Evolving Infinitely From An E-Class Hero-Chapter 82: The Unmeasurable Spark
"Hello it’s Dr. Holtz speaking..."
"Ah hello there, Doctor. I’m calling you because of the hero you spoke about last time we saw each other. He really came here today... He was just in my presence a few seconds ago. But I’d love to know how you predicted he will be here today..."
"Hold on... Did you just say that Mister Reno Renly came there?".
"Yes. He was just here, applying to get a reassessment test."
"... "
The conversation fell into an abrupt halt and then an awkward silence followed, transcending the call line.
However, only a short while later, a flurry of delightful murmur erupted in the background on Dr Holtz end.
"Manager! Manager! Even if it is for a short while, can you somehow delay the measurement process? I and a few ISA officials are on our way over there right now."
The manager erupted from his seat with urgency in his eyes.
Did he hear right? Top ISA officials were on their way to Tower D.
"Well... I’ll be damned!"
Besides all that, the process of reassessment was out of the managers hands already. He could only sheepishly reply while scratching the side of his head.
"Ehhh! I think he has already entered the measurement Sphere room by now."
***
I sat down still on the very last spot available on the rows and rows of chairs in the waiting room that led to the measurement Sphere room. Currently, there were at least ten people waiting for their turn here.
Each and everyone of them looked quite tense and nervous which was very much understandable.
I could definitely see their point of view, especially what was going through their minds— The doubt, the hope and then the sickening uncertainty.
Well, the directions of their hero career would be decided with the results of today’s assessment. In a world where power is everything, ones hero career is directly proportional to their power output.
The first time I came here for reassessment, I was thinking about the exact same things as these people.
’... What if I was an A-Class... No even a B-Class or could it be that I am an S-Class?"
I used to swim in the happy daydream, only to be shocked to the core after receiving the assessment of E-Class.
Thinking back to that day, I couldn’t help but unleash a soft grin across my lips.
The others sitting around me glanced at eachother wondering what I was smiling about, others also shot wierd looks at me, but I didn’t pay any attention to them — as long as it made sense to me, it didn’t have to make sense to other people.
After seeing my nonchalant attitude towards their stares and murmurs, they became a bit sheepish and tilted their head in another direction, shifting their gaze.
I still continued to smile while slowly studying the interior of the waiting room. Just like people waiting outside, the building didn’t change much, eithet.
The ISA itself was established more than ten years ago, so perhaps unsurprisingly the building was still clean and neat as if it was opened just yesterday.
Then I noticed a group of men and women decked out in clean cut business suits across from where I was.
They were all from different guilds, but based on the badges that were strapped to their chest, I suppose they weren’t from any of the four major guilds.
While the big leagues guild typically go for the higher ranked heroes, from B-Class to S-Class.
The smaller, infinitesimal guilds pick up the scrap heroes from lower ranked B-Class all the way down to higher ranked D-Class.
Unfortunately for the E-Class Heroes, there input wasn’t required or sort after by any guild whatsoever.
The guild representatives which were the men and women in suits usually set up camp at ISA Towers the day before an assessment day so they could be the first to offer contract when a new hero emerges.
In the game of signing heroes and guild wars, there was a certain chilly, unfriendly and competitive atmosphere circulating among them.
And they way they looked at each and evey person hoping to reassess was ultimately predatory in my opinion.
Well, it was all a profit game.
Its a no brainer to not sign up to smaller guilds if you’re a powerful hero awaiting to be reassessed like myself. Because you wouldn’t gain as much financial profits as you would like.
And not to mention that smaller guilds push their heroes to go on dangerous missions issued by the ISA and their Hero fatality rate is far higher than the average.
Kpim!
"Alright..."
The long line of waiting people to get the reassessment test began to move gently.
I dabbed the sweat drops away from my wide open forehead with my handkerchief, and cautiously rubbed my hands against my jeans.
Since the location of the reassessment itself was wide open, one could easily read the expressions on those who finished taking their test, as well as the employees performing the test.
The expression of the guy who had just taken his test didn’t look so good.
So, I guess it was a D-Class or worse; E-Class.
The folks from the smaller Guilds must have thought the same thing as I did because they showed no interest whatsoever when the guy walked out, they simply darted their pupils away like he was trash.
That was too honest of a reaction from them if I’m being honest.
"Next up!"
Another result came out.
This one was no different from the last one, it must not have gone so good. The steps the person took while walking out of the room seemed heavy.
It was sought of depressing if you think about it, but if high ranked heroes appeared frequently, they wouldn’t be valued so much and paid big bucks.
For regular citizens like me, even being a C-Class would be a huge jackpot although he or she would most definitely sign under the smaller guilds.
People hoped to earn a high rank because of the financial perks that comes with it, usually when one is assessed to be a B-Class and above, they are bombarded with contracts from the top four big guilds. One would get a ton of Units upfront when signing with a large guild.
"Next up!"
"Huh...?!"
I was so lost in thought that I didn’t realize the line had run thin and it was the turn of the man sitting ahead of me.
He was well in his middle ages, and his hands were trembling with a handkerchief tucked tightly in his grasp.
He took in deliberate, deep breaths as if trying to muster meta energy from his hyperventilation.
He casually turned to me and let out a faint smile which highlighted his pale face like he was battered with sickness.
"Are you feeling alright Sir?"
I asked with a worried voice.
He shook his head from left to right subtly. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚
"No, no, it’s not that, but... I uhmm. Do you mind going ahead first? I’m too tense right now, you know..."
He looked really desperate.
Was there a reason to refuse when someone wished to give up his or her spot in the queue? It doesn’t matter, I quickly accepted the proposal.
Anyone asides myself would be feeling extremely nervous like that middle aged man because the nest fre minutes would determine the rest of their lives.
I stood up instead of the middle aged man and walked over to the employee.
The employee spoke in a business strictly like manner.
"What is your name?"
"My name is Reno Renly..."
"Mister Reno Renly... Right. And what was your previous ranking before this exercise?"
"E-Class..."
"Alright... Please place your hand in the black Sphere and wait for a few seconds."
Following the employee’s instruction, I walked over to the measuring device and placed my hand on the black Sphere.
The employee’s expression instantly changed to that of apathy, as he activated the measuring device.
Bzzt...
The meta energy measuring device buzzed silently and a short while later, it stopped its operation. The result appeared o. The display monitor.
<200%>
"Huh? What’s going on here?"
The employee tilted his head in confusion to every which way, before speaking to me as I was about to take my hand off of the sphere.
"Hold up please..."
"I’d like to run the test one more time."
"Alright..."
I placed my palm back on the panel.
Bzzt.
<200%>
"Huh?!"
The expression of the employee gradually hardened. He probably thought the measuring sphere was malfunctioning all of a sudden. Because it was evident something like this has never happened before.
The employee shook his head as if trying to bring himself back to reality and asked for my cooperation once more.
"I’m truly sorry Mr Reno Renly. But one more time, please".
Even before I was asked to take the test again, I had already decided to wait and therefore I didn’t even lift my hand from the sphere.
Bzzt.
<200%>
"Why is the device behaving like this?!"
Cold sweat dropped from the employee’s
forehead.
Then, the crowd outside the room who were witnessing what was going on began murmuring.
They gradually grew aware of the fact that something weird was going down right now.
