Chapter 130
Chapter 130
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 130
Chapter Title: Promotion Exam (1)
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Jaeyeon snatched me away from Lee Seung-hyun like ripping a prize catch, then dragged me to the car.
A cold wind stole the warmth from my body. I shivered against the sudden chill. I didn’t have the presence of mind to check where I’d come from or where we were headed.
I just followed Jaeyeon’s lead until I climbed into the limousine.
A pleasant warmth enveloped me. Colton was already in the car. He sat across from me, watching coldly as I collapsed onto the seat with a small groan.
Jaeyeon climbed in beside me and slammed the door shut.
Silence settled over the spacious rear seat, big enough for at least six people.
“Thanks.”
I muttered as I stretched out my upper body across the seat.
“What time is it?”
“The mark on your stomach’s bigger?”
Instead of answering, Jaeyeon yanked up my shirt on his own.
Too lazy to respond, I just lay there. Meanwhile, the car smoothly pulled away. I heard Colton set down the papers he’d been holding and adjust his turned wristwatch.
My old friend broke the silence.
“Pathetic sight.”
I knew that was coming.
I pushed myself up on my elbows.
“No excuses. I got kidnapped like a total idiot.”
Judging by Colton’s demeanor, it didn’t seem to be Jaeyeon’s doing. I met the sharp gaze of my blue-eyed rival.
“Do you know who kidnapped me?”
“Does it change anything if I do?”
Typical response.
Ignoring Jaeyeon snapping photos of the ‘lab rat’ stamp, I let out a sigh.
“I don’t think my skills are that bad…. But you’d just hear it as excuses. Fine, drop that for now. Are we heading to the exam site?”
“Hospital.”
“Huh?”
My voice jumped at my rival’s curt reply.
I shoved Jaeyeon’s arm away and widened my eyes.
“Hospital? Why? My exam starts at 9:30!”
“You can’t even walk properly.”
“Oh.”
This was ridiculous.
I whipped my head around frantically. But I couldn’t find a clock. Desperate, I pleaded with my authoritative friend across from me and Jaeyeon slouched beside me.
“I can do it. Please, take me to the exam site. I’ve managed before. Even when my arm was crumbling like ash, I still caught the dragon.”
“Not that story again!”
Jaeyeon freaked out.
“Fuck, stop with that shit! Ugh, it was better when you lost your memories and couldn’t bring it up.”
“I’ll stop if you go to the exam site.”
“What for? To flop in front of the rookies?”
“Hey, no.”
I tested my hands and feet, flexing them.
It felt a bit stronger than before. Maybe I’d recover slowly like this. The drugs built up in my body might dilute over time. My external injuries were just burns and bruises. Once the drugs thinned out, things should improve a lot.
Maybe stuffing down some food would help.
The car window reflected the milky sky. I glanced at the passing streets, then turned away.
“Any way to dilute these drugs faster?”
Colton stared at me for a long moment.
“You guys knew about my exam and came quick, right?”
“You planning to waltz in with that on your forehead?”
“Oh, this.”
I fiddled with my forehead.
It still burned. Touching it made the pain worse.
Less than the ache in my gut, though.
“Think it’ll come off?”
“Want me to wipe it?”
Jaeyeon smirked.
“Forehead stamp’s on the house~.”
I looked at Colton.
His hair was neatly combed back as always, dark suit impeccably tailored. His cane, with a smooth silver handle, leaned diagonally in the rear corner.
Ah, the good old days. Seeing something unchanged brought back memories. Whenever there was an opera or exhibition, they’d show up together. Jaeyeon, dressed age-appropriately feminine, would link arms with Colton and smile elegantly. Crimson dress. Opera glasses with an angel motif. Luxe silk gloves sheer enough to show half her skin.
And Colton would whack Jaeyeon climbing him with that cane.
My unmoving opponent.
I chuckled quietly.
“You’re pissed.”
My rival’s expression didn’t change.
“You’ve got some perception.”
Yeah, of course….
He wouldn’t like me going under Ye-hyeon, my skills still being this mediocre, or ending up like this the day before the exam.
But it couldn’t be helped.
Even if I’d dropped out of a portal in Colton’s zone, I had no intention of serving under him.
Yeah. That probably pissed him off too.
“Cool off.”
I said it as gently as I could.
“My skills are coming back pretty well, at least.”
My rival raised an eyebrow and scanned my wounds in lieu of a reply.
I smiled bitterly.
“Just wait a bit longer. I’m trying.”
“Keep waiting, and I’ll be collecting your corpse.”
“I won’t die till I clean up the mess I made.”
As if it were that easy.
I recalled reuniting with him at the social hall. And what he’d said then. ‘We’ll talk once approval comes down for operations inside the Core.’
Passing the promotion exam would make that happen.
I rasped out the words.
“Passing the exam will make moving around easier.”
My old comrade understood.
“Time’s not on our side.”
Dawn broke outside the window.
The ebony leather seats caught the light.
Dust danced in the silver beams.
Colton stayed silent a while, then flicked his hand.
“Exam site.”
“Yes.”
“Wipe it off.”
My collar was grabbed.
