Morning broke over Valenridge beneath clear blue skies. For the first time in years, the country's headlines were no longer dominated by corruption scandals, political infighting, or economic collapse.
Newspapers celebrated newly paved highways, restored hospitals, thriving farmlands, and children returning to renovated schools.
Hope was slowly becoming the nation's favorite headline.
Then, just before noon...
Every major television station, newspaper, and online news agency in Valenridge received the same anonymous package.
No sender.
No return address.
Only a plain brown envelope containing a flash drive. Attached to it was a single typed note.
"The truth about Dorian Ravenscroft belongs to the people."
Within minutes, editors abandoned their meetings and gathered inside their conference rooms.
"What is this?""Another political stunt?"
"Run a security scan."
"No one opens it until IT clears it."
The flash drives were examined by cybersecurity experts.
