Ah. So that’s why they gave me this.
It made sense. Bronx wanted to make sure no other Familias or guilds could get their hands on him. She wanted to keep an eye on him, making sure he wasn’t poached. Cross blushed slightly. She really thinks that highly of me, huh?
He shook his head, pocketing the insignia. It was a smart move on her part, honestly. This kind of thing happened in all the xianxia novels he used to read back in his old world. When a sect found out about a talent, they’d do everything in their power to lock that person down, make sure no one else could steal them away. This world wasn’t all that different, it seemed.
With the insignia safely stowed away, Cross took a deep breath and walked through the massive doors of the World Ranker Organization building.
The moment he stepped inside, he was hit by a wave of Source energy, flooding in from all directions like a gust of wind. It was rich, thick, and palpable—much denser than anything he had felt outside. His Heavenly Eyes blinked open again for a second, revealing the swirling, colorful particles of Source that filled the air. There were doves of it, practically pouring from every corner of the building.
And then, there were the Rankers.
The sheer number of them startled Cross. Everywhere he looked, there were people—men and women from all walks of life, all gathered here under one roof. Most of them looked experienced, their auras buzzing with power, their bodies adorned with weapons and armor, while others, like Cross, appeared to be newcomers. It was intimidating, but also exhilarating.
His heart skipped a beat. This is it, he thought. I’m about to be one of these strong, chosen people.
He took a deep breath, trying to keep his excitement in check as he glanced around. Nearby, there was a 3D map, or more like a layout, of the entire building. The interface was highly advanced, much more sophisticated than anything he had seen back in his old world. Cross approached it and began interacting with the map.
There were three main floors in the building, each serving a different purpose. The lowest floor, the one he was on now, was called the General Floor. This was where most of the Rankers gathered, socialized, and handled their everyday tasks. The second floor was labeled the Customs Floor, home to a variety of shops, smithies, and other services Rankers might need to repair, buy, or upgrade equipment.
Then there was the third floor, the Lounge. According to the map, this floor was restricted—only accessible to Rankers who had reached a certain level. It was apparently a hub for gathering and selling information, a place where the elite Rankers traded knowledge about Fiends, Towers, and more. Cross couldn’t help but feel a tinge of envy at the thought of reaching that level, but he was far from it right now.
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Another interesting note was the currency system. Rankers didn’t use regular cash here. Instead, they used something called Ranker Credits, a universal currency that could be exchanged for regular money in whatever local currency you needed, or used directly in the W.R.O. building. It was efficient, but it also meant that everything in this place revolved around the Ranker system.
Cross zoomed in on the map, finding the registration office. As soon as he tapped the location, a set of holographic arrows appeared in front of him, pointing the way. He blinked in surprise. Apparently, only he could see them.
“Fancy tech,” Cross muttered, impressed by the level of technological advancement in this world. He hadn’t expected this kind of interface, but it seemed this world had more going for it than just Towers and Fiends.
Following the arrows, Cross began making his way through the General Floor, taking in the sights and sounds of the bustling Rankers around him. There was an endless variety of people—tall, short, muscular, lean, and from every nationality imaginable. Given that this was the New York branch, most of the Rankers were Americans, but there were a fair number of international faces as well.
As he walked, he noticed small groups gathered here and there. Some of them were deep in conversation, while others were simply lounging around, observing the scene. Cross quickly deduced that many of these groups were Familias.
His eyes flicked between them, his Heavenly Eyes automatically assessing the strength of the individuals in each group. To his surprise, he found himself feeling both excited and disappointed at the same time. Most of these Familias, despite their impressive appearances, felt relatively weak compared to the King sisters he had just met.
Their auras were strong, but nowhere near the level of Bronx or Juliet. Cross couldn’t help but smirk inwardly. Looks like I made the right decision.
He continued following the arrows, a newfound sense of confidence swelling in his chest. He hadn’t planned on joining a Familia this soon, but if he was going to be part of one, it might as well be one of the best. The King Familia might only have five members, but they were all monsters in their own right.
As he walked, Cross glanced at the insignia in his pocket. The simple gold crown didn’t seem like much, but it represented so much more than a mere badge. It represented opportunity, power, and a future that was rapidly unfolding before him.
Six months, Cross reminded himself. He had six months to reach Stage One in both Body and Domain. It wasn’t going to be easy, but with the resources of the King Familia at his disposal, he had a real shot at making it.
For now, though, he needed to focus on getting through the registration process. He still had a long way to go before he could call himself a proper Ranker, but the path was laid out in front of him, clear as day.
As Cross reached the registration area, the holographic arrows faded, leaving him standing before a massive desk manned by a middle-aged woman with sharp features. She looked up from her screen, eyeing him briefly before offering a curt nod.