Director Elias Cox had been silent throughout the presentation. He had sat in his elevated seat, leaning his back comfortably on his chair, looking down on Neville.

"Mr. Hope," Director Cox began, his tone set off every alarm in MJ’s head. "I’ve reviewed your documentation thoroughly. Twice, in fact. Your technical proposals are... decent."

The word ’decent’ landed like a slap across the face. Several people shifted uncomfortably in their seats.

"However," Director Cox continued, leaning forward with the air of someone about to deliver a killing blow.

"I have concerns about your oversight of the data acquisition process. Specifically, the personnel involved." He paused, letting the implication hang in the air. "Can you confirm that all members of your team have been properly vetted and that no sensitive information has been compromised during Phase 1?"

Neville’s expression remained unchanged. "All personnel underwent standard security clearance procedures as required by the military collaboration agreement."

"Standard procedures." Director Cox’s smile widened, revealing teeth. "And yet, I’ve received reports suggesting that certain... irregularities may have occurred. Data access logs that don’t match official records. Communication patterns that suggest external contact. Funds moving through channels that—"

The hall had gone very quiet.

MJ noticed Chief Jean McCartney, who froze in her seat. She had a blank expression on her face, but there was a slight crack that suggested she was working very hard to keep it that way.

"Director Cox," Neville said, and for the first time, something changed in his voice—not anger, not defensiveness, but something colder. "Are you suggesting that there has been a security breach?"

"I’m suggesting that as the project lead, the responsibility for any breach would fall squarely on your shoulders." Director Cox spread his hands in mock reasonableness. "Perhaps an investigation would be prudent. To clear your name, of course. Remove any shadow of doubt. I’m sure someone of your... background... would appreciate the opportunity to prove their integrity."

Another dig at Neville’s orphan status.

MJ watched as Neville stood steadily on the podium. He didn’t even tremble at the accusation.

He was either made of ice or had expected this exact moment and rehearsed his reaction a hundred times.

"Actually," Neville said, his voice carrying clearly through the suddenly silent hall, "I appreciate you raising this issue, Director Cox. Because before I continue with the technical details of Phase 2, there is indeed a matter of security that needs to be addressed."

He tapped the control panel.

The holographic display behind him changed, and the beautiful starship model vanished, replaced by something else entirely.

It was a death certificate, with picture and name, stamped with official Imperial seals.

MARCUS CHEN

Status: Deceased

"Marcus Chen was dead?" Jake exclaimed beside MJ, his voice cracking with horror. His nutrient solution slipped from nerveless fingers, splattering across the floor.

MJ barely heard him. His attention was fixed on the display, on the cascade of information now scrolling across the holographic screen.

Personnel files. Communication logs. Financial transactions.

It looked like a web of connections that spread outward like cracks in ice, each node linking to another in a pattern that grew more damning with every revelation.

Chief McCartney’s expression had gone from blank to stone-cold serious.

MJ knew that expression.

He had seen that expression once before; it was during a hostile takeover attempt three years ago. Chief McCartney single-handedly managed the media response that had saved the company’s reputation.

MJ realized at this moment.

This wasn’t a presentation anymore.

This was a prosecution.

Neville surveyed the room, that faint smile still playing at the corners of his lips.

"I apologize for the sudden turn of events," he said, and his tone was so pleasant it was almost friendly—like someone apologizing for bringing the wrong dessert to a dinner party. "But I believe that before we proceed with the technical details of this project, there is a dire need to address this case. Right now. As we speak."

Neville looked toward the elevated platform where the board members sat.

Grayson Maxwell met his gaze and gave a single, almost imperceptible nod.

One of the executives—Deputy Director Park Min-Hae from Innovation—started to rise from her seat. "How can you possibly justify—"

Grayson raised his hand casually, and Director Park sat back down immediately. Her words died in her throat. Grayson didn’t even look in her direction as if he was already expecting this situation to happen.

Director Park instantly became terrified at the thought of being implicated in the situation.

MJ caught a glimpse of Keaton Hewitt’s expression. That slight smile hanging on his lips turned into a grin. He was watching his own father, George Hewitt, with poorly concealed delight.

The elder Hewitt’s face had gone neutral, but MJ had been reading rooms for too long. He didn’t miss the tension in his shoulders and the slight whitening of his knuckles on the armrests of his chair.

"I believe most of you knew who this person was," Neville continued, gesturing toward Marcus Chen’s displayed file. "Or at least, some of you did."

His gaze swept across the assembly. MJ could have sworn it lingered on Director Cox for just a moment longer than necessary.

"Some of you knew him quite well, I understand."

"Well, aside from being a saboteur..." Neville paused, letting the word hang in the air like a guillotine blade suspended before the drop. "He was also determined to be a spy."

The hall erupted into chaos.

Voices rose in a cacophony of shock, outrage, and poorly concealed panic.

MJ scanned the faces of those people around him. Some looked genuinely surprised, some even had their mouths hanging open in disbelief. Meanwhile, others were working too hard to appear surprised, but their shock was just a fraction of a second too slow to be natural.

When he looked at the live chat on his screen, it had gone berserk. Messages were scrolling by too fast to read.

"That’s right," Neville said, his voice echoed through the chaos without rising in volume. "A leak has been detected."