CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY SEVEN - Unmasking the Paranoia

Back at Universe X headquarters, Mason called an emergency meeting with Claire and the heads of each department. The atmosphere in the conference room was tense, with worried glances and hushed conversations filling the air. "Alright, everyone," Mason said, calling the room to order. "I know we're all shaken by today's events, but we need to focus. Richard claims to have evidence of wrongdoing within our company. While I'm certain his more... outlandish claims are baseless, we need to make absolutely sure there's nothing he could have misconstrued or taken out of context." Claire nodded, taking charge. "We're going to conduct a thorough internal audit. I want every department to go through their records with a fine-tooth comb. Financial transactions, research projects, personnel files – everything. If there's even a hint of impropriety, I want to know about it." The department heads nodded, though Mason could see the worry in their eyes. This kind of scrutiny was unprecedented, and