Whenever a newcomer is officially recruited, they are graded based on their performance in the practical assessment. This has been a tradition in Tokyo Public Security since its establishment.
D, C, B, A, and S—there are a total of five grades.
D-grade means outright failure in the assessment, so there's no need to discuss it. C-grade is considered a passing mark, and S-grade is the highest level of strength.
Once the grading is determined, different training plans are assigned according to the rating.
Most newcomers only achieve C-grade. Initially, they are paired with experienced veterans—one veteran guiding one or two rookies. Their early duties are limited to patrols rather than high-difficulty missions. This phase is essentially an "internship period." Unless they voluntarily resign or die during this period, they generally advance to full membership.
C-grade rookies must train under a veteran for at least six months to a year before they are allowed to work independently.
B-grade rookies follow a similar path, but their "internship period" is shortened to three months.
A-grade rookies have a one-month "internship period," and higher grades come with better starting salaries, which can be adjusted later based on performance.
As for S-grade rookies…
Since the establishment of Tokyo Public Security, there has been only one S-grade recruit—Kishibe.
At the time, Tokyo Public Security immediately appointed Kishibe as the vice-captain of the Tokyo Special Division 1. If he continued to perform at an S-grade level, he would be promoted directly to captain.
Naturally, Kishibe lived up to expectations and quickly became the strongest Devil Hunter in Japan.
This was the information Chiya learned from the interviewer.
"I'll have someone give you a tour of Tokyo Public Security shortly," the interviewer said.
It was better than having them sit around idly.
"By the way, I have a question," Aki suddenly spoke up.
"Go ahead," the interviewer replied.
"After we pass the assessment, will Public Security arrange for us to sign contracts with devils?" Aki was particularly concerned about this, as he felt his current strength was inadequate.
"Yes, you will likely be sent to Kyoto, where most devils are held in custody," the interviewer explained. Then, he offered a suggestion, "Judging by your appearances, you both have good looks. You might want to consider making a contract with the Fox Devil. As you know, devil contracts depend heavily on the devil's mood, and the Fox Devil values appearance highly. Those with good looks can obtain stronger devil abilities at a lower cost."
In the original work, Kyoto Public Security didn't have much presence, but the Fox Devil and the Future Devil were both based in Kyoto.
"…I'll think about it," Aki responded.
"I'll consider it too," Chiya added nonchalantly.
With the Dual Kamui already at his disposal, he had no intention of contracting with an ordinary devil like the Fox Devil. The contract wouldn't be of much help to him, and he'd have to sacrifice skin or hair as payment. In short, it was meaningless.
"Let me see who's available to show you around today," the interviewer mused.
Just then, the door swung open, and a voice called out, "I'll take them on the tour."
It was Himeno.
"Himeno? Seems like you have some free time today. Fine, I'll leave it to you," the interviewer said.
"You again?" Aki frowned slightly as he saw her, sensing an ominous feeling.
"Not happy to see me?" Himeno teased, placing a hand on Aki's shoulder.
"…"
Aki's brow furrowed slightly.
"Come on, I'll help you get familiar with your future workplace. The initial novelty is precious," Himeno said with a grin.
She then took Chiya and Aki on a tour of all accessible areas within the building. Some places, of course, were off-limits.
As they wandered through one of the corridors in the Public Security building, Himeno suddenly spoke in a mysterious tone, "By the way, I should warn you about something. You two might not end up as partners."
"What do you mean?" Aki asked in confusion.
"You'll find out when the time comes," Himeno replied playfully, deliberately keeping it a secret.
Chiya remained completely unfazed. In fact, he hoped that Aki would be partnered with Himeno. A veteran guiding a rookie made perfect sense.
During the rookie period, someone experienced had to mentor the newcomer—unless the recruit was graded S.
Once the rookie period ended, Chiya saw no reason for Aki to partner with him. After all, he already had Himeno as his mentor.
Given Himeno's personality and methods, she would definitely have Aki completely under her control.
Chiya could already guess what secret she was withholding. Most likely, if their assessment ratings differed too much, they wouldn't be allowed to partner up.
For himself, he aimed to secure at least an A-grade. He wasn't sure about the exact grading standards, so he wasn't aiming for S-grade without knowing more.
—
The morning was spent touring Tokyo Public Security, and before they knew it, it was already noon.
Since Tokyo Public Security only provided accommodation but not meals, and there was no cafeteria inside, they went to a nearby restaurant for lunch.
"As a considerate senior, I'll give you a heads-up about this afternoon's assessment," Himeno said as they neared the end of their meal.
"Although, simply put, it's a practical battle against a devil, there are multiple factors that influence the grading."
"I'm listening," Chiya said with interest, curious about the specific grading criteria.
Aki also listened attentively. He wasn't entirely confident in passing, so gathering intel could only help.
"Most rookies are only graded C because their physical combat skills are average. Without using their devil abilities, they are no different from ordinary people. This is a common weakness among Devil Hunters," Himeno explained in detail.
"The grading doesn't just assess the strength of your devil abilities but also considers the cost of using them. While stronger abilities boost your score, if the price is too high, points will be deducted."
"Also, remember to control your facial expressions. Remaining calm during battle is a bonus, even if you're nervous inside. Don't let it show on your face."
"That covers most of the grading criteria, though I haven't mentioned everything. Lastly, let's talk about the pass/fail standard. As long as you kill the devil, regardless of your performance, the minimum rating you'll receive is C, meaning you pass. So, if you don't care about your rating, just fight however you like."
Himeno had provided a thorough breakdown of the assessment details to Chiya and Aki.
After all, this wasn't classified information. In the end, performance depended on strength. Those who could pass would pass, and those who couldn't would fail no matter what they knew.
"You have one more hour to rest before it's time for the assessment."
With that, Himeno stood up.
"Boss, check please."