The atmosphere inside the facility had changed.
Ever since the system announced the breach, tension had quietly spread among the candidates.
Whispers filled the hallways.
Some believed the hack came from outside.
Others believed something far more unsettling.
That the person responsible… was inside the facility.
In the cafeteria, several candidates gathered around one of the digital ranking screens.
"It says the investigation is ongoing," one of them muttered.
Another candidate frowned.
"So someone actually accessed our tactical data?"
"That's what the announcement said."
A third candidate crossed his arms nervously.
"If someone can see our strategies before matches… then the whole tournament is compromised."
The room slowly filled with uneasy murmurs.
Across the cafeteria, Daniel sat with his roommates, quietly observing the discussion.
Tunde leaned closer.
"This place is turning into a conspiracy movie."
Ayo shook his head.
"Or a warzone."
Daniel said nothing.
But something about the entire situation felt too calculated to be random.
Somewhere in this facility…
Someone had planned this.
On the other side of the …
Inside the women's dormitory buildings…
Fatima sat on one of the sofas while two of the girls from her group chatted nearby.
The mood here was far more relaxed.
"Honestly," one of them said, laughing, "everyone is panicking over nothing."
Fatima smirked.
"People fear what they don't understand."
Just then the door opened.
A tall girl walked inside calmly.
Long dark hair.
Sharp eyes.
Quiet confidence.
One of the girls waved.
"Fiona! Finally."
Fiona gave a small nod as she entered.
She was known among the candidates as Rank 4 in Group F.
A strategist with exceptional positional awareness and control-based tactics.
She also happened to be Fatima's roommate.
Fatima glanced at her.
"You're late."
Fiona shrugged lightly.
"Training."
Another girl smiled teasingly.
"Or spying?"
Fiona chuckled softly but didn't answer.
Instead she sat beside Fatima.
The room fell into casual conversation again.
But while the others talked…
Fiona's eyes drifted quietly toward the window.
Watching the distant training fields below.
Her expression unreadable.
Later that night…
While most candidates slept…
A hidden room deep inside the facility quietly opened.
Several figures entered one by one.
The room was dimly lit.
Screens filled the walls.
Tactical boards.
Match recordings.
Candidate data.
Among the figures standing inside were Farouk…
…and Mendes.
A moment later, another figure stepped inside.
Fiona.
Farouk glanced at her.
"You're late."
Fiona leaned against the wall calmly.
"I came as soon as the girls fell asleep."
Mendes chuckled softly.
"Your acting skills are improving."
Fiona smirked.
"Living with Fatima requires it."
Several other candidates stood around the circular table.
Each one carrying a different presence.
Some nervous.
Others cold and calculating.
The shadow group was known by only one name.
Timor.
Fear.
The name itself represented their philosophy.
Timor had been created weeks earlier…
When the competition started heating up.
Back then, some candidates quickly realized something.
Not everyone had the talent to dominate through pure strategy.
Not everyone had the discipline to climb through the rankings fairly.
But that didn't mean they were powerless.
A certain candidate inside the facility…
Someone with unusual connections and mysterious influence…
had gathered them together.
He proposed a simple idea.
If the system could be manipulated…
Then power didn't have to come from talent.
It could come from control.
Timor became a network.
A shadow alliance.
Some members were frustrated strategists whose systems were too unconventional to succeed normally.
Some were opportunists.
Others simply enjoyed bending the rules.
And some…
Like Mendes…
Thrived in chaos.
Their goal was simple.
Spread fear.
Create instability.
And then rule over the chaos that followed.
One of the candidates spoke nervously.
"The investigation is already ongoing."
Another nodded.
"The OOTP technicians are searching the system logs."
Farouk crossed his arms.
"So how long until they trace the breach?"
Before anyone could answer—
The large screen behind them suddenly flickered.
The entire room went silent.
A dark silhouette appeared.
The Master.
No one in the room knew his real identity.
But he was the one who had originally connected them.
The one who gave Timor its structure.
His calm voice echoed through the room.
"There is no need for concern."
One of the candidates spoke carefully.
"The investigation—"
"—is expected," the Master interrupted.
"It changes nothing."
Farouk narrowed his eyes slightly.
"And if they find evidence?"
The Master's voice remained calm.
"Then sacrifices will be made Like I said before."
The room fell silent.
Mendes leaned back in his chair, clearly amused.
Fiona remained quiet, studying the screen.
The Master continued.
"For now, remain invisible."
"Observe."
"Wait."
Another candidate hesitated.
"And Daniel?"
The room grew slightly tense.
The Master paused for a moment.
Then he spoke.
"He is… interesting."
Mendes smiled faintly.
The Master continued.
"But for now…"
"Do not interfere with him."
Fiona's eyes flickered slightly.
"Why?"
The Master replied simply.
"Because pieces that disrupt the board…"
"…often reveal where the real weaknesses are."
The screen flickered again.
Then went dark.
The meeting was over.
For a moment, no one spoke.
Then Mendes stood up slowly.
"Well."
"This tournament is becoming entertaining."
Farouk shook his head.
"You enjoy this too much."
Mendes smiled.
"Chaos reveals true talent."
One by one the members of Timor began leaving the room.
Fiona remained behind for a moment.
One of the screens still displayed footage from a recent match.
Daniel's match.
She watched the replay quietly.
Daniel adjusting his tactics.
Breaking his opponent's strategy step by step.
Fiona tilted her head slightly.
"So…"
She whispered softly to herself.
"This is the one causing Ruckus and the one Fatima is so interested in."
Her lips curved into a faint smile.
Then she turned and walked toward the exit.
Because somewhere deep inside her instincts told her something.
Daniel wasn't just another candidate.
He was a variable.
And variables…
Had a tendency to cause problems.