WELCOME TO THE AGENCY

Twenty minutes had passed, and the waiting area buzzed with activity. Agents and staff moved briskly through the spacious lobby, their conversations blending into a constant hum. The sound of footsteps echoed off the sleek floors, and the front desk stayed busy with personnel checking in and out.

Suddenly, the elevator doors slid open with a soft chime, drawing Ragra's attention. Out stepped a man dressed in the Agency uniform. He was slim but muscular, his movements smooth and purposeful, radiating an aura of strength and authority.

"Hello," the man said, his sharp eyes scanning Ragra briefly. "You must be Ragra. I'm Cole, an Officer within the Agency." His tone was calm yet commanding, making it clear he wasn't someone to take lightly. "Your arrival is…unexpected. What happened?"

Ragra stood, extending the letter Keito had given him. "Here. This explains everything."

Cole took the letter and unfolded it, his sharp gaze darting across the page as he read. "Ah, I see. This is unexpected," he said, folding the letter neatly and tucking it into his jacket.

"We weren't expecting the new recruits back for another month, so preparations aren't complete yet—like assigning your complex and other logistical details. But no problem. I'll check on the progress of everything."

Cole gestured to the seat Ragra had just vacated. "Wait here. I'll be right back—I need to verify all of this. Shouldn't take long." With that, Cole turned and walked off with purpose, his confident stride fitting the busy, high-energy environment of the Agency.

An hour passed before Cole returned, a faint smile breaking his otherwise serious expression.

"Alright, Ragra," Cole said, motioning for him to stand. "You're in luck. The complex where the new recruits will be staying has been set up earlier than expected. There are others being sent back early as well, and they'll be arriving throughout the week."

Ragra nodded, grabbing his bag. "Sounds good."

"Let's go," Cole said, leading him outside.

As they stepped into the sprawling courtyard at the center of the Agency headquarters, Cole gestured to the various sleek, towering buildings that surrounded them. The architecture was impossibly modern, with gleaming surfaces and angular designs that seemed straight out of a sci-fi movie.

"Over there," Cole pointed to a massive, cube-like structure with faint neon strips running along its edges, "is the scientists' building. That's where all the cutting-edge tech and special weapons are developed. They make everything we use in the field, from experimental gadgets to enhancements."

Ragra followed his gaze, impressed. "Looks intense," he muttered.

"Next to it," Cole continued, gesturing toward a domed structure, "is the training arena. State-of-the-art equipment and simulations to make sure agents are always at their peak. You'll spend a lot of time there."

Ragra smirked slightly. "I guess that's unavoidable."

"And over there," Cole said, pointing toward a smaller but equally sleek building with a glowing sign, "is the briefing theatre. That's where we gather for mission briefings or special announcements. You'll probably be in there soon enough."

Ragra glanced around, taking it all in. "Why couldn't the Agency Academy just be located here?" he asked, genuinely curious.

Cole shrugged. "Nobody really knows. It's always been like that. The Academy's location hasn't changed in decades, even though it would make more sense to integrate it into the main complex."

"Huh," Ragra murmured. "Odd choice."

They continued walking for about ten minutes until they arrived at a rectangular building set slightly apart from the others. It wasn't as large or imposing as the other structures but still maintained the same high-tech aesthetic. Its glass exterior shimmered faintly under the evening light.

"This is it," Cole said. "The new recruits' complex. You'll be staying here. Nothing too fancy, but it's got everything you need."

Ragra glanced up at the building. "Not bad," he said.

Cole chuckled softly. "Get some rest. Later on, someone will come by to give you a proper tour and a briefing about the Agency's entire structure and how everything works. It's a lot to take in, but you'll get the hang of it."

Ragra nodded, hefting his bag over his shoulder. "Got it. Thanks, Cole."

"Don't mention it," Cole said, turning to leave. "Welcome to the Agency." With that, he walked off, leaving Ragra to settle into his new surroundings.

Ragra sat quietly in the empty canteen, finishing the last of his meal. The silence was broken by the sound of steady footsteps echoing down the hallway. Alert from his recent trauma, Ragra instinctively stiffened, ready for anything.

The door opened, revealing a tall man with a calm yet confident demeanor. He was slim but muscular, with broad shoulders and a sharp jawline. His uniform was pristine, and on the sleeve of his arm, three stars gleamed, denoting his rank.

"Ragra?" the man said with a faint smile. "I'm Lloyd. I'll be showing you around. Welcome to the Agency."

Ragra relaxed slightly but remained cautious. "Nice to meet you," he replied, standing up.

Lloyd motioned for him to follow. "Alright, let's get started. I'll give you a proper tour while explaining how things work here."

As they walked out of the canteen and into a wide, bustling hallway, Lloyd started talking. "I'm from Fekka originally, but I was born here in Labre. My mom's a Sicarii, and my dad's human. It's actually pretty common in the Agency—there are plenty of us who are half-human, half-Sicarii."

