Back in the cafeteria, the atmosphere had grown uneasy.
Adisa stared at the cafeteria entrance where the investigators had taken Daniel and the others.
Her fingers tapped lightly against the table.
"This doesn't feel right…"
Across from her, Tunde leaned back with a frustrated sigh.
"Why Daniel though?"
Ayo rubbed his chin.
"Maybe they're questioning anyone connected to the breach."
Chinedu shook his head slowly.
"Still… something about this feels off."
Adisa looked down at her drink.
"I just hope Daniel will be fine."
None of them spoke after that.
Because somewhere inside the facility…
Daniel was now part of something much bigger than a simple investigation.
Meanwhile…
The selected candidates were escorted through a quiet hallway deep inside the complex.
The white-clothed investigators moved with disciplined silence.
Eventually they stopped in front of a large metal door.
It opened slowly.
Inside was a sterile white room.
Cold.
Minimal.
Six chairs along the wall.
One chair under a bright overhead light.
The lead investigator spoke calmly.
"You will be questioned individually."
"No communication."
"Wait until your name is called."
The door shut behind them.
The silence inside the waiting room was heavy.
A few minutes later another investigator entered.
"Petrov."
Petrov stood up.
Without hesitation, he walked into the interrogation room
Inside the interrogation room…
Petrov sat under the bright light.
Two investigators sat across from him.
One of them opened a file.
"Petrov."
Petrov leaned back slightly.
"You warned Daniel about the breach before the official announcement."
Petrov didn't react.
The investigator continued.
"How did you know about Daniel's tactical formation before his match?"
Another investigator added,
"who provided you with that information?"
Petrov chuckled softly.
"You're assuming I knew something."
The first investigator narrowed his eyes.
"You told him something about the shadows were watching."
Petrov shrugged.
"That's not information."
"That's intuition."
The investigators exchanged glances.
One of them wrote something down in the file.
The questioning continued for several minutes.
They pressed him harder.
"Did anyone pass tactical data to you?"
"Did someone ask you to warn Daniel?"
"Who inside this facility has access to candidate strategies and was able to give you a candidate tactical data?"
Petrov remained silent at first.
But the pressure kept building.
Finally, one of the investigators leaned forward and said quietly,
"We already have evidence that someone inside the facility distributed that information."
"If you continue to protect them, you may be considered involved ."
Petrov's eyes narrowed slightly.
A long moment passed.
Then he spoke.
"…Farouk."
Both investigators immediately wrote something down.
One of them looked up.
"You're saying Farouk was involved in distributing the tactical information?"
Petrov gave a small shrug.
"I said what I said."
The investigators exchanged another glance.
Then the file was closed.
"You're free to go."
Petrov stood and walked out without another word.
The next candidate entered.
Fiona.
She sat down calmly in the chair.
The investigators studied her.
One of them opened another file.
"Fiona."
"We've received several reports regarding your movements in the facility."
She raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Oh?"
"You've been seen moving through multiple areas late at night."
"Several candidates believe you've been… observing them."
The investigator leaned forward slightly.
"There are rumors you've been spying."
Fiona smiled faintly.
"Rumors?"
"Yes."
She shrugged casually.
"I like walking at night."
"That's all."
The investigators remained silent for a moment.
Then one of them asked,
"Do you know anyone who might want to sabotage this tournament?"
Fiona tilted her head slightly.
"Sabotage?"
"Yes."
"Someone who might benefit from manipulating the system to their advantage."
Fiona thought briefly.
Then calmly replied,
"No."
Her voice remained perfectly steady.
After a few seconds, the investigator closed the file.
"You may leave."
Fiona stood up and walked out.
Her expression unchanged.
The next candidate the investigator called out, "Daniel".
Daniel entered the interrogation room and sat under the light.
The investigators studied him carefully.
One of them spoke first.
"You were the victim of the tactical leak."
Daniel nodded.
"Yes."
The investigator leaned forward.
"Were you aware your tactical data had been accessed before the match?"
Daniel paused briefly.
"No."
Another investigator spoke.
"Your opponent seemed unusually prepared."
Daniel remained calm.
"Then someone must have helped him."
The investigators exchanged glances.
Then one of them said something unexpected.
"You adapted quickly."
Daniel raised an eyebrow.
"During the match."
"Even after your tactical setup was exposed, you changed your approach mid-game."
The investigator nodded slightly.
"That level of tactical adjustment is rare."
Daniel said nothing.
Then the question came.
"Who do you think leaked your data?"
The room fell silent.
Daniel thought carefully.
Then answered honestly.
"I don't know."
The investigators watched him for several seconds.
Finally they nodded.
"You may go."
The next two candidates were questioned briefly.
The investigators asked if they had noticed anything unusual inside the facility.
Both denied knowing anything about the breach.
Neither interrogation lasted long.
Then the door opened again.
"Farouk."
Farouk stood up and walked into the room.
He sat down calmly.
One of the investigators placed a small object on the table.
A data chip.
Farouk's eyes flickered slightly.
"This chip was discovered during a search of your room."
The investigator spoke calmly.
" your roommates also reported that you frequently possessed confidential information and data."
Farouk leaned back slightly.
"So having data makes me a criminal?"
The investigator ignored the remark.
"What is stored on this chip?"
Farouk shrugged.
"Old tactical notes."
The investigator inserted the chip into a small device.
Lines of encrypted data appeared on the screen.
After a moment he looked up again.
"The files appear to be encrypted."
Farouk smirked slightly.
"Then you should ask someone who understands encryption."
The investigators studied him carefully.
One of them leaned forward.
"Earlier today, Petrov stated that you were responsible for distributing Daniel's tactical data to him."
Farouk's expression tightened slightly.
But he didn't respond.
The investigator continued and smirked.
"We also received testimony from other candidates claiming you possessed confidential tactical information before certain matches."
Another investigator added,
"And one candidate specifically confirmed your involvement."
Farouk frowned.
"Who?"
The investigator replied calmly.
"Mendes."
Farouk froze.
The name echoed in his mind.
The investigator continued,
"He claims you attempted to involve him after losing to Daniel."
Farouk's fists slowly tightened.
In that moment…
Something clicked in his mind.
The Master's words echoed in his memory.
"If we are discovered… sacrifices will be made."
Farouk finally understood.
They weren't just investigating.
They had already decided the outcome.
He was the sacrifice.
The investigator closed the file.
"Based on the evidence gathered, you have been found responsible for the system breach."
Farouk suddenly stood up.
"This is ridiculous!"
"You have no real proof!"
The investigator remained calm.
"The data chip."
"Witness testimony."
"And the statements gathered during this investigation."
He looked directly at Farouk and smirks deviously.
"All evidence points to you farouk, guess the cat is out of the bag."
Farouk slowly sat back down.
His anger burned quietly inside him.
Because now he knew the truth.
This wasn't justice.
This was a calculated fall planned.
And somewhere inside the facility…
Mendes was probably smiling.