Chapter 122: Mercenary Exam

Words : 1140 Updated : Sep 17th, 2025

Chapter 122: Mercenary Exam The test was not free. I repeat— NOT FREE. At least not for the mechanics. Luca was scandalized to learn that Ollie actually had to pay to take the Mercenary Exams for mechanics when they both thought it was free. It was so surprising that Luca immediately offered to foot the bill for it because he unwittingly dragged Ollie into this mess. But of course, Ollie wouldn’t relent! There was no way he would let his good brother hand over his money when he wasn’t even sure he was going to pass! Unlike the combat pilots, whose exams were to be conducted through virtual pods, Ollie would have to repair a mecha on the spot and in person. This was crucial because the mechanics needed to add legitimate pressure to ensure that they could operate properly even when under duress. This largely differentiated mecha designers from active-duty mechanics. But because Ollie was just planning to become a mecha designer in the future, he never really considered pressure as a key factor. He thought he would be able to leisurely design mechas based on the available materials and not have to camp out in the wilderness while repairing them with barely enough tools. But because there was no way he could say no to his good brother, he had to live on the edge as a mechanic and pay money to take exams for guaranteed suffering. He was seriously cramping while they waited for the proctor to give out the instructions. Ollie remembered how he had asked their staff to send offerings to different temples and figured he should have done the same for himself. But this time, he should have included a few geniuses just in case he could siphon a bit of their greatness. He only needed it for a few hours and was willing to return it anyway! It was just that his family would likely find out about his insanity, resulting in a need to explain how he planned to pass such an exam. With blood, sweat, and tears, apparently. But what do you know? It seems like no one would be able to cash in on that new insurance policy he got! Back over at the stands, Luca emulated Ollie’s cheering stint by wearing the appropriate gear and even getting the other guys to hold up the streamer in exchange for introducing them to another dish. It was a successful transaction for Luca, who didn’t have to pay anyone for labor. The three streamer holders were definitely out of place in all this and surely attracted the attention of as many people as possible. It was just that they had more pressing concerns than the dripping gazes of everyone around them. "Luca, do you think he’ll be fine?" Asked Xavier who really didn’t get to see much of their training as he kept on getting called over by the Marshal. "He looked like he reviewed, but Jax also looks like that before an exam, and we all know how that’d turn out." Kyle hoped that the mop would pass because it would be disastrous when these two were separated. At least this way, it was much easier to keep the dwarves alive. While Luca was still obsessing after learning about the staggering entrance examination fee for mechanics, Ollie was just surprised to see the mecha assigned to him. The mecha’s right arm was severely damaged and was practically hanging by a thread. Ollie initially thought they would face the same problems, but the other participants catered to a wide range of issues. They weren’t dealing with practice mechas. This alone made it evident that no one wanted to waste the few resources available to facilitate an exam. Someone would likely use this mecha if it manages to pass the requirements! So, he definitely needed to get it right! Luca watched as his brother assessed his assigned mecha for other damages while the other examinees tried doing the same thing. The room was filled with different aspiring mechanics using their spiritual abilities to feel out their mechas. And the little chipmunk was very fascinated by the display as he used his visual resonance to see how different mechanics dealt with various components. The more he watched, the more he wanted to experience it for himself. However, this excitement came with the extreme worry of two entities who had witnessed it all. On the other hand, Ollie didn’t know how he accomplished the repairs he wouldn’t have been able to before. It was extremely satisfying! And he felt like his stomach wasn’t going to betray him for now. Honestly, Ollie thought that Luca would likely pass the exam had he decided to take it too. But so far, he’s never really heard of anyone doing both tests because that would just be too expensive, and his brother was not one to waste a single Star coin! Therefore, Ollie figured he’d make sure to pass so that the fees could be justified in his brother’s eyes! So, the honest yet artistically challenged aspirant played his power move for today. "Sir! May I ask a question about this mecha’s pilot?" The proctor nodded, and Ollie followed with a response, "What’s the pilot’s dominant hand?" They learned this from the training hall. Much like you want your bite to be even after your dentist’s appointment, it’s common to have an imbalance when only one part is fixed. The proctor noted it down before answering, "left." Ollie was right to ask for it because when the examination results came out, Ollie actually managed to snag the top and only spot for freshmen while ranking tenth overall. The mop was so shaken he felt like he’d already graduated. At one point, he regretted not asking their entire family to go to the temple when apparently it would be fine for them to know. He wasn’t going embarrass anyone today! Luca was obviously as elated as the other dwarf and kept taking multiple photos of Ollie and the results board. "See! I’ve never once doubted you! Congratulations, Ollie!" Luca, the ever-supportive brother, cheered on Ollie the same way the mop cheered for him back then. At that point, Ollie had forgotten how he almost died several times while trying to learn under the Demonic Luca. In fact, in his happiness, the mop figured he was willing to go through all of it again (not). Ollie’s success definitely made waves in the Academy as a freshman actually passed and ranked for the mechanic entrance exam. They just didn’t expect that his partner in crime would still be able to make more waves and start tales that would remain part of the Academy’s cultural legacy. For with the end of the mechanic exam came the awaited exam for the mecha pilots.

Chapter 122: Mercenary Exam

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