They had all scrambled their way to a position where they were stuck in limbo, neither rising nor
falling in the ranks. They had long lost any real interest in putting in an honest day''s work at theb!
After punching the clock, they would skedaddle out to fish, y cards, or find some other mischief.
Little did they know, their shenanigans were being captured in crystal clear detail!
“You’re invading people''s privacy!” one of them protested.
Mizar just shrugged. “You’re fishing in my pond. I haven’t even billed you for that pleasure. And the
card games? They''re held at my own tavern. Tell me, what rules have I broken?”
When the whiz kids from Pris Star arrived in Emerald County, they embraced theid-back
lifestyle with gusto. They leased a few ponds for casual fishing and bought some storefronts to
dabble in business. Before they knew it, they had snapped up an entire block.
And in the process, they also managed to catch Zack and Ryker''s fun-seeking escapades on
camera.
“Speaking of which, you still owe forst month''s card game and yesterday''s fishing. We run a tight
ship here, right, Boss?”
“Of course, payment is due.” Noe faced the pair''s panicked attempts to shut down the central
monitor with a sneer. “I’vee to ask Mr. Pock whether the securitywork at yourb has
fallen so far behind that even experimental data can be intercepted?”
Just minutes ago, her freshly minted experimental data had been pilfered, still warm from theb!
Turning to ra with a softened tone, Noe continued, “Ms. Schnabel, have all the recent
experimental results from Phoenix Lab been your doing?”
“Yes, it''s all my and my team''s sleepless work, but…” ra’s face turned ashen, her words trailing
off.
The data were hers, but for reasons unknown, they had vanished overnight!
The assistant, indignant on her behalf, chimed in, “Our director ra hasn’t had a proper night''s
sleep in a week, living in theb, and now the data''s gone.”
Zack fumbled with the controls, trying to stop the endless loop of video on the central screen. As he
neared the controller, Noe''s cool, detached voice rang out.
“I’ve forwarded a copy of that video to Mr. Pock. It’s the full, unedited high-definition version. As
for its contents, maybe it''s time to reflect on what you''ve been saying.”
Zack, realizing the gravity of her words, copsed onto the floor, legs turning to jelly.
What had they been saying?
Of course, they had bad-mouthed ra, and not even their boss Jacob Pock was spared. They
imed he had climbed the ranks on looks alone,cking any real expertise, and now was probably
trying to keep ra as a... Well, the words they had used were far from ttering!
If Jacob ever saw that video, their careers were as good as over!
Ryker, mustering what little spirit he could, challenged ra. “Just because Ms. Schnabel ims to
have done the experiment, we should believe her? You don''t have any data to show for it!”
Theck of data was indeed ra''s biggest problem.
These two were dead set on using that point to force her out of Phoenix Lab, weren''t they?N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.
Noe rested her chin on her hand, eyeing ra with a gleam in her eye. “Ms. Schnabel, do you
remember your experimental results?”
“Of course, I remember, but results without data... they''re useless.” ra’s expression was tinged
with a resigned bitterness.
At Phoenix Lab''s caliber, a single experimental result must be underpinned by countless pieces of
validating data. Results derived from too few or no samples would not be acknowledged!
Noe nodded. “That’s enough for me. I came because I discovered data from Phoenix Lab and our
ownb being intercepted, and it''s an inside job.”
Her announcement stunned everyone.
Someone from within theb had stolen their colleagues'' data? In the world of research, this was
nothing short of scandalous!
Ryker looked at Noe, his voice strangled. “You’re not even part of ourb. What gives you the
right to spout such nonsense?”
“Whether it''s nonsense or not, you''ll soon find out.” Noe turned to therge screen behind her and
switched the disy. “These two sets of data, one of them was submitted by Ryker, correct? I
remember it well; it was from the experiment I conducted half an hour ago and sent to Phoenix
Lab.”
As Rykerpared the data on the screen with the email he received, he nodded after confirming it
matched.
“Yes, I submitted it. What''s the issue?”
Noe smirked, her demeanor a mix of contempt and confidence. “The issue is, the results in the
email I sent was fake, and you, Ryker, have used this fake results as your own. If the experiment
was truly your work, you’d recognize which results were your own, wouldn''t you?
Everyone here is a scientist. Don’t you know what results your experiments should yield? How
could samples ''aa'' and ''bb'' possibly produce ''c''? Has Phoenix Lab''s staff lost their minds over the
last two years, or is it just old age causing forgetfulness?” The sarcasm in her tone was palpable.
Ryker''s face was slick with sweat. “It''s... I forgot... I chose the wrong one. The other set is my data!”
“Are you sure? Have you made your choice?”
“I’m sure! The other one is my data!”
Noe looked to ra with a smile. “And you, Ms. Schnabel, which do you choose?”
ra’s gaze was fixed on the data disyed on the screen, her conviction unwavering. “I choose
neither. My data, with minimal error, could not possibly yield these two results. If it were mine, it''d
look something like this.”
With a pen and paper handed to her by her assistant, ra quickly jotted down her predicted
results.
Although it was supposed to be Pris Star''s job to handle this stage of the experiment, she always
double-checked every step in her mind to ensure the final oue was urate.
ra held up her own data. “Roughly, it should look like this. Both sets of data from this boss are
incorrect.”
Mizar, standing by Noe’s side, was full of admiration.
The boss''s sister was a gem, a true asset to research. No wonder these lowlifes wanted her out.
With ra around, theb would soon be under her name!
Noe produced the correct experimental data. “Coincidentally, my results match Ms. Schnabel’s.”
ra''s nerves had been on edge, but when she saw that Noe was holding data identical to her
own, a wave of relief washed over her, tinged with a pleasant surprise.
She had been worried about causing offense; after all, her years at Phoenix Lab had earned her Mr.
Pock''s constant criticism forcking people skills. What if she had somehow upset the big boss
from Pris Star? What would happen if they severed their coboration?
But it turned out, this was all orchestrated by the boss herself!
ra''s gaze shifted to Ryker and Zack. Her usually delicate brows furrowed, her tone
uncharacteristically sharp and biting. "I never would''ve pegged you two for the moles. I''ve ignored
your petty schemes in the past, but stealing my data, ndering me, trying to tarnish theb''s
reputation—that''s where I draw the line!"
Ryker and Zack exchanged a nce, both seeing the panic and fear in each other''s eyes.
If ra exposed them, not only would their research careers be over, but they''d likely be cklisted
from the entire sciencemunity.
"Ms. Schnabel! We just lost our way, please, we''re begging you to forgive us!"
Noe had no time to indulge in their melodrama. She stood up and handed ra the prepared
dossier.
"Ms. Schnabel, we look forward to continuing our experiments together, but please take care of your
health," she said.
ra nodded, her gratitude evident. She could tell that the boss of Pris Star Lab hade
specifically to back her up.
But why? She didn''t even know the woman.
Noticing ra''s puzzled look, Noe withdrew her gaze, speaking coolly. "Make sure they settle
their debts. I''ve already contacted Jacob; he''ll handle the rest."
"Of course, that''s a given. Even if they don''t pay up, theb will cover it," ra assured her.
Still puzzled, ra wondered if Noe hade just to collect a debt.
How much did Ryker and Zack owe, anyway? It had to be aboutb data security, right?
Suppressing her curiosity, ra dismissed the silly notion that Noe hade for her sake.
That couldn''t be right.
Watching Noe and Mizar exit, their uniqueb coats seemed to shimmer in the light, as if they
were the true stars of Pris, gleaming in the firmament above.