Chapter 411: A New Turning Point

"What is that?"

"It looks like imported lab equipment!"

"See those foreigners? Must be the installation technicians."

"I thought this lab was always empty?"

"Must be a new project starting..."

The hushed whispers around made Reid Everett's expression darken.

Avery Quinn pushed to the front, her pupils contracting as she stared at the gleaming new machine.

It was indeed a CPRT Analyzer—but clearly an upgraded model.

Its size had been reduced by a third, with the control panel now fully touchscreen.

The display was significantly larger than their current lab models.

"Is...is this the latest CPRT model?!" Reid's voice cracked.

He stormed forward. "Where did you get this?"

Clara Whitmore lifted cold eyes. "None of your business."

Maya Torres nibbled a cookie, smiling sweetly. "You told us to figure it out ourselves. Now that we have the equipment, shouldn't you be happy for us?"

Reid was speechless with rage.

Avery shook her head. "Impossible. There's no way to acquire one this quickly."

Noah Kessler adjusted his glasses. "Ever heard of pre-orders?"

"No..." Avery paled.

Equipment this expensive couldn't just be purchased on a whim.

But worse humiliation awaited them.

That afternoon, the university website posted a disciplinary notice:

"Disciplinary Action Regarding Graduate Student Derek Romano's Unauthorized Lab Usage"

* * *

Crash!

Prof. Lenora Voss's teacup shattered on the floor.

She marched into Dean Archer's office, glaring down at him. "You disciplined my student without consulting me?"

Dean remained calm. "This was a faculty committee decision, following protocol."

"Spare me the bureaucracy!" Lenora sneered.

"Professor Voss," Dean's eyes narrowed, "if not for your reputation, more than just Derek would be penalized. Did you really think the faculty wouldn't notice your little schemes?"

Lenora froze.

"Sacrificing one student to protect you was already leniency."

The words deflated her completely.

In the dorm room, Derek Romano stared blankly at the disciplinary notice on his screen.

Zach Nolan hovered nearby, hesitating to speak.

"They actually bought the newest CPRT model?" Derek suddenly asked.

Zach blinked. "Huh?"

"Let's go see." Derek shut his laptop.

"But..." Zach glanced at the disciplinary notice, conflicted.

The lab hallway had quieted.

Clara's group was gone, leaving only foreign engineers calibrating the equipment.

After obtaining permission, Derek and Zach entered.

"It really is the upgraded version..." Derek's eyes lit up.

His hand twitched toward the controls before he caught himself.

Though Zach didn't understand the machine's significance, Derek's focused gaze told him everything.