"B-But how is 0% even possible?" Jillian asked Celia in a worried tone. "He should at least have 2% for getting 200 points from daily points."
"I don't get it either, Jillian. Look, there are 3 others with 0% and they're tied at rank 153." Celia replied.
"But why? Do you think they stayed in the Free area?"
Celia glanced over the scoreboard and a realization crossed her mind.
"I think I have an idea how they ended with 0%" Celia said.
Jillian kept silent and eagerly stared at Celia, waiting for an answer.
"Look at the rank 1, Jillian. It's Hyacinth with 29%." Celia added.
"Isn't she the Ace of Clubs? That's an overwhelming score in just a day. It sounds impossible to be done."
"In fact, it is indeed impossible that she gets 2,900 points alone by herself in just the first day. And also, when you look at the 4 students at rank 153, one of them is Lance, the 3 of Clubs, he's also Hyacinth's chauffeur."
"Uhm… I don't understand." Jillian murmured, confused.
"So here's my theory; I think Hyacinth formed a Family with them and her family members farms loads of points for her. And then, after grinding the points, Hyacinth intentionally cut all of her family members off of her Family, hence she received all the points her paid family members have gathered."
"So you mean Leo is working for the Ace of Clubs?"
"I'm not sure." Celia affirmed. "I saw Lance and 2 other students yesterday going for an expedition deep into the forest. I saw them leaving and coming back, and I didn't see Leo with them so maybe he's taking shelter in the Free area."
Jillian sighed in relief, but the thought still bothers her.
"I'm worried. We need to find him, Celia." Jillian implored.
But then, a Class-B male student approached Celia.
His name is Earl, Celia's classmate and also a part of Celia's family.
"Celia," Earl called out her name. "Someone from Class-A wants to apply in your Family."
"Please guide them to the main tent and accommodate them, Earl. I'll be there in a minute."
"Yea… of course." Earl then went on his way.
Celia turned to Jillian and grasped shoulders tight while directly focusing her gentle ocean eyes on Jillian's glistening hazel eyes.
"Listen, Jillian. Don't get yourself all too worked up. Leo will eventually show up, I promise. For now, we have a community to manage."
"You're right." Jillian softly murmured.
Celia gave her a sweet smile to assure her unsettled thoughts.
"Let's go meet our new members. Our Family sure is growing big." Celia giggled.
~~~~~~~~~~
Day 2. 11am.
Jacob, Marco, Clyde, and Liam were all out for a hunt.
They reached the end of Area-A and have now set foot in Area-B.
A deer wandering down the forest paused in front of a lowered tree branch full of fruits.
The deer extended its head, reaching for the fruit.
Suddenly, the deer that was only indulging itself fell flat to the ground.
Jacob collar beeps.
"Nice shot, Jacob!" Marco exclaimed.
Marco went over to the deer. He stepped on the dead deer's head and pulled out the arrow pierced through its neck and handed the arrow back to Jacob.
Jacob was wielding a self-made bow. He rubbed a towel on his one-and-only arrowhead, wiping off the blood for second use.
Jacob mastered all sports so he has archery expertise. He never expected that playing sports would benefit him to this point.
"It's so gross! Its neck is still oozing out blood. I can't look." Clyde said with disgust rippling across his face.
"Fucking wimp!" Marco groaned. "We handle the hunting and you handle getting resources. We're covering your heavy chores so stop beefing."
Without any more complaints, Clyde just covered his nose and avoided looking at the deer's corpse.
Clyde harvested the ripe fruits that the deer was eating earlier and he filled up his baggage with cranberries.
"That should suffice our hunger issue for today." Jacob said.
*Bushes rustle*
A big guy emerged from the bushes holding a not-fully-grown boar on its two feet.
"Hey, brothers! I got us a meal." Liam bellowed.
The boar was still squiggling like a worm as its two feet were suspended and its entire body was hanging.
"I'm not eating that cute little thing." Clyde cried out.
"Then don't eat it." Jacob said bluntly. "Let's set up a bivouac shelter here. Clyde, you gather the woods. Marco, you start the fire. And Liam, kill that boar, then clean it and put it on a bamboo stick." Jacob ordered.
Clyde and Liam went out to do their task while Jacob and Marco stayed on their spot.
Marco began setting the fire as Jacob sat on a log.
Jacob fell into a deep over-analyzation, thinking how he would manage his Family's points.
He pressed the button in his collar and looked up at the specific animals on how many points are labelled over its head.
"40 points for the deer and 70 points for the boar." Jacob mumbled out loud. "We need to grind more points if we want to surpass her 29%"
Marco finishes lighting the fire and sits on the log next to Jacob.
