Chapter 1044
Chief Graves smirked, locking his cold eyes onto Serena. “The Hope Initiative p>
He pointed to the most desolate edge of the map, right next to a jagged cliff face. “Sector Delta, Lab Twelve p>
Then, he tapped another remote corner. “Your living quarters are the Sector F Dormitories p>
Caleb leaned in to look at the map, his face instantly draining of color. “Chief Graves, this isn’t right p>
He pointed at the sprawling distance on the map. “Sector Delta is literally on the edge of a cliff p>
“The wind off the ocean is brutal there, and it’s miles away from the cafeteria and living quarters! Just walking back and forth is going to take us two hours every day p>
They would be completely exhausted just trying to get a meal.
How were they supposed to have any energy left for complex research?
Lydia was furious. “How is this fair? This is completely rigged! Everyone else is in the central hub, and you’re tossing us onto a cliff p>
“Fair?” Chief Graves scoffed. “Here, I decide what’s fair p>
“Resources are limited. Someone has to take the lesser facilities p>
“What? Too tired to walk? If you can’t handle it, quit p>
He pointed a thick finger toward the transport ship that hadn’t departed yet. “The boat’s right there. Nobody’s stopping you from getting the hell out p>
His arrogance was suffocating.
It was a blatantly targeted attack.
On Vertex Island, to ensure a baseline of fairness, all equipment and materials were subjected to cross-verifications by multiple security teams.
The Doyles couldn’t buy off everyone.
So, they couldn’t directly tamper with Serena’s research equipment.
Instead, they resorted to this petty, exhausting psychological warfare.
Caleb and Jasper clenched their fists, their knuckles cracking, fighting the urge to punch the corrupt official in the face.
But they couldn’t.
Assaulting a tournament official meant instant disqualification.
Plus, Graves was clearly built like a tank. He was massive and heavily muscled.
The two of them, exhausted students, wouldn’t stand a chance in a physical fight.
Seeing them fall silent, Graves sneered. “If you don’t have any more complaints, keep your mouths shut p>
“Now, take your keys and go get acquainted with your home for the next five days!” He began passing out the keys to the respective teams.
When he finally reached Serena’s group, he dug into his pocket, took his time, and pulled out a rusty
dirt caked key. He casually tos tossed it onto the dirt at their feet.
“You’re all certified geniuses, right?. Photographic memories? You saw
the map, so you know where your
going. Find it yourselves p>
With that, Graves turned his back on them and walked warmly toward Bianca’s group Ms. Doyle, your suites are right this way. I made sure to reserve the absolute best rooms for you. Come on, I’ll show
wife
She
way.” sŵnovels
He wasn’t outright groveling, but his favoritism was unmistakable.
Anyone with eyes could see he had a highly lucrative arrangement with Bianca-or more accurately, with the Doyle family.
Caleb stared at the rusty key in the dirt, his jaw clenched so hard it hurt.
Lydia couldn’t hold back. “What the hell is this? Throwing our keys on the ground? You’re treating us like animals p>
A few lingering teams turned to watch the spectacle.
Some frowned in sympathy, others whispered amongst themselves, and the rest pretended not to see, hurrying away.
Everyone knew Graves was systematically torturing The Hope Initiative.
But no one dared to intervene.
He was the Chief Arbiter. You didn’t cross him.
Cross him, and your next five days would be a living hell.