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墨書 Inktalez
The atmosphere in the examination hall became increasingly tense. At first, many candidates exchanged hesitant glances, unsure of what to do. But then, one person stepped out of the examination room, and it was as if a contagious plague had spread within the hall, causing turmoil among the majority.
Those who could somewhat control their emotions, the Examiner, stood up only to sit back down again, carefully picking up the answer sheets on the table and comparing each question one by one.
As time dwindled to ten minutes remaining, more candidates began to stand up one after another, unable to resist the inner struggle any longer and announcing their withdrawal from the exam.
Who would have thought that the questions on the paper would be so absurd? They involved sensitive psychological issues. A perceptive examiner could glean insights into a candidate's character through their answers. This decision was tantamount to giving points or deducting them; two people could write the same answer, yet based on the examiner's assumptions, countless evaluations could arise.
"Ah!!" At this point, everyone felt a surge of anxiety. Suddenly, someone shouted, standing on their desk and tearing their answer sheet apart. Their eyes glowed with a fierce red light born from inner fragility. "Why are you doing this to me? Who set these rules? I can sacrifice my life for peace; is that not enough qualification?"
The other candidates looked at Xuanfeng on the podium, whose expression remained calm as if waiting for him to say something next.
Without setting an example, Xuanfeng first took off his coat and then his shirt until he was bare-chested. He removed a fluffy wig from his head, revealing an angry expression as he said, "You really don't understand. You should know that sometimes it's not about whether you dare to die. If you can die, that's great. But if the situation doesn't allow it and your existence leads your companions step by step into your trap—watching them fall into the abyss—what kind of example can you set?"
Everyone looked up at his forehead, where a quarter of it was missing due to a wound; the other half was filled with metal bones, leaving his scalp unable to grow new hair. It seemed he had disguised himself slightly to mask painful memories.
Xuanfeng spoke with righteous indignation. After seeing that his words had an effect, he dressed himself again and continued, "Back then, all I could do was watch my companions die one by one. Although I was eventually rescued by another team, I suffered severe injuries that left my brain severely damaged. For an entire year, I lay in a hospital bed undergoing countless surgeries and enduring immense pain. This is the reality of hunters; there are those who suffer even more than I did. The rules of the Hunter Association exist to protect innocent people. The glamorous aura surrounding Professional Hunters is nothing but a heavy shackle. What do you think? If you feel uncertain, take your time to reconsider; there will be other opportunities."
The man lowered his head slightly and said, "I give up; I withdraw. I don't want to suffer this anymore; I won't come back for exams."
With a sense of detached sorrow, he left the examination hall while the others bowed their heads in silence.
When Freyr looked at Xuanfeng, he noticed a clear light reflecting in Xuanfeng's eyes—a hint of a smile gracing his lips—seemingly contrasting sharply with his earlier words and past experiences.
"What about those remaining? Time is running out; if you're going to leave, decide quickly before it's officially announced. Otherwise, once the Association announces your results, those who fail will be barred from ever entering its doors."
At that moment, someone stood up among the seated candidates—a strikingly unattractive individual who smirked and said, "Instructor, I won't withdraw. I'm not afraid of death; fear is my appetite. In fact, it even enhances my comedic skills."
Xuanfeng glanced at Chou with a smirk, "Hah, but your sense of humor is really lacking, Mr. Chou."
"Hey, the greatest joy in life comes from hunting a prey or manipulating it, don't you think so, Instructor? Witnessing the fear of those who died in our class before must have spurred you to become stronger, right? Isn't that great? That's all that matters."
Chou's eyes were filled with a coldness that suggested he would not hesitate to take a life.
"So this is why you joined the Hunter Association? Fine, I suppose." Xuanfeng looked at the other candidates below. "What about the rest of you? Any additions or anyone else willing to forfeit? Giving up might be for your own good; after all, you're still young and can become hunters in the future. It's just unfortunate this year."
After hearing Xuanfeng's words, another candidate raised his hand, his massive frame nearly toppling the desk behind him.
"Hmph, we're not afraid! Worst case, we go back to training. A real man can't be timid; what's there to fear about death? Enough with the whining! We have plenty of scars; as long as we get stronger next time, we'll make those beasts taste our fists and bring them down. That's how we do things." Xiong Tai pounded his chest confidently.
Xuanfeng stared at the big guy from a distance. "Having confidence is good; I truly admire that. But tell me, big guy, are you not afraid of never becoming a hunter? This concerns your entire future. If you regret it later, it might be too late."
"Stop with the nonsense; I don't understand! All I know is that whoever has the bigger fist gets to speak. I'm not afraid of beasts or bugs; one punch from me can turn them into two pancakes! And even if I leave the Hunter Association, I can still kill bugs. My principles will remain intact."
At this moment, Xiong Tai's words sparked laughter throughout the examination room. Although his comments seemed thoughtless, they relieved much of the pressure on many candidates. Freyr was also contemplating that if he truly couldn't pass the assessment, he might have to consider new plans or return to his original unit and start from being a private again. He could still aspire to lead a team he desired—none other than his own.
"Hmph!"
"Such mindless enthusiasm is amusing; I've never encountered such a shift in atmosphere before. It seems like there won't be any results today anyway. But perhaps it's for the best; although there are more people now, increasing the difficulty afterward to filter out suitable hunters isn't a bad idea. The candidates recruited this time are quite thoughtful."
"Big guy, your approach may be wise or it may lead to failure. However, I commend your courage to stick it out until the end and showcase an extraordinary willpower. Therefore, I announce that all of you present have passed this round of my assessment!" Xuanfeng's gaze towards the big guy became more resolute.
Upon hearing these words, everyone present erupted in cheers. However, among them were still some who wished to leave. Yet in that atmosphere, one man set an example for them all and ignited their hunter spirit within.
Many people were still immersed in the sounds of joy when, almost unnoticed, a middle-aged man with blue hair swept to the right stepped out from among the more than twenty examiners. He appeared somewhat dignified and refined, resembling a butler.
"Not bad!" the blue-haired middle-aged man began with praise. However, he furrowed his brow and complained, "Tch, I'm not good at handling such situations. In the next round of eliminations, only one person will stand out. I am your examiner, Gordon. Please take care of me. The gathering time is in the afternoon, so you have plenty of time to rest. Bring your change of clothes."
After speaking, Gordon cautiously turned his head toward Xuanfeng. Understanding the meaning in his eyes, Xuanfeng quickly added, "The assessment is over; you can leave now. Bring your Invitation Letter to enjoy a free meal at the association's cafeteria."
At this point, the candidates disregarded their image and rushed out of the examination hall, seemingly having forgotten about the afternoon assessment. It was already quite an achievement for them to have passed through such fierce competition, and some began to refer to themselves as elites, distinguishing themselves from those who couldn't even pass the first round.
Freyr also didn't want to linger in the examination hall. Having passed the first round, he felt a bit of pressure lift off his shoulders.
"Let's go grab a big meal at the cafeteria," Xiong Tai declared after finishing his speech, feeling quite good as he pulled Freyr along like a duckling heading toward the cafeteria.
"Sure, let's go."
The cafeteria was certainly not a bad place to be, especially since Freyr's stomach was already growling with hunger.
At that moment, there was no one left in the examination hall; even the examiners gradually left. Xuanfeng sat on a chair and took a deep breath. Before long, he stepped down from the podium and began collecting the test papers from the table. Each paper had some answers that were either completely off or irrelevant; some simply copied the questions while others were completely unrelated.
When he reached one particular desk, an incredulous smile appeared on his youthful face as he raised an eyebrow and whistled softly. "An interesting person—passing with a blank paper."
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