The scene shifted to the agency headquarters.
Deep in the basement detention area, the electric-glove man and the remaining captured members of his group were locked behind reinforced cells.
Guards watched them carefully.
None of them were getting out anytime soon.
Meanwhile, in The Man's office...
Ayaan and Anshuman sat across from his desk.
Mark stood nearby with his arms crossed.
The atmosphere was serious.
The Man looked at a file on his desk before closing it.
"The mission is not over."
Ayaan nodded.
"We know."
Anshuman sighed.
"The chip is still missing."
The Man stood up.
"Which is why I'm assigning additional support."
He looked toward the girl standing near the door.
"From this day forward, she will be Agent 069."
The girl looked surprised but remained silent.
The Man continued.
"She will work with you two."
Ayaan looked at Anshuman.
Anshuman looked at Ayaan.
Then both nodded.
"That's better for us."
The Man smirked slightly.
"Good."
"Because the next phase of the mission will be much harder."
A short time later...
The three left the agency building together.
The evening air was cool.
For the first time all day, nobody was trying to punch them.
They walked quietly down the street.
Then the girl suddenly stopped.
"You know..."
Ayaan looked at her.
"What?"
"You both never asked my name."
Anshuman blinked.
"Oh."
"That's true."
He scratched his head.
"So what's your name?"
The girl smiled slightly.
"I'm Emma."
Anshuman nodded.
"Nice."
Ayaan smiled.
"Nice name."
Emma looked a little embarrassed.
"Thank you."
They continued walking.
After a few minutes, Emma spoke again.
"There's another problem."
"What?"
She looked down.
"I don't have a home."
Both boys stopped.
Emma awkwardly looked away.
"So..."
"Where am I supposed to stay?"
Anshuman immediately answered.
"Live with us."
Emma blinked.
"Really?"
"Sure."
She looked at Ayaan.
"Doesn't that bother you?"
Ayaan shrugged.
"No."
Emma stared at them for a moment.
Then smiled.
"Thank you."
"Again."
Anshuman laughed.
"You say thank you a lot."
"I know."
Later that night...
The three were finally resting after the exhausting mission.
The city lights glowed outside the apartment windows.
Anshuman was stretched across a couch.
Ayaan sat nearby.
Emma sat quietly by the window.
For the first time since they met, nobody was fighting.
Nobody was chasing anyone.
Nobody was falling off buildings.
The room was peaceful.
Then Anshuman looked at Ayaan.
"You know..."
"What?"
"This mission started with us stealing a chip."
"Yes."
"We got hit by a truck."
"Yes."
"We jumped from the 81st floor."
"Yes."
"We lost the chip."
"Yes."
Anshuman looked at Emma.
"And somehow gained a teammate."
Emma laughed.
Ayaan smiled.
For now, they could finally rest.
But somewhere out there, the thief still had Chip X-9.
And the next mission was only a matter of time.
The next morning, all three agents received a notification on their watches.
NEW MISSION
Location: Paris, France
Priority: High
Anshuman jumped from the couch.
"Paris?!"
Ayaan looked at the mission details.
"This is still a mission."
"I know."
"But it's Paris!"
Emma shook her head.
"You sound like we're going on vacation."
A few hours later, they arrived at the airport.
The agency had already prepared everything.
Passports.
Tickets.
Equipment.
The three quickly passed through security and boarded their flight.
Anshuman immediately grabbed the window seat.
Emma sat beside him.
Ayaan took the aisle seat.
As the plane took off, Anshuman pressed his face against the window.
"This is awesome."
Emma laughed.
"We've been in helicopters."
"That's different."
A little later, an air hostess came down the aisle checking on passengers.
"Is everything alright here?"
Ayaan nodded.
"Yes."
She smiled politely and moved on.
Emma watched her for a moment before returning to her book.
Meanwhile, Anshuman was completely focused on Paris.
He opened a travel guide on his phone.
"Eiffel Tower."
"Famous cafés."
"Museums."
"French food."
Ayaan looked at him.
"We are tracking a stolen intelligence chip."
"I know."
Anshuman continued scrolling.
"But if I see the Eiffel Tower, I'm taking a picture."
Emma shook her head.
"You're impossible."
Several hours later, the plane continued across Europe.
Most passengers were asleep.
Emma was resting.
Ayaan was reviewing mission files.
Anshuman was still making plans.
"When we land, should we try French food first?"
"We're going to the agency contact first."
"After that?"
"The mission."
"After that?"
Ayaan closed the file.
"You really think we're going to have free time?"
Anshuman thought for a moment.
"Probably not."
"Exactly."
Suddenly, all three watches vibrated.
BEEP.
A secure message from The Man appeared.
URGENT UPDATE
The thief carrying Chip X-9 was spotted in Paris 12 hours ago.
Your target is active.
Proceed immediately upon landing.
