Apart from Jules, the expressions of the other two judges weren''t exactly cheerful either. They thought Flora was pushing the envelope. Sure, the girl had talent, but her attitude? Not so much. "Flora, we called you here to let you know that we can''t give points for these forms you''ve written," said an older judge.


    Flora''s face turned a bit frosty at that.This is from N?velDrama.Org.


    "Let''s hear Flora out first," Jules chimed in. "These forms might have some merit. Flora, if you can prove they''re correct, your University of Maple Grove will get full marks in this round."


    "Chairman Jules!"


    The female judge was stunned. She hadn''t expected Jules to back Flora up. They''d been ready to give a zero, but Jules had insisted on calling Flora in.


    "Chairman Jules, she''s just a freshman, and from the medical department no less. Can her forms really stand up to scrutiny? Isn''t asking her to prove them a bit much?" the female judgeined. Jules shot her a look. "Don''t be narrow-minded. There are plenty of brilliant people out there. Just because we can''t do it doesn''t mean others can''t."


    Flora can do it.


    The female judge felt annoyed, her dislike for Flora growing even stronger.


    "Why not use proof by contradiction?" Flora suggested, her jaw tightening with irritation. Jules noticed and felt a jolt of tension.


    Proof by contradiction? Where would she get the data for that?


    Just as the female judge was thinking this, Jules said, "Open the database."


    The database held the most authoritative andprehensive data, essible only to high-ranking members of the National Computing Association. And now, Jules was going to open it for Flora?! The other two judges were just as surprised. Since when had Chairman Jules been so amodating?


    For a freshman, no less...


    Staff went to ess the database, which would take some time.


    "Flora, why don''t you sit down and take a breather," Jules said, offering his own chair to her, earning curious nces from the others in the room.


    After about five minutes, the database was up and running. Jules put on his sses and entered Flora''s forms himself, performing the proof by contradiction.


    Characters shed rapidly on the projector screen. In the end, the female judge who had first ridiculed Flora stared in disbelief. The other two judges were also shocked, while Jules remainedposed.


    "All this fuss over one Flora, it''s such a waste of time. So annoying," grumbled two contestants from Imperial Tech as they exited the restroom.


    "Ah-"


    A soft whimper caught their attention. They nced over to see a girl limping, looking quite pitiful. It was Aisha.


    Out of courtesy, they quickly went to help her.


    Aisha, now seated with their assistance, looked grateful. "Thank you so much."


    "Ms. Aisha, are you okay? Do you need a doctor?"


    "No, it''s just a twisted ankle. It''ll be fine after a rest," Aisha replied, her eyes briefly flickering with a hint of something deeper as she noticed the school badges on their chests. "You''re students from Imperial Tech, right?"