The Computer Science building buzzed with excitement after the university's announcement.
Every classroom echoed with conversations about the National Technology Innovation Competition. Some students were already discussing strategies, while others rushed to recruit talented teammates before registration closed.
Benny, however, still couldn't believe he had agreed to join.
"You've been staring at that registration form for five minutes," Daisy teased as they walked across the campus courtyard.
Benny scratched his cheek.
"I'm just... nervous."
"Nervous?"
"I've never competed in anything this big before."
She smiled reassuringly.
"You won't be alone."
Before Benny could respond, Ethan waved at them from the entrance of the Technology Building.
"There you are!"
Standing beside him were the two remaining members of the team.
One was the bespectacled student Benny had met earlier.
The other was a cheerful young woman with shoulder-length black hair tied into a ponytail.
As Benny approached, Ethan introduced them.
"Benny, this is Ryan Carter."
Ryan adjusted his glasses.
"We've already met."
His tone was polite but distant.
Ethan nodded before turning to the young woman.
"And this is Mia Chen."
Mia smiled warmly and extended her hand.
"So you're Benny!"
"I've heard a lot about you."
Benny blinked in surprise.
"You have?"
She nodded enthusiastically.
"Professor Lewis never stops talking about that mysterious freshman who keeps solving advanced coding problems."
Benny laughed awkwardly.
"I think Professor Lewis gives me too much credit."
Ryan folded his arms.
"We'll find out during practice."
The atmosphere became slightly awkward.
Ethan clapped his hands once.
"Alright."
"Let's head to the laboratory."
The university's Advanced Technology Laboratory occupied the entire fourth floor.
Rows of high-performance computers lined the spacious room, while large digital displays covered one wall.
Only students participating in official competitions were allowed inside.
Benny looked around in amazement.
"I've never been here before."
Mia smiled.
"It's amazing, isn't it?"
He nodded.
"I didn't know the university had equipment like this."
Ryan sat down at one of the computers.
"Less talking."
"We're here to work."
Ethan ignored Ryan's impatience.
"Our first task is simple."
He connected his laptop to the main screen.
"I've prepared a cybersecurity challenge."
"The competition usually begins with individual tests before moving to team-based problems."
"So I want to see everyone's strengths."
He smiled.
"No pressure."
Mia laughed.
"Easy for you to say."
Within moments, the computers displayed the same challenge.
Recover an encrypted database within sixty minutes.
Benny quietly read the instructions.
The problem looked difficult.
Very difficult.
But...
Something about the encryption felt familiar.
Ethan glanced around the room.
"Ready?"
Everyone nodded.
"Begin."
The laboratory instantly fell silent.
The only sounds were keyboards clicking rapidly and computer fans humming softly.
Ryan typed confidently.
Mia carefully analyzed the source code before writing her first program.
Ethan was already halfway through decoding the first security layer.
Benny remained still.
His eyes never left the screen.
Ryan noticed.
He frowned.
"Why isn't he doing anything?"
Five minutes passed.
Then...
Benny smiled faintly.
"I see it."
His fingers suddenly flew across the keyboard.
Lines of code appeared one after another.
His speed stunned everyone nearby.
Even Ethan paused briefly to watch.
Mia whispered under her breath.
"He's... fast."
Ryan frowned deeper.
"No..."
"He's not just typing."
"He's rewriting the encryption."
Ten minutes later...
A soft notification echoed through the laboratory.
Challenge Completed.
Everyone looked toward Benny's monitor.
Ryan's eyes widened.
"...Impossible."
Mia stared in disbelief.
"You finished?"
Benny blinked.
"Was... I too fast?"
The room fell silent.
Even Ethan couldn't hide the smile spreading across his face.
He had made the right choice.
Outside the laboratory, Professor Lewis quietly watched through the observation window.
Beside him stood Professor Thompson.
Without taking his eyes off Benny, Professor Lewis spoke calmly.
"I told you."
"He's the one."
Far away, inside Cooper Enterprises, Rain tapped softly against the floor-to-ceiling windows of the executive office.
Nathan Cooper sat at the head of the conference table while several executives remained silent. No one dared speak unless spoken to.
His assistant placed a folder before him.
"Sir, these are the final documents regarding Crescent University's National Technology Innovation Competition."
Nathan glanced at the file.
"Has the chairman agreed to our conditions?"
"Yes, sir."
"The university believes Cooper Enterprises is sponsoring the competition to support young talent."
Nathan let out a quiet, humorless chuckle.
"Support?"
His cold sapphire-blue eyes swept across the room.
"I don't invest without expecting something in return."
The executives lowered their heads.
Everyone knew Nathan Cooper never made decisions based on generosity.
His assistant continued.
"As requested, every finalist's technical profile will be sent to us after the competition."
Nathan nodded.
"I only need one."
The room remained silent.
Nathan stood and walked toward the window.
"Our cybersecurity division has become careless."
"Our enemies are improving."
"Last month alone, three organizations attempted to breach our network."
He turned slightly, his gaze as cold as ice.
"I want someone whose mind cannot be bought."
Someone capable of protecting not only Cooper Enterprises...
But also the organization's hidden operations.
The assistant nodded immediately.
"We'll personally evaluate the finalists."
Nathan's lips curved into a faint smile.
"Good."
"I don't care about grades."
"I don't care about reputation."
"I want the best."
"And if that person refuses..."
The room became deathly quiet.
Nathan's eyes turned even colder.
"I'll give them a reason not to."