After a quick twenty-minute test, the sess alert on the terminalputer made everyone breathe a sigh of relief.


    "I never thought the first phase would wrap up not just quickly, but so perfectly. It''s beyond what I imagined," Zane said, unable to hide the grin spreading across his face.


    Ben set the mouse down and stood up, a smile ying on his lips. "Mr. Zane, the students you picked are top-notch."


    Zane nced over at Linden and the others, satisfaction clear in his eyes. "Absolutely, they''re the cream of the crop from their department."


    Linden and his crew, although thrilled the test was a hit, knew who really deserved the credit.


    Linden adjusted his sses and nodded towards Mirabe. "The real MVP is our junior here. Without her incredibleputing skills, we might have been stuck for another month, if not longer."


    "Yeah, her algorithm solved so many headaches for us," Kason added.


    Zane raised an eyebrow, "It''s good you know. Make sure to thank her properlyter."


    Hearing the conversation, Ben''s eyes drifted to Mirabe, who was seated at a nearbyputer. His gaze was thoughtful, fingers fiddling absentmindedly behind his back.


    Such a brilliant mind was a pleasant surprise. He wondered about the potential data her brain could explore and how far it could be developed.


    Sensing Ben''s gaze, Mirabe furrowed her brows slightly. When she looked up, she was met with an ordinary smile from Ben.


    Her eyes briefly sharpened before she resumed her calm demeanor, lowering hershes without saying a word.


    Soon, Zane and Ben were deep in conversation about future ns for the artificial life system, and Ben''s focus shifted away from Mirabe.


    Mirabe popped a mint candy into her mouth and sat quietly at herputer.


    Her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out to find a message from Dr. Elliot, asking if she was still on campus.


    Mirabe paused, nced at Zane, then replied that she was still there.


    A momentter, Dr. Elliot sent another message.


    After reading it, Mirabe tucked her phone away, shut down theputer, and stood up. She didn''t bother heading over to Zane. "Mr. Zane, I need to head out for a bit."


    Since things were winding down, Zane waved her off casually, "Alright, you all can take a few days off. We''ll pick back up once the second phase ns are ready."


    Mirabe nodded, exchanged nods with Linden and the rest, grabbed her bag, and left.


    Outside, she exhaled deeply and made her way straight to the Physics Department.


    As she arrived at the building, she spotted Dr. Elliot in the corridor with a female student beside him.


    Mirabe walked up. "Dr. Elliot."


    After greeting him, she nced at the student next to him, recognizing her as the girl who had been with Mr. Hammond recently. She nodded politely and looked away.


    Dr. Elliot gave her a sidelong nce, unfazed by the presence of another


    department''s student. "What did you call me?"


    Mirabe hesitated, "...Professor?"


    "Good," Dr. Elliot nodded, satisfied. "That''s more like it."


    Mirabe stayed silent.


    Dr. Elliot then turned to the student beside him, gesturing towards Mirabe. "This


    is my student, Mirabe. You''ve met her before."