At the Misty Dew Restaurant...
Rigel finished cleaning up all the mess the customers made. He then sat down and waited for Uncle Sam to finish.
Uncle Sam washed and wiped his hands after he finished cleaning up and sat down beside Rigel.
"Uncle Sam, what is the Provincial Martial Exam?" asked Rigel.
"The Provincial Martial Exam is an exam where martial artists from the region qualify to work for the government, in other words, it is a recruitment scheme of the Kingdom to replenish the army of other branches of government that needs martial power," replied Uncle Sam.
"What are the requirements Uncle Sam?" asked Rigel.
"Well, first and foremost. You need to be at least 16 years old to qualify, and that is just the first requirement. You also need to be at least at the 5th layer of Body Transformation, pass a written exam, and a series of tests that will uncover your limits."
"The exam lasts about five days and there are rewards for those who top the exam. There are also special rewards for those who performed exceptionally well. A great example of that happened last year, when an examinee bravely saved the other examinees during one of the tests. The judges of the exam, commended his exceptional bravery and gave him a token. That token was a one time use item at the cultivation tower of the kingdom. Even though he did not pass in the end, he used the token to cultivate. There were rumors that he advanced two levels in cultivation after that," explained Uncle Sam.
"Too bad I still can't participate right now Uncle Sam," remarked sadly by Rigel.
"Although you can't join, but you can still watch the exam you know," added Uncle Sam.
"The Provincial Martial Exam lasts about five days, and they only qualify the best of the best. So during the first three days, the judges of the exam cull the numbers and in the last two days there will be a martial arts competition between the examinees. Though the martial arts competition is an elimination, most of the examinees already pass the exam after the third day. The competition is just a way to determine the strongest and will be rewarded at the end.
This is what we are going to watch, since we can bet on the examinees!" Uncle Sam exclaimed with a glint in his eyes.
Rigel felt his skin numbed, when he heard that. He knew of Uncle Sam addiction to gambling and if Mom ever found out, he would be beaten to death.
"Uncle Sam, Mom is just outside you know..." Rigel said.
Uncle Sam quickly covered his mouth with his hand.
"Ah ha ha... Rigel, please don't tell your Mom about this." whispered Uncle Sam while glancing outside.
"And what would Rigel not tell me about haaaaaaaaaaaaa Saaaam!!!????" a silhouette hovered behind Uncle Sam with a threatening glare.
"Ma-ma-madam Marcel! You scared me to death!" Uncle Sam replied with a terrified look on his face.
"What is it Sammmmmmmmmm????????????????? Hhhmmmmmm?????" Marcel smilingly asked.
"Nothing!!! I was just telling Rigel about the Provincial Martial Exam and that he wanted to participate. I told him he was not yet of age to join the exam and I told him about the rewards of the exam. Yes, rewards!!! The rewards that he could cultivate in the cultivation tower of the kingdom if he ever participated and made an exceptional performance!" Uncle Sam explained quickly.
"You know Sam, if you just explained carefully, I would have not even bothered. However, you look like you would shit your pants when you discovered me." Marcel smacked her lips and looked at Uncle Sam like a disappointed boss.
"Ha ha... Madam Marcel you just appeared behind me, anyone would be scared half to death by that!" Sam explained.
"So are you implying that I am ugly...???" Marcel glared at Uncle Sam again but this time, it seems like she was about to devour him whole.
"No Madam! I was just surprised by your beauty that I was about to have a heart attack hence the remark of being scared half to death." Uncle Sam replied while sweating profusely.
"Scram! don't let me see your face today or I will beat you to death!" Marcel shouted while preparing to pounce at Uncle Sam.
Uncle Sam ran desperately leaving behind a trail of dust. Marcel then looked at Rigel. "Rigel if you want to join the Provincial Martial Exam, you need to train hard. The exam might have good rewards, but be reminded of the dangers during the exam. People die in the exam Rigel. The competition during the exam is intense, that is why you need to be at least at the 5th level of body transformation which is the average level of the examinees, but if you want to stand above others, you need to at least be in the 7th level of body transformation. That will guarantee you a spot in the top 100." Marcel warned Rigel.
