Arena

Chapter 184. The Examinees (1)

Head Researcher Lim Chulho from Arena Research Facility of Korea called me.

-The government has come to a decision regarding the rewards for the examinees.

“What’s the result?”

-First, they will be waived of tax, rewarded with a status of 1st-degree national merit, as well as other social benefits. This will be rewarded to all the remaining examinees before the next exam.

“Is that all?”

-They have also decided to provide prize money of between 100 million to 1 billion according to contribution in the next exam.

“I’m not sure such a sum would mean anything to the people that have come this far.”

-You say that, but this is the best the government can do. And this was only possible due to the funding of a few colossal companies that invested in the Arena Research Facility.

The Head Researcher sighed before continuing.

-Once the country collapses, these benefits mean nothing. A world without social infrastructure is not a good one even for the examinees, is it?

I thought about it when he said that.

Actually, I didn’t care about what my country wanted to do for me. After all, I already had a huge sum.

I only thought that there were measures necessary in order for the other examinees to not get distracted during the exam.

‘The people with power should have a lot of riches as well, while the poor ones should be rejoicing about it, right?’

There was one more thing.

Even if the exam ended in failure, the exams would still come to an end.

There was no guarantee that the skills given to the examinees would remain. After all, the baby angel never said such a thing.

No one could say for sure that the Earth fused with the world of Arena was beneficial for the examinees.

-They have also decided to erase any and all kinds of criminal records until now. This was done in order to attract the examinees that have done or maybe currently doing bad things.

“That doesn’t sound too bad in my opinion. Well, I’m just one of the examinees, so I can’t say so for the others.”

-Yes, I am aware of that. In any case, we wish you great luck with the next exam, as we are doing our best on our side as well.

“I’ll try my best.”

-And about the next exam…….

“?”

What else?

He elaborated.

-The Arena-related organizations across the globe decided to hold a conference to come up with countermeasures.

“Are we talking about a potential World Arena Organization here?”

-No, it’s an unofficial group. A few of the organizations were excluded, for example, the Chinese one, since they are lead by the corrupt examinees.

That was saying, that only the organizations that aimed to clear the exams, for example, the Nordic Exam Group, was participating.

“And so?”

-The conference will be meaningless without the examinees themselves. With that being the case, each organization decided to let one or two examinees participate that would represent their organization. For us, that would naturally be……

Me. I’m representing the Korean Arena Exam Group.

Well, who else other than me, globally ranked 7th, would be fit for it?

“Jihye can participate with me, right?”

-Of course. She is a member of your team, and is also from the Research Facility, so she’s more than qualified.

And although unmentioned, she also stepped into the realm of masters not too long ago. She had nothing to be afraid of.

“I got it then. When is it?”

-Copenhagen, in three days.

“In Denmark?”

-Yes, this is because the Nordics are believed to be the most trustable group, and Odin is believed to be the main role in clearing the next exam. This is why Copenhagen, where he lives, was chosen.

“Very well, then. I’ll see you in three days.”

***

Just as promised, we headed to Denmark in three days. The Arena Research Facility of Korea sent us a car to our house, so the trip was comfortable.

Even at the airport, we were able to board the private jet lent to us by President Park Jinsung.

There was one thing though.

It was about stewardess Lee Soohyun.

Seeing me, then having a glance at Cha Jihye next to me, she made a smirk. She was obviously enjoying this awkwardness.

After going through customs at Copenhagen International Airport, we took a taxi to the hotel.

The hotel was almost empty without many people in sight.

I had already learned that the entire hotel was rented out for this conference.

I received a key after stating my name at the front desk.

“Then, see you in the evening.”

Head Researcher Lim went off somewhere with another key in his hand.

Cha Jihye went into meditation as soon as she arrived at the hotel room. She was training herself to adapt to controlling the High Lv 1 Aura Control.

I naturally became bored and called out Sylph and Kasa to play.

At that moment.

*Ziiin*

My smartphone started ringing. It was Odin.

-You’re here?

“Yes, I’m at the hotel.”

-That’s good, we are also in Copenhagen.

“Are you with Marie?”

-Bella’s here as well.

Ooh, Bella!

I remembered Odin’s incredibly cute and adorable daughter.

I woke Cha Jihye from her meditation and sought them out.

“Hyunho!”

Marie jumped into my arms.

Seeing that, a blond little girl also did the same.

“Hino!” (Mispronouncing his name)

Bella also jumped into my arms, well, she wasn’t tall enough, so she ran into my legs, and I had to lift her up. She giggled.

I asked Odin.

“Are you alright now?”

