Chapter 698

Marcus Valentine's words fell, plunging the entire press conference into dead silence.

Countless gazes shot toward Marcus, filled with disbelief and shock.

Someone asked in a trembling voice, "Mr. Valentine, what did you just say?"

Marcus did not answer. He simply raised his hand and gestured.

An assistant immediately strode onto the stage, took the remote, and pressed a button.

The massive screen behind them suddenly lit up.

Marcus quickly connected his phone for projection. A breaking news segment, received just moments ago, appeared before everyone's eyes.

On the screen, a reporter stood at a dock, his voice shaking with excitement. "Professor Nathaniel Wright has returned to the country! He once publicly vowed never to return, even demanding his disciples stay abroad... But today, he has not only returned himself, but brought back his ten most core disciples!"

The camera panned. Professor Nathaniel Wright slowly descended the aircraft stairs, surrounded by a crowd.

Several heads of research institutes hurried forward, gripping his hand tightly.

The reporter pushed through the crowd, extending a microphone toward Nathaniel. "Professor, why have you suddenly decided to return?"

Nathaniel took the microphone, facing the camera directly.

He took a deep breath, his voice steady and clear. "Many years ago, when I went abroad to study, I witnessed our students facing discrimination overseas. Some professors were unwilling to share their knowledge fully, because they were afraid—afraid we would learn and return to serve our homeland."

He paused, his eyes slightly reddening. "In those days, the environment for studying abroad was far more difficult than it is now. We wanted to contribute to our country, but often couldn't find a way. Until one day, Mr. Benjamin Wright found me."

Nathaniel gave a bitter smile. "He asked me if I was willing to dedicate twenty years to the nation."

He straightened his back, his gaze sharp. "Not just twenty years. I would dedicate my entire life to my homeland. Mr. Wright told me about a plan back then—to have me publicly express dissatisfaction with the domestic situation and vow never to return. Only in this way could I gain the trust of the overseas academic community and access the most core technologies."

"All these years, we laid a very elaborate trap." Nathaniel's voice choked slightly. "A trap that fooled everyone. To help me establish myself abroad, Mr. Wright paid too high a price... Now, someone is slandering him as a spy, simply because he received remittances from me."

"That money was indeed transferred by me. All the funds I earned overseas were sent back to the country under the guise of 'purchasing advanced domestic technology.' Through Mr. Wright's channels, they quietly supported domestic research projects."

"Today, I have returned." Nathaniel raised a hand to wipe the corner of his eye. "I want to clear my own name, and more importantly, clear Mr. Wright's name!"

He looked into the camera, a relieved smile on his face. "This country is my roots. I have finally... come home."

The words "come home" caused the ten disciples behind him to redden their eyes in unison.

The reporter's voice was choked. "Professor, you've suffered all these years."

"It was no suffering." Nathaniel shook his head. "It was worth it."

The reporter pressed on. "What do you want to do most right now?"

Nathaniel answered without hesitation. "I want to see my old friend, Mr. Benjamin Wright."

"We'll arrange a vehicle immediately!" The reporter turned and signaled.

On screen, Nathaniel, accompanied by official personnel, got into a special car. The motorcade slowly drove away from the dock.

The reporter faced the camera to conclude. "Professor Nathaniel Wright endured hardship for twenty years, bearing the pain of his family being cursed and friends distancing themselves. Now, he has finally returned to his homeland openly and honorably. That is the latest from our station."

The screen went dark.

The press conference venue was utterly silent.

All the reporters looked at Evelyn Ross. They opened their mouths, but no sound came out.

Mr. Valentine was stunned for a moment, then suddenly burst into loud laughter. "Good! Good! I knew my daughter would never let me down!"

Evelyn calmly looked at the audience below. "This is the truth I had to wait half an hour to reveal. Half an hour ago, Professor Wright was still at sea. I had to ensure he safely set foot on home soil before I could disclose all this."

The reporters below finally snapped back to reality.

Someone stood up first, bowing deeply. "Miss Ross, we apologize. We wronged you!"

"We offer you a public apology!"

"Miss Ross, why didn't you give even a slight hint earlier?" a young reporter couldn't help but ask.

As soon as the words were out, a colleague immediately scolded him. "Are you out of your mind? If there had been a hint, could Professor Wright have returned smoothly?"

"Aldoria is extremely domineering in certain fields. If they had learned in advance, they would have done everything to detain the professor!"

"Not saying anything was the greatest protection for the professor!"

"Miss Ross, when did you learn the truth?"

"You insisted on protecting Mr. Wright because you knew the truth, right?"

"You are the true heroine among women!"

"We were blind!"

The reporters changed their tune one after another. The atmosphere at the scene completely reversed.

At the same time, at the Cortez Sect.

The Cortez Sect leader sat in the main seat, looking at the indigSterlingt disciples in the hall, his brow tightly furrowed.

He wanted to reprimand them, but didn't know where to start.

After all, even he hadn't received definitive news yet.

The disciples were still arguing heatedly.

"Leader, you cannot favor the First Senior Sister! The Cortez Sect's century-old reputation cannot be ruined!"

"The First Senior Sister must be severely punished and made to apologize publicly! Otherwise, how will our Cortez Sect save face?"

Even Ethan Valentine couldn't help but cough lightly, trying to mediate. "My cousin... the First Senior Sister is just deeply loyal. Grace is her good friend. Her protecting Mr. Wright is only human nature."

Just as other disciples were about to retort, Kiki Cortez rushed in, holding up her phone.

"Look at the news!" Her voice was urgent.

Ethan sighed. "Don't look. It's surely full of curses online..."

Kiki shoved the phone screen right in front of his face.

Ethan glanced at it, and his pupils suddenly contracted.