"You mean… the Ace of Clubs?" Marco asked.
"Who else?" Jacob said with an annoyed expression. "We're only ranked 7 with 13.1%. She dominates us by a landslide."
"I think I know a way to get us back on the game."
"Spit it out."
"I did some calculations and if we stayed at Area-C throughout the exam, we'll get a 100% by the daily points alone."
(Note: Area-C gives 500 daily points. 500 points in 21 days is (500x21=) 10,500, even exceeding the 100%.)
"Is that all? I conceived of that too," Jacob said. "What I'm worried about is how long it will take us to get to Area-C. It's approximately 50 miles away, so travelling by foot will take away a couple of significant days. Moreover, I don't think Clyde's stamina could handle that journey."
"Yea, I concur. Clyde is a massive drag, but we can't just abandon him."
"Don't worry, Marco, I know a way…"
~~~~~~~~~~
After roasting the boar, they feasted on its scrumptious meat.
When they're done eating, Jacob's Family heads back to Area-A. Clyde was hesitant at first since they just got on Area-B and they're returning too soon.
"Jacob, where are we going now?" Clyde asked.
"We're going to Area-C." Jacob answered.
"What…? Then why're we going back? Isn't the path to Area-C in the other direction?"
"Remember that Exchange Stall earlier? We're getting us some horses."
Eventually, Jacob's Family returns by 4pm.
They walked passed through other students collecting dead animals' remnants from the previous day. They're putting them in a sack and bringing them in a deep hole which would serve as their graveyard.
Jacob was even curious if they entomb them to commiserate, or because the smell begins to reek.
Either way, that question doesn't concern Jacob, so his Family ignored them and went straight to the stall where purchases are legal and a part of the exam.
Written on the collar's system, there is one, and only one merchant that is a part of the exam. A student may purchase ANY items, resources, or requests using their points, and this is the only legitimate way of trading that the rules permit.
Obviously, each item comes at a cost, and your hard-earned points will be the payment.
Jacob and his group went over to the Exchange Stall and found a middle-aged female school personnel sitting at a table with documents in her hands.
"Excuse me, Madam." Jacob uttered. "I'd like to purchase a horse."
The school personnel dropped the document to the table and turned her attention to Jacob.
Her stall was completely empty. All there was is her table cluttered with documents.
If ever Jacob managed to buy a horse, the horse will be taken into account and will be sent by plane.
"You're looking for a horse? There's a herd of horses just yesterday, and now you want to buy one? It's almost hilarious how irrational Aspro students think nowadays," she deadpanned.
Her serious expression came out as an insult in Marco's eyes. "For your information, Miss, the rules said we are entitled to what we want to buy."
"I never said I'm not selling you what you want," she replied. "But of course, I'm not giving it to you without payment."
"How much is it?" Jacob asked.
"1,500 points. Do you have that much at your disposal?"
Jacob's Family members currently have 1,310 points each.
"We could combine our points." Marco suggested.
"Or we could wait until tomorrow for our points to update." Clyde suggested a better way.
"Do you guys think we could fit in one horse? We need at least two, and that will cost us a lot." Jacob said as he was also confused about what to do.
If they waited for a couple days to earn points and buy two horses, that would only reduce their points and the horses would be a losing investment.
Jacob realized that right off the bat and they're in a dilemma.
"I have a suggestion!" Liam said, thrilled. "Look over there."
Liam pointed his finger in a specific direction.
Jacob's gaze followed the direction Liam is pointing at, and there he saw three horses, leashed on a fence, and it's being fed by another student.
Jacob's lips curled maliciously.
"We'll reconsider buying, Madam," Jacob said to the clerk. "Let's bounce, guys."
They went over to the man feeding the horse and started a fuss.
"That's some gorgeous horses you got there." Jacob said with a malevolent grin.
The student faced them and he instantly knew he was in trouble.
"I know you guys," he said, shivering lightly. "You are the outcasts from Class-F." He grimaced. "What do you want from me?"
"Nothing. We're just admiring those horses." Jacob treaded towards a horse.
But he was impeded by the student. He's aware that he stood no chance alone against these four delinquents, but he still bravely spread his arms, preventing Jacob from advancing closer to the horses.
Jacob paused.
"You can't touch them. These horses are in my Family's possession," the student gallantly said.
"I didn't read a rule that states animals can be owned," Jacob said. "So by rule, I'm allowed to have those horses."
"From mercilessly butchering horses to coming to steal them…!" the student quavered in anger. "How distasteful!"
