Metallic clinks echoed through the lab as Elias, Clara, and Yann adjusted the prototype''s components. A slight tension hung in the air, but nothing hinted at the chaos about to unfold.

    "Is everything ready?" Elias asked, eyes fixed on the monitors.

    "As ready as it can be," Yann replied. "But let me remind you, we''re testing an experimental circuit with a power supply that hasn''t been fully stabilized."

    "If we wait any longer, we''ll be ready next year," Clara grumbled. "Let''s do it."

    With a resigned sigh, Yann activated the system. LEDs lit up, blinking in precise sequences, and a soft hum filled the room.

    "It''s working!" Yann exclaimed. "We have a stable connection!"

    No sooner had he spoken than gray smoke began seeping from one of the components. The security alarm blared instantly.

    "What did you do?" Clara shouted, grabbing a fire extinguisher.

    "Nothing! I just turned it on!" Yann protested.

    Elias, ever calm, pressed a button to shut off the power. The smoke started to dissipate.

    That''s when Lassen entered, a book in hand and an annoyed expression on his face.

    "I leave you alone for five minutes, and you''re already trying to blow up my house?"

    Clara turned, still holding the extinguisher.

    "It could''ve been worse."

    "Worse?" Lassen shot back. "Were you planning to level the villa and then call me to say it''s normal?"

    "They''re tests," Elias interjected. "Prototypes need adjustments."

    Lassen shook his head.

    ---

    Hours passed, and the team regained their rhythm. Elias double-checked every detail, Clara fine-tuned the materials, and Yann refined the processor''s embedded code.

    Finally, Elias looked up.

    "Okay, it should be ready for another test. But this time, we go slow."

    Clara crossed her arms.

    "Slow? You mean smoke-free?"

    "Exactly," Elias said with a grin.

    Yann adjusted the final settings and restarted the system. This time, no smoke, no abnormal hums. The prototype displayed stable readings.

    Clara gave a quiet clap.

    "Well, it''s progress."

    Then, a strange noise sounded. A faint, almost comical alarm rang from one corner of the room.

    "It''s not me," Elias said, raising his hands.

    All eyes turned to Yann.

    "Not me either! I didn''t touch anything!"

    From the doorway, Lassen sighed and turned to leave.

    "Call me when you''re done playing mad scientists."

    Elias let out a matching sigh but couldn''t help smiling.

    "We''ll be done when we''ve changed the world, Master."