The sentences below have words that are missing. Choose the best option from those given below to complete the sentence.

The investigators have ________ that he had leaked confidential __________ information about the acquisition, thereby allowing associates to profit from the ________ deal.

We can fill in the given triplets in the sentence and interpret them to find the one that best conveys the meaning:

• A. The investigators have announced that he had leaked confidential financial information about the acquisition, thereby allowing associates to profit from the treacherous deal.
• B. The investigators have discovered that he had leaked confidential internal information about the acquisition, thereby allowing associates to profit from the enormous deal.
• C. The investigators have alleged that he had leaked confidential insider information about the acquisition, thereby allowing associates to profit from the illicit deal.
• D. The investigators have accused that he had leaked confidential important information about the acquisition, thereby allowing associates to profit from the dramatic deal.
  

Out of the four options, option C fits the context best. 'Alleged' means to claim that someone is involved in an illegal activity, which the investigators do. ''Insider information' is confidential information about a closed group or system, and 'illicit deal' refers to a deal forbidden by the law.