Legacy of the Stars

Through the windows of the Swiss hotel, sunlight illuminated the peaks of the Alps, creating a perfect contrast between the cold blue sky and the endless white snow cover. In the silence of the hotel room, Liu Cheng sat in front of his laptop, staring at lines of code scrolling endlessly before his eyes. His fingers hovered above the keyboard, but he wasn't typing—his mind was preoccupied. The cryptic message he found in the code last night wouldn't leave him alone.

On the screen was an encoded phrase: "Those who know the game shape its rules."

Beside it, framed symbols and a string of numbers that appeared to be geographical coordinates. But why? And who had placed them there?

The door to the room swung open suddenly, breaking the silence. It was Zhang Wei, the team captain. His face bore the exhaustion of the past few days, but his gaze was resolute.

"Cheng, what are you doing?" he asked, eyeing the screen suspiciously.

"I'm working on something that might explain the recent incidents," Liu Cheng replied, trying to sound calm.

"We can't afford distractions. Tomorrow's match against the Falcons is critical. They're using a completely new strategy, and we haven't finished our preparations," Zhang's voice was stern but carried an undertone of concern.

"I know, but this could be vital," Liu Cheng responded, standing up. "This code… I think it's related to what's been happening. Remember how our strategy data disappeared last week? Or how the servers suddenly shut down during our simulation?"

Zhang raised an eyebrow but said nothing. His silence was confirmation enough.

---

Later That Day – Team Meeting

In the hotel's large conference room, the team gathered around a round table. The screen on the wall displayed detailed maps and analyses of the opposing team. The atmosphere was tense; everyone felt the pressure mounting as the decisive match drew closer.

"The Falcons are fast, precise, and ruthless," Zhang Wei began, looking each teammate in the eye. "But their weakness is predictability. If we analyze their patterns correctly, we can surprise them."

Liu Cheng listened intently to every detail, though his mind was divided between the match strategy and the cryptic message. When Zhang finished, Liu Cheng raised his hand.

"I have something I need to share," he said, feeling all eyes turn toward him. "I think our problems aren't accidental. Someone outside—or inside—is sabotaging us."

Silence fell over the room. The tension was palpable, like a storm about to break.

"What do you mean?" asked Gao Lin, their star attacker. His tone was skeptical.

"I found this code," Liu Cheng continued, showing his laptop. "I think someone is watching us and manipulating our team. And this message might be the key to figuring out who's behind it."

"You really think someone's sabotaging us?" Gao scoffed, shaking his head. "Or maybe you're just looking for an excuse for your mistakes?"

Liu Cheng felt the sting of those words but stayed calm. "This isn't just my opinion. There's evidence. Interrupted servers, changes in our game configuration… Everything points to someone on the inside."

Zhang Wei raised his hand, cutting through the argument. "Enough. We don't have time for accusations. If Cheng is right, we can't ignore this."

---

Night Investigation

When night fell, Liu Cheng stayed awake in his room, digging deeper into the data. His analysis led him to the tournament's servers. He found an unusual trace—an IP address that didn't belong to the organizers or the team.

As he searched further, the door to his room creaked open. It was Yuki, their technical specialist.

"I heard what you said earlier," she began, closing the door behind her. "And… I think you might be onto something."

Liu Cheng looked up, surprised. "What do you know?"

"A few days ago, I noticed something strange on our network. It was like someone had connected from outside, but I wasn't sure. I didn't want to cause panic, but now…" she trailed off, looking at the screen.

"I think we have a mole," Liu Cheng concluded, nodding. "But why would someone on our team do this?"

"Maybe it's not someone from our team. Maybe someone's using us as a tool for a bigger goal," Yuki whispered, her eyes reflecting concern.

---

Climax of the Chapter

The next morning, as they prepared for the match, Liu Cheng noticed a strange message on his phone. It was an anonymous threat: "Stop investigating, or your entire team will pay the price."

His hands clenched around the phone, but his face betrayed no fear. He glanced at his teammates, who were joking and setting up their gear, oblivious to the danger surrounding them.

As they stepped onto the field, Liu Cheng knew there was no turning back. He had to make a choice—risk everything to expose the conspiracy or stay silent and deal with whatever came next.

When the match began, the tension was palpable. The Falcons played aggressively, almost flawlessly. But Liu Cheng noticed a pattern—their strategy mirrored parts of what his team had tested weeks ago. Someone had leaked their information.

As the match neared its climax, Liu Cheng made a move no one expected. He changed the formation mid-game, exploiting a weakness he discovered in the code. His risky maneuver worked—the Falcons were caught off guard, and the crowd erupted in cheers.

When the bell signaled the end of the match, their team emerged victorious. But Liu Cheng felt no relief. He knew this was only the beginning. The mysterious threat still loomed, and the game behind the scenes was growing more dangerous by the moment.

It was as if he could hear the echoes of the encoded phrase in his mind: "Those who know the game shape its rules."