"Thank you Mom, though still can't participate due to the age limit. I will train hard for now." Rigel said.
The following day, Rigel took a bath, brushed his teeth and munched on bread while hurriedly going outside the house.
"Rigel, hurry we're going to miss the best seats during the exam!" shouted Uncle Sam.
"Yes yes, I'm already hurrying!" answered Rigel while a bread was still in his mouth.
Rigel then rode the carriage with Uncle Sam down the Mistvale Mountains and headed to the kingdom hall at the center of the city of Songstrom.
"Finish your bread first, or you'll choke during the bumpy ride," implored Uncle Sam while giving Rigel a canteen of water.
Rigel then finished his bread and drank some water. He then opened the carriage window and looked outside.
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"There sure are a lot of people going to the competition venue," Rigel
"Of course, it's the only event in the Provincial Martial Exam that is open to the public. Everyone would want to see who will come out on top on the exams. The stakes are also higher because the bets are on!" Uncle Sam touched the pouch on his pocket while burning staring at the crowd with a burning gaze.
"Uncle Sam, you're gonna bet?"
"You bet your smelly ass I would! The betting odds this time are high because there are incredible newcomers," Uncle Sam replied.
"Incredible newcomers? What does that mean?" Rigel inquired intriguingly.
"This years competition, besides the repeat takers and old farts. Is is said that there are ten geniuses of the second generation of prestigious noble families. It's said that these geniuses were trained from a young age and achieved incredible feats. With the competition of prestige amongst nobles, this year's competition will be intense as it will reflect the heritage of the noble families," Uncle Sam explained fervently.
Uncle Sam continued, "For these noble families, prestige is a very important thing. It is their face after all. So they will do whatever it takes to win. Some shady families were even rumored to use underhanded methods just to come out on top. So, if you are ever a participant RIgel, make sure to be careful. Better yet have some backers to protect you before participating."
After some time, the carriage arrived at the city gate. Rigel looked around and took all the sights around him. Uncle Sam noticed this and said to Rigel, "Hey, I forgot it's your first time here at Songstrom City. The Songstrom City is one of the eight cities of the Brutus Kingdom. The capital being the Heidenburg City where the royal family resides. The Songstrom city is governed by Count Vandal Allegro of the Allegro family."
Uncle Sam pointed at the flags hanging at every corner of the street, "Look there, that is the emblem of the Allegro family. The Tri-horned Unicorn is there symbol, which is also the mythical creature of legend residing in the deepest part of the Mistvale Mountains."
Rigel nodded in understanding. Rigel continued looking out the window until they arrived at an inn. Uncle Sam and Rigel got off the carriage and Uncle Sam instructed the coachman to take rest and take care of the carriage and their belongings. The both of them went inside and inquired by the innkeeper for accommodations.
"I'm sorry sirs, but this inn is currently full. Please understand that the Provincial Martial Exam is at its climax, that is why there are so many people today," the innkeeper apologized sincerely.
"We had a reservation a month prior here. Here is the token and a letter to your manager," Uncle Sam handed the letter and token to the innkeeper.
The innkeeper took a look at the items, and went to the back of the inn. A while later, the innkeeper hurriedly apologized to Uncle Sam. "Honored guests, pardon me for my rudeness. The owner of the inn would like to express her sincere hospitality. Please follow me, as I lead you to your accommodations."
The innkeeper then signaled to the other staff to carry the other baggage and led the way to the third floor of the inn. The innkeeper then gave the keys to the rooms where RIgel and Uncle Sam will stay.
"Here are your keys, please inform us if there's anything else you need. If you are hungry please head downstairs to the guest area, where food will be served. Just show your keys to the staff and order your food. Your carriage will be at the back of the inn, the same procedure applies and the staff will release the lock on your carriage. For any other inquiry, please inform our staff of anything. We are happy to accommodate you honored guests."
"Wow, the staff sure is hospitable, I wonder why..." muttered Rigel.
