Chapter 2

The giant screen in the center of the stage lit up, displaying a fragmented ancient star chart covered in strange symbols, along with a series of complicated physics equations listed beside it.

"Our first challenge is to use this reproduction of an ancient star chart unearthed from an ancient tomb to calculate the exact coordinates of the legendary lost city of Louveire! Contestants, you have two hours to complete this challenge. You're now free to form your own groups."

The moment Ryan finished speaking, almost everyone rushed toward Anthony.

Apart from Charlotte, Eugenie Lockwood, who had a master's degree in astronomy, and Alicia Hudson, who had a master's degree in history, had been considered the three favorites of the game show with the highest chance of being crowned the winner. But now, all three of them stood behind Anthony without any hesitation.

Several of the weaker contestants also flocked to him, hoping to throw their lot in with the strongest team.

In the blink of an eye, Anthony had assembled the strongest lineup on the show, one that could practically start a research institute.

Meanwhile, I was all alone, and the camera zoomed in right at that moment for a close-up on me.

"Oh, dear. What are we going to do?" Anthony pretended to be surprised, covering his mouth as he gasped. However, he couldn't hide the scorn in his eyes. "Why don't you join me, Noah?

"Although you can't be of much help with the challenge, I guess it also counts if you did some odd tasks for us, like fetching us water and whatever supplies we need."

Behind him, Charlotte snorted before turning her attention back onto the challenge, as if she didn't want to waste any more of her time looking at me.

"That won't be necessary," I said evenly before sitting down at an empty table.

"What an ingrate." Anthony curled his lips and imperiously began issuing orders to his teammates. "Let's begin!"

His team immediately sprang into action with remarkable efficiency. Before long, their whiteboard was covered in densely packed calculations. The bustle of discussions and heated arguments swiftly filled the air.

Everyone in the studio focused their attention on Anthony's star-studded team, eagerly anticipating their solution to this centuries-old mystery.

As for me, I simply sat quietly in the corner, picked up a pen, and wrote a formula on the paper provided by the production crew.

I heard the discussion all around me, and the contestants were only about half correct.

A crucial piece of information was hidden in this star chart, and that information was precisely why I joined the game show in the first place. My pen moved swiftly across the paper without the slightest pause.

Five minutes later, while Anthony's team was still arguing over the value of the first variable, I put down my pen.

No one noticed me.

I calmly raised my hand and pressed the buzzer, which was a red button on the table.

In an instant, everyone in the studio stared at me in shock. Ryan froze for a moment before stammering, "Y-Yes, Noah? Did you… need something?"

With everyone staring at me, I looked at him and said crisply, "I've completed the calculations."

I handed over the sheet of paper containing my answer to a member of the production crew. Then I called out a string of numbers—the latitude and longitude of the location, accurate to six decimal places.

Everyone looked at me like I'd lost my head. A few seconds later, Anthony's team howled with laughter.

"Has he lost his mind? How long has it even been? Is he saying he completed the calculations in just five minutes?"

"And did he give up to six decimal places in his answer? Does he even know what that implies? He might as well be naming a specific street in the lost city!"

"Look at him, putting on an act. He couldn't even find a more realistic answer to copy and fake as his own!"

Charlotte pushed up her glasses, the derision in her eyes almost spilling out. She turned back toward the whiteboard, as though even saying a word to me was completely beneath her.

"Ignore him. Let's continue. The gravitational parameter..."

Anthony folded his arms and walked over to me. With a victorious smile on his face, he eyed me condescendingly and commented, "Noah, I know you're dying to show off somehow, but you're not even worthy of being here. Making up a bunch of numbers as an answer to get attention will only make you look even more like a clown."