ushernet Chapter 63: Job Aptitude Test (1)
Chapter 63: Job Aptitude Test (1)
Job Aptitude Test (1)
The day I return from a mission is always the best for getting a deep, restful sleep.
As soon as I laid down, the nerves that were on edge, as if they were about to pierce through my skin, declared a complete shutdown. Both my eyes and ears stopped perceiving anything, and even the sensation of the soft blanket surrounding me faded away. Without any disturbance to my senses, my consciousness sunk into the depths of slumber.
The morning after successfully completing the expedition to the re
"Hey, I heard you talked to that administrator guy, right? Did he say anything?" one woman asked while gently massaging Jisoo's shoulders as she sat on the bench.
Oddly, the one giving the massage seemed to be more pleased than Jisoo, as she kneaded her firm shoulder muscles. Each time her hands moved, Jisoo's sleeveless shirt shifted, making the outline of her nipples more visible through the fabric.
"Well, we'll only know once we see," Jisoo replied.
Like the other women, she preferred to be assigned to the security forces rather than a hard, dirty job in a factory or as a cleaner. They had said the selection would be based on ability, regardless of whether someone had been a prisoner or a guard, so her physical strength and control over others would surely give her an edge.
And indeed, it would. Keeping fit through regular exercise was a sign of self-discipline, a trait that earned extra points in this test. But the most crucial point: Jisoo had already been pre-selected to join the security forces before the test even began.
Though she had a strong hunch about this, she couldn’t openly brag about it to the others. Some of the women already had a clear idea of what they'd be assigned to. This was especially true for those who had specialized in certain fields before.
"I got thrown in jail trying to escape farm work, but looks like I'm headed right back to it," one woman with freckles and healthy, sun-kissed skin grumbled.
Her lively yet simple appearance gave off a rustic charm, though she wasn’t unattractive. While she couldn't be called beautiful like a flower, she could be compared to a well-grown cabbage. Having grown up on a farm, helping with agricultural work from a young age, and even graduating from an agricultural college, it was obvious where she'd be assigned.
"Farming’s better than working in a factory again," another woman with ten years of factory experience sighed.
"Are you kidding? You think farm work is easy? You wake up before dawn, work until sunset under the scorching sun, sweating like crazy while getting bitten by bugs, breaking out in rashes—it's a killer!" the farm girl vented.
Chronic back pain was just a bonus.
The factory worker looked at her with disdain. "You think you’ll be waking up at dawn and working under the sun here, like out there? Everything’s probably automated. And look around," she waved a hand in the air.
"The temperature’s the same all day. Not too hot, not too cold. No bugs, no wild animals. Farming here would be a breeze. Plus, with all the plants around, the air must be nice and fresh. And if we’re growing fruit, we might get some perks."
Though the factory worker wasn’t aware of the hydroponic farming systems, her guess was spot on. She was a sharp thinker.
"You think so?" The prospective farm worker scratched her head, uncertain. The soon-to-be factory worker sighed as she watched her. "I just hope we don’t have to wear those dust-proof suits. Working on the line is bad enough already."
She craved a cigarette, but being forced to quit, she could only smack her lips in frustration. Among the women waiting for their assignments were some who had already formed considerable groups.
"Where did you graduate from?"
"Ajou University. What about you?"
"I went to Pai Chai University."
These were the nurses. Technically, most of the women here were nurse assistants, but the few who had completed a four-year degree in nursing held significant influence in this place. In a regular prison, hierarchy would be determined by seniority, but this was no ordinary prison. It was a special place in a special situation.
With the number of medical staff far too low compared to the total population, those who had formal education in nursing would be guaranteed a certain level of authority among the city's leaders. Naturally, the nurse assistants, who would be taking orders from them, couldn’t help but feel uneasy.
With all their hopes, expectations, and anxieties, one by one, the women entered the testing room. However, the written test was far more structured, technical, and… a bit absurd, than they had imagined.