Pink Magpie and Golden Retriever (1)
Bwoooong—!
Since I was riding with Team Leader Edwin Urbanlight, we got to take a car this time. Illine sunbae was in the passenger seat, and I sat in the back.
"Here, Yufir. Take this."
Team Leader Edwin handed me my agent ID while driving with one hand.
"Ooooh!"
I held it up high, thrilled as if I'd just found treasure.
"Finallyyy!"
Grade 5 Agent: Yufir Sageina
Code Name: Pink Magpie
It was proof that I was an agent—the official agent ID that confirmed it.
But when I saw the code name, I couldn't help tilting my head.
"Um... this code name..."
"Yeah, from now on, we'll use code names during missions."
"Eek? So I'm gonna get called a magpie?!"
"Hahaha, that's right. I think it suits you, though?"
I'd figured since it was a code name, it'd be something cool like the instructor's Black Rose. But a magpie?! I'd just barely graduated from "chirpy" and now this—what the heck was a magpie anyway!
"This... can't be happening."
"Puhaha, Yutppi's face is hilarious."
Illine sunbae called me by this super weird nickname.
"Um, sunbae, what's your code name?"
"Golden Retriever!"
The moment I heard it, it clicked perfectly. Her thick blonde hair stuck out in wild tufts, her personality was sweet and energetic, always hugging or petting me.
Anyone can see she's a retriever...
I wondered if other people saw me that way too. I really wanted to meet whoever came up with "Pink Magpie."
"Haa..."
But there was nothing I could do about it right now. Guess I had to accept my fate.
"What about you, team leader—"
"Just call me by name."
"By... name?"
"Yeah, I ditched the code name thing ages ago."
You could do that?
"Well, the rule is code names during missions, but some folks like me ditch 'em."
Team Leader Edwin's voice carried a hint of a sigh.
"In this line of work, code names can turn into traumas sometimes."
His sudden serious turn left me at a loss for words.
"Anyway, someone like your instructor Black Rose went the opposite way and ditched her real name. So even off-mission, most people call her by code name. Though the pranksters call her real name just to tease."
"I... see."
It felt like I'd asked something I shouldn't have. Who knew it'd lead to talk of trauma?
"No need for that serious face."
Team Leader Edwin chuckled and glanced at me in the rearview mirror.
"Better learn quick to take it all in stride. The upbeat ones last the longest around here."
I wasn't sure if I could stay upbeat when I faced all that...
"Team leader, what's 'upbeat' mean?"
Illine sunbae tilted her head side to side, her tone playful but seemingly genuine.
"Guys like you."
"Me? Ehehe~ That's embarrassing!"
"Not a compliment..."
After that exchange, I had a pretty good idea what "upbeat" meant.
There was a long bridge. A massive river flowed at the edge of the capital. Team Leader Edwin parked the car in front of it.
"We'll walk from here."
We crossed the bridge on foot.
"Team leader~ Where are we headed?"
Illine sunbae walked with her hands behind her back, bouncing along. Team Leader Edwin led the way, hands in his pockets.
"Remember that lab we investigated a while back?"
"Oh, the one that was totally trashed?"
"Yeah. We found a discarded weapon with an animal drawing on it."
"Ah! Gang stuff, right?"
"Bingo. Obvious who did it. Dig around the back alleys, and something's bound to turn up."
The scenery differed sharply on either side of the bridge midpoint. The capital side had tall buildings, but our direction was mostly low-rise. It was like the bridge decided rich neighborhood from poor on a whim.
"Huaa, back alleys after so long..."
Illine sunbae inhaled deeply, like she'd returned to a beloved hometown.
"It's been a while?"
When I asked what she meant, she grinned.
"Me and my little sis grew up in these back alleys."
"Aha..."
"Picked these two up too."
Team Leader Edwin smirked and chuckled.
"Yufir, you have no idea how beastly Illine used to be."
"Sh-She was?!"
"Ehhh... was I?"
Illine shrugged like she couldn't remember.
"Victims forget easy."
We chatted as we delved deep into the infamous back alleys. Every city has a clean, orderly center, but the outskirts scream wealth gaps—and the capital was no different. Could one bridge change the vibe this much?
"What'd you say, punk?!"
"You started the bullshit!"
Even in broad daylight, red-faced guys tangled on the ground. We passed without a glance.
"So the guy I stabbed last time..."
"Handled it?"
"Of course. Showed 'em what happens if you act up in this turf."
Deeper in, casual chats about stuff you couldn't ignore drifted over.
"Gulp."
This place was worlds apart from central capital. Scars were standard, armed folks everywhere. Rough talk, eyes always scanning.
"Yutppi... scared?"
"I feel the hostility..."
Reminded me a bit of the mining village. But there, it targeted outsiders like us clearly. Here, everyone eyed everyone else with malice.
"Everyone seems... on edge."
