?Chapter 187:


    Paul swiftly checked the log. “Allen’s group grabbed the slot. They checked in earlier this morning.”


    The moment Allen’s name came up, a shadow flickered across both Elbert’s and Ste’s faces.


    Their rivalry with Allen’s team was hardly a secret.


    Knowing Allen, he’d be in no mood to make concessions—not after what happenedst time.


    Elbert straightened, determination settling in his eyes. “Let’s go talk to them. Maybe we can at least set our samples in there for a few hours.”


    After returning from the director’s office, Elbert hoisted the incubator and led the way to the second-tierb.


    Ste tapped lightly on the door, then waited as it swung open to reveal Allen. He lounged in the doorway, eyebrows lifted and a smirk ying on his lips. “Looking for something? Thisb’s booked—fair and square,” he drawled, making no move to let them in.


    Even if William himself showed up, Allen would stand his ground without blinking.


    Ste kept her tone calm. “We just need to use a few incubators. Our samples won’t interfere with your experiment—we only need to set them inside for a while.”


    Allen’s eyes flicked to the box she held, his smile never wavering. “No can do. All the incubators are spoken for. Not a single one free.” There were at least ten machines lined up behind him. Ste didn’t buy it for a second.


    Elbert tamped down his frustration and pressed on. “When are you nning to finish up, then?”


    Allen had clearly anticipated the question. With an exaggerated ir, he cast a dramatic look at his teammates. “Hate to break it to you, but we’re swamped in here. It might not be done by the end of the day.” Without another word, he pulled the door shut, cutting off any chance of negotiation.


    A weary sigh escaped Elbert. “Now what? Our samples won’tst much longer at this rate.”


    A tense silence settled in. Every second was slipping through their fingers.


    There wasn’t a single other incubator on site that could reach the necessary temperature.


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    Ste pressed her lips together, mind racing for alternatives. Suddenly, brisk footsteps rang out down the corridor. A new voice called out, cutting through the tension, “Is something going on here?”


    Ste looked up and was surprised to find William standing there, his expression unreadable but clearly curious.


    His face was full of inquiry.


    Elbert straightened immediately, speaking with respectful urgency. “William, our samples need to be incubated at eighty-three degrees, but the second-tierb is full and doesn’t have a spare incubator.”


    William shifted his gaze to the small device in Ste’s hands. Inside were a few fragile green samples—thin-stemmed, their leaf tips already beginning to yellow from the low temperature.


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