February 10th. Saturday, 1:19 PM.
"Are the teams already decided for Monday?" Mr Anderson, leaning closer to his camera as he waited for confirmation.
"Yes", Mr Watson calmly replied. "They were decided last week".
Mr Donald let out a quiet sigh. "What's the point of this meeting?" he asked, fingers pressed against his forehead. "Couldn't we have done this yesterday?".
"It's only a quick meeting to confirm a few things. We didn't have time yesterday", Mr Anderson replied, his voice staying polite. "I didn't think it would be too much of a hassle because it's an online meeting".
The higher-ups were on a video call ahead of the challenge on Monday. However, not all the higher-ups were present. Only four names filled the meeting grid.
"Gerald's in charge of this challenge", Mr Donald said. "Shouldn't you have just had a meeting with him?".
"I had to make sure all of you were happy with this as well", Mr Anderson replied.
"I'm sure everyone's happy with this challenge", Mr Gerald said, suddenly joining the conversation.
Unlike the others, his camera was off, leaving only his name displayed.
"All of us had our input on the teams. The location is top-notch. Everything is set up. The rules are fine. What more could you ask for?"
"He's right", Mr Watson added, slowly nodding. "We reflected on the issues from challenge five and improved on them. This time, every student will be involved in this challenge".
"It's only natural we take extra measures because this challenge is new", Mr Anderson replied, adding to his reasoning for this meeting. "Are the teams fair?".
"You can see them on Monday", Mr Gerald smugly replied with a grin that the others couldn't see.
"Can't you send me the document now?" Mr Anderson asked, confused.
"The document is saved on my work computer", Mr Gerald replied, as if he couldn't.
Mr Anderson closed his eyes for a brief moment and clenched his jaw. He was so tempted to argue back, but it was Mr Gerald. He was old. Technology isn't his strong point, so trying to guide him through it would only waste more time.
"Don't worry, Anderson", Mr Donald said, noticing his expression. He gave a small chuckle. "The teams are good. You'll be happy with them".
Mr Watson nodded in agreement, "All the preparations are done. Now it's up to the students".
"The leaderboard should change a lot after this challenge", Mr Donald confidently said.
"It changed a lot after the last challenge", Mr Anderson replied slowly.
"Oh, right", Mr Donald said dismissively. "That challenge wasn't a real challenge. It's only there because this academy has been doing it for a long time".
"It's a good challenge for the students", Mr Gerald said. "There are a few challenges like that. Good for the students, but not for us".
"That's changing", Mr Watson replied, smiling. "The upcoming challenges are both good for the students and us. They're entertaining".
"Right", Mr Gerald said. His voice came through the speakers slightly distorted. "Who's going to the challenge?"
"All of us, no?" Mr Donald replied, raising a brow.
"No, I won't be coming", Mr Watson said, lifting his hand. "I'd rather watch from the academy".
"You'll be missing out, Watson", Mr Gerald replied. "We might get involved in this challenge too".
"You also won't get all the camera angles we will get", Mr Donald added with a grin.
"That's fine", Mr Watson said without any hesitation. "This challenge seems good, but I doubt I'll be interested in it".
A brief pause followed before Mr Gerald spoke again.
"We could make it more interesting".
"How so?" Mr Watson asked, intrigued.
"We could bet on the students".
"No!" Mr Anderson immediately interrupted. "There will be no betting".
"Tch", Mr Gerald quietly clicked his tongue.
"Why not?" Mr Donald asked, frowning.
"They're our students, not horses", Mr Anderson firmly said.
"You can bet on anything", Mr Donald argued back, lifting his shoulders. "Sport betting happens everywhere. Spectators bet on people. There's nothing wrong with it".
"No. We're not going to bet on our students", Mr Anderson repeated, firmer.
Mr Gerald sighed through the microphone.
"Fine. You don't have to bet. The rest of us can", he said. "It's nothing serious. It's a little game between us adults. It's not going to affect the students whatsoever".
"No". Mr Anderson shook his head. "You might do stuff to sway results in favour of your bets".
"We wouldn't do that", Mr Gerald said, looking away from the camera, despite it not even being on.
"Can't you have fun for once, Anderson?" Mr Donald asked, the furrowed look still on his face.
"Whatever all of you do is your business", Mr Anderson said. "Just don't involve the students".
"But it's not involving them", Mr Gerald replied calmly.
"I said it before. I recruited most of these students, so I feel responsible for them", Mr Anderson said, pointing at his chest.
"Exactly. You recruited them here", Mr Donald said, leaning closer to the camera. "You know what this academy is about. Yes, we hand out highly respected, valuable certificates. Yes, we give scholarships. But the best part about this academy is seeing these students compete".
"If I recall correctly", Mr Watson jumped in. "Before this year started, you were excited about all these students you were bringing in".
Mr Anderson paused for a moment. "Yes", he admitted, nodding. "I was really happy with the students enrolling".
"And yet as soon as they arrived, you changed your tune", Mr Watson continued. "You became really defensive about them".
"It's because all you were ready to ruin everything", Mr Anderson replied, his eyebrows finally falling in a furrow. "After the first day, you were willing to change the format of everything. I was happy because I thought everything was going to stay the same, just improved by having a stronger pool of students".
"You can't be serious", Mr Donald said, shaking his head in disbelief. "With talent like this, you expect us to stay with the same boring challenges. They need more exciting challenges".
"They don't need it. You guys want it", Mr Anderson replied, now pointing towards the camera.
"It's not us", Mr Gerald replied. "I've heard some of the students want better challenges too. I've heard complaints about the last challenge being boring, and that's a challenge we do every year".
"Gerald is right", Mr Watson said. "You've recruited some incredible students, I won't deny that, but with that, you can't expect them to do boring challenges that limit them".
"I understand that", Mr Anderson said, calming himself. "But the things I've heard all of you suggest were ridiculous".
"It may sound ridiculous, but it's worked", Mr Donald said. "The new challenges have been a success".
"In one of the challenges, a car crash nearly happened, and in another, you put a paintball gun in and gave the students no body protection", Mr Anderson replied.
"Both issues could've been avoided", Mr Donald said, taking it lightly. "The car crash was a swerve on the road, and the paintball gun depended on the student".
"A particular student was involved in a different incident in the second challenge and the paintball gun issue in the fifth", Mr Watson said, raising two fingers. "If that student wasn't here, those incidents may not have happened". He paused for a second before finally adding.
"Maybe that student shouldn't have been recruited".
Displeasure was clear on Mr Anderson's face. He tightened his jaw as he averted his eyes from the camera and shook his head.
"Why don't we continue this conversation on Monday?" Mr Gerald suggested, not wanting to be on the call any longer. "You did say it was supposed to be a quick meeting".
Mr Anderson didn't feel like talking. His eyes didn't return to the screen.
"If there's nothing else to discuss, I'll take my leave", Mr Donald said, already reaching for his mouse. He disconnected from the call the second he finished his sentence.
"I'll be leaving too", Mr Gerald said, also leaving the call, his icon vanishing.
"Anderson, see you", Mr Watson said, lifting his hand for a wave before disconnecting.
Mr Anderson stared at the empty call window before silently leaving the meeting himself, angry.
He leaned back in his seat, rubbing his temples.
"I thought I had everything under control".