The atmosphere in the tournament office was as sterile as the white walls and cold fluorescent lights. Liu Cheng felt a bead of sweat trickle down his temple as he stepped inside, followed closely by Lin Mei, Jiang Yan, and Zhang Wei. The tension between them and the tournament officials was immediate, a subtle but unmistakable air of distrust.
At the head of the room sat Marcus Voss, the director of the tournament, a tall man with sharp features and piercing blue eyes. He looked up from his tablet, his expression neutral but his tone clipped.
Marcus Voss: "Team Glory International. To what do we owe this… unannounced visit?"
Liu Cheng stepped forward, holding up the USB drive Jiang Yan had handed him moments ago.
Liu Cheng: "We've uncovered evidence of tampering within the tournament's system. Someone is altering match conditions and targeting players. We believe it's deliberate sabotage."
A murmur rippled through the room. Marcus raised an eyebrow, gesturing for the USB.
Marcus Voss: "That's a serious accusation, Mr. Liu. I hope you have proof to back it up."
Jiang Yan (stepping beside Liu Cheng): "It's all here. Real-time logs, unauthorized access attempts, and manipulation of match variables."
Marcus accepted the drive and inserted it into a sleek terminal on his desk. The room fell silent as the screen came to life, displaying the data Jiang Yan had compiled.
His expression darkened as he scrolled through the evidence.
Marcus Voss: "This is… significant. And you're certain this data hasn't been tampered with?"
Jiang Yan: "Every byte is authentic. We tracked the interference back to an unregistered device within your network."
One of the other officials, a stout man with a deep voice, leaned forward.
Official: "And you're suggesting this interference is internal? That someone within the tournament is responsible?"
Lin Mei: "It's not just a suggestion. It's a fact."
Marcus turned his sharp gaze to her, then back to the screen.
Marcus Voss: "If this is true, it compromises the integrity of the tournament. However, accusing our staff of sabotage without concrete proof of identity is dangerous."
Liu Cheng: "We're not here to point fingers without reason. But you need to act before this escalates further. Teams are being targeted, and the next match could be rigged."
The room buzzed with tension as Marcus exchanged glances with the officials. He closed the terminal, leaning back in his chair.
Marcus Voss: "I'll authorize a deeper investigation into this matter. In the meantime, keep this quiet. If word gets out, it could destroy the reputation of this tournament—and yours along with it."
Liu Cheng (gritting his teeth): "You expect us to stay silent while someone sabotages us?"
Marcus Voss: "I expect you to remain professional. This is bigger than your team."
The cold dismissal in Marcus's tone stung, but Liu Cheng bit back his retort. Jiang Yan placed a hand on his arm, subtly signaling for restraint.
Jiang Yan: "We've done our part. Now it's on you to ensure fair play."
Marcus's eyes flicked to her, then back to Liu Cheng.
Marcus Voss: "You'll be notified of any developments. For now, focus on your matches and let us handle this."
The meeting ended abruptly, leaving a bitter taste in Liu Cheng's mouth as they exited the office. In the corridor, Zhang Wei broke the silence.
Zhang Wei: "You really think they'll do anything? He looked more worried about PR than solving this."
Lin Mei: "Of course not. They'll bury this unless we force their hand."
Jiang Yan: "Which is why we don't stop here. This was step one. We still have the tracker running, and now we know how they'll respond—or won't."
Liu Cheng remained silent, his mind racing. The pieces were coming together, but the picture they formed was darker than he had anticipated.
Liu Cheng: "Then we don't wait for them. We keep digging, and we prepare for whatever they throw at us next."
The group nodded in agreement, their resolve hardening. The fight was far from over, and the enemy was more insidious than they'd imagined.
They walked back to their hotel in silence, each lost in their thoughts, the weight of their actions pressing heavily on their shoulders.
The walk back to the hotel was somber. The morning sun had risen fully, casting a harsh light over the city streets, but it did little to ease the growing unease in Liu Cheng's mind. Lin Mei and Jiang Yan walked close behind him, their expressions a mixture of frustration and determination. Zhang Wei, however, had fallen a step behind, his furrowed brows betraying his internal conflict.
Once they reached the team's floor, Liu Cheng halted and turned to face them.
Liu Cheng: "We need to talk. Not in the open."
