As Luke and Leo made their way from sector E to sector D, they were met with gazes full of animosity from the netizens of sector E who failed to make the cut.
Rather than attributing their failure to secure a promotion to their own lack of skill or effort, these individuals viewed those who had been promoted as the antagonists who obstructed their progress, as their crab mentality did not allow them to be happy for someone else's success.
Now recognized as citizens of Sector D, Luke and Leo were spared physical attacks, for the residents of Sector E had learned the repercussions of assaulting someone of a higher status by now.
Nevertheless, if looks could be lethal, Luke and Leo would have succumbed a thousand times over, as a result of the intense scrutiny of sector E's resentful eyes.
Crossing the boundary between sectors E and D, the brother's encountered their former supervisors heading towards sector E, apparently reporting for their daily work.
Mr. Vini, noting the color of Luke and Leo's bracelets, offered them a polite smile and for a moment the friendly gesture completely stunned the two brothers.
"I always knew you two were diligent workers, congratulations," he remarked with newfound warmth, his demeanor towards them markedly improving now that they were not far beneath him in status.
This shift in treatment was a stark contrast to their previous interactions with Mr. Vini, who now regarded them more respectfully, no longer seeing them as the lowest-tier sewage workers but as fellow humans, albeit still a rank below him.
"Thank you," Luke replied, managing a smile despite his urge to express his disdain for Mr. Vini, who remained a tier above him as a resident of sector C.
Beyond their encounter with the supervisors, Luke and Leo observed a line of despondent figures clad in red, adorned with orange bracelets indicating their demotion to sector E.
Passing by these disheartened souls, Luke and Leo observed a silent acknowledgment of defeat as they seemed to walk lifelessly towards their new homes.
The demoted, with their heads bowed in resignation, seemed engulfed in self-reflection, questioning whether a slight increase in diligence towards their jobs or a more proactive approach to leveling within the game could have circumvented their fall from grace.
Such introspection, however poignant, was belated— with their fates being sealed, leaving them to navigate the consequences of past actions unamended, as they joined the ranks of those condemned to the lower echelons of their society.
Crossing the throngs of these dispirited demoted individuals, Luke and Leo arrived in the residential zone of Sector D, where others in orange work attire congregated in the communal area, a new chapter beginning for them in this hierarchical arc ship society.
Unlike the depressed faces of the demoted, everyone from sector E who had achieved promotion had their faces beaming with joy as they laughed and congratulated each other for escaping the hell that sector E was.
The promoted individuals fraternized amongst each other, vowing to never go back to sector E, no matter the cost, while also discussing amongst each other, whether they were fellow players from 'The Uprising'.
As it turned out, about 60% of those who were promoted, had some form of an affiliation to 'The Uprising' as their reverence towards their mysterious and all knowing leader seemed to have increased tenfold for having delivered his promise of leading them to a promotion.
While Luke and Leo absolved themselves from these discussions, they paid close attention to the chatter in order to get a grasp over the current affairs of the game.
" Hello-, I'm Parth Oza, the residential director of sector D and I warmly welcome all of you who have joined the sector D family today!" A voice soon spoke over the speakerphone as everyone's attention was drawn towards a single man in red robes who had a speakerphone in hand.
" Within Sector D, we believe in having a tight knit community which earnestly helps one another and while we might not hail to the upper echelons of society, we take pride in our work and our style of life" Parth said as he clutched his fists and spoke with passion.
" Now that all of you are a part of this family, I hope you will all help preserve the culture of this place as best as you can.
Within sector D, we have this communal hall, where we gather every morning for our roll call.
Towards the right, we have the laundromat, shower area, bathrooms and the common gym.
Towards the left we have the food hall, the pantry and the dessert shop, however, the dessert shop only opens once a week on sundays.
The residential area covers everything else with every apartment having a small attached bathroom within-
For those who are joining us from sector C this may not seem like much, but I'm sure that those that join us today from sector E must understand the importance of having an attached bathroom in your own apartment" Mr. Parth said as many from sector E shed a small tear listening to the luxuries that sector D had to offer.
A dessert shop to eat something different than just bland mashed potatoes!
An apartment that was more than just four walls!
An attached bathroom!
A communal gym!
These were luxuries that those in sector E would die for and now they got to enjoy them on a regular basis.
" The apartments in sector D are all triple sharing and the housing chart has already been prepared.
Please tally your name against the housing list attached on the notice board to the left and settle in slowly" Mr. Parth said as everyone from sector E rushed to check out the new housing allocation as they felt excited to shift to a bigger housing.
"D-420" Luke said, as he located his and Leo's name assigned to D-420, sharing the apartment alongside a woman, named 'Amanda' who had been demoted from sector C.