The Unveiling of Secret Queen

”Mm.”

Nathalie Quinlan never does anything without evidence, so she simply pulled up a video for him and played it, stepping aside for Orson Saban to watch by himself: ”This is the surveillance video I spent some time finding, from the lab elevator camera that Regina Isadora and the others set up. Every single person inside has appeared in the elevator... I’ve checked their names over the past two days.”

Orson Saban indeed saw Jake Rabenstein’s face in the surveillance.

He took a deep breath, unable to hide his disappointment: ”They... just because the Principal is hospitalized, they’ve betrayed the institute?”

Nathalie Quinlan handed over the USB flash drive to him, without even raising an eyebrow, her face striking under the Duckbill Cap, as she handed it to him, she said apathetically: ”People climb upwards, water flows downwards. They just want to connect with the Hidden Family! But since they’ve made a choice, they must be responsible for it. Since they’re choosing to follow the Hidden Family and Regina Isadora, there’s no reason for them to stay at The First Research Institute...”

Orson Saban squeezed the USB flash drive tightly, feeling a pang of pain in his heart, and understood her opinion, these people were now only the dead weight on The First Research Institute.

Even though it pained him to lose talent, he had to bear the pain to cut off these tumors, only then could he save the entire institute.

”I understand what to do.”

Nathalie Quinlan handed back to Orson Saban the list of lab project proposals she reviewed for Nicholas Fuller at the villa, then took her things and left.

*

The next day.

Jake Rabenstein and the others had just arrived at the check-in point to clock into the institute.

The magnetic card lit red.

He frowned deeply, still unclear about what was happening, and was asking the staff responsible for check-ins: ”What’s wrong, is the machine broken? Why haven’t you found someone to fix it?”

In The First Research Institute, personnel like Jake Rabenstein who were involved in research and regular staff had a world of difference in status, the staff were frightened and paralytic after being scolded, immediately stood up, and said hurriedly: ”Wait a moment, I’ll call someone to check it.”

Jake Rabenstein and several others facing the same situation were blocked outside the institute, impatiently waiting for the ’machine check’.

At this moment, Violetta Hoffman arrived, checked in, and saw several people standing outside, nudged her chin, and asked the staff: ”What’s wrong with them? Why aren’t they going in?”

The staff looked uneasy, whispered: ”Seems like the machine for clocking in is broken.”

Standing there receiving various glances from passers-by, Jake Rabenstein and the others were getting restless and embarrassed, urging again: ”What about the repair workers? Why haven’t they arrived... Are we still going in... You’re wasting our time!”

”The machine’s broken?” Violetta Hoffman was hearing such an explanation for the first time, considering the nature of The First Research Institute, such basic machines wouldn’t just break down.

She listened to Jake Rabenstein urging again, feeling puzzled.

Orson Saban appeared with his team.

Upon seeing Orson Saban, Violetta Hoffman reined back her playful demeanor and respectfully greeted: ”Vice Principal.”

”Mm.” Orson Saban nodded at her, being somewhat familiar.

He then bypassed her, walking up to Jake Rabenstein and the others.

Jake Rabenstein initially looked impatient, but upon seeing Orson Saban, felt a vague unease. He stood awkwardly with his hands placed at his sides, avoiding direct eye contact with Orson Saban: ”Good, good morning, Vice Principal.”

Orson Saban treated him with a more formal tone, basically expressionless, looked him up and down, and directly stated: ”Anyone who can’t enter by swiping the card, don’t bother coming to The First Research Institute anymore.”