+5 Intelligence

"I am Newton, the Head of this Branch. It's nice to finally meet you"

"The Handler Project protects our nation across all sectors."

He looks at Trent and smiles.

"We were too harsh on you. I'm sorry." he bows.

"You don't have to, Sir. I understand" Trent replies.

He'd been angry going through the program while being treated like some inferior species, but now it didn't matter.

"They treated you like crap," Anton muttered, hissing.

Newton shot him a look. He coughed and turned away.

"Some people still have doubts about your success— They think you were just lucky"

"But I believe that you're something more" Newton says as he takes his seat.

Well, they hadn't seen him as someone worth developing. They could say all they want.

"They'll naturally shut their mouths soon" Trent mumbles.

"Yeah" Marie agrees, "No Internet" she hisses. "That's why I hate coming here"

"You can't browse here, wildling. You know that" Anton tells her

"Trent. You've brought us some good luck with your success" Newton cuts in.

"Good luck?" Trent asks

"There's a business summit in the capital happening in a few days"

"You'll attend the meeting with Miss Mo—"

Marie coughed when Newton almost said her last name.

"Miss Marie... She's recognized as an upcoming talent in business" he continued.

Trent glanced at Marie. Newton was about to call her last name and she cut him off. What was she hiding?

Which power did she have to make even the head of the branch stop?

"We'll set up a holding company for you to link to your account and we'll do our best to make you reach a million dollars in the next few months" Newton concluded

"There's no need, I'll reach it soon anyway" Trent mutters.

"You think a million dollars is so simple to make?" Anton laughs.

"The golden boy's on a win streak. Let's watch him pull it off" Marie replied.

"If this is over, I'm just gonna go" she added, standing up.

"That'll be all" Newton tells them.

"We'll contact you after creating the holding company. Which name should we use?"

"Ackerman Holdings" Trent replied.

"Sounds wonderful, twerp. You should put this old Man on the money lane too" Anton said as he laughed.

He led them out of the room, leaving Newton inside.

________

"Don't trust that old man, Twerp" Anton whispers, holding Trent by his shoulders.

"What?" Trent blinked.

"You're an agent of the State, not an agent for some person"

"And you, wildling" he turns to Marie, loosening his arms.

"Take care of the Kid" he says softly.

"I've told Theo to take care of you too.He was in the military so he'll keep you safe"

"Call me if there's any issue, alright?" He concluded.

"Yeah. Take care of yourself too" Trent responds. He quickened his pace to get to Marie.

He looked back at Anton who stood, watching them leave. His grip tightened on the ID he'd gotten.

An agent of the State, huh?

Would all these happen if he didn't have Ave?

The ride back was quiet. Marie just hummed to the song she was playing while she took him to his apartment.

"You should get yourself a car" she said as she parked.

"I'm not going to be your driver"

"Thank you" Trent smiles as he stepped out.

He bent his head lower to look at her, "Charis Chemicals"

"What?" She replied, caught off guard by what he'd said.

"Have a nice day, Marie Mo.." he laughs as he walks off.

"You little shit..." she yelled after him.

_______

There was a knock on his door as he dropped his bag on the chair.

"Who's there" he asks as he walks towards the door.

He peeked through the hole as he placed his hand on the door handle.

It was Theo. That was fast...

"Hey. The Boss said he's told you about me" Theo says as Trent opens the door.

"Yeah. Come in"

"I'll assist you in anything you want. Your protection and even escort" Theo says walking inside.

"I'd appreciate that, thank you. I'm not really a combatant"

"I don't have drinks in the house, if have offered you some thing"

"Ah. I don't drink alcohol" Theo laughs

"Me either" Trent laughs too.

"I look forward to working with you, Theo" Trent stretched his hands,

"Theo Arkov" Theo shakes his hand.

"Trent Ackerman" Trent replies.

"Ackerman? Like the anime? My nephew made me watch it—it's sick."

"I'll give you the logins to my streaming account. You should watch it"

He wrote down a login. "Here. You'll love it."

"Thank you. I was thinking of watching it too" Trent smiles, taking the paper.

