Kai stood with his team, arms crossed as they waited for further instructions. He could feel the weight of the stares from the other recruits, though he tried his best to ignore them. His team seemed to have become an instant target of attention, and not necessarily the good kind.
It wasn't hard to figure out why. Not only was he saddled with the dubious label of being a Mendoza "nepo baby," but his team also included Amaya, the top scorer from the fitness exams, and Asher, who had performed exceptionally well too.
The murmurs and competitive glances were impossible to miss, especially from those who hadn't passed Miss Deyvinne's test on the first day. The resentment was palpable, particularly from recruits who had fainted and now seemed determined to prove themselves against the so-called "golden team."
Kai let out a quiet sigh, shifting his weight to one foot. Great, he thought. First day with the team, and we're already the group everyone wants to beat. This is going to be a long few months.
Beside him, Asher flashed a charming grin at the crowd, either oblivious to the tension or choosing to revel in it. Meanwhile, Amaya stood with her arms crossed, her expression cool and unaffected, as though the stares were beneath her notice.
Kai couldn't help but glance at his teammates and chuckle under his breath. Well, at least I'm not the only one stuck in the spotlight.
Finally, the instructors stepped forward, each holding small, sleek devices in their hands. One of them raised the device for everyone to see.
"These," the instructor began, "contain all the information you'll need for your physical conditioning based on your test results. Follow the prescribed training plans and diets strictly, and you should have no issues passing your evaluations at the end of the month."
The instructor paced slowly as they continued. "These devices also hold the funds provided by your sponsors. While the basics—food, housing, and training equipment—are covered, you'll use these funds to purchase any extra items you might need on base. Additionally, these devices serve as your primary communication tool. You'll use them to contact your teammates, other students, and your instructors."
Pausing for a moment, the instructor gave the gathered recruits a pointed look. "You are expected to train with your group regularly to build camaraderie. Failure to do so will result in punitive action. Teamwork is not optional here—it's a necessity."
With a stern glance across the group, the instructor added, "Lastly, while there is no official curfew, leaving the campus is strictly prohibited unless under extreme, pre-approved emergencies. Do not test this rule."
The instructor lowered the device and scanned the recruits with a sharp gaze. "That's all. Dismissed."
Kai sighed as the crowd began dispersing, pocketing his assigned device. He glanced at Asher and Amaya. "Looks like we've got some strict babysitters," he muttered.
Asher smirked. "Eh, just more hoops to jump through. We'll manage."
Amaya didn't respond, already walking toward their designated area, her disciplined stride making it clear she wasn't here to slack off.
Kai watched her go and shook his head. This is going to be a long month.
As the trio made their way toward their designated training area, Asher casually draped an arm around Kai's shoulders. The gesture struck Kai as overly familiar, but he let it slide.
"So, Kai," Asher began with a grin, "what's it like living in one of those gold dorms? I heard the ones for official agents are even better."
Kai glanced at Asher and frowned. "Too fancy for me. Half the stuff in there feels like it's from a different planet. I can barely figure out how to use anything. I'm not used to all this rich-people stuff."
Asher chuckled, his grin widening. "Still sticking with that 'I'm just a kid from the outskirts' story, huh? Alright, I'll play along for now."
Kai's brow furrowed as he shrugged Asher's arm off. "It's not a story. I've lived there for as long as I can remember. You can believe whatever you want, but that's the truth."
"Whatever you say," Asher replied with a laugh, clearly unconvinced.
Ahead of them, Amaya glanced back, her sharp gaze landing squarely on Kai. "You two better keep up. Don't hold me back," she said curtly. "We're here to become agents, not to joke around."
Kai sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. Of course, the top scorer would say something like that.
Asher snorted. "She's all business, huh? Guess we'd better not fall behind."
Kai shook his head. This team is already exhausting, and we haven't even started training yet.
The group began their workout session, but to Kai's surprise, the training area was relatively empty. Considering how competitive the other students had been, he had expected the place to be packed, but the three of them managed to train in relative peace.
Kai was midway through a set of barbell squats when Amaya walked over, stopping in front of him with a critical expression. "Your form is off. You're not going all the way down," she said flatly. Without waiting for an invitation, she adjusted his stance and demonstrated the correct technique.
"Thanks for the tip," Kai said, shifting his position and trying again.
Amaya nodded, crossing her arms. "Based on how you work out, I can almost believe you're from the outskirts."
Kai sighed, lowering the barbell and shaking his head. "I am from the outskirts. Why would I lie about that?"
Amaya didn't respond immediately, simply giving him a skeptical glance before walking off to continue her own routine.
Kai muttered under his breath as he returned to his squats. Why does everyone think I'm lying about that?
The group pushed through their assigned workouts, each focusing on their tasks with varying levels of intensity. Amaya occasionally stepped in to correct Kai's form, offering blunt but helpful pointers.
"You're leaning too far forward again," she said at one point, adjusting his posture during a deadlift.
Kai grumbled but followed her instructions, secretly appreciating her attention to detail.
After finishing their routines, the three decided to head to the cafeteria for dinner. Despite the tension from earlier, they walked together in relative silence, their exhaustion and hunger overriding any lingering awkwardness.
The cafeteria, like the rest of the training facility, was sleek and modern, with a sterile efficiency that made it feel almost luxurious. As they walked through the line, their devices were scanned, determining their meals based on the strict diets assigned to them.
Kai's plate held a modest serving of steak, steamed broccoli, and roasted potatoes. Asher and Amaya received similar meals, all portioned and prepared to maximize nutrition over taste.
Sitting down at a nearby table, Kai stared at his food with a resigned expression. He took a bite and sighed. Not even a pinch of salt, he thought, chewing dutifully.
As they ate in relative silence, Kai quickly finished his bland meal and stood to head back to his room. Before he could leave, Asher grinned and approached him.
"Hey, let me check out your room. I've gotta see how fancy those gold dorms really are," Asher said, clearly excited.
Kai sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Fine, but don't touch anything."
Amaya, uninterested, waved them off. "I'll pass. Enjoy your little tour," she said, heading off to her own room without looking back.
Kai and Asher left the cafeteria together, Kai mentally preparing for another round of Asher's endless curiosity.
Amaya entered her room, the door sliding shut behind her with a soft hiss. She held up a small communication device in her hand, its surface glowing blue. A sharp, authoritative voice broke the silence.
"Amaya, how's the Mendoza brat? Have you figured out what they might be scheming?"
Amaya hesitated, her expression unreadable. After a moment, she responded, "I ended up on the same team as him. At first, I assumed he was part of the Mendoza family, but he swears he has no connection to them—just happens to share the last name. Honestly, I thought he was lying, but... he really seems like some random kid from the outskirts who got lucky."
A low growl of frustration came from the other end. "No relation? That's ridiculous. He's lying—he has to be. No one just happens to get a recommendation from Nathan Dark, especially not some nobody from the outskirts. Nathan has close ties to the Mendoza family."
The voice hardened, dripping with suspicion. "Keep an eye on him. If you have to, seduce him—do whatever it takes to find out what they're planning by sending someone to infiltrate my organization. I won't tolerate any hidden threats."
Amaya's grip on the device tightened, her jaw clenching briefly before she answered. "Understood. I'll keep digging."
The glow on the device dimmed as the connection cut off, leaving Amaya standing in the quiet of her room, her mind racing. She couldn't shake the nagging feeling that the boy she'd been ordered to spy on wasn't the schemer they thought he was. But orders were orders.