Jenna's voice echoed through the auditorium.

Despite her nerves and the slight tremor in her tone, she kept her composure beautifully.

"The case study I am presenting today is titled: In-Utero Balloon Dilation for Aortic Stenosis."

The case centered around a mother who, at twenty-five weeks pregnant, discovered her fetus had severe aortic stenosis. Observation proved the condition was rapidly deteriorating, severely threatening the development of the left ventricle.

To save the child, the doctor and the parents agreed to perform an unprecedented in-utero intervention, utilizing a needle puncture for balloon dilation.

The operation was a resounding success; the fetus continued developing normally and was delivered safely.

It was the very first successful in-utero fetal intervention of its kind in Orient Country —and arguably across multiple continents.

"2"

Hearing this, the judges exchanged startled glances, whispering animatedly among themselves.

They all recalled hearing whispers of this impossibly difficult procedure, but the hospital's name was never released. They only knew it was somehow tied to Dr. Nocturne.

The medical community had largely dismissed it as an internet rumor designed to build hype.

Honestly, half the industry still debated whether Dr. Nocturne even existed.

After all, no one had ever seen her face.

More importantly-

How on earth did a university student get access to someone of that caliber?

And how exactly did she acquire this highly classified "case file"?

The panel was thoroughly baffled.

Since it wasn't time for Q&A yet, they had no choice but to sit in stunned silence as Jenna continued her presentation.

Fifteen agonizingly long minutes later, she finally concluded.

From start to finish, her data analysis and verbal delivery were impeccably sharp.

Coupled with the brilliance of the case itself, Jenna entirely eclipsed her competitors.

"That concludes the presentation. We will now move to the Q&A segment." The host gestured toward the panel, and the cameras pivoted to the judges.

"Miss Sloan, your delivery was outstanding, and your data was meticulously structured," a slightly balding, middle-aged judge began.

He was from Moralia Country, speaking in fluent American English, and didn't hold back his praise.

"Thank you." Jenna exhaled a quiet breath of relief, a bright smile blooming on her face.

The judge fired off several complex questions relating to the surgical methodology, all of which Jenna answered flawlessly.

Down in the audience, Professor Dawson beamed with pride.

Incredible.

With a performance like that, she was practically guaranteed a spot in the top three.

Her grasp on the material was absolute perfection.

"One final question."

After a brief pause, the judge's voice echoed through the hall again. "This case you've presented... does it belong to Dr. Nocturne?"

"Yes!" Jenna nodded respectfully. "The videos, the procedural breakdown, and all

post-op data were provided entirely by Dr. Nocturne!"

"Do you have the Authorization Letter?" the judge pressed.

"Authorization Letter?" Jenna froze, her mind blanking. "I... I thought providing authentic, verifiable data was enough."

She had reviewed the files thoroughly; there wasn't a single flaw in the medical science.

"Without signed authorization, presenting this constitutes

plagiarism of intellectual property. Your presentation today is invalid," the judge stated histone remaining polite but firm.

"Furthermore "

He paused, his gaze sharpening. "This surgery was only ever rumored online and the lead surgeon has never stepped forward to claim t We require the unedited source videos and the raw data. Can you provide them?"

They weren't trying to bully a student, but the legend of "Dr. Nocturne" was too elusive.

If world-renowned experts couldn't contact the doctor, how had a twenty-something student pulled it off?

And acquired such intensely classified files, no less?

They strongly suspected the case had been fabricated purely to win the competition.

Authorization?

Raw data and unedited videos?

The color drained from Jenna's face.

"A classmate borrowed this for me,"

She stammered softly. "She knows

Dr. Nocturne personally. But..."

She frantically scanned the room. Was Juniper even here?

If she was, could she contact Dr. Nocturne in time?