A small crowd had formed around Veronica and Dario, their animated discussion drawing curious onlookers at the conference.

As Wilson and Paul approached the gathering, several attendees noticed them and began to shift their attention. Wilson smiled gently and raised a finger to his lips, signaling them to remain quiet. He and his companions positioned themselves at the periphery of the group, content to observe the ongoing exchange.

The conference had attracted graduates from elite universities worldwide—brilliant minds with impressive credentials. Yet even among this distinguished crowd, Veronica and Dario stood out as they fielded questions with remarkable ease.

They didn't merely provide answers; they engaged in substantive dialogue, especially with those few attendees who possessed comparable expertise. For those in the audience lacking technical background in materials science and manufacturing processes, the conversation might as well have been conducted in a foreign language.

Paul and Wilson clearly understood every nuance of the discussion, their expressions reflecting deep appreciation. Niall managed to follow most of the exchange as well, though not with the same effortless comprehension.

After just brief interactions, both Veronica and Dario had recognized the knowledge gap between themselves and many in the audience. Instinctively, they had begun simplifying their explanations, making complex concepts more accessible without compromising accuracy.

As Paul and Wilson continued listening with evident fascination, someone near the front suddenly recognized them and exclaimed, "Ah—it's Academician Wilson Kent and Professor Paul Pearson!"

The announcement caused Veronica and Dario to pause mid-sentence. Following everyone's gaze, they spotted Wilson and Paul standing with Cullen, Niall, and Nate at the edge of the crowd.

Though their instinct was to ignore Cullen and Niall, Wilson's presence made that impossible. With practiced politeness, they approached the newcomers.

"Mr. Kent, Professor Pearson," Dario greeted them respectfully.

Wilson responded with an appreciative smile, clapping his hands lightly. "As expected of Mr. Blair's student—very impressive."

Dario smiled modestly, but before he could respond, Wilson continued, "Your talent doesn't surprise me. What surprises me more is that the young woman beside you is just as capable."

With a warm chuckle, Wilson added, "Aren't you going to introduce us?"

After a brief hesitation, Dario said, "Veronica Murray, a member of our technical team at DataPulse."

"Oh, a technician at DataPulse," Wilson replied, genuine interest coloring his voice. "So, your company doesn't just have you—it has another young talent just as impressive. No wonder DataPulse is doing so well."

"You flatter us," Dario responded diplomatically as Paul stepped forward to exchange greetings.

Niall observed carefully as Veronica conversed fluently with the senior academics. Despite herself, she felt a twinge of surprise at Veronica's evident knowledge.

Perhaps Veronica wasn't as uninformed as Niall had assumed. Given that Dario had studied under Malcolm and possessed exceptional skills, it made sense that working closely with him would have provided Veronica with valuable learning opportunities.

But materials science was just one specialized field. Niall recalled hearing that Veronica had graduated college at 18—the same age as herself. With that kind of learning capacity, and under Dario's guidance, it wasn't impossible for someone to acquire impressive technical knowledge.

Memories surfaced of stories she'd heard years ago—how Veronica had skipped three grades in high school and gained admission to Mirabella University, one of the nation's most prestigious institutions. Back then, Niall had assumed Veronica must be truly remarkable.

Yet in the years that followed, Veronica's college performance had proved unremarkable compared to her entrance exam results. She had never participated in major international competitions or distinguished herself academically.

Unlike Veronica, Niall's entrance exam scores had been more modest, but her university career had been decorated with numerous awards—achievements that secured her position in an elite graduate program, where she had excelled through to her PhD without interruption.

As these thoughts circulated, Niall observed Veronica receiving Wilson's praise with practiced grace. She smiled silently, then glanced toward Cullen.

His expression remained impassive, betraying nothing as he looked away from the scene. Like her, he seemed unimpressed by Wilson's effusive compliments of Veronica. This shared perspective brought a subtle smile to Niall's lips.

Nate, meanwhile, stood completely bewildered by the technical discussion. Advanced Materials and AI algorithms might as well have been ancient hieroglyphics to him.

Listening to Veronica speak so confidently while Wilson continued his praise, Nate found himself increasingly confused. He turned to Cullen and Niall with questioning eyes. "Is she actually this capable?"

Before Cullen could respond, Niall intercepted with a smile. "What do you think?"

Nate stared back blankly, at a complete loss for words. If he knew the answer, he wouldn't be asking them.

Nevertheless, judging by Cullen and Niall's reactions, he sensed that perhaps Veronica's expertise wasn't quite as remarkable as Wilson's praise suggested.

Seeing that Wilson would likely continue engaging with Veronica and Dario for some time, Niall suggested, "Cullen, don't you still have things to take care of? Why don't we go first?"

Cullen nodded. "Alright."

He stepped forward and addressed Wilson politely. "Mr. Kent, we've got something to attend to, so we'll be heading out first."

Wilson acknowledged with a nod. "Alright," he said, offering Niall a courteous smile.

Cullen cast one final glance at Veronica, then turned away, departing with Niall and Nate at his side.