Chapter 439
Chapter 439 - 419: The Failed Candidate
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What do explorers do? Generally, they go to the Exotic Realm to get something.
But specifically what and how? Considering their lack of basic knowledge about the Exotic Realm, 99% of explorers wouldnāt be able to give an answer.
Lu Pingāan knew that there must be something coming down from the top, either a commissioner providing guidance, documents being issued, or being directed to some reference books... He really didnāt expect that right after the exam ended, they would directly throw the core mission at the faces of the explorers.
"Arenāt they afraid that many people would choose to give up?"
"Will you give up? Can you bear to give up?" Big Meowās continuous questioning made Lu Pingāan shake his head.
How could he give up such a good opportunity?
When he returned to the hotel, the time was much earlier than expected, but the atmosphere in the room was a bit low.
"Oh, youāre back?"
Xia Qin greeted Lu Pingāan with a smile, but the corners of her mouth twitched, making her smile forced.
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"...Didnāt pass?" Lu Pingāan could tell with a glance that she failed.
"Yes, I didnāt pass. I donāt really care personally, after all, Special Service Team Three still needs me to stay here long-term. I am still young, just entered the third-tier a few months ago, and even if I had the Sword Saint inheritance, I would need more accumulation. In a way, itās a good thing, making me more focused..." She spoke a lot in one breath, showing that she had been thinking about it for a long time.
"...I donāt care, I know my accumulation is not enough, and Iām not in a hurry. The exam this time was very difficult, and itās normal to fail. If we all fail, weāll find a way..."
But the more she emphasized that she didnāt care and failure was expected, the more Lu Pingāan looked at her with a sympathetic gaze.
"I passed." Lu Pingāan shamelessly announced his joy.
"Um..." Xia Qin was choked up. She opened her mouth, and after a moment, managed to say one word.
"...Congratulations."
"Youāre not a gentleman at all, Meow!"
"Dead Otaku, dead straight man, Meow!"
Little Meow in the back vehemently booed Lu Pingāan.
She shared the same hatred for losing the exam with sister Xia Qin, both being bullied by Lu Pingāan.
Lu Pingāan just smiled and glanced at her...She immediately let out a "Meow" and hid behind the sofa, only poking her eyes and claws out to glare at him.
"...From a certain point of view, failing the exam may not be a bad thing... You know Iām a Contractor. I didnāt lie this time. Donāt stare at me like Iām a liar. Iām really not joking this time."
After thinking about it, Lu Pingāan still didnāt directly convey the top-level information... because Guan Xinxian hadnāt returned yet.
Just as Lu Pingāan estimated Xia Qin probably wouldnāt pass, after confirming the exam process and content, he also speculated about Brother Guan...
"...Well, I passed, although it was a bit of a struggle, but the examiners let me through."
Xia Qin opened her mouth, her nose twitched, a tear mole shook, and then she regained her composure and forced a bitter smile.
"Congratulations, two out of three of us passed, and I am the only one eliminated..." She was a bit puzzled. In terms of combat power, even if she couldnāt beat Lu Pingāan (though she still thought she could), she shouldnāt have lost to Guan Xinxian either.
Hearing this, Lu Pingāan smiled and shook his head.
"You were eliminated... well, thereās a reason why we passed, and if Iām not mistaken, our assessments were of different difficulties."
Guan Xinxian and Lu Pingāan were both "technical personnel", and very professional and valuable ones at that.
Lu Pingāan was a young researcher, a disciple of a locally renowned authority in Magic Plants, and had already achieved some research results... He was a valuable talent needed by the explorers.
Guan Xinxian was also similar, he was a rescue expert, in a way, an even rarer and more useful existence than Lu Pingāan.
Disaster relief isnāt just about being strong. Brute force can cause a chain reaction of calamity. Becoming an expert in this field requires in-depth knowledge of geography, hydrology, and building structures.