The three agents looked at the message.
The mission had officially begun again.
And somewhere in Paris, the man with Chip X-9 was waiting.
After landing in Paris, the three agents left the airport and headed outside.
A taxi was waiting near the pickup area.
They loaded their bags and got in.
The city slowly came into view as they drove through the streets.
Tall buildings, cafés, and famous landmarks appeared around them.
Anshuman was practically glued to the window.
"This place is amazing."
Emma smiled.
"You've been saying that for the last twenty minutes."
"Because it is."
Ayaan just shook his head.
Eventually, they reached the apartment reserved by the agency.
It was located in a quiet part of the city.
The apartment had three bedrooms, a living room, and a balcony overlooking the streets below.
Anshuman immediately dropped onto the couch.
"This is nice."
Emma looked around.
"It really is."
Ayaan placed the mission files on a table.
"We should focus on the mission."
Anshuman sat up.
"I agree."
Ayaan looked surprised.
"You do?"
"Yes."
Anshuman nodded seriously.
"We have to analyze the whole of Paris."
Ayaan stared at him.
Then sighed.
"Just say you want to explore and have fun."
Anshuman pointed at him.
"That's not true."
"It is."
"It isn't."
"It is."
Before the argument could continue, Emma spoke.
"Actually, Anshuman is right."
Ayaan looked at her.
"We should first have some fun."
Ayaan immediately nodded.
"Okay."
Anshuman narrowed his eyes.
"Hold on."
Emma looked confused.
"What?"
Anshuman pointed at Ayaan.
"Why do you always agree when a girl says anything?"
Emma tried not to laugh.
Ayaan answered calmly.
"Because I respect girls."
Anshuman stared.
"That's your answer?"
"Yes."
Emma laughed.
Anshuman threw a cushion at Ayaan.
"That's not fair."
Ayaan caught it.
Emma sat down on the couch, still smiling.
For the first time in days, none of them were being chased, punched, or thrown through walls.
They had a few hours before meeting their Paris contact.
And Anshuman was already planning how much of the city he could see before the mission ruined everything.
The three spent the rest of the day exploring Paris.
First, they visited a restaurant near the city center.
Anshuman ordered far more food than anyone thought possible.
Emma was genuinely impressed.
"Where does all that food go?"
"I don't know."
Ayaan nodded.
"Neither do I."
Afterward, they visited the Eiffel Tower.
Anshuman took dozens of pictures.
Emma enjoyed the view from the top.
Ayaan mostly watched the crowds and kept an eye on their surroundings out of habit.
For a few hours, they almost forgot about the mission.
They walked through streets, visited cafés, and explored different parts of the city.
By evening, all three were exhausted.
Back at the apartment, Anshuman collapsed onto the couch.
"My legs have resigned."
Emma laughed.
Ayaan was too tired to argue.
Within minutes, all three were asleep.
The next morning...
BEEP!
BEEP!
BEEP!
Their watches vibrated at the same time.
Ayaan opened his eyes first.
Emma sat up.
Anshuman pulled a blanket over his head.
"What now?"
Ayaan read the notification.
Then frowned.
"That's strange."
Emma walked over.
"What is it?"
The message displayed:
INTELLIGENCE UPDATE
Possible Location of Chip X-9 Identified
Location: Saint Marcel Academy, Paris
Anshuman finally sat up.
"A school?"
Emma looked confused.
"Why would a stolen intelligence chip be in a school?"
Nobody had an answer.
Ayaan stared at the information.
"This doesn't make sense."
Anshuman nodded.
"For once, I agree."
Ayaan stood up.
"We should go."
Then he suddenly looked around.
"Where's our car?"
Anshuman pointed toward the garage.
"The agency said it would be there."
Ayaan smiled.
"The armored one?"
"Yep."
That immediately improved his mood.
A short while later, the three entered the apartment garage.
The armored agency vehicle was waiting for them.
Its black exterior gleamed under the lights.
Anshuman walked around it.
"I missed you."
Emma laughed.
"You've known the car for one day."
"It understands me."
"It is literally a car."
Ayaan ignored them and got into the driver's seat.
Emma sat in the back.
Anshuman jumped into the passenger seat.
The engine started.
VROOOOOOM!
The mission map appeared on the dashboard.
DESTINATION
Saint Marcel Academy
Paris, France
Distance: 14 Miles
Ayaan pulled out of the garage.
The armored car accelerated into the streets of Paris.
As they drove toward the school, all three wondered the same thing:
Why would one of the world's most valuable stolen chips suddenly appear inside a school?
Ayaan parked the armored car near a café a short distance from the school.
The three agents got out.
Students were entering and leaving the school grounds normally.
Everything looked peaceful.
Too peaceful.
Ayaan studied the building.
"We enter from the back."
Anshuman nodded.
"Less attention."
Emma silently followed.