Lin Mei nodded, already heading to her room. Within moments, they were gathered inside, the curtains drawn and the door locked. Lin Mei leaned against the wall, arms crossed, while Jiang Yan took her usual spot near the desk. Zhang Wei hesitated near the door, glancing uneasily at the group.
Jiang Yan: "That meeting didn't go how we hoped, but it wasn't a total loss. Voss knows we're onto something. He'll either act or try to cover it up."
Lin Mei: "If he covers it up, that's proof enough he's involved—or at least protecting someone who is."
Zhang Wei (shaking his head): "You're all assuming too much. Maybe this is just some glitch in the system, and we're making it bigger than it is."
Liu Cheng frowned, stepping closer to Zhang Wei.
Liu Cheng: "A glitch? Someone deliberately altered the spawn mechanics for our match, tracked our team data, and accessed multiple profiles in the system. That's not a glitch, Zhang Wei."
Zhang Wei opened his mouth to argue but stopped, his gaze dropping to the floor.
Lin Mei: "Face it. This isn't about paranoia anymore. The evidence is right in front of us. You saw it yourself."
Zhang Wei: "I did. But do you know what I also saw? Voss looking at us like we're a nuisance. You think he'll investigate this? He'll find a way to shut us down first."
Jiang Yan let out a sigh, pushing away from the desk.
Jiang Yan: "That's why we can't rely on him. We keep monitoring the system, tracking every move. If this gets worse, we'll take it to someone higher up. Voss isn't the only one running this tournament."
Liu Cheng: "Agreed. But for now, we need to act carefully. Whoever's behind this has access to the system and the resources to manipulate it without detection. If they realize we're onto them, they'll escalate."
A tense silence filled the room as the weight of Liu Cheng's words settled over them. Zhang Wei finally broke it, his voice softer this time.
Zhang Wei: "So, what's the next step? We can't just sit around and hope for the best."
Lin Mei: "We keep doing what we've been doing. Track their movements, monitor the system, and prepare for the next match. We know they're targeting us specifically, which means we'll need to anticipate every dirty trick they throw our way."
Jiang Yan: "I'll keep refining the tracker. If they try anything else, we'll know immediately."
Liu Cheng paced the small room, his mind racing.
Liu Cheng: "That's not enough. We also need to think about the team. They're in the dark, and that's making them restless. Zhang Wei, you've seen how they're starting to crack under the pressure."
Zhang Wei nodded reluctantly.
Zhang Wei: "You're right. Tensions are high, and no one knows what's going on. Some of them are blaming you for the losses and inconsistencies. They don't see what we see."
Lin Mei: "Then it's time we tell them. Not everything, but enough to make them understand the stakes. If they keep thinking this is just about bad strategy or poor performance, we'll fall apart before the tournament does."
Jiang Yan looked doubtful.
Jiang Yan: "You sure about that? Once they know, there's no going back. If someone slips, it could get back to the wrong people."
Liu Cheng: "It's a risk we have to take. Unity is our best weapon right now. If we don't trust the team, we've already lost."
The group exchanged uneasy glances, but no one argued further. Liu Cheng took a deep breath, his determination solidifying.
Liu Cheng: "We'll call a team meeting tonight. I'll tell them the basics—enough to get their buy-in without putting them in danger. Lin Mei, help me plan how we're going to frame this. Zhang Wei, keep the team focused during practice today. We can't let them suspect anything until we're ready."
Zhang Wei: "Got it. But if this backfires, it's on you, Liu Cheng."
Liu Cheng (nodding): "I'll take responsibility."
Jiang Yan stood, gathering her equipment.
Jiang Yan: "Then I'll head back to my room. I'll update you if anything changes with the tracker."
As the group began to disperse, Lin Mei lingered near the door, her expression unreadable.
Lin Mei: "Liu Cheng… are you sure you're ready for this? If the team turns on you, we'll have more than just external enemies to deal with."
Liu Cheng met her gaze, his voice steady.
Liu Cheng: "I've made my decision. If we're going to fight this, we need to do it together. No more secrets, no more half-measures."
Lin Mei nodded slowly before slipping out of the room. Left alone, Liu Cheng sat down on the edge of the bed, his thoughts racing. He knew the risks, but he also knew this was their only chance to stand against the unseen forces working against them.
The whispers of conspiracy were growing louder, and Liu Cheng was determined to face them head-on—no matter the cost.
