Card simulation, starting with the Goblin Deserter

The exam time is approaching

People walked past the hall entrance one after another, but no candidates entered.

Hayes learned from the forum that all the other exam rooms except for exam room number one had their exams started half an hour earlier.

Why is that?

Hayes hadn't understood it at first, but when he saw that blonde figure appear, he immediately understood.

It's probably another attempt to target her.

"You're here quite early," Hayes greeted him.

Linda glanced at him, then sat down beside him and said calmly, "It's not too late to withdraw from the exam now."

"Once you enter the secret realm, it will be too late to regret it."

Upon hearing this, Hayston immediately became alert.

"You don't want that 170 million back, do you?"

"I've spent it all. I have no money left, but I have plenty of lives!"

Linda's eye twitched, and she prepared to stop talking to him.

But Hayes had many questions for her.

"Hey, tell me exactly what this secret realm is for?"

The original owner had learned from his memories that "secret realms" are unique products of this world, independent worlds. Humans who enter them will receive a mission from the world's will, and upon completion, they will obtain extraordinary materials or rare cards that are not available in the outside world.

If Hayes understood it, it would be similar to the "copy" in infinite flow novels.

Linda glanced at him and said succinctly, "The assessment realm is different from the ordinary realm."

"Others who go in and die won't actually 'die'."

"It's not certain for either of us."

Hayes wondered, "Even if they're targeting you, they wouldn't dare be so blatant, would they?"

"They have plenty of ways to do things," Linda sneered, then fell silent.

Time passed by, and the empty hall gradually filled with students. Then, two college staff members brought in a device that looked like a "camera".

This is the equipment the academy uses to create a fictional secret realm.

Hayes silently observed until a hook-nosed man in black entered, at which point his gaze shifted.

"Ahem, I am the chief examiner for examination room number one. I will now read out the examination rules..."

Hayes noticed that the man in black was wearing a teacher's badge around his neck—Zane Sinclair.

He also noticed that Linda's demeanor changed after the examiner entered.

Under his watchful eye, he saw Linda's astonishment, anger, and disdain.

"What's wrong? Do you know this person?"

Linda paused for a moment: "My father's former subordinate."

Hayes nodded in realization; it seemed there was more to the story.

"The last rule of this examination room... No talking or whispering during the examination."

Sinclair gave Hayes a gloomy look, which was met with a smile in return.

"..."

"By the way, because this examination room meets the 'Special Practical Test' regulations, the assessment items for some students will be changed."

Sinclair stared expressionlessly at the clamoring candidates in the hall. After a brief pause, he focused his gaze on Linda, who stood with her arms crossed, unsurprised, simply looking at him coldly.

"Do you have any objections, Ryan Linda?" Sinclair's expression was serious, but anyone with a discerning eye could hear the playfulness hidden in his words.

Like a cat catching a mouse, the prey is already in its grasp.

Linda's face remained frosty: "No objections."

"I object!"

Under the watchful eyes of many, Hayes boldly raised his hand, completely at ease.

Sinclair was stunned, thinking, "You have objections now?"

However, he outwardly adopted a bureaucratic tone: "This regulation has been unanimously approved by the examination panel, and you have no right to protest..."

"Why isn't the regulation mentioning any extra rewards for passing the special assessment?"

"...What did you say?" Sinclair was dumbfounded. This idiot actually thought he could beat the game?

What kind of reward is it if you lose your life!

However, Hayes showed no awareness of being a "naive young man" and spoke eloquently.

"It's reasonable to impose more stringent assessment criteria on outstanding candidates, but there should be correspondingly generous compensation!"

"Otherwise, wouldn't adding difficulty be a waste?"

Upon hearing this, not only the other candidates, but even Linda looked at him with surprise.

That seems to make sense! But why has no one ever brought up this idea before?

Some candidates pondered for a moment and suddenly realized that it was because all the candidates who could trigger the "special clause" in previous years were from prominent families, and they all looked down on the trivial rewards.

But they didn't like it, while Hayes did!

With the second round of mall updates imminent, if he doesn't make money soon, he'll be stuck with something he can see but can't touch again.

With such a good opportunity, how could he not seize it?

"What you said... I will report back to the academic affairs office after the assessment." Sinclair's face was ashen, and veins were bulging on his forehead.

He secretly vowed to torment this arrogant brat later, because the final solution for this "special clause" was for him to be the examiner, serving as Hayes and Linda's opponent.

He calmly announced the news, trying to see fear on their faces.

Unexpectedly, all he received was Linda's cold shoulder and Hayes's smiling face...

The other candidates, however, reacted extremely strongly!

"This is the first time the academy has had a teacher personally conduct the assessment!"

"Professor Sinclair, I remember you were a Tier 5 Card Master?"

"As an examiner, even with special provisions, this is going too far..."

As the discussions in the hall grew louder, Sinclair's face darkened, and he actually activated the power of his cards on the spot!

"Quiet down, all of you!"

In an instant, it felt as if someone had choked each candidate, rendering them unable to utter a sound.

Sinclair was finally satisfied, his wrinkles deepening as he smiled and said, "To balance the difficulty of the assessment, I will maintain the magic power of a third-tier card master under the supervision of the other examiners..."

"Any more questions?"

Sinclair waved his hand, and the force that had been holding his throat vanished instantly, but no one dared to speak again...

Hayes did have something to say, but he raised his hand only to find that Sinclair was still restricting his voice.

The other party completely ignored his raised hand and turned around to read out the list of candidates for battle.

"Team 2, Team 16."

"Team 21, Team 15"

"..."

"The teams whose names are called will come forward one by one to start the battle."

Under Sinclair's command, teams stepped forward in batches and were teleported into the assessment area through the secret device.

Hayes listened for a long time but didn't hear their team's number "11", so he couldn't help but turn to Linda and ask.

"When will it be our turn?"

Linda calmly said, "Wait until all the candidates in this year's exams are finished."

"It's our turn now."

It was only then that Hayes noticed that a group of students had gathered in the corridor outside the auditorium.

They were all candidates from other exam rooms who rushed here immediately after finishing their exams, just to witness "Lianlinda's" assessment firsthand!