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nAs the two boys made their way back to the living room, Mako utilized one of the features of his holoscreen which was that when placed on a flat surface on its back, it would turn into a projector capable of displaying a holographic screen with high definition quality.

nThe holographic screen started to display a video that Mako had loaded from the internet and Bill watched with anticipation as he had never learned about this kind of stuff before.

nThe video showed a couple of different journalists; each narrating their experience when they were given the opportunity to report that year’s recruitment challenges.

nApparently, there was no fixed test or mission as every year the test was different. Each year it would be held at a different location, with different rules and ways to pass the test. As the two boys continued to watch the video, the video transitioned to statistics as each journalist gave his or her report on a multitude of different subjects,

nSuccessful recruitment from Emerald City in the year 3099.

nOut of the 2000 or so students which were qualified enough to even participate in the recruitment test, only 80 were accepted as the percentage of successful recruitment was 4 percent.

n“Wait, wait, wait…. did she just say what I think she just said?!” Bill exclaimed as he paused the video that was currently being played in which a tall female journalist with blonde hair and a geometric face was announcing the results of all the different cities that participated.

nMako had already seen this video so it didn’t cause him that much of a shock, but the same couldn’t have been said for Bill. He could not get around such a small number considering the number of people that he knew who were extremely strong.

nMako had to explain to Bill that most people he knew who were strong, were gangsters and associates of the mafia so they obviously won’t be appearing in the recruitment test. He also explained that people were only limited to legally buying Level 3 ability books, but that doesn’t mean that it was the peak.

nMost candidates had two abilities while a few had three abilities, some had broken past the limits on their own and became level 4 ability users, while some mastered their power weapons which also aided them in battle a lot. 𝚍ｎ𝚘ｖ𝚕.𝚝

nConsidering his current strength level and the amount of time left Bill was losing hope of ever making it through the challenges and becoming a military student like he always aspired to be just like his own father.

nMako was quick to judge based on the sudden mood change and instantly started to explain his thought process to Bill so that his Morale won’t completely diminish.

n“First, get what you need from the stash and meet me at the bakery around 7 am; when my shift is over. I will introduce you to Sir Derek, so you can work there from the morning till the afternoon while I am at school.”

nAfter Mako had explained what their day-to-day activities would be; he proceeded to tell him what his plans were for the nights.

n“Do you know where they held their illegal fights?” Mako politely asked Bill because he knew this was still a sensitive subject for Bill, who couldn’t recover from trauma in a day.

n“They have multiple locations that they cycle through in random order and the fights are held random days apart so it becomes really difficult to track, but I know where the next fight will happen,” Bill replied with a serious look.

n“Okay, so this is what we are going to do, to get stronger; we have to train, but we also need to earn. Almost all of the candidates in the previous test had two abilities or one really strong one which Mako and Bill had neither off.

nThey both knew that they had just scratched the surface of how strong a level 3 ability user can be as anything above is considered ‘too dangerous by the government for the welfare of the city.

nAt first, Bill was completely against the idea of even showing his face in that place again, but after 45 minutes of constant arguments, Bill finally cracked as he gave out a long deep sigh and agreed to take him there on the condition that he won’t fight.

nMako didn’t really care as all he wanted to do was to farm fighters for EXP so that he could level up and get better skills.

nMako concluded by telling Bill the remaining bits and pieces of the plan and soon after left for the school to get all the belongings that he stashed over there.

n************

nMako arrived at the bakery at the usual time and began working his shift. His relationship with Sir Derek had improved a lot ever since the whole duel ordeal with him and Bill.

nWhile folding butter between the dough to make some delicious and flakey croissants, Mako informed Sir Derek that he had told a friend to come in the morning to get a job here for the morning shift.

nSir Derek saw no problem with it as not all of his workers were as patient as Mako and they often left after being scolded by him about three to four times. So another employee would help reduce some of the load on him which he appreciated.

nThe night went by in a flash and as Mako was preparing to leave for school, the front door rang which meant that it was either their first customer of the day or Bill had arrived at the perfect time, and of course, it was the latter.

