Chapter 490:Preparations.

Chapter 490: 490:Preparations.

He gestured toward the classroom.

"Here, nobody cares who my brother is when we’re fighting beasts. Nobody asks whether he would’ve performed better during an assessment. If I make a mistake, it’s my mistake. If I do something well, it’s because I worked for it."

Silver smiled.

Elias continued.

"And honestly, I came because I wanted to become strong enough to survive outside Delta One."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Survive?"

Elias nodded.

"Delta One is safe compared to most places, but that safety depends on money, connections, and the people protecting you. I don’t want to spend my entire life relying on someone else’s strength."

He looked toward him.

"I wanted to learn how to survive on my own," he firmly said.

Silver considered it then nodded.

"That’s a good reason."

Elias smiled.

"Maybe."

"No. It is." He crossed his arms. "And for what it’s worth, you’re already doing well."

Elias looked toward him.

He continued.

"Your enhanced vision has saved our group more than once. During the first squad assessment, you spotted threats that would’ve caught us completely off guard. And during the class competition, your covering fire was one of the reasons we managed to hold the western checkpoint."

Elias looked surprised.

He smiled.

"You’re reliable," he softly said.

For several seconds, Elias didn’t answer, then he laughed quietly.

"Thanks, I needed that."

Silver nodded.

"Besides, Rank Two is close."

He smiled.

"That’s what I’m excited about." He looked toward his communicator. "I’ve been stuck at Rank One longer than I wanted. But yesterday, when I checked my energy circulation, I could feel it."

Silver raised an eyebrow.

"The pressure?"

Elias nodded.

"Exactly. It’s different now. My foundation feels fuller, and when I circulate energy through my eyes, the sensation is stronger than before."

Silver smiled.

"Sounds promising."

He nodded enthusiastically.

"If I can reach Rank Two before the next major assessment, I might finally have a chance to improve my overall ranking."

Silver laughed.

"You’re already in the top ten."

"That’s not the same."

"Greedy."

Elias smiled.

"Maybe a little."

Silver shook his head and then offered his fist.

Elias eyes widened.

He smiled.

"To Rank Two."

Elias looked at him, laughed and bumped his fist against Silver’s.

"To Rank Two."

Neither noticed Ravenna standing near the classroom entrance, watching them with a faint smile.

She’d arrived just in time to hear the final exchange. And although she didn’t interrupt, she found herself thinking that Elias looked happier than she’d ever seen him.

Peter entered the classroom precisely at nine and the conversations immediately stopped.

He carried a tablet in one hand and wore his usual dark instructor uniform, although Silver noticed that he also had a sidearm attached to his belt and a combat communicator secured around his wrist.

That was unusual.

Peter normally didn’t carry full field equipment during classroom briefings.

Silver straightened.

Something was happening.

Peter placed the tablet on the desk.

"Good morning," he said.

"Good morning, sir," the students answered.

Peter looked around.

"Everyone present?"

Helena stood.

"Thirty-one accounted for, sir."

"Good."

He activated the classroom display and a map of Alpha Three and the surrounding regions appeared.

Several locations were marked in red.

Silver recognized the Green Zone boundary immediately.

Peter folded his arms.

"As some of you are aware, military authorities have reported unusual beast movements across several sectors bordering the Red and Yellow Zones."

The students became quiet.

Peter continued.

"Normally, these incidents would be handled by military reconnaissance units and independent Contractor teams. However, the number of reports has increased significantly over the past several days."

He touched the display and several additional markers appeared.

"Because of this, the academy has agreed to assist with preliminary investigations."

Caleb raised his hand.

Peter looked toward him.

"Orson."

"Are we being sent outside?" He excitedly asked.

"Yes."

The classroom immediately erupted. Several students began whispering, others looked excited and a few appeared nervous.

Silver remained quiet.

Peter waited for the excitement to die down before he raised his voice.

"Silence."

The room settled.

Peter continued.

"This is not an academy assessment." His tone hardened. "There will be no simulated opponents. No protective elimination systems. No instructors waiting to stop the exercise when someone makes a mistake."

The excitement diminished, with each word said..

Peter looked around, his gaze sharp and serious.

"You will be operating in real territory, interacting with real civilians, and potentially encountering real beasts." He paused. "If you treat this assignment like a competition, someone could die."

The silence in the room became louder.

Silver’s expression became serious.

Peter continued.

"The first-year classes will be distributed across several investigation assignments. Class One will assist a military reconnaissance operation near a damaged observation corridor. Class Two will inspect abandoned transport routes and several smaller settlements. Class Three and Class Five will support regional supply and security operations, while Class Six and Class Seven will assist with defensive surveys."

He changed the display.

A settlement appeared near the outer edge of a Green Zone.

"Class Four will investigate Hollow Creek."

Silver leaned forward slightly.

Peter continued.

"Hollow Creek is an independent settlement approximately ninety kilometers from Alpha Three’s outer defensive perimeter. It houses around two thousand four hundred residents, most of whom are laborers, scavengers, small traders, and families unable to afford permanent residence within a major sanctuary."

Several photographs appeared: small houses, improvised walls,narrow roads, farms and a modest military observation post were the only things making up the settlement.

Peter continued.

"The settlement operates under limited military oversight. It has its own defensive volunteers, but its equipment and manpower are insufficient to handle a major beast attack."

He touched the screen and another photograph appeared. This one showed a destroyed farm, several buildings had been torn apart and blood stained the ground.

Peter’s expression hardened.

"Three days ago, Hollow Creek suffered an attack involving several beast species. Seven civilians were killed, fourteen were injured, and a significant portion of its outer farmland was destroyed."

Everyone held their breath.

Peter continued.

"The local military detachment has requested assistance determining whether the attack was an isolated incident or part of a larger migration."

He looked around.

"Our assignment is to inspect the affected area, interview survivors, identify the attacking species, and determine whether another attack is likely."

Helena raised her hand.

"Sir, are we expected to engage any beasts?" She asked.

"Only if necessary." Peter looked toward her. "This is an investigation, not an extermination mission."

She nodded.

"Understood."

He continued.

"We will be accompanied by military personnel. I will remain responsible for your safety, but I expect every student to follow instructions without argument."

His gaze moved across the classroom.

"Especially those of you who believe being strong makes you invincible."

Silver felt several classmates glance toward him.

He sighed.

Ravenna smiled.

Peter continued.

"Departure is tomorrow morning at six. Bring your standard field equipment, medical supplies, ammunition, and enough provisions for three days."

Caleb raised his hand again.

Peter sighed.

"What?"

"Are we allowed to bring additional food?"

Several students laughed.

Peter stared.

"Orson."

"Yes, sir?"

"If you can carry it without slowing the group down, bring whatever you want."

Caleb grinned.

"Thank you, sir."

Peter shook his head.

"Dismissed. Squad leaders remain behind."