I Became The Administrator of A Sacred Ground
Chapter 50: Different Footings In Life

Chapter 50: Different Footings In Life

W-15 High School, Waist Zone, Peacock District.

Despite the chaos unfolding outside the academic building, the third and final test was about to commence as per the instructions of the absentee Overseers.

This was a test of physical attributes and a detection process for any hidden specialities in the bodies of the test takers. Ideally, this test would have been faced by only a dozen participants. But the actual number today was almost seven times more than that.

Naturally, the employees were at a loss. The earlier discipline and methodical, calm operations couldn’t be seen anymore.

Students were crowding the narrow hallway in front of the classroom designated for the test. Inside, one worker was extracting body fluid samples, a group was busy analyzing the samples through a variety of apparatus, and another group was handling the resultant data.

The guide, Miss Rei, was trying her best to control the disorderly students. But those at the back of the crowd, like Euri, Jaakie, and Eddie, were not paying her any heed, focused on their own concerns.

Eddie was again trying to sell some fresh info to a group of anxious students. Euri and Jaakie were having a furious argument in suppressed tones.

"Euri, come on, man! This is our only foreseeable opportunity to step into the path of superhumans! How can I let it get away that simply?"

"You’re underestimating the dangers involved in this project, Jaakie." Euri shook his head discontentedly.

"If the only issue was the risk you would face while performing the tasks they set for you, I wouldn’t warn you like this. After all, how can someone like us become a superhuman without taking some risks? But it’s so apparent now that there are bigger risks on your way.

"Just think about it. This entire project is going to be built on lies if they follow through with the pretense that we’ve all qualified to become recruits. Do you think the party planning to foil the project is going to sit idle and watch it happen? Impossible!

"They’ll come at you guys with all guns blazing. Who knows what brutal method they’ll employ to get rid of you guys? Red Sea Labs itself wouldn’t be opposed to discarding you by relying on them.

"Unqualified recruits would be nothing but burdens on their resources. So there’s no guarantee that the project will be running for long."

Jaakie wasn’t convinced.

"Like you said, Euri, Nadir leaked the false news to attract enough outsider attention to this project to threaten the troublemakers and keep his hold on the project. I doubt those guys would try to dig deeper into this mess under such extensive media coverage."

"Nadir did it to buy himself some time. His hold on the project can’t be a surefire thing. His designation is too low for that. How easy is it to prove that all of us qualified due to false data?

"And are you forgetting how vague the descriptions Nadir gave us about the project were? They could use the false data against you to assign you to tasks far beyond your capacity! It’d no longer be a fair struggle for success. It’s going to be a bloodbath.

"Not to mention, any compensation claim for suffering harm under their project can be nullified if the company claims that you forged your way into the project based on false data.

"Do you think you can hire lawyers good enough to get you the full compensation on that ground? You’d be lucky to not get countersued for fraud."

"They are the ones conducting the test! How would they sue me for their mistakes?"

"The fact that you understand that they’re making a mistake... That’s all they need to establish. They can even blackmail some of your fellow recruits to collaborate as witnesses against you. It’s too damn easy, brother."

Jaakie could no longer retort. Eyes downcast, fists balled, he stood beside Euri, embodying misery.

"Look, Jaakie, I’m warning you so much for your own good. Look at me; I’ve been actively trying to disqualify myself. I gave bullshit answers on the first test. Tried to find a way to be deselected in the second test. This third test seems beyond our control, but we know that we’ll ’qualify’ again. So listen to me.

"Don’t join the project. Don’t sign the contract. Stay out of this messy affair and save your hide."

"...Euri," Jaakie said after a long pause. "I should’ve told you about this earlier. But I never found the opportunity to bring it up.

"My dad was diagnosed with Fusionite radiation last week. If he continues working in the mines, he’ll be wheelchair-bound by this time next year."

"...." This time, it was Euri’s turn to be at a loss. He stared at Jaakie’s miserable face, somewhat horrified.

Planet Nen’s assimilation to alien planes through the spatial gateways was accompanied by a large number of incidental changes in nature. The birth of highly unstable, but useful elements, crystallized fuel sources, and strange minerals deep inside the soil layers were one such environmental impact.

Fusionite was the first mineral to enter the mining industry’s eyes. It had the potential to replace traditional fuels for electronic devices. The only barrier stopping them was its slightly radioactive nature.

Fusionite radiation didn’t immediately impact human health conditions. At low exposure rates, miners rarely had to face the worst outcome.

But once a miner was diagnosed with it, they could bid goodbye to their jobs. Every following exposure would be deadlier at an accelerating rate.

The treatment was not only expensive, but also beyond the reach of ordinary people due to their nascent medical foundation. Some experimental therapies were operational in high-end hospitals for superhumans.

"So, you should understand why I’ve been so serious about qualifying for the recruitment. I hope you’ll respect my decision not to quit, either. This is not just for me.

"If the job is risky, the remuneration shouldn’t be low. I could ask my father to retire even if I don’t become a superhuman.

"And since they’re connected to research programs on alien elements, maybe I’ll be able to find a method to get my father some help through their contacts. No matter how low the chances are, regardless of the risks, I have to do this for my old man."