The test was not free.
I repeat—
NOT
FREE.
At least not for the mechanics.
Luca was scandalized to learn that Ollie actually had to pay to take the Mercenary Exams for mechanics when they both thought it was free.
It was so surprising that Luca immediately offered to foot the bill for it because he unwittingly dragged Ollie into this mess.
But of course, Ollie wouldn't relent! There was no way he would let his good brother hand over his money when he wasn't even sure he was going to pass!
Unlike the combat pilots, whose exams were to be conducted through virtual pods, Ollie would have to repair a mecha on the spot and in person.
This was crucial because the mechanics needed to add legitimate pressure to ensure that they could operate properly even when under duress.
This largely differentiated mecha designers from active-duty mechanics. But because Ollie was just planning to become a mecha designer in the future, he never really considered pressure as a key factor.
