The tension in the air was palpable as Liu Cheng and Lin Mei quietly entered the team's shared suite early the next morning. After their perilous escape the previous night, every creak of the door and whisper of movement seemed amplified in their ears. Zhang Wei was awake, sitting on the couch with a cup of coffee in hand. His sharp eyes followed them as they stepped inside.
"So, you've decided to come back," he said, his voice low but laced with irritation.
Liu Cheng exchanged a glance with Lin Mei, silently agreeing that it was best to downplay their activities. "We needed some air to clear our heads," he said.
Zhang Wei raised an eyebrow but said nothing more. As Liu Cheng walked past, he could feel Zhang Wei's gaze boring into his back. The rest of the team was still asleep, blissfully unaware of the brewing storm.
Once in the safety of their room, Lin Mei pulled out the USB drive. "We need to go through this today," she whispered. "If there's anything we can use, it'll be here."
Liu Cheng nodded, his mind already racing with possibilities. "We'll have to be careful. If Zhang Wei or anyone else finds out, we'll lose whatever trust we have left."
---
The day passed in relative silence. The team was scheduled to face an exceptionally skilled opponent the following evening, and everyone was focused on preparing for the match. Liu Cheng used the opportunity to study the data on the USB. Hidden amidst logs of game code and system anomalies, he found a sequence of encrypted messages that seemed to originate from someone within the tournament staff.
Lin Mei leaned over his shoulder, her brows furrowing. "These messages… They're coordinating something. Look here—this one matches the timing of the glitches during our last match."
"It's not just sabotage," Liu Cheng murmured. "It's a deliberate plan to manipulate the tournament's outcomes. They're targeting certain teams."
Lin Mei frowned. "But why? Who benefits from this?"
Before Liu Cheng could answer, his phone buzzed. It was another message from Phantom:
"You've been warned. Stop digging, or you'll regret it."
He showed the message to Lin Mei, who paled slightly. "They know we're still investigating," she said. "This isn't good."
"It means we're close to something important," Liu Cheng replied, determination hardening his voice. "We can't stop now."
---
That evening, the team gathered in the training room to discuss strategies for the upcoming match. Their opponent, Titan Vanguard, was known for their aggressive playstyle and near-perfect coordination. Zhang Wei led the discussion, outlining the team's plan.
"We'll need to hold our ground early," he said. "Their striker, Leon, is their biggest threat. If we can shut him down, we'll have a chance to control the game."
Liu Cheng listened intently, his mind working on how to adapt Zhang Wei's plan to account for any unexpected interference.
"Liu Cheng," Zhang Wei said, snapping him out of his thoughts. "You're unusually quiet. Got something to add?"
Liu Cheng hesitated for a moment before speaking. "We should have a backup plan in case they try something unconventional. Titan Vanguard is unpredictable, and we've seen how quickly they adapt."
Zhang Wei considered this before nodding. "Fair point. Work out the details and share them with the team tomorrow morning."
The meeting ended on a relatively calm note, but Liu Cheng could feel the underlying tension. As the team dispersed, Zhang Wei caught his arm.
"I don't know what you're up to," Zhang Wei said quietly, his voice low enough that only Liu Cheng could hear. "But if it jeopardizes this match, you'll regret it."
Liu Cheng met his gaze without flinching. "I'm doing what I think is best for the team," he replied. "Even if you don't agree."
---
The next day, the match against Titan Vanguard was set to begin. The arena buzzed with excitement as fans filled the seats, their cheers and chants echoing through the massive venue. Liu Cheng sat in the team's waiting area, his hands clasped tightly as he reviewed the strategy one last time.
Lin Mei sat beside him, her expression calm but serious. "You've got this," she said. "Just focus on the game. We'll deal with everything else later."
Liu Cheng nodded, taking a deep breath to steady himself. As they walked to their stations, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to go wrong.
The match began smoothly, with both teams exchanging calculated moves. Titan Vanguard's aggression was evident, but Glory International held their ground, executing Zhang Wei's plan with precision. Liu Cheng guided the team from his position, making quick adjustments to counter Titan Vanguard's tactics.
Then, just as Glory International gained the upper hand, the first anomaly occurred. Lin Mei's controls froze momentarily, causing her character to fall behind the formation.
"Something's wrong," she said over the team's communication channel. "My system just glitched."
Before anyone could respond, Chen Rui's character was hit by a sudden spike in latency, leaving him vulnerable to an attack. Titan Vanguard seized the opportunity, scoring a crucial point.
"Stay focused!" Zhang Wei barked. "We can recover."
Liu Cheng's mind raced as he analyzed the situation. The glitches weren't random—they were targeted. Someone was deliberately sabotaging their performance.
"Shift to formation B," he instructed the team. "We'll play defensively and force them to make mistakes."
The team adjusted, and Liu Cheng's strategy paid off. By exploiting gaps in Titan Vanguard's aggressive playstyle, Glory International managed to regain control of the game. The match was intense, with both teams pushing their limits, but in the final moments, Liu Cheng made a bold call.
"Chen Rui, flank from the right. Lin Mei, cover him. We'll force them into a corner."
The maneuver worked perfectly, and Glory International secured a hard-fought victory. The crowd erupted in cheers as the team celebrated their win.
---
Back in the locker room, the mood was bittersweet. While the victory was a cause for celebration, the glitches during the match cast a shadow over their success.
"We need to report this," Liu Cheng said, breaking the silence. "What happened out there wasn't normal."
Zhang Wei shook his head. "We won. That's all that matters."
"It's not just about winning," Liu Cheng argued. "If this keeps happening, we might not be so lucky next time."
The two stared at each other, the unspoken tension between them growing stronger. Finally, Zhang Wei turned and walked away.
Lin Mei placed a hand on Liu Cheng's shoulder. "You did the right thing out there," she said. "But this is far from over."
Liu Cheng nodded, his resolve stronger than ever. He knew the path ahead would be difficult, but he was determined to uncover the truth, no matter the cost.