"In conclusion, the triangular and the reverse-triangle formations would be the most suitable strategy to tackle the fifth floor mission."
I announced to the instructor candidates inside my private library in the magic hall.
The Apprentice Instructors were not assigned with fixed parties to train constantly with. And their training time was already reduced with their duty to assist Trudy with instructing the first floor trainees.
So the instructor candidates would not have much real practical exercises regarding party formation and battle tactics, in comparison to the combatant trainees on the second floor.
Sigyn had ordered for the instructors to provide formation and tactical training to the first floor trainees, so the candidates could not lack this knowledge.
That was why I had been giving them special lectures on the subject.
Trudy had learned most of the things I was teaching the instructor candidates.
The Chief Instructor gained those knowledge through all the time she sat with us during our strategy meetings for the fifteenth floor.
I would like for her to teach the subjects to the Apprentice Instructors.
But we still needed someone to mind the first floor trainees while the instructor candidates were studying and training for their qualifications.
The other second floor trainees would experience the same education once they joined the Raid Team and participated in our future strategy meetings as well.
So the instructor candidates really needed these private lecture sessions with me if we wanted them to be educated enough for the subject they would be teaching the first floor trainees.
"Placing a spearman in the front, one sword-shield personnel on each flank, and two archers at the back would be an ideal formation in breaking through the enemy ranks.
"The goal is to have the foremost hero carving a path for the party while the others guarding the flanks and the rear, while keep supporting the vanguard.
"The ones on the flanks doesn't necessarily have to be shield-bearer. As long as they have good defensive skills such as the Projectile Defense and other auxiliary skills that could anticipate and parry off enemies' attacks, they would be suitable to fill the roles.
"One archer and one mage would be the optimal rear guard personnel. But two archers would still be an acceptable substitute. The party could also only have one archer, as long as that single archer could take on the role for two or the vanguard could handle the reduced support from the rear."
I explained to the twenty instructor candidates attending the lesson.
They all earnestly listened to my lecture. Jotting down what I said to their notebook the way Trudy would every time she attended our strategy meetings.
The instructor candidates knew they had to put that much effort.
If they could not fulfill the qualification requirement, they would be transferred back to the climbing force and had to risk their lives in the trials.
Though some of them actually would not mind to do that. They were initially training to join the Raid Team, after all.
"Naturally, if a party loses one or several members during the mission, the formation would have to be altered.
"The order of formation should be set so that the close-ranged combatant is placed at the front and the long-ranged combatant at the rear or in the middle.
"A triangular or a reverse-triangle formation would still be suitable in these poor scenarios, considering the goal of the mission is to simply break through the enemies' ranks and reach the designated location."
I then caught sight of the time on the clock placed in the library.
Another duty awaited me.
"This would be the end of today's session. Tomorrow we would be discussing the tenth floor mission, the second Quintal Trial.
"You will be learning a mission with multiple conditions and goals. The importance of unique trial objects with special effect that could impact the entire mission. How to determine your mission's priorities, how to designate roles not just to your parties, but several others as well.
"Each of you have seen the second Quintal Trial through Replay Stones. So to prepare for tomorrow's lesson, I want each of you to make a list on what the Raid Team should have done and should have avoided to complete the tenth floor mission with less casualty."
I told the instructor candidates.
They promptly replied simultaneously.
"As you command, Your Excellency."
I nodded to their gesture.
"You are all dismissed."
They all rose from their chairs and bowed in unison.
"Thank you for the lesson, Your Excellency!"
As the instructor candidates were dispersing, I focused my mind on my detection field around the first floor square.
I gathered my mana right at the center of the ground and created a makeshift beacon.
Once the amplifier was formed, I teleported myself there by using the amplifier as a guide.
"Please! Give me another chance!"
A desperate voice welcomed me as I arrived on the first floor square.
I turned and saw a group of first floor trainees crowding an administrator staff.
"I'm sorry. But Master's order is very clear."
The administrator said firmly.
He went on.
"Each of you have completed the third phase of Basic Training and have reached level 13.
"Unfortunately, the level of your weapon skill is still below level 4 and you don't have other supportive skills that could be of use to the other working stations in the lobby."
The administrator then pointed to a section on the first floor of the lobby, the new section.
"Now please make your way to the Evaluation Center in orderly fashion."
Trudy and the instructor candidates had tried their best teaching the first floor trainees.
But some of them just were not talented in fighting.
No matter how hard they trained, the trainees could not get past level 3 in basic weapon skill. Some could not even improve past level 1.
Sigyn had given strict order regarding what to do toward those failed trainees.
"The Evaluation Center?!"
The group shrieked upon the staff's instruction.
"Isn't that where the criminals stay?!"