Jaeyeon shoved my upper body back. Forced flat on the seat, I blinked up at him straddling me—more precisely, at the laser-pointer-like device in his hand.
“Stings a bit~.”
What the hell now.
Watching him grin like we were at a dermatologist and press the laser to my skin made me bone-tired.
I gave up and let my arms flop.
“While you’re at it, do the one on my stomach too.”
“That’ll cost extra~.”
So damn tired….
I closed my eyes and endured the searing pain on my forehead.
Until the smooth limousine reached the exam site.
***
We arrived at 8:40.
The car ride had been pure hell. The treatment hurt like crazy. I even debated multiple times whether just taking the exam with the ‘lab rat’ mark was better. I clenched my teeth vowing not to groan in front of these guys, but sounds leaked out anyway.
By the time the treatment finished and we pulled up, I was soaked in cold sweat.
Colton let out a deep sigh and handed me a fresh shirt.
“Thanks.”
I changed in the car into a shirt tailored to fit me perfectly.
Colton didn’t reply. Jaeyeon admired my forehead with satisfaction.
“See? Told you I’ve got skills.”
He grabbed my chin as I buttoned up, twisting it to inspect his work.
“Would’ve scarred if you didn’t treat it on time.”
“Thanks. Would’ve been nicer with anesthetic.”
“Dream on.”
The man grinned and released my chin.
Then he nodded toward the door, signaling I was done and should get out.
He tossed my phone too. Clutching it, I carefully exited the limousine. I strained not to repeat the pathetic stumble from the kidnapping site. Didn’t want to look lame in front of them again.
Luckily, I made it out fine this time.
The sea was visible.
“Owe you one.”
Waves crashed as I turned back to the limo.
Jaeyeon didn’t even pretend to hear, eyes glued to his phone. Colton rolled his eyes while scanning papers.
Those sharp blue eyes pierced me.
My old friend spoke in an inscrutable tone.
“Don’t live like an idiot.”
Idiot?
Me, living like an idiot?
Before I could retort, the window rose. My dumbfounded face reflected in the tinted glass. Wide eyes, smooth forehead.
The car pulled away before my reflection could gape.
I stood there like a fool, left at the exam site.
Huh.
I snapped to when my phone buzzed.
[Supreme Commander]
Ah….
I squeezed my eyes shut at the name on the screen.
I covered them with my hand for a moment. Needed time to steel myself.
Once ready, I answered with grim resolve.
“Yes.”
Pretending calm.
“Commander. I just arrived at the exam site.”
[Don’t take the exam today.]
Firm voice.
Hearing it, I instantly knew stubbornness would backfire. Ye-hyeon’s tone was colder and more resolute than ever.
He called with intent.
Big trouble.
Even if I replied brightly, ‘I can do it! I’m fine!’, it wouldn’t fly. I’d just get a frosty, ‘Disobeying orders?’
I reined in my fraying nerves.
Gauged my words and replied.
“I have a request.”
[Let you take the exam, right.]
“Yes. Not being stubborn for no reason.”
Ye-hyeon didn’t respond.
I seized the timing.
“That group questioned my hiring process. Unlikely they figured it out alone—someone tipped them off, and they planned my kidnapping. Meaning someone out there still knows about my hiring issue.”
[So?]
Ice-cold reply, rivaling Yoon’s.
Scary.
Swallowing hard against fear worse than facing my master.
Gathering courage, I finished.
“If I skip the exam with the others, someone will make an issue of it.”
[You have valid reason to miss it.]
“But I need to pass as soon as possible to do what I must, right?”
[I’ll schedule a makeup.]
“They’ll trip us up on that for sure. Info could leak too. Coordinating with external agencies for the exam….”
[Hilde.]
Terrifying.
“Yes.”
[Go to the hospital.]
I bit my lip.
Salty sea breeze whipped my white hair.
Distant waves danced in the wind.
Feeling the approaching gust over the waves, I begged.
“I really want to take this exam. Please let me.”
[Why obsess over this one?]
“Because Kyle’s back.”
Long silence.
I didn’t miss the hesitation. Time to push.
I asserted firmly.
“Falcon sensed the need and transferred me here, right? I’ll pass for sure.”
In the ensuing quiet, I read Ye-hyeon’s conflict.
He knew my point had merit. Black Badger promotion exams weren’t minor internal events.
The official site listed schedules publicly. Post-exam, promoted agents’ ID cards went up. Media covered new official Black Badgers yearly. Like this year’s rookies.
Bigger deal than most national exams.
A makeup would draw noise.
Makeups never happened.
My boss, weighing that reality and other factors.
Listening to his silence, I said.
“And I’m really better than I look. Jaeyeon personally wiped the forehead mark.”
[You endure too much.]
Voice laced with sorrow, anger, resignation.
[Acting tough when you whine so well.]
A faint smile tugged my lips.
Good.
He caved.
“I’ll pass safely and come back.”
[If it looks bad, I’m pulling you out.]
“Yes. Thank you.”
Clear reply amid his resigned sigh.
“I’ll do great!”
Another sigh.
As it ended, the rookies’ car pulled up.
Doors flew open. Hessi and Tom jumped out, eyes wide, rushing toward me.
Thirty minutes to exam start.