Logan stood at the top of the platform steps and looked at the room.The noise from the Black Creek Falls section had not fully died down yet. Still running on the momentum of victory. But it was thinning at the edges as more people registered what they were looking at.A man had walked onto the stage.Not a representative anyone had named. Not someone Roman had called forward. Just a man who had stood up from his seat, thrown something at a globally ranked competitor, and walked up the steps with his hands in his pockets.Richard Scar had lowered the hand from his cheek. He was looking at Logan with an expression that had moved through indignation and was now sitting in something more uncertain."What is this?" Richard said. "Who is this?"Gordon Pilgrim's smile had not vanished, but it had shifted. The first subtle adjustment it had made since the session began.Roman took a step toward the edge of the platform. His voice was low and directed at Logan specifically"Mr Mitchell," he

A man toward the middle of the New Horizon City section raised his hand and spoke loudly enough to carry above the residual noise."I know who that is," he said, pointing at Logan on the stage. "That's the man who found the painting. This afternoon, right here in this building. He identified a hidden painting inside another one, worth fifty five million dollars, after every expert in the room had already assessed the outer piece and moved on."A few heads turned toward him."He got his father in law to pay two hundred and fifteen thousand for it," the man continued. "And Roman Carlisle himself bought it for fifty five million less than twenty minutes later. That's not luck. That's knowledge." He looked around. "If anyone here has a chance against Richard Scar, it might be him."The statement landed and sat there.A New Horizon woman spoke up. "He found a painting. That's impressive. But these are gemstones.""Richard Scar is ranked third in the world," another voice added. "Third. In

Gordon rose from his seat in the special section. He directed his attention to Roman with an expression that had assembled itself into something between authority and mild contempt."Roman," he said. "What exactly is this?"Roman looked at him."I accepted a challenge between our cities," Gordon continued. "I brought a representative who has already demonstrated his ability. Richard Scar defeated your chosen expert fairly and completely." He gestured toward Logan. "Now you want to substitute in someone with no ranking, no documented history in this discipline, no credentials that anyone here can verify." He paused. "Someone who found a painting this afternoon."Roman's voice was level. "He's more than that.""Is he? What are his credentials? What are his rankings?""He identified the hidden painting in the gallery earlier today.""That's not a gemstone appraisal.""It's an appraisal.""It's an antique painting appraisal. Completely different skill set."Roman was quiet for a moment. "

Roman looked at the documents in the briefcase. His voice carried the defeated, mechanical tone of someone reciting something they needed to get through quickly."The import channel rights for regional raw materials," he said. "We finalize the transfer here. I'd rather do it now and be done with it than drag this out further."A New Horizon merchant spoke quietly to his neighbor. "This is humiliating.""Don't say that out loud.""They can't hear me. They're too busy celebrating."The Black Creek Falls section was not waiting. The insults continued flowing, loud and unrestrained."Look at them," someone called out. "Sitting there like they've been defeated in war.""They have been defeated. They just don't want to admit it.""Carl Jim. Carl Jim was their best. And he couldn't touch Richard.""Richard Scar. Say his name. He's the one who did this.""He's the one who took everything from them."A woman from the Black Creek Falls section pointed at Roman. "Look at him. Standing there with

Roman set the documents down on the stand. His voice carried a different quality now, something that had been absent since Carl Jim conceded."Mr Mitchell, you're telling me that Richard Scar cheated in the competition just now.""I'm telling you that Richard Scar cheated in the competition just now. And I'm telling you that his global ranking was not earned legitimately."Richard's voice was sharp. "You have nothing. You have no proof.""I have proof. I have records of every major competition you've entered. I have comparisons of your performance in private assessments versus public competitions. The pattern is clear."A Black Creek Falls merchant called out. "Don't listen to him. He's just bitter because he couldn't compete."Another voice. "He's making things up to save face."Richard pointed at Logan. "You're nothing. You're nobody who walked onto a stage because you thought you could make a name for yourself."Logan looked at him without any shift in expression. "And yet I'm the