"It's a hundred percent good. You'll love it" Theo assured him as he took his leave.

"Have a nice day, Captain Ackerman" he laughs.

"Have a nice day too, Sir Arkov" Trent laughs.

_______

Trent hits the alarm before it rang, stretching as he got out of bed.

Yesterday had been such an eventful day. He'd gotten over $400,000, a last name and officially became a Handler.

He walked into the bathroom and washed his face and brushed his mouth.

He walked to the sitting room and turned his laptop on. He'd watched the anime for almost 8 hours before he slept yesterday. Such a good show.

"Let's see what we've got today" he mutters.

"Good morning, Ave"

"Good morning, Trent" Ave responded.

He'd missed hearing this voice. He'd been so busy that he didn't have time yesterday.

He typed Charis Chemicals on his browser and looked through the opinions.

Most of them are calling it a bad move to list when they've just developed something that's not been proven.

Charis Chemicals had released a statement that they'll prove that what they've developed works a few minutes before they launch.

"I guess it'll work"

He logs into his trading account and places a buy order of $100,000 on Charis Chemicals, leaving over 300 thousand in his balance.

"Next mission initializing..." Ave interrupts.

About time.

"Sign in to Athen's Auto within 4 hours. Bonus reward will be given if the host arrives earlier"

"Bonus reward?" Trent asks as he stood up. This just keeps getting more mysterious.

And why was it an automobile place this time?

Trent rushed into the bathroom, took a quick shower and dressed. He didn't bother to eat.

He thought about it for a while as he stood outside his door but decided to take Theo along.

Before he could knock on the door, it creaked open.

"Hi... Good morning, Captain" Theo greets, poking his head out.

How did he know he was coming?

"Sensors" Theo says smiling.

Trent looks around surprised. No wonder.

"I lodged them into the walls so I get an alert if someone gets within a range of my place" Theo adds.

"The room's a bit.." he looks back awkwardly "...unclean"

"It's no problem" Trent laughs.

"I was wondering if you'd accompany me to a place"

"Sure. Let me take a quick shower and I'll be with you if you can wait" Theo replies, opening the door for Trent to come in.

There were snack wrappers on the floor and several papers.

Theo hurriedly picks up the paper,

Sorry about the mess—I've been trying to learn cybersecurity." he grins awkwardly

"You can't work a corporate job with just being in the military"

"Why not work as security?" Trent asks

"My Sister thinks it's too dangerous"

"Plus... I don't want her to worry to much" he replied.

He rushed into the bathroom, and came back dressed after a few minutes.

"Let's go, Cap"

__________

Outside, He told Trent to wait, walking to a room that was locked. He unlocked it and rolled his bike outside

"Cool bike," Trent said.

"Always wanted one. Got this after the military. My sister still complains—I'm the cool uncle anyway." Theo replies.

"So, where are we headed?"

"Athen's Autos" Trent replied as he wore the helmet.

"Really? It's been a while since I've seen Mikhail"

"Mikhail?" Trent asks

"He's the manager of the place. We were comrades during our service. His uncle owns the place"

"Then this would be easy" Trent mutters.

"Can you ride?" Theo asks, stretching the key

"Yes. But, you ride" Trent replies smiling. He's been taught how to ride vehicles at the Program.

Theo continued telling Trent about his sister and his nephew while they rode to the place.

_______

"Yo, Mikhail!!" Theo calls out, hitting the door as they step into the place.

"Excuse me..." Mikhail tells a customer handing them over to another staff.

"Assoff" he calls out as he walks towards them,

"What's your broke ass doing here? I know you ain't here to catch up" he laughs, hugging Theo,

"it's been a while, Man"

"Yeah.. It's been a while" Theo laughs, breaking free from the hug.

Trent looks at them as they catch up. They must've been very close.

"Mission complete. Selene Corp—Buy" Ave cuts in.

"Bonus rewards added. +5 Intelligence"

What does that mean?

Suddenly, fragments of memories snapped back—moments he'd missed, overlooked.

Holy Shit!