SWNOVELS Chapter 94
Chapter 94
The BrainSpark Nationals‘ city–level preliminarles weren’t a simple affair of filling out a test and waiting for a score. In addition to the written exam, there was a theoretical test and a live divergent thinking challenge, which cranked up the difficulty by several notches.
The written exam lasted an hour. After wrapping that up, contestants were ushered next door for the live question–and–answer session under the watchful eye of the clock.
Mirabella glanced over her test paper with a hint of boredom and shook her head. The
questions were somewhat tougher than the preliminary round, but.. 4
they lacked any real zest
for a challenge. With a tinge of disappointment, she picked up her pen and began to answer the questions at a leisurely pace.
Last time, her rapid–fire responses had drawn criticism for seeming flippant about the exam process, so this time, she was determined to embody the serious diligence expected of a student.
Forty minutes later, Mirabella, who had been deliberately slow, was ironically still the first to submit her paper, surprising even the proctor with her speed.
As she handed in her test, the proctor took a moment to note her name. Mirabella? Wasn’t she the one who scored perfect marks in the preliminary competition? The proctor held onto the test paper, momentarily lost in thought.
Mirabella headed straight to the adjacent room for the live Q&A session. The rules were straightforward: three proctors would each draw a random question for the contestant to answer on the spot, all within a ten–minute time limit. It felt almost like a job interview.
Mirabella internally scoffed at the format, likening it to a dull, uninspired setup born out of some pyramid scheme.
Soon enough, three questions were drawn: one on history and the other two on science. designed to test cognitive acumen. Unfazed by the challenge, Mirabella tackled the questions in about two minutes, her expression unchanging as if the task was child’s play thanks to her voracious reading habits.
The proctors were the ones left astonished. After she left, they couldn’t help but express their
awe.
“This student might just be the most impressive one I’ve ever encountered,” one whispered.
“She answered in two minutes and drew the toughest questions. This is some monstrous logical reasoning… I think we’re witnessing the birth of a genius.”
“No, it’s more than that. This year’s international competitions will surely have our country’s name shining because of her.”
The entire examination process was being recorded by a TV crew, which had anticipated that
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Chapter 94
the school’s celebrity, Summer, would be the first to emerge from the test center. The crew was all set to interview her, banking on her fame for a ratings spike.
But to everyone’s surprise, it was Mirabella who appeared first. The host paused for a moment, then quickly recovered and approached with her microphone to ask about the exam.
Mirabella might not have been Summer, but she had high–caliber beauty and a cool, effortless charisma that was camera–friendly.
Casting a glance at the approaching camera, Mirabella lightly massaged her temples, regretting not having lingered inside a little longer.
“How do you feel about the test questions today? Are you confident about advancing to the next round of the city finals?” the host asked, her voice cheerful and warm.
Mirabella looked at her impassively and answered tersely, “Pretty easy.”
The host, microphone in hand, felt at a loss for words for the first time after such a dismissive yet self–assured response.