What's Your Plan
"Hey did you see the new?"
"The Special Forces Team rescued The Hunters from M City."
The Special Force Team are one of the top agents of the Hunter Associations. There are gifted Caster Hunter who was chosen at a young age to join the army. If they can perform well during the training in the military, they will then be given an assignment to prove themselves. Once they successfully completed their duty and performed well, they will be then rank and can be given the opportunity to work in the Hunter Association.
The Hunter Association is almost like the army as well, however, most of the agents are very secretive about their identity. Since some of them are just young men and ladies. Agents from the Hunter Association normally work solo however some special mission requires them to work in a team. Each team can comprise 4 or more people in one group.
One student then came running into the room, "Guys, Claude is back."
Everyone then quickly settles down as they await Claude entry. When he steps inside the room everyone was silent, they quietly watch him as he seated in his chair at the back.
"Where do you think he went?"
"I wonder what happened to him? He was gone for 3 days yet the teacher didn't know at all."
"Do you think something happened to his family?"
Whilst everyone continued to whisper to each other, Leo got up from his seat and walked towards Claude. He was a little hesitant as he approached him, "Uhmm... What happened?"
Claude was emotionless as he faced Leo, "Had some things to do."
Leo sighed, "I was worried something might have happened to you."
"No worries, I'm all good." He replied
Leo then handed him a folder, "Here, I made copies of the notes for you. I wanted to send it to your place, but I didn't know where you live and the teacher won't tell me."
Claude grabs the folder and opened it, inside were well-copied notes of the lesson he missed. "Thanks."
"Alright, everyone settled down." The instructor said as he steps inside the class. "Claude please go to the Chairman office now."
Everyone was surprised when Claude was asked to go to the Chairman's office. As he got up from his chair and headed at the back door, everyone watched as he walked away.
"What do you think happened?"
"Professor, is he getting expelled?"
"Professor do you know why he was gone for 3 days?"
"Alright everyone settle down, passed this to everyone. Claude matter is none of your concern. You all should be more worried about the ranking." He sighed, despite he knew Claude well. They still don't know him that well to know why he was missing for 3 days. But since he was the Chairman's son, and he informed everyone not to be concern about him. They did not ponder on why he was gone for awhile.
Inside the Chairman's office, Alex was on the phone when Claude came in.
"Yes, Grandfather... Will visit you soon." He said as he saw Claude step inside the office. "Grandfather, I'll call you later."
He then ended the call as he walked towards Claude, "Welcome home."
"Father, I'm sorry I left without telling you." He said
Alex comforted him, "It's fine, I understand your situation. So how was your mission?"
"It was fine, luckily I came at the right time or else Captain would have been dead. They were ambush during the rescue, I feel someone must have leaked the information to someone. What's worst is the small city in M City has completely been occupied by Demons yets they did not know."
Alex paused for a moment as he takes in all the information, "How is that possible? M City is home to three Clan Member, how is it possible one of their territories has been occupied by demons yet the Clans don't know about this."
"I went and investigated things, it seems that place has been occupied for more than a month already. Despite being a small city it was home to thousands of people and now they are all gone." Claude explained.
Alex went to his table as he seated on his chair, "Have you reported this?"
"Not to the Military, however, I have informed Captain Cordell about this." He answered.
"So what's your plan?" He asked
"I planned to visit the place again after school ends." He said
"Then I'll prepare everything for you." Alex said, "But first do well on the ranking, at least try to participate."
Claude smiled, "I see..."
Claude then left his office and headed back to class.
Kole then entered the room.
"Prepare the plane, also tell Levin to prepare things for Claude," Alex said
-----
Back in the classroom, the class already started when Claude return. He greeted and apologized to the teacher first before heading back to his seat.
"Alright everyone, pass the paper around. You have 30 minutes to answer everything." She said
It's only been less than 10 minutes yet some of the students have given up and buried their heads on the table. Whilst others continued to squeeze their brain for the answer, some noticed Claude who was only staring at the window.
"Hey, Seid, check Claude out?" The student seated next to him pointed.
Seid took a quick glimpse and notice Claude staring at the window, his paper was just on his desk while his pen flat on the table.
"Seid focus on your own paper." She said.
"Sorry Miss." He said
After 30 minutes, each student got up from their seat as they handed in the answer sheet. Once the teacher left, the all started moaning and complaining to each other.
"That was bloody hard."
"I didn't think I even answered half of the question right."
"At least you answered it, I gave up on the first 5 questions."
"Hey, did you notice, Claude seem to have given up on the test as well. I notice Seid checking him out earlier so I checked as well. He was only staring at the window."
"Of course I'll be hard for him, he only attended class for one day."
Leo overheard everyone conversation and quickly went to Claude, "Are you alright?"
Claude nodded and did not say a word.
After school, Leo asked Claude to go out for a coffee around the City. Claude did not refuse him and was a little excited for he never been in the city for quite a long time and it was his first time going out with someone his age.
As they seated at one of the local coffee shops, Leo ordered for both of them.
"Claude are you ready for the ranking assessment?" He asked
Claude drunk his mocha frappe, "I don't have a choice."
"What do you mean?" He wondered
"My father insisted on me joining." He replied.
"Does that mean you plan to participate in the Academy Ranking?" Leo's eyes widen as he awaits Claude's response.
"Depends." Claude shorty said
Leo was a little disappointed, he was hoping for him to participate for some reason.
"How about you?" Claude returned the question causing Leo to be a little surprise.
Leo hesitated in answering, "We-Well, I want to but I'm not strong enough. The people participating in the Academy Ranking are many people from the Clans and Sub-Clans or those who possess strong Caster Weapon."
"Really?"
"Oh, I forgot you're just new here. Right now the top 10 in the Academy School Ranking are main in the Sub-Clans and a member of the Cromwell family. Of course, it not impossible for the Cromwell to be on the top, however, they aren't numbered in the Academy Ranking."
"Who is?"
"Remember the boy you pushed you down?" He asked
Claude nodded
"His older brother is the number right now. Their family is quite powerful almost at the same level as the other Sub-Clans in the city. However, they aren't well off when it comes to status in society."
"The rest are members of the Academy Council, other Sub-Clans and the last 3 are from the Cromwell family."
It didn't surprise Claude that member of his family would be attending school at First High is a family establishment, one must be at the Academy Ranking or the elder will show great disapproval over you.