A few minutes later, they slipped through a rear entrance and entered the school.
The hallways were full of students.
Lockers lined the walls.
Teachers walked between classrooms.
Nobody paid attention to the three strangers.
Ayaan checked the tracker on his watch.
The signal was getting stronger.
"We're close."
Anshuman looked around.
"Let's take the chip and move."
Emma nodded.
The three followed the signal deeper into the building.
Eventually, it stopped outside the principal's office.
Ayaan carefully looked through the small glass window.
Inside, two people were sitting.
The principal.
And the man who had stolen Chip X-9.
The chip sat on the desk between them.
Anshuman's eyes widened.
"That's him."
Emma's expression darkened.
The thief noticed movement outside.
His eyes met Emma's.
Ayaan didn't wait.
BANG!
He kicked the door open.
The office door slammed against the wall.
Everyone inside turned.
Ayaan pointed at the thief.
"You are finished."
The principal nearly fell out of his chair.
"What is happening?!"
The thief slowly stood up.
Instead of looking at Ayaan, he looked at Emma.
A cold smile appeared on his face.
"Emma."
Emma's expression hardened.
"You betrayed us."
The room became silent.
The thief nodded slowly.
"And now you all have to pay the price."
Suddenly—
A heavy shadow appeared behind Ayaan.
Anshuman's eyes widened.
"AYAAN!"
Ayaan turned around.
A gigantic man was standing in the doorway.
He was easily the largest person Ayaan had ever seen.
Broad shoulders.
Massive arms.
His head nearly reached the top of the doorframe.
Even Ayaan was shocked by his size.
The giant looked down at him.
Then smiled.
"Move."
Before Ayaan could react—
BOOOOM!
The giant's kick slammed into Ayaan's side.
The force was unbelievable.
Ayaan was launched out of the office.
He slid down the corridor.
CRASH!
Lockers bent as he smashed into them.
Students screamed and ran.
Teachers shouted in panic.
Anshuman stared.
"...That is a very large human."
The giant stepped into the corridor.
The floor seemed to shake beneath his footsteps.
The thief calmly picked up Chip X-9 from the desk.
Then looked at Emma.
"You should have stayed loyal."
Meanwhile, Ayaan slowly stood up at the far end of the hallway.
Everything hurt.
He looked at the giant.
The giant looked back.
Then cracked his knuckles.
The sound echoed through the corridor.
And for the first time in a long while, Ayaan wasn't sure how they were supposed to beat the person standing in front of them.
Ayaan charged at the giant.
Despite the size difference, he threw a powerful punch straight at the giant's chest.
BAM!
The punch landed.
The giant didn't move.
Not even an inch.
Instead, he smiled.
Ayaan immediately realized that was a bad sign.
"Uh oh."
The giant grabbed Ayaan's leg.
"Got you."
Before Ayaan could react—
WHOOSH!
The giant swung him through the air and threw him across the corridor.
Ayaan crashed and rolled directly in front of the thief.
The thief laughed.
"Still trying?"
Ayaan stood up.
"Unfortunately for you, yes."
The giant began walking toward him.
Each step echoed through the hallway.
Students had already evacuated the area, leaving the corridor empty.
The giant raised his fist.
Then suddenly—
A figure appeared between them.
The giant stopped.
Ayaan looked up.
"Mark?"
Mark adjusted his gloves.
"What are you doing here?"
Mark smirked.
"I know when to come."
"And when not to."
Ayaan nodded.
"Fair enough."
The giant cracked his neck.
"You again."
Mark smiled.
"You seem disappointed."
The giant immediately charged.
BOOOOM!
His massive fist flew toward Mark.
Mark didn't move until the last second.
He sidestepped.
The giant's punch smashed through a row of lockers.
Metal flew everywhere.
Mark looked at the destroyed lockers.
"The school is not going to like that."
Then he punched the giant.
BAM!
For the first time, the giant actually stepped backward.
His smile disappeared.
Mark's didn't.
Meanwhile...
Ayaan and Anshuman focused on the thief.
The thief quickly backed away.
Chip X-9 was still in his hand.
Anshuman pointed at it.
"Can we please take that already?"
"No."
The thief suddenly pulled out a combat knife.
Ayaan sighed.
"Why does everyone have a weapon?"
The thief rushed forward.
The fight erupted in the middle of the corridor.
Ayaan blocked an attack.
Anshuman dodged another.
The thief was skilled.
Far more skilled than either expected.
He wasn't just a courier.
He was a trained fighter.
Inside the principal's office...
The principal slowly closed the blinds.
Emma noticed.
"You're not the real principal, are you?"
The man smiled.
"Very observant."
He removed his glasses.
His calm principal act vanished instantly.
Emma groaned.
"Of course."
The fake principal attacked.
Emma blocked his strike and pushed him backward.
The office turned into a battlefield.
