"Silver Moon, your new partner is here," the Observer called out to the woman.
She lowered her sword and turned. Only then did Rowan see her clearly.
She looked to be in her mid-twenties, her features refined and striking, her skin pale and smooth. Her appearance carried the unmistakable traits of the Silver-Blue Empire, with light blue eyes and flowing silver hair. Yet what stood out most was her presence. She carried both the sharp edge of a seasoned swordswoman and a quiet, graceful elegance, a rare balance that made her hard to ignore.
"Hello. I'm Silver Moon," she said as she walked toward him, her voice crisp and clear. "Welcome to the field agent division."
"Rowan. Codename Startrace," he replied, extending his hand. "I look forward to working with you."
Silver Moon shook his hand briefly before letting go. "I've heard about you. Your performance at the Giant Axe Arena was impressive. But field operations are very different from what you've experienced before. You'll need time to adapt."
The Observer spoke again from the side. "Silver Moon, for the next week, you'll be responsible for bringing Startrace up to speed. After that, you'll both be assigned your first mission."
She nodded. "Understood."
Once the Observer left, the training room fell into a quiet stillness. The air between them felt slightly tense. After all, they had just met, and soon they would be partners relying on each other in life-and-death situations.
"Let's start with your abilities," Silver Moon said, breaking the silence. "I know you specialize in psychic attacks, especially that Starflare Split Blade technique. What else can you do?"
Rowan answered honestly. "Aside from psychic combat, I have a talent for analysis and deduction. My close combat is decent as well. Recently I've also improved through some new training methods."
Silver Moon gave a small nod. "That's a strong combination. Very suitable for field work. My strengths are swordsmanship and close combat. I also have experience in infiltration and disguise. Our abilities complement each other well."
"What's next?" Rowan asked.
"A combat assessment," she replied, walking toward the weapon rack. "Field missions inevitably involve fighting. I need to understand your true level before we can develop proper coordination."
Rowan followed but did not pick up a weapon.
"You don't need one?" she asked, slightly curious.
"My weapon is a little different."
With a faint smile, Rowan let his psychic power surge. A Starflare Split Blade condensed into form in his hand, shimmering with starlight.
A flicker of surprise crossed Silver Moon's eyes. "Psychic materialization. That's an advanced technique."
They stepped into the center of the training room, facing each other. Her sword emitted a soft silver glow, while his blade shimmered like scattered stars.
"Begin," she said.
In the next instant, she moved like a streak of silver lightning.
Rowan raised his blade to meet her. Steel and psychic energy collided with a sharp, ringing sound. Though formed from pure mental force, his blade matched the hardness of real metal.
Silver Moon's swordsmanship was exceptional. Each strike was swift and precise, coming from unpredictable angles that made defense difficult. Her footwork was fluid and elegant, shifting effortlessly between attack and retreat, controlling the rhythm perfectly.
At first, Rowan was pushed on the defensive. His close combat experience was not as refined as hers. But soon, he began to adapt.
His Starflare Split Blade suddenly divided into four, striking from different angles at once.
A spark of surprise flashed in her eyes, but her response was immediate. Her sword traced arcs of silver light, deflecting all four attacks in a single motion.
"Interesting!" she exclaimed, her offense intensifying.
The clash grew fiercer.
Rowan's blades split and merged unpredictably, forcing Silver Moon to constantly adjust. Meanwhile, her sword techniques revealed profound mastery, each strike carrying the essence of a refined martial path.
After more than ten minutes, the match ended in a draw.
Both of them were slightly out of breath, but there was satisfaction in their eyes.
"You're stronger than I expected," Silver Moon said, lowering her sword. "That splitting technique is especially creative."
"And your swordsmanship was eye-opening," Rowan replied, dispersing his blade. "The reputation of the Silver-Blue Empire is well deserved."
"Now that the assessment is done, we begin formal training," she said. "Field operations are complex. Intelligence gathering, infiltration, protection, pursuit. Each requires different skills and strategies."
Over the next few hours, she guided him through the fundamentals.
She explained how to gather intelligence without being noticed, how to verify information, and how to build networks.
"It may look simple," she said, "but intelligence work is extremely delicate. One small mistake can compromise a mission or expose your identity. We cannot afford carelessness."
