Chapter 319 Spectators of Failure
Liam handed the invitation to her. "See for yourself."
Daisy took it with confusion, read it, and was momentarily stunned. "So she really did build a laboratory."
That afternoon, the couple packed their bags and headed to the airport. Passing through the village entrance.
"Going deep-sea fishing again?" someone called out.
"Not this time. I'm heading to Imperial City," Liam replied.
"Why go so far?"
"To see my daughter."
"What's she up to?"
Liam replied proudly, "Something remarkable!"
That same day, both the university administration and department received invitations.
President Bobby Owens inquired, "A Life Sciences student built her own lab and is about to unveil it?"
Bobby looked somewhat bewildered as he addressed Vice President Casey West.
Casey hesitated. "I just learned about this myself. The Life Sciences Department never reported anything."
"This Camilla—isn't she the first-year graduate student who recently published in Science?"
"Yes, that's her."
"Building her own lab?" obby found this incredible.
Casey wiped his brow nervously. "I assume it's just a student initiative—nothing significant."
"If it's so insignificant, why is Aurora forwarding invitations from her students to the administration?"
The president's foresight and perspective were precisely why he held his position.
Casey protested, "Surely it can't be that serious. Labs aren't built on a whim."
"As university administrators, shouldn't we be asking why Camilla's team felt compelled to build off-campus facilities when the university provides labs free of charge? What circumstances led to this? Who else might be involved? Could there be academic suppression at play?"
"What do you suggest?"
After examining the invitation several times, Bobby finally decided. "Since we've received an invitation, we should at least make an appearance."
He wanted to see just what these Harmony College graduate students were capable of.
Meanwhile, at the Life Sciences Department office.
The department head tossed the invitation onto Otis's desk. "Look what you've caused! The administration received one too. Whether or not Camilla's team succeeds, this commotion alone will bring scrutiny from above!"
He walked away, hands clasped behind his back.
Otis was trembling inside. How dare Camilla notify the president! Such audacity! Building a lab? Nonsense! This was clearly a calculated move to attract administrative attention and pressure the department—and him personally.
Otis's assistant glanced at the invitation. The unveiling ceremony was tomorrow.
"What should we do?" he asked.
Otis remained expressionless for some time before finally saying, "Get Calliope in here."
Within ten minutes, Calliope entered.
"What do you want?" she asked, arms crossed, looking down at him from across the desk.
Otis silently gestured for her to sit.
Calliope frowned. "I'll stand. My lab is busy—just say what you need to say."
"Sit," Otis insisted.
"Mr. Jenkins, are you not understanding me? I'm busy and don't have time to..."
Before she could even finish her sentence, Otis cut her off, "Don't be so ungrateful. Who do you think you are? Don't forget who helped you climb to where you are today and who fights for your resources every year!"
"You think your insignificant achievements would have stolen funding from Aurora otherwise?" he added.
Calliope was stunned by his outburst.
Otis had never shown such anger toward her before.
"I'll say it once more. Sit down!"
Calliope complied, pulling out a chair meekly.
"What did you need?" she asked, her tone considerably more cautious.
Otis laughed coldly and threw the invitation at her face. "What do I need? The audacity of you asking! See for yourself!"
Calliope picked up the invitation, bewildered. Two seconds later, she said incredulously, "A lab unveiling? That's impossible!"
"Is it? The department head just threw this on my desk and said administration received one too. Think this is fake?"
"They actually went to the president? She's absolutely..." Calliope spoke up.
She couldn't find words to express her shock and fury. She knew that with administration involved, this wouldn't be easily resolved.
"Anyway," she took a deep breath, clenching her teeth, "I don't believe Camilla's team actually built a lab. It's just a bluff to throw us off balance!"
Otis clearly agreed with this assessment.
"Now that administration knows, our only way out is to prove Camilla's team is being unreasonable. Otherwise..."
The questionable actions Calliope had taken, which she thought were discreet, were actually full of vulnerabilities. Things remained calm because administration hadn't investigated—but if they did, no one would escape scrutiny.
Calliope insisted, "The unveiling is tomorrow. They can't conjure a lab out of thin air!"
Otis replied, "It's not just you who's skeptical—the department and administration are too. Since Camilla has brought this into the open, we can't remain passive."
Calliope grew alarmed. "What are you suggesting?"
"Everyone loves a spectacle. Camilla wants attention? I'll help her get it."
Otis called in his assistant, who entered immediately.
"Contact University Communications. Have them send Campus News reporters and writers to join us at Camilla's team's lab unveiling tomorrow," Otis ordered.
When everyone arrived expecting to see a lab that Camilla couldn't deliver, the consequences would be severe. Compared to three students and a professor misleading the department and administration, their own minor transgressions would seem insignificant.
Calliope smiled. "Your experience shows. I look forward to Camilla's humiliation tomorrow. By the way, I'll bring some students from my team as well."
Otis smirked, "Bring them all. The more people, the more entertaining the spectacle."
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