CHAPTER 194: CHAPTER 194: PUBLIC VIDEO EVIDENCE SLAPS FACES

On the giant screen, the name that jumped to the top is—

Vivian Langdon!

It’s actually Vivian Langdon!

Eight-tenths of the audience turned sullen, while the remaining two-tenths screamed and waved red banners saying "Vivian for the win!" They were members of Vivian’s fan club.

In the VIP area, Noah Grant’s side profile was sharp as he picked up his phone and pressed it to his ear, his voice deep: "Find out immediately who’s behind this!"

Who has such influence to dare manipulate things so blatantly in front of everyone!

Vera Sheridan’s support team looked at each other, while Old Madam Grant and Mrs. Payne’s faces were very unpleasant, both being connoisseurs of dance.

Did Vera lose to Vivian Langdon?

It’s simply unbelievable!

Someone in the audience shouted "scandal" loudly!

Even the other two contestants glanced over, their faces full of disbelief.

On stage, the moment Vera Sheridan saw the result, it felt like the floor beneath her feet vanished for a second. Her toes instinctively clenched against the insoles of her pointe shoes, but only for a second before she regained her composure.

She calmly turned her head to meet the exquisitely made-up, smiling face of Vivian Langdon.

"Senior sister, thank you for the concession!" Vivian Langdon’s chin lifted slightly, her face full of pride, "But thank you too for your hard work!"

All the way supporting, being the backdrop to her success.

Facing her open smugness and subtle provocation, Vera Sheridan raised her right hand high, her gaze falling on the judges’ table.

She spoke loudly without arrogance or submissiveness: "Judges, I want to know the exact scores between me and Vivian Langdon!"

The head judge, also the chairman of the ballet association, took the microphone with a stern face.

"After the final verification by the judges, Contestant Vera Sheridan, your total score is 96 points, and Contestant Vivian Langdon has 98 points. From the scores alone, both performances were excellent, the difference is very slight."

As soon as he finished speaking, the audience was once again in an uproar.

Could Vera actually be 2 points behind Vivian?

How could that be!

The judges’ expressions were also very subtle, silently pondering who had given Vera a lower score and Vivian a higher one.

The head judge scanned the audience and raised his hand slightly, signaling for silence.

He continued formally:

"According to the competition rules, under the best of three system, your first two rounds resulted in one win and a draw. This last round score theoretically would make the overall score a tie."

Which means, in the case of a tie, one must be chosen.

Even when choosing one of two, it should be Vera!

The audience started discussing again.

The head judge raised his voice, "Selecting a representative for the Lausanne competition, scores aren’t the sole criterion. The judges must take a comprehensive evaluation for a long-term assessment."

"Contestant Vera Sheridan, your artistic expression is undoubtedly top-notch. However, the judges unanimously believe that your age of 28 and the previous major foot injury are objective risk factors."

Upon hearing this, Vera Sheridan frowned tightly.

Vivian Langdon secretly delighted, Ms. Zane indeed did not let her down!

First, making the three rounds into a draw, then using Vera’s age and old injury as leverage!

She sympathetically glanced at Vera Sheridan.

The head judge continued, "The Lausanne competition has a tight schedule and very high intensity. Vera, we can’t help but worry if your physical endurance can withstand it, and whether your old injury will recur at a critical moment."

"In contrast, Contestant Vivian Langdon is younger, her physical condition is at its peak, her performance very stable, with lower risk factors. To be responsible for the overall national team performance and to ensure there are no mistakes, the judges ultimately decided to recommend Vivian Langdon to compete."

"This is not to deny your artistic achievements, but a very difficult decision made based on the overall picture and caution. We hope you can understand."

After he finished, he looked at the audience, "This is the decision made by the judges in a fair and just manner, based on the big picture. We ask fans who appreciate Vera to understand!"

Vera Sheridan raised her hand again, "Head judge, since it’s fair and just, I request the judges to disclose the scores each judge gave to each contestant in the third round!"

The head judge raised an eyebrow.

Vera continued, "Additionally, all my physical condition indicators fully meet the golden standard for professional dancers!"

"I have a medical report to back this up!"

