Chapter 1482: Low budget commercial

[Back to the Venue’s Main Hall]

"Ugh! What are you doing?! You’re in the wrong place!"

"I didn’t do anything wrong! Who are you!? This is illegal!"

"..." The same man who had been barking on the screen suddenly stopped, seeming to look back at them. "Damn you, Penelope Bennet! You bitch! How dare you! You fucking whore! I’m going to kill you!"

As the man struggled under the weight of the person pinning him to the ground, everyone in the hall watched as Prime Group’s logo — Citadel — appeared on the screen.

[Let’s move forward with confidence with Citadel — where security meets innovation.]

Behind the bold tagline, the background showed hacker X being seized by the authorities. The commercial rolled on, presenting Prime Group’s new product. It felt almost like a low-budget promo, with the live footage of X’s arrest playing out as if it were part of the ad.

Everyone watched with mixed expressions, unsure of where to focus. Was the product the main feature? Or the man frantically trying to escape in the background?

But above all, one burning question echoed through the minds of everyone — including those in Prime Group and in the venue’s main control room:

When did Penny find time to make a script for this low-budget commercial?!

[With Citadel, no breach goes unanswered. Every threat, every signal — tracked in real time. Sleep well. We never do.]

[Precise Security.]

[Total Control.]

[Build a safer digital world with Citadel.]

[Welcome to the grid, protected user.]

Penny smiled in satisfaction, nodding as she watched the little commercial she’d thrown together earlier. She had put it together in between launching Citadel, giving the impression that X was giving her a hard time. It wouldn’t have been fun if she hadn’t bought herself a little extra time — hence, the silly commercial.

Facing the crowd, who wore a variety of stunned expressions, Penny raised a single finger. As she did, the camera zoomed in on the struggling hacker X, and a final message appeared:

[Threat: Neutralized.]

"This man is the one you all call X," Penny announced. "As you can see, the video you’re watching is happening in real time. And yes — that is X."

She glanced back at the massive screen, tilting her head. "His appearance is... quite disappointing, I must say. I expected someone more intimidating."

"However," she continued, turning back to the audience, "that’s the point of cyber security. With the rise of advanced technology, we also face an increase in cyber threats. From simple calls and prepaid messages to full-scale digital networks — we’re all connected, one way or another."

"While this has brought us closer and made our lives more convenient, there are those who take advantage of this freedom. They undermine the integrity of our systems, exploit them for personal gain, spread chaos, and plant fear."

Her voice grew louder as more people focused on her.

"That’s why Prime Group has worked tirelessly, alongside the best engineers and experts, to build the highest level of protection."

"Fortress, as you know, has long offered impenetrable cyber security to block attacks and prevent viruses. Though we took pride in it, we didn’t stop there. Prime Group has kept pushing forward — and now, we bring you Citadel."

She paused briefly, then explained, "While Fortress and Citadel are separate systems, Citadel is fully compatible with Fortress. It adds a flexible, second layer of defense."

"Think of Fortress for external attacks, and Citadel for threats planted from within." The corner of her lips curled into a knowing smile. "Best of all, Citadel is partnered with the Police Cyber Crime Division. Once a system is breached, not only will it block the attack, but it will trace its origin — and the nearest station will dispatch officers to apprehend the culprit."

"The only way to stay safe from this system is simple: don’t breach other people’s data." She gestured to the screen behind her, now showing X being dragged away.

"Otherwise, you’ll end up like him."

The room fell silent. No one spoke — all eyes locked on Penny in a blend of shock and awe. Then, one person clapped. That solitary clap snapped everyone back to the moment, followed by another... until the entire hall erupted into thunderous applause.

"Haha... HAHAHA!" A gentleman by the stage broke into laughter. "This is amazing!"

"Amazing. Miss Bennet said Citadel was still in its final stages, but from what I’ve seen? It’s ready."

"I need this."

"I will get this."

"Where’s my phone?" Another person stepped away in a hurry, dialing quickly. "We need a higher budget for this."

Atlas, meanwhile, glanced at the one who said that — reminding everyone that bidding for Citadel would soon begin. Prime Group would only release a limited number, and after what they had just seen, even if the bidding started at a dollar, it was sure to reach the billions.

Patricia, Teddy, Hayley, and Shawn watched the gentlemen make calls or shoot off messages in a frenzy. They barely understood the urgency, but one thing was certain — Penny had just turned a potential disaster into a billion-dollar success.

"Amazing," Teddy breathed, and the four of them looked up at their boss on stage. "That’s... that’s who I work for."

Hayley, Patricia, and Shawn nodded in agreement.

"This is the first time I’ve seen a live demo with such low-budget marketing," Hayley murmured. "But... it’s the most effective one I’ve ever seen. It was funny, but I can’t even laugh. I’m just... amazed."

"I like this job," Shawn muttered.

"She’s... she’s amazing..." Patricia’s cheeks turned slightly pink, her eyes locked on Penny. She slowly placed a hand on her chest, feeling her heart race for reasons she couldn’t quite place.

But deep in her mind, one thought echoed:

[Never mind meeting a rich, handsome, and successful man! Hello, Sugar Penny~!]

Penny smiled in satisfaction, spreading her arms wide as she took a bow. Even the players applauded her — stunned — forgetting that tonight was supposed to be their night.

In the end, it all worked out — for the players, the guests, the audience, and most importantly, for Prime Group.

Problem solved.

*

At the same time, from the farthest corner of the hall, Zoren stood with a proud smile, clapping as he watched his wife shine the brightest tonight.