I Became the Cute One in the Troubleshooter Squad-Chapter 120: There’s Emotion in the Fixer Exam (3)
Time passed quickly, and it was Thursday, a week later.
Had the sea brought the warm breeze from afar? The temperature was exceptionally mild for winter, and a thin coat was enough to keep warm.
Walking along the coastal promenade in such weather would surely be a great way to refresh oneself. I looked up at the clear blue sky without a cloud and suddenly thought that.
...Wait, is it escapism to be thinking like this right now? Walking around so leisurely in such an important moment. I shouldn't have the luxury for this.
It seemed that I had been subconsciously nervous without realizing it. The aftermath of the actions I had taken without thinking about the consequences had arrived. It couldn't be helped.
"Can I do well? I did prepare, but... I'm a little worried."
In the outskirts of Night Haven, Hydeout. This place was a district located about two hours by car from the city center.
Being far from the city center and, for various reasons, perhaps due to slow development, there were no buildings or apartments in sight, just a long stretch of barren roads.
It was so deserted that even the people from the underworld avoided coming near. It could truly be called a forgotten and neglected area.
However, Hydeout, which was usually eerily quiet, was unusually noisy today. This was because it had been selected as the location for this fixer exam.
"Wow, there are so many people. Is everyone here a fixer hopeful?"
Fixers were the most preferred job by teenagers and, with a high exam fee, anyone could take the test. It was only natural for so many people to gather.
David nodded at Alice’s comment as if it was obvious.
Becoming a fixer was tough, but if you succeeded, you could earn immense wealth and fame. If you were confident in your skills, it was far better to aim for being a fixer than to work as a mercenary.
Moreover, just like how Raven had previously committed illegal acts without facing consequences, in most cases, one could gain some freedom from the law and regulations. Such special privileges were also quite attractive.
Of course, if you abused it too much, the association’s auditors would show up and your qualification could be revoked. So, to keep things balanced, it was necessary to be careful and use those privileges wisely.
"There are a lot of skilled people. When I took the exam, it wasn't like this."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah. Back then, most people were subpar at best... there were a few decent ones here and there. But now, there are some pretty good ones. This is going to be fun."
"This isn’t fun! You're saying our chances of passing have decreased!"
It was really information I didn’t want to know! Alice made a whining sound and pulled me into a hug. Her overwhelming and somewhat intimidating presence pressed against my back.
I understood how she felt. The number of people who could pass the exam and get fixer qualifications was limited. The more skilled people there were, the more intense the competition.
"Alice shouldn’t be the one saying that..."
However, when you look at objective skill levels, the other competitors who had to face Alice were in a worse situation.
Surrounded by real top-tier professionals like Raven or Greg, Alice could match up against triple-number fixers, those ranking in the top 10% of active fixers.
Triple-number fixers were those who ranked in the top 100, meaning they were in the top 10% of fixers.
In short, Alice, with skills that surpassed most active fixers, was a natural disaster. The ones who should be whining were the other test takers who lost their seat just because they showed up.
Raven, seemingly understanding this, shook his head in disbelief and muttered to himself.
"Good grief... If someone heard this, they’d think I was making fun of them."
"..."
Who wouldn’t? From my perspective, it was all a trick. I secretly nodded in agreement to his words while being hugged by Alice.
If I had a body as strong as hers, I wouldn't need to rely on telekinesis. But with my weak and frail body, I could only envy her.
"The time is 8:50! Candidates, please make sure to wear the provided watches on your wrists! If you are not wearing the watch at 9:00 sharp, you will be disqualified! Outsiders, please leave quickly! Again, candidates..."
How long had we been chatting? The staff members walked around, raising their voices.
If the previous time had been spent waiting for the test-takers, now the real atmosphere had arrived. Raven, no longer a candidate, was now time to leave.
By the way, the watch was an electronic device in the form of a wristwatch, which Alice had helped me apply for and pay the fee. The watch tracked location constantly to prevent any test-taker from going missing.
Wait, do they provide this to hundreds of thousands of test-takers around the world? Maybe this is one of the reasons the fixer exam fee is so expensive.
"Well, I'm off. Let me know when it's over. I'll come pick you up."
"See you later!"
"Thanks for dropping me off."
Follow current novℯls on ƒгeewёbnovel.com.
"...!"
I waved «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» my hand to Raven, who was leaving, while wearing the watch on my wrist.
The fixer exam takes two to four days, so I wouldn't see Raven's face for a while. It’ll be more comfortable with the house to myself.
He waved back lazily, and then, suddenly looking at me with a mischievous face, he said:
"Oh, right. Ulia, you’ll probably drop out halfway and come out early. If you get disqualified, you guys contact them for me."
"..."
"That’s just cruel, Jin."
"Heh, I’m off. Good luck, kids."
He just couldn’t stop teasing everyone. But my desire to get a good result in the fixer exam and prove myself was boiling up.
With Raven leaving, the time ticked away, and at exactly 9:00, the atmosphere, which had been a bit chaotic, slowly settled. The tension in the air became almost palpable.
It felt like a countdown timer to an invisible bomb about to explode.
However, even after a minute, then two, there was no change. The exam should have started by now. Was the first task to find the change?
As the test-takers looked around in confusion, suddenly a sharp sound broke the eerie silence.
"Hmm? What's that sound?"
"A car?"
Vroom!
A loud engine sound came from the opposite road, and a sports car sped by at an incredible speed. It was as if it would just plow through anything in its way.
Surprisingly, the sports car skidded roughly along the road and came to a stop.
Could this be a late test-taker arriving? All the candidates’ attention was drawn toward the car.
Then the car door opened, and a slender woman in a black suit and sunglasses stepped out, showing off her long, sexy legs.
With her overwhelming presence, it seemed as if she was dominating the space around her just by glancing at it. She took off her sunglasses and placed them in her pocket as she spoke.
"Sorry I’m late, everyone. This is my first time on this road. I apologize for the delay."
"That person...!"
"Mira Valentina! She's the gourmet fixer on TV!"
The woman who took off her sunglasses was Mira Valentina, a famous fixer. Her fixer rank was 328th, and her specialty was procuring ingredients from other worlds.
Among the ingredients from other worlds, there were rare and dangerous creatures that couldn’t be subdued even by guns. She was recognized both for her unique personality and her incredible skill.
Why was she here at the exam venue? Well, it was obvious, even without saying.
"I see some of you know me, but just in case, let me explain. My name is Mira Valentina, a gourmet fixer. I’m honored to be the examiner for the first task of this exam. I look forward to working with you, candidates."
The examiner for the first task, Mira Valentina. As her sharp presence filled the area, the test-takers gulped, overwhelmed by the tension.
Then, as she sat with her back leaning against the sports car, she smiled and said:
"Now, let's begin the first task. It's a treasure hunt. Find the treasure hidden somewhere in Hydeout and bring it to me. I will accept the first 100 people."
Her direct statement shocked everyone who heard it.
