NEW ARRIVALS

Ragra woke up early the next morning, ready to make use of his free time. With no mission notifications on his display screen yet, he decided to train in one of the virtual simulation rooms. As he stepped out of his room, he noticed some new recruits with luggage moving into the complex. Looks like others are finally arriving, he thought to himself as he headed downstairs to the canteen for breakfast.

The canteen was gradually filling up, but it was still relatively quiet. As Ragra sat at a corner table eating, he noticed two dark-skinned girls walking toward him. Both were strikingly beautiful in their own way: one was tall, with long braided hair and an air of confidence, while the other was shorter, with tightly coiled hair tied neatly into a bun and sharp, observant eyes.

"Hey," the taller one greeted, her voice friendly yet commanding attention. "Mind if we join you?"

"Go ahead," Ragra replied, gesturing to the seats across from him.

"I'm Sky," the taller girl introduced herself, taking a seat.

"And I'm Elza," the shorter one added with a nod. "What's your name?"

"Ragra," he said simply, setting down his fork.

Sky leaned forward slightly, her expression curious. "Were you at the assassin organisation for the three-month programme?"

Ragra nodded. "Yeah, I was."

Elza tilted her head. "We were too—Group 2 recruits. You must've been in Group 1, right?"

"Yeah, I was part of the first group," Ragra confirmed, keeping his tone neutral.

Sky frowned slightly. "It's strange, though. Why would they send us all back so early? We just assumed it was because of the attack on the assassin HQ, but we didn't get much of an explanation."

Ragra paused for a moment, carefully considering his response. He knew the real reason for his return but decided it was best not to share it. "I figured the same," he said casually. "It probably has to do with the attack and the heightened risk."

Sky shrugged. "Makes sense, I guess. Anyway, there are a couple of others who came back with us—probably upstairs unpacking right now."

"Where are you two from?" Ragra asked, steering the conversation to a safer topic.

"We're from Gezo," Sky said. "Our bloodline is Atanza—descendants of the Atara bloodline."

Elza added with a proud smile, "The Atanza are known to be as strong as the Ataras"

"I'm from Nordia," Ragra replied. "Pure blood."

Sky raised an eyebrow. "A pure-blood Nordian? That's rare these days. Don't see many of you around Labre."

Elza leaned back slightly, crossing her arms. "Well, whether we're pure-bloods or mixed, we're all here for the same thing, right? To get stronger."

As the conversation carried on, Sky leaned forward with a smile. "So, what are you doing today, Ragra?"

"I'm heading over to the virtual simulation room," Ragra replied. "Thought I'd get some training in."

Elza's eyes lit up. "Nice! Let's join you. A simulation is always better as a squad."

"Sure," Ragra agreed with a nod.

As they stood up and started heading toward the simulation rooms, Sky asked, "Are you interested in joining any of the divisions within the agency?"

"Divisions?" Ragra asked, curious.

Sky began explaining as they walked through the bustling HQ complex. "Yeah, the agency has specific divisions. They're not mandatory to join, but if your skills align with one, you might get selected. Here's the breakdown:

"Rangers—This division handles missions in the farthest and most remote parts of the world. It's tough because you're away from HQ for long periods, but it's also one of the most lucrative paths. Great stamina is key here."

"Sounds intense," Ragra commented.

"It is," Sky continued. "Then there are the Hunters—they focus solely on assassinations of high-priority targets and capturing dangerous individuals. You don't need to be part of the Hunters to be assigned missions like that, but the division specializes in it. They only pick people whose abilities are perfectly suited for the job."

"Interesting," Ragra said thoughtfully.

Sky went on. "Next is Intelligence. This division is for people who excel in stealth and non-combat missions. Their role is to gather intel and relay it back to HQ. You don't have to be the strongest for this, but it can still be dangerous if you're spotted by the enemy. So, a decent level of strength is still expected."

Sky finished her explanation, then added, "I'm planning to join Intelligence."

Elza raised an eyebrow and gave her a skeptical look. "Sky, your ability is going to be wasted there. Plus, the agency knows that. There's no way they're letting someone as strong as you sit in the Intelligence division."

Sky smirked. "Come on, it's not all about strength. Stealth and strategy are just as important."

"Maybe," Elza replied, crossing her arms, "but don't get your hopes up."

Ragra listened quietly, taking it all in. The divisions were intriguing, and he started to wonder where his abilities might fit.

"Anyway," Sky said, snapping him out of his thoughts, "let's see how you do in the simulation room, Ragra. Who knows, maybe you'll find your calling there."

Ragra gave a small smile. "Let's find out."

The three of them reached the virtual simulation area, ready to test their abilities as a team.

As they stepped into the virtual simulation area, the energy was palpable. The large, open lobby was teeming with activity. Groups of agents huddled together, discussing strategies, while others were fixated on a massive screen dominating the far wall. The screen showcased live simulations in progress—agents navigating enemy-infested buildings, disarming traps, or completing tactical rescue missions.

Cheers and applause erupted from a cluster of onlookers as a team successfully completed a stealth mission in record time. Other agents stood silently, analyzing the performances with critical eyes, commenting on mistakes or applauding clever maneuvers.

"This place is wild," Ragra said, taking in the scene.

"Apparently it always is," Sky replied, grinning. "Agents are always trying to prove themselves."

"Or show off," Elza added with a smirk, nodding toward a loud group celebrating their latest success.

They moved through the busy lobby toward one of the many simulation rooms. When they entered their assigned room, Ragra took a moment to absorb the setting.

The room was sleek and minimalist, with stark white walls and soft lighting that gave it a polished, futuristic feel. The floor was made of a smooth yet slightly padded material, ideal for movement and combat practice. Built into the wall was a large, high-tech tablet, its screen glowing with a list of available simulation options.

Sky approached the tablet and gestured for Ragra and Elza to join her. She tapped the screen, scrolling through the options, each one designed to sharpen specific skills. The choices included:

• Team Assault: Work with your squad to infiltrate and secure a hostile facility.

• Stealth Tactics: Avoid detection while completing an objective.

• Hostage Rescue: Neutralize threats and safely extract captives.

• Urban Combat: Navigate a simulated city environment and eliminate targets.

• Disarmament Drill: Locate and disable bombs before the time runs out.

"What do you want to try first?" Sky asked, glancing back at Ragra.

Ragra studied the options. "Team Assault sounds like a good starting point. We can see how well we work together."

"Good choice," Elza said, nodding. "Let's see if you can keep up, Nordian."

Sky tapped on the option, and the room began to hum softly as the simulation loaded. "No pressure, Ragra," she teased. "Just try not to embarrass yourself."

Ragra smirked. "Don't worry about me. Let's see if you can keep up."

As the simulation prepared to start, the once-blank walls shimmered, projecting the interior of a simulated enemy base. The three of them took their positions, ready to put their skills to the test.