Eventually, Cross made his way to the registration counter. There were three people there: two men and one woman, all dressed in suits that looked like they were sewn by Michelangelo himself. Cross couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy. He definitely wouldn’t be able to afford clothes like that, not yet anyway. But that was part of why he was here—to start his journey and rise through the ranks.
He approached the woman behind the counter, who had a small sign that read, Registration - New. She looked up as he approached, seemingly caught off guard for a second. Cross offered a polite smile and said, “Hi. I’d like to become a Ranker.”
The woman blinked, seeming a bit dazed for a moment. Cross wondered if there was something on his face, but after a quick shake of her head, she regained her composure and her professional demeanor.
“Hello,” she said, her voice smooth and businesslike. “My name’s Emily, and I’ll be your guide for today.” She tapped at her laptop, bringing up a few files on the screen. “I assume you’re someone who has recently awakened? Or are you here to retake the Ranker test?”
Cross decided honesty was the best policy. “I only awakened recently.”
Emily nodded, tapping a few more keys. “Got it.” To Cross’s surprise, a holographic display flickered to life in front of him, filled with information he didn’t yet understand. He raised an eyebrow, trying not to judge the outdated-looking laptop by its high-tech output.
“You’ll be taking a test to determine your potential as a Ranker,” Emily explained, turning the display toward him. “There are three levels of tests available. Which one would you like to take?”
Cross blinked. “Wait, there are different levels?”
Emily smiled patiently. “Yes. My mistake, I should have explained that first. The Ranker tests are designed to evaluate your potential as a Ranker and assign your starting level accordingly. Each level corresponds to how much potential we believe you have, and it will dictate your resources, accommodations, and growth path within the World Ranker Organization.”
Cross tilted his head, curious. “Okay… can you explain the differences between the levels?”
“Of course,” Emily replied. “There are three levels. Passing the Level One test will assign you the potential of a Top 50,000 to Top 100,000 Ranker, depending on your performance. You’ll start as a Level One Ranker and will have access to basic accommodations, training, and missions.”
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She paused to let that sink in before continuing. “If you pass the Level Three test, however, you’ll be considered among the Top 50 to Top 100 Rankers in the world, and the W.R.O. will spare no expense in nurturing and maximizing your talent. You’ll start as a Level Three Ranker, with access to elite resources, training, and missions.”
Cross’s eyes widened slightly. Top 50 to Top 100? That was no joke.
“There’s only been a total of ten people in the world who have successfully passed the Level Three test,” Emily added with a hint of pride. “One of them is the father of the King Familia, one of the most famous Rankers in America.”
Cross’s jaw nearly dropped. Bronx’s father passed the Level Three test? That wasn’t just impressive—it was borderline monstrous. He couldn’t help but wonder if Bronx was the real protagonist of this world, given her family’s raw power and reputation.
In that moment, Cross felt a strange sense of pride. He wasn’t entirely sure why, but something about having any association with such a powerful family made him feel… validated. Without thinking, he reached into his pocket and pulled out the insignia Bronx had given him.
“Oh, by the way,” Cross said casually, holding up the black badge with its gleaming crown emblem. “I got an offer from the King Familia.”
Emily chuckled lightly, probably thinking he was joking. “Dear Ranker, please don’t…” She trailed off as her eyes landed on the insignia in Cross’s hand. Her smile faded, replaced by a look of shock.
The holographic display in front of her flickered as Emily’s face drained of color. She recognized the insignia immediately. It was no mere joke—it was the very real, very famous symbol of the King Familia.
“The… the King Familia?” Emily stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.
Cross nodded, still holding the badge. “Yep.”
Emily blinked several times, her composure shattered. She quickly looked around as if expecting cameras to pop out of nowhere or for Bronx herself to walk in behind Cross. Her world was spinning. It wasn’t every day that someone waltzed into the registration office with an insignia from the King Familia, let alone a new recruit.
Cross, meanwhile, felt a mixture of smugness and anxiety. He hadn’t intended to shake Emily to her core, but seeing her reaction confirmed something important. This badge wasn’t just a piece of metal—it was a symbol of power and status, something that could change the course of his future in an instant.
“Sir,” Emily said, finally regaining some of her professionalism, “please wait here for a moment.” She tapped rapidly on her console, sending a message to someone higher up in the organization. Cross watched as her fingers flew across the keyboard, but he couldn’t help feeling a little nervous.
Did I overplay my hand? Cross wondered, glancing down at the insignia. The last thing he wanted was to attract too much attention before he was ready.
Emily looked back at him, her smile now more formal and a little strained. “It seems we’ll need to escalate your registration to a higher department. The King Familia holds significant sway here, and we wouldn’t want to make any mistakes in handling your case.”
Cross gave her a polite nod, but inwardly, he was cringing. Great. So much for staying under the radar.