She Was the Treasure All Along novel Chapter 240

Meredith spoke up. “The possibility can’t be dismissed. We don’t know what programs have been embedded in this device. Until a full investigation is complete, this machine cannot be commissioned.”

Feeling emboldened by the support, Gavin finally relaxed a little. He wiped the nervous sweat from his brow. “Furthermore, after a unanimous decision by my family, we’ve concluded that this modification constitutes an infringement of our patent rights. The moment it’s put into service, I will be filing a complaint with the military tribunal.”

Lucian’s expression turned icy. “You hold the patent, but you’ve never implemented the core technology on our ships. You’ve been fleecing the Navy, milking us for a little more each year while running your under-the-table deals. Do you really think I can’t touch you?”

Gavin flinched under the weight of Lucian’s aura, but then remembered this was a man on the verge of being discharged. He had nothing to fear.

He forced a smile and clutched his chest in mock fear. “Admiral Shapiro, I would never dare. I’m a patriot, just like you. You can’t just accuse me without evidence in front of all these distinguished officers.”

Loyce tilted her head. He had a point. So far, only the Walsh family, Onyx Tiger, and the deputy mayor had surfaced. Their interests were all intertwined, and none of them would ever betray the others. Solid evidence was hard to come by.

Just as tensions were about to escalate, the sound of rhythmic footsteps echoed from outside the medical bay. A squad of fully armed soldiers marched in, led by the Secretary of Defense himself, Yale Nash.

Everyone instinctively snapped to attention and saluted. The high-ranking officers who had sided with Gavin felt a knot of dread in their stomachs.

It was common knowledge in the military that the Secretary of Defense held Lucian in high regard, a partiality born from an incident years ago when Lucian had risked his own life to save him during a diplomatic mission, sustaining severe injuries in the process.

“It seems I’ve arrived just in time,” Yale said, his gaze sweeping across the room before settling on Meredith Hampton.

“Mr. Hampton, the report and upgrade specifications for this medical device have already been cleared by my office. Would you care to explain why you chose to bypass the Department of Defense and take unilateral action on military equipment?”

Meredith rose calmly. “Mr. Nash, I was not aware that Lucian had—”

Yale cut him off, not interested in his excuses. He turned to his accompanying technical staff. “Conduct a full diagnostic on this machine.”

A professional medical team, directly affiliated with the state, began a thorough examination of the device.

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