The team meeting was set for later in the evening, giving Liu Cheng a few hours to prepare. He spent the afternoon drafting his points with Lin Mei, fine-tuning how much to reveal without overwhelming or frightening the team. Meanwhile, Zhang Wei kept the others occupied with a rigorous training session to maintain appearances.
By the time the team gathered in the small lounge on their floor, the sun had set, and the city outside was cloaked in darkness. The room was filled with muted murmurs and tense energy as the team members settled into the mismatched chairs and couches.
Liu Cheng stood at the front, Lin Mei beside him, her expression calm but serious. Zhang Wei leaned against the wall, arms crossed, while Jiang Yan sat near the back, her laptop open and ready to display the minimal data they'd agreed to share.
Liu Cheng (clearing his throat): "Thank you all for coming. I know things have been tense lately—on and off the field—and I owe you an explanation."
The room grew quiet, the team's curiosity piqued. Chen Hao, the team's lively DPS player, was the first to speak up.
Chen Hao: "What's this about, Liu Cheng? Is it about the weird stuff happening in the matches?"
Liu Cheng (nodding): "Yes, it is. But it's bigger than just the matches. We've discovered evidence of sabotage within the tournament system."
The revelation hung in the air for a moment, followed by a wave of murmurs and exclamations. Zhang Rui, the team's support specialist, leaned forward, her brow furrowed.
Zhang Rui: "Sabotage? Are you saying someone's trying to rig the tournament?"
Lin Mei: "Exactly. We've tracked several anomalies—match conditions being altered, spawn points manipulated, even data about our strategies being accessed."
Chen Hao: "Wait, wait, wait. Are you saying they're targeting us specifically?"
Jiang Yan (from the back): "That's exactly what we're saying. Someone is going out of their way to make sure our matches are harder than they should be."
The room erupted in a chorus of questions and disbelief. Liu Cheng raised a hand, signaling for silence.
Liu Cheng: "I know it's a lot to take in, and I don't have all the answers yet. What I do know is that we're being targeted, and we can't ignore it. That's why we need to work together—not just as players, but as a team that trusts each other."
Zhang Rui: "How can we fight this? We're just players. If the tournament organizers are involved…"
Lin Mei: "We don't know if they're involved, but we can't count on them to help us. That's why we've been investigating this on our own."
Chen Hao: "And what happens if we get caught? You think they'll just let us snoop around?"
Jiang Yan (calmly): "We've been careful. But yes, there's risk involved. That's why we didn't tell you sooner—we wanted to have something concrete before bringing you into this."
The team exchanged uneasy glances. Chen Hao leaned back, crossing his arms.
Chen Hao: "So what do you need from us? If you're saying we're being sabotaged, then we can't just sit here and do nothing."
Liu Cheng: "We need you to stay focused. Don't let this distract you during matches. Lin Mei and I will handle the investigation, with Jiang Yan monitoring the system. Your job is to play your best, no matter what they throw at us."
Zhang Rui: "And if it gets worse? What if they keep pushing us until we lose?"
Liu Cheng (his voice firm): "Then we adapt. We've faced tougher challenges before. This isn't just about winning anymore—it's about proving we can't be broken."
The resolve in Liu Cheng's voice seemed to calm some of the unease in the room. Zhang Wei, who had remained silent until now, stepped forward.
Zhang Wei: "Listen, I know it feels like everything's against us right now. But this team has survived too much to fall apart now. We trust each other, we've always had each other's backs, and that's not changing just because someone's playing dirty."
A wave of agreement rippled through the group, though the tension lingered. Jiang Yan glanced at Liu Cheng, signaling him to wrap up.
Liu Cheng: "That's all for now. We'll keep you updated when we know more. In the meantime, stick together, and don't let anything—or anyone—shake your focus."
The team began to disperse, their expressions a mix of determination and uncertainty. Lin Mei lingered as Chen Hao approached Liu Cheng.
Chen Hao: "You better not be keeping us in the dark about anything else, Liu Cheng. If we're in this, we're in it together."
Liu Cheng (nodding): "I wouldn't expect anything less."
As the door closed behind the last team member, Lin Mei turned to Liu Cheng, her voice low.
Lin Mei: "That went better than I expected. But we've put a lot of pressure on them."
Liu Cheng: "They'll handle it. They're stronger than they look."
