Chapter 1060
Caleb and the others stared at Serena in absolute shock, their eyes practically bulging out of their heads as they processed the equipment in her hands.
She had taken equipment from federal research labs? Their captain had the sheer audacity to borrow highly classified federal tech p>
Caleb swallowed hard. “But… there are exactly twelve labs on this island, and they’ve all been assigned p>
“If we take a different one, doesn’t that mean another team will be forced into that miserable ruin p>
They had all come from nothing, clawing their way up from absolute poverty. They understood better than anyone just how life-changing this tournament was for students without financial backing. They didn’t want to destroy another team’s future just to secure their own comfort. Forcing another group into that rusted death trap was practically a death sentence for their academic careers. In their minds, fairness was the most critical aspect of the competition.
Serena carefully placed the device on the table and met Caleb’s gaze. “Caleb, you need to think faster p>
“This island is a dedicated federal research hub. It was built specifically for elite scientific development and advanced experimental trials p>
“Because of that, it is mathematically impossible for a substandard lab to exist anywhere on this premises p>
“The ‘lab’ we were assigned is likely an abandoned storage shed. Bianca’s family paid Graves to use it just to screw with us p>
Why would a multi-billion dollar island designed exclusively for high-level research have a rusted, broken-down lab?
“As for where we’ll actually be working, that’s not our problem to solve p>
“Graves will clean up his own mess p>
With that, Serena picked up her equipment and headed toward her master bedroom, leaving the team staring at each other in bewildered silence.
Jasper kept his voice low. “What… what exactly did the captain mean by that p>
Caleb thought about it for a second, a slow smile spreading across his face. Once Serena laid out the logic, everything clicked perfectly.
“She means Graves is going to have to fix this himself p>
“If he doesn’t handle the lab situation properly p>
Caleb pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, his smile turning wicked “If the captain can force him into Sector Delta, she can certainly force him to do whatever else she wants p>
The team exchanged a look of pure awe before bursting into laughter. Their captain
was truly on another level! They would follow her to the ends of the earth!
Just as Serena predicted, Graves came hobbling over to The Spire shortly after dinner, leaning heavily on his crutches.
He stood in the grand doorway, offering a forced, desperate smile that looked incredibly painful.
“Miss Serena p>
He chuckled nervously. “I just went over to personally inspect Lab Twelve, and I must admit, the environment is completely unsuitable for high-level research p>
“The Hope Initiative is our undefeated champion. You are the strongest team here, and we simply cannot allow a subpar environment to hinder your brilliant work.” “So, I took the liberty of coordinating a new arrangement for you p>
He intentionally emphasized the last sentence, desperate to make Serena understand just how hard he was working to please her.
But as his anxious eyes darted toward the stunningly beautiful girl, he found her expression perfectly composed and terrifyingly relaxed. She just leaned back, raising a single eyebrow watching him with faint, enigmatic smirk.
She didn’t say a word.
The oppressive, suffocating weight of her silence was absolutely terrifying.
Graves didn’t dare milk the moment for credit any longer. He quickly dug into his pocket, pulled out a pristine white keycard, and offered it to her with both hands trembling. “I’ve secured a new workspace for you It’s the most advanced facility in the central sector, and it’s only a five-minute walk from this residence p>