Question [2]

The old man's words hung in the air like a spell, casting the three into a range of expressions. His sunken eyes studied them with an eerie intensity, his intentions laid bare.

The test had begun, and they needed to answer carefully yet quickly.

"Hey! Sorry I'm late. I'm an applicant too."

Before the old man could explain the timer, a teenager with average looks appeared.

His sword rested in its scabbard on his back as he walked toward them with a confident smile.

"Are you?" the old man asked for clarification.

"Yes."

"Alright," he said, his gaze shifting back to the three. "As I was saying, who do I love more—my grandson or this mannequin? You have ten seconds to answer. The timer starts now."

The abrupt start of the countdown left the four momentarily stunned.

Despite this, the newcomer's confident smile quickly returned. "I'll choose the kid," he declared without hesitation, his certainty unwavering.

It's not about being right, the teenager thought. It's about quick and decisive thinking.

Aay and Sajuan studied the newcomer, the same question forming in their minds: Is that the correct answer?

Aay was skeptical.

The answer seemed too simple for the Pro Exam. Surely, this was a trick question disguised as something straightforward.

"You passed."

To Aay's surprise, the newcomer's answer was correct.

The boy, the old man's grandson, applauded the applicant's quick thinking and success.

"If you wish, you may now proceed to the Pro Exam," the boy said, gesturing toward the road ahead.

The man smirked at the trio. "See you later, losers," he taunted before walking past the examiner.

Mei remained deep in thought, her mind distant from the current situation.

Sajuan stayed calm, carefully assessing the circumstances.

Aay, however, was shocked and confused.

Lucky! I was right to follow them.

Unbeknownst to the others, this man had been disqualified from the Pro Exam the previous day.

But as he disembarked in his ship to return home, he saw a plane landing at the harbor, carrying a man with a Pro License and several applicants.

With a stroke of luck, he was given another chance to take the Exam.

It wasn't hard to figure out that Barock City, his hometown, was the first Pro Exam site, especially when a Professional arrived with clear candidates in tow.

He followed them from a distance, overhearing everything about the simple question.

When he heard it, he concluded that the test wasn't about being right or wrong but about being decisive and resolute.

The key clue was the road ahead. Whether they answered the question or not, the only path was forward—nothing else.

And why did he think this?

Because Barock City's laws strictly prohibited digging underground to protect the soil and prevent disasters caused by the city's mining industry. Even digging a small ditch will be punished severely if caught.

This law was deeply ingrained in the citizens of Barock City—even children under five knew and followed it.

Therefore, there was no alternative route to the exam site—no secret underground passage, and certainly no path through the sky.

The man walked away with a spring in his step, having secured his place in the Pro Exam on his first attempt, something he thought he had already lost.

Aay watched him disappear into the distance with envy.

But there was no time to dwell on it; they had their own test to pass.

Aay turned his attention back to the old man and his grandson.

"You have eight seconds to answer," the old man said. "Starting now."

"We—"

Aay was ready to respond. He had already figured out the nature of the test.

But Sajuan stopped him by placing a hand on his shoulder.

"What?" Aay asked. We're running out of time!

Sajuan simply shook his head, which only frustrated him.

Aay took a deep breath, trying to understand Sajuan's reasoning.

Did he notice something I missed?

Aay's thoughts nearly spiraled out of control, but he remembered Sajuan's abilities.

Alright, I'll trust him, he decided.

This brief exchange didn't escape the old man's notice.

Mei, meanwhile, was lost in deep thought, her upbringing and personal struggles making the question particularly challenging.

"Four... Three... Two..." the boy began counting down.

But no one answered before the timer reached zero.

"Congratulations," the old man said as the boy applauded. "You have passed."

A wave of relief washed over Aay—grateful he had trusted Sajuan's intuition, or perhaps his hidden ability.

"What!? We passed!?" Mei exclaimed.

"Yeah," Aay replied, though he was still puzzled.

The test seemed bizarre and nonsensical. They had already faced a similar challenge with Examiner Jarek, so it made no sense for the Pro Association to repeat it. That's why Aay was confused and slightly unsettled.

He shook his head. It doesn't matter now. What's important is that we passed. He pushed his concerns aside, ready to forget about the whole thing.

As the trio prepared to move forward, the old man called out to them.

"Where are you three going? Come here and follow us inside."

The old man held open the door to his shop.

Aay and Sajuan exchanged glances. As we thought, there's another path, they both realized.

Aay's earlier question was answered, and a small smile crossed his lips as he glanced at the road ahead before following the others inside.

The shop was tidy and dimly lit, with numerous mannequins placed at the far end of the room.

The old man sat at a small bar table, leaning back in his rocking chair and puffing on his pipe, while the boy pulled a string attached to the ceiling—an attic ladder unfolded, flooding the room with sunlight.

The boy gestured to them. "If you take this route, you can head straight to the mines by crossing the rooftops. Good luck!"

Aay and Sajuan nodded and were about to climb up, but Mei, who had been quiet until now, spoke up.

"Tell me, Old Man. Who would you choose between the two?"

Her question brought everything to a halt.

The old man looked at Mei in silence, exhaling a puff of smoke before answering, "It's a meaningless question. Don't dwell on it."

His tone was flat, as if the matter held no importance.

Mei scratched the back of her head. "Well, you see, I'm an orphan. I don't know who my parents are, and I've only grown to love the guardian who found me. The question made me wonder... if I ever found my real parents, who would I choose... the one who raised me or the one tied to me by blood..."

The old man's sunken eyes, which had seemed indifferent, now glimmered faintly. A small smile appeared on his lips. "As I said, don't dwell on it. What matters is whether you move forward and find out for yourself or stay stuck in thought until the end. The choice is yours..." He gestured toward the ladder. "And I think you already know your answer."

Mei nodded firmly. "Thank you. Though you didn't really answer my question."

"Haha!" the old man chuckled. "And I don't think you need me to."

Aay and Sajuan watched the exchange in silence.

Aay was deep in thought, while Sajuan observed with a faint smile.

Aay studied Mei's determined expression, glowing with optimism. Her question had made him reflect as well.

Like her, he had also been abandoned as a child. If he ever met his real parents beyond the garbage walls of Rubb City, how would he feel?

But Aay pushed those thoughts aside. His only family was the one he had grown up with—his brothers!

Mei bid the old man farewell before they climbed the ladder to the roof.

The boy released the string, and the ceiling closed, plunging the shop back into dim light, leaving the two figures inside with unreadable expressions.