After a long six-hour flight, the plane finally touched down at Labre City Airport. As they stepped off, a cool breeze swept through the runway, a stark contrast to the humid, forested air they had grown used to in the Beast Nation.
Taizen stretched his arms and exhaled. "It's good to be back," he said to Mionara.
"Yeah… it does," Mionara replied, though his tone lacked any real excitement.
The agents disembarked, moving toward the exit of the terminal. As they stepped outside, a tall man with a sharp gaze was waiting for them. His presence commanded attention without effort.
"Welcome, agents," he greeted. "I'm Cole. I'll be taking you to the Agency HQ and showing you to your residential complex." His expression was firm but not unkind. "I'm sorry your time at the Beast Organization had to end so abruptly, but some things are simply out of our hands. We couldn't let you get caught up in a full-scale war."
The group listened, nodding in understanding.
"You guys are the last batch to arrive," Cole continued. "Everyone's back now. The new recruits' complex is lively again. I remember when I was in your shoes, living at the HQ as a fresh recruit… made some good memories there."
The other agents murmured among themselves, some excited about returning to the heart of the agency, others eager to settle in and explore. But among the chatter, Taizen and Mionara remained silent.
Their expressions were cold, distant.
It was clear—they were not the same as when they had left for the Beast Organization.
After a short drive through the bustling streets of Labre City, the transport vehicle pulled up to the Agency HQ. The towering complex was as lively as ever, agents moving in and out, the hum of conversations and the occasional burst of laughter filling the air.
Cole led the group into the residential complex, his pace brisk.
"I don't have time to give you guys a full tour of the HQ right now," he said. "But I'm sure the agents who've been here longer will help you get familiar with everything." He glanced at his watch. "I've got a mission coming up shortly."
The agents listened attentively as Cole continued.
"Your missions will start sooner than usual. Normally, there's a bit more time for introductions and settling in, but we're in a difficult period. The Beast Organization and the Berserker Organization have both halted their missions, which means private companies and independent groups are hiring us at an unprecedented rate."
He folded his arms. "That also means the missions will be more dangerous than ever. The jobs we're getting now aren't the ones people can afford to take their time with. It's going to be intense, but I'm sure you're all more than prepared."
Cole turned to the large display screen mounted on the wall.
"Your assigned room numbers will be displayed here. Locate your room and get settled in. You'll officially be on the system and eligible for missions starting tomorrow." His eyes scanned the group. "Until then, use this time to explore the HQ, get to know your fellow agents, and rest up. If you have any questions about how things work, ask around."
With that, Cole gave them a nod and left, disappearing into the sea of agents moving through the hallways.
Taizen and Mionara walked up to the display screen, scanning for their assigned room numbers. They were both on the same floor—8th. Without saying much, they turned toward the elevators and stepped inside, pressing the button.
As the lift doors slid open on their floor, a blur of motion suddenly leaped at them.
"Taizen! Mionara! I've missed you guys!"
Luna tackled them into a tight hug, her energy completely overwhelming them.
Taizen and Mionara exchanged glances, both trying to suppress their smirks, but they couldn't hide the slight relief that washed over them. It had been a long time since they had seen a familiar face like this.
"When did you get back?" Mionara asked as Luna finally let go.
"Two days ago!" she grinned. "I was wondering when you guys would show up."
"Are you on this floor too?" Taizen asked.
Luna beamed. "Yep! Looks like we're neighbors—how fun is that?"
Mionara chuckled. "Lucky us."
"Come on, let's head to my room," Luna said, already pulling them forward. "We have a lot to catch up on!"
With a small sigh, Taizen and Mionara followed, knowing there was no way they were getting out of this.
As they settled into Luna's room, she sat on the bed while Taizen and Mionara took seats nearby. She looked at them eagerly.
"So, what was it like over there? How was your time with the Beast Organization?" she asked.
Taizen and Mionara exchanged a brief glance before Taizen spoke. "It was… different."
"Yeah," Mionara added. "The way they operate is nothing like here. Everything is more intense."
Luna tilted her head. "That sounds kinda vague. Was it fun at least?"
Taizen let out a short breath. "Fun isn't really the word for it."
Mionara nodded. "We learned a lot, got stronger, but… it wasn't easy."
Luna frowned slightly. Something about their tone felt off. They weren't just tired—they seemed distant, different from before.
"Well, at least you're back now," she said, forcing a smile. "Things will feel normal again soon."
Neither Taizen nor Mionara responded right away. They just gave small nods, as if unsure whether they actually agreed.
"What was it like over at the Berserker Organization?" Mionara asked, leaning forward slightly.
"It was a different experience, to be honest," Luna said. "They don't use Inner over there, but they're still insanely strong. I couldn't believe it." She paused for a moment before adding, "Oh, and I met loads of Ragra's family members. Did you know he has a twin brother?"
"A twin?" Mionara repeated, surprised.
"Yeah," Luna nodded. "Looks just like him but carries himself differently."
"Where is Ragra now? Is he back?" Taizen asked.
"Yeah, he was one of the first ones to return, his room is on the 15th floor. He got sent back super early," Luna said. "Apparently, there was an attack on the Assassin Organization HQ. Everything everywhere is a real mess right now. He's even been on a couple of missions already."
Mionara frowned slightly. "An attack on the Assassin HQ…? Things really are getting worse."
"I told him all about the war," Luna continued. "About what's happening with the Beast Organization and the Berserkers."
"What did he say?" Taizen asked.
Luna shrugged. "Not much. He just listened, didn't react too much, and went about his day."
Taizen and Mionara exchanged glances. They both knew Ragra wasn't the type to show his thoughts easily, but with everything going on, they expected more of a response.
"So, what have you been up to since you got back?" Mionara asked.
"Honestly? Just relaxing," Luna said, stretching her arms above her head. "I haven't even started training yet. I'm exhausted. We're all going on the database tomorrow, but who knows when we'll get assigned a mission."
Mionara leaned back slightly. "How does everything even work? We haven't been told much about how the system operates."
"It's pretty simple," Luna explained. "When you get selected for a mission, you'll get a notification on your display screen. It'll tell you where and when you're going. Because there's so much happening right now, the briefing will be done virtually from your room instead of in person."
She gestured vaguely toward the HQ building. "Around the complex, there are simulation rooms, dojos, and even hand-to-hand combat tournaments where you can win prizes. There's actually a lot to do when you're not on a mission. But the way things seem right now…" she trailed off for a moment before finishing, "I feel like we'll be on missions most of the time."
Taizen and Mionara both absorbed the information in silence before Mionara spoke again.
"And the other new recruits? What are they like?"
Luna smiled. "Everyone seems cool. Well, you know me, I'm as friendly as they come—I've already made a bunch of friends." Then her expression shifted slightly, and she smirked. "There are also some ridiculously strong people here. I thought I was strong, but some of them are on a whole different level."
Taizen and Mionara both remained quiet for a moment, their thoughts lingering on everything Luna had just told them. They had only just returned, but it was already clear—things were about to get serious.