Deep in the high-security monitoring suite beneath the estate, Travis sat enveloped in the low, ambient glow of multiple high-definition displays. While Valkyrie was tackling the digital infrastructure from the top down, Travis preferred conducting his own direct, ground-level forensic investigation. Valkyrie's initial trace had pinpointed several hijacked civilian accounts used to amplify the malicious smear campaign against Jillyanna.
Reaching into his pocket, Travis pulled out an encrypted burner device, loaded the extracted contact credentials, and began placing direct calls to the registered owners of those compromise points.
The first target on his list was the primary account that had posted the initial viral "warning" thread—a profile registered to a thirteen-year-old middle school student named Elaine. When the line connected, a frail, trembling voice answered.
"W-Who... who... m-might you... b-be?" the young girl stuttered, her breathing shallow and frantic.
