As Juniper approached theb door, she heard arguing from within.


    "Well, well, Tucker. So you''re the type to scheme behind my back," Byron said, standing face-to-face with Tucker. He was posturing like the victim, his voice filled with righteous anger. "Publicly, you im you won''tpete, but secretly you go and sign up?"


    "And another thing..." Byron''s face was ashen with rage, his voice trembling. "You were the one who reported the judges, weren''t you?"


    "Now hold on," Tucker shot back. He was fed up with this man''s bullying, and after hearing how he''d harassed his star student, he was ready to blow. "I''ll sign up if I want to and I won''t if I don''t. What business is it of yours?"


    "As for the anonymous tip..." Tucker pped the table for emphasis. "That, I can tell you, had nothing to do with me. But if they weren''t breaking any rules, what''s there to be afraid of? The fact that the report was sessful proves they were in the wrong. Tsk, tsk, we should thank whoever reported them for doing a public service." "You—!" Byron pointed a trembling finger at Tucker, sputtering, unable to form aplete sentence.


    "Oh, by the way," Tucker added casually. "I hear the internationalpetition is judged anonymously."


    "I''m delighted to be advancing to the international stage with you," Tucker said, tearing open a bag of crispy snacks and crunching on them loudly. "Byron, you must be delighted too, right?"


    Byron''s expression was sourer than a lemon. "Delighted?" He forced a dismissiveugh. “Don''t tell me you''re actually aiming for the prize, hoping to take my position as Head of the Computer Science Department?"


    "But," Byron paused for effect, "no one from our country has ever won an award at the international level. I wouldn''t get your hopes up, Tucker. My position isn''t for just anyone to take."


    Tucker continued to munch on his snacks, ignoring the empty threats. Who would even want that position? It was nothing but a pile of administrative headaches. He was much happier here in hisb, coding and eating snacks.


    Having delivered his parting shot, Byron stormed out of the office. Only after he was gone did Juniper enter.


    "I actually think his position sounds pretty good," she said, grabbing a handful of snacks from the old professor''s bag and popping them into her mouth.


    "Good for what?" Tucker scoffed, having no such ambitions. All he wanted was for his code to be put to good use. Winning awards was secondary.


    "Besides, this program is quiteplex. Tucker opened a folder on hisputer to show her. "I won''t


    I''ll


    be able to finish it in time l


    probably miss the submission deadline."


    Juniper studied the code carefully, a slight smile ying on her lips. As expected from her ''old apprentice, he had some real skills. With a few tweaks, he actually stood a chance of winning.


    "But," Juniper licked her lips, speaking slowly, "I heard the prize money for thispetition is substantial."


    "Doesn''t matter. My wife would just transfer it all out of my ount anyway," Tucker said with a weary smile.


    "Also..." Juniper blinked, adding another point, "if you win and be the department head, not only will your sry increase but your allowance will too."


    That piqued Tucker''s interest.


    "The allowance is loaded directly onto your campus dining card," Juniper said, raising an eyebrow. "Think of all the snacks you could buy every month!"


    Tucker considered this, then pushed his sses up his nose and looked at Juniper. "You''d have to help me with all the other work."


    “Deal,” Juniper agreed without a moment''s hesitation. “But I get half of the snacks.”


    A muscle twitched in Tucker''s cheek. He knew it. This girl definitely had an angle when she pushed him topete.