Without needing any prompting, the reporters on scene frantically raised their cameras and began snapping photos.
The flashes of light instantly formed a blinding sea.
No one had seen exactly how Cifera appeared. It was as if she had always been there, the spotlight merely summoning her from the shadows.
At that moment, every reporter understood that the day's headline star would no longer be Liu Ruyan, but this magnificently revealed Sexy Phantom Thief Catgirl!
This press conference had been worth every second!
The live stream's Bullet Comments section went completely wild:
[Ahhh! Kitty Phantom Thief has arrived! ! !]
[Spotlight! It's the Spotlight! She's controlling the lighting system!]
[Even though I didn't want Cifera involved in this charity auction, her entrance was seriously badass!]
[This woman has nerves of steel! She just announced she'd be stealing something tonight, and now she dares to show up in person? Doesn't she fear Starry's security will bundle her up and hand her over to the Pursuit Team?]
[Director, quick, cut to Nie Family Patriarch's face! I want to see if he can still keep up the tough act!]
Even without the Bullet Comments' prompting, the Director immediately split the screen.
As Nie Junfeng watched Cifera's figure bathed in the spotlight, his pupils narrowed slightly, clearly stunned by her audacity and the attention-grabbing entrance she had made.
But his expression quickly shifted to one of understanding.
"Ah, Contestant Cifera, you never disappoint! I suspected she might appear, but I never imagined she'd actually dare to show up herself!
"Why? It's simple!
"Because a mere declaration of intent wasn't enough to shock people, wasn't enough to make them truly believe!
"She needed to reveal herself in person, to personally declare her intention to steal the Starry Light, to personally burn this 'inevitable fact' into everyone's minds!
"She's raising the stakes of her misdirection plan! She's burning herself to illuminate the dark path toward her true objective!
"This cunning, this willingness to risk everything for her objective... truly, she's a master of deception beyond compare!"
Nie Junfeng's tone dripped with admiration, but his core conviction remained unshaken: this was still a performance, a carefully orchestrated act of misdirection!
[Damn, this analysis is shockingly plausible!]
[The Poison Milk Grandmaster's stubbornness: as long as my logic is convoluted enough, no one will realize I'm just being stubborn.]
[I'm completely numb. Can someone tell me if Nie Junfeng is right? I really don't want to see Cifera get bashed...]
[Upstairs, give up. Until the truth is revealed, the Patriarch's verbal acrobatics are invincible. If his arguments were sound, the Nie Family wouldn't exist in the first place, right?]
[Waaah~ As a Cat Fan, I'm so conflicted! This is agonizing!!!]
[Ha ha! This proves you're totally invested in the show. I'm neutral, but this plot is absolutely thrilling!]
[Cifera's appeared! The Pursuit Team's sirens are blaring—they're only minutes away! Get ready for some serious drama!]
At the same moment, after a brief moment of shock, the security personnel snapped out of their daze.
Even those who didn't watch the show or recognize Cifera immediately went on high alert when an uninvited guest suddenly appeared beside Liu Ruyan, the company's reclusive mastermind.
Several guards swiftly surrounded the stage, poised to restrain Cifera if she made any suspicious moves. The atmosphere instantly grew tense, thick with anticipation.
"Stop!"
Suddenly, Liu Ruyan's crisp, authoritative voice cut through the chaos, silencing the crowd.
She raised her hand, gesturing to halt the security guards who were about to rush onto the stage.
From the security detail, a burly middle-aged man with sharp eyes and a perfectly pressed uniform stepped forward.
This was Lei Gang, the head of security for Starry Jewels' headquarters building. He was renowned for his strictness, efficiency, and unwavering confidence in his security protocols.
Lei Gang's brow furrowed as he glared at Cifera before turning his electric gaze to Liu Ruyan. His tone was sharp with suspicion and displeasure:
"Chairwoman Liu! This is far too dangerous! This woman's identity is unknown, and she suddenly appeared at your side. For your safety, we must immediately restrain her! What if she..."
"Director Lei!"
Liu Ruyan interrupted him, her voice steady yet carrying the latent power of a newly awakened lioness. Her gaze locked onto Lei Gang's as she declared:
"See clearly and hear distinctly: this is Miss Cifera, the woman who saved my life and helped me rediscover my purpose. She is not some unidentified threat."
As she spoke, Liu Ruyan turned to look at Cifera, her gaze complex, filled with surprise, confusion, and a hint of unspoken admiration.
"Little kitty, I never expected to meet you under these circumstances... Did you cause the lights to go out and project that trailer on the screen?"
Hearing Liu Ruyan's question, Cifera, bathed in the spotlight, nodded slightly, her smile deepening as she replied:
"Sister Liu, it was indeed me. Just a few tricks, nothing special. Please forgive my poor showing."
Cifera bowed gracefully, executing an elegant stage bow.
Seeing this, Liu Ruyan nodded and turned slightly, shifting Cifera into clearer view for Lei Gang and the rest of the audience. Raising her voice, she declared:
"She is Contestant Cifera from Global Manhunt: The Final Heist! Everything she's done falls within the rules of this legitimate competition! She is not a criminal! She is a contestant, a challenger!
"To be honest, I am deeply honored that she chose to attend our press conference today."
"It's not just because I'm a Cat Fan, but also because today's press conference is entirely due to everything Contestant Cifera did yesterday for me and for the children."
As Liu Ruyan spoke, her gaze swept over Lei Gang and the security team behind him, finally settling back on Lei Gang's face. She continued, her voice carrying a profound weight:
"Director Lei Gang, your team is the industry's top security force. You've built an impenetrable defense system for Starry Jewels. We at Starry trust your abilities and compensate you accordingly.
"So tell me, even though Contestant Cifera claimed in her challenge letter that her target tonight is the Starry Light...
"You, Lei Gang, and your vaunted team, do you lack the confidence to prevent her from succeeding during the auction, under your own tight security measures?
"Or perhaps..."
A hint of mockery crept into Liu Ruyan's voice:
"Are you so lacking in confidence in your abilities that you need to treat a young woman who's simply following the show's rules like a mortal enemy, even at the risk of being discourteous to me, your 'honored guest'?"
These words struck Lei Gang's pride like a hammer blow.
His expression flickered slightly as Liu Ruyan's words precisely targeted his deepest concerns: his professional competence and his team's sense of honor.
Lei Gang had weathered countless storms in his twenty years in the security industry. What threat could a mere reality show contestant pose, even if she possessed some skill? Could she really turn his domain upside down?
Moreover, Liu Ruyan had referred to the contestant as both an "honored guest" and a "lifesaver," making his forceful arrest seem utterly foolish and discourteous.
But... that damned show had its rules, and within his security domain, he had his own rules! Cifera had clearly violated those rules!
With this thought, Lei Gang took a deep breath, straightened his posture, and his eyes burned with uncompromising anger.
"Director Liu! Forgive my bluntness, but this person is far more than just an 'honored guest'!"