"Good instincts, Yutppi!"
Illine sunbae patted my head approvingly.
"That's just how it is here."
She said flatly.
"No strength, you get taken. Everyone sharpens up to survive. Only trust is power and money."
We walked in silence for a bit. Deeper in, passersby shared a common trait.
Hyena...!
Black jackets with gray hyenas on the back. Probably the animal mark Team Leader Edwin mentioned.
"Here."
We stopped at a decent-sized pub. The sign boldly featured the same hyena.
Hyena gang hideout, no doubt.
"They're all small fry, but... it's enemy turf. Stay alert."
"Yessir~ Haaawwn."
"Y-Yes, got it!"
Illine sunbae yawned leisurely at his words. Looked like I was the only tense one.
Screeech.
We entered the rowdy pub. As expected, similar-dressed, same-vibe folks partied hard.
Team Leader Edwin strode boldly to the center. Illine followed casually, so I stuck close to her back, spooked.
Th-They're all staring...
Mohawks, afros, brutal tattoos... screaming "I'm a delinquent!" Crowded with 'em. The noise died, all eyes on us.
Team Leader Edwin sat at the bar. We stood behind.
"...You know where this is?"
The bartender narrowed his eyes.
"Yup! Came knowing full well."
"What'll it be?"
"Martini."
He ordered coolly, unfazed by stares and hostility.
"And."
"Yes."
"Mind showing me the zoo keeper's face?"
"Zoo...?"
"Zoo" dropped, and hostility poured from behind. Chairs scraped everywhere.
Bad vibe...
Seemed my gut was spot-on for trouble.
"Hey, team leader. Don't we at least disguise like spies or something?"
"Bringing you killed that idea already."
"I wanna do that stuff too!"
"No, no. You got no talent. How do you disguise someone who craves attention? Last time I said play noble lady, you shoveled food with both hands—got busted, total mess."
"That's how you eat it, right?"
"Even the animals here don't eat like that."
"Um... team leader? Sunbae?"
Did they realize? Gang members behind us drew spiked clubs and knives, closing in.
"We're surrounded..."
Team Leader Edwin leaned on the bar, grinning.
"Gotta check the newbie's skills, right?"
"We're real agents, yeah?!"
"Haha, get used to it. World doesn't bend to your whims."
"Not the time for that! Don't brush it off!"
Whoosh.
Hyena shadows loomed close.
"What'd these bastards say?"
"Animals? Zoo?"
"Brains left at home... these punks!"
"Bros! Clean these brats before boss arrives!"
"Yes!"
Illine sunbae started it. Thud. A gang member's hand hit her shoulder.
Whish! A few gestures, and his head and legs swapped places. Crash! He groaned amid the racket.
That sparked it—tension exploded.
"Damn it! Rush 'em!"
"Waaah!"
Thud. Team Leader Edwin plucked the olive from his martini, smiling.
"Magpie, don't kill—just moderate... got it?"
"Team leader."
Tears streamed down my cheeks.
"I think 8 Team was a mistake!"
"Yup, if you feel that, you're in the right place."
"Fuck, what the hell's going on?"
The gray-haired man wore a thick jacket. The hyena on his back was huge and flashy—bigger than any underling's.
Gahed, leader of the back alleys' Hyena gang, was stressing over recent chaos.
"Those spider shits... must've allied with someone. How dare the corner-crawlers get cocky!"
Bam! He kicked a stray rock. It smashed a hole in a shack. That kick alone made folks tremble, crawling without complaint.
"Tch, gotta round 'em up and teach a lesson. Show the spiders who Gray Mane Gahed is."
Thinking that, he reached the pub hideout.
Piuuuung! Something burst through the ceiling.
Splat. It landed right in front.
A gang member.
"G-Guhh..."
He staggered, turning. Seeing Gahed, he shakily scrawled on the ground.
"Idiot, your handwriting sucks—I can't read it! Speak!"
Gahed grabbed his collar. The man, clinging to consciousness, passed out.
"What the...?"
He entered the pub.
Bam! Gang members dangled head-stuck in the ceiling. Walls had embedded "decorations"—not just a few.
Chairs flew, people flew. No normal person swings folks like that.
Slash! Dyed hair of every color scattered.
Rainbow, his underling's pride—mom dyed it, he bragged. Firework-pretty in flight.
"Hiiiik?! Sp-Spare... meee!"
Pink flashed through gang members. Each dagger swing lopped weapons—and hair.
Bam! Bam! Blonde woman on the other side grinned wide, swinging members like toys.
Beyond raw strength.
"What... is this?"
At the center: a man popping an olive with pinky up. Martini connoisseur?
"Oh, you're here?"
His gaze locked on. Whoever, one thing clear.
"Let's talk. Got lots to say."
Get caught, I'm screwed.
"Good work."
Gray Mane Gahed. Full sprint escape.