"Everyday research and academicpetition are two different things. Besides, we''ve already selected the team for this year''s exchange, and they''re in the middle of intensive training. Changing leaders right before a battle is never a wise move."


    The vice president sighed. "I understand all that, but the fact is our university has lost to international institutions for five consecutive years. If we lose again this year, then-"


    It would no longer be aboutpetition between domestic universities; it would be a showdown between our country and theirs.


    Losing to one of our own wasn''t a disgrace.


    But losing to foreigners...


    On a small scale, it''s a friendly academic exchange where we admit we were outmatched.


    But on arger scale, it touches upon national honor, our country''s scientific capabilities, and even national pride.


    "Sinir, we really can''t afford to lose this year—"


    Sinir Nelson''s brow furrowed. "And what makes you so sure Roseanne''s team won''t lose?"


    "...I can''t be sure. But I know that sometimes you have to take a risk to win big."


    At Boundless Lab, in the break area.


    "Achoo! Achoo! Achoo!"


    Mamie Finch sneezed three times in a row, rubbing her nose and muttering, "Someone must be talking about me behind my back..."


    Scales Dixon nced at her. "I doubt-Achoo!"


    "See! See!" Mamie''s eyes went wide as she pointed at him. "You too!"


    Scales crumpled his used tissue and tossed it in the trash. "I have a cold," he said tly.


    "If someone were really badmouthing us, why wouldn''t Roseanne—"


    "Achoo!"


    Roseanne looked slightly embarrassed as both of them whipped their heads around to stare at her.


    "Uh... I don''t know why the timing is so perfect, but I''m positive I don''t have a cold..." Scales was silent. Fair enough.


    Mamie was so happy she practically danced. "Hehe, I''m such a genius!"


    Her happiness was always so simple.


    Seeing her joy, Scales''s lips curved


    into a faint smile. "We just got the good news from Nature Biotechnology right after the semester started. The word has probably spread through the whole department by now. It''s normal for people to be whispering about us."


    "Wrong! Not the department, the entire university!" Mamie dered. "How do you know?"


    Mamie pulled out her phone, tapped the screen a few times, and shoved it in Scales''s face. "Here, look. A post from someone in the registrar''s office As soon as the eptance news came in, the university posted about it on their official social media ounts and blog. They even made one of those big, red congrattory posters and stuck it in the campus disy case."


    "With all that fuss, it''d be hard not to know!"


    After hearing this, Scales grew thoughtful.


    Mamie, confused, turned to look at Roseanne, only to find her with a simr pensive expression.


    "Wh-what''s wrong?" Mamie blinked. "Why do you both look so worried? The university is celebrating our achievement... Isn''t that a good thing?"


    "It''s not that it isn''t good," Scales said. "It''s just... odd."


    "What''s odd about it?"


    "Roseanne is listed as the corresponding author on this paper, which means the achievement technically belongs to ourb, not the university."


    So if it doesn''t belong to them, why are they celebrating it? And so publicly?


    BUT


    Roseanne nodded. "I expected the university to ignore itpletely, to pretend they knew nothing. After all, having a major achievement credited to an off campus tab is embarrassing for them. It would have been easier to just y dumb."


    But she never expected this...


    The university''s reaction was theplete opposite of what she''d predicted.


    "When something is this out of the ordinary," Roseanne said, "it either means trouble is brewing, or... they want something from us."