"Ex...exam?"
In the car driving through Akihabara, Ayano Kannagi felt her head spinning:
"Ryuuya-nii, what exactly does this exam mean?"
"Why do we need to take an exam to join the Hidden Management Department?"
"It means exactly what it says."
Ryuuya Kazamaki, who was driving, kept his eyes on the road while glancing at the rearview mirror before explaining:
"The Hidden Management Department is conducting an internal open recruitment this time, so some basic assessments are necessary."
"Didn't you know about this, young miss?"
"I had no idea!" Ayano Kannagi looked completely bewildered. "Father didn't mention any exam to me either!"
"And isn't 'internal open recruitment' a weird phrase? If it's internal, how can it be open?"
Hearing Ayano's confusion, Yukari Shinomiya, in the passenger seat, seemed to recall something and pressed a finger to her lips:
"Now that you mention it..."
"There were indeed some rumours about this."
"About half a month ago, there was talk that the Hidden Management Department needed more staff, but nothing concrete came of it."
At this point, Yukari Shinomiya glanced back at Ayano Kannagi, Asuna Yuuki and Nanase Kudō sitting behind and explained:
"I heard back then that the recruitment method would be through internal SDS assessments."
"Could this be the so-called internal open assessment?"
"That's roughly the case."
Keeping his eyes on the road, Ryuuya Kazamaki continued:
"Since it's an internal assessment, participants are mostly recommended by SDS branches across Japan."
"Currently, since the SDS only has branch departments in Tokyo, Kyoto, Chiba and Okinawa, the recommended candidates mainly come from these areas."
"I heard the recommendation slots are being sold at astronomical prices in Akihabara's black market – apparently several hundred million yen per slot."
"Quota sales?" Asuna Yuuki froze for a moment, her face showing disbelief. "Wouldn't the Hidden Management Department find out about this?"
"If they find out, so be it." Ryuuya Kazamaki looked completely relaxed, even somewhat casual. "They're selling examination slots, not guaranteed passes!"
"You can actually do that?!" Nanase Kudō said in utter bewilderment.
So they were selling participation slots rather than guaranteed passes?
Come to think of it, was this even something that could be sold?
This was truly eye-opening.
At this moment, Ayano Kannagi suddenly spoke with a pained expression:
"So my slot is just an examination slot too? Father actually spent money to buy this kind of slot? Wouldn't it have been better to give all that money to me instead?"
"Er..." Ryuuya Kazamaki's expression immediately became somewhat awkward upon hearing this. Had the clan head really not explained anything to the young mistress?
After some hesitation, Ryuuya decided to explain:
"Young mistress, your slot is actually a guaranteed pass. The clan head seems to have... made arrangements with the examiners."
Ryuuya had vaguely heard that the clan head had recently reallocated significant amounts of Spirit Liquid distribution rights, even quarrelling with the elders about it. He had some guesses about what those reallocated Spirit Liquids were used for.
Needless to say, they must have been used to purchase the young mistress's slot.
If even Spirit Liquid—the Kannagi family's strategic resource, reserved only for their own—was being used, surely they wouldn't settle for just an examination slot?
"Eh?" Ayano made a confused sound. "My slot is a guaranteed pass?"
"Isn't this outright cheating? The Hidden Management Department's higher-ups can't possibly be that stupid, right?"
"Oh, they can." Yukari Shinomiya said with a teasing smile. "No matter what, Mr Luo Shu can't possibly eliminate his own Director's fiancée, can he?"
"Exactly!" Nanase chimed in enthusiastically. "If Ayano got eliminated, wouldn't Mr Luo have to apologise profusely when he gets home?"
Asuna joined in with mischievous glee: "Quick, someone record what Ayano just said - she's calling Mr Luo stupid."
Upon hearing this, Nanase immediately agreed loudly and made a show of reaching for her phone:
"Right, right, quick, record this! We can use it to blackmail Ayano into paying for us later!!"
"You three..." Ayano Kannagi was genuinely fuming at these so-called friends of hers.
'Is this how you tease people?'
Ryuuya Kazamaki, who was driving, couldn't help but interject amidst the commotion inside the car:
"Although we've made prior arrangements, it'd be best if you took the exam seriously, young mistress."
If you're going to cheat, at least put on a decent act, right? Your grades should be somewhat respectable, no?
Hearing this, Ayano Kannagi, who was currently pinching Asuna Yuuki's waist, froze in shock:
"But I don't even know what's on the exam?"
"It can't be maths or science, can it? I'd actually have some confidence in those."
Despite her carefree demeanour, Ayano's academic performance was quite good. Her deviation scores consistently placed her in the top ten of her year, making her a model student.
If it were those subjects, she'd feel somewhat assured.
"As of now, the Hidden Management Department hasn't issued any notifications, but I've heard there might be high-ranking officials overseeing the exam internally."
Before Ryuuya could finish speaking, Yukari Shinomiya chimed in while holding her phone:
"A friend in Akihabara mentioned that the Hidden Management Department might have Demigods invigilating. Not sure if it's true though."
"Demigods?" Ayano's face paled at those words. "Those monsters even Uncle Genma considers unbeatable? No way... It's just an exam, isn't it too extreme?"
Asuna Yuuki curiously asked:
"More than that, I'm curious where you got this information from, Yukari?"
"Oh, this..." Yukari waved her phone with a smile. "My friend's an information broker in Akihabara. I usually call her Tsubame."
The driver Ryuuya looked surprised:
"Tsubame Shim? I've heard of her. She's quite a renowned information broker in Akihabara with very accurate intel."
"..." x3
The girls in the car fell silent.
Even information brokers? Just how extensive is Yukari's intelligence network?
After a brief silence, Ayano couldn't help but say:
"So we're going in blind without knowing the exam content? Just winging it?"
"Not necessarily."
Yukari smiled and called out to Ayano:
"Ayano, catch!"
Ayano blinked in confusion but instinctively caught what Yukari threw her way. Upon inspection, she realised it was a small transparent earpiece.
Instantly, Ayano was shocked:
"Yukari, don't tell me you're planning to..."
At this moment, Yukari covered her mouth with a mischievous grin:
"Hehe, our so-called 'Love Support Squad' isn't just for show, you know."
"Ayano, just go take that exam with confidence! We've got your back!!"
Asuna looked slightly awkward: "This feels wrong, but... it might be worth trying."
Nanase Kudō patted Ayano's shoulder encouragingly:
"Go for it, Ayano! You're up!"
'Why do I feel like my future is going to be utterly bleak...'
Ayano's eye twitched violently.
She desperately wanted to flee, but as the Hidden Management Department's Akihabara headquarters loomed into view, all she could manage was a hollow laugh of despair.
"Hehe~"
This is bad!!