Chapter 489


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    Rnd grew defensive and protested loudly, "We''re not your dogs, you know! Why should we have to prove to everyone that we didn''t cheat?"


    "Mrs. Atkins, don''t expect us to apologize if you can''t prove my brother''s usations are false. If anything, your son should apologize to my brother for pushing him and bruising his back," Gideon said with lethal calm as he stared at Mabel.


    Mabel bristled. She couldn''t believe a family of nobodies had the nerve to go against the Atkinses.


    Determined to put them in their ce, she turned to Ss and said, "Ss, show them how you work the w machine and shut these yappingpdogs up! I want everyone here to see the Everetts for the unreasonable bottom-feeders that they are!"


    A smug look flickered across Ss'' face. It was true that he hadn''t managed to pick up the console earlier. The w machine looked like themon variant found in malls and arcades, but it had actually been modified by XS Corporation for hackers to challenge each other''s programming skills.


    It looked ordinary enough, but its programming was extremelyplicated. The machine''s motherboard, in particr, had been coded with an algorithm that affected the w''s grip. By decoding and reprogramming it, a hacker could adjust the grip of the w and increase their chances of picking up a prize from the machine.All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    Ss had figured this out after several tries earlier. If he proceeded with the theory and decoded the initial algorithm, picking up the console would be child''s y.


    "Sure," he said. "But where''s the fun in a one-sided demonstration? Let''s have a friendly match. The person who picks up the most prizes in two out of three matches wins, and the loser will have to beg the winner for forgiveness."


    Ss stared at Gideon, his gaze full of malicious glee. He was determined to make thetter pay for humiliating him in front of the other guests. He ranked 99 on the Global Hacker List, and he would be damned if he did not save his reputation.


    Upon hearing this, Rnd knew Ss was confident about this win. He piped up arrogantly, "Well, how about it? Are you scared? If you are, just apologize already!"


    To prove his innocence, Gino snapped, "I''m not scared of somemepetition!"


    Pleased to see the boy rise to the bait, Ss feigned generosity and suggested, "You could have your brother help you. I wouldn''t want these people to think I was picking on a kid."


    "I don''t need his help! I know how programming works," Gino argued stubbornly. Gideon was clueless about programming and would only further embarrass him.


    Many guests began to swarm around the w machine when they caught word that a match was going on. Some of them even started betting on who would win.


    Meanwhile, on the other side of the hall, Tyler had only just introduced Hera to Jim Hawkins, the Deputy Commissioner of the National


    heard themotion on the opposing end of the hall.


    Space Administration, when the


    Bernard gave Dous a look.


    Dous left and returned a few momentster. He whispered to Hera, "Ms Youngworth, it seems your family has gotten into a dispute with Mrs. Atkins and her family They''re getting into a match and the crowd''s betting on who would win." Content belongs to


    "Pardon me, Deputy Commissioner Hawkins," Hera said politely. "I''ll return shortly."


    Jim''s secretary looked scandalized


    by this. Countless people had tried


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    and failed to meet Jim, yet the youngdy who had just been introduced to him would excuse herself and leave him hanging.


    Swn


    Fortunately, Jim was an understanding person. When he heard themotion across the hall and figured Hera was needed there, he nodded and let her leave to sort out the matter.