To make it to the final round, you had to carefully manage how much you revealed. The key was to showcase enough brilliance to beat your group-mates without giving away your core concept too early.


    Fifteen minutester, thepetition officially began.


    Tucker''s hands trembled slightly as he inserted the USB drive into the port, opened the folder, and located his program. He ran the demo and presented his work all in one smooth motion. It was a wless execution. Each stage of his program showcased innovation, quickly capturing the judges'' attention.


    The presentation ended, and the judges began to vote.


    Within his group, Tucker''s work received the highest number of votes. However, to ensure fairness, the submissions were anonymous. The audience only knew which entries advanced, not who created them-unless, of course, a piece ranked low enough to be eliminated.


    Meanwhile, Byron also finished his presentation, waiting confidently for the results. But when they were announced, his face fell.


    What was going on? His entry had the lowest score in his group! Did that mean he was being eliminated in the first round? Impossible.


    "Excuse me, sir. Your entry rankedst and will not be advancing to the next round," a staff member approached him with a polite smile. “Please take your belongings and exit the room now."


    “That''s impossible,” Byron snapped, his face cold with indignation. “My program is perfect. There''s no way it failed to pass the first round. Are you sure you counted all the votes?"


    "If you refuse to leave, we will have to call security," the staff member said, rolling his eyes with a distinctck of patience. Every year, there were arrogant contestants like him; security was well-practiced in escorting them out.


    Seeing the security guards approaching, Byron had no choice but to get up. He grabbed hisptop bag and walked out, feelingpletely dejected.


    The main hall was filled with all the eliminated contestants. Byron scanned the crowd but didn''t see Tucker. He did, however, spot Juniper, who was watching him with her legs crossed. "Well, well, Byron. Out so soon?"


    Byron shot Juniper a venomous re before quickly looking away, his face flushing crimson.


    Just then, an announcement echoed through the hall, signaling the start of the second round. That confirmed it-Tucker had advanced.


    Byron''s mind went nk. This was his worst performance ever in thispetition. And Tucker, hispatriot, had moved on If people back home and the students at Era University found out, how could he ever show his face again? Cóntent


    Slumping into a seat, Byron numbly pulled out his phone. The moment it powered on, a massive news alert


    popped up on his screenlete


    Programming Competition: Ope Advances to Second Round One Eliminated in First."


    Beneath the headline was a picture of him, Byron, with a huge "OUT" stamped across his face. The article already had over ten thousandments, and the number was climbing fast.


    With a trembling hand, Byron opened thement section.


    "Wait, Byron was eliminated in the first round? Is this a huge upset?"


    "Hardly an upset when he was never a contender. He makes a big fuss every year he participates, acting like he''s some big shot but his best result was making it to the second round once."


    "I''ve never heard of the professor who advanced. Who is he?"


    "Replying to the above: They''re both professors from Era University. Tucker, the one who advanced, was also the champion of the preliminaries.”


    "A dark horse!"


    “Looking forward to Tucker''s performance. Go, Tucker!"


    Reading ament section full of people cheering for Tucker and mocking him, Byron''s hands shook uncontrobly.


    Who paid for this news push? So what if he made it to the second round? What was there to celebrate? Let''s see him make it to the third round!


    Just then, the host''s voice rang out, announcing the list of contestants advancing to the third round...