After the second practical assessment concluded, the candidates received the rules for the third assessment that evening.
According to the tradition of previous years, the practical assessments, starting from the third task, would integrate the concept of a "large comprehensive assessment," focusing more on testing the candidates' overall abilities, and emphasizing team cooperation and competition. This year was no exception, and candidates received a set of rules titled "Cloud Realm Badge Battle."
As per the rules, the ratings acquired by candidates during the second magic armor assessment would carry over to this project, and they would receive a corresponding numbered badge. This badge would be the candidate's magic armor rating + a number between 1 and 99.
For example, Xia Liang's magic armor is A Level, so she received a number A72 badge. However, since the number of candidates at each rating far exceeds 99, this number isn't unique, and there might be two or three, or even four candidates with the A72 number among all the candidates. Similar cases for Bai Jingxuan's B91 could happen, with six or seven candidates sharing the same number.
As for Emerald Sparrow, or rather Long Dan's C66, it is a purely common badge number. Among the candidates of this exam round, there could be dozens who share the same number as her, the magical girl.
Of course, Lin Xiaolu is an exception; her badge is SS01, unique.
Once the candidates have their own numbered badge, what they need to do in this assessment is simple: in one sentence β snatch someone else's badge, protect your own badge.
However, while the content can be summarized as "snatching badges," there is a restriction: each candidate can only snatch badges with the same number as their own.
Using Lin Xiaolu's SS01 as an example, she would aim to snatch other candidates' badges with the designation "01," whether it's S01 or A01, these badges would be Lin Xiaolu's targets. Conversely, these people could also attempt to snatch Lin Xiaolu's badge.
According to the exam rules listed, D Level badges are worth 5 points; C Level, 7 points; B Level, 10 points; A Level, 20 points; S Level, 50 points; and for Lin Xiaolu, this unprecedented SS Level, the Exam Institute has valued her badge at β 100 points.
Comparable to the score reward for first place in the maze assessment.
Aside from this, the rules also encourage candidates to protect their own numbered badges, so if a candidate manages to protect their badge until the end, their badge will be worth double its original value.
This means, if Lin Xiaolu can preserve her SS01 badge until the end, that badge alone would provide her with 200 points β equivalent to the scores of snatching four S Level badges.
Even Emerald Sparrow's own C Level badge, worth only 7 points, would surpass B Level and approach A Level in value. It can be said that for most candidates, "protecting your own badge" is certainly more efficient than "snatching someone else's badge."
This assessment will take longer than the previous two; candidates need to stay in the designated exam site for a full 3 days and 2 nights before their scores are calculated. Thus, candidates received another day's rest to rejuvenate.
This project is rare in previous assessments; such a long assessment period requires safety assurance costs that far exceed other projects, even the maze assessment pales in comparison to this "Badge Battle." So even historically recorded instances are merely a few dozen, and nearly every instance is scheduled during the Queen's Year or other important years. Evidently, this time is no exception.
Due to this, candidates find it very difficult to gather experiences from their predecessors or related documents, and even if available, it's doubtful how reliable they are given the time gap. Even Emerald Sparrow can only rely on the rules to make some speculations and bring along a few juniors for some preventive arrangements.
After preparing for the exam with the children, Emerald Sparrow engaged in routine communication with Hong Siyu regarding the work of the Abnormal Strategy Bureau in Fangting City; they briefly discussed work and briefly discussed issues related to the exam, then bid each other goodnight and ended the call.
After completing everything that needed to be done, she went alone to the bathhouse for a soak, then checked the house where Mo He and others previously stayed: still empty. She no longer felt disappointment about this, only found it natural as Emerald Sparrow proceeded, not returning to her observatory residence, but instead wandered into the wetland, choosing a secluded spot to sit down.
With no particular purpose, but since arriving in the Kingdom, she's become busy for reasons unknown, after toiling for a full month, Emerald Sparrow had the desire for quiet solitude.
With nothing on her mind, or perhaps filled with thoughts she herself was unaware of, she gazed at the blue-purple night sky belonging to the Magic Kingdom, taking deep breaths β
"Ding Lingβ"
Then, her relaxation was interrupted by the melody from the Magic Mirror.
Somewhat helplessly, she retrieved the Magic Mirror from her sleeve, connected it, and unsurprisingly, the one seeking her was Emerald.
Emerald was wearing a furry hooded pajama, her hair tousled, yawning, clearly halfway out of bed. This rare image made Emerald Sparrow pause, as in her impression Emerald was someone who, once she decided to sleep, not even ten bulls could drag her from her dreams, yet now she climbed out of bed halfway to call her using the Magic Mirror? What on earth happened?
"Hmm... Though it's abrupt to mention this at such a late hour, but, young one, there are follow-ups to yesterday's incident." Emerald's freshly awake voice sounded hoarse.
"What issue?" There were indeed too many things for Emerald Sparrow yesterday.
"Regarding the matter about your child's information, Purple Diamond said she would escalate." Emerald rubbed the corner of her eye, looking slightly displeased: "And she indeed went to complain to Her Majesty."
"Didn't you say the Queen wouldn't acknowledge her?" As these words spilled out, Emerald Sparrow suddenly had a bad premonition.
"Well, actually, she didn't acknowledge her, Her Majesty didn't even meet her, just sent a herald to dismiss her."
Emerald said so, pausing unintentionally: "Yet, at times we must acknowledge that no one can accurately predict all coincidences, much like numerous scholars to this day unable to thoroughly elucidate the essence of magic power, relying on hypothetical models to address many unresolved issues instead. For such a prominent figure as Her Majesty, her actions are bound not to be perfectly explained by our hypotheses..."
"Meaning the Queen actually replied." Emerald Sparrow interrupted Emerald's lengthy self-defense directly, "What did she say?"
"Actually, we can't clearly state whether this is Her Majesty's suggestion, as I'm only hearing the one-sided account from Purple Diamond's side now, but considering she likely doesn't have the nerve to fabricate Her Majesty's decree, it probably is real."
Emerald scratched her head: "In any case, listen before you get angry."
"How do you know I'll get angry? Just say it." Emerald Sparrow found this perplexing.
"Basically..." Hence, Emerald had to begin explaining.
The process lasted about two minutes, with Emerald speaking, and Emerald Sparrow listening. And after Emerald fully recounted everything, Emerald Sparrow's voice had become incredibly deep:
β"You're saying, the current Purple Diamond wants to see my daughter?"
