Chapter 849 Being Preempted
The scene was a mess. At the certification table, after the president stood up, the judges followed suit.
Ultan hastily stopped them as soon as he could and asked them about the situation. “What’s going on here?”
The president of the certification organization was on good terms with Ultan, the president of Styre University, so he spoke out in front of everyone about what he shouldn’t have said. “Mr. Farrell, instead of coming to ask me what’s going on, why don’t you ask your student what she did?”
Hearing this, Ultan’s face was unusually gloomy. He looked at the president of the certification organization with a serious expression and said bluntly, “You might as well be straightforward if something is wrong and save us from guessing. If it’s really our problem, I will definitely admit our fault.”
Since the president of the top-tier academy had spoken like this, the president of the certification organization had to tell the truth. “Mr. Farrell, actually, we don’t want to hide anything from you. We held an emergency certification meeting yesterday and certified a document that is exactly the same as yours. You should be clear about what I mean by saying this.”
This meant that one party must have plagiarized, but this was not something that the certification organization needed to investigate.
They only cared about the time. Whoever delivered the information to them first would be recognized as the first to authenticate it.
As for who plagiarized, it was not the scope of their responsibility.
As soon as this statement was made, the way those present looked at the members of Styre University all changed.
Ultan looked shocked and extremely incredulous. Marshall looked at Catherine behind him, covering his chest in shock.
If he hadn’t taken the pills beforehand as Catherine had arranged, everyone would probably be in chaos at this moment and arranging an ambulance to take him to the hospital.
He absolutely trusted Catherine. He knew that Catherine would never do anything to betray the lab.
It was just that the situation now made him didn’t know what had gone wrong in the middle.
Everyone focused their attention on Catherine and waited for her to give a response.
Catherine didn’t look well, but her expression remained calm.
After a few seconds of silence, she looked at the crowd with a microphone in her hand. Her body was shrouded in a domineering aura that made people unable to ignore her existence. “I don’t know why you are assuming that our experiment is the same as someone else’s after reading two pages of information. As certification specialists from the top ten certification organizations in the world, don’t you even have the patience to read an experimental report?”
Catherine’s resounding and powerful voice made the certification specialists present look unpleasant.
Everyone looked at each other in disbelief.
They were usually authorities sought after by others, but now they were pointed at and scolded by a witless young girl, which was the greatest disrespect to them.
The atmosphere of the scene immediately became awkward, but no one stood out to speak out. The crowd shifted all their eyes to the certification president again, waiting for his instructions.
The certification president’s sharp eyes looked Catherine up and down. He then nodded and said with incomparable seriousness, “You’re right. I was too anxious.”
With that, he returned to his seat.
Facing Catherine as an equal, he said, Miss Swann, what I want to tell you is that we have read more than two pages, but ten pages. These ten pages of information are exactly the same as what we certified yesterday, without even a single punctuation change. If you want us to continue reading it, please make a reasonable explanation.”
The certification president’s words made many people feel agreeable, and the scene was once again abuzz with chatter.
“That’s right. You have to make a reasonable explanation.”
“That’s right. Otherwise, who wants to waste time with her?”
Catherine held the microphone. Faced with the questioning gaze of the crowd, she showed no fear. “I can assure you that our experiment was not plagiarized, but quite a few labs are conducting this experiment. The fact that everyone is going in the same direction can easily result in some of the same experimental data or experimental equipment. This could also be a similarity in the experimental report.”
Catherine’s words instantly furrowed the brow of the certification president. “You mean, you are just the similar, but not the same one?”
“Yes. I suggest you read it all before you speak.” Catherine’s arrogant attitude displeased many people in the venue.
Some of them even raised their voices in question, but Catherine’s attitude remained firm. She was betting.
The scene was in disarray, and the current situation was chaotic.
The certification president took the initiative to maintain order on site. “I personally decide that I and everyone present need to thoroughly read this experimental report and complete all the procedures before we can proceed. After all, this is our job, and only when we conscientiously complete our own work can we be qualified to deny others ‘achievements.”
After mediation by the certification president, everyone ultimately decided to continue the certification.
The certification needed to take some time and Catherine and the group were placed in a small lounge within the venue to wait.
At the first moment of the incident, Ultan approached Marshall to understand the situation. Marshall didn’t even think about it and directly guaranteed that Catherine wouldn’t betray their lab.
The three of them sat quietly in the lounge. Unlike Ultan and Marshall, who were both anxious, Catherine seemed like an outsider. She was still able to lean back on the chair and rest.
Marshall was covering his chest. He didn’t look well.
Ultan was worried about him. Ultan couldn’t help but ask him how he was. ” Marshall, are you okay? Should I take you to the hospital?”
“I’m fine.” Marshall waved his hand.
Seeing Ultan’s uneasiness, he could only explain seriously, “Last night, Catherine was afraid that I would be nervous, so she gave me a bottle of calming pills. I thought the pills worked well, so I took one before coming. I’m fine. Don’t worry. Nothing will happen to me.”
Ultan carefully examined and found that Marshall’s condition was indeed quite good. He finally felt relieved and took the initiative to reach out to Marshall. “Why don’t you give me one too? I’m afraid I won’t be able to hold out much longer.”
Marshall quickly took out the pill and handed Ultan a bottle of water along with it.
Ultan recovered after resting for a few minutes. He finally had the strength to question Catherine. “Catherine, are you sure your information hasn’t been leaked?”
Marshall strongly defended Catherine, and Ultan also believed in her.
Ultan had read the two experimental reports and they were indeed strikingly similar.
Since there was no plagiarism, the only possibility was leakage.
Without waiting for Catherine’s response, Marshall eagerly defended her. “What’s the point of asking her? The information is all on the lab’s computer. There are two layers of encryption. Not only does she set the security password herself, but there’s also an anti-theft link that Winston designed. Do you doubt Winston?”
Winston, like Marshall, had been at the school for decades, and he had a great reputation. Nonetheless, Ultan was still uneasy. He took his cell phone and walked out the door.
A few minutes later, he returned, his face unusually grave.
Seeing this, Marshall couldn’t sit still and stood up directly to question him. ” Mr. Farrell, why do you have such a grave face? What the hell is going on? Tell us!”
