Chapter 21 - Insight Was Better Than Cheating
The postponed hearing gave Eli forty-eight hours.
The system gave him Insight I.
It did not read minds.
It did not reveal truth magically.
It simply made patterns easier to notice.
Which was somehow more dangerous.
At Night Class, Eli examined Owen’s vial.
Tiny scratches circled the glass.
Batch markings.
He compared them to the vials found in his locker.
Same manufacturer.
Different batch.
The planted vials were newer.
Maya found the manufacturer code connected to a legal sports-recovery company owned by a Vane subsidiary.
Still not enough.
Then Eli noticed Trevor’s purple veins appeared strongest after gym sessions.
“Can the stimulant be detected?”
Priya nodded. “Blood test.”
“Would Trevor agree?”
Maya laughed.
Eli smiled.
He challenged Trevor publicly.
Not to a fight.
To a charity fitness test hosted by the kinesiology department.
Trevor could not refuse without looking scared.
During the test, medical staff performed standard wellness screening.
Trevor’s blood pressure spiked dangerously.
Priya quietly alerted the supervising doctor.
The test identified an unregistered stimulant metabolite.
Now the college had a real reason to investigate.
Trevor panicked.
He blamed Lucas.
Lucas denied everything.
But the hearing ended.
Eli was cleared.
Trevor was suspended from athletics.
His system chimed.
[FACTION QUEST PROGRESS: 60%]
[DEFIANCE +30]
[INSIGHT I UPGRADED]
Then Trevor found Eli outside the gym.
He looked terrified, not angry.
“Lucas is going to kill me.”
Eli stopped.
“What?”
Trevor grabbed his sleeve.
May you like
“I know where they make the pills.”
