Why?
Why?!
Her mind went blank, a loud ringing filling her ears.
"Turn it off, why aren't you turning it off?!"
She screamed, her voice cracking. "Shut down the screen! Turn it off now!"
But no one paid her any attention.
On the massive screen, the Crimson Skull Insignia remained.
Unmoving, as if mocking her.
Bianca stood there, trembling all over.
The spotlight chased her, capturing her disheveled state with crystal clarity.
She whipped her head around, her gaze piercing through the blinding flashes, locking onto Serena in the audience.
Under the crisscrossing spotlights.
Everything else seemed to blur into the background.
Serena leaned back casually in her chair, her legs elegantly crossed, resting her chin on one hand.
Seeing Bianca look her way, Serena tilted her head slightly, the corners of her crimson lips curving upward inch by inch.
Her gaze was chilling, filled with undisguised mockery and disdain.
The smile was faint, lazy, like she was watching a clown finally leap into a trap she had dug.
A deafening roar echoed in Bianca's mind, shattering her last shred of composure.
The blood in her veins froze completely.
She finally realized it.
She had been played by Serena, thoroughly treated like a monkey for amusement!
Watched by everyone, in front of the whole world, she had become a joke.
Bianca's legs gave out, and she nearly collapsed to the floor.
Isabella lunged at the screen, spreading her arms wide, trying to use her frail body to block the massive Crimson Skull Insignia.
Suddenly, a sharp beep echoed.
Through the lenses, it was broadcasted directly to the global livestream.
The entire venue was in an uproar!
Reporters clutching microphones and holding up cameras frantically pressed their shutters.
They were so excited they practically shoved the microphones into the girls' faces.
"Oh my god! Members of The Dreamscape Initiative actually went and stole another team's data report?"
"Not just stealing data, but planting a virus in it too? Isn't that a bit too vicious?"
"And they were acting so noble on stage just now, talking about relying on themselves. The shamelessness is off the charts!"
"This is a crime, a criminal offense!"
The contestant area exploded into chaos.
Lydia Brooks jumped onto her chair, hands on her hips, and started cursing them out. "I knew you rats from the gutter couldn't do anything decent! You stole our captain's data and still had the nerve to come flaunt it in front of us? Shameless!"
"The Dreamscape Initiative didn't do a damn thing on the island, how could they suddenly be so smug on the fifth day? Turns out they stole The Hope Initiative's data."
"Hilarious. Stealing the Code Goddess's report to show off? I guess that's the only skill they have."

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