"I heard Master synthesized the people staying in the Evaluation Center!"
"I don't want to die! Please! I've worked hard unlike those ruffians!"
As I expected, some of the heroes that were transferred to the Evaluation Center had been sacrificed in synthesis.
I had heard from Trudy that the first floor trainees had been training much harder ever since they heard what happened to the people that got sent to the Evaluation Center.
Sigyn must had constructed the place to motivate their heroes to work harder and become someone useful in their army.
It was quite a demanding order.
Simply working hard in the training ground was not enough anymore.
Trainees needed to produce results if they did not want to be treated like disposable pawns.
Fortunately, Master still prioritized the misbehaving heroes to be used as sacrifices instead of the failed trainees.
So there was still some separation in between the punished heroes of the Evaluation Center.
"Remember, you are just recently assigned to the facility. Master likely won't do anything to you for a while yet. So you still have time."
The administrator said to the failed trainees.
He continued.
"If you keep on training and reach level 4 in weapon skill, then Master will transfer you to the second floor of the lobby where you can pursue other work.
"But if you don't think you can reach that level, then try learning other skills. If you can just reach level 3 in one of the supportive skills I mentioned to you, then Master will reassign you to the second floor as well."
There was not much, but there were some failed trainees that got transferred out of the Evaluation Center.
Some of them started helping out in the first floor kitchen, pulling consecutive all-nighters preparing ingredients for the cooks.
They eventually developed sufficient cooking skill and had now become the new first floor cooks. While the more experienced ones were transferred to other kitchens on the second and the third floor of the lobby.
The added manpower was to our benefit since Pauline had been requesting more cooks ever since Master built another mansion on the third floor.
A couple of others had also been doing menial chores for the crafters making equipment for the first floor trainees.
They eventually developed crafting skills which gave them permanent spots in the workshops.
Some also had been helping out the gatherers in the Weekday Dungeons and learned themselves useful gathering skills.
They had been appointed as gatherers since then and had been staying on the second floor.
The Evaluation Center served truly as it was named.
Useless heroes that got sent there were forced to reevaluate themselves and work hard to finally become a valuable member to the climbing force.
Of course, such opportunities were closed to the heroes that got sent there because they caused chaos in the lobby.
Heroes that committed crimes were immediately sacrificed by Sigyn.
[Lairan, Vella, Baric, Judo, Reiss! Come to the first floor square!]
The fairy's voice echoed throughout the lobby.
I did not recognize the names.
They likely were not second floor trainees since I had become more acquainted with them as they were practicing on the third floor and frequently being sent to the trials for the past weeks.
I turned my gaze and saw five people walked out from the Evaluation Center.
Each of them bore menacing eyes of a criminal.
Now that I had seen them directly, I recognized them as the remaining thugs we arrested in the lobby.
The new transfers of failed trainees stared at the summoned criminals in dread as they walked by on their way into the Evaluation Center.
"What does Master want with them, Alam? If it's synthesis, then you would've also called the recipient."
I asked the fairy.
The tiny winged-creature shook her head.
[They're called for battle. They'll be visiting the Main Dungeon.]
My eyes widened upon her words.
"The trial? Master is sending them all to a tower floor? Which one?"
[You'll see.]
The fairy then went over to the detainees.
[You slowpokes sure took your time! Now go to the War Storage over there and get the equipment Master has prepared for you trash! Hurry up!]
The heroes did as the fairy said and went to the equipment depository assigned for the first floor of the lobby.
They all came out with basic armor and basic weapon reserved only for the newcomers that would try the first to the fourth floor of the tower.
I wondered where Master would send them.
The five of them were only 1-stars. Weapon skill ranging between only level 2 and 3.
But they were all level 10 heroes already.
The eighth and the ninth floor would be suitable for their party. Eleventh might be doable. The twelfth if they give it their all.
But there was no reason for Master to send them to those floors.
They were not part of the Raid Team. Master would not allow them to even join the Reserve Forces given the crimes they had done in the lobby.
It would be much better to sacrifice them in synthesis.
Could it be…
[Open the rift of space and time!]
The fairy shouted in front of the large stone gate by the first floor square.
The rift glowed up and Alam quickly rushed the summoned heroes in.
Another notification window appeared before me.
As Vice-Master of the forged land, I could now perceive more information than ever.
When I observed the rift of space-time while a party was being deployed, it was now possible for me to learn which floor the party was being sent to.
[Main Dungeon, the current challenge floor is the 16th Floor.]
[The doors will open after ten seconds. Get ready!]
[Master, the tactics tab is active and available for use.]
The sixteenth floor!
They were a scouting party!
Sigyn was finally resuming the climb!