After hanging up the phone, Phyllis's heart continued to pound. The New Year's Gala, luring the snake out of its hole. John's plan was daring and dangerous, yet it also carried a desperate resolve born from dire straits. She knew this wasn't just a grand event for the Yafei family; it was the ultimate, life-or-death confrontation between John and the "Shadow" organization. And she, as a crucial piece that could turn the tide in this chess game, would fight alongside him.
In the days that followed, the atmosphere at the Yafei Group grew even more tense and peculiar. On the surface, everything was meticulously prepared for the upcoming New Year's Gala. The family castle was elaborately decorated, glittering with lights, showcasing the Yafei family's luxury and heritage. However, beneath this grandeur, a suffocating undercurrent quietly surged, as if poised to tear through the elegant facade at any moment.
John still didn't appear at the company, but his instructions, relayed through Kevin, formed an invisible net that tightly enveloped the entire Yafei Group. Phyllis received a large volume of encrypted files daily, containing John's detailed analysis of the "Shadow" organization's operational patterns and his meticulous security plans for the New Year's Gala. He had analyzed every corner of the castle, every potential entry point, and even the background of every guest with absolute precision. Phyllis had to admit that John's intelligence and strategic planning capabilities far exceeded her imagination.
She completely immersed herself in these materials, her agent intuition and intelligence analysis skills pushed to their limits. Her collaboration with Lynn also became closer. Under John's instructions, Lynn carried out a comprehensive upgrade and renovation of the castle's security system, even setting up "traps" and "blind spots" that only Phyllis could identify, to be utilized at critical moments. Phyllis, meanwhile, was responsible for analyzing the guest list, screening suspicious individuals, and deploying covert surveillance points in various areas of the gala according to John's plan.
"There are a few names on this guest list worth noting," Phyllis said to John during an encrypted communication, her voice low and professional. "They appear to be internationally renowned entrepreneurs, but their background information is somewhat vague, and their financial flows show anomalies, overlapping with the suspicious 'Shadow' organization financial records you provided earlier."
"Excellent," John's voice came through the receiver, carrying a hint of imperceptible approval. "Send me their information. I'll have Kevin conduct a deeper investigation."
Phyllis could feel John's trust in her deepening little by little. Their conversations were no longer just business-like instructions and reports; occasionally, they'd contain unspoken understandings unique to them. For instance, when Phyllis proposed a daring tactical idea, John would pause, then quietly remark, "You always surprise me," with a hint of an almost imperceptible smile in his tone. These subtle changes flowed like a warm current through Phyllis's heart, offering rare solace amidst the coldness of the mission and strengthening her resolve to fight alongside him.
However, the internal family struggle never ceased. Uncle Osmond and Leonardo, those shrewd family members, grew even more dissatisfied seeing John's continued absence and his delegation of New Year's Gala preparations to "outsiders" like Kevin and Phyllis. They began to spread rumors privately, claiming John had suffered a mental breakdown due to the overseas branch incident, and even insinuated that he planned to transfer Yafei family assets overseas and flee. Leonardo, bolder still, openly questioned John's leadership in a media interview and suggested that Phyllis was merely John's "personal plaything," utterly incapable of handling family affairs.
These rumors spread like venomous snakes within the Yafei Group, making Phyllis's time within the company even more difficult. Some employees began to point and whisper about her, and some even openly mocked her, calling her a "trophy wife who climbed the ladder using a man." Phyllis knew very well these were all Uncle Osmond's tricks, aimed at destabilizing John's position and severing her relationship with John.
Phyllis ignored the rumors, working even harder to prove herself through her capabilities. She knew this was not the time for arguments; only by successfully thwarting the "Shadow" organization's conspiracy could these rumors be completely crushed.
Just three days before the New Year's Gala, Phyllis suddenly discovered an anomaly at a hidden surveillance point within the castle. It was a "blind spot" even Lynn didn't know about, which she had identified on John's provided blueprints based on her years of agent experience. She immediately reported the situation to John.
"The 'Shadow' organization has infiltrated," John's voice held a trace of coldness. "They are more cunning than we imagined."
"I need to go to the site to confirm," Phyllis stated firmly.
"No, it's too dangerous," John's voice carried an undeniable command. "I'll have Kevin take his men to handle it."
"No!" Phyllis countered John's order for the first time. "Only I could have found that blind spot, and only I can deal with it. If Kevin's men go, it might alert them or even expose our plan!"
John was silent for a moment, then spoke in a low voice: "Be careful."
Phyllis knew this was his greatest concession. She immediately grabbed her gear and quietly infiltrated the castle. The blind spot was located deep within a disused underground wine cellar, the air thick with mold and decay. Phyllis advanced cautiously, every step filled with heightened vigilance.
Indeed, deep in the wine cellar, she found a secret entrance disguised as a wine barrel. Beyond the entrance was a narrow passage leading to the castle's exterior. Fresh dirt and almost imperceptible footprints remained in the passage. Phyllis's heart sank; the "Shadow" organization had already infiltrated the castle ahead of time!
She followed the passage and soon arrived at a hidden exit. Outside the exit lay a dense forest. In the forest, Phyllis discovered some discarded tools, food scraps, and some nearly invisible communication devices. She knew this was a secret stronghold of the "Shadow" organization, where they were making their final preparations.
Just as Phyllis was about to investigate further, her private encrypted phone suddenly rang. It was Ryan.
"Phyllis, where are you now? We've detected abnormal activity from the 'Shadow' organization recently; they seem to be planning a large-scale operation, and the target is very likely the Yafei family's New Year's Gala!" Ryan's voice was anxious.
Phyllis's heart tightened. Ryan's intelligence confirmed John's prediction. She knew this was no time to conceal information.
"Ryan, listen to me, I'm near the Yafei family castle right now. The 'Shadow' organization has already infiltrated, and they plan to make their move at the New Year's Gala!" Phyllis quickly told Ryan what she had discovered.
Ryan was silent for a moment, then said gravely: "Phyllis, you need to evacuate immediately! This is an Interpol order! The Yafei family's affairs are too deep, and the 'Shadow' organization is more dangerous than we imagined! We've requested international support, but it will take time!"
"I can't evacuate!" Phyllis stated firmly. "John is still in there, I can't leave him behind!"
"Phyllis!" Ryan's voice carried a hint of anger. "Have you forgotten your duty? You're an Interpol agent! You can't let your emotions get in the way!"
"My duty is to protect innocent people!" Phyllis's voice trembled slightly, but her eyes were incredibly firm. "John is also a victim! And, he needs me!"
Ryan fell silent. He knew that once Phyllis made a decision, she would never change her mind.
"Alright," Ryan's voice held a trace of helplessness. "I'll do my best to buy you time. But you must ensure your own safety! Also, I need you to provide more detailed intelligence on the 'Shadow' organization; this will help us formulate an action plan!"
Phyllis hung up the phone, feeling a heavy weight of pressure. She knew Ryan's intervention had complicated the situation further. She not only had to face the threat of the "Shadow" organization but also pressure from official channels.
She looked up at the Yafei family castle not far away, brightly lit, like a magnificent but deadly trap.