?


    "Chubby? Chubs?!"


    Mamie was truly fuming, but before she could roll up her sleeves and let loose, Scales had already beaten her to the punch-


    "Who let you guys in? Ourb doesn''t wee two-legged beasts. If you know what''s good for you, scram before we have to get physical." "Who the hell are you calling names?!" ter was red in the face, veins bulging with anger.


    Scales responded with a nonchnt drawl: "Whoever responds, I guess. Looks like we''ve got a beast quick to im their title, huh?"


    "You-"


    Sybil scoffed coldly: "Proud of yourselves? The entire institute is fine, but yourb''s the one needing an overhaul. Embarrassing much? And still, you talk tough!"


    "I heard the fire safety overhaul alone could take months, tsk tsk... Such a shame, seems like you''ll be without ab for a good while. So what if you published in ''Science''? Doesn''t mean the faculty values you any less. Why the arrogance?"


    Roseanne chuckled: "I didn''t want to say anything at first, afraid you couldn''t handle it. But then I thought, being kind to beasts is just being cruel to oneself. Suddenly, I didn''t feel so burdened."


    "Yeah, so what if I published in ''Science''? You haven''t even published there, have you? Must be eating you up inside. Sadly, academic prowess isn''t something you can just envy into existence. If you can''t, you just can''t. No matter how sharp your tongue is, right?"


    "You-"This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    Roseanne gave her a once-over: "I''ve always been curious. With you always loafing around, joining every bit of drama, where do you find the time for research and writing papers? Anyone with actual academic output is practically living in theb. And there you are, the most leisurely of all, makes one wonder..."


    She paused, capturing Sybil''s microexpression, "Are those papers really your work?"


    "What are you insinuating?! You only see me when I''m free, what about all the times I''m rushing in theb..."


    Roseanne interjected: "Rushing, or just ying on your phone?"


    "I''ve conducted numerous experiments, produced so many reports..."


    Roseanne pressed: "Then tell me, what are the POT parameters on the C-xp coordinate disy? What''s the domain? The range of parameters?" Sybil was lost: "..."


    She heard every word, but couldn''t make heads or tails of it.


    Roseanne continued: "You don''t even know these basic operations, and you im to have done ''numerous experiments''? Produced ''many reports"?" Sybil''s rm bells were ringing, especially under Roseanne''s scrutinizing gaze, as if peering into her very secrets.


    "I-I''m not wasting my time arguing!


    Just know you have a week to clear out. After the renovation, thisb might not even be yours anymore!"


    With that, she turned and left, her departure tinged with a hint of panic.


    ter was baffled: "Just like that... she''s gone?"


    They had vowed to show them, but it ended so abruptly?


    "I won''t stoop to your level today, but mark my words, you''ll see!" ter huffed and hurried after Sybil.


    The intruders were gone, but the trio''s mood hadn''t lightened.


    Mamie pondered: "From what Sybil hinted, even if we pass the


    renovation inspection, they''ve got other schemes to im theb,


    Maybe it''s better not to renowne


    at


    all. Better to crash and burn than to hand it over!"


    Scales considered: "First things first, we need to find somewhere else to work. Maybe we could ask around otheDresearch groups? Or even rent some space, we can pay."


    Mamie shook her head: "Sounds feasible, but it''s easier said than done. Who''d lend theirb to us?"


    They were neither friends nor family; nobody was that desperate for cash.


    "If you don''t mind, you can use myb."


    A maic voice suddenly filled the space.


    All three turned towards the door in unison.


    And the next second, Mamie gasped: "Mr. Reynolds?!"