klisemfg Chapter 952 One Car
Chapter 952 One Car
Genos somehow got hold of a car, saying it was borrowed. Zhang Hai didn't ask who borrowed it; as long as it could move, that was fine.
The car drove out of the no-man's land, past ruins, through dilapidated streets, and finally onto the highway leading to City A.
Zhang Hai leaned against the car window, looking at the scenery outside.
The city's outline gradually became clear in the morning light. Skyscrapers, bustling traffic, and a hero in a cloak flew through the air, eliciting cheers from passersby.
This was the first time he had truly entered a city since he came into this world.
He had previously spent his time in ruins and deserted areas, seeing mostly collapsed buildings and abandoned shops. Now, seeing these normally functioning cities, he felt somewhat unaccustomed to it.
"How are you?" Genos saw him in the rearview mirror. "Haven't been to the city in a while, have you?"
"Hmm," Zhang Hai said, "I'm not used to it."
“That’s normal,” Genos said. “When I first came out of the lab, it took me a long time to adjust. The city is too noisy.”
Zhang Hai glanced at him.
"You used to work in a lab?"
“Hmm.” Genos’s voice was calm. “When I was fifteen, my hometown was destroyed by a mad cyborg. I was seriously injured and rescued by Dr. Kusno, who transformed me into a robot. For the next three years, I stayed in the laboratory until I met my teacher.”
Zhang Hai nodded and did not ask any further questions.
Everyone has their own past. Some things, if you don't want to talk about them, you simply won't.
The car continued driving forward.
An hour later, they arrived at their destination.
Hero Association Examination Center.
It was a massive building located in the most bustling area of City A. Its exterior was silver-white, gleaming in the sunlight, and a huge banner hung at the entrance: "Welcome to the Hero Recognition Exam! 108th batch of candidates, good luck!"
A long queue had already formed at the entrance.
The procession stretched from the gate all the way to the street corner, a good hundred meters long. The people in the procession were a diverse bunch—there were young people in bodysuits, burly men carrying weapons, mysterious figures wearing masks, and even a few who were clearly cyborgs.
"So many people?" Saitama was somewhat surprised.
“That’s normal,” Genos said. “The Hero Association holds a certification exam every month, and at least several hundred people apply. But in the end, less than one in ten actually pass.”
"That difficult?"
"Yeah. Especially the physical fitness test, that's where the most people are eliminated. After all, in the world of heroes, having ideals isn't enough; you have to have real skills."
Zhang Hai stood at the back of the line, watching the excited yet nervous candidates.
He recalled his own experience taking the Chunin Exams in the Naruto world. Back then, he was just like that, standing in the crowd, looking at everyone around him, wondering if he could pass.
He was still very young then, and he would get nervous and care about the outcome.
That won't happen anymore.
He's just here to make a brief appearance.
The line moved forward slowly.
Someone recognized Genos.
"Isn't that Genos, the S-class hero?"
"Oh my god, why is he taking the exam? Isn't he already an S-rank?"
"I heard he came with a friend. Look at that bald guy in front of you, and that guy in the gray clothes, they must be his friends."
"That bald guy looks so ordinary, is he really a hero?"
"Who knows? An S-class hero's friend can't be too bad, right?"
Whispers rose and fell.
Saitama heard this, but his expression didn't change at all.
Zhang Hai heard it too, but remained expressionless.
Genos was a little embarrassed, but he didn't say anything.
The group continued forward.
Finally, it was their turn.
The hall of the examination center was bustling with people.
The staff verified their identity information, gave them three admission tickets, and then pointed to the passage on the left: "The written test is on the second floor. Enter the examination room according to your admission ticket number. Good luck."
The three of them went upstairs through the passage.
The second floor is a huge lecture hall, large enough to hold five hundred people. The hall is already full of examinees, with only a few empty seats in the last few rows.
Genos found their seats—Saitama was in the last row by the window, Zhang Hai was next to him, and Genos was next to Zhang Hai.
I had just sat down when the bell rang.
A middle-aged man wearing glasses walked onto the podium, cleared his throat, and said, "Dear candidates, welcome to the 108th Hero Recognition Examination. I am the chief examiner for this written test, Yamada Ichiro. Now, I will announce the examination rules."
He paused, then continued, "The written test consists of one hundred questions, with a total score of one hundred points. The test lasts ninety minutes. The content includes hero rules, classification of monsters, rescue common sense, basic tactics, etc. Sixty points is the passing score; those who fail will be eliminated and will not be able to participate in the subsequent physical fitness test."
A wailing sounded in the classroom.
"One hundred questions in ninety minutes? Isn't that going to kill someone?"
"I haven't memorized the categories of weirdos yet..."
"It's over, it's over, we definitely won't pass this time."
Chief Examiner Yamada slammed his hand on the table: "Quiet! The exam papers are now being distributed. No talking or cheating is allowed. Anyone caught cheating will be banned from taking the exam for life."
The exam papers were handed out.
Zhang Hai glanced at it.
Question 1: What is a hero's primary duty? A. To eliminate monsters B. To protect civilians C. To gain fame D. To earn a stipend
Zhang Hai put a checkmark on B.
Question 2: Which of the following is NOT a monster level? A. Wolf level B. Tiger level C. Demon level D. Cat level
Zhang Hai hooked D.
Question 3: In case of fire, what is the correct order of rescue? A. Elderly, children, women, men B. Children, elderly, women, men C. Women, children, elderly, men D. Depends on the specific situation
Zhang Hai thought for a moment and then ticked D.
……
The questions weren't difficult, but they were quite detailed. Most of them were common sense questions, and anyone who had carefully read the preparation materials provided by the Hero Association could answer them.
Zhang Hai answered quickly.
He had been a ninja in the Naruto world for twenty years and had completed countless missions, so this kind of theoretical question was child's play for him.
He finished in less than half an hour.
He looked up and glanced at Genos beside him.
Genos was also writing furiously; his robotic arm wrote as fast as a printer, turning over a page of the exam paper in less than a minute.
Now let's look at Saitama.
Saitama was staring blankly at the exam paper.
He held the pen in his hand, but didn't write a single word.
Zhang Hai leaned over and took a look.
Question 1: What is the primary responsibility of a hero?
Saitama's test paper read: I don't know.
Zhang Hai: "..."
Question 2: Which of the following does NOT belong to the "weirdos" category?
Saitama wrote: What is Cat-level? Can you eat it?
Zhang Hai: "..."
Question 3: What is the correct rescue order in case of a fire?
Saitama wrote: Save whoever is closest.
Zhang Hai remained silent for three seconds.
He suddenly understood why Saitama, despite being a hero for so long, had never registered as a hero.
It's not that I don't want to.
I can't pass the exam.
Time passed second by second.
Ninety minutes later, the bell rang.