Liora's steps towards the classroom felt heavier than usual. Her mind kept spinning—about the certificate that had been altered, about the post that spread quickly on the student council forum, and about how the system in this school had placed her in a weaker position than she thought.

However, there was one thing she hadn’t figured out yet: who was manipulating her certificate? Why had she become the target of slander? And why was she left without evidence, without protection, while the student council continued to operate as if nothing was wrong?

Outside the classroom, Liora encountered Arlo, the student council secretary known for his laid-back attitude. Arlo never seemed to get involved in power politics, but the cynical smile he often wore made Liora feel that something wasn’t right.

"How’s it going, Liora?" Arlo asked, as if nothing had happened. "Got something to say?"

Liora raised an eyebrow. "Of course, I do, Arlo. But I think you know more than I expected."

Arlo chuckled lightly. "Just wait. Sometimes you need to understand who holds the power here, not just who’s right. The student council isn’t a place to fight for the truth, Liora."

Liora knew this wasn’t just a casual conversation. Arlo seemed to be signaling that there was much more she needed to understand.

After that brief meeting, Liora decided to dig deeper into who she could trust at Blackridge. In her search, she met Elise, a member of the student council who had a very different attitude from Celestine. Elise seemed more open, even appearing concerned about what was happening to Liora, but Liora didn’t know if she could trust her completely.

"Liora, I know this isn’t fair. But you need to know one thing... Celestine and Severin have very strong control. If you want to uncover the truth, you need to be more careful," Elise said in a low voice, making sure no one else could hear.

Liora sensed something odd. Why would Elise, clearly a part of the student council, dare to give such a warning? But Liora knew this was a rare opportunity to learn more.

In the midst of her investigation, Liora discovered a document she shouldn’t have had—an audit report containing details about the alteration of her certificate. It turned out that not only was the certificate changed, but a file containing manipulated data had been tampered with by someone with direct access to the school’s system. But who could have done this?

With growing anxiety, Liora went to confront Severin, the student council vice president, known for his cold demeanor. Severin always seemed calm, but there was an aura of danger surrounding him.

"You must know something," Liora said sharply, going straight to the point. "Who manipulated my certificate?"

Severin just stared at her with an empty gaze. "You’re too naive if you think this is all about you, Liora. This is about something much bigger. Don’t meddle in affairs you shouldn’t be involved in."

Liora knew that answer was just the beginning of a much bigger, dangerous game. The longer it went on, the clearer it became that Case 17 wasn’t just about data manipulation. It was about power, and Liora had just been caught in a game that could destroy her.

In the back room, Liora found herself faced with a big decision: continue her risky search for the truth, or step back and accept the fate that had already been decided by those in power.

But with her resolve growing stronger, Liora chose not to back down. Behind the dark curtain hidden by the student council, answers awaited to be uncovered. And she would expose everything, no matter how many lives had to be sacrificed.