Once Avery reached the main lobby of the Mercenary Association building, he found Kasandra waiting for him with a giant grin on her face.
’Oh, whatever. We may not have been together very long, but I can tell we’re a good match. As mercenary, it’s best to live life fast since you never no what might happen.’ Avery thought, coming to terms with what Kasandra had meant by "proposal".
Except, before Avery could make his way back to her, a familiar voice called out to him.
"Hey Avery, do you got a moment?"
Turning towards the voice, Avery saw the receptionist he often used when dealing with association business waving at him.
Wondering what could be up, he approached and found that the man looked ecstatic.
"I heard you went wild and crazy again with those energy lifeforms. Boy, reading the logs and watching some video some of the other mercs captured sure was exhilarating. Since you showed up this job has been quite a bit more entertaining."
"If you just want to gush about how delighted you are about my near death experience, then I’m out of here." Avery said, turning to leave.
Yet before he could the receptionist stopped him.
"No, I’ve got some important, official Mercenary Association business to discuss with you. Unless, you don’t want to know about your rank advancement?"
Biting back a retort that the man should have led with this, Avery stayed and listened. He already knew that the Alliance Police were going to try and push him up to three star, but it being official was a big deal. It meant he would no longer be considered among the lower ranks and receive access to more profitable jobs.
Except, what he was about to be told completely blew away his expectations.
"Congratulations, you’ve shot up two ranks at once and landed yourself a promotion to being a four star mercenary. That makes you the highest ranking active mercenary currently in the system."
"Huh?" Was all Avery could say in response.
He had a blank look on his face, and it was clear that he was wondering if he had just heard the receptionist correctly.
Four star mercenaries were typically considered to be veterans that had successfully completed more than a hundred missions over several years, and earned the trust of not just the Association, but anyone that hired them.
It was considered the highest rank most mercenaries would ever achieve. Only five percent of all mercenaries ever exceeded it, as it required exceptional achievements, not just consistent successes to be promoted further.
"But I’ve hardly been a proper mercenary for a month. Don’t you think it’s a bit too soon to be making me a four star. Plus, I never took the rank advancement test." Avery said, feeling underserving of the sudden promotion.
"With the achievements you’ve accomplished, it doesn’t matter how long you’ve been a merc. You crushed over a hundred pirates in the recent raid and even took out a queen energy lifeform by yourself. Then there was the recommendation from the Alliance Police. No way that the association could just let you stay as a two star or even three star after that. It’d be rank fraud."
"Also, what would be the point of sending you through the four star advancement program. We’ve already got records of you trouncing it dozens of times. There’s no reason to have you do it again when you’ve only gotten more skilled."
Avery could hardly refute what the man had just said. He had gotten lucky and found himself at the heart of two major incidents.
With the skills he had developed under Urs and a bit of good fortune, he had already made a name for himself in the Yuson System. Practically every active mercenary already knew who he was.
"Okay, I was just a little shocked for a bit there. I’d planned on slowly rising through the ranks, but I suppose that there’s no issue with getting there sooner. I’ll certainly be able to make more money as a four star." Avery mused.
"That’s the spirit. I say being a true mercenary is always about aiming for more. Take the advancements and Krenin when you can get them without shame. You’ve more than earned it."
After a few formalities, Avery was officially brought up to the rank of four star mercenary. This gave him access and priority to a number of jobs that had been out of reach when he was still just a two star.
"Now, let’s get on to the second matter of business." The receptionist said.
Without waiting for Avery to respond, the man informed him that he had been formally invited to an Alliance Police award ceremony that would be occurring in three days.
There, those that had displayed meritorious actions during both the large-scale pirate raid and the energy lifeform incident were going to be acknowledged. And as Avery had played a pivotal role in both battles, he was expected to be the star of the event.
"I’ve heard from some of my sources that they’re planning on giving you a big one. Something mercs and soldiers don’t normally get unless they do something really spectacular. Usually dying in the process." The receptionist said with a smirk.
Hearing this came as little surprise to Avery, though, he wondered just how prestigious the award he was going to receive would be.
He had done a little bit of research on them, and some were pretty outrageous. Like granting certain privileges. For example, access to Alliance facilities that were normally reserved for the police or dignitaries. Plus, monetary rewards. Some came with a massive bonus and even a yearly stipend for life.
’It’s hard to objectively view my own achievements. I can’t tell if I’m overselling or underselling myself.’ Avery thought, mentally listing out some of the awards he thought he was likely to receive.
Once he had obtained the formal invitation and location of the award ceremony, Avery headed over to Kasandra who had been waiting patiently for him to finish.