Chairs overturned.
Papers flew everywhere.
The fake principal laughed.
"You really chose them over us?"
Emma answered with a punch.
"Best decision I've made."
BAM!
The fight continued.
Back in the corridor...
BOOOOM!
The giant and Mark exchanged another devastating clash.
The floor cracked beneath them.
The giant grinned.
"I finally found someone interesting."
Mark cracked his knuckles.
"Likewise."
Nearby, Ayaan and Anshuman were still trying to take Chip X-9 from the thief.
The mission was closer to success than ever before.
But one mistake could still let the thief escape with the chip again.
The thief spun the knife in his hand and rushed forward.
WHOOSH!
Ayaan barely dodged the first strike.
The blade scraped against the wall behind him.
CLANG!
Anshuman tried to grab the chip from the thief's other hand.
The thief saw it coming and elbowed him in the chest.
BAM!
Anshuman stumbled backward.
"Okay, this guy is way stronger than a normal thief!"
Ayaan charged from the side.
The thief blocked his punch.
Then kicked him away.
THUD!
Ayaan slid across the floor.
The thief laughed.
"You think you can take the chip from me?"
Ayaan stood up.
"We've been chasing you across two countries."
Anshuman cracked his knuckles.
"We're not leaving without it."
The thief suddenly pressed a button on his watch.
A hidden blade extended from his sleeve.
Now he had weapons on both arms.
"Bad news."
Anshuman looked at Ayaan.
"I think he upgraded."
The thief attacked again.
His strikes became faster and faster.
CLANG!
CLANG!
WHOOSH!
Ayaan blocked one arm.
Anshuman blocked the other.
For a moment all three were locked together.
The thief smirked.
Then headbutted Ayaan.
BAM!
Ayaan staggered.
The thief immediately kicked Anshuman into a classroom door.
CRASH!
The door exploded inward.
Desks and chairs flew everywhere.
Meanwhile—
BOOOOM!
Mark and the giant crashed through another wall.
The giant's punch shattered concrete.
Mark answered with one of his own.
The giant slid several meters.
Both were smiling now.
Neither wanted to back down.
Back in the office—
Emma and the fake principal were still fighting.
The fake principal swung a metal chair.
Emma ducked underneath it.
Then punched him across the room.
BANG!
He smashed into the principal's desk.
In the corridor...
The thief realized something.
He was fighting two agents at once.
And they weren't slowing down.
He looked toward a nearby window.
An escape route.
Ayaan noticed.
"He's trying to run!"
The thief sprinted.
Ayaan immediately chased him.
The thief reached the window.
He jumped.
CRASH!
Glass shattered everywhere.
The thief landed outside in the school courtyard.
Ayaan jumped through the window after him.
Then Anshuman followed.
Students in the courtyard screamed and ran.
The fight continued outside.
The thief suddenly turned and attacked.
His blade came straight toward Ayaan.
At the last second—
Ayaan grabbed his wrist.
The two struggled.
The chip was still in the thief's other hand.
Anshuman saw an opening.
He sprinted forward.
The thief tried to stop him.
Too late.
Anshuman tackled him from the side.
BOOOOM!
All three crashed into the ground.
The chip flew out of the thief's hand.
Time seemed to slow down.
Everyone looked up.
The chip spun through the air.
The thief's eyes widened.
"No!"
Ayaan jumped.
The thief jumped.
Both reached for it.
At the last second—
Anshuman, still lying on the ground, stretched out his arm.
SNATCH!
He caught Chip X-9.
Silence.
The thief froze.
Ayaan smiled.
Anshuman held the chip above his head.
"We got it!"
The thief looked furious.
Years of planning.
Months of hiding.
An international chase.
Gone in one moment.
He roared and charged toward Anshuman.
But Ayaan stepped in front of him.
"Mission accomplished."
The thief swung.
Ayaan blocked it.
Then delivered a powerful punch.
BOOOOM!
The thief was launched backward across the courtyard.
He crashed into a fountain.
Water exploded into the air.
Anshuman looked at the chip.
Then at Ayaan.
Then at the unconscious thief.
"We actually did it."
Ayaan nodded.
"For once."
Above them, the sound of Mark and the giant still fighting echoed through the school.
The mission objective was complete.
But the battle wasn't over yet.
The battle inside the school was finally coming to an end.
Ayaan held Chip X-9 securely.
Anshuman was still staring at it.
"We actually got it."
"For real this time."
Emma walked over from the principal's office.
Beside her was the fake principal, tied up and unable to escape.
He looked much less confident than before.
Emma smiled.
"My side is finished."
Suddenly—
BOOOOM!
A powerful impact echoed through the building.
Everyone turned.
At the end of the corridor, Mark and the giant were still fighting.
The giant roared and charged forward one final time.
His footsteps shook the floor.
Students watching from a safe distance gasped.