Marco stepped up and boldly asked, "What? Are you looking for a fight?"
"No… Get lost!"
"You're in the wrong here, dimwit," Jacob said. "Relinquish those horses or you'll get hurt."
Marco raised his clenched fist on his chest-level.
"Go hurt me then. If you dare, I'd gladly absorb your punches." the student said with confidence that these outcasts would never dare to hurt him.
After all, one of the rules of the test is that inflicting physical harm on other examinees is strictly prohibited. And failing to do so, will disqualify the aggressor on the exam plus all of the aggressor's points will be transferred over to the victim.
Liam even joined bullying and cracked his fingers. "Seems like you have a death wish. You're borderline dead, brother." Liam threatened.
Thankfully, Clyde ceased the enraging conflict.
"Stop it guys! You'll get disqualified if you resort to violence," Clyde timidly pleaded.
It was a 1 vs 4 all along, and the student put up a good argument to hold up long enough until his Family came to his aid.
Celia and Jillian were together when they overheard the commotion near the stable. They hurried to check up on their Family member and they arrived perfectly in time.
With the 9 of Clubs on his side, the tables have turned.
Celia stood upfront and greeted Jacob and his group with a sweet smile.
"Pardon… What's with the commotion? Can you please fill me in?" Celia kindly asked.
"Ce-Ce… Celia?!!!" Liam's jaw dropped.
Liam was head-over-heels for Celia. Laying a glance on Celia made him so wonderstruck that his brain suffers short-circuit.
"These condescending assholes are trying to steal our horses," the student said.
"Is that true?" Celia wanted to confirm.
"He's making it sound bad," Jacob said calmly.
"Well, these horses belong to us,and getting it by force is a heinous crime regardless of the rules." Celia said in an unprovocative tone. "Persevering with your acts will give birth to a war… I hope you're aware of that."
"We didn't come to fight, and I want to avoid starting a war as much as possible." Jacob made his statement clear. "But since you won't give up your horse, let's end this argument with compromise."
"Okay…?"
"Allow us to join your family and this conflict will be resolved," Jacob said. "These horses seemed to be unproductive, so when you welcome us into your Family, we'll handle the horses and explore Area-C. We all earn points efficiently and both parties end up happy. How does that sound?"
"No way!" the student objected. "Celia, having these outcasts in our Family will explode a controversy."
"Your proposal sounds brilliant, Jacob. However, I'm sorry that I have to decline." Celia said sympathetically.
"Very well. I don't want to look desperate just because of a horse, so we're leaving." Before Jacob left, he gave Celia an ominous smile that projected future threats, "I wish your Family to prosper, Celia."
Jacob then left without persevering any further with their desires. The disputes between two Families are temporarily resolved.
"Thank you for coming to my aid, Celia." The student thanked Celia.
Celia gave her an authentic smile and said, "No. I should be the one giving my sincere thanks to you. You hold your ground on your own and protect the horses. That's an act of bravery, so thank you, Steven."
Steven blushed. "Of… Of course. I'll do anything for you, Celia."
Jillian was still stunned by the argument that seemed terrifying for her. She was zoning out as a question bugged her head.
"Uhm… Celia, three horses actually serves us no purpose. We only need one horse for deliveries, and also, a horse only gives a very low 10 points." Jillian softly mumbled, confused.
"Yea, she got a point, Celia. No one in our Family uses the other two horses." Steven said.
"Well, the reason I didn't give them a horse is NOT because I want them to fail." Celia said with sadness in her tone. "Truth is, I only don't want them to explore the unfathomable Area-C. It is said to be overflowing with dangerous wild animals… And I just want them to be safe"
~~~~~~~~~~
Day 3 rolls out smoothly and the students are soaking up their new primitive lifestyle.
Soon it was Day 4 and Jillian's head was clouded as she did her duty in the hut's kitchen. She was distracted by a person that had never been sighted since the beginning of the exam. It got so out of hand that she couldn't focus on cooking. It even went to the point where he charred the meals she's frying. Her only duty to fulfil in Celia's Family is to serve food to other Family members, but she's struggling due to the dreadful thoughts that mess with her head.
Almost every student already has 20% and Leo's 0% haven't moved in four days.
Suddenly, Jillian's phone rang.
Baffled, she picks up the phone and despite the weak signal, the call connects through.
But when she put her phone to her ear, a very familiar voice spoke. "Hello? Jillian?..."
Jillian's eyes gaped in surprise.
"Ye… Ye… Yes?" she trembled.
"Sorry for the short notice. I'm just feeling under-the-weather these past few days, and I couldn't bear it any longer."