I stood there, my mouth agape, as I struggled to comprehend the impossible number staring back at me. "What?" I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper.
How was this possible? My efficiency rate was higher than Jason's, the protagonist of the game I was currently in.
His rate was 88%, a number that had shocked the world when it was revealed. And yet, mine was... 95%.
The room seemed to spin around me as I grappled with the implications of this revelation.
Just as I was about to ask another question, my father's voice boomed through the room, snapping everyone back to attention.
"In the name of Rayregalia Vers Heidal, I command all of you here to keep the events of today a secret." His words were laced with an air of authority, leaving no room for dissent.
The room fell silent, with all eyes fixed on my father. Then, in unison, everyone dropped to their knees, their voices echoing through the room as they pledged their loyalty. "By your will, Your Majesty."
The words were spoken with a sense of reverence, a reminder of the power and authority that my father wielded.
I, too, felt a shiver run down my spine as I gazed at my father, his eyes gleaming with an unnerving intensity.
Then as he turned to leave, he called out to Justina and Kluivert, his voice firm and commanding.
"Justina, Kluivert, let's go." The two of them, still looking a bit dazed from the shock of my efficiency rate, followed him out of the room.
I watched them go, feeling a mix of emotions: anxiety, frustration, and a hint of fear.
I stood there, frozen in indecision, wondering what to do next. I knew that my father's order to keep my efficiency rate a secret wouldn't be enough to keep it from the queen.
She had a way of finding out things, no matter how well they were hidden. And once she knew, I would be in for a world of trouble.
I let out a frustrated sigh and ran my hands through my hair. Why did I have to awaken with such a high efficiency rate?
If I had been a bit more average, a bit more... normal, I might have been able to avoid the queen's attention.
But no, I had to go and awaken with a rate that was higher than Rayleigh's, the crown prince. I was basically asking for trouble.
I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. I needed to get out of there, to get away from the weight of my father's expectations and the queen's inevitable wrath.
I reached up and pulled out the chip that Edward had attached to my chest earlier.
I then called out to Sarah. "Let's go", I said in a somewhat calm tone.
*************
As the Emperor, Justina, and Kluivert strolled through the lavish hallway adorned with intricate frescoes, the soft rustle of their attire and the muted click of their shoes on the polished marble floor filled the air.
The silence between them was palpable, a sense of unease settling over the group like a shroud.
Justina, her voice barely above a whisper, broke the silence. "Your Majesty, I must express my confusion. The results of the assessment are...astonishing. An efficiency rate of 95% is unprecedented. I've never seen anything like it. Could there have been a malfunction or an error in the calculation?"
Kluivert's response was characteristically curt, his deep voice firm. "I've reviewed the data, Justina. The Imperial Assessment Machine is calibrated to precision, with a margin of error no greater than 2%. Even accounting for potential discrepancies, his efficiency rate would still be above 93%."
Justina's eyes narrowed, her brow furrowed in concentration. "But, Kluivert, 95% is...it's unfathomable. What kind of individual could achieve such a score? It defies all logic and reason."
Kluivert's expression remained stoic, his voice unwavering. "I don't know, Justina. But what I do know is that his abilities are far beyond anything we've seen before."
The Emperor, his eyes lost in thought, spoke up. "Hmmm...what to do about this. If Elizabeth finds out, she'll no doubt try to...eliminate him. And yet I cannot afford to lose such a valuable asset to the empire."
As they approached a grandiose window, the Emperor's gaze drifted out toward the sprawling cityscape.
'The first individual from the royal family to have an efficiency rating above 90% since the founding emperor Vestaq...this could be the discovery we need. Perhaps he is the one destined to fulfill the dream of the Imperial House Heidal.' The Emperor's thoughts swirled with possibilities as they continued on their way.