Now I'm a Real Agent! (2)
It's like a dream. I actually qualified to set foot in the Intelligence Agency HQ. Me, the one who thought I'd never amount to anything in life, somehow survived training camp and achieved results. If you asked me from a year ago, I'd say it was impossible.
"Yufir, over here!"
In one of the HQ's large rooms, the new agents in their suits had gathered. They were all familiar faces from the same training camp over the past year, but the new space made everything feel a bit strange too.
"Vinaaa!"
I grabbed both of Vina's hands and jumped up and down in place.
"See? I told you you could do it, Yufir!"
As we hugged and cheered, Iri, who had been standing in the corner, approached with a pleased smile.
"I knew you'd both make it."
Iri said it like she hadn't worried for a second from the start. As we celebrated with each other and looked around, I felt relieved that all the guys I'd gotten close to had become agents too. Edmon and Elvin were chatting happily in the group of guys. We'd talked plenty and even been on teams together, so I genuinely hoped they'd do well.
We kept chattering among ourselves, congratulating each other on passing, when the door opened. Our noise died down instantly.
Click. Click.
The Black Rose Instructor stepped up to the low podium. She scanned us with her still-intimidating face, then smirked.
"Hmph. Congratulations on becoming official agents, rookies."
At her words, we new agents raised both arms and cheered.
"You're all excellent. Excellent enough that the Intelligence Agency deemed you necessary and brought you here. Today, you can be proud of yourselves."
It might be the first and last praise we'd ever hear from the Black Rose Instructor.
"Of course... I'm not here just to celebrate. You all know why you're gathered here."
As soon as the Black Rose Instructor finished, the door opened again, and senior agents appeared. Eight agents, each with a strong personality, lined up on the podium. Anyone could tell at a glance they weren't ordinary.
Where one stood crooked, another stood straight like a doll.
"Those are the ones..."
"Their vibes are no joke."
There's a saying in the Empire: Those who guard above the surface are called knights, and those who guard below are called agents. Knights are the face of the nation, so when they rack up achievements, it's plastered on the front page of newspapers with heavy promotion. Even ordinary citizens who don't care much about other news know plenty about knights.
Agent accomplishments, on the other hand, are handled quietly. Even if it makes the news, it's just "the matter resolved" or "perpetrator captured"—never who did it or how. If something big that seemed hopeless suddenly wraps up, the rumor might spread that it was the work of agents guarding the nation from the shadows. And that's about it.
These eight on the podium were said to be the Empire's top elite agents, guarding from below the surface.
It's Edwin!
I widened my eyes and waved. I wasn't super visible among the tall people, but luckily, jumping around got his attention, and Edwin smiled and nodded back.
Whoa... I knew he was amazing, but...
I never imagined he'd be one of the Intelligence Agency's elite picks. No wonder his influence seemed so vast—everything has a reason. Not only did he suddenly slot me into training camp and provide tons of support, he even had a senior agent right under him for me.
He was even more incredible than I'd thought.
"Today, after passing, what you should look forward to next is the honor of working with the Intelligence Agency's elite agents."
At the Black Rose Instructor's words, us new agents—including me—gaped in awe, forgetting to close our mouths. They had to be among the Empire's best, including the Central Knights Order.
"Seniors, please say a few words each."
Even the Black Rose Instructor, who always barked at us, was polite to them.
"Sure, leave the rest to us."
As the Black Rose Instructor stepped aside, the man on the far left came forward. He was a brown-haired man with an eyepatch over his left eye, probably from an injury. He smiled gently, but he didn't seem easy at all.
"Nice to meet you all."
He laughed ha ha and waved.
"I'm Chaplin, leader of Team 1 in the Intelligence Agency. From now on, we'll select who among you joins us. We'll call names one by one, ask which team you want to go to, and raise our hands if interested."
Team Leader Chaplin's explanation was simple. Interested team leaders raise hands for the called agent. If none, they step down. If one, they join that leader immediately. If multiple, the new agent chooses.
Does that mean...!
Honestly, I hadn't expected much, but seeing Team Leader Edwin made me hope. He'd looked out for me in training camp—maybe there was a reason...
"My Team 1 has plenty of strong folks already. So I need someone useful in specific situations rather than just brute strength. Simply put... yeah, scouts or hunters. Agents with magic aptitude or tracking skills."
With that, Team Leader Chaplin added a bit more and returned to his spot.
Next, the silver-haired woman second in line stepped forward. She was doll-like. Her beauty went beyond pretty—it inspired longing.
"Whoa..."
"Is she really an agent? Not a model?"
"Gulp. Please pick me."
The silver-haired woman stood quietly, then carefully spoke.
"Team 2 Leader, Efnel."
A thin soprano voice that matched her looks.
"I just need reliable teammates who execute orders perfectly. Right now... nothing special."
