The Killer Queen

The entire research forum was buzzing with activity! The message that had just been sent out had already received a flurry of

responses.

Elara clutched her phone, her face alive with excitement. “How did my idol find out about Caleb’s misconduct? Or has the news spread so far that even Polaris Star knows about it?”

Polaris Star was a legend on the medical forums; every post they made caused a stir in the industry.

And here was Elara, awaiting approval for her report under her own ID!

Socn, another message popped up on the forum.

A formal complaint against Dr. Caleb for academic dishonesty, filed by the renowned Phoenix Lab of the third research institute.

Phoenix Lab might not have been focused on medical research, but its influence in the scientific community was undeniable!

Quickly, Elara received a message from Jacob..

[I saw you submitted a report too. Using the lab’s name gets it processed faster, skips the approval queue. It was someone from Polaris Star who told me to do it.]

So, Polaris Star not only reported Caleb but also roped in Jacob for the cause?

The academic community was tight–knit; soon, the forum was clogged with various reports, but the most eye–catching was still the post sent by Loadstar!

Caleb sat on the floor, utterly defeated.

“What’s going on? How did Polaris Star even notice someone like me?”

It was all over. Everything he had worked for was ruined! All because of that damned intern, who had to go and end it all! His career was effectively over.

Noella’s hand rested in her coat pocket as she watched Caleb weep bitterly.

“You should regret your actions, not blame Dr. Lowry for not being able to bear the burden.”

People like Caleb had no place in a profession dedicated to saving lives.

Calvin noticed Noella’s earlier gesture and wondered if she knew someone from Polaris Star. If she had learned her medical skills from Polaris Star’s Loadstar, that would explain a lot.

No wonder she always looked down on his láb!

Polaris Star Lab was a leader in the field; if he wasn’t so tied down by his current role, he’d jump at the chance to join them!

Calvin rubbed his hands together. “Noella, do you know someone from Polaris Star?”

Getting a contact there would be a dream come true!

Ulrich was skeptical. “How could Noella know someone from Polaris Star?” Please check at N/ôvel(D)rama.Org.

Noella replied indifferently, “I’ve read Loadstar’s papers.”

Elara got excited all over again. “Right! Loadstar’s papers are groundbreaking, aren’t they? Such innovative ideas, truly a pioneer in the research field! If I ever get the chance to meet Loadstar, I’m definitely asking for an autograph!”

Watching Elara praise her, Noella couldn’t help but smile slightly. “Indeed, very… impressive.”

In truth, many of those papers were written off the cuff during her experiments. However, during a financial crunch at Polaris Star, she had entered them in several contests and won a fair amount of prize money.

That’s how Polaris Star became a household name in the research community.

Elara was buzzing with excitement. “Then you must come with me to the research summit in a few days! Loadstar might be there.”

“Sure.”

Noella was planning to attend the summit anyway, so accepting Elara’s invitation was no hassle.

A nurse peeked out from a room, exclaiming, “Professor Calvin! Dr. Lowry’s awake. She wants to thank her rescuer!”

“We’ll be right there.”

After Elara and Ulrich moved ahead, Calvin tugged at Noella’s sleeve, his smile bright and somewhat sycophantic.

“Noella, you must know someone in Polaris Star’s core team. Could you take me for a lab tour? Or ask if they need researchers? I’d work for them in a heartbeat once I retire!”

Noella shot Calvin down mercilessly. “You’re too old, and frankly, not sharp enough. You’d be mopping floors at Polaris Star.”

10-12

Calvin was speechless. It was the first time anyone had doubted his intellect!

Upon reflection, Calvin found the name “Polaris Star” oddly familiar.

“Could Polaris Star be connected to that organization that had mysteriously disappeared from the international scene?*

Noella gave him a flat look. “Just a coincidence. I could change my name to Calvin; what a coincidence.”

Calvin wisely shut his mouth..

Inside the room, Dr. Lowry, just waking up, was still a bit dazed. Her gaze moved from Calvin and Noella to Noella, who was lagging behind.

“It was you… who saved me. Thank you.”

Noella nodded gently. “You only have one life; Caleb will face his consequences. Don’t punish yourself and your loved ones with death.”

Ulrich thought Dr. Lowry was thanking Noella for discovering her suicide attempt in the office. He offered comfortingly, “Once you’re better, come be my intern! I promise, no exploitation; you’ll complete your internship smoothly.”

Dr. Lowry was aware of Ulrich’s reputation for kindness toward his students, which brought tears to her eyes as she nodded weakly.

Her classmate, with tears streaming down her face, exclaimed, “You’re so silly! Remember how you endured bullying in college? Why give up now?”

“I didn’t want to. I just couldn’t take it anymore.”

Bullying at school, exploitation at work, her research appropriated by others, and no rest for so long… it all became too much.

Calvin frowned. “I thought you were a student at MediCore University. How did you end up being bullied? Did you report it to the administration?”

Dr. Lowry offered a shy smile, a shadow of her distress hidden behind it.

“It’s alright, Professor Calvin. The one who bullied me was called Yvonne Schnabel, but she’s dropped out now. I guess what goes around comes around.”

“What are you talking about? Just the other day, she was messaging you, demanding money. She threatened to use her family’s influence to ensure you never complete your residency, effectively ruining your chance of becoming a doctor!”

The mention of the Schnabel family made everyone around them widen their eyes in shock!

Dr. Lowry’s suicide had a connection to Yvonne?

Ulrich, uncertain, pulled out his phone. “Is this the Yvonne you’re talking about?”

His phone still held a photo of them all together, a memento from when Ashlyn and Yvonne insisted on taking a group picture.

Seeing her face seemed to trigger a visceral reaction in Dr. Lowry.

The surrounding doctors were filled with righteous indignation. “And to think, her family! Back in school, not only did she get you to do her assignments without paying, but now she’s extorting money from you!”

Calvin remembered too. “That student you took the exam for… that was you, wasn’t it?”

Dr. Lowry, as a postgraduate, and following Marcel’s directive not to pursue the matter with the substitute exam taker, meant that only Beckett had actually met Dr. Lowry.

Ulrich rubbed his temples. “What else has she done? Tell me everything! If I’m not mistaken, when she mentioned her family’s influence, she must be talking about mine.”

After all, in Imperial City, there aren’t many families as notable as the Schnabels!