Chapter 1198
A week later.
Inside the VIP lounge at Vaelion City International Airport.
After surviving the brutal gauntlet of the team competition, thirty-five top-tier elite contestants from Elyndor, including Serena, were fully assembled.
They were preparing to fly to Severia for the ultimate showdown of the global tournament-the individual competition.
Some were staring at their phones, some whispering intensely about the rules, and others nervously double-checking their luggage.
Yet, everyone’s eyes kept unconsciously drifting in the same direction.
Tucked into a corner sofa, Serena leaned back with her eyes closed.
Dressed casually in a white T-shirt, jeans, and a canvas bag, she radiated a lazy, unbothered aura.
Lydia Brooks sat beside her, legs crossed, casually munching on an apple.
Caleb Sommers was reviewing the competition manual, while Vanessa Vance and Jasper Sterling huddled over a phone.
They looked nothing like the rest of the contestants, who were practically vibrating with anxiety.
Footsteps echoed from the doorway.
Mr. Ashwell walked in, trailed by two assistants.
His hair was perfectly slicked back, his suit impeccably tailored, and his tie knotted flawlessly.
But despite his sharp appearance, he looked incredibly insecure.
He glanced toward the corner sofa and lowered his voice to speak to his assistant. “Is Mr. Harrison really not coming p>
For an international tournament that held the academic pride of Elyndor in the balance, the original plan dictated that Mr. Harrison, a national treasure and titan in the academic world, would lead the delegation to assert dominance.
But for the past few days, Mr. Harrison had been acting like a man possessed.
He locked himself inside his laboratory, completely consumed by the neural data report Serena’s team had submitted.
Those findings, which were groundbreaking enough to rewrite medical history, had Mr. Harrison and a team of veteran academicians dissecting and simulating data around the clock.
He simply refused to leave.
So p>
The assistant shook his head. “Mr. Harrison said he needs to stay in the lab to analyze the data. He entrusted the delegation to you p>
Mr. Ashwell let out a heavy sigh.
While his own influence in Elyndor’s academicircles was nothing to scoff at trying to command the international stage without Mr. Harrison made him feel termply inadequate.
Stepping into those shoes, he was terrified he wouldn’t be able to keep these arrogant prodigies in line.
Just then, his phone buzzed.
It was a video call from Mr. Harrison.
Ashwell answered immediately.
On the screen, Mr. Harrison was wearing a stained lab coat, his hair a wild mess,
and his eyes gleaming with a manic intensity.
“Ashwell! Are you at the airport p>
Mr. Ashwell glanced at the
contestants, walked over to a quieter
section of the VIP lounge, and whispered, “We haven’t boarded yet Are you absolutely sure you’re not coming? This is p>
“Not coming, not coming! I’m way too busy here. I just knew you’d be overthinking everything, so I called to check on you, Harrison said, waving his hand dismissively.
“But Mr. Harrison, can we really pull this off?” Ashwell was genuinely panicking. “We’re heading to Severia to face the absolute best geniuses on the planet p>
“Making me lead the team, I just p>
Mr. Harrison suddenly leaned close to the camera. “Is the Orac… ahem, is Serena there p>
Ashwell panned his camera around.
On the far side of the lounge, Serena was slouched against the sofa, looking completely relaxed.
Mr. Harrison burst into laughter. “Ashwell, just relax p>
“As long as we have our little Orac… as long as Serena is there, we’ve got this in the bag p>
Harrison shot him a knowing look. “Listen to me. On paper, you’re the head of the delegation. But in reality, just let Serena call the shots, and you won’t go wrong p>