Chapter 3 First Glimpse Of Talent
Noelle took a military aircraft directly to the Military District of Jamore where an orderly was already waiting to escort her to the military commander’s office.
When she entered, several people were already seated on the sofa. Noelle scanned the room. They were the military commander Carlos Leaverton, chief of staff Cameron Zimmers, and another man she didn’t recognize.
“Hello, Commander Leaverton, Commander Zimmers. Noelle Yersley reporting in.”
Carlos was an old comrade of Finnick and had watched Noelle grow up. He grinned at her.
“You finally made it, kid. You can still call me by my name.”
Then, he gestured toward the middle-aged man on the sofa.
“This is Griffin Wakely, Director of the National Security Agency.”
Noelle nodded politely at the man.
“Hello, Director Wakely.”
Carlos patted Noelle on the shoulder.
“Elle, this is your future direct superior. The cybersecurity department you’re setting up will be under the jurisdiction of the National Security Agency.”
Griffin observed their interaction, noting how openly the old commander was backing her. He took a good look at the young woman in front of him. She was absurdly beautiful.
“Ms. Yersley, I’ve long heard of your reputation. A true prodigy.”
Before Noelle could respond, Carlos cut in.
“Griffin, you’re lucky to have her. This girl is as lazy as they come. Getting her to leave her den is no small feat.”
Noelle rolled her eyes, too lazy to respond to the old man’s teasing. Instead, she turned to Griffin. “You’re too kind, Director Wakely. I look forward to working with you.”
Carlos looked pleased. “Our Elle has grown up. You know how to say all the right things now.”
He turned to Cameron as if complaining. “The old folks were so worried about this girl getting mistreated that they nagged me until my ears nearly fell off.”
Noelle was speechless. She simply disliked socializing. It wasn’t as if she was clueless.
Griffin chuckled. He couldn’t help but wonder how many powerful figures were backing Noelle. The old folks Carlos referred to were certainly no ordinary people.
Luckily, he had no intention of making things difficult for his new subordinate. Otherwise, he might’ve been the one receiving a rude awakening.
After some polite conversation, Carlos reminded Noelle multiple times to come over for dinner before finally letting her leave with Griffin. The two headed to the National Security Agency’s headquarters to discuss the cybersecurity department.
The cybersecurity department was housed in a separate building at the back of the National Security Agency’s complex, with its own security and entry points.
Though nominally under the National Security Agency, it functioned as an independent unit. Noelle’s age made it too conspicuous to establish an entirely new division, so they had it attached to the National Security Agency for convenience.
Griffin understood all this well, so he treated Noelle with a level of respect that made it seem like they were equals, rather than superior and subordinate.
Apart from Noelle, ten elite personnel had been transferred from various military districts to form the department’s initial team, with plans to expand later.
On the way, Griffin subtly reminded Noelle that the recruits were all highly talented and might be difficult to manage due to their pride.
However, when they arrived, Griffin realized he had worried for nothing. The recruits practically looked at Noelle as if she were their idol, addressing her as “Boss” with absolute reverence. They were just short of outright worshiping her.
Geniuses tended to be arrogant, but in the face of overwhelming skill, that arrogance became meaningless.
Every one of them had been thoroughly crushed by Noelle at some point, and they respected her wholeheartedly.
Jamore was not like other places. As the political center, things were far more complex and layered.
Though the department had inherited the foundations from the military district, there was still much work to be done to refine it. Since Noelle had accepted the task, she intended to do it well.
She spent over two months leading her team, working tirelessly to get the department fully operational.
Though the cybersecurity department was detached from the military district and nominally under the National Security Agency, it was not actually controlled by the National Security Agency. It reported directly to the top, as fewer intermediaries meant fewer potential leaks.
Noelle first visited Carlos, who then personally drove her to a heavily guarded compound, complete with live ammunition defenses.
After multiple layers of identity verification, she finally met the person directly overseeing the cybersecurity department—Orlando Anderson, Deputy Director of the National Security Agency. The importance placed on this department was evident.
In a small meeting room, Carlos, Orlando, and Zachary, the Secretary-General of Congress, reviewed the documents Noelle had submitted.
Both the speed at which she had set up the department and the extensive coverage outlined in her reports left them astonished, giving them a deeper appreciation of her capabilities.
As the meeting concluded, Orlando stood up.
“The younger generation is truly impressive. Elle, you are exceptionally talented. Keep up the good work. If you encounter any obstacles, you can come directly to me.”
He then instructed his security detail to exchange private contact information with Noelle.
Carlos and Zachary exchanged glances, immediately understanding the significance of this gesture.
If nothing unexpected happened, Orlando was set to be the successor, and he would likely remain in office for multiple terms. This meant he intended to train Noelle as one of his own trusted personnel.
Noelle’s appointment at such a young age was not just a matter of merit but also a strategic balancing act.
Most importantly, she had come from the military district and was not affiliated with any political faction in Jamore. This made her uniquely positioned to handle certain matters impartially.
This was also why the military had been managing cybersecurity all along. The military was notoriously insular, making it difficult for outside forces to interfere.
In this digital age, they had access to primary information, which essentially meant they held significant control over many people’s lives.
That was why this role was assigned with extreme caution, to prevent any single faction from gaining undue influence.
Noelle’s identity was classified at the highest level, and she rarely remained at the cybersecurity department, making it difficult for anyone to track her down.
Her outstanding performance in this meeting, combined with the fact that she had caught Orlando’s attention, ensured that her position was now unshakable.
After leaving Orlando’s residence, Carlos gave Noelle a ride home.
“Kid, even without us old men backing you, you’ve secured your place this time.”
Carlos was a bit emotional. Their concerns had been unnecessary as Noelle had handled everything perfectly.
“Don’t worry,” Noelle reassured him.
Since she had taken the role, she wouldn’t allow anyone to take it from her.
“Now that this is settled, shouldn’t you start preparing for school?”
For the first time, cracks appeared in Noelle’s otherwise composed expression.
Carlos found it amusing. Now, this was more like it—a twenty-year-old should show some reaction.
Most of the time, she was too serious, as if she were decades older than she actually was. She needed some time at university to soak in a different atmosphere.
“No need to remind me. There’s still time before the semester starts. I’ll go!”
She gritted her teeth. That old man was definitely doing this on purpose.
After returning to the cybersecurity department and ensuring everything was in order, Noelle prepared to visit the Sandback family and then find a place to live.
She didn’t want to stay in the dorms, nor could she live at the cybersecurity department. Commuting back and forth every day was out of the question, so she planned to find a place near the university.
