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Chapter 1854
While the students of Royal Creek were bummed out, the students of Northon Institute were celebrating. Everyone
gathered around Zeke when he returned to his seat.
"Zeke, why didn't you tell us you were Specter!?"
"That was one crazy competition!'
"I heard you've partnered with the number one hacker!"
"Have you met her in person?"
Many in Zeke's entourage bombarded him with question after question. The barrage left him with a headache, and
he silently looked at Nicole's direction.
'These people are already excited to know that I'm ranked second. If they knew that Nicole is here, wouldn't they all
sh* t their pants? I guess Mr. Hardy will be in for it later, Nicole seems to be seething...,' Zeke thought to himself.
The competition progressed on, followed up by contestants completing their turns, with more than half being
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇteliminated. On the main seat, Sebastian was spectating the entire competition where he often peered over to look
at Nicole from time to time.
'This girl seems to be holding herself back in the first two rounds. Nobody in the competition knows for sure what
her actual strengths are. But it can be considered a good thing, a hidden ace in the deck,' Sebastian thought to
himself.
Nicole did not seem to be looking at Sebastian's direction, and she did not seem to be requesting for him either.
After all, Sebastian was just a spectator watching as the competition progressed.
It was not long until the semi-finals of the competition was announced, with the trio of Nicole, Gary, and Ryder
having made it, while Zeke had skipped it and entered the finals as he had defeated Rowdon. The next match was a
three vs. three.
For Royal Creek, only Nicole, Ryder, Gary, and Preston were left standing, prompting Director Monroe to quickly
choose." Gary, Ryder, you two are to be in a team together. The tacit cooperation between the two of you can
increase our chances of winning. Nicole and Preston, which one of you is sure to secure a win to bring glory to our
school?"
Preston smiled and looked at Nicole. 'Without a doubt, it would be Nicole."
‘What kind of sick joke is this? How can Nicole be any better than Preston? Should we pick the one who is more
worthy?'
Director Monroe hesitated. 'Both Ryder and Gary are of university standards and to pick Nicole...it would be a bit
too much for her to enter the finals since she's still a kid. They might not make it into the finals anyway, so I guess it
doesn't make much of a difference who goes and who doesn't.'
"In that case, let's have Nicole on the team. Preston, you can find other people to team up with. Just try to keep
yourself in the competition and enter the finals," Director Monroe concluded.
"Okay, don't worry," Preston smiled.
He could easily form a team with others, and if he did not come head-to-head with Nicole and Zeke, the possibility
of him entering the finals would still be in the plan.
"Then it's settled," Director Monroe decided before turning to Nicole to comfort her. "For a person of your age, it's
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmokay to be nervous, but don't be afraid. Both you and Ryder are of the same class, so don't worry too much about
it."
Nicole noticed that Director Monroe was attempting to comfort her, but the words that came out did not sound
reassuring at all; it was a mixture of awkwardness and honesty.
In reply, Nicole said, "I know."
Director Monroe watched as they went up to the stage together. This round was a team effort, each representing
the school in a team competition. If they won, they would advance to the next stage and if they lost, they would all
be eliminated.
Ryder became extremely nervous as he sat down on his chair, and Gary, who noticed this, tried to comfort him.
"It's okay, Ryder. Don't be nervous. We can still win this."
Ryder noticed that his brother was being unusually relaxed, so he frowned, "You were more nervous than I was
earlier. Is it your turn to give me all that pep talk now?"
Gary smiled and looked at Nicole, thinking, 'It's because I'm teaming up with Nicole, which is a lifelong dream of
mine! Being in the same team with the best hacker of all time, and to have her lead us into an easy victory ought to
be a dream come true!'
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