Lost Origins: SS Ranked Awakening-Chapter 100: Scouting Mission

Beneath his still expression, Kieran had some similar feelings of dissatisfaction, just like Ricahrd, but he quickly dumped those.

They had both made a deal with August to cooperate with each other and he had no choice but to push whatever hate he had for Richard to the side and hold up his part of the deal.

Besides, ever since the first moment when he saw his name on the same list as the Scarlet descendant, he knew this day was going to come, it was only a matter of time and that time was here now.

During the course of the past month, they had all gone on missions one way or the other. They all just happened to move solo.

There was an occasion where he had Derrick had crossed paths during their missions and collaborated in each other’s interest.

It was helpful to the both of them, but Kieran could tell from that experience that while their collaboration ended in success, they were both people who liked to work solo.

That, plus Richard who obviously didn’t want anything to do with either of them made their team quite peculiar.

He still wondered who was dumb enough to put the three of them in the same squad and why, despite all the signs of their incompatibility.

It was a rather illogical move coming from an organization like the military.

Kieran pondered while his feet let him to the mission hall to check whatever missions were available. If they were lucky enough, they could come across a level 6 mission ranked low enough for them to take as a team of three level 5 hunters.

’I wonder what I would get?!’

Kieran wondered as he read through the several requests for specific types of recruits on the main notice screen of the hall.

Turns out they only got their classes when they made it to level 6. Kieran had no idea what he was going to turn out as, but he hoped it was something good. He had overheard conversations about Jake breaking through to a level 6 with the class of a tank and he to admit, it did fit him.

The recruit was an expert at attracting aggression to himself.

His mind was brought back to the reason why he came here and he approached the big circle where people stood, while looking at something which appeared invisible to him, using their hands to make certain gestures like swiping a screen.

This scene reminded Kieran of his first mission he had taken along with Ruby and the excitement and confusion he felt that day with all the new things he had been introduced to back then.

He stepped onto the circular platform and a screen invisible to the others appeared in front of him and started scrolling through the available missions before narrowing the search down to missions that required a minimum of three people to participate.

While going through the long list of missions, none of which caught his eye or looked enticing enough to convince the other two teammates hebwss paired with, Kieran’s ears twitched, picking up the conversion of a team a couple feet away from him.

"Why the hell would you want to go on that mission?"

The first member of the team said in a hushed but frustrated tone.

"What’s wrong with it? Isn’t it a scouting mission? We’ve done way too many of that, we are pike experts in the field!"

The other recruit retorted back at the first.

"Well, this one is different! First off, it’s not a low stage level six mission like the ones we take. It’s the peak stage!"

"So? That’s why you’re scared!" 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

The second voice was filled with contempt this time around.

"That’s not the point! Haven’t you heard of the rate of failure, it’s at seventy percent! Do you have any idea what that means?!"

The first recruit shouted back angrily and a third voice intervened, calming the tension a little.

"Oh! I heard of that. You’re right, we shouldn’t just rush into the mission alone. I heard the some other teams were joining hands to take it on. We could offer to join them."

"With enough numbers, I don’t see why we shouldn’t be able to make it!"

The new voice pitched an idea which calmed both parties down significantly as they went silent for a while, probably thinking the whole idea through.

The first person spoke up again, his voice laced deep with doubts but no longer opposing the idea as strongly as before.

"Are you sure John? Numbers night not be the solution this time. They didn’t say it, but most of those who failed the mission didn’t make it back. I’m sure you know what that means. Besides, this mission is connected to the war!"

’The war?!’

Kieran’s ears ticked at the mention of the war. So far he had been unable to get any sort of information on the status of the war going off on the planet. If not for the high population of active recruits in the camp and the subtle tension that still lingered, Kieran would’ve long forgotten.

He had tried getting some information from August, but he got advice to stay out of it for now and he gave up after a few more tries.

This news about an open mission that was free to the general populace who weren’t handpicked was rather intriguing.

Kieran paid more attention to the conversation and heard the second recruit from before trying to convince their reluctant counterpart.

"Oh c’mon man! We aren’t moving alone, there’s going to be a bunch of peak stage level 6 scouts like us. Nothing bad should happen!"

"He’s right, I happen to know some of them who are taking part in the mission!"

The third person also chipped in, trying to convince him further.

The first remained silent for a whole before letting out a sigh and giving in.

"Alright then, let’s try it!"

"Good, that’s settled. Let’s leave!"

The second recruit’s excited voice was cut through the space to Kieran’s ears as he dragged his two teammates off the platform.

Kieran cleared the screen in front of him and narrowed his search down based off what he had overheard from the party that just left and his eyes settled on the mission a few minutes later.

<<Mission: Scouting the northern part of XA-24>>

<<Mission Type: Scouting>>

<<Rewards: 1500CP(minimum)>>

<<Completion Rate: 30%>>

<<Required Rank: Mid stage level 6>>

<<Personnel Requirements: Team of 5(minimum)>>

Kieran read through the details of the mission made available by the camp, his interest in the mission deepening.

’Why would they need to set out a open mission with that kind of reward?’

Kieran observed, seeing the reason behind the second recruit’s enthusiasm — the minimum reward of 1500CP, the highest amount of CP he had ever seen as the reward for any mission.

While the recruit was probably blinded by the prize of completing the mission, Kieran considered the fact that this was a sign that the camp was being pushed back or jad madr up their mind to to all out and involve the remaining recruits in the current war.

Unfortunately, the mission was far above his rank and that of his teammates. He had no ability to take it, instead he picked the next suitable mission he could see, and made his way off the platform and our of the hall, sending a few messages out.

"Hmm?"

August who had a change of expression reading the message Kieran had just sent to him.

"I knew this was going to be interesting! Hahahaha!"

He let loose a laugh that left just as deranged as he looked.

.......

Later in the day, the whole unit — Richard, Kieran, Derrick and August had assembled again and August glared at each one of them.

"Times up! Did you all come to a conclusion?"

"....."

"....."

"....."

Derrick turned his head sideways appreciating the barren view of the rocky mountain they were on. Richard also avoided August’s gaze with a disinterested attitude. Kieran was the only one who stared back at the instructor with the same dead eyes making August loose interest in him after a few seconds.

"What does this even mean?!"

August asked in a deep tone, the space around him becoming blurry as his eyes visibly darkened. His anger was palpable.

"Derrick?!"

"I– sigh!"

Derrick gave up before he could even start, the bare weight of August stare had crushed whatever excuse or results he had prepared.

Kieran’s eyes flickered with a hint of pity towards the one August intentionally frightened for the sake of pleasure.

"Kieran?!"

August turned to him too.

"You’ve heard it already, you can drop the act!"

Kieran said in a flat tone, to Derrick’s shock. His mouth was wide open unable to comprehend hoe Kieran could act so freely around that demon.

Even Richard glanced at this scene from the edge of his eyes. He might be uninterested, but he knew than not to be afraid of August. The memory of getting knocked out wss still fresh in his mind.

"Ohh, yeah! Cough! Cough!"

August coughed and commented sheepishly, while scratching his hair. For a moment, the lazy instructor they never thought they’d miss returned, but that was only for a moment as he turned to Richard.