Legacy of the Stars

The morning after their victory over the Falcons, the air inside the hotel buzzed with subdued excitement. Sunlight poured through the grand windows of the hotel lobby, casting patterns on the polished marble floors. Players from various teams moved about, some stretching in preparation for the next matches, others slouched in the lounge, recovering from grueling games. The tournament had reached its midpoint, and the pressure was palpable.

Liu Cheng sat at a corner table in the breakfast hall, absentmindedly stirring his coffee. His sharp features—defined jawline, slightly upturned nose, and always alert dark eyes—were overshadowed by the dark circles beneath them. His usually neat black hair was unkempt, a testament to the sleepless night he'd spent poring over data.

Across from him, Yuki nibbled on a croissant, her pixie-like appearance contrasting with her razor-sharp mind. Her short, silver-dyed hair framed her pale face, and her large, inquisitive eyes darted between her plate and the tablet she was holding.

"You look like a character straight out of a zombie survival game," she teased, glancing at Liu Cheng.

He smirked faintly. "And you look like the player who just looted all the supplies while I was getting mauled by the horde."

Yuki chuckled, then leaned forward, her tone turning serious. "Jokes aside, I've traced that IP address you found. It's coming from an anonymous node in Zürich. The location is... well, let's just say it's not the kind of place you'd visit on a sightseeing tour."

Liu Cheng's grip tightened on his coffee mug. "If what we suspect is true, this could be our chance to uncover who's behind the sabotage."

Before Yuki could respond, Zhang Wei appeared, his tall and imposing frame cutting through the morning bustle. His presence was commanding; even in casual attire, the captain exuded a military-like discipline. He frowned as he approached.

"Cheng, what's this I hear about you chasing conspiracies again?" Zhang asked, his tone a mix of irritation and concern.

Liu Cheng straightened in his seat. "It's not a conspiracy. There's something real happening here, Zhang. The sabotage, the strange message, the IP trace—it's all connected."

Zhang crossed his arms, glancing between Liu and Yuki. "And what's your plan? Run off to Zürich and play detective while the rest of us prepare for the next match? You've done enough to unsettle the team."

"Unsettle?" Liu Cheng asked, his voice rising slightly. "I'm trying to protect the team! Whoever's behind this has access to our data. It's not just about us—it's the entire tournament."

Zhang sighed heavily, shaking his head. "The team needs focus, not distractions. If you want to pursue this, do it after the tournament."

Yuki cleared her throat. "Captain, with all due respect, if we wait, it might be too late. Whoever's doing this isn't just targeting us. I've picked up chatter from other teams—they've experienced glitches, unexplained network issues, and even missing practice footage."

Zhang rubbed his temples. "Fine. Do what you need to do. But if this backfires, Cheng, it's on you."

---

The Investigation Begins

By late afternoon, Liu Cheng and Yuki were standing outside a nondescript building in Zürich's industrial district. The area was eerily quiet, with abandoned warehouses and graffiti-covered walls giving it an unsettling vibe.

"This place screams 'movie villain lair,'" Yuki said, her voice light despite the tension. "If we see any laser traps, I'm out."

Liu Cheng snorted. "Don't worry. If there's a villain, they're probably too busy monologuing to notice us."

They approached the building cautiously. Yuki pulled out a small device from her bag—a portable signal scanner. As she swept it across the area, it began to beep faintly.

"There's definitely some sort of server activity here," she said, her voice tinged with excitement.

The two slipped inside through a rusted side door. The interior was dimly lit, with rows of old machinery and dusty crates. The faint hum of active equipment echoed from deeper within.

As they ventured further, Liu Cheng's eyes caught a glimmer of light reflecting off something metallic. It was a sleek, modern server rack, completely out of place in the otherwise decrepit surroundings.

"Bingo," Yuki whispered.

---

Discovering the Truth

Yuki quickly connected her tablet to the server. Her fingers flew across the screen as lines of data scrolled rapidly.

"This is… bigger than I thought," she muttered, her brow furrowing.

"What is it?" Liu Cheng asked, leaning over her shoulder.

"These aren't just logs from our team. Whoever set this up has access to every team in the tournament. Strategies, communications, even personal files—it's all here."

Liu Cheng felt a chill run down his spine. "This isn't sabotage. This is espionage on a massive scale."

Before they could delve deeper, a loud creak echoed from the far side of the room. Both of them froze.

"Did you hear that?" Yuki whispered, her eyes wide.

Liu Cheng nodded, motioning for her to stay behind him. He grabbed a nearby metal rod, gripping it tightly as footsteps approached.

From the shadows emerged a figure dressed in black, their face obscured by a hood.

"Who are you?" Liu Cheng demanded, his voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through him.

The figure didn't answer. Instead, they turned and sprinted toward the exit.

"Hey!" Liu shouted, giving chase.

---

The Chase

Liu Cheng wasn't an athlete, but the thrill of the moment gave him a burst of speed. Yuki followed close behind, her tablet tucked under one arm. The chase led them out of the warehouse and into the narrow alleyways of the industrial district.

The figure was fast, but Liu Cheng noticed something—they were deliberately avoiding certain paths, as if trying to protect something.

"Yuki, cut them off from the left!" Liu shouted.

Yuki nodded, veering into a side alley. A moment later, she emerged ahead of the figure, blocking their path.

"End of the line," she said, holding up her scanner like a weapon.

Trapped, the figure hesitated before tossing a small device onto the ground. A puff of smoke erupted, obscuring their vision.

When the smoke cleared, the figure was gone.

---

The Aftermath

Liu Cheng and Yuki returned to the server rack, now fully aware of the stakes.

"This isn't over," Liu Cheng said, his jaw clenched. "Whoever they are, they're playing a dangerous game. And now, so are we."

Yuki nodded. "We have the data. But exposing this will paint a target on our backs."

Liu Cheng stared at the server, his mind racing. The line between competition and conspiracy had blurred, and the real game had only just begun.

Despite the gravity of their discovery, Yuki couldn't help but crack a smile. "So, Cheng, when this is all over, you owe me dinner. Preferably somewhere less... creepy."

Liu Cheng chuckled softly. "Deal. But only if we survive the next round."

As they exited the building, the Swiss sunset bathed the city in hues of orange and gold, a deceptive calm masking the chaos that lay ahead.