Then she demonstrated infiltration and disguise.
She took out a specialized device developed by the Virtual Universe Company. It could alter appearance, voice, even presence.
"This is one of our most important tools," she said, activating it. "But disguise is not just about appearance. It's about behavior and mindset. You must truly become the identity you assume."
Rowan absorbed everything with focus.
He quickly realized that field operations were far more complex than he had imagined. The range of skills required was vast. Yet instead of discouraging him, it ignited something inside him. This was exactly the kind of challenge he had been searching for.
"That's enough for today," Silver Moon said after checking the time. "We'll continue tomorrow. The day after, I'll take you into the field so you can see how things really work."
"Understood."
Before leaving, Rowan asked, "What about the others in this division? What are their backgrounds?"
"They vary," she replied after a moment's thought. "Some come from the military. Some from intelligence agencies. Others, like you, were recruited from elsewhere. But they all share one thing. Each has a unique ability. For example, the leader of Team One is a psychic who can read memories. The sniper in Team Three is said to hit targets from a hundred thousand kilometers away."
"That's… impressive," Rowan said.
"It is," she replied with a faint smile. "Which means your selection speaks highly of your potential. But the real test is still ahead."
Over the next week, their training intensified.
They practiced coordination through complex simulated scenarios. Infiltrating enemy bases, protecting targets in crowded areas, tracking fugitives through chaotic environments.
Every exercise demanded flawless teamwork.
"Remember," Silver Moon reminded him during a break, "we are one unit. Your strength lies in reconnaissance and support. Mine lies in close combat and assault. Only by combining our strengths can we become truly effective."
On the third day, she brought him outside the headquarters to a bustling commercial district.
"Today is field training," she said. "Your task is to gather information on all key individuals in this area without being noticed."
It sounded simple. It was not.
The district was crowded, filled with beings from countless races. Identifying targets and extracting useful information required precision and patience.
Rowan relied on his psychic perception, carefully scanning his surroundings. Beneath the surface bustle, he sensed hidden strength. Powerful figures moved among ordinary merchants, their intentions concealed.
Through careful observation and deduction, he gradually pieced together their identities and purposes.
"Well done," Silver Moon said at the end of the day. "Your perception and analysis are excellent. Just refine the details."
By the end of the week, she gave her evaluation.
"You've progressed quickly. You've grasped the essentials. But the real test begins now. Tomorrow, we take on our first mission."
"What kind of mission?" Rowan asked.
She smiled faintly. "An interesting one. We're investigating a corporate group suspected of harboring a traitor. They may be leaking our trade secrets to hostile forces."
A spark lit in Rowan's eyes.
At last, a real mission.
"Ready, partner?" she asked.
"Always."
The next morning, Rowan arrived at the operations briefing room.
The chamber was sealed and soundproof, lined with advanced anti-surveillance systems.
Silver Moon was already there. In front of her, a holographic display projected a massive complex of buildings.
The Observer and Samuel stood nearby, their expressions serious.
"Startrace, have a seat," the Observer said. "We'll begin the briefing."
Rowan studied the projection. It resembled a small city made up of dozens of towering structures.
"This is the headquarters of Meteorfall Group," Samuel began. "They rank among the top fifty commercial conglomerates in the universe. Their operations include rare metals, interstellar transport, and energy development. Their total assets exceed ten trillion credits, with branches across more than thirty star systems."
The Observer continued, "Recently, we've detected irregularities. They've acquired confidential market intelligence and outperformed our subsidiaries in several key bids. More concerning, they possess unusually detailed knowledge of our internal projects."
"You suspect an insider?" Rowan asked.
"It goes beyond that," Silver Moon said, pointing to a specific structure. "Intelligence suggests they may have connections with hostile factions. Not only are they stealing information, they may also be supplying resources."
Samuel brought up several profiles.
"These are their top executives. Victor Meteorfall, founder and chairman. Alia Stoneheart, vice chair, responsible for external relations. Marcus Darkstream, chief financial officer."
The Observer's gaze sharpened.
"We believe at least one of them is involved."
He paused, letting the weight of the mission settle.
"Your task is to infiltrate Meteorfall Group, identify the traitor, and obtain concrete evidence of their collaboration with hostile forces."
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