The announcement echoed across the competition hall.
"All participants, please return to your assigned arenas."
The lively conversations gradually died down as students from every university made their way back.
The atmosphere changed once again.
The relaxed smiles from the break disappeared, replaced by focused expressions.
Round Two was about to begin.
Nathan watched from the crowd.
Without drawing attention to himself, he blended in with the spectators moving toward the viewing gallery.
His disguise remained flawless.
No one gave him a second glance.
He climbed to the second floor, where visitors could observe the competition through a massive glass wall overlooking all eight arenas.
From here...
He could see everything.
Arena Seven.
Team Crescent.
Northbridge University.
Every participant.
Nathan rested one hand casually in his pocket.
His eyes settled on Benny once more.
The young man adjusted his chair before taking a slow breath.
No signs of panic.
No unnecessary movements.
Just quiet concentration.
Nathan's lips curved ever so slightly.
"Good..."
A few rows behind him...
Marcus quietly approached.
"They're gone."
Nathan didn't turn around.
"The two fake volunteers?"
"Yes."
"We followed them outside."
"They drove away in an unregistered vehicle."
Nathan's expression remained calm.
"No confrontation?"
Marcus shook his head.
"I thought observation was the priority."
"It was."
Nathan nodded slightly.
"Continue digging."
"I want names."
"I want employers."
"And I want to know why they're interested in a freshman."
"Understood."
Marcus disappeared once more.
Inside Arena Seven...
The competitors had already taken their seats.
The judges walked between each workstation, ensuring every computer had been reset.
Professor Lewis stood behind Team Crescent.
"This round..."
"...will test something different."
Mia whispered,
"I don't like it when he says that."
Ryan calmly adjusted his glasses.
"He enjoys watching people suffer."
Ethan couldn't help smiling.
"You're probably right."
Even Benny chuckled.
Professor Lewis pretended not to hear them.
The lights dimmed.
The giant screen flickered.
A mechanical voice filled every arena.
ROUND TWO
Operation: Ghost Network
Objective:
"A hacker known as Ghost has infiltrated the national communication network."
"Locate Ghost's hidden server before time expires."
"Beware..."
"Not every clue is genuine."
"Some clues exist only to mislead."
Time Limit: 90 Minutes
A murmur spread across the arena.
Ryan spoke first.
"...A tracking challenge."
Ethan nodded.
"And a psychological one."
Benny read the briefing again.
"No..."
"They're testing patience."
Everyone looked at him.
He continued.
"If we rush after every clue..."
"We'll waste time."
Professor Lewis, standing behind them, said nothing.
But inwardly...
He approved.
BEEP!
The competition began.
Immediately, dozens of encrypted files appeared across every monitor.
Hundreds of IP addresses.
Thousands of packets.
False server locations.
Mia groaned.
"This is a nightmare."
Ryan had already begun filtering the network.
"Too much noise."
Ethan looked toward Benny.
"What do you see?"
Benny didn't answer immediately.
His eyes moved rapidly across the data.
One file.
Two files.
Ten files.
Thirty...
Then...
He stopped.
"...Strange."
Ryan looked over.
"What?"
Benny pointed at one tiny log hidden among thousands of others.
"This timestamp."
"It doesn't match."
Mia frowned.
"Only by two seconds."
Benny nodded.
"Exactly."
"If Ghost wanted to hide..."
"He wouldn't make a mistake."
"So?"
Benny's eyes narrowed.
"It isn't a mistake."
"It's bait."
Ryan's eyes flashed with approval.
"...Ignore it."
Benny nodded.
"We're looking for the clue someone wanted us to overlook."
Across the room...
Northbridge University's captain glanced toward Team Crescent.
Again...
That freshman had seen through the trap before anyone else.
His smile disappeared.
"This is getting interesting..."
Behind the observation glass...
Nathan watched silently.
He didn't understand every technical detail.
He didn't need to.
He understood people.
And Benny...
Didn't think like everyone else.
While other competitors chased what looked obvious...
Benny questioned why it looked obvious in the first place.
Nathan found himself watching only one screen now.
Arena Seven.
Only Benny.
A quiet thought crossed his mind.
"Maybe..."
"Professor Lewis wasn't the only one who discovered a hidden talent."
Outside, dark clouds slowly gathered over Haven City.
Inside the competition hall...
The second round had only just begun.
And somewhere in the shadows...
Someone else was watching Benny's every move.