Legacy of the Stars

The hotel where they were staying was a blend of luxury and practicality, nestled among the majestic Swiss mountains. The team had gathered in the shared analysis room, where the tension between them was almost palpable. A large screen on the wall replayed footage from their previous match as Liu Cheng stood to the side, observing every detail.

"Look at this," Xu Ming said, pointing to a specific moment in the game. He paused the footage and zoomed in on the map. "We lost connection here for a second. You saw it, didn't you?"

"We all saw it," Yan Qiao, their tank player, replied, sitting on the table with his arms crossed. "But what does that prove? One lag isn't evidence."

"It's not just one," Liu Cheng interjected, pointing to another part of the footage. "This happened at least three times during critical moments. The first time when we were setting up an ambush, the second when we were taking control of the objective, and the third... when we launched the final attack."

"Too many coincidences," added Xu Ming, his fingers moving quickly over the keyboard. "I analyzed the server logs. This isn't an equipment issue. Someone is sabotaging us."

---

Suspicions of Sabotage

"Sabotaging?" Zhang Lei, their captain, broke the silence. His voice was firm, but there was tension in it. "That's a serious accusation, Cheng. Are you sure about this?"

"Absolutely," Liu Cheng replied, meeting his gaze directly. "The disruptions aren't random. Someone is manipulating our connection during key moments. This isn't a server problem; it's a hacker."

Wang Mei, their analyst, raised an eyebrow as she thought it over. "If that's true, who would have the motive? This is too big of a risk for any team. If they get caught, they'll be disqualified."

"It doesn't have to be an opposing team," Xu Ming suggested. "It could be someone from the organization. Or even an individual trying to sabotage the tournament for personal reasons."

"Whoever it is, we have to report this," Zhang Lei said. "The organizers need to know we have a problem."

"Not yet," Liu Cheng interrupted, his tone serious. "If we report this without enough evidence, we'll cause a scandal and lose focus. Right now, we need a clearer picture."

---

First Steps

"Alright, what's your plan?" Wang Mei asked, leaning back in her chair.

"Xu Ming and I will track the logs," Liu Cheng said. "We'll look for any anomalies that could lead us to the source. In the meantime, you all focus on preparing for the next match. We can't let this affect our game."

Zhang Lei nodded. "If you need help, let us know. But if the situation escalates, we report it immediately."

"Agreed," Liu Cheng replied.

---

Working Through the Night

Liu Cheng and Xu Ming spent hours reviewing the data. The room was silent except for the occasional tapping of keys and the hum of monitors.

"Look at this," Xu Ming said, pointing to a line of code on the screen. "There's a small network disruption here, but this isn't a regular issue. The signal is coming from outside our network."

"Can we trace the source?" Liu Cheng asked, leaning over the desk.

"Difficult. If the hacker is any good, they'll be using VPNs or proxy servers to hide."

Liu Cheng paused for a moment, thinking. "What if we lure the hacker out? Set a trap."

Xu Ming looked up. "What do you mean?"

"We could simulate a situation where we're vulnerable," Liu Cheng explained. "Run a fake test match and intentionally leave a gap in our system. If the hacker is really there, they might reveal themselves trying to interfere."

"Risky," Xu Ming said, though he didn't sound unconvinced. "But it might just work."

---

Setting the Trap

Liu Cheng and Xu Ming worked tirelessly, setting up the fake simulation. They brought the rest of the team into the plan, making it seem like they were genuinely preparing for a critical match.

"Is this really necessary?" Wang Mei asked as they finalized the details.

"We can't win if we're constantly sabotaged," Liu Cheng replied. "We need to solve this before it's too late."

"I agree," Zhang Lei added. "Just make sure this doesn't jeopardize our actual preparation."

---

The Trap Is Set

When the fake test match began, Liu Cheng watched the monitors with a mix of nervousness and anticipation. Everything appeared normal, but he was certain something would happen.

"There it is," Xu Ming said suddenly, pointing to an anomaly on the screen. "Same pattern as before. But now we have more data."

"The hacker is here," Liu Cheng said, feeling a mix of fear and excitement. "Can we trace them?"

"Working on it," Xu Ming replied, typing rapidly. "I need more time."

At that moment, the signal abruptly disappeared.

"They cut the connection," Xu Ming said, frustrated. "But they left a trail."

---

A New Lead

The hacker's signal led them to a server located near the hotel complex. It was clear the attacker was operating from somewhere nearby.

"This is getting serious," Zhang Lei said after Liu Cheng and Xu Ming updated him. "If we don't handle this soon, we risk the entire tournament."

"We have enough to go further," Liu Cheng said. "But we need to be careful. This isn't just ordinary sabotage. This is someone who knows what they're doing."