"Now that you've met the leaders of the various squads, it's time to discuss their roles and responsibilities," Vamos began in a calm, authoritative tone.
Victor raised his hand, drawing the attention of the room. Vamos nodded, granting him permission to speak.
"Does 'squad' mean that each group has a large number of members?" Victor asked curiously.
Camila answered before Vamos could respond. "No, not at all. Each squad is composed of only three members. In fact, the reason you're now part of Squad 7 is because of Tomas's absence. He was the former leader of that squad."
Victor leaned back in his chair, his tone casual but laced with doubt. "So, the SSDC only has around thirty members in total, excluding Mr. Grimstone and Mr. Dingergan. That seems… small. What would happen if powerful monsters attacked different parts of the city simultaneously? Would nearby squads even be able to respond in time?"
Vamos leaned forward, his expression calm but firm. "Mr. Noir, the SSDC doesn't rely solely on one central base. There are SSDC facilities established in every major city. Each member is registered to a specific city's base."
A hologram materialized above the center of the table, displaying the locations of SSDC bases. Vamos gestured toward the projection. "For instance, you, Mr. Noir, are now registered with the SSDC base in Archkam City. This registration is tied to your Supreme Card, which identifies you as a member of the organization."
Victor's doubts shifted into genuine interest as he observed the hologram.
Vamos continued, his tone steady. "Members from other cities can request assistance from nearby squads during emergencies. Every member is equipped with a personalized device, allowing them to identify the closest available squad on duty—whether they're from Archkam or another city. Does that address your concern, Mr. Noir?"
Victor nodded thoughtfully, his voice carrying a hint of respect. "It does. Thank you for clarifying, Mr. Dingergan."
Despite his tendency to question authority or push against conventional norms, Victor was not one to withhold gratitude when presented with new insights or knowledge. It was moments like these that reminded him there was still much to learn about the organization he had joined.
*
After Victor's question, the hologram shifted to display a detailed map of Archkam City. Several areas on the map were highlighted in red, indicating zones heavily damaged by monster attacks that had yet to recover.
Vamos resumed speaking in his calm, authoritative voice. "The red zones you see represent the current state of Archkam City. These are the areas still suffering from the destruction caused by the Riftborn."
'Riftborn?' Victor thought to himself, curious. He quickly deduced that this must refer to the monsters and decided not to press further.
"As you're all aware," Vamos continued, "the movements of the Riftborn remain unpredictable. These creatures are difficult to anticipate, which is why starting tomorrow, patrols in each part of the city will be extended. Squads 10 through 6 will cover the hours from 6 AM to 6 PM, while Squads 5 through 1 will handle 6 PM to 6 AM."
The room remained silent, everyone listening intently. Victor glanced around at his new comrades, pondering how this would affect him. The schedule would undoubtedly demand more of his time than his teaching job ever had. Still, he reassured himself that the workload would be manageable, especially since each squad comprised three members and the city wasn't always under constant attack.
Vamos gestured to the map, and it zoomed in on different districts. "Here are your assignments:
•Squad 10 will oversee District 1.
•Squad 9, District 3.
•Squad 8, District 10.
•Squad 7, your squad, Mr. Noir, will handle District 2.
•Squad 6, District 4.
•Squad 5, District 6.
•Squad 4, District 5.
•Squad 3, District 7.
•Squad 2, District 9.
And finally, Squad 1 will operate in District 8."
Victor noted that Archkam City only had ten districts, meaning it supported just ten squads. This wasn't the case in larger cities, where the number of districts—and squads—was far greater.
"That concludes today's discussion," Vamos announced, his tone signaling finality. "Everyone, you're dismissed."
As the meeting ended, the members rose from their seats and began filing into the elevator. Before Victor could leave, Nicholas approached him with a friendly smile.
"Victor, how are you finding things here? Does it all seem a bit too serious for you?" Nicholas joked as they walked. "I mean, I hope you're not thinking of quitting just because the hours here are longer than your old teaching job."
Victor responded calmly, his gaze fixed on the elevator panel showing the floors. "It's fine. I don't mind the longer hours. Besides, I doubt we'll be fighting monsters non-stop. Honestly, I think I might actually enjoy this."
Nicholas chuckled as they stepped into the elevator. "Good to hear! Well, good luck on your first day tomorrow." Then, as if remembering something, he added, "Oh, before you go, come to my office. I need to give you your Supreme Card and location device. You can't head out without them."
Victor gave a nod, and the elevator doors slid shut, taking them to their next destination.
*
The two stepped out of the elevator and made their way to Nicholas's office. Once inside, Nicholas handed Victor a slim book. Victor took it and flipped through its pages.
As Nicholas searched through a nearby cabinet, he spoke. "That book contains everything you need to know about the ranks and the danger levels of Riftborn. For now, based on the information we've gathered, you're classified as a B-rank."
'B-rank?' Victor thought to himself, mildly surprised.
"Don't worry," Nicholas continued as he pulled out a silver card. "This assessment is based on your last recorded battle. Since you weren't able to successfully eliminate an A-rank Riftborn, we couldn't place you in a higher rank just yet. For now, you'll stay at B-rank. That shouldn't be a problem, right, Victor?"
Victor shrugged as he accepted the silver Supreme Card. "It's fine. Rank doesn't really matter to me."
Nicholas chuckled. "Good to hear. By the way, your Supreme Card will change depending on your rank. The card tracks your kill count, rank, name, and squad assignment. The kill count updates automatically whenever you take down a Riftborn. As for the rank, your card's appearance changes as you climb higher:
•E-rank: Bronze Card
•B-rank: Silver Card
•A-rank: Platinum Card
•S, SS-rank: Gold Card
•SS+-rank: Diamond Card
•SSS-rank: Emerald Card."
Victor glanced at the silver card in his hand, then mused to himself. 'I wonder if I could sell these cards if my rank goes up.'
As if reading his thoughts, Nicholas smirked. "One more thing—you can't sell these cards. It's strictly forbidden by the organization. And before you ask, yes, the card's updates are automatic. The kill count and even the card's transformation when your rank increases? All done through magic. Go figure."
Victor sighed, shaking his head at the explanation. "Magic, huh?" he muttered, tucking the card into his pocket. At last, Nicholas gave him the location device.
"This device will let other squads know if you're on duty and track your location," Nicholas explained, handing Victor a small, sleek gadget. "Of course, you'll also be able to see where the other squads are in real time."
Victor examined the device closely, turning it over in his hands. Its design was minimal but sophisticated, with a small screen and a few buttons. It felt durable yet lightweight.
"Useful," Victor muttered, slipping it into his pocket. "So, this keeps everyone connected?"
Nicholas nodded. "Exactly. In emergencies, squads can request backup from nearby teams. The device will notify you of any calls for assistance and show which squad is closest. It's a vital tool—don't lose it."
Victor leaned back slightly, his expression neutral. "Seems straightforward enough. Anything else I should know?"
Nicholas smirked. "Just one thing—don't ignore an emergency call unless you've got a death wish. The Mr. Dingergan don't take kindly to slackers."
Victor raised an eyebrow. "Good to know. Guess I'll keep it close."