Guan Xinxianās experience speaks for itself, and heās also one of the most needed "types" in the Nirvana Plan.
Lu Pingāan guesses that, as "scarce resources," the assessment targets for the two of them have naturally shifted to just "proving that they can protect themselves."
So, the final real-life test wonāt be too difficult. In fact, the examiners will do their best to help them pass and meet the talent shortage on the frontlines.
As for Xia Qin... sheās strong, but sheās still a "fighter."
In an environment where 90% of professionals have a certain combat power, elite and talented pure fighters are still just pure combat units.
This time, most of the candidates belong to this type, which is why they are in the same race and need to be assessed and compared.
Xia Qin is strong, no doubt, but sheās still a third-tier, and her additional professions arenāt many. Her Sword Saint development isnāt perfect either... and this examās threshold is at the fourth-tier and above.
In fact, after seeing the "middle-aged uncles" in the theater, Lu Pingāan knew that Xia Qin was likely out of luck this time. She was still a bit green compared to those truly senior Silver-tier fighters.
"Did you guys pass so easily? They wanted me to either defeat an examiner or withstand two examiners for a minute... I chose the one with one at fifth-tier and another senior fourth-tier."
Although Xia Qin is a Sword Saint, her defense is higher than her attack, but facing the combat of two Silver-tier fighters, she might be defeated in an instant.
The examiner complimented her, saying she has a "promising future"... but evidently, she didnāt reach the average passing score.
Guan Xinxianās assessment was much easier. He just set up a scene, and after just one round in front of the Silver-tier fighters who "let him go," he was effortlessly let through.
Hearing Xia Qin recount her miserable experience, Lu Pingāan fell silent. He hesitated about whether to continue rubbing salt into the wound; Sister Xia had been pretty good to him...
"How about you, Lu Pingāan?" But Xia Qin couldnāt help but ask...
"...I didnāt fight. After setting up the scene, the opponent let me pass..."
"Oh, I see. How nice..."
At this moment, Xia Qin was probably filled with sadness, some expectations, and a bit of inferiority. Lu Pingāan would remember this complex mix of emotions for quite some time.
Well, even the hard-hearted Lu Pingāan felt a slight pang of guilt at this time.
However, since he was Lu Pingāan, he suddenly found a solution. He dialed a number.
"...Ha, you picked up so quickly. Su Zhizhu, you failed, didnāt you?"
"Hehe, me? No, not only did I pass, but I also didnāt even need to fight in the real test. I got through it easily. Unfair? You can appeal to the organizing committee, right?"
"Oh, by the way, you didnāt counterattack me with āBaman Zhen passed,ā so Baman Zhen must have failed too. Haha, doesnāt that mean your plan is completely ruined? We got two people through on our side, and our plan can proceed smoothly. You must be so jealous. Tsk, why hang up so soon? You canāt take it anymore?"
Lu Pingāan sighed helplessly. He wanted to discuss his future plans with Su Zhizhu.
"Pfft." Xia Qin covered her mouth and chuckled. She understood what Lu Pingāan was doing now.
Was she supposed to be happy? Should she place her peace of mind on othersā misfortune?
"Well, when youāre feeling down and find out that others have it worse, even worse than you, doesnāt it provide a bit of comfort?Things will be put into perspective. Youāre not the only one who failed. Even someone as strong as Baman Zhen failed... Besides, our plans are different. Whether or not you passed in our plan, it was expected, and it wonāt affect anything at all."
Xia Qin suddenly couldnāt laugh anymore. Did he mean that she wouldnāt have made a difference whether she was there or not? Was this considered comforting?!
"...If you donāt change that mouth of yours, youāll get beaten up when you go out." Xia Qin first pinched Lu Pingāanās cheek, then forcefully pulled it.
"Coincidentally, I was just thinking the same thing." Lu Pingāan, with his face now distorted, said:
"But I donāt plan to change. Life is short, just enjoy it."
ā End of Chapter 439 ā