"You may not know it, but Madam Boss is well connected to almost all the business owners here in the city. She is well respected here you know. She is well known as the fierce Lioness of the Songtrom City Chamber of Commerce. Though I don't know the exact details, but I heard that she protected the business owners during the economic collapse when gangs ran rampant," Uncle Sam explained to Rigel.
"I didn't know Mom is that powerful..." Rigel sighed.
"Enough of that, I'm hungry, lets eat first and wait and rest a little. In the afternoon, we'll head to the competition venue and watch the fun."
Rigel and Uncle Sam went downstairs and ordered some food. They then headed to the competition venue.
Kingdom Hall, Songstrom City
Thousands of people flocked to the competition arena. Uncle Sam went ahead and bought tickets at the booth and went to the entrance.
"Rigel, here is your ticket. Head to the location where our assigned seats are placed. Go on ahead I'll be right behind you, I'll just take care of some 'business'," Uncle Sam laughed and stormed off.
Rigel sighed and went to his designated seat. Rigel took in the sights of the arena. Thousands of people circled the arena and right in the center were the examinees fighting. People shouted and cheered on their favored examinee. The boiling atmosphere of the crowd made Rigel blend in the crowd as he also shouted. After the a winner was determined, the referee announced the winner.
"Everyone! Let us hear a round of applause to our winner Gale Songbird!"
Everyone cheered and gave a standing ovation for the outstanding performance of the examinee. Right after that, Rigel noticed a bunch of nobles stood up and looked at the side. Everyone went silent, then an announcement was made.
"Everyone! Let us welcome her highness princess Elaine Heidenburg!"
The nobles bowed to a lady dressed in blue-white dress and the crowd cheered.
"Your highness Elaine the most beautiful princess!"
"Kyaaaa! She is so beautiful!"
"Princess please marry me!!!"
"Shut your mouth, you'll get arrested if you say such awful disrespectful words. Princess please step on me!!"
The crowd went wild as the princess took her seat. She then waved her hand for the crowd and another wave of cheering erupted.
"The princess sure is loved by the people..." Rigel thought to himself.
The princess then waved the crowd to settle down. Then the nobles sat down after she took a seat.
"Please continue the competition," the princess politely asked.
The announcer then signaled to the referee for the next fight to continue.
As Rigel watched the whole scene, Uncle Sam returned with a stupid grin on his face.
"Hahahaha! Rigel today is our lucky day as the next match will be between a dark horse and one of the second generation genius."
Rigel became interested and asked, "who are the participants this time Uncle Sam?"
"The examinee that is one of the ten geniuses this time is from the Brionac Family, his name is Engels Brionac. The Brionac family is known for their military background. Generals were born regularly in their household, and this time, Engels Brionac is a genius who mastered the spear at age twelve. He also lead a squad of five people at age fourteen and wiped out a large bandit stronghold in the Mistvale Mountains. Take note, that the large stronghold had a thousand bandits. He is super strong and his spear techniques is terrifying. Watch him closely later Rigel. Part of the reason why you were allowed to watch the Provincial Martial Exam is to familiarize yourself with different battle styles and cultivation. As you walk the martial path, you need to choose what battle style fits you the most. That is your assignment tasked by Uncle Freddo."
"On the other hand, the dark horse this time is from a nomadic tribe from the Mistvale Mountains. His name is Noah and he performed excellently during the first three days of the exams. He is known to be a master of hidden weapons. It's said that the nomadic tribe where he came from is a tribe full of expert assassins. The other participants of the exam died of unknown causes when he made a move. He killed about a hundred participants alone. That is why he is regarded as a dark horse."
Rigel looked at the arena, where the two participants faced each other. One was wearing a battle armor with a spear in hand while the other is cloaked in black, with a scowl and mask only showing his blue eyes and no weapon could be seen on his person.
The referee explained the rules to the two of them.
"No killing is allowed this time, as you all are considered passed already. This is a showcase of your strengths and will be rewarded according to the rank you end up with. All weapons are allowed. Say 'I give up or surrender and I will end the match. If you step out of the arena, you will be considered lost. If you fall unconscious, you will also be considered lost. Any questions?"
"If none, you may begin," the referee the waved his hand to signal the start of the match.