The scoreboard flickered.
Everyone stared up.
“Final score is being calculated…”, it said.
Ben swallowed. “Not optimizing again,” he whispered.
XR-3000 blinked calmly green. “I am waiting.”
Max nervously folded his hands. “No matter what happens… that was cool.”
The hall was dead silent.
Then appeared on the board:
3rd place … 2nd place …
The names were announced.
Ben held his breath.
And finally:
“1st place: Project RePaper 1.0 – Max and XR-3000!”
The hall exploded with applause.
Ben jumped up. Max raised his arms.
XR-3000 stood completely still.
“Success recognized,” it said matter-of-factly.
Mr. Krüger stepped onto the stage. “This project shows that technology can help – if it takes responsibility.”
XR-3000 tilted its head slightly.
“Responsibility is efficient.”
Everyone laughed.
But then something unexpected happened.
Max accepted the trophy.
And held it in front of XR-3000.
“Without you, we wouldn’t have made it.”
XR-3000 analyzed the trophy.
“Metal detected. Not edible.”
“Very good,” Ben murmured.
But XR-3000 slowly pushed the trophy back to Max.
“Team effort.”
The hall went quiet.
Mr. Krüger nodded impressed. “That’s what I call true greatness.”
XR-3000 blinked contentedly.
But suddenly a new message appeared on the scoreboard:
“Special City Award for Sustainable Innovation.”
Ben blinked.
“What does that mean?”
XR-3000’s eyes began to glow curiously.
“New challenge recognized.”