Kings On The Horizon (Vol. 4-6) ✓

208 | Day 01

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TODAY MARKS THE FIRST day of the Annual Brotherhood Reranking. Compared to the other days, this was supposed to be the easiest day since the brotherhoods didn't have to engage in any physical battles. But it wasn't that at all because Day 01 is considered to be the most nerve-wracking day, unlike the other four, because all the brotherhoods can do is wait and hope for the best.

    From the first day of school to this very moment, the association will be evaluating everything that a brotherhood has done. They will be scoring and assessing their group performances, their previous battles, and their violations. But at the same time, they will be individually scored, which is why brotherhoods have to look after their brothers as well since this will reflect their overall score.

     Other brotherhoods are obviously afraid as this is the first elimination. The fact that you will be eliminated on the first day is already embarrassing enough. But what's more humiliating is that you weren't even able to show your real strength despite training so hard for the real battles.

     "Who do you think will get demoted?" Max overhears a student ask.

     All the white uniforms were at the Great Hall eating lunch. After the opening ceremony, the other brotherhoods went back to their own houses, while Busters and the rest were at the stadium with their underlings, along with the members of the Elites. This means that Max was eating alone at their long table.

     The others couldn't help but look at Max. They weren't making fun of him like what some might expect, but instead, they couldn't help but look at him with pity. They don't even know when it started, but the students of J.S High began to see Max as someone like an idol. They respected him, and his achievement brought them great pride. He was like the dark horse of the House of Kings, a horse that protected and strengthened their dying foundation.

     If Max ends up losing his protectors, the others would definitely be sad about it too.

     "Max," someone called out, making Max lift his head up to see who it was.

     Max wasn't expecting anyone, so when he saw the previous members of J.S High's top 10— Thomas Anderson Woods, Antonio Fernández de la Paz, and Justin Griffiths—holding their lunches, Max couldn't help but be surprised.

     "Is it alright if we sit with you?" Antonio asked, making Max's eyes widen in shock because he wasn't expecting them to approach him like this. "Of course, if you don't want to, then we'll—"

     "No, please, join me," Max quickly says, making the three of them look at each other before taking a seat to accompany Max on the empty table.

     Thomas and the others started eating in silence, making the rest of the white uniforms steal glances at them, especially since they're still technically known as ranks 6 to 10. The new student ranking still hasn't been announced yet, but their best bet is that it will be announced after the Brotherhood Reranking. By then, Max will finally know what rank he's really in now.

     "Aren't you all mad at me?" Max finally asked, looking at the three higher-year students in front of him.

     "Mad at you? Is it because you exposed us and got us kicked out of the ranks?" Thomas asks, making the table awkward.

     Max tries to think of a response. Of course, he didn't do it with any ill intentions. It wasn't just because he wanted to rank high and bring them down. Honestly, when PHD gave him the three tasks for the Banquet, he didn't even know that they were the students involved in it. Max only wanted to give everyone a fair shot, and that was what he did.