With that concise intro, she stepped back.
Teams 3 and 4 followed, introducing themselves and their desired recruits. The other new agents buzzed about who might pick whom, or how they had no hope.
And finally, a familiar face stepped forward.
"Team 8, Edwin."
Edwin Urbanlight. The man who'd basically gotten me here. More precisely, the one who'd promised to help if I made it this far—and he'd already done more than that.
"I don't like jack-of-all-trades types."
Team Leader Edwin crossed his arms and scanned us.
"I prefer unique, special, or weird people. This job never goes according to plan, so those who can create variables anywhere, anytime, survive longest. That's why I favor someone who excels insanely at one thing over someone decent at everything."
His gaze scanning the new agents stopped right in front of me. Normally I'd be shocked or tense, but since it was someone I was grateful to, I didn't look away.
"Congratulations on becoming official agents. Let's do well together."
Team Leader Edwin said, looking at me. I don't know how others heard it, but it felt like those words were just for me.
"Then, due to time, we'll proceed quickly."
The Black Rose Instructor called names from the side. One by one, new agents went up, faced the leaders. Naturally, hands raised rarely. Mostly, they went up and down fast. By the time half were called, people whispered maybe no one would get picked.
"He got picked!"
"First one, right?!"
"Team 5!"
Edmon Portridge, my cohort from the first evaluation. The model student himself—I figured he'd succeed, and sure enough, he started strong.
"Edmon, congrats. Report to Team 5's office tomorrow."
At the Black Rose Instructor's words, he bowed and stood by the wild-looking Team 5 Leader.
Maybe riding the momentum, hands started raising here and there.
And...
"Iri Enposiem."
The red-haired girl went up on the podium, and an unprecedented scene unfolded.
"...Insane."
"All hands raised?"
"Yo, this has never happened."
Every team leader raised a hand, hoping Iri would join them. We'd just been celebrating together, but watching this made me feel a bit distant. Iri really was on another level from us.
Maybe only she combined versatility and specialization perfectly.
Aws and cheers erupted. Everyone felt her different caliber—no jealousy even.
"Whoa... she's amazing."
It was like a halo shone around Iri suddenly. I clapped without thinking.
For the first time, with multiple hands up, Iri got to choose.
"I'll go to Team 1."
And as expected, she headed to Team 1, said to be full of elites. What Team 1 Leader said about scouts seemed laughable—Iri was talent everyone coveted.
Next was Vina. She went up, but after Iri, the mood sank.
"..."
No hands raised. Vina forced an awkward smile, but maybe from the comparison, it looked painful to me.
Vina came down and stood quietly beside me.
"Vina..."
"It's fine. I knew it anyway. Just... yeah, gotta work harder."
Even if she hadn't expected it, seeing a close friend shine right before, then getting compared outright—it'd hurt anyone.
A few more passed, and now barely ten left.
Finally, my name was called.
"Yufir Sageina."
The moment it was, I stepped forward to the podium. Not high, but all eyes on me made me tense badly. The leaders right in front giggled or tilted heads looking at me.
They'd probably researched us beforehand, to see who fit their teams.
"Then, raise hands if interested."
I squeezed my eyes shut without thinking. Like I dreaded the outcome.
"..."
Silence. What? No one? If even one, there'd be a reaction right away. But quiet... guess I really was lacking.
I slowly opened my eyes.
"Eh?"
Yeah, I never imagined this. Not even 1% expectation.
Another full raise. All team leaders smiled warmly at me, hands up wanting me.
"Wh-what the hell, you guys...?!"
Team Leader Edwin yelled, flustered, glancing sideways.
With the silence broken, cohorts finally buzzed in shock about me.
"Eeeek?!"
This treatment was new—I panicked. I figured only Team Leader Edwin would want me.
"Then, chirpy... er, Yufir."
The Black Rose Instructor told me to choose. I swallowed hard and looked at each leader in turn.
"I'll go with..."
And as I was about to decide—
Creak.
The door opened.
"Hold on~"
A relaxed voice, and one more agent climbed the podium.
"You..."
The Black Rose Instructor's eyes widened in surprise.
"Plang, long time no see."
"Team Leader Plang, you don't usually pick team members..."
"Minds change."
The black-haired man stood before me. He offered a handshake, gloved in black like his hair.
"We meet again."
"Ah—"
I remembered. The day I first came to the capital, the guy from the train.
"Team 9 Leader, Plang."
My body stiffened, frozen. That thick stench of death right in front of me. Not blue, not red. No hostility or killing intent.
Black. A sticky, pitch-black smell clung to me.
"Ahaha, you look tense."
Team Leader Plang... stood beside Team Leader Edwin and raised his hand.
Now, not eight, but nine team leaders—all hands up in this absurd scene.