nBill greeted Mako and told him that he had gotten everything he needed and brought it back safely to the house.

nMako nodded as he led the way for Bill to meet Sir Derek.

n“Sir Derek! This the friend I talked to you about,” Mako said as he presented Bill to Sir Derek.

n“Well now, This one has some muscle on him unlike you Mako, I hope you like doing hard work cause there going to be lots of that around here.” Sir Derek said in a rather deep and threatening tone.

nMako had already informed Bill of Sir Derek’s behavior, and what he should expect on the first day. Bill was confident that he could take him on, but just standing in front of Sir Derek, Bill started to have cold feet.

n“Alright! I’ll leave you two to it!” Mako shouted as he left Bill alone with Sir Derek.

n‘Mako I swear to God, If I am alive till the afternoon, I’ll kill you myself!’ Bill cursed Mako in his thoughts as Sir Derek patted Bill on the back a bit too hard.

nBill started to work as one of the cashiers at the bakery just as the morning rush started while Mako took his usual route through Bird’s Eye street, greeting everyone on his way to his high school.

n**********

nThe day went by quicker than expected as it was the last period before the school closed for the day. Mako could be seen talking to another student, away from everyone else near an old oak tree that was on one of the corners of the outdoor basketball court.

nThis was one of the bullies that used to bully Mako a lot and even though he showed his strength at the duel match-ups, there were still cocky students like him who thought that could easily pick him off.

nThe student wasn’t standing and talking to Mako in a normal way with closer inspection, one could see cuts, scratches, and dirt all over his body with his forehead touching the ground as he was begging him to stop.

n“Please! I know that I did bad things but please spare me, I promise I will never do it again! I can even compensate, name your price.” The boy yelled while snot kept running down his nose.

nMako clicked his tongue in disgust as he just walked away while the student kept bowing down. he would never raise his fist and start a fight on purpose and especially against weaker opponents, but if they wanted to be taught a lesson, then he would most definitely teach them a lesson he won’t forget, and he got free EXP out of every fight as well so that was a good bonus.

nThe school was finally over and Mako made his way to the bakery to meet up with Bill.

nMako was expecting Bill to be tired beyond recognition and Sir Derek shouting more orders at him as this was what his first day was like, but as soon as Mako opened the front door to the bakery, he was shocked so much by what he saw that he very nearly tripped.

nBill could be seen serving some snacks to a couple who were sitting on one of the few small tables that were inside the main lobby of the bakery. Bill looked fresher than ever the most shocking thing was the fact that Sir Derek was standing behind the main counter as always and was smiling while watching Bill work.

n“Oh, Mako! Come in, Come in!” Sir Derek said in his deep masculine voice.

n“Where did you find this gem of an employee, he has been the most hardworking and efficient person I have ever seen as today’s morning rush had no rushing at all. He was so quick in processing and packing orders, he’s a natural!” Sir Derek praised Bill who just kept quietly standing next to Mako receiving all of those praises with an open heart.

nMako was shocked and speechless beyond belief throughout Sir Derek’s praise and the walk back home. He still couldn’t believe Bill made it in Sir Derek’s good book on day one.

n“Come on, man! Spill the beans, How did you get on his good books that easily?” Mako kept bugging Bill with the same question as it meant too much to Mako to not have a definitive answer.

nAfter the constant bugging, Bill finally caved in,” I didn’t do anything on purpose. I just followed every instruction he told me, and although his constant yelling and taunting were annoying, I got through it as I was once just like him, and due to me being a level 3 ability user, I got most things faster than he expected. It was nice to see someone praise me for a change, it was a good feeling.”

nMako was moved by the way Bill described his first experience in the bakery as he stopped trying to bug him as obviously it was a big day for him and he had already been through a lot.

nWalking back home, Mako suddenly took a right turn leading to a local park. Bill was confused as to why Mako suddenly changed his path.

n“Hey? Isn’t the house that way?” Bill asked as he caught up to Mako

n“Yes, I just need to make a quick extra stop here before we get home,” Mako said as the two boys continued their path toward the local park.

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