Chapter Four: Beyond the Template

The visitor wore a league technician's uniform, though his badge photograph was ten years younger than his face. “Abnormal traffic,” he said. “I need every device in this room.” Emma opened the door only a hand's width. “Does an eighth-tier two-one victory normally bring Noah Dynamics out at midnight?” His eyes shifted. That was enough. Baptiste and the players came singing down the corridor. The stranger would not act before witnesses. He took the router and told Lin, “Some games are unsuitable for amateurs.” “Then we'll become professionals,” Lin replied. Emma designed two training programs. One rebuilt his knee, core, and ordinary first touch. The other taught him to read matches without the system.