...
The Military Departnt was responsible for supervising the college entrance exams.
Their style was rather crude. Instead of being split into multiple examination halls, all 452 candidates were placed directly into First High School’s grand auditorium.
Inside the spacious auditorium sat 452 desks. Over 50 security caras provided comprehensive, blind-spot-free surveillance, while more than 30 Examiners patrolled back and forth. This was the finesse within their crudeness.
Gao Neng swept his gaze across the room and couldn’t help but sigh. ’Cheating carries risks; proceed with caution.’
However, he had no intention of cheating. After all, no one’s scores were better than his.
"The theoretical exam will last for three hours. There are no breaks. You may not leave your seats for any reason. If you have to pee, hold it. If you have to shit, do it in your pants! If anyone experiences a stomachache and can’t stay seated, their qualification to take the exam will be imdiately revoked!" The military officer in charge of proctoring announced the first rule of the theoretical exam.
"Three hours... Why can’t we use the restroom?" a female student who had drunk too much water asked, instantly feeling imnse pressure.
"There is no ’why.’ The examination hall is a battlefield!" the Examiner’s tone was ice-cold. "Since you’ve chosen this path, you will consider yourselves soldiers. If you can’t even hold it for three hours, what will you do on a real battlefield? Go there to die?!"
"..." The entire hall fell silent.
Getting disqualified for needing to use the restroom—the rule was incredibly domineering, even unreasonable. But it also gave the candidates an early taste of the Military Departnt’s strictness.
There was nothing to be said for it. They would just have to hold it in.
"Rule number two..."
"Rule number three..."
"..."
"Alright, we will now distribute the papers. The exam begins now!" After announcing all ten rules, the 30-plus Examiners began handing out the theoretical exam papers for the college entrance exam.
The theoretical exam consisted of four papers in total, with questions printed on both the front and back. There was one paper for each subject, divided into two theoretical courses and two basic specialized courses.
The two theoretical courses were: "Advanced Mathematical Theory" and "The Developnt and History of the Alliance Language."
The two basic specialized courses were: "Classification and Fundantals of Energy Elents" and "Properties of Elents and Their Fundantal Relationship to Energy."
Three hours for four double-sided papers was not a small amount of work.
After Gao Neng received his papers, he started with the first one, "Advanced Mathematical Theory."
There was an old saying for taking exams: start with your strongest subject and finish all the questions you know how to do first.
Gao Neng didn’t have any questions he couldn’t do.
Besides, all four subjects were his strong suits, so the old saying was rather aningless to him. The only reason he started with advanced math was that it happened to be on top of the pile.
The first question was... functions.
’Simple.’
Gao Neng glanced at it, picked up his pen, and began. Next ca indefinite integrals, definite integrals... none of it could stump him. His grasp of the material was rock-solid.
Thirty-five minutes later, he had finished the advanced math paper.
Next, Gao Neng began "The Developnt and History of the Alliance Language."
Compared to advanced math, this course involved a lot more morization.
Gao Neng worked through it rather quickly.
He finished it in 25 minutes.
The last two were "Classification and Fundantals of Energy Elents" and "Properties of Elents and Their Fundantal Relationship to Energy." These two courses primarily covered rudintary knowledge and weren’t too difficult.
In total, they took him one hour.
All in all, he spent two hours to complete all four papers.
Gao Neng let out a breath. Finishing all his papers early was normal for him; he was long used to it. But just to be safe, he decided to check his answers one more ti.
One question, two questions, three questions...
Gao Neng checked his work quickly. ’This answer is beautiful, definitely full marks... This one is straight from the textbook, no problem there. The calculation process for this question is simple and clear, full marks!’
「Ten minutes later.」
He finished checking everything.
"Perfect!" Gao Neng grinned. It felt great when things went smoothly and success ca naturally, without any surprises. He casually slipped his pen into his pocket, preparing to turn in his exam.
But the mont the pen entered his pocket, he suddenly felt sothing stuffed inside. Then, he slled a foul odor.
’Huh?’
’I showered today.’
Gao Neng subconsciously reached into his pocket. A cloud of yellowish-white powder spilled out, landing right on the exam papers laid out on his desk.
’What is this?’
’Uh...’
’Phosphorus powder?!’
Gao Neng’s eyes went wide.
Then, he saw a ball of fire erupt on his papers. It happened incredibly fast; in the blink of an eye, all four exam papers were devoured by the phosphorescent flas.
"Whoa, Gao Neng’s on fire!"
"What? Gao Neng’s on fire... oh, wait, no, Gao Neng’s *papers* are on fire!"
"What a foul sll!"
The surrounding candidates reacted in an instant.
The 30 Examiners also noticed the commotion. Two of them rushed over imdiately. They looked at the papers, now reduced to ash, then at Gao Neng, their expressions grim.
"Gao Neng, what’s going on here? Why would you bring phosphorus powder into the examination hall?" one of the Examiners demanded.
’Yeah... why *do* I have phosphorus powder on ?’ Gao Neng was asking himself the sa question. Who had sabotaged him? Who planted phosphorus powder on him?!
’Was it one of the students from the girls’ high school?!’
’Back at the school gate, they had all scrambled to take photos with . If they wanted to plant it on , they would have had the chance.’
Countless faces flashed through Gao Neng’s mind.
The faces of those female students paraded through his thoughts one by one: the refined, the cute, the timid, the precocious, the bashful, the androgynous...
But these faces quickly vanished, because he rembered a critical problem: he had a life-or-death mission to complete.
"Gao Neng, your papers are destroyed. Your score for the theoretical exam can’t be calculated. Why don’t you co with us and explain what just happened?" the Examiner pressed when Gao Neng remained silent.
"Please give another set of papers, thank you!" Gao Neng didn’t answer the Examiner. He had no ti to argue with them now; he had to finish the theoretical exam.
"Another set of papers? Gao Neng, be reasonable. We understand how you feel, but there’s no ti left. There are only forty minutes remaining. You still want to do another set?" The Examiner was clearly taken aback.
"That’s right, Gao Neng. It’s impossible to finish another set in forty minutes. You’d be better off coming with us. If you can really prove that soone tampered with you or your papers, we can consider applying to our superiors to grant you an exemption," the other Examiner said.
"I don’t want an exemption! I just want another set of papers!" Gao Neng glanced at the ti. There were 37 minutes left until the end of the exam.
’Thirty-seven minutes!’
’To finish four test sets in one go in just 37 minutes.’
’And the clock was still ticking.’
’This is absolutely insane...’
But he was out of options. And explaining the situation to the Examiners was even more impossible.
Because his mission wasn’t simply to pass the theoretical exam, nor was it to get an exemption. It was to beco the top scorer in the entire Alliance on the theoretical portion of the college entrance exam.
’I have to get another set of papers.’
’Fuck this stupid-ass system...’
’How did I not realize it? So *this* was the trap hidden in the phrase, "You are the king of the examination hall, and no one can challenge your authority!"’
’Who the fuck is trying to screw over?!’
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