"Extremely difficult," a competitor nodded. "The calculation for this step is the core of the entire experiment. We've been racking our brains and still haven't come close. The Hope Initiative finally made progress, but the power outage scrambled their data... Ugh, what a tragedy."
Hearing this, a meaningful flash of delight crossed Adrian's dark eyes.
When he heard Serena's equipment had some sort of fusion micro-module, it felt like a brutal slap to his face.
His proudly touted top-tier hardware was nothing more than commercial garbage that tanked the island's grid.
And the scrap metal he thought she was using...
Was now the envy of every elite competitor on the island.
He had overheard plenty of people expressing deep jealousy over how lucky her teammates were to have such an omnipotent captain.
To be able to use hardware with an independent power source.
Every word of praise made Adrian feel incredibly suffocated and humiliated.
But now, he learned that this specific calculation was the core of the whole experiment.
And this core algorithm was virtually unsolvable.
That meant The Hope Initiative was facing a massive roadblock.
Now, Serena would finally understand the critical importance of connections and
resources.
"Serena."
Adrian strode over, locking his gaze on her and raising his voice. "I've heard of this algorithm. It's currently a major puzzle on the international stage."
He cast a casual glance at the tablet she held.
The screen was filled with dense, complex code.
He couldn't read a word of it.
And he didn't believe Serena could either.
"I can use my privileges as an observer to connect you with a team of experts in the United Realmon States. Let those professionals handle the math."
He paused, lifting his chin slightly. "As long as you beg me right now, I'll help you."
The competitors gasped. "Contact the outside? Isn't that cheating?"
Blatant, unapologetic cheating!
Adrian scoffed dismissively. "What cheating? It's called utilizing your network. Doesn't this competition test overall capability? Why else would the rules require teams to secure their own sponsorships? Networking is a form of power."
He didn't feel his actions were breaking any rules at all.
This was the confidence that came with being a member of the Cole family.
If these competitors had his kind of network and could hire his level of support.
They would jump at the chance faster than anyone.
Look at them.
The moment he mentioned bringing in outside help.
The other competitors panicked.
Now Serena had to realize the massive benefits she'd reap by begging him.
The smirk on Adrian's face deepened as he waited for Serena to connect the dots.
However, Serena didn't even spare him a passing glance.
All her attention remained on the tablet.
Her long, raven lashes cast shadows over her stunning, flawless profile.
She studied the complex code on the screen.
Then, she raised her slender fingers, tapping and swiping a couple of times.
She typed in a few lines of code.
Adrian assumed she was just being
her
stubborn, trying to preserve her pathetre pride in front of him sws
He let out a condescending chuckle. "Serena, I know you have a huge ego, and you're stubborn. But this a competition. You'd better not ruin your future and your teammates' Futures just to save face: As for this algorithm, I guarantee no one but top experts in the United Realmon States can..."
*Beep-*
Adrian couldn't even finish his sentence.
The tablet suddenly let out a sharp chime.
The frozen progress bar instantly lit up green.