The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the agency's headquarters in hues of fiery orange. Inside, Arkea, the enigmatic leader, stood behind his desk, a spark of excitement dancing in his eyes. He'd summoned an emergency meeting with Sukurada, a third Core agent, and Milian, a second Core agent. They arrived promptly, though with a clear air of reluctance.
Milian, ever the pragmatist, was the first to voice his irritation. "Why call me, Arkea? You know I'm swamped arranging the Rank Rumble matches."
Arkea's expression remained unruffled, a hint of amusement playing on his lips. "Calm yourself, Milian. I wouldn't have called you here without a compelling reason."
Sukurada, the voice of calm reason, interjected, her tone soothing. "Let's hear him out, Milian. Arkea wouldn't waste our time."
Milian's aura still flared with agitation, but he gave a curt nod, allowing Arkea to continue.
Arkea rose, his gaze locking onto the two high-ranking agents. "We all know Mucher, our first Core agent, is deep undercover, gathering intel on the Tusk and Ogen trade. However, we've just received new information that changes everything."
Milian's face turned grave, his interest now piqued. "What kind of information?"
Arkea's voice dropped, becoming serious. "A Blaze agent has returned with intel that the trade has been moved up, sooner than anticipated. What's more concerning is that the Tusk are creating Kajiuus—monstrous beings powered by Blazes and Embers—to act as guards for this trade."
Sukurada's eyes widened in alarm. "That changes everything. We can't allow that trade to happen. If it does, the Tusk race will gain the technology they need to mass-produce even more powerful Kajiuus."
Arkea nodded, his jaw set with grim determination. "I agree. Which is precisely why I've decided to join Mucher on the infiltration mission myself. We need to extract our Ember and Blaze agents and ensure that trade never goes through."
Milian's expression became thoughtful, his arms crossing over his chest. "I see. So, shouldn't we postpone the Rank Rumble until after this mission? We can't possibly manage both simultaneously."
Arkea's smile returned, his eyes glinting with unbridled excitement. "Ah, but that's where the true genius lies. I'm changing the third stage of the Rank Rumble. Instead of team leaders battling, I want all the participating agents to form teams and be sent on the infiltration mission. We'll use the Rank Rumble as a perfect cover for our operation."
Sukurada's eyes widened further in surprise, her voice barely a whisper. "Arkea, are you certain that's wise? We're putting our C-rank agents in grave danger."
Arkea's expression hardened, a stubborn resolve settling on his face. "My mind is made up, Sukurada. This is an unparalleled opportunity for our agents to prove their worth, and I will not let it slip away."
As the meeting concluded, Sukurada couldn't shake a profound sense of unease. Arkea's decision was reckless, a dangerous gamble, but she knew better than to argue with him when he was in such a mood.
The following day, Arkea vanished without a trace, leaving the other agents oblivious to the monumental shift in plans. The stage was now set for a mission that would irrevocably alter the course of their lives, his final thought before disappearing a fervent whisper: "I wonder how strong Moss and his team will be by then?"
How will the sudden, dangerous shift in the Rank Rumble's final stage impact the agents, especially Moss, and what unforeseen challenges await them on this covert infiltration mission?
End of chapter 30