVEL WEB Chapter 117: Fired!
Silence filled the air as the spectators gaped in utter disbelief.
The stillness was violently shattered when an explosion echoed through the room.
The sudden burst of sound was followed by a faint but distinct tremor that seemed to ripple through every corner, amplifying the shock..
Vincent retreated to a safe distance as his sharp eyes caught the movement of several figures storming into the Metabot room, led by a short, stout man in an impeccably tailored suit.
The man's shiny bald head reflected the harsh fluorescent lights above, a stark contrast to the stern, stormy expression that painted his face.
"W-What's the meaning of this?! What in the world is going on here?!" the man barked, his voice a strange mix of confusion and boiling anger.
The authoritative tone cut through the lingering tension, dragging Harlot back to reality with an almost visible jolt.
Her face turned ghostly pale as her trembling eyes reluctantly focused on him.
"B-Branch Manager Vald?!" she stuttered, her voice betraying her terror.
Across the room, Anjie stiffened. She, too, recognized the man who had arrived but chose to keep her thoughts to herself, pressing her lips tightly together.
Vald, however, did not bother sparing her even a glance.
His eyes swept over Vincent, lingering momentarily with a flicker of curiosity, before fixing themselves on Harlot.
"Explain yourself, Harlot!" His voice grew louder, more demanding.
"What is the meaning of this chaos?!"
"B-Branch Manager…"
Harlot stumbled over her words, her confidence crumbling with every syllable.
"What?!" Vald snapped, his patience visibly wearing thin.
"Why is our Metabot lying there in ruins?!"
"A-About that…"
Her hesitation only served to infuriate Vald further. The frustration was clear in the way his eyebrows furrowed and his voice rose an octave.
He whirled toward Anjie, his tone carrying the sharpness of a blade.
"Anjie! You explain this mess!"
Anjie hesitated, unsure whether to respond. She stole a glance at Senior Harlot,
The moment their eyes met, Harlot's expression twisted into a scathing glare. Teeth clenched and jaw tight, Harlot's silent warning couldn't have been clearer.
Don't you dare.
Anjie subconsciously lowered her head in response. But then, Vincent's calm voice cut through the tension.
"Say it."
Vincent's voice was quiet yet commanding, imbued with an unshakable sense of confidence.
His unwavering gaze met hers, silently assuring her that the truth was the only path forward.
Gathering her courage, Anjie straightened her back and looked at the branch manager.
Her voice, though shaky at first, gained strength as she recounted the events in painstaking detail.
"Branch Manager Vald…" she began, meticulously recounting every moment, sparing no detail.
When her story concluded, Vald's face contorted, his anger reaching a palpable intensity. He turned on Harlot with eyes that burned with accusation.
"Is what she just said true?"
"I-I…" Harlot's voice faltered.
"Forget it!" Vald cut her off, his voice a booming declaration. "I'll verify the truth myself with the surveillance footage."
With a sharp gesture, he called out to one of his subordinates.
"Johnson, bring up the surveillance camera footage—now!"
With a brief nod, the man, tall and precise in his movements, reached into his coat and retrieved a sleek, compact device.
He tapped on the screen, and within moments, the scene unfolded in vivid clarity.
Every action, every word, and every emotion played out in sharp detail for all to witness.
The damning evidence left no room for denial.
Harlot's legs buckled as fear swallowed her whole.
Unable to withstand the pressure any longer, she collapsed to her knees, clutching at the hem of Vald's coat with trembling hands.
"B-Branch Manager, I'm sorry! Please forgive me! I promise I'll never do it again!" she pleaded, clutching the hem of his clothes.
Vald's expression hardened as he coldly pried her fingers from his clothes. His voice was razor-sharp when he spoke.
"Shut up! Who gave you the authority to use the company's Metabots without my permission? How did you even gain access?"
Desperate, Harlot's eyes lit up as she pointed to one of the men standing behind the branch manager.
"It was Larry's fault! He gave me admin access and said it was okay to use it!"
Larry's eyes widened in shock as his face darkened.
"You bitch?! I only gave you access after you blew me, and you said you just wanted to try it out!"
Gasp!
A collective intake of breath swept through the room.
The weight of Larry's words settled heavily on the onlookers as an air of scandal and disbelief flooded the space.
Even Vald, who had heard rumors of misconduct between the two, was momentarily stunned.
For a split second, his stern demeanor wavered, but his fury reignited, stronger than ever.
"Enough!" he roared, his voice a definitive end to the madness.
"I've heard all I need to. As of this moment, both of you are fired! Get out of my sight!"
Harlot's pleas grew more frantic as security dragged her from the room.
"N-No! Please, Branch Manager Vald! Don't do this! I'll do anything!" she screamed, thrashing against the firm grips pulling her away.
"Stop! Let me go!"
Her anguished cries gradually faded as the doors slammed shut. Larry, having accepted his fate with bitter silence, followed without protest..
Finally, Vald's gaze shifted to the source of the commotion—Vincent.
Having reviewed the footage, he knew this young man possessed remarkable strength, capable of instantly defeating a Metabot.
He addressed Vincent respectfully.
"Young Hero, I apologize for the behavior of our former employees. I hope you will give us another chance to serve you."
Without much reaction, Vincent asked, "Am I now allowed to purchase a house in a better district?"
Vald's face broke into a smile.
"Of course, Young Hero. To apologize for the inconvenience, we'll offer you a 10% discount."
"Alright. Please recommend a good place."
"As you wish, Young Hero."
Vald then turned to Anjie.
"Anjie, this Young Hero is your client. Do your best and don't disappoint me."
He gave her an approving pat on the shoulder before bidding Vincent farewell.
Anjie, still processing what had happened, jolted when Vincent's voice addressed her.
"Miss Anjie?" Enjoy exclusive chapters from empire
"Ah, yes! Please, follow me this way."
As Vincent followed, Marina—still shocked by recent events—approached him with Mochi in her arms.
"Brother, when did you get so strong?"
Vincent chuckled, his smile full of warmth and mischief.
"I've always been strong. I was just hiding it from you, Your Highness," he teased.
"Hmph! How dare you hide it from me?" she huffed, pretending to be upset before reverting to her usual cheerful tone.
"So, are we really rich now?" Her eyes sparkled with excitement, making Vincent chuckle.
"Haha, yes, Your Highness. Soon, we'll be rich, and you'll be sleeping on piles of money."
Marina couldn't contain her joy, already dreaming of buying her favorite limited-edition figurines and other treasures.