"Monthly Report - Level 2 Agent – Captain Selim B.” was printed in bold letters on the page. Selim quickly scanned through the pages, a majority of his focus diverted to the sounds outside the room, his senses attuned to the footsteps drawing nearer and then fading away. At any moment, someone could walk in.
Flipping through the pages, one caught his attention - “Observation Mission – MAXIMUM LEVEL – BRACON University.”
“Maximum level? Why such a high level?” he wondered. He didn't have time to learn more before he heard heavy footsteps approaching. Perhaps it was the sensation of having read something he wasn't supposed to that made him particularly cautious, but he promptly closed the folder. His prudence paid off as a few seconds later, the door swung open behind him.
Turning around, he saw an obese man dressed in an old-fashioned office outfit with an open gray jacket and suspenders over his shirt, holding up his bulging belly. The man closed the door, moved to his desk without uttering a word or sparing a glance at his guest, and then heavily dropped onto his brown leather chair.
He ran his hand over the few remaining strands of hair on his balding head, adjusted his small glasses on his pudgy nose, and placed his chubby fingers on the blue folder. It was then that he finally looked at Selim. “Let’s begin,” he said in a deep, oily voice.
He opened the folder and flipped a few pages before continuing, “The Rhu Bridge incident,” he said, pulling out a sheet from the folder. “You were up against a former level 3 agent who had deserted the East lab. Your mission was to bring him back alive, but we got him in pieces.” The man cleared his throat before continuing. “How do you explain this?” He finished, his gaze blank and tone monotonous, as if asking a question he cared little about the answer.
“My unit hadn't arrived yet, so I had to step in. The target put up a fight. He was well-trained, and despite my attempts to keep him alive, I had to kill him. I upheld the lab's motto of prioritizing my survival,” Selim replied, his voice devoid of any emotion.
The man’s beady eyes stared at Selim. He placed the paper back onto the table and scribbled a paragraph at the bottom. He then put it back in the folder and flipped to the next page. He pulled out another page.
This time, his demeanor changed. His eyes widened slightly, his breathing quickened, and he opened his mouth wider to breathe more comfortably. “This… mission at Bracon University… How is that going?” he asked cautiously.
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Selim seemed taken aback by this question. He uncrossed his legs and adjusted his position on his seat, as if preparing for the conversation ahead. “Nothing new, the target continues to kill, and we haven’t found any leads,” he replied.
“Alright, anything else? How is the agent we have placed there?” the man probed further.
“The young one? He doesn't seem reliable. I don’t trust him. His power is useless, he lacks professionalism and has a defiant attitude,” Selim snapped.
“I see. Any other details to mention?” the man asked, as if fishing for a specific response.
“Nothing, but if you have a more specific question, I might be able to assist you better,” Selim replied, his curiosity piqued, irritation surfacing, and defenses going up. His body stiffened, his breathing shallow and quick.
“No, I was just wondering if we are making any headway in this difficult situation,” the man replied nonchalantly. He kept looking at the paper in front of him, scrutinizing it every time Selim spoke, as if he might miss a crucial detail if he looked away.
"If I may, I believe this mission is a waste of time. The target is a minor threat - a former level 3 agent who isn't even combat-trained. If you really want to neutralize him, we'd make much quicker progress if you let me and my unit approach the university..." Selim started, but was cut off by his companion.
"No, you are not to come within a mile of the school. Let the agent we've sent handle the mission; your role is limited to supervision. Don't forget your place." The man's tone became threatening... and slightly panicked.
Selim said nothing, increasingly surprised by the importance the lab seemed to place on this seemingly insignificant mission. The man suddenly closed the folder.
"We're done here," he said coldly, before heaving himself up from his chair with some effort.
"But we haven't discussed the abandoned construction site mission!" Selim exclaimed, confused.
The man didn't stop, and with a hint of a stammer, said, "If you have any important details, you can explain it all to my secretary." With these words, he opened the door, signaling to his guest that it was time to leave.
Selim exited the room, throwing a dark glance and muttering under his breath. His stride was brisk in the hallway. As he headed for the exit, he noticed a group of people ahead of him. Several men in white lab coats and a few in military uniforms were following a man with short black hair, dressed in a black tactical outfit, carrying files under his arm. They were moving in Selim's direction.
Selim slowed down slightly to observe the group pass by, especially the man leading the way.
The man in the tactical suit was talking to a man in a lab coat while walking, appearing too focused to notice Selim's presence.
Without a doubt, Selim recognized him. "That's the agent from HQ."