She looked around blankly, as if pondering something.
"Hey, you seem to be in some trouble. Need help?" Tianmiao asked as she approached, sipping her juice.
The short-haired girl looked up at Tianmiao, meeting a pair of gentle, lovely eyes.
"Uh... I..." Lin Duoduo usually doesn’t like interacting with people, especially strangers she’ll hardly pay attention to. But the serene and comfortable aura from the woman in front of her made her hesitate for a moment, then she said, "I want to take the Demon Hunting Certificate exam, but my wristband is out of power. Can you help me check the map, sister?"
"What a coincidence, I’m also going to register. If you don’t mind, we can go together." Tianmiao said with a smile.
"Then... that would be great, thank you." Lin Duoduo whispered her gratitude. In the past, she would never agree to travel with a stranger, but she couldn’t find the words to refuse this lady.
"My name is Tianmiao, what’s yours?" Tianmiao asked, as she finished her drink and tossed the cup into a roadside trash bin. The bin was shaped like a cartoon chicken with its mouth wide open. After swallowing the juice cup, it even made a gulping gesture, followed by an electronic voice: "Thanks for the feeding."
"My name is Lin Duoduo," the young girl replied shyly.
"That’s a lovely name." Tianmiao smiled slightly, "The registration place isn’t too far from here. We can walk or call for a ride."
"Walk, let’s walk," Lin Duoduo said softly.
"Alright." Tianmiao took a couple of steps forward, "Follow me."
The sidewalk was wide, some sections were even automated walkways, allowing people to stand and be transported forward automatically—a convenience for lazy folks.
Lin Duoduo quickened her pace to catch up with Tianmiao.
"Is this your first time here?" Tianmiao casually asked.
"Yes. My home is in a village," Lin Duoduo replied, then asked in kind, "Does Sister Tianmiao live here?"
"No, I also live far away. I specifically came this time for the exam." Tianmiao saw Lin Duoduo was a bit nervous and smiled. "No need to be so tense, I don’t bite. The Qiming Hall we’re registering at is in Area 34, not far ahead."
"Okay." Lin Duoduo smiled and nodded.
The two strolled and chatted leisurely along the way, and ten minutes later, stopped in front of a massive silver circular building. From afar, it looked like a dazzling star, with the Qiming Hall sign glowing in red below.
Many people were already queued at the entrance.
Lin Duoduo looked at the poster at the corner, feeling a bit excited, clutching the straps of her backpack.
"Let’s go." Tianmiao said, leading the way forward.
"Okay." Lin Duoduo lifted her foot to follow Tianmiao.
Luckily, the line moved quickly, and by the time Tianmiao reached the entrance, the line had almost reached them.
A superpower examination officer wearing a gray uniform stood in front of the Qiming Hall, observing everyone passing through the entrance Detector. If someone didn’t have a superpower, the Detector would alert, barring entry to prevent unauthorized access.
Once through the Detector, an instructor ushered the candidates to sign an agreement and fill out a form, requiring simple details like name and address. The agreement was a liability waiver, as the exam was stringent and could pose life-threatening risks. Signing it was crucial for entry.