The room fell into a heavy silence.
Amina Adisa's sharp eyes remained fixed on Desmond Willy.
For the first time since entering the office, the confident mask she carried shifted slightly.
"My son…" she repeated slowly.
Desmond nodded calmly.
"Yes."
He walked toward the table and placed a tablet in front of her.
"The tournament roster is highly confidential," he said. "But since the President personally authorized this project… I believe you deserve to see it."
Amina didn't reach for the tablet immediately.
Her mind was racing.
She knew her son was talented and interested in coaching.
But she had never imagined he would be part of something as secretive as Project X.
After a moment, she picked up the tablet.
Names of candidates scrolled across the screen.
Dozens of young tacticians competing inside the facility.
Her eyes searched carefully.
Then suddenly—
They stopped.
A faint shift passed across her face.
"…So it's him."
Desmond observed her reaction carefully.
"You didn't know?"
Amina closed the tablet slowly.
"No."
Her voice was calm again, but the surprise had not fully faded.
"He never told me and I was never informed."
Desmond gave a faint smile.
"That might be for the best."
Amina raised an eyebrow.
"How so?"
Desmond walked back toward the large window overlooking the glowing city.
"If the public discovered that the Minister of Sports' son is competing in a secret national football experiment…"
He shrugged lightly.
"People might start asking uncomfortable questions."
Amina studied him carefully.
"You're suggesting I stay quiet."
"I'm suggesting," Desmond replied, "that you trust the process."
He turned slightly.
"Project X is bigger than any individual player."
"Even your son."
Amina tapped her finger lightly on the desk.
Then she asked calmly,
"Tell me something, Desmond."
"Yes, Minister?"
"Is my son winning?"
Desmond chuckled softly.
"That depends."
"On what?"
"On whether he can survive the battlefield we created."
Back inside the facility…
Night had fallen.
The corridors were quieter now, most candidates already returning to their dormitories after spending the afternoon relaxing.
Daniel and his roommates walked down the long hallway together.
Tunde stretched his arms lazily.
"Man… today was actually relaxing."
Ayo nodded.
"Yeah. First time this place didn't feel like a battlefield."
Chinedu chuckled quietly.
"Don't get used to it."
Daniel remained silent.
Petrov's warning kept echoing in his mind.
The shadows are watching you.
Why would Petrov say something like that?
And why warn him?
Their footsteps echoed as they turned a corner.
Then Tunde slowed slightly.
"…Oh."
At the far end of the corridor stood a familiar figure.
Martins Adeyemi.
Two of his followers leaned casually against the wall nearby.
It looked like they had been standing there for a while.
Watching.
Tunde whispered under his breath.
"spade of the devil…"
Martins pushed himself off the wall and began walking toward them.
His eyes locked onto Daniel immediately.
For a moment, no one spoke.
Then Martins smiled faintly.
"So the rumors were true."
Daniel raised an eyebrow.
"What rumors?"
Martins stopped a few steps away.
"That even after the breach… you still won your match."
Tunde crossed his arms.
"Yeah. Problem?"
Martins ignored him completely.
His gaze never left Daniel.
"I watched the replay," he said calmly.
"You adapt quickly."
Daniel shrugged.
"You have to in this place."
Martins chuckled quietly.
"True."
For a brief moment, the air between them felt heavy.
Two of them silently measuring each other.
Then Martins stepped aside.
"Enjoy the break while it lasts."
Daniel frowned slightly.
"What do you mean?"
Martins' smile returned.
"This tournament isn't slowing down."
"It's only getting started."
He turned and began walking away with his followers.
But just before disappearing around the corner, he spoke one last time.
Without turning back.
"Climb higher, Daniel."
"Otherwise…"
"…our match won't be interesting."
The hallway grew quiet again.
Tunde exhaled loudly.
"Man… that guy really talks like a final boss."
Ayo nodded slowly.
"He's confident."
Daniel watched the direction Martins had disappeared.
His expression thoughtful.
Because Martins wasn't wrong about one thing.
The higher Daniel climbed in this tournament…
The more dangerous the opponents waiting for him would become, all with a clear purpose of winning at any cost.