She spoke decisively, emanating a strong confidence from within.

"Regarding my old injury, after a year of rehabilitation, it has fully healed. Concerning high-intensity training, the judges may have forgotten..."

"In the past year, I participated in closed training, training at high intensity for no less than 8 hours a day, and the intensity surpassed any international competition!"

"During this period, my foot injury never relapsed once!"

The large theater fell silent.

Vera Sheridan projected a commanding presence, her gaze sweeping across the judge’s panel, finally resting between the brows of the head judge, "Therefore, for the score, I demand the scoring process to be publicized! For physical capability, I present my medical check-up results! As for the old injury, I’ve proven my foot can withstand any intensity!"

"I have finished speaking."

A massive sound wave erupted from the audience below.

"Well said!"

"Publicize the scoring process!"

"Support Vera! We want transparency!" Most of the audience, incited by her reasonable rebuttal, stood up to support her.

However, Vivian Langdon’s fan club let out a piercing boo in unison:

"Cannot accept defeat!"

"Vera can’t accept defeat! Get off the stage!"

The head judge’s face darkened, and he slammed the microphone heavily to signal for quiet.

He gave a sidelong glance, and a staff member immediately stepped forward, holding a piece of paper and quickly read out the scores from each judge.

After reading the numbers, it did show that Vera was slightly lower.

"Did you hear? There is no problem with the scores!" The head judge spoke firmly.

"On paper, someone can write anything they want." Vera fearlessly said, "Judges, I request the recording of the judges scoring process to be retrieved! Each judge’s score should have been recorded clearly!"

At this moment, Vivian, who had remained silent, stepped forward and spoke loudly: "I also support making the recordings public, otherwise, it feels like my victory lacks integrity!"

As soon as she said this, her fans became even more excited: "Vivian is bold! Forthright!"

Vera was stunned, not expecting her to say such a thing.

The head judge did not anticipate Vivian would do this, hesitated for a moment but promptly played along.

"Contestant Vivian Langdon’s sportsmanship is commendable."

"However, it is unfortunate that the technical department just reported that the review video for the third round, due to a sudden equipment failure, all data... are damaged and cannot be recovered."

At the critical moment, the recording was damaged!

How convenient!

Vera clenched her hands tightly, instantly realizing, Vivian had done it deliberately.

She knew the recording would be "damaged"!

Vivian’s brows furrowed, with a helpless expression, "How could this be? This way, how can I justify myself, how will senior sister accept me! Team Leader Coleman, is there really no solution?"

Listening to her insincere platitudes, meeting her provoking gaze, Vera Sheridan remained calm, "Team Leader Coleman, since the recording is damaged, shouldn’t the results of this competition also be voided?"

The head judge’s face sank, listening to the dissatisfied voices from below, he had to evade for now: "We will discuss this... please... take a short break."

...

Backstage, in the hallway.

Noah Grant walked with long strides, his polished leather shoes hitting the glossy floor with a steady and oppressive sound.

His face was stern, an air of tension surrounding him, clearing even the air as he passed.

A man dressed in a dark suit with a sharp demeanor quickly approached him, walking alongside him, slightly bowing, reporting in a low voice:

"Second Master, we found out. The judge’s panel couldn’t withstand the pressure from above, they received a direct order to favor Vivian Langdon over Vera Sheridan."

Noah Grant didn’t stop walking, letting out a disdainful snort.

"From above?" His thin lips moved slightly, his tone calm, "Which temple’s god has such a long reach?"

The man’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly, his voice lowered another notch: "It’s... Director Dalton from the Ministry of Culture’s idea."

Upon hearing this, a sharp curve appeared on Noah Grant’s lips, the smile not reaching his eyes.

"The Ministry of Culture..." he murmured, unimpressed, "When did The Langdon Family have someone over there?"

Implying it wasn’t The Langdon Family’s connections.

He slightly paused, tilting his head, "The recording?"

"Intercepted! Their people were about to format the hard drive, but our people caught them on the spot!"

After listening, Noah Grant’s expression remained unperturbed, a sneer at the tip of his nose, instructing in a deep voice, "Broadcast it through the main screen!"