Early the next morning, Ace Johnson stood before a pair of massive, reinforced titanium doors, his breath steady despite the weight of the moment. He wore a simple blue hoodie, black denim trousers, and white sneakers, blending into the shadows of the underground facility. The entrance was hidden beneath an abandoned subway station— it felt exactly like he was in an action movie.
This must be the Zentarō HQ, Ace thought, his mind racing as he approached the door. As he moved closer, his body was scanned by a silent, high-tech security system. A moment later, a synthetic female voice echoed through the air.
"Welcome, special agent Chronos."
Chronos? Ace's brow furrowed as he glanced around, confused. Who's Chronos?
Before he could react, the door slid open with a mechanical hiss. As it did, a low rumbling reverberated through the floor, and Ace felt the ground tremble beneath his feet. He steadied himself, eyes wide as he took in the sight before him.
The Zentarō headquarters was nothing short of breathtaking—state-of-the-art technology, sleek walls, and advanced systems that seemed straight out of a Men In Black movie. The hum of digital life filled the air as Ace stepped inside, his senses overwhelmed by the scale and precision of the facility.
A man appeared from the shadows, his dark hair streaked with gray and his demeanor sharp despite his age. He was dressed in a well-tailored gray suit, a symbol of authority and control. As he approached, his eyes locked on Ace with a measured, almost calculating gaze.
"Welcome to Zentarō's headquarters," the man said, his voice deep and commanding. "I am Agent Zeus, director of the agency. From now on, you will be known as Agent Chronos."
He handed Ace—now Chronos—a sleek file, its surface glowing faintly.
"What's this?" Chronos asked, his voice steady despite the storm of questions in his mind.
"It's a file containing your information," Zeus replied calmly, watching him as Chronos opened it.
Codename: Chronos
Job: Assassin
Specialty: Hacking, Martial Arts
Weapons of Preference: Katana, Dagger, Glock
Rank: E
Chronos stared at the page, processing the unfamiliar details. "What do you mean by Rank E?" he asked, eyes narrowing as the words settled in his mind.
Zeus's expression remained unchanged. "All agents are ranked from E to S," he explained, his tone matter-of-fact. "S is the highest rank. Apart from me, only six agents—the Big Six—have reached S rank. Most of our agents fall within B rank. After completing enough missions—E or D rank—you'll earn points. Once you accumulate 20,000 points, you'll be promoted to D rank. The higher your rank, the more privileges you'll earn."
As the words lingered in the air, Zeus turned to leave, but not before offering a final piece of advice. "I know about your past, Chronos. Don't let hatred control your actions."
After Zeus left, another agent appeared—this one dressed in a casual tracksuit and white sneakers, his red hair tousled and scarlet eyes gleaming with an unsettling intensity. He was tall and slightly chubby, his demeanor unassuming but somehow confident.
"Hey there! I'm Special Agent Falcon," he greeted with a wide grin. "I've been sent by the deputy director to escort you to the mission control center."
Falcon's casual tone seemed to contrast the high-stakes environment, but Chronos followed him, silently noting every detail of their surroundings. As they walked, they passed various high-tech gadget testing areas and training rooms, each more advanced than the last. The entire facility buzzed with purpose, and Chronos couldn't help but wonder what lay beyond the surface.
I wonder where they keep the classified files, he thought, his mind racing.
Chronos, secretly a member of the Viper gang, had only one goal: infiltrate the Zentarō and access their most sensitive information. Becoming a Zentarō agent was the perfect cover. But as he continued through the sleek, highly secured halls, he slowly realized that rising to the highest levels of the agency was the only way to reach those files. Hacking into their main server was too risky—the facility's security system would catch him before he even got close, blowing his cover in an instant.
They arrived at a mechanical door with the letters MCC engraved on its surface. Falcon approached it without hesitation, scanning his eye on a retina scanner, and the door slid open with a soft hiss.
Behind the door stood a woman in her early thirties. She was tall, slim, and exuded an air of quiet authority. Her dark eyes met Chronos's with a sharp, calculating gaze. Her expensive red suit and matching heels gave her an air of distinction, and Chronos couldn't help but think, She must be the deputy director's assistant. They probably pay their assistants a lot.
The woman introduced herself. "Agent Cinder. I'm the deputy director of Zentarō."
Isn't she too young to be a deputy director?
Chronos thought, though he kept his expression neutral.
Cinder motioned for him to step into a sleek glass pod. It was designed to measure his physical abilities—part of the Zentarō's standard procedure for new recruits. As the pod scanned him, the results flashed on the screen, and Cinder's eyes widened in surprise.
Speed: 85%
Strength: 75%
Stamina: 85%
Cinder's eyes lingered on the numbers, a slow realization dawning on her. Chronos's physical prowess surpassed that of most A-rank agents, and with proper training, he could surpass even the strongest S-rank agents—perhaps even the director himself.
She composed herself and handed him a training plan. "You'll need to do one hundred push-ups, sit-ups, and squats every day," she instructed, her voice cool but with a hint of admiration. "With discipline, you could become an invaluable asset to Zentarō."
But as Cinder watched Chronos leave the pod, she couldn't shake the feeling that this new agent held far more potential than she realized.
Little did she know, Chronos was not there to serve the agency. He was the one who would eventually bring it to its knees.