Chapter 61: The first test
The envelopes were opened simultaneously in every examination center across the various nations.
The test was supposed to last two hours. To succeed, a candidate had to submit at least one carefully completed copy out of the three provided before the time ran out. The examiners clearly had no intention of grading the papers: as long as one copy was submitted, the candidate passed; otherwise, they failed.
---
Order Headquarters
Administrative and Political Affairs Office (Chancellery)
Surveillance Center
Over a hundred screens and computers were broadcasting live footage from all the examination centers.
In front of the monitors sat interns from the Chancellery, all recruited for their skills in computing and networking.
Gramm was in charge of the entire operation. Though it was the Chancellery members who were physically present on-site and had handled all formalities, Gramm was the true supervisor. The Chancellor had other matters to attend to and had not bothered to show up.
The surveillance center was buzzing with activity: failure reports were piling up.
Barely moments after the envelopes were opened, some candidates rushed to start writing without reading the questions. As a result, their sheets burst into flames before their eyes. The fire automatically spread to the two other copies, causing instant failure, before extinguishing itself without producing heat or burning anything else.
Upon hearing this, Gramm could only shake his head.