Pandemonium Of A Lazy Soul - Chapter 90

“Look around your grid carefully and remember what you see.” Archer replied as all the students started looking around to spot anything unusual. Not seeing anything unusual many got confused.

“Look at where the messengers are standing right now. Look how closely they are next to their masters and remember that.” This sudden revelation caused all students to realise something as they suddenly noticed that the invigilator in their grid was standing next to a noble or a rich person.

“You see your exam will be a theoretical test and all of you will be answering the questions. However, the cheaters have an extremely difficult test, that without the help of their messenger they barely have any chance to pass the exam. Unless of course, they are a genius in which I wonder why the hell did they even bother trying to cheat.

Your job as the non-cheaters is to spot these cheaters and make sure the invigilators never pass the answer to their masters. You see the people the invigilator are standing near are not the only people they serve in each of your grid. Each of your grid consists of at least 1 or more of these cheaters.

There is another problem for you guys though and that is to spot these cheaters. You should note that not all of the nobles or high social standing people here are cheaters, so beware who you call out as cheaters as there are many good high standing people amongst you.” Archer paused to let what he said sink down for the students.

‘This is not a test, but rather a vengeance. All the rotten nobles/rich people are right now at the mercy of their subjects whom they looked down upon. But there should be more to this test other than this.’ Law pondered.

‘What the hell is he doing? Does he not fear the repercussions of the nobles? No wonder grandpa called him a mad man.’ Natasha gulped as she looked around her seeing the prejudiced stare of many students on her.

“How is this fair on us? There are many among us who aren’t what you accuse us of, do we have to suffer for what those people did. If any of us gets a different paper I will personally go to the magi association and file a complaint about having a different paper compared to the rest.” A girl heavily loaded in makeup stood up and argued her case.

Seeing that more of these rich snobby brats were about to have an uprising Archer spoke up “As I said and you have my assurance, only those who attempted to cheat will have the hard paper. Those who didn’t succumb to the temptation of cheating will have their normal paper.

Now you may be wondering on what basis we are choosing the cheaters. I don’t have to tell you lot that, so shut up and sit down.” Suddenly all the nobles/rich that wanted to protest sat there receiving the same feeling as earlier. They sat on their seats without hope as they realised their situation with rage.

“If you still have a problem after this exam you can ask your family to come to take it up with his highness if you so wish.”

In the V.I.P hall, many of the nobles and rich gritted their teeth in anger seeing Archers provocative behaviour. Never have they ever been insulted so blatantly in front of so many people and could do nothing about it.

“However, let’s not forget that this is also a theoretical test, therefore you lots should focus on getting the necessary marks to pass. Anyone less than 40% will instantly fail and discontinue from the exam along with any cheater reported and found, and they will be guided out of the academy after the results are out.” Hearing this many nobles already lost their hope at even taking the exam.

“This means you shouldn’t focus only on the cheaters but on your exam as well.

Knowing that you will do anything we have installed cameras in each grid, capturing all the movements of people in that grid.

This may seem like a massive disadvantage to the cheaters, however, fret not. The person behind the screens watching you cheat or me myself won’t disqualify you if we find you cheating. Instead, we will just let that person carry on.

You see we encourage you to cheat or do whatever it is for you to pass this test.

However, we will disqualify you if someone reports you for cheating. The cameras are there merely to prove that you cheated. So, until someone accuses you of cheating you are all free to cheat however much you want.” The students were suddenly confused as they all thought ‘What kind of exam is this?’

“Also, to protect the good people, all reporters identities will be kept confidential and to do that we have added a special feature on your desk.” Suddenly everyone looked at their desk to notice a button on the top right-hand corner.

“As you all can see this button lets us alert that there is a cheater within your grid. Within 20 seconds of pressing it, you will have to write down the name of the person you found cheating or any way to identify him, on the screen that will pop up above your answer sheet. I advise all of you to try it.” The students followed what Archer said and pressed the button to notice a screen popping out asking them to write the identifications of the cheater.

“Invigilators, you all know your roll pretty well by now. You guys should have memorised the answer sheet we gave during your wait inside the waiting room.

I know you guys will be busy trying to sneak the answer to your masters, so here is something so that you won’t forget your original purpose at being here. Any cheater that you catch that we find is valid, will reward you with 1000 gold notes.” Suddenly the students felt that their job as a student was worthless, and felt they rather worked as invigilators.

“However, invigilators please do remember, if at least 2 reported cheaters are found in your grid without you noticing it first, then we will replace you with someone who will be absolutely useless to your masters. This also applies if someone reports you for aiding in someone else cheating. So, you guys better do your job properly and make sure you stay in the game.”

The invigilators suddenly felt a rising amount of hatred to the 3rd prince who designed this stupid exam. ‘Why does he dump all the burdens into our shoulder? If they fail, those stuck up asses are going to blame us for their children’s stupidity.’

“If taking revenge on your bullies isn’t an incentive for you lot, then let me give extra motivation.” Archer carried on to bring the attention of students back to him.

“Any students here who find a cheater, who we find was actually cheating at that moment, will be awarded 100 gold. If you find any invigilators aiding in the act of cheating will reward you with 500 gold notes” Suddenly most of the students gasped in shock, as they heard the figure.

‘Most of the students here come from a middle-class family or lower. Receiving 100 gold is like receiving $10,000 to them not to mention 500 gold. Along with that taking revenge on the people who suppressed them. If they spot a cheater it’s like getting two birds with one stone.’ Law mused at the rewards for the exam.

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“Unbelievable!” Jack stated in amazement.

“What is?” James asked puzzled

“That mad brat just gathered the trust and faith of almost all the students in there in one fell swoop, except for those of high status.” Albert replied knowing that most of the new generation of magi will have their loyalty to John, due to what he did for them in this 1st test.

“How did you notice it?” Jack asked Merlin remembering his statement from before.

“Was it the golden ticket?” Albert asked as he slowly caught on how Merlin could have guessed.

Merlin nodded “Amongst few other things like how blatantly he was allowing cheating to happen despite knowing that the head of magi association watching the exam, along with Archers subtle message of saying he was there to judge the invigilators as well.”

Albert suddenly realised what the odd feeling was. It was when Archer said ‘ I won’t be invigilating any of you, rather I am here to judge … and the invigilators’. He should have paid more attention to what Archer said.

“Although the one that kick-started my guess was the moment the nobles changed their seat when they saw the invigilators being someone they know in the grid they were supposed to be at.”

“Of course, how could I miss that?” Albert smiled as he realised where the first piece of the puzzle laid all along was.

“What is it, old man? Tell me, don’t keep me waiting.” James ordered impatiently.

“It was their face little brother. Those invigilators were panicking when they realised their masters were coming towards them. They were probably informed of the partial rules while in the waiting room. They knew how screwed up they would be if they didn’t help their masters.

Besides given the rule if they were helping their masters they along with their masters would become disqualified. They simply didn’t want to be in the same grid as their masters, so they panicked ” Jack said teasingly to his brother.

“Looks like all your effort just been drained down the hole Merlin.” Jack turned towards Merlin and wondered what they would do next, while he rubbed his head with his glass which contained ice to cool of his rising headache.