"Would there be a competitive component?"
"Yes, but participation is voluntary. Each academy can propose a demonstration or enter athletes into supervised matches. Nobody is required to fight outside their agreed category."
Derek smiled.
"That sounds considerably more reasonable than our last invitation."
Dr. Morris nodded.
"We've heard about the situation at Ironclad. I want to make something clear: your participation will not depend on making accusations against any individual. The evidence should be handled through the appropriate process."
Lena appreciated the distinction.
"Then we would be interested in attending."
After the meeting, the team gathered on the mat to discuss what they wanted to demonstrate.
Derek proposed a striking exhibition focused on defensive movement and controlled counterattacks.
Julian suggested a grappling demonstration showing how experienced practitioners could control an opponent without using unnecessary force.
Marcus volunteered to lead a session on strength, balance, and decision-making under pressure.
Master Ward listened with quiet satisfaction.
For the first time, the three champions were working together without competing for the instructor's approval.
Then Lena surprised them.
"I'd like to participate in a technical demonstration involving three different styles."
Marcus raised an eyebrow.
"Three styles or three opponents?"
"Both, eventually."
Ward folded his arms.
"Explain."
Lena walked to the center of the mat.
"The original challenge began because Marcus asked me to choose one opponent. I said I was willing to work with all three. The session taught us something, but it was still limited. We never explored how the different styles interact in a carefully structured exercise."
Julian considered the idea.
"You want to demonstrate adaptation."
"Exactly. Not a fight designed to humiliate anyone. A demonstration of how different ranges demand different decisions."
Derek nodded slowly.
"That could be interesting."
Marcus smiled.
"Provided I get another chance to correct my mistakes."
"You'll get plenty of chances," Lena replied.
Ward remained cautious.
"Only if everyone agrees to the format and the rules are reviewed beforehand."
They spent the next hour outlining a sequence of controlled exchanges. Each participant would begin in a different range, then transition through a series of agreed positions. The goal would be to demonstrate awareness, defensive choices, and cooperation rather than determine a winner.
The exercise required patience and trust.
It also required Marcus to accept that he could not simply force every exchange into a contest of strength.
During the first practice, he rushed an entry and nearly collided with Derek.
Ward stopped the drill.
"Again."
Marcus exhaled.
"Understood."
They repeated the sequence.
This time, Marcus waited for the correct signal, maintained his balance, and adjusted his movement when Lena changed the angle.
The exchange flowed smoothly.
Julian smiled.
"Look at that. Cooperation."
Marcus rolled his eyes.
"Don't get used to it."
Everyone laughed.
For a moment, the academy felt like a normal training environment again.
Yet the investigation continued in the background. Ward had submitted the documents to independent advisers, and Adrian had agreed to provide a formal statement. Patricia had also offered to cooperate with any review of the old tournament records.
Sloane had not contacted them directly since the day he left Ironclad.
That silence worried Lena.
People who relied on manipulation rarely abandoned an opportunity without considering what they might lose.
Two days before the showcase, Dr. Morris called Ward with an update.
The foundation had received a request from Sloane's organization to participate in the same event.
He wanted a featured presentation and had proposed a special exhibition involving Lena Mercer and three members of Ironclad's competitive team.
Ward immediately refused to authorize the arrangement.
Dr. Morris agreed that no such match would be scheduled without the academy's consent.
But the request revealed Sloane's intentions.
He was attempting to regain control of the narrative by attaching himself to an event designed to promote transparency.
Lena listened to Ward's account without surprise.
"He wants to stand beside the evidence and pretend he's part of the solution," she said.
"Possibly," Ward replied. "But we still need to focus on what we can prove."
Marcus tightened his hand wraps.
"Then let him attend. We'll show everyone what real martial arts looks like."
Lena shook her head.
"We don't need to perform for him."
Marcus considered that, then nodded.
"You're right."
The showcase would be their opportunity to demonstrate skill, discipline, and the value of independent competition.
It would not be a stage for settling personal grudges.
Yet none of them could ignore the possibility that Sloane would attempt something unexpected.
And when the day of the event finally arrived, the first surprise was waiting beside the entrance.
Adrian Cross stood beneath the foundation's banner, holding a folder of original documents.
He had come to tell the truth publicly.
But he was not alone.
Victor Sloane was standing just a few feet behind him.
Adrian Cross had not entered a competitive arena in seven years.
The last time he had stood beneath bright overhead lights, he had been a favored contender surrounded by coaches, officials, and spectators who expected him to win.