The ranks of the 2nd year were strictly controlled by the nobles, to the point that Sach was the only commoner in the top 20 students.
The nobles were very strong but it wasn't because of that. Right from pre-school, they had been using a lot of underhand schemes to hinder the growth of commoners, such as threatening their families.
Because of this many commoners had been had avoided challenging those high-ranking nobles. They didn't want any trouble at all, all they wanted was to just graduate.
The next day, Sach did as the deep voice had instructed, and challenged the rank 13, Tommy. He was one of the direct descendants of the Nystrom family and had awakened the fire and wind element.
When the news of the challenge had come none of the nobles were surprised about it, but things were quite different with the commoners.
They didn't come to the battle ground to cheer Sach, but to see him beaten to a pulp.
Although Sach was a commoner they didn't like him one bit because of his shameless actions over the years.
Sach had done so many shameless acts that if not that he was an orphan, his parents would have been killed by either the nobles or fellow commoners.
"Begin!"
The start of the match was announced but instead of an exciting fight which they were expecting something shocking happened.
"I Surrender!" Tommy said as he began walking off the battle ground.
"Winner Sach!" The referee announced.
"What just happened?!"
"What is going on?!"
The commoners were shocked by what just happened and couldn't help but ask questions. It was as if Tommy had no plans of even fighting for his rank.
This was so unreal!
The commoners couldn't believe it. This was a scene that usually happened but it was the other way around.
If an influential noble wanted a rank, what they would do was to threaten their family, and when the match had begun the commoner would surrender.
Unlike the commoners that had no clue of what was going on, the nobles already knew the outcome of the match. So it didn't take long for them to disperse and return to their daily activities.
'Interesting...' Sach took note as he saw the reaction from the nobles.
Throughout his stay in the school, Sach had seen how the nobles treated everyone and that included themselves.
Unknown to most of the commoners, the nobles were divided into 4 groups.
Wealthy merchants, mid-class nobles like the Winchester family, and the top 3 families. The last group is one which only those in the top 3 families knew of and they are the ancient bloodlines. Which the royal family was among.
Just like the commoners, nobles in the mid-class and wealthy merchant class were also being bullied by higher nobles. The difference was that the commoner wasn't considered as humans, while that of lower-class nobles had a limit to how much they could be bullied.
'For the nobles including those from the top 3 to know about this, it means that it has to be a counselor.' Sach thought.
Prince Bryon was known to be against the nobles, so who else can have such power if not for a counselor.
'Well, this means the deal is legit. Time to head to the slums.' Sach made his way out of the school and into the slums.
The agreed location was a dilapidated 2 story building not too far away from a famous local pub. After circling the building a few times to make sure no one was tracking him, he entered the building.
"It's been a while." Sach couldn't help but think back to his life before the academy.
The dilapidated building comprised of multiple 1 bedroom apartments which were very common in the slums.
He walked through the corridor which was infested with rodents and reeked of piss, before stopping in front of one of the doors.
'Life is not fair, but not even the Gods care.' Sach's soul began burning with rage as he saw the dead body of a commoner who had died from cold and starvation being eating by rodents.
He calmed himself down and walked up the stairs to room number 12. When he entered the building he didn't see anyone, except for an unbounded high-quality dimensional pocket.
He quickly checked the content of the amulet and found a lot of gold coins, beast cores, a high-quality communication orb, and a map.
"Time to leave here." With that settled he left the slums and returned to the school, before locking himself in his room and emptying its contents.
He was tempted to swim in the pile of gold sitting in front of him, but he knew what was needed to be done.
He picked up the communication orb and just like before it activated.
"It is good to know you have kept to your words so far. Like I said I like people like you." The familiar static deep voice said.
"The map in front of you is the designated location of the test and it includes the strength and exact location of any noteworthy beast." The deep voice explained. "Your job is to lead him to any area of your choice and let the beast kill him. Also do not make the mistake of underestimating him because he is rank 1 for a reason."
"I see a lot of problems with your plan. If he was to be killed by a beast, surely a professor would appear to save him.
Also, the exam is constantly monitored and recorded, so if something like that is to happen I will be expelled for incompetence." Sach said.
"You don't have to worry about the professor's saving him, because all professors will be busy at that time." The deep voice said in a sinister tone. "As for the second one, I have that covered, you will only be punished and not expelled."
"How can I trust you?" Sach asked because one thing he couldn't risk was getting expelled and not fulfilling his goal.