"Hey, what's wrong with you, Floud? Why are you so scared?" Eduard asked in a soft but firm tone as he watched the boy cling to his clothes as if they were a safe haven.
The little boy looked up at him with glassy eyes, his tears glistening under the dim light of the room. His trembling voice broke the silence:
"Mr. Eduard, please don't send me back with that group of people…"
"Why do you say that?" Eduard asked, crouching down to meet the child's eye level.
"It's just… everyone in that place is crazy," the boy sobbed, wiping his tears with the back of his hand.
Eduard gave a faint smile, though his eyes betrayed concern. He pulled a lollipop from his pocket and offered it to the boy, trying to calm him.
"Calm down, I forgot to tell you about them. I thought they wouldn't get too worked up over you, but I see they're desperate for kids… All of them trying to console you by giving you sweets."
Floud accepted the lollipop hesitantly, licking it slowly as he muttered:
"Don't think this is going to buy me off. You'll have to try harder than that."
On the way to Team B's headquarters, Ezequiel walked calmly, accompanied by Gat. The air was heavy with an almost palpable stillness, broken only by the echo of their footsteps. Suddenly, a door in front of them burst open, plunging the area into total darkness. Before they could react, something cold and metallic grazed Ezequiel's neck.
"Wow, that was close," Ezequiel said calmly, dodging the blade of the sword just as the lights came on, revealing a man dressed like a samurai. His clothes were such a deep blue that they seemed to swallow the light.
"That's how you greet your leader?" Ezequiel remarked with a mix of amusement and reproach.
"Oh, it's you, sir. I thought someone was entering unexpectedly," the man replied, sheathing his sword with a fluid motion.
Ray Miyamoto, Agent B-One, was a fifty-year-old man with silver hair tied up in a high bun, following the tradition of ancient samurai. Though blind from birth, his other senses had sharpened to extraordinary levels. He was calm, precise, and possessed a serenity that commanded respect. From the age of eight, when he was brought to become a Metalux, Ray had adopted the samurai warrior code as his life philosophy.
"Of course I know who you are, sir. You did it on purpose, leaving him in charge during your vacation," Gat said with a mocking smile, crossing his arms.
"That one I recognize: the nosy brat, Gat," Ray replied without losing his composure.
Gat frowned.
"Hey, I'm right here, in case you forgot."
Meanwhile, in another corner of the base, two children came running in, holding hands. One of them wore a wolf mask that covered his brown eyes, matching his chestnut hair. The other had blonde hair and large orange eyes that seemed to absorb the light of the room.
"Hey, look who it is—the phenomenon and the slightly weirder phenomenon!" Gat exclaimed with his usual sarcasm.
"Why do you call me weird?" Benjamín asked, pointing defensively at his mask.
"Who even wears something like that? We're not superheroes, or is it some kind of fetish of yours?" Gat responded with a mischievous grin.
"No, it's not that. I just like wearing it," Benjamin retorted, while Riota added:
"And who are you calling a phenomenon?"
Riota Kano and Benjamin Key, both eight years old, had been inseparable since they were found together during a mission. Though they could pass as twins physically, their personalities were opposites. Riota, agile and fast as lightning, was known for his ability to master any technique within days. Benjamin, on the other hand, dreamed of becoming a hero and always wore his mask as a symbol of that ambition.
"Besides, what are you even doing here? This isn't your squad. And your leader's back already," Gat said, gesturing toward Ezequiel.
"Really? Mr. Eduard's back! That's awesome! I'll be right there," Riota exclaimed, letting go of Benjamin's hand to run toward where Eduard was.
"Hey, wait for me! I'm coming with you," Benjamín called out, chasing after him.
Gat sighed in exasperation.
"Kid, is the boss painted on the wall or something?"
"Fine, you can go, but come back immediately," Ezequiel ordered with an indulgent gesture.
Meanwhile, in another part of the base, Adia emerges from a room after completing a ritual to recover her powers. As soon as she crossed the threshold, a woman with flame-red hair appeared before her, her eyes glowing like embers.
"So the rumors are true. You've returned, boss," the woman said before launching a fireball directly at Adia.
With an elegant motion, Adia froze the fireball instantly, letting out a soft laugh.
"But how…?" the woman murmured, astonished.
"I've regained my powers," Adia replied, making small sparks of energy dance between her fingers.
The woman, Ramona Hex, was the most powerful fire mage in existence. At thirty-five, her presence commanded respect. Her fiery red hair and orange eyes seemed to burn even when she was at rest.
"Alright, master. Now that you've returned, will you take back your position as leader of Team A, or will I have to challenge you for it?" Ramona asked with a challenging smile.
Adia looked at her with a serene expression.
"Now that I have all my memories and my magic back, I don't think it will be necessary, Agent A-One."
Ramona bowed her head in a gesture of respect.
"As you wish, ma'am. Do you need anything?"
"Yes. I need your help for a mission. We have to save a child from a dangerous place. Where are the others?"
"A mission, huh? It's possible. As for the rest of the team, I sent them on missions in various parts of the world. I don't think they'll be back anytime soon."
Before they could continue, a call echoed throughout the base, summoning all agents to Chief White's presence.
The two children arrived, running to where Eduard was, who greeted them with a warm smile. Benjamín jumped into his arms excitedly, while Riota waved at him enthusiastically. Everyone knew something big was about to happen.
Meanwhile, in the shadows, Agent I-Five was plotting a plan to infiltrate a secret vault. However, before he could act, an emergency forced him to abandon his objective and join the others on the assigned ship.
All members began to gather, ready to face the challenges ahead. The new uncontrollable groups of Metalux were wreaking havoc, and each team would play a crucial role in restoring order.