Meeting

Surrounded by several aspirants... former CREDHOS aspirants, Jaden had his eyes fixed on the first person called. He felt a bit better than earlier, but his stress hadn't entirely disappeared.

However, there was something on Jaden's mind. "Why are we starting with him?" he wondered.

  Perhaps it was because he was the most imposing in the academy, in terms of physique and courage, Jaden had to admit that Tony had earned his place at the top.

Even though this guy was super strong, Jaden was absolutely certain that it would be difficult for him to find a team given his character; such a person could cause real problems due to their impulsiveness.

However...

"Huh? Everyone, even Diane and Zixe."

Jaden was surprised to see that everyone had their hand raised. How could everyone want someone with such a temperament? Jaden was becoming increasingly confused about the CREDHOS' reactions. This person probably didn't fear anyone, so why would you want him on your team?

"Personally, I would only take a guy like this if I think I can straighten him out, but this Tony..." Jaden let the thought pass because he didn't know if he could find logic behind all of this.

"Ken, how strong is this Tony?" However, there was something he could find out.

"Very strong." Kenzo said as if recalling something.

'That's not a great answer, but it says a lot.' Jaden thought, because his friend was quite tough, and if he said someone was very strong, then that was probably the case, although Jaden expected a more detailed answer.

"Another proof that geniuses exist, he's a genius at fighting." Kenzo added with a serious tone, using the word that Jaden hated the most, geniuses.

"Since you love fighting, have you challenged him before?"

"Yes."

"And...?"

While Jaden was waiting for the rest, Kenzo's face seemed to say it all. He didn't answer, he just had an increasingly lost look.

"No one won." someone replied.

"How can no one win? And..." Jaden's train of thought was cut off before he could ask further.

"You are...?"

"Anna CREDHOS initiate, for 1 year."

She was a pretty girl with a calm and relaxed demeanor, but she seemed very strong. She had long turquoise hair and eyes of the same color, albeit less vivid, which indicated an observant and detached personality.

"Dark green uniform, obviously a level 1 initiate." Jaden thought.

CREDHOS are classified into 4 levels, not counting the aspirant level at the academy, and each of these levels has a specific color for their uniforms, except for the elites who have two.

CREDHOS Aspirants, dark gray uniform: this level is for all members in training at the academy, they are assigned to missions involving lower-level HOUMs - low class.

CREDHOS Level 1 - Initiate, dark green uniform: the first promotion after completing the academy, they join a team with a superior to gain experience, often limited to fighting middle-class HOUMs.

CREDHOS Level 2 – Veteran, brick red uniform: promotion based on mission experience and performance, can train recruits and face high-class HOUMs of level C.

CREDHOS Level 3 – Elite, navy blue or off-white uniform: promotion after successfully completing highly dangerous missions, capable of taking on a high-class HOUM, regardless of level.

CREDHOS Level 4 – Master: the best of the best, only heard about by the public.

"She's been an initiate for a year, but she doesn't have any stars yet." Jaden thought, looking closely at the girl who had just joined their conversation.

To differentiate between the abilities of each level, one or more stars were awarded to the strongest in each level. Initiates were entitled to one star, veterans two, and elites three.

However, some elites, like Rei and Rush, whose level was infinitely close to 4, preferred not to wear stars, and others, like Zixe, didn't wear the uniform at all.

"Why is an initiate here?" Kenzo asked with a somewhat confused and somber expression, due to the response that indicated no one had won.

"I like the excitement of newcomers." Anna replied calmly, as if they had known each other since childhood, her voice giving the impression that nothing was a big deal.

"And how did you know about me and Tony?" Kenzo asked, surprised.

Did the former members really care about what happened at the academy?

"It's a secret." Anna replied with a smile.

'Wow, she answers quickly, she's fast and concise, it's as if she doesn't want to exert herself.' Jaden thought after observing the reactions of this initiate of two years.

She seemed to make the least effort possible, as if she needed to conserve her energy.

"Hey, hero, why did you look like a loser if no one won?" Kenzo hadn't lost, but he gave the impression that he had been defeated, which was quite unusual.

"He's smarter than me. If no one wins, it means he won," Kenzo said in a determined and low voice to respond to Jaden.

'I see, that seems logical. Not at all, normally the less intelligent one should be the winner in that case.'

Jaden was taken aback by this reasoning. If two people, one smarter than the other, take a test and both get the same score, the less intelligent one will feel happy because the smarter one couldn't do better than them.

"Not logical." Jaden replied, looking at his teammate strangely.

"Yes, it is."

"No, it is not. Not at all"

"I'm really good at this game." Jaden thought, but just before he continued...

"In fact, for Kenzo, the one who is intelligent doesn't have as much time as he does to train because he has to do intelligent things." Anna's melodic voice chimed in again.

So, the fact that there was no winner against someone who trained less than him made him a loser. Jaden arrived at this conclusion, which he found logical but didn't like.

However, there was something else on Jaden's mind, so he glanced at Anna for a moment before asking Kenzo. "How do you know all this? Did you tell her, Ken? Is she your..."

"Not at all, this is the first time I've seen this girl." Kenzo interrupted Jaden before he could come to a strange realization.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Anna."

"Jaden."

"Kenzo."

Both of them responded almost immediately to her introduction, as if it were automatic for them to say their names after someone else had given theirs.

However, there was a hint of awkwardness in Jaden's eyes because it all felt a bit too fast for his liking. It wasn't just that; there was also the fact that Kenzo, who seemed to already know her, had introduced himself again.

"She already knew you, Ken. You didn't need to introduce yourself again." Jaden commented.

"She knew me because I'm a hero, but now she can say she's friends with a hero." Kenzo proudly stated, looking at the smile on Anna's face as if it were a great honor for her to be his friend.

Once again, Jaden was left speechless, and this was happening too many times for comfort. Doubts began to creep into his mind.

'Am I the anomaly here? Have I lived in too closed a circle?' Not everyone could be this peculiar, and despite coming from a wealthy family, he had only a few friends.

His interactions were also limited to people within the same social circle, but being somewhat solitary, he hadn't been approached much. In places like this, people didn't care about status; they acted as equals or even as superior if they were very strong.

"Anna, if I'm not around, you can call on Jaden, my acolyte, to help you. He's quite strong." Kenzo said, pointing at Jaden, who might have been shocked by such a statement a few days ago.

"Okay." Anna accepted with a smile and a nod.

'Since when did I become his acolyte?' Jaden wondered, feeling exasperated.