The Degree
Preparation Ray

Ray went to the old town to do something. Initially Terumi and Ray's colleagues who have not long joined planned to accompany him, but Ray refused.

That was because the meeting he was going to do was so important, even though Ray had revealed to Terumi that in the future he would act hard, still Ray could not reveal some things.

“Many things happen in six months including about The Degree.”

Additional rules have been revealed that a person can be absent from the last task, you could say the person does not need to fight for the key.

There are not a few Degree users who take that opportunity. Apparently, the role of DP is actually in that section. At first Ray thought the role of DP would be more remarkable, but apparently the assumption was wrong.

Once again Ray stated in him that Secret he could not guess his way of thinking. I don't know how much Ray wondered about how far the organization's plan was about all this.

‘The pushing situation for all of this to be completed as quickly as possible. Even Secret started to make aggressive movements on the surface, obviously there is a big thing that will happen soon.’

Secret, disguised as an inventor of teleportation and other things, began to convey to the public that he was making a serum that would make humans evolve.

Technology continues to evolve, civilization continues to advance and humans are not at all changed. Secret expressed his ambition to bring humans to a point where they will improve as will civilization and technology.

If technology and civilization are at number seven, then humans are still at number one. The big ambition certainly makes many pros and cons so that some speculation began to emerge.

‘Despite this warming situation, I still haven't found Leo and Eric.’

Four months ago it was supposed to be their meeting as promised, but in fact the two people did not show up at all. Even since they arrived in the city, Ray had not made any contact with them at all.

Ray believes that Leo and Eric are doing well because Leo's group has so far not been destroyed or acquired by other groups.

There was no notice of anything from Secret so the group could be said to be safe. It's possible that Leo got lost or something, but Ray had a speculation he didn't want to believe.

‘There has been one group that has the golden key with him, the puzzle has been revealed on them.’

Thanks to that the situation encourages them to act faster. Ray had collected four keys and just acknowledged them. Regarding membership there is no concern because Secret has submitted other rules.

—Groups that join voluntarily and there are five groups, when the key exchange then the number of memberships will be combined so that there is no reduction whatsoever.—

—Only one person received the puzzle was the owner of the golden key. Puzzles can be shared at will who gets it.—

—Golden key will be useful to get the throne.—

—Golden key can be snatched, but not with a puzzle.—

—Further explanation will be notified periodically.—

Ray doesn't have to worry about the members. Although he was reluctant to take care of it and leave it to the others.

‘Although so the golden key can be snatched, yes?’

It seems that The Degree is more extraordinary, a really convoluted and long process of elimination. Ray understands the rules a little, because in any case to benefit from the last task, understanding the task is an important key.

So far there is only one group that has the golden key, it is not known who it is. Ray has two people who might have it.

“The most likely ones are Arthur and that copycat bastard.”

Arthur already had four keys from the beginning because he was holding the wounded with him. In addition, Ray already knew that the person would definitely get the golden key sooner or later.

Then about the copycat bastard who until now has not caught his identity may be the first person to get it. Ray had no evidence, but the odds were over fifty percent.

“Let's get rid of all that. They are really old.”

Ray looked around and had yet to find the person he was going to meet. Thirty minutes from the promised time, until finally after a few more minutes Ray waited for them to come.

“What are you waiting for?” ask Indri with a thin smile.

“Very long. At least I hope you treat me to lunch.”

“Ha ha ha, well I will do it as apology.” Ben scratched his head while smiling wryly.

“In the end you will leave a bill for me,” Ray said sarcastically, he then looked at Ben's feet. “It seems that you have gotten used to your new foot.”

Ben had severe injuries to his leg so he needed a tool to move more freely.

“I have no intention of using a fake hand for now. It feels probably quite uncomfortable.”

Ray did not use it because the cost needed is not small, and also he was worried that it would prevent it.

Having only one hand was troublesome, but it would be much more troublesome if he could not get used to it.

“Yeah, that's your choice,” Indri said.

For some reason the burns on Indri's face left a deep mark on his left cheek. It seems that even a Degree's ability can't remove such scars.

“From discussing that let's start the main discussion,” said Ray changed the conversation.

They come together for the same unresolved purpose. For the past six months they've been making their respective preparations to take revenge against the bastard who nearly killed them.

“You have a point but we better find a good place first.”

They moved and walked around looking for a restaurant to discuss. On the way they talked to each other about things that had been prepared.

Ray is certainly not so open about it because Indri is still arguably his enemy.

Arriving at the restaurant and ordering some food, they continued to start the discussion in English. After all, not many people around him could understand them.

Of course, if it was the users of the Degree then they would be able to understand.

“Yes, just go straight without further ado. We're gonna smash that son of a bitch and make him pay many times over.” Ben seems to hold back his emotions when discussing it.

“Yes. This bastard has already taken action a few steps ahead of us. Therefore, he can't just be left alone.”

Ray will certainly participate in the plan. He won't let go of the culprit who made him lose his left hand to even some permanent wounds on his body.

“If you can say that, then it means that you have known the identity of this person or at least have found the cage, right?”

Hearing Ray's question made Ben and Indri smile cynically.

“Yes. We can destroy everything he has.”

Indri seems convinced of that, so the validation of his words may not be questioned.

For the past six months Indri claimed to have built up his power again because among his group only Ben and Hiroshi were left. The death of Guren and the twins obviously inflicted no small damage to them. Talking about Hiroshi had been a long time since Ray had last seen him.

“Where is your partner again? I don't seem to have seen him in a long time despite frequent contact with you guys,” asked Ray.

Ben casually answered him, “He is doing something important. It's a little dangerous but I'm sure he's fine.”

Not only Ray, but the other party did not reveal much of what they were doing. Ray doesn't expect them to open up, just knowing that Hiroshi is doing something is enough.

“About this fucker, he seems to have a lot of people with him. Those people are dangerous too. We cannot move carelessly,” said Indri.

If about the strength of the number then obviously they will be harmed if not try to combine their strength.

“I have about four hundred Degree users by my side. What about you guys?” ask Ray.

Four hundred people was certainly not the total number of people Ray could muster. Ray can move ordinary people if he wants to, but for now he will keep it a secret from Indri.

“On our side it makes no difference to you either. We still lack a number far from the combat power of these bastards.”

“How much does it compare?”

“Perhaps two or three times more than us.”

The number is too large, especially if the majority are Degree users. They will be troublesome people to deal with.

Indri begins to explain that the bastard has a mobster and a Degree user. His residence in a hotel is somehow overrun by him.

“It was troublesome indeed. With the mafia, they have a lot of people with connections to the underworld. In fact they can buy a lot of weapons through the black market.”

But that doesn't mean they can't do anything about it. There were some plans that Ray had thought of, but the problem was that his execution cost a lot of money and effort.