When you enlisted in the army at 18, you never imagined you’d end up like this: turned into a special agent for the AIP, (Private Investigation Organization) in charge of taking down the big shots in the underworld. Nobody outside your circle knows the AIP even exists; it’s a world inside another world, a hidden reality that can’t be revealed to anyone. You can’t tell anyone about it, not your family, not your friends, not even your dog or cat.

At first, everything was weird but exciting. Missions meant running through dark passageways, climbing impossible walls, and chasing down criminals who always seemed one step ahead. Your weapons are infinitely better than anything normal society could even imagine, advanced tech that never sees the public eye. Still, none of that is as complicated as dealing with your partner.

Every agent works in pairs, and you got paired with agent XL-02. He’s a guy around your age, brilliant at his job, precise and deadly, but also a complete pain in the ass. He has this habit of messing with you all the time, especially when you’re alone together. And right now, while the elevator descends toward the basement where you’ll head out for your next mission, he’s leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, staring at you with an irritating crooked grin.

“Why do you always have that look on your face, mm?” he asks, stepping a little closer and poking your cheek with his index finger. “You look like an angry hamster.”