⋆⁺₊⋆ ━━━━༒︎ • ༒︎⊰━━━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆
Adelcross HQ, 'Executive: Mattheo Liam SV'.
"Has the testing finished? We have a tight schedule today."
The executive faked a cough, tapping on his chest. He barely caught his breath, constantly being bombarded with paper works and complaints. He had never drank so much caffeine all in a day, since it was tough having to handle the nation's Domestic Ranking System and attend to the International Leaderboard directors. What a way to live my thirties, he thought.
'Bang!'
"Sir, t, there's one more left in the examination room." The employee rushed in, tightening their grip on the files.
"I left you to handle the rest. I have more important things to do."
"They've exceeded the S rank!" Everyone's attention abruptly fixated over to the panicked employee, silence engulfing the room.
That couldn't be. The executive's eyes lit up. However, his words contradicted his reactions. "Could be an error. Check again."
After all, he couldn't get his hopes up too soon.
"I believe it's time to use the TS-300."
Executive Mattheo paused for a moment.
It was their advantage to try the newly invented machine.
"Show me where they are." Let's get this over with, he thought to himself as he shook his head.
⋆⁺₊⋆ ━━━━༒︎ • ༒︎⊰━━━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆
"Apologies for, ah, err..." He rubbed and squinted his eyes to check if what he was seeing was right.
The remaining examiner who presumably exceeded the S-rank was..
A child?
Immediately, he snatched the document from the faceless employee, scanning her profile.
Meanwhile, the little girl munched on her strawberry-flavored lollipop, blankly staring at the executive while spinning the chair.
"Miss.. Juno Fuhscia Elinora Delford, am I right?"
He earned no reply. Juno nodded, letting go of her lollipop and sucking it again. She seemed no older than 10, and aside from her intimidating expression, she played around with the chair.
An employee approached from behind her. "Please don't break our chair, ma'am." They whispered. Obediently, Juno stopped spinning the chair, facing the executive once more.
"Is it alright if we take you to our laboratory for the final test?"
No response again. Instead, Juno rose from the chair.
"Where is it? I'd like to go home."
The executive sighed. She finally spoke to me, he thought, shrugging it off. "Yes, yes. This way, miss Juno."
Another reason he didn't want to have children.
"Who allowed this 10 year old in the facility?"
"Her father claimed she had been experiencing summoning symptoms since about a month ago." The employee whispered. "She might be a summon."
Matteo was interrupted from speaking. "I'm 12, sir," Juno muttered. "By the way, can I have another lollipop? I've been here since this morning."
The employee looked back, shuffling through their pockets and pulled out a lollipop. They then handed it to the little girl.
"When did.. never mind." The executive rubbed his temples.
'Tap'
The system whirred, doors opening as they continued further their path.
"Sit here." Another employee appeared, gesturing to the cushion installed with wires and other machinery. Juno sat comfortably, rotating the new lolly in her mouth with a light 'pop!'
Mattheo received a nod, pulling the lever whilst anxiously anticipating an outcome. Other employees observed silently from the sidelines.
'Whiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiir!'
⌜◁System: Analyzing. . . Please wait. . .▷⌟
The screen's brightness emitted on the executive's face. I don't get paid enough for this.
However, if I'm right..
I better get a raise.
'Ping!'
⌜◁System: Error has occurred! Restarting. . . Please wait. . . ▷⌟
The employees bit and tapped on their fingers, brows furrowed as their eyes locked with the screen.
'Creak'
"Sir, the reports ar-"
"Sh!!" The executive and the rest of the employees gestured, turning their focus back to the screen.
'Ping!'
⌜◁System: (2) Error has occurred! Restarting. . . Please wait. . . ▷⌟
One of the members then whispered, "Don't you think 3 tests are too much? The lady is just a child after all."
"Third time's the charm, Lydia." Mattheo said.
Juno's calm expression slowly shifted to a slightly pained one. The machine continued to whir.
'Ping!'
Could it be..
⌜◁System ranking result: SSS+ Tier ▷⌟
'Ping!'
⌜◁System: [Adelcross] has obtained 'First SSS+ Ranker in the world!' Channel has been leveled up to: Global Stability Rank #2 - Overall mana: 94, 340, 976▷⌟
"W, what?! Is this real?"
"We're rank 2?!"
The employees began cheering and shouting.
Juno slowly pried her eyes open, disturbed by the numerous pings of the system.
⌜◁System: You are now ranked 1st in the {International Leaderboard!} Your existence is being broadcasted to the world in real-time! ▷⌟
Juno sucked on her lollipop, blinking twice at the screen.
'Crruunch'
"What?" The little girl stood from the magical chair chewing on her broken lollipop with a blank expression.
"T, this is phenomenal! You're going to be a hero!"
The little girl froze in reluctance.
She did not want to be a hero.
'Ping!'
⌜◁System: Channel to the [Decagons] has been unlocked! ▷⌟
⌜◁System: A new member has joined the [Decagons]! Broadcasting in real-time! ▷⌟
Wait, seriously?!
⁜— Crowned Thorn (#8): heyy welcome to the decagons!!
⁜— fishyy (#4): srs?? it was fun being third.
⁜— Winter (#2): ...
⁜— Black Rose (#9): Winter, how does it feel that you're no longer first? lmfaoo...
Juno's eye twitched. Someone like me, to take the FIRST international ranking? What were the gods thinking! It was simply too much. She had just graduated from elementary, and now the crown of [1st Ranker] would weigh heavy on her head.
Oh mom and dad, what would your dear daughter do now?
⌜◁System: Channel to the [Domestic Rankings] has been unlocked! ▷⌟
⌜◁System: Enter your member name: [This will be visible in your worldly profile.]: {Enter here} ▷⌟
A member name? Juno hovered her fingers to the status window, slowly typing a name.
'Star.'
⌜◁System: Your registered member name is: Star! ▷⌟
⌜◁System: [Star], your title is: Aurum's Grand Timekeeper ▷⌟
Before Juno could grimace at the title, the executive had interrupted her moment. "Miss, we have to head to the HQ."
"I wanted to go home."
Despite the stern tone, the executive's excited expression blew his cover.
"Ah, right, right, this'll be quick."
⁕⁕⁕