"Really?" Ragra asked, glancing at him.

"Yeah," Lloyd said. "But it's not always easy. Being half-human means we don't naturally have the same inner reserves as pure Sicarii, so we have to work twice as hard to keep up. A lot of us see it as a challenge, though, and push ourselves harder because of it."

They passed by a large building with sleek, metallic walls. Lloyd gestured toward it. "This is the scientists' building. They create all the special weapons and tech we use on missions. If you stick around long enough, you might get custom gear made for you."

Ragra looked up at the building in awe. "Looks impressive."

"It is," Lloyd said with a smirk. "The stuff they make is game-changing."

As they continued walking, Ragra noticed agents of all ranks moving through the hallways, each with different insignias on their uniforms. "So, how do the ranks work here?" he asked.

"Good question," Lloyd said, pointing to his own sleeve. "The Agency has seven ranks. You start as a one-star agent, then move up to two-star, three-star, and four-star. After that, you've got Officers, Commanders, District Commanders, and finally, the Vice Chairman and the President. The President reports directly to the Board."

"And the pay?" Ragra asked.

Lloyd chuckled. "The pay gets real good starting at three stars. Most agents at that level rent places in the city, though staying in HQ is still an option if you prefer."

"What about you?" Ragra asked, noticing Lloyd's three-star insignia.

"I'm a three-star," Lloyd said with a small grin. "And a one-time Special Op."

"Special Ops?" Ragra asked, intrigued.

Lloyd nodded. "It's a temporary division for the Agency's best agents. When we get a high-priority mission, the Agency handpicks a team of top performers based on recent missions. It's not a permanent rank—anyone can be chosen if they're strong enough and have the right skills for the job. But being selected even once is a big deal. Only the best of the best make the cut, and it's a huge achievement to be chosen consistently."

"Sounds intense," Ragra said.

"It is," Lloyd replied. "But it's worth it. The missions are dangerous, but the rewards are even bigger."

As they continued walking, Lloyd gestured toward a large dome-shaped building. "That's the training arena," he said. "You'll spend a lot of time here. It's where agents sharpen their skills before missions."

Ragra peered inside the building and saw agents sparring, lifting weights, and practicing with advanced weaponry. "How do the missions work?" he asked.

"There aren't any fixed squads," Lloyd explained. "Every mission is assigned based on skill and compatibility. The Agency analyzes your abilities and puts together teams that complement each other. Sometimes you'll be on a mission with agents from your own rank, but other times, you might end up working with three-stars or four-stars if your skills are considered essential. It's all very analytical, we work with all the other organisations , so you can also be assigned missions with Sicarii from other organisations"

"Interesting," Ragra said.

"It works," Lloyd replied. "You'll see once you get your first assignment

They continued walking through the complex, and Lloyd pointed out various facilities. "Now, when you're not on a mission, you'll have plenty of free time," he said. "A lot of agents spend that time in the virtual simulation rooms. It's a great way to train and get stronger without the risk of injury."

"Virtual simulation rooms?" Ragra asked.

"Yeah," Lloyd said. "They're high-tech rooms where you can train in realistic combat scenarios. Think of it like fighting holograms that feel real."

"Sounds good," Ragra said.

"It is," Lloyd replied. "And if you're more into physical combat, there are always hand-to-hand combat tournaments going on. The prizes are great—cash, weapons, and other cool stuff. Even if you don't enter, it's worth watching."

"That sounds promising," Ragra said.

"There are also hand-to-hand combat instructors and advanced training programs," Lloyd continued. "If you want to sharpen specific skills or learn new techniques, you can book sessions with them. They're some of the best fighters you'll ever meet. And of course, if training isn't your thing, you're free to explore the city. Labre has everything—restaurants, entertainment, whatever you're into."

Ragra nodded, taking it all in. "Seems like there's no shortage of things to do."

"Not at all," Lloyd said with a grin. "The Agency makes sure we stay sharp but also know how to relax when needed. Balance is key."

As they approached the recruit complex, Lloyd gestured toward the building with a nod. "Well, this is where I leave you, Ragra," he said. "Starting tomorrow, new recruits will be arriving regularly, so you'll have some company soon enough. The complex might feel a little livelier."

"That'll be nice," Ragra replied.

"Here's how it works: if you get selected for a mission, you'll receive a message on the display screen in your room. It'll have all the details—who you've been teamed up with, the mission outline, the time of departure, and where you'll need to go for deployment."

"Got it. Thanks for letting me know," Ragra said.

Lloyd extended his hand with a friendly smile. "It was nice meeting you, Ragra. I'm sure I'll see you around. Maybe we'll even end up on a mission together someday."

Ragra shook his hand firmly. "Thanks for the tour and the tips, Lloyd. I appreciate it."

"No problem. Welcome to the Agency," Lloyd said with a nod before turning and walking away, leaving Ragra to settle in and prepare for whatever the Agency had in store.