Inside the HQ Command briefing room, General Luis addressed Team Unknown, his calm, commanding presence a stark contrast to the month-long chaos that had defined Dr. Lewis's tenure.

Dr. Lewis, seated at the end of the table, looked suspiciously cheerful, almost suspiciously so—until General Luis dropped the bombshell.

"I'll resume managing Team Unknown's missions effective immediately," General Luis began, his voice steady and decisive.

Dr. Lewis exhaled deeply, a dramatic gesture of relief that made Riggs raise an eyebrow. "Finally," Dr. Lewis muttered under his breath.

General Luis continued, his tone unwavering, though a faint glint of humor betrayed his amusement. "However…"

Dr. Lewis froze mid-sigh, his eyes narrowing. "However?"

"You'll retain responsibility for Beta Team's training," General Luis added casually.

Dr. Lewis's expression shifted from relief to a slow, dawning horror. His face twitched, the corner of his mouth curling as though he were about to shout. If the scene had been animated, a fiery background with billowing smoke would've appeared behind him.

Riggs leaned toward Bo and whispered, "Do you see that? He's about to combust."

Bo, ever calm, replied, "He's holding it together. Barely."

Fon tilted his head, watching with mild curiosity. "Should we... intervene?"

Val shook his head slightly, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Let him process it."

Before Dr. Lewis could verbally erupt, General Luis raised a hand, silencing any potential outburst. "Additionally, to fully integrate Eagle into Team Unknown, he'll join you on missions starting next week. In the meantime, he'll also be helping with Beta Team's training."

Dr. Lewis visibly twitched again, but this time, a devilish grin spread across his face. His demeanor did a complete 180 as he leaned forward, his voice dripping with mock enthusiasm. "Oh? Assisting with Beta Team's training, you say?"

The room outside grew oddly quiet, as if Beta Team, struggling through their daily exercises, collectively sensed a sinister shift in the air. Kieran paused mid-climb on a rope, shuddering. "Why do I feel like something terrible is about to happen?"

Serra, crawling through mud nearby, groaned. "Probably because it is."

Reyes, standing beside General Luis in his black hooded cloak with his sniper rifle slung casually across his back, broke into a sweat. "Uh, sir, what exactly am I supposed to do with Beta Team?"

General Luis's lips curled into a faint smirk. "Your job will be simple, Eagle. You'll ensure no one slacks off during training."

Dr. Lewis's eyes gleamed with sudden inspiration. "Paint bullets. Lots of paint bullets."

Reyes blinked. "Paint bullets?"

General Luis nodded, his tone calm but carrying a wicked edge of amusement. "From a high vantage point. If anyone decides to take an unscheduled break…"

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Dr. Lewis finished the sentence with glee. "You shoot them."

Reyes's sweatdrop intensified. "Understood, sir."

The Next Day

The training grounds buzzed with activity as Beta Team assembled for another grueling session. Dr. Lewis stood at the center, his tablet in hand, barking instructions as usual. Beside him stood General Luis, his commanding presence silencing any stray murmurs.

Reyes, now officially Eagle in both codename and demeanor, perched on a high tower overlooking the grounds. His sniper rifle was secured in his hands, loaded with paint bullets. The hood of his black cloak cast a shadow over his half-masked face, giving him an ominous aura.

Dr. Lewis cleared his throat, addressing the Beta Team. "Listen up! Today, you have the distinct honor of being overseen by General Luis, the one who handles Team Unknown."

General Luis stepped forward, his voice calm but authoritative.

"Some of you may be wondering why we're here. I would like to introduce you the new Team Unknown member. Let me make this perfectly clear—Eagle is not here by chance. Team Unknown does not recruit on a whim. Every member undergoes two years of training under brutal conditions, and Eagle is no exception. He earned his place."

The murmurs that rippled through the Beta Team were quickly silenced by General Luis's piercing gaze. Serra and Kieran exchanged uneasy looks, their jaws tightening as the weight of his words sank in.

General Luis continued, his tone growing sharper. "If you think the training you've endured so far is difficult, think again. The standard for Team Unknown is far beyond anything you can imagine. And Eagle here…" He gestured toward Reyes, who adjusted his rifle slightly, "…will ensure that none of you are slacking off."

Kieran whispered to Serra, his voice trembling. "I don't like how he said that."

Serra muttered back, "I don't like how Eagle is looking at us."

General Luis stepped aside, leaving Dr. Lewis to introduce Reyes. "Eagle, Team Unknown's newest member, will serve as your overseer. He has already stationed on high ground to monitor your progress. If you stop, rest, or hesitate…"

Dr. Lewis's devilish grin widened. "…you'll find yourself painted."

The training began, and it didn't take long for chaos to erupt.

The Beta Team scrambled through obstacle courses, their shouts of exertion mingling with Dr. Lewis's barked commands. "Move it! Do you think the enemy will wait for you to catch your breath? Keep going!"

Serra, navigating a series of uneven bars, glanced up toward Eagle's perch. "How does he even see us from up there?"

The sharp ping of a paint bullet striking the bar in front of her made her yelp. She looked down to see a bright splotch of blue paint.

"I stand corrected," she muttered, doubling her efforts.

Kieran, trudging through a mud pit, groaned. "Does he ever miss?"

Another ping landed on the mud just inches from him, splattering his leg.

Serra called out, "Apparently not."

Kieran resigned himself to his fate, muttering, "He wouldn't be in Team Unknown if he could." He shuddered but pushed forward, mud clinging to his uniform.

High above, Reyes adjusted his scope, smirking faintly beneath his hood. He wasn't cruel—just thorough.

Dr. Lewis's voice boomed across the training grounds. "I didn't say you could slow down! MOVE!"

The Beta Team groaned collectively, but none dared to stop. Reyes's precise shots kept them on their toes, and Dr. Lewis's relentless pacing ensured no one fell behind.

By the end of the day, Beta Team stumbled off the course, covered in bruises and streaks of paint. Their groans of exhaustion were accompanied by muttered complaints.

"I can't feel my legs," Kieran moaned, collapsing onto a bench.

Serra slumped beside him, her voice laced with bitterness. "I can't feel anything."

Dr. Lewis strode past, his grin as sharp as ever. "Good. That means you're learning."

High above, Reyes disassembled his rifle with practiced efficiency, the faintest trace of satisfaction in his movements. As he descended from his perch, he passed Dr. Lewis, who gave him a rare nod of approval.

"You did well, Eagle," Dr. Lewis said. "They're finally starting to learn."

Reyes paused, his voice quiet but steady. "Thank you, sir."

From a distance, Kieran watched the exchange and shuddered. "He's scary," he muttered.

Serra nodded faintly, staring at the paint-streaked training grounds. "Yeah. But at least he's on our side."

Dr. Lewis turned toward the Beta Team, his voice cutting through their fatigue. "Same time tomorrow! And remember—slack off, and you'll regret it!"

As the team groaned in unison, Reyes adjusted his hood and followed Dr. Lewis back toward HQ Command, ready to do it all again.