Lin Mei gave a small smile but said nothing. Across the room, Jiang Yan was already back on her laptop, her fingers flying across the keyboard.
Jiang Yan: "We're not done yet. The tracker's picking up something new. I think they're preparing for their next move."
Liu Cheng felt a surge of adrenaline.
Liu Cheng: "Then so are we."
The weight of their situation pressed heavily on him, but he knew there was no turning back. The fight was only just beginning, and he would do whatever it took to protect his team and uncover the truth.
Later that night, Liu Cheng sat alone in the quiet of his hotel room, the faint hum of the city outside seeping through the cracked window. The team had dispersed to their rooms, each person left with their thoughts, processing the heavy burden they'd just shared. The meeting had gone better than expected, but Liu Cheng couldn't shake the feeling that they were walking on the edge of a precipice.
His phone buzzed on the table in front of him, the screen lighting up with a message from Jiang Yan. He quickly opened it.
Jiang Yan: "I found something. The system logs are showing more than just interference. Someone tried to access our player profiles during training today. It's not just sabotage anymore. It's targeting our personal data."
Liu Cheng's heart skipped a beat. This wasn't just about the tournament anymore. Someone was digging into their personal lives—watching their every move. He texted back immediately.
Liu Cheng: "Can you trace the source?"
Seconds later, Jiang Yan responded.
Jiang Yan: "It's hidden behind a layer of encryption. I'm trying to crack it, but it's more sophisticated than what we've seen so far. It's like they've covered their tracks."
Liu Cheng leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair. This was getting out of hand. They were up against something far more dangerous than simple sabotage. Whoever was behind this wasn't just trying to win—they were trying to break them.
The door to his room opened slowly, and Lin Mei stepped inside. She didn't knock; she never did.
Lin Mei: "I just finished talking to Zhang Wei. The team's shaken up, but they're ready to go forward. They want answers."
Liu Cheng nodded, trying to push the unease aside.
Liu Cheng: "I know. It's not going to be easy. This—everything we're dealing with—is bigger than we expected."
Lin Mei walked over to the window, glancing out at the city below.
Lin Mei: "You've been carrying a lot of weight, Liu Cheng. You can't do this alone. We're in this together. You've got a team to back you up now. Don't forget that."
He stood, crossing the room to join her at the window. For a moment, they stood in silence, staring out over the city. The flicker of streetlights illuminated the streets below, but Liu Cheng couldn't shake the feeling that something was closing in.
Liu Cheng: "I won't forget. But the more we dig into this, the more dangerous it gets. Whoever is pulling the strings has resources—more than we can handle."
Lin Mei looked at him, her expression hardening.
Lin Mei: "That's exactly why we need to push forward. They won't expect us to keep fighting back, but we will. Together."
Liu Cheng felt a surge of gratitude for her, but also a deep, gnawing worry. They were standing at the edge of something, and if they weren't careful, it could consume them all.
Liu Cheng: "We have to be ready for whatever comes next."
As they turned to leave, Liu Cheng's phone buzzed again. This time, it was an unknown number. He hesitated for a moment before answering.
Liu Cheng: "Liu Cheng."
A voice, distorted and unfamiliar, crackled through the phone.
Phantom: "You think you're in control of this, Liu Cheng? You're just a pawn. The real game is about to begin. You and your team are already out of your depth. Stay in your lane... or you won't like where this leads."
The call ended abruptly, leaving only the sharp static in its wake. Liu Cheng's grip tightened on the phone. The warning was clear: they were being watched, and the game had just become more dangerous.
Lin Mei turned to him, noticing the tension in his posture.
Lin Mei: "What was that?"
Liu Cheng took a deep breath, turning to her.
Liu Cheng: "That was Phantom. Whoever they are, they're not playing around. We've just been warned. And it's not just the tournament we're fighting for now—it's our lives."
Lin Mei's eyes darkened with determination.
Lin Mei: "Then we fight. All the way to the end."
As Liu Cheng stared at her, a sense of resolve settled in. The fight was far from over—it was only just beginning. And as the shadows of conspiracy continued to close in, he knew one thing for certain: no matter what, he wouldn't back down.
The road ahead would be treacherous, but Liu Cheng was ready for whatever came next. The whispers of conspiracy might be growing louder, but so was his resolve. And he wasn't alone.
With his team by his side, he would uncover the truth—or fall trying.