"Civilian rescue?" Luke thought, looking at his token.
「Student: Luke Kingsley」
「Evaluation Updated
Civilian Rescue: +10 pts
(1) Beta Monster Slain: +20 pts
Total: +3000 pts」
「GT: 3000 pts」
「Congratulations! You are leading #9 in the top 10!」
「Hunter Trial Day 1| Remaining Time: 6:59:59」
The academy didn’t only reward killing monsters. It rewarded everything that made a hunter a hunter. Keeping civilians safe in the middle of threats was an important factor, which was why Luke was rewarded.
The opposite meant the same. If he and Vivian had destroyed the public, they would have gotten fewer points, maybe even a penalty.
Luke looked at his drone, the machine that hummed above his head, trying not to be a disturbance. He wondered if he stared into it long enough, he might see Principal Claris or someone else watching him.
His powers were not a mystery anymore, and maybe it was time he braced himself for the inevitable that came with it.
"Luke, I scored 1700 points, and I’m in the top 20," Vivian cheered from somewhere. "Wait a minute. How did you manage to get double my score?"
"That is because I killed the monster myself," Luke explained guiltlessly. "Don’t worry, I’ll let you land more hits on the next monster so you can catch up."
"That’s fair, but I’m more concerned that even with 3000 points, you’re in 9th place. We should begin our campaign very quickly before the gap becomes unconquerable."
"Very well," Luke replied with a hero’s tone in his voice. He looked around the street until his eyes fell on the toddler still in his sister’s arms.
"Where is Mr. Fluffy?" the child asked, and Luke heroically gave her back her squirrel.
"If I ever see him again in traffic, I’m going to roast him and eat him for dinner. Ask my sister how much I love squirrel soup."
"Luke, stop scaring her!" Vivian scolded as the girl began to cry. She separated them as quickly as she could, taking the girl back to her mother. "Don’t cry, my love. One day, your squirrel will grow to be bigger than him and eat him instead."
********
Entrance Hall, Golden Dawn Guild.
Scarlett and Raven, two beautiful girls, graced the guild with their presence. They passed the weapon check, but the security team looked at them suspiciously because noble blood was easy to spot.
"I am Scarlett Trump. Tell your leaders I require your guild’s help."
Scarlett’s request got handled faster than a speeding bullet. A minute later, a group of hunters, who couldn’t believe their ears, rushed out.
"If this is a prank, I swear..."
"It’s not a prank. There she is..."
Srylac Jonathan, a veteran hunter, froze in his tracks, his eyes slowly travelling from Scarlett’s head to her feet. Scarlett and Raven waited in silence. After a brief moment, Srylac bent the knee, and the rest of the guild followed, expressing their loyalty.
"Please rise," Scarlett said. "I don’t mean to waste your time."
********
Srylac Jonathan was a 65-year-old hunter who had lived most of his life under the Golden Dawn Guild since he graduated from the academy. His experience had gotten him to the position of the guild’s director.
The Jonathans were also one of the minor families below the Trumps, making them loyalists to the Golden Order. Because of this, Scarlett didn’t even need to say anything more. Srylac assured that every one of her needs would be taken care of.
Raven was also treated with respect because she was a member of the Kingsley family.
"My Lady, I must express my discomfort," Srylac said. "Why roam the city without escort? It is very dangerous. Please, let me get you some bodyguards."
"Thank you, Srylac, but no," Scarlett replied. "I want to participate in these trials like any normal student. I only came here because we need intel on monster zones."
Srylac wanted to argue that the fact she was here meant she was no longer participating like a normal student. You couldn’t have your cake and eat it too. So, providing her with bodyguards would only complete the picture.
"She says she doesn’t need protection, old man. What part ot that don’t you understand?" Raven asked. "Do you think our fathers would have achieved greatness if they relied on protection?"
"I–I... but... you... have won, my lady," Srylac harrumphed, silenced by a teenager young enough to be his granddaughter. These girls were bold and sovereign. He was caught between his duty and his obedience, and Srylac chose obedience.
As requested, Srylac called over the Operations Officer, a man with two heads, most likely the result of a mutation. Perhaps the two heads helped him think faster because he was very intelligent. That was how he became the Operations Officer.
He showed Scarlett and Raven more monster zones that weren’t visible on their academy maps. These zones ranged from the industrial districts to the forests bordering the city. The problem was that, with academy students roaming the main areas, rival guilds like Honored Pyre and Stygian Guild would move to these hidden zones for a quieter, uninterrupted hunting ground.
The Golden Dawn Guild couldn’t risk sending Scarlett and her party to areas where stronger hunters would be lurking. They could be exploited or beaten up.
"Then send us beyond the city," Raven said, pointing to none other than Skeleton Town. "If the city is too saturated, we take a leap of faith. The academy didn’t say anything against that."
"But, my lady," Srylac began, "Skeleton Town reeks of mutation and has a 25% chance of corruption. That place is a danger sign on its own."
"That means bigger points for us," Raven countered. "I have no doubt other classmates will go there too. Let’s not be naive."
Srylac and the two-headed officer exchanged worried looks. Srylac was both angry and concerned because there was little he could do, while the officer was more interested in what the girls had planned to make them this fearless.
"If you insist on going there," the officer said, "then let me introduce you to a mini-tower zone called a pentegate. It is a five-story with five dungeons on each floor. This will help your party focus on leveling up without having to roam around that vile place."
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