WAR GOD : Rise After Betrayal

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

The internal audit officially began the following morning.

Since early morning, the atmosphere at Cole Group had changed drastically. There were no more casual conversations in the hallways. Managers walked faster than usual. Some employees appeared uneasy every time the audit team passed by.

Elara stood behind the glass wall of her office, observing the activity outside. Her hand held a tablet containing the initial reports that had just come in.

“The finance division looks the most shaken,” said Tom, who stood beside her. “Some staff have even requested sudden leave.”

Elara smiled faintly, without humor. “That’s a good sign.”

Tom nodded. “Pressure makes people careless.”

A knock sounded at the door.

“Come in,” Elara said.

A female auditor entered carrying a thick folder. “Miss Elara, we have found further anomalies.”

“From which division?” Elara asked quickly.

“Procurement and subcontractors. There are intermediary accounts that were never officially reported.”

Elara exhaled. “As expected.”

The auditor briefly glanced toward the sofa, where Ares had been sitting calmly the entire time. “We will continue the investigation.”

“Do it,” Elara said. “I want a complete report this afternoon.”

After the auditor left, the room fell silent again.

Ares looked at his phone screen, then lifted his head. “They’re starting to panic.”

Elara turned to him. “You can feel it?”

Ares nodded. “The same pattern as before. When the flow of funds starts to tighten, the perpetrator usually makes small mistakes.”

“Elaborate,” Elara requested.

“They’ll start suspecting one another,” Ares replied. “And one of them will try to save himself.”

Elara stared at Ares for a long moment this time. “You speak as if you’ve seen this many times.”

Ares fell silent briefly. “I’m just drawing conclusions.”

Elara did not respond immediately. She returned to her chair, but her eyes continued to observe Ares from behind the desk.

Not long after, Elara’s phone vibrated. She answered it.

“What is it?” she said curtly.

Her secretary’s voice sounded panicked on the other end. “Miss, the Head of the Procurement Division is requesting an emergency meeting. Now.”

Elara looked at Ares. “That was fast.”

Ares nodded slightly. “Those who are cornered are usually impatient.”

“Send him in,” Elara said.

A few minutes later, a man in his forties entered with a pale face. His suit was neat, but the top button was undone, a sign of his nervousness.

“Miss Elara,” he said with a stiff smile. “I just want to clarify a few misunderstandings.”

Elara crossed her arms. “Go ahead.”

The man sat down, then glanced at Ares. “Is it… necessary for another party to be present during this discussion?”

“He stays,” Elara answered coldly.

The man swallowed. “Alright.”

He began to speak at length. Too long. Too many explanations that were never asked for.

Ares watched in silence.

“Elara,” Ares cut in suddenly. “He’s lying.”

The room instantly fell silent.

The man’s face froze. “What do you mean?”

Elara turned quickly to Ares. “What makes you so sure?”

“He mentioned three transactions,” Ares replied calmly. “Two of them do not exist in the audit report, and one has been frozen since last week.”

The man stood up abruptly. “That’s not true!”

Elara stood as well. “Sit down.”

Her tone made the man comply.

“Leave,” Elara said at last. “Until the audit is complete, you are relieved of duty.”

The man left with unsteady steps.

The door closed.

Elara turned her body toward Ares. “Now explain.”

Ares stood straighter. “He became nervous the moment intermediary accounts were mentioned. His body language changed.”

“Elaborate again,” Elara said.

“When people lie, they tend to provide excessive details to cover gaps,” Ares answered. “He did exactly that.”

Elara fell silent. “That is not an ordinary skill.”

Ares lowered his head. “I didn’t intend to overstep.”

“Ares,” Elara said softly but seriously, “I want to ask you something.”

Ares lifted his head.

“Who are you, really?” Elara asked.

Ares opened his mouth, then closed it again. “I… don’t know how to answer.”

Elara stared at him sharply. “You appeared in my life out of nowhere. You know how to fight. You understand the structure of financial crimes. And you solved Project Athena faster than a professional team.”

Ares clenched his fists. “I have no intention of hiding anything.”

“Then why can’t you answer?” Elara pressed.

Ares took a long breath. “Because I don’t fully understand it myself.”

Elara let out a slow breath. “That answer doesn’t reassure me.”

“I understand,” Ares replied. “But I swear, I have no intention of harming you.”

Elara looked at him for a long time, then said, “I trust your intentions. But I can’t keep turning a blind eye.”

Ares nodded. “If one day I find the answer, you’ll be the first to know.”

Elara turned her gaze toward the window. Outside, the audit team was still at work.

“For now,” she said softly, “we focus on finishing Athena.”

Ares looked at Elara’s back. “I’ll help as much as I can.”

Outside the room, people within the company began accusing one another. Phones rang nonstop. Emails were sent in a rush.

The audit moved forward.

And the secrets that had long been hidden began to crack, one by one.