“I get her check ups regularly, but I think she is completely cured since nothing has happened now. Though, I can’t say for sure.”

“That’s good.”

“It’s all thanks to you.”

While we were greeting each other, Cha Jihye was staring at me.

Well, to be exact, she should be staring at Bella in my arms. I know that she likes cute things.

I put down Bella and put her in Jihye’s arms.

“Here, this is Bella. Bella, this is Cha Jihye. JI-HYE.”

“Jiye?”

“JI-HYE.”

“Jiye?”

“Hm, let’s just go with Jiye.”

Bella, who ended up in Jihye’s arms, smiled adorably.

Jihye looked at Bella completely still as though she just had a heart attack. Ah, she’s completely done for.

“Let’s grab something to eat, then. Bella wanted to eat something delicious.”

Odin sounded very cheerful when he said that.

After all, being hungry was a sign of good health.

“Okay then.”

We were starting to move, but I just had to comment something out to Jihye.

“Uh, hello? You should put her down already.”

“Oh, that’s right.”

Only then did she put Bella down in a flurry.

I didn’t imagine there would come a day where I could use the word ‘flurry’ to describe her actions.

‘we’ll get married and have some kids as soon as the exams are over.’

“I want a child once we get married.”

“Whoa?”

That shocked me. She put the word right out of my mouth. I momentarily thought that she read my mind like the baby angel.

“Okay. I would like a daughter like you, Jihye.”

“I think a son like you would be cute too.”

“No way. It would be a big problem if he’s unintelligent like me.”

“I can make him study.”

I suddenly got the shivers. As a former soldier, Cha Jihye should definitely be able to make a son like me diligent.

I’m so glad that she isn’t my mother.

“You look like you’re having fun. What are you talking about?”

Odin asked since he didn’t understand as we were talking in Korean.

I told him that we were getting married soon.

Odin gave us his blessings.

“Congratulations. I hope you have wonderful children. Though, no one would be as cute as my Bella.”

He was lovestruck with his daughter as he always was.

“Congratulations Hyunho.”

Thankfully, Marie didn’t cause an uproar even after hearing about the two of us getting married. She only gave us her blessings.

I felt a little frustrated though because I remembered the days when she clung onto me acting cute and doing all sorts of things – even the fact that she declared in a loud voice that she was my wife in front of my family.

That little child had grown up so much.

I wished her a safe exam, and to meet a fine man after all this was over

***

We were having a great meal until some people appeared and took Bella away. They seemed to be some people that Odin had hired. Bella waved her hands and departed.

“Let’s get going then.”

“We should indeed.”

We went back to the hotel.

Even though the entire hotel was rented out, and should have no people here, there was a sea of people in the lobby.

They were the people from the organizations relating to Arena across the globe.

After we set foot in, those people had a look at us before whispering to themselves. Amongst them, we could also hear the Arena language.

“It’s Odin, and Marie Johanna too.”

“Who’s the Asian couple with them?”

“The man is Kim Hyunho from Korea. We got intel that he’s close friends with Odin.”

“Oho, so that’s the rank 7 that appeared out of nowhere?”

“We also have intel that he has a close relationship with the Maglun family as well as Dana Ritalin.”

“He might just turn out to be the MVP of the next mission and not Odin.”

It was very surprising that people were recognizing me out of pure context. Well, perhaps this is what it felt like to be famous.

Odin tapped my shoulder and spoke.

“Now then, if you’d please excuse me. See you later.”

“Yes.”

Odin went off first.

A while later, Some familiar people – belonging to the Nordic Group – showed us to a large hall.

The hall was prepared into a luxurious party that appeared in movies.

Servers going around with wine and champagne, as well as various people that were conversing with each other with a glass in their hands – I spectated around this new scenery with curiosity.

Just in time, though, Head Researcher Lim Chulho found us.

“You’re here.”

“Yes.”

“It looks like it’s starting soon.”

A while later, Odin, dressed in a tuxedo, appeared on the platform.

So that’s why he went off first.

Odin spoke into the mic.

“Ladies and gentlemen. I am Odin from the Nordic Examinee Group. You have my greetings.”

He greeted the audience very politely.

People applauded.

The whispers that could be heard here and there showed his fame.

“All of us here have experienced supernatural phenomena that can’t be explained by common sense. For some, it was torture, and for others, it was an opportunity. And finally…….”

He continued.

“We have gathered here in order to put an end to it. Yes, we must accomplish the last exam that God has given us; in order to protect our world and our family. We are about to discuss that very matter.”

People applauded again.

The ones that had serious expressions amongst the people here were probably the examinees like me.