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 crazypetition!"


    "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 itter, Nicole seems to be seething...,''


    Zeke thought to himself.


    Thepetition progressed on, followed up by contestantspleting their turns, with more than half


    being eliminated. On the main seat, Sebastian was spectating the entirepetition 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 thepetition 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.


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    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 thepetition progressed.


    It was not long until the semi-finals of thepetition 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 thepetition 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 note head-to-head with Nicole and Zeke, the


    possibility of him entering the finals would still be in the n.


    "Then it''s settled," Director Monroe decided before turning to Nicole tofort her. "For a person of


    your age, it''s okay to be nervous, but don''t be afraid. Both you and Ryder are of the same ss, so


    don''t worry too much about it."


    Nicole noticed that Director Monroe was attempting tofort 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 teampetition. 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 rxed, 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 dreame true!''