"You all know that I took the liberty of patenting an AI assistance program during my time here," Neville explained casually, as if he wasn’t shattering everyone’s understanding of corporate security. "I named it Compass, and it developed into a different thing than what I initially made it for."

Neville proudly announced, "Let me show you its main usage. Let’s track certain... anomalies."

Holographic screens seemed to erupt like in the Big Bang theory and spread throughout the hall. It was distributed to each person the information inside belonged to each person.

The screen in front of Director Cox showed a mind map with his face at the center, lines connecting him to a web of corruption that made MJ’s head spin.

Corrupted contracts.

Manipulated data streams.

Illicit dealings with HW Corporation—mainly, Mick and George Hewitt.

Misrouted shipments that conveniently benefited specific external contractors.

Security access failures that always seemed to happen at the worst possible moments.

System "upgrades" that created backdoors for corporate espionage.

"The post-purging that occurred months ago," Neville said, highlighting a particular cluster of evidence, "was not, as officially stated, a routine removal of underperforming employees. It was a systematic elimination of anyone who might have noticed Director Cox’s initial moves to compromise our systems."

MJ remembered that purge. Forty employees were gone in a single week. HR had called it "strategic restructuring." Some of those people had been his friends. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

And all of them had been silenced.

"You removed them before they could talk," Neville said.

"Forced resignations. Manufactured performance issues. One very convenient accident in a starship reactor bay." He paused. "Jenkins’ brother was a good man, by the way. He didn’t deserve what happened to him."

Director Cox’s face had gone cold, replacing his earlier shock.

Gasps and whispers filled the hall. Some of the bound individuals had started to struggle against their restraints. Others had gone completely still, calculating their options.

"Underneath each name on your displays," Neville continued, "you’ll find a designation."

"’Involvement with evidence’ means we have concrete proof of criminal activity. ’Alleged involvement’ means we have strong suspicions but insufficient evidence for prosecution." He paused. "I’ve been quite conservative with the first designation. The Imperial prosecutors will likely be more... enthusiastic."

MJ noticed that Director Hannel’s display showed "Minor involvement with no concrete evidence" beneath his name. The man’s relief was visible from across the stage—but short-lived.

"Director Hannel," Neville said gently, "I would strongly recommend cooperation with the investigation. The difference between ’alleged’ and ’confirmed’ often comes down to how helpful a person is willing to be."

But Director Hannel didn’t have that exaggerated reaction MJ was hoping to see.

The biggest set of them all sat on Director Elias Cox.

Neville approached him slowly, almost leisurely.

The security officers who had quietly positioned themselves around the bound suspects made no move to interfere. They simply watched, their expressions professional but their eyes gleaming with something that looked like anticipation.

"I have to admit," Neville said, stopping a few feet from Director Cox’s chair, "I’ve been curious about something for quite a while now."

Director Cox glared at him with poisonous eyes. "You’re making a mistake, boy. You don’t know who you’re dealing with."

"On the contrary." Neville tilted his head with amusement. "I think I know exactly who I’m dealing with."

"A senior mid-level executive who somehow managed to place himself at the center of Maxwell Corporation’s technology infrastructure. A man who’s been selling company secrets to HW Corporation for approximately fifteen years. A person who has actively sabotaged at least twelve major projects and contributed to the deaths of three employees—that we know of."

He leaned forward slightly.

"What I don’t know," Neville said softly, "is why you’re targeting me specifically."

"From the moment I was hired, you’ve been making my life difficult. Small things at first—then it snowballed from there. The attempt to frame me. The ’accidental’ exposure of my personal information to people who wished me harm."

MJ felt his blood run cold. I think I shouldn’t be hearing this.

"So tell me, Director Cox." Neville’s smile never wavered. "Why me?"

For a long moment, Director Cox said nothing.

Then, a smirk spread across his face.

It was a strange expression; it looked like a defeated expression, but also defiant at the same time. His eyes met Neville’s, and MJ saw something pass between them. Some understanding that the rest of the room wasn’t privy to.

"You want to know why?" Director Cox’s voice was rough, stripped of the polished executive image he usually wore. "You’re unlucky, that’s why."

Neville blinked.

"The moment you walked through those doors," Director Cox continued, his smile turning bitter, "I knew you were going to be a problem. Call it instinct. Call it experience."

"I’ve been in this game for decades, boy. I’ve seen a hundred eager young employees come and go. Most of them, you can buy or break or simply ignore. But you..." Director Cox’s eyes narrowed. "The moment you saw me for the first time, you looked at me like you already knew who I was. Like you were just waiting for me to make a mistake."

"So you decided to destroy me before I could destroy you," Neville said. It wasn’t a question.

"I tried." Director Cox laughed, a harsh sound that echoed through the silent hall. "I threw everything I had at you. Every obstacle, every roadblock, every dirty trick I’d learned in three decades of corporate warfare. And you just... kept going."

He shook his head, something almost like admiration flickering in his eyes.

"I should have known you were going to be the end of me."

Neville looked at him for a long moment, filled with skepticism.

"Believe it or not, it was the truth."

Then, Director McCartney’s voice was heard echoing through the assembly hall.

"Are you really going to lie until the end, old man?"

MJ snapped his head to pan his attention at Director McCartney, who was beside him.

Did she already know what was going on?