SSS-Rank AI System: My Path from Failure to Supreme

Alaric walked down the corridors of the XBHshs office, a lingering sense of unease still tugging at his chest. His thoughts often wandered to the possibilities of what might happen to him. But Alaric, who had long grown tired of thinking negatively, tried to push those thoughts away.

"Forget it. I have to take the risk now. If I get caught… so be it. I'll figure something out later."

His eyes scanned every detail around him. His reflection on the polished floor shifted with each step he took. The sound of his shoes tapping against the ground echoed lightly through the empty hallway.

Even though the system guaranteed freedom, he still felt a faint fear of crossing boundaries. It was a deep-rooted instinct that kept him from fully relaxing.

He approached a large door labeled Director's Office. It looked solid, important, just as he had expected.

"Of course. It needs a pass ID," he muttered, staring at the card reader next to the door. He knocked on the door, more out of formality than actual hope. No response. Either the office was empty, or everyone was too busy to notice.

A small voice in his head whispered, "If the system truly offers freedom, why not just ask directly?" The idea felt ridiculous. Walk up to the Director and ask, without any prior notice or formal request? That kind of boldness could easily lead to probing questions, maybe even a formal warning. Or at the very least, some judgmental stares from passing staff.

But the system had promised freedom. Fueled by adrenaline and curiosity, Alaric decided to take the bold step. A failure here wouldn't just mean rejection, it could also ruin his reputation.

He continued down the hallway, searching for another place that might hint at the Director's whereabouts. Soon, in a neatly arranged lounge with brown leather sofas and a gleaming coffee table, he spotted the person he had been looking for.

The Director was seated, sipping coffee and speaking seriously with two colleagues. Alaric swallowed hard, suddenly self-conscious. He tried to stay calm and not draw too much attention.

He approached and spoke directly, without much of a lead-in. "Excuse me, sir," he said, and the man turned to look at him.

"Sorry, I'm a new intern and I was assigned to clean your office. The door's locked, so I was wondering what access is needed to get in."

The Director stopped stirring his coffee and looked at Alaric with a curious gaze. There was a moment of silence before he gave a slight smile, as if amused by the young man's boldness.

He reached into his blazer pocket and pulled out a card. "Ah, here. This should work," he said, handing over his pass ID.

Alaric took the card with a pang of guilt, but relief washed over him as he finally got what he needed. He gave a polite nod and excused himself.

"Phew... good thing my cover worked," he thought, glancing down at the card in his hand. Even though the system allowed him the freedom to act, he couldn't shake off a lingering guilt or perhaps just a sense of respect. For the rules he had just bent so easily.

As he walked away, Alaric's thoughts drifted to past experiences. Normally, gaining this kind of access required formal approval, official documents, or at least an escort.

This time, everything had come too easily. No suspicious stares, no probing questions. He felt a mix of relief, discomfort, and awe toward a system that truly seemed to grant him freedom. As if the world was bending to his will.

He stared at the pass in his hand. He slowly tapped the card against the reader, watching as the green light blinked to signal approved access. His thoughts continued to spin. "Why is it even locked like this?" he mused, holding the card in place for a moment longer.

"Maybe it's to keep unauthorized people out. But wouldn't janitors or cleaning staff have more access anyway? The automated system and CCTV can easily recognize them. But an outsider? That's harder. And even if I'm caught on camera, who's going to recognize me?"

Alaric gave a small, amused smile, realizing the absurdity of his earlier plan. "Honestly, that was kind of rude... just walking up and asking the Director like that. Pretty awkward too," he muttered, eyes on the floor, feeling a bit embarrassed.

"Good thing the system's on my side. Otherwise, this could've ended badly," he thought, lightly tapping the card against his palm before pushing the door open and stepping inside.

He paused at the entrance, scanning the room thoroughly. Nothing seemed out of place or suspicious.

He knew he had to rely on common sense. This was his moment to seize an opportunity that few ever got.

Inside, his eyes moved across the space. CCTV cameras dotted the corners of the ceiling. He observed them, analyzing how the system might be handling recognition.

"If it were a cleaner entering, they'd be easily recorded and recognized. There are people here who would know who they are. But me? An outsider. I could be on camera, but no one would recognize me. Hmm. This system really is smart," he thought, impressed by the company's advanced technology.

He began opening the drawers in the Director's office one by one. His right hand moved with care and precision as his mind worked to assess the situation.

"This is illegal... but I'm not trying to mess things up. I just want to find the original document," he told himself. The first drawer. Then the second. Piles of routine reports, financial records, and meeting notes. Everything looked normal—nothing that pointed to his case.

Then his attention shifted downward. He opened an older filing drawer. "Maybe it's hidden in here... or maybe in some other spot I haven't checked yet," he thought as he sifted through the dusty stacks of documents.

He carefully examined each file cover, looking at handwritten notes in the corners, scanning for patterns or overlooked clues. He flipped through years' worth of archives, his fingers moving quickly but cautiously, ensuring nothing was damaged.

Still, after a while, the document he was searching for remained elusive. But Alaric didn't give up. He began thinking about a different approach.

"If this doesn't work... what's another way I could find it?" He scanned the file tabs once more, mentally reviewing everything he had looked through. His mind started exploring new possibilities, from logical assumptions to more far-fetched theories.

Seconds turned into minutes, and Alaric was still there, laser-focused, even as frustration began to weigh on his shoulders. He knew his only path forward was to stay sharp, think creatively, and make his next move count.

Standing in the middle of the room, he suddenly heard a soft notification chime from his SSS-Rank AI system.

A clear, familiar tone rang through the silence.

[It may not be just the top-tier officials involved. Try checking other rooms.]

Alaric ran a hand down his face, exasperated. "There are too many rooms here... Am I supposed to check them all one by one? That's insane."

As if responding to his frustration, the AI system displayed several options on a holographic screen floating near his hand.

< "Here are the most likely rooms to contain access or authority over the forged documents: One, the Senior Manager's office, which handles regular archives. Two, the Head of Operations' office. And three, the secondary records room in the basement, which is locked but has a backup access route for the Director's subordinates."

Alaric looked down and carefully read the three options. "So this really is about forgery... not just a missing or misfiled document." He stared at the holographic display again, studying the positions and layout of the three rooms.

His eyes moved around the Director's office, mentally mapping out the paths he would need to take. "If I start with the Senior Manager, it might be easier to find the first clue. But if the Head of Operations is involved... things could get complicated. And the basement archive... that's probably the riskiest, but also the most promising," he thought, moving his fingers in the air as if tracing the route he would follow.

He closed his eyes briefly, visualizing each scenario: someone potentially involved in the forgery, the original document hidden in a specific location, or even hidden surveillance watching his every move.

"Alright... I get it now. First, the Senior Manager's office. Then the Head of Operations. Lastly, the basement archive. I can't afford to mess this up. If I do it right, at least I'll uncover the first lead. The system gave me a path. Now it's my turn to walk it."

The office that had been his temporary hideout now felt like a war room, a place to map strategy. Alaric looked at the door.

"It's time to move."

With steady steps, he prepared to leave and begin the path the system had laid out for him.