NOVPUBHutton Pedestrian Square was gradually bustling, with the morning light shining ever brighter. The large display windows of the department stores, with their carefully designed displays, were attracting pedestrians’ eyes, already giving this Saturday morning a lively feeling.
The Magic Fluorescent Screen seamlessly merged with the glass curtain wall of the second floor of the Cardmaker’s Association, had been switched from the association’s looped advertisements to the upcoming Registered Card-making Master exam’s broadcasting prep.
There were families with cheerful, energetic children in the pedestrian square, couples smiling at each other, enjoying their leisurely weekend. Many customers were seated at the outdoor seating area of the cafes and restaurants.
At this moment, people started to lift their heads gradually, shifting their gaze from the busy street scene to the giant glass screen on the association building.
The fifth floor of the Cardmaker’s Association.
Looking at the open square’s scenery downstairs through the floor-to-ceiling window.
Lanci and Hyperion were chatting leisurely.
According to the sign, they could head in the direction of the atrium to reach the Registered Card Maker Exam Area.
"I feel like I’m in great shape today!"
Lanci looked at the time and figured it was about time to enter the examination area to wait, so he bade Hyperion a temporary farewell.
Having done a good deed that very day, Lanci felt extremely good. He even had extra confidence in making cards.
"…Lanci, good luck."
Although Hyperion thought that Lanci being in high spirits was definitely not good news for Sofia.
She was still going to wish Lanci all the best with all her heart.
It was difficult for Hyperion to judge whether Lanci would put all of his lifelong skills into card making for pleasure today.
Never mind, she was used to it.
Hyperion’s feelings were very complex.
On one hand, she hoped that Lanci could pass and get a good grade. On the other hand, she was worried that if Lanci over-performed, Sofia might not be able to handle it psychologically.
But the problem shouldn’t be too big.
Hyperion had also learned about the process of the Registered Card Maker Exam.
Generally speaking, it was already difficult to leap directly from the first-level iron rank to the second-level copper rank.
The candidate has five card making opportunities, with at least three successful attempts required for passing, and they must meet the requirements of three different categories - Spell Card, Equipment Card, and Call Card.
This is why it was very difficult to pass the Registered Card Maker Exam by just relying on luck.
On the basis of passing the exam, the association would score the successfully made Magic Cards.
The total score of all the produced cards would be the final score.
To reach the initial promotion points of the Copper Level, if all three produced cards are of Blue Preciousness quality, they would just make up the required score.
Those who had this basis were already qualified as Copper Level Card Makers.
And the Silver Level above that was even more difficult.
Hyperion had spoken with Lanci before and knew about his card-making technique - his performance was very polarized with high variations in the quality, and he can only ensure a success rate when making Sealing System cards.
As for the Epic Card [Great Love Poet], that was a masterpiece by his teacher. He himself has never made a Pink Holy level card yet.
So, Hyperion felt today, that if Lanci could perform at a normal level, make one purple and two white cards, getting to the Copper Level would be quite good.
"Then, Lanci, I think I’ll be waiting for you on the third floor."
Hyperion waved at Lanci, signaling for him to enter the examination area quickly.
She was preparing to go to the third floor to check the situation. If Aynor and Sofia had no problems getting along, she would stay with them, watching the Registered Card Maker Exam’s situation through the upper-level Magic Fluorescent Screen.
"Hmm, I will come to find you after the exam."
Lanci nodded, then turned around and walked toward the Exam Area.
...
About ten minutes later.
The spacious atrium of the Registered Card Maker Exam.
Natural light poured into the room through the large rose window designs on the dome.
At this moment, Lanci had already gone through the eligibility verification and was quietly sitting in the waiting area for the examination to begin.
Giant magical equipment was erect along the walls of the hall, like a group of silent giants. The faint light shone on them, reflecting a series of mysterious and magnificent glows.
The winding components of magical engineering were connected, and the frigid colors of Mithril and Demon Crystal gave people a shocking visual impact.
Many foreign cardmaker candidates in the waiting area, who were seeing this large-scale magical equipment for the first time, were amazed by this masterpiece of magical engineering.
However, Lanci had already gotten used to it.
The same "Artificial Shadow World Start Terminal" was used in the entrance examination of the Ichrite Academy he had taken earlier.
In recent years, the Registered Card Maker Exam has been improved from a regular examination hall test to an Artificial Shadow World test.
Once the exam begins, candidates will carry the Magic Card set of the "Portable Card Making Tool," and enter the harmless single-person, first-order Artificial Shadow World.
The separated single Shadow Worlds can ensure that candidates will not be affected by any external factors during card making, and will not interfere with each other. At the same time, the Cardmaker’s Association can also conveniently record and evaluate the examination process.
The entire process of the examination would be transmitted not only to the headquarters of the Card Maker’s Association, but also to a small-scale broadcast on the large screen on the outer wall of the Ichrite Card Making Association in the capital city Ekrite and the magical fluorescent screen of each floor.
Usually, when the card-making examination begins, customers who come to handle affairs or transactions at the Cardmaker’s Association will also watch the examination as a pastime.
There are also a few citizens on Hutton Pedestrain Squares who would find a place to rest, such as a landscape flower box seat or a stone step on the edge of a tree stall to sit down and watch the exam.
This has made many first-time participants, and even those who have failed several times, quite nervous.
Compared to the anxious cardmakers around him, Lanci seemed extremely calm.
His steady temperament made it seem like he was not here to make cards, but to proctor the exam.
Having participated in two Artificial Shadow World examinations and one real Shadow World test, his heart was without any ripples.
Since he returned from the dreamy Demon World Academy last time, Lanci felt as if his heart has been taken by the Demon World, with perhaps no more sorrow or joy in this life.
In this calm state of mind, Lanci was waiting.
At some unknown time, a smooth rhythm of footsteps transmitted into the candidates’ ears from the hall.
This feeling of an examiner entering naturally made the slightly noisy examination hall quiet down a bit.
Lanci turned his gaze in the direction where everyone was looking.
He saw a figure walking in from the entrance of the hall. He was dressed in a dark suit, with decorations representing the identity of the Registered Cardmaker and senior examiners of the Cardmaker’s Association over his outer pocket and collar.
He was a well-dressed middle-aged man in his forties who seemed a bit tired around his eyes.
He quickly walked to the front of the waiting area and looked at the candidates.
The waiting area was not short of young people. These young cardmakers were mostly students from Ichrite Academy or from other schools, such as the Holy Education Society and Holy Craftsmanship Institution, who came to participate in this registration examination.
Although there are other large cities in the Hutton Kingdom that can offer the Registered Cardmaker test, the number of slots is usually small and conducted during different periods. Sometimes, in order to take the test as soon as possible, many candidates will take the Magic Power Rail Train to the capital city of Ekrite.
The majority of students and teachers at Ichrite Academy usually don’t care about this sort of Registered Cardmaker’s examination, with the Magic Engineering College being often the only one interested.
If a student performs exceptionally well during the Registered Cardmaker’s examination, the Association will send the good news to Professor Bolao, the Dean of the Magic Engineering College at Ichrite Academy.
On the day of each Registered Card Maker Exam, when there are promising students from the Magic Engineering College participating, the professors would eagerly await the good news.
However, there didn’t seem to be any potential freshmen from the Magic Engineering College participating today, so the professors over there probably didn’t pay much attention to this exam.
The middle-aged man thought absent-mindedly, then he began to speak:
"I am Lawrence, the chief examiner for today."
Even if the middle-aged man didn’t introduce himself further, his identity as a Gold-level Card Maker was enough to represent his authority,
"Each of you will enter a harmless single-person Shadow World, and you can choose the environment freely. The maximum exam time is 5 hours. After the exam starts, you will have 30 minutes to read the specific rules and purchase card-making materials."
"The examination will officially commence at nine and concludes at two-thirty in the afternoon. Besides, if you get hungry during the examination, you can also purchase lunch in the Artificial Shadow World."
After Lawrence had briefly introduced the process, he inserted a secret key of pale white onto the "Artificial Shadow World Start Terminal."
Then, the space in front of the magical equipment seemed to begin to distort, from transparent colors gradually darkening until it completely manifest, showing an artificially made Void Gate.
Meanwhile, other employees of the Cardmaker’s Association started to guide the candidates into the Artificial Shadow World.
At the same time,
The glass curtain wall of the entire Ichrite Cardmaker Association branch also finally switched to show the Registered Card Maker Exam!
