Lost Origins: SS Ranked Awakening

The unannounced monetization of everything in the camp had hit those who failed to prepare brutally, those who had managed to secure low level jobs were barely surviving.

Over the past week, while moving through the corridors of the camp, Kieran had often noticed scuffles between recruits in slightly hidden areas. The slightly stronger ones threatening those weaker than them, extorting their cp and several other things.

Scenes like these reminded him of his time in the slums. Even someone as well off as Kieran had felt the impact of paying everything with cp.

He now had to pay for entry and time in the library and the amount wasn't cheap by any means. Although, he had managed to save up quite an amount of cp, if he spent it rashly, it'd be gone in a moment.

Lately, the recruits had started to lag in their drills and training. To offset this, the camp had activated the ranking system which gave certain rewards to the rankers at the end of each week.

The lowest ranker got enough to get by each day, it wasn't comfortable by any means, but, it was better than what they had at hand, nothing!

Introducing this at the moment when the recruits were at their limits and starting to lose hope, desperate was one of the military's way of getting them involved in the system, increasing the competitiveness among the recruits in the camp aggressively.

Another disadvantage the camp had allowed was letting the senior years interfere in their affairs, although in a limited way. The 'restraining order' the second-year recruit at the counter had talked about the other day was just this.

Kieran wouldn't have known that this restraint had been lifted if not for Leora who still happened to be helping him, for reasons Kieran wasn't still sure of. She had visited him when he was in the infirmary, this was how he got informed about the activation of the ranking system.

Now that the second-year recruits were able to act to an extent, it had both good and bad effects to they first-year recruits. The recruits who had a high standing and came from a big background were able to cut deals with some of the senior recruits, receiving particular amounts of cp at intervals known to them along with tips that could put them ahead of the others in exchange for securing the seniors spots at whatever family business they owned or for owing them a favour.

Not all the recruits came here with the intension of the military, this camp was established for the purpose of creating an extremely advanced and elite set of skilled special operatives. To fund this project, the military in collaboration with the pillar families came together and the Nobles decided to also use the camp as an academy to send their descendants to.

The senior recruits from ordinary backgrounds usually used this opportunity to secure a future for themselves when they got out of the camp, if they got out.

The other first year recruits with low and ordinary background like Kieran on the other hand were at a disadvantage, not only were the others able to get a head start because of this, they were also at the risk of exploitation from the senior recruits who were struggling in their year and decided to make prey of the freshmen lower than them.

Although the camp authorities had put in some regulations to prevent this from happening excessively, they had also put in intentional loop holes for them to exploit.

To make things more even, they also gave the first-years a chance to make something out of their unfortunate situation.

If they were able to call out a case of being exploited by a senior recruit in front of the disciplinary panel, they would have the right to claim all the properties of the said senior recruit if he/she was guilty.

As easy as this seemed, a vast majority of the recruits failed at that. When a person who was training to become a super soldier decided to invest his skills and tie into extorting someone below him, the result could easily be predicted.

Only on rare occasions had senior recruits been called out on matters like this and they had all been expelled without a second chance. Some who had managed to gather enough points were able to escape this fate, but, gathering that kind of points was extremely hard and only a few had managed to survive using this method.

Kieran was lucky to meet Leora who was the reason behind his decisive actions during the first few weeks in the camp. The others had been foolish to think things would be easy going despite the hints and direct warnings they had received from the instructors.

'Now that the ranking system is active, that feature has also been activated for everyone.'

Kieran mused staring at the empty soup bowl in front of him.

Ruby who had been watching him think with his head down for the past few minutes was about to say something when he looked up at her and said,

"Come closer"

Seeing her expression become icy almost instantly, Kieran explained further.

"Your watch."

Understanding that his intentions were different from what came into her mind, she moved over to his side of the bench and showed him her hand with the watch on.

Fiddling with the watch, a panel came up

« NAME: RUBY GALE »

« LEVEL: 2 »

« RANK: 5 »

« STATUS: ACTIVE »

« VISIBLITY: ON »

« PROPERRTIES: »

«Strength: 17» «Agility: 20» «Speed: 23» «Stamina: 20» «LP: 3» «DL: 5»

Working his way around the panel she had never seen before, Kieran turned the visibility setting off.

'That's better'

"What was that?"

She asked only to receive silence from Kieran.

Narrowing her eyes in slight irritation at his attitude, she was about to ask again when a huge shadow was cast over their table.

Looking up, Kieran was greeted by a muscular body that looked it would only take it a flex to breakout of the uniform. Past the body was the face of the number one on newly announced ranking list, Jake Blaze.

Jake had been outstanding in literally ever single activity they had done. One might think someone like him with exceptional physical ability would be a brute but contrary to that opinion, he was quite outstanding in the intelligence department too.

He exhibited knowledge and charisma most of the nobles lacked.

'His LP stats is probably maxed out'

Kieran thought sarcastically staring at him with a dark look on his face.

"Whatever it is, I don't think I'm interested."

He said aiming to eliminate any chance of having a conversation. Ignoring his obvious intentions, Jake pushed on,

"Aii, it appears you know me too."

"I have no request for you, I just wanted to make your acquaintance."

He said taking a seat opposite Kieran.

Hearing the murmur of recruits increase along with their gazes on him. Kieran's expression only became sourer as he said before standing up to take his leave followed by Ruby, who curiously wondered about the reason behind his hostile attitude.

So far, Kieran had always been neutral, this was the first time she had seen him act this way.

"I also happen to see this as a request, and I'm not interested."

He said walking away.

Still on the bench, Jake stared at his disappearing figure, a small smile spreading across his face.

'He feels threatened? That's good too'

Meanwhile, the other recruits who had witnessed this murmured among themselves.

"Who the hell is that guy?"

"Jake walked up to him, asking to become friends with him."

"And he was crazy enough to reject him."

"Is he a ranker?"

"what rank is he?"

"I don't know."

"Go ask around."

Kieran on the other hand was making his way to his dorm with Ruby who was silently studying his agitated state.

"Why did you act out earlier? That wasn't like you."

"Don't ask that like you know me."

He replied an even colder tone.

"I just didn't feel comfortable."

He finally answered.

Ruby who had been slightly taken aback with his tone nodded and muttered to herself.

"A gut feeling then", waking towards her room.

"Wait!"

Before she opened up her door, she heard Kieran's voice. Turning around to see him already in front of her.

"What is it?"

She asked in a tone devoid of emotion, her expression similar to the first time they met.

Ignoring the change in her attitude, he looked sideways to check if there was anyone around, saying simply,

"The watch", before going on to explain.

It turned out that the panel he had shown her was another doing of the camp. It was meant to aid the recruits in assessing the danger level of the others while also keeping an eye on their stats to know where they could improve on.

The visibility status he had turned off allowed their stats to be open to inspection by others. The first thing he did when the system got activated was to turn he's off.

That way he was safe from the inspection of the senior years who used this method to find prey.

The fact that he turned off this setting, showed that he was knowledgeable and they usually avoided people like that to prevent unexpected occurrences.

This was one of the ways the camp 'helped' the recruits by not telling them about it. The second years and others who knew about this were free to use and exploit this opportunity as usual and by the time the rest found out, it'd be too late to make a difference.