Chapter 923
This competition was the most heavily weighted and prestigious academic tournament among the world’s top universities.
Not only did it offer massive prize money, but it also awarded the most highly respected medals.
More importantly, it offered the winners a chance to intern at the world’s most elite laboratories.
For this group of top-tier geniuses.
This was their golden ticket to the big leagues.
The Vanguard Honors Program had been specifically assembled in preparation for this exact tournament.
They were all the hand-picked representatives chosen to fight for the university’s glory.
The moment the announcement came down.
The entire Vanguard class completely forgot about Serena, completely consumed by buzzing excitement.
“It’s finally here! I’ve been waiting for this competition for so long p>
“I’m definitely taking home a medal this time p>
“Marington College is always number one p>
“Isabella, you’re our top contender for the championship! You have to lead the charge p>
Listening to the students’ feverish chatter.
Mr. Ashwell smiled warmly, waving Caleb over to hand out the registration forms. “These are the entry forms for the Global Elite Challenge. The competition is split into two rounds. The first is the team division, and the second is the individual division. You are free to form your own teams based on your individual strengths p>
“Before you finalize your teams, I want everyone to think carefully. This is Marington College’s most critical competition of the year, and every single one of you must take it seriously p>
“The team division requires groups of three to five people. You only get a shot at the individual division if you clear the team round p>
“The Class President will distribute the forms. Once you’ve filled them out, submit your rosters to me by Friday. No late entries will be accepted p>
Caleb started handing out the forms from the front row.
Every student who received a sheet beamed with excitement, eagerly rubbing their hands together.
Passionate discussions about team formations immediately broke out.
As the top favorite to win the championship, Isabella was naturally the most sought-
after partner. Everyone wanted her on their team.
Crowds of students swarmed around Isabella’s desk.
Holding her form, Isabella put on a flawless mask of polite hesitation, though the
smug upward curl of her lips was completely impossible to hide.
She instinctively glanced toward Serena.
credible
She wanted to make sure this common stray, the girl who had forced her out of the Lancaster family, saw exactly how incredible she was, exactly how much power and influence she commanded.
But Serena was still slumped over her desk, completely motionless.
She genuinely didn’t care about Isabella, the competition, or a single person in that
room.
Caleb made his way down the aisles, passing out the forms one by one.
But as he reached the corner desk by the window, his footsteps faltered.
He only had one registration form left in his hand.
He looked down at the girl sleeping on the desk, the one who completely dismissed
this so-called prestigious competition.
A complex wave of emotion washed over him.
Someone who could casually map out the most cutting-edge computer algorithms p>
Was she really just a slacker?
“Class President p>
Suddenly, Bianca called out. She
pinched her own registration form, waving it lightly between her fingers as she let out a derisive scoffin Serena’s direction. fo
Her tone dripped with sarcasm. “Why are you giving a form to her? It’s just a waste
of paper. Does she even have the brainpower to compete p>
Caleb’s hand froze halfway through offering the paper.
Seeing his hesitation, Bianca’s mocking Smile widened. “A dead weight dike her will just embarrass the Vanguard class. Don’t go dragging around extra baggage that, witt ruin our collective score p>
The other students immediately nodded in agreement. “Exactly. Giving it to her is pointless. What a waste of resources p>
Caleb’s hand remained rigidly suspended in mid-air, unsure whether to pull back or push forward.
He pressed his lips together, his mind flashing back to the scrap paper he had found
in the library, back to that mind-bendingly complex string of formulas.
For the very first time, he didn’t immediately bend to Bianca’s orders.