Chapter 211
Chapter 211
The moment Jude pointed out the location, Sharon’s expression sharpened. “I need a computer and access to those surveillance videos! che sau
If Jude really had seen someone, then something had to have been recorded.
And if nothing showed up in the footage… then the footage itself was suspicious.
“Shari, are you saying someone tampered with the video?” Aaron asked, already narrowing his eyes.
“Exactly.”
Sharon nodded. This was no coincidence.
So many lives had been lost–if she couldn’t even find the person responsible, what kind of family head was she?
In no time, the equipment was moved into the living room, and Sharon pulled up the footage on screen.
She immediately launched a small program and began writing code to cross–compare the videos.
Her hands were still bandaged, but that didn’t slow her down. Lines of complex code streamed across the screen–far too dense for any outsider to
follow.
Aaron watched in silence for a moment before speaking, “Let me take it from here.”
He slipped into the seat beside her, fingers flying over the keyboard as he picked up right where she left off. In seconds, he isolated the footage from the relevant time frame.
Sharon’s eyes lit up slightly. ‘Impressive.’ He had only watched her work briefly and already matched her logic step for step.
Most hackers–even skilled ones–struggled to keep up with her mental process.
“Based on the timestamps and route,” Aaron said, “these are the only videos that cover that area during the timeframe.”
Sharon clicked through them all at double speed. From start to finish, everything appeared normal.
No anomalies. No shadows. No signs of manipulation.
Sharon turned to Jude. “You’re sure you didn’t make this up?”
“I swear I didn’t!” Jude said, voice tight with frustration. “I wouldn’t lie about this.”
“I believe you,” she said softly. “Send someone to check those cameras right now. If they were tampered with, it probably wasn’t cleaned up properly.”
“You think someone rigged the feeds?” Aaron asked, stunned.
Sharon stared at the screen. “I don’t think we’re watching today’s footage at all.”
The room fell into silence.
‘But… that’s not possible,‘ Walter muttered to himself. ‘We all saw the footage. That’s the Reserve. It’s clearly real.’
Aaron raised an eyebrow. “So you think someone inserted pre–recorded footage into the live stream?”
“Not exactly,” Sharon replied. “That would’ve left traces. The simpler method is to physically block the camera and play a fake feed in front of the lens.”
Some people still looked confused.
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Chapter 211
She clarified, “What we’re seeing might be a real video–but not from today. It’s recycled.”
Walter’s face darkened. He finally understood. “No matter the cost,” he said, “we’ll get to the bottom of this.”
returned holding three small devices in their hands. “We found these. They were attached to the
Moments later, the team sent to inspect the cameras re cameras. Looks like you were right.”
Sharon smiled coldly.
‘Exactly as I thought. She’d read about this trick on the Hunter Forum before, in a niche technical post. Never expected someone would actually use it
here.
‘They really thought I wouldn’t notice? That they could trick me with something so
basic?‘
She pointed to the devices. “Check for fingerprints. Bag the materials. We might be able to trace the source.”
If they had the hardware, they had a trail.
Whoever did this was professional–likely too smart to leave prints–but the materials could still point to a supplier.
The mood in the hall turned heavy.
Walter stood, voice grim. “Until we have answers, everyone should rest. Once the Academy recovers the bodies… we’ll hold the funerals.”
The word “funeral” hit like a hammer. Cries erupted around the room.
Sharon clenched her fists. She was barely holding it together.
‘This was supposed to be my first visit as the new head of the Vance family’s extended line. It mattered. Someone clearly wanted to challenge me- wanted to send a message.‘
She rubbed her temples and pulled out her phone. Opening the Hunter Forum, she scrolled through the trending posts. Unsurprisingly, the gossip had
already spread.
[BREAKING: Massive Velvyn attack near a prominent family’s estate. Heavy casualties. Most promising heir was injured. Entire branch wiped out.]
[Brutal. If it were all low–rankers, it’s not hard to guess which family it was.]
[Which one?]
[Who else? The Vance family. Word is the main siblings were on–site. Looks like the extended branch died protecting them.]
[Figures. In families like this, only the “main line” gets to matter. Everyone else? Disposable.]
Sharon scanned the posts, her eyes narrowing. Whoever orchestrated this was clearly enjoying the fallout.
She opened the bounty board and drafted a new mission.
[Mission Title: Bounty–Seeking 100 High–Ranking Martial Artists.]
[Objective: Protect the Vance Family’s Extended Branch; Location: Listed below.]
[Payment: Mid–Ranking Martial Artists: 100,000 Hunter Coins/month; High–Ranking Martial Artists: 200,000 Hunter Coins/month; Applicants Welcome, Immediate Deployment.]
Within minutes, the post hit the top of the trending list.
The same trolls who’d been mocking the Vance family suddenly changed their tune.
בור
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Chapter 211
[Who is this alt account? That’s a massive payout. You even have that kind of money?)
[Rumor has it this is Sharon Vance’s burner. Same one she used for that bounty last month to locate a missing person. Don’t know if the ever paid, though.]
(She’s just a kid. No way she has that kind of cash. Probably just bluffing.)
Without a word, Sharon transferred one million Hunter Coins into the bounty account.
Pér Hunter Forum rules, clients prepaid into escrow to ensure security–funds would be held until completion and then released to the hunters.
The second that transfer posted, the comment section went silent.
One million Hunter Coins?
No one was laughing now.