What day is it? Mark wrote in his diary, it was late in the evening in his room within Vault Honshu. I stopped keeping track of time ever since I joined the Hashira Enterprise as an Agent. A Mobile Task Force is a collective term for Hashira Agents. The benefits were great to be honest, a roof over my head and access to all their records.

He looked at Arthur, compared to before when it was a slightly rusted old nanotech sword it was now a gleaming shiny new sword that befits that of a Leader but what made it stand out even more is the fact that Carnwennan is now modified to work as a separate unit. And his Arthur wasn't the only one that was repaired, Galahad was repaired with a reinforced shield and Lancelot is sharpened making it more lethal. The Mordred is now equipped with a stabilizer allowing for more energy to be released, meanwhile, the Gawain now has an additional form known as the Galatine which allowed itself to split into a pair of submachine guns.

Though one question remains, Mark thought about it as he slumped against his chair to look up at the ceiling. Where do we go from here?

Knock!

Knock!

Mark got up from his room and made his way towards the door to find Shinobu waiting for him. Like him, she was now wearing a military uniform of the Hashira Agents which took on the form of a bulletproof jacket, cargo pants and a vest and belt for storing various items, she was appointed as the Deputy of the Knights as per the suggestions of Zion and the others.

"You need something?" Mark asked.

"I kind of wanted to ask you something." She said peering inside the room to her surprise. "Looks like a Prison Room."

"Not one for the decorating." Mark shrugged earning a giggle from Shinobu who entered the room while holding a pamphlet which caught his eye as it had the words CMA written over it.

"What's that?" Mark asked with a confused look on his face as he sat by his bed while Shinobu sat on his chair shooting a glance at the open notebook.

"It's a pamphlet for the Scout Ranger Academy of Ceryx, Professor Sara handed it to me earlier." She said placing it next to Mark's diary.

Scout Rangers huh? Mark thought he picked up the pamphlet and began to read it. He did consider the option, and that goal hasn't changed in the last few years. But there's the problem that he's still too young, the age of entry for entering was the age of eighteen meaning that he is still six years away from making that goal.

According to Shinobu, Professor Sara wants him and his entire Mobile Task Force for them to become Scout Rangers, as it turns out all of the Staff within Hashira are Scout Rangers meaning the only way for them to be legitimate Agents was to become Scout Rangers and they don't have to worry about the cost because as Hashira Enterprise funds the school in exchange for having their Agents enter the academy.

It's honestly a win, Mark pondered with a frown as he read the pamphlet which among the requirements was to have a high grade point average. But once again I'm too young, curse the limitations of my feeble body.

"You and the others go on ahead and become Scout Rangers," Mark said handing the pamphlet with a smile. "I'm too young to be one just yet."

"I can wait," Shinobu told him. "Ernest and I agreed to wait while Zion and Elysia go on ahead."

"Shinobu…" Mark said he was genuinely touched as he didn't expect her and Ernest to stick around but then he noticed her ears were slightly red when she was explaining to them that she, Mark and Ernest were to be part of the same class.

That's how it is huh? Mark thought realizing he had unintentionally charmed Shinobu, somehow there was no idea how but for some reason, Shinobu seems to be attached to him, but as she was in the middle of that explanation he then noticed that she wasn't the only one present in the area.

"How long have you guys been hiding behind there?" Mark said turning to the doorway to reveal Zion, Ernest, and Elysia hiding behind the doorway with sheepish looks on their faces.

"We just can't anything from you huh?" Ernest said with an amused smile on his face.

"You don't have to go that far for me," Mark said with a smile on his face. "I can keep up with you guys, so go on ahead."

Not like I have a choice in the first place. Mark thought trying his best to not sound like a martyr. Besides he can easily outclass them with or without the Scout Ranger Training, not to mention the academy requires the student to have a high grade point average so he still has to study up and prepare for it. The others don't look convinced and as they were about to agree Shinobu spoke up.

"Is there no other option?" She asked if she wanted to be with him that much. Mark thought to himself. But he just smiled and gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

"Can't be helped I'm younger than all of you," Mark said with a chuckle. "You guys go on ahead I'll catch up as soon as I can."

"Even if it's four years?" Elysia pointed out, from what Mark had learned the Ceryx Military Academy is also a College for students to take up Undergraduate Courses though mostly four-year courses but truth be told the idea of an academic institution providing Undergraduate Education was a foreign concept to Mark because, in his first life in Urdia, only the wealthy have access to such education one of the main reasons why it took a hard time for him to become Emperor of Urdia was because he had only basic education.

"Even if it's four years," Mark replied but then chuckled. "Besides I haven't even thought of what Course will I take once I enter anyways, have you guys thought about yours?"

Elysia, Ernest and Shinobu looked unconvinced but eventually Zion spoke up.

"Well then that's settled," Zion spoke up causing the three to look at him with a confused look. "We'll enter when it's our turn but we'll be waiting for you. Leader."

"What!?" Shinobu spoke up in outrage.

"I don't know about you guys but I feel iffy being in a class of people several years younger than me so I think I'm gonna go on ahead." Zion joked with a smile causing Ernest to smile.

"Ah what the hell, it's Mark we're talking about, he's a natural prodigy." Ernest pointed out.

"You two overestimate my worth." Mark joked back causing all three of them to share a laugh, this caused the two girls to exchange looks.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

"Looks like we're outvoted." Elysia pointed out.

"It seems so," Shinobu said disappointingly.

And so it was settled, Task Force Knight was to study in the Ceryx Military Academy to become true Agents of Hashira Enterprise.

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[The Second Advent]

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Mark wandered into the Armory to find Troy watching an Agent put on a suit. It was just an ordinary black jacket, a white shirt and dark pants and a matching.

"Going to a formal event?" Mark asked Troy as the Agent walked off with the suit on.

"Nope, they're just entering civilian locations," Troy said pressing a handful of things on a tablet and then turned to Mark. "He's wearing a reinforced suit meant to protect him from all harm."

"Apart from the head." Mark corrected him. "Apart from the head." Troy nodded in agreement.

"Since you're here I need your help with something." He said handing him an Arctic combat armour to which Mark reluctantly put it on as Troy started putting on the armour as well.

"What are we going to do?" Mark asked as he followed him to enter an elevator, this eventually leads them to the rooftop of Vault Honshu. Despite their combat armor designed for colder climates, the Hokdan winds are notably colder that it allows Mark to shiver, Troy on the other hand seems to be used to the climate and so can shrug it off.

"Here's the thing, the Communications Tower which is located here at the top of the Vault, is malfunctioning and I need someone to watch my back," Troy explained as they continued to make their way through the frozen wasteland but from a distance, Mark can see a white tower that resembled that of a lighthouse from the distance.

"Sure I want to see the view from up there." Mark agreed as he followed his trail as they made their way towards the Lighthouse.

"I hear Zion is preparing for Ceryx," Troy said through the communications, they had to cover their mouths so that they don't end up freezing their faces, the trek from the Vault to the Lighthouse was notably far so they had decided to talk for a bit to pass the time.

"Yes and the others are taking their General Education Degrees," Mark said bringing up their academic situation. Due to all two of them never having any formal education, namely Zion and Shinobu, they would have to take a rather rushed variant of the General Education Degrees. As for Mark, Elysia and Ernest, they were fine to take their time as they were all dropouts before the time they were recruited by Merlin.

Troy was about to say something once more but he stopped dead in his tracks causing Mark to stop as well, he watched as Troy tensed up and pulled out a gun and prepared to aim forward.

"I know you're out there, show yourself. Mage." Troy said his voice laced with Venom as Mark nervously pulled out Arthur Caliburn.

Magic Users or Mages are also common in this world but for Neogeans like them Mages are only a work of fiction, or so Mark thought apparently during the War with Vakaria many years ago the Neogeans learned that Magic is a real concept and is a massive threat. And all of that comes from the continent of Vakaria. As a result, it was common for Hashira Agents to be trained with Anti-Mage tactics, but it would take a skilled agent to be successful.

If only I have retained my Magical Abilities then this would be easy. Mark thought as the ground shook revealing a massive seed only for it to open with a Mage in regal clothing but their face is covered.

Must be a Druid. Mark observed as Troy readied his gun, which according to what Mark learned a while back was which was an automatic rifle loaded with Counter-Force rounds, bullets that are designed specifically to penetrate Magic barriers and deal devastating damage to Mages. However such ammunition is limited and only elite Hashira Enterprise Soldiers and Agents are provided with such weapons, though there have been rumours that the Scout Rangers are slowly being equipped with such weapons.

"Mark run to the tower!" Troy shouted as he opened fire towards the Druid, considering that this was the first time Mark had encountered a Magic user he listened and made a sprint towards the tower but to his surprise, massive vines started popping up from the ground caging Mark on the ground.

"I don't think so," the Druid said as his body changed into a massive Urnoq, which is a species of Bears that live in cold weather known for their white fur, and then proceeded to charge at Troy who swapped his automatic rifle into a combat shotgun and opened fire at the Druid. Fortunately, that seem to do the trick as the Urnoq's brain exploded from the blast of the shotgun causing all the vines to disappear into particles of light.

"Troy!" Mark called out sprinting towards his senior who collapsed to the ground panting as he was scratched up from the fight.

"I'm fine, but we need to head back," Troy said with a wave as he stood up. "We need to warn the others."

From what Troy had informed Mark, they were part of a local Vakarian Warband. It was they would usually raid the Vault as they know for a fact that they were holding various items that they want to get their hands on and sell them back home to Vakaria. Though time and time again they were able to repel their raids, however, they have recently employed local mages to help in their raids.

And so the entire Vault had been set into full defence mode, various vehicles have been deployed, barricades have been placed. They were ready to prepare hold back. Unfortunately, Task Force Knight isn't participating in the defence and so Mark and the rest were stuck inside the Command Room with Sara and Merlin, who disabled their Camelot Arms in case they decided to sneak out, meanwhile sounds of gunfire and screaming can be heard as Troy and his Troops fend off the Warband.

"Since we're down here why don't we all talk?" Professor Sara said as Merlin prepared them coffee and tea for them to enjoy.

"I wish we were up there fighting," Zion said with Mark nodding in agreement.

"We should, we're agents after all," Mark said crossing his arms.

"Don't be too rash, you're all not full agents yet." Professor Sara said with a frown as she took a sip of her tea.

"Even after what happened in Camp Hideyoshi?" Ernest said as he turned to find Elysia tutoring Shinobu on basic arithmetic, unlike Zion, Shinobu had taken her studies seriously as the prospect of entering an academic institution enthralled her and thus started working hard on studying and making up for lost time.

"You were merely volunteers at the time, and we were still contemplating how will we induct you all into our Institution." Professor Sara explained to them as she showed them a hierarchy of ranks that are associated with Agents within Hashira. Volunteers are listed as the lowest rank while the highest is Executive which happens to be Professor Sara's rank. Agents are located somewhere in the middle.

Executive huh, I remember that's the position of Gaige's Grandfather. I wonder how is he doing. Mark thought to himself as he turned his attention towards the screen which continued to show fighting in the defenses.

"Mark, why don't you read this?" Professor Sara smiled as she pulled out an old book and handed it to Mark, on the cover reads 'The Art of War'.Mark raised an eyebrow at her but decided to give it a read to help kill time, it was the least that he could do for the time being.

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[The Second Advent]

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As soon as the raid was over, it was their job to help in the medical effort. Normally they'd be spending their time identifying the dead but since they were armed with heavy ordinance they were able to repel the entire Warband with only a few wounded.

The power of ammunition, Mark thought amazed at the beauty of firepower via the combat rifles and bayonets that the Agents used in fighting off the enemy, he stood in that field as he watched a handful of Agents carry off the dead to be placed in a cart and then leave it to the Warband to carry them. It was the least they could do for the enemy after defeating them.

"You shouldn't be standing here and looking at Corpses Mark," Troy said walking towards them while lugging his rifle.

"Sorry, I'm just amazed at the ordinance you used against them," Mark replied as Zion and Shinobu were helping with the body disposal while Elysia and Ernest were off helping the wounded.

"You're a strange kid," Troy commented with a concerned look on his face while Mark just shrugged and walked off to Shinobu and Elysia who were talking to themselves. But as soon as Mark walked into the area, Elysia turned around and walked away leaving him with Shinobu.

"How's your studies?" Mark asked with a smile.

"Difficult, though Elysia is helping me a lot," Shinobu said as the two of them walked around the Vault Grounds. Thanks to the reclamation of Camp Hideyoshi a while back, the Vault Honshu branch of Hashira Enterprise they were able to establish a complex starting from the Vault to the Camp and all that was done through the use of the GRAIL. Furthermore adding fuel to Mark's amazement was that a handful of other settlers from the other Vaults have flown to the complex and moved in thus increasing the population.

"What are you going to do while we're gone?" Shinobu asked with a concerned look on her face.

"I'll figure something out," Mark said with a shrug.