Chapter 4

Hearing that, I just chuckled. I knew Brandon and the others were listening, so I told him directly: "Leo, do me a favor and call the police for me. I'm an employee on annual leave, how could I possibly commit malicious fraud? I don't have that kind of power. Let them investigate however they want!"

After saying that, I hung up and company chatted him: "Don't worry. I'm on a seven-day leave. I'll deal with it when I get back in seven days."

Now, let's see who can't sleep.

Back in the office, they were in a frenzy.

"What's going on? What did Alex say?"

"She said she's on seven days of annual leave and will deal with it when she gets back."

Leo stared at Victoria. "Manager Victoria, do you still want to call the police? I'll call them right now."

Victoria glared at him. "Call them! Call them now!"

"Brandon, aren't you a mechanical engineering major? Hurry up and find someone!"

Brandon readily agreed. "Don't worry, I'll handle it."

Then he started calling in his contacts.

Leo, seeing their desperate state, couldn't help but chuckle to himself, giving me a live update. I looked at Brandon's frantic expression with disdain.

They only knew me as a salesperson, but they didn't know I also had a mechanical engineering degree. And our field was very specialized. My mentor was a big shot in this area, and this very machine was his design.

Naturally, only his direct students, like us, knew how to repair it.

Whenever I encountered a problem, I could just make a call to the client's CEO, who also happened to be my senior fellow student from our research group. He'd even bring me food and drinks when he came. That's why whenever I handled things, accompanying major clients to inspect machines and factories, on-site, I could usually seal the deal.

It wasn't just because I was dedicated; it was also because my mentor and fellow students from our research group had huge influence.

Connections are cash. Unfortunately, they didn't understand that. Now, just for such a minor thing, they'd pushed me out and even withheld my $600,000 commission. Since that's how it was, I wouldn't be polite either. Everyone has a powerful network!

I sent Leo a PayPal transfer. "Keep an eye on things and report back to me anytime. I'm going to enjoy my week-long vacation."

"Got it!"

My mentor happened to be in the state capital, and I was here to visit him and catch up with my fellow students from our research group.

Brandon was just a guy with a fancy degree from a diploma mill; the engineers he could call were just as amateur as he was.

After arriving at the factory and seeing the machine, it didn't take long for them to "find" the problem. "It's just a loose screw; tightening it will fix it."

An on-site technician quickly tried to stop him. "No, the previous engineer said that screw can't be touched. If you touch it, the entire production line will collapse."

"I know you types; you even burn incense before starting work. Don't be so alarmist!"

"If it really worked, you wouldn't be calling me now!"

His invited repairman, also his buddy, simply tightened the screw and then pressed the button. As the entire production line started to rumble and roar, Brandon looked smug. "See? That's what capability looks like! I don't know what kind of favors that previous guy did for you, always talking him up!"

"I think…" Before he could finish, the machine started to creak and groan, then shook violently, the strange noises growing louder. Both men froze in terror!

The technicians gasped, "Cut the power!"

After the power was cut, the machine shuddered for several minutes before finally stopping, but not before emitting a sharp, piercing shriek.

Victoria panicked. "What happened? Open it up and see!"

As soon as they opened it, smoke billowed out. It was completely wrecked. Not only that, but the screw Brandon had tightened earlier had snapped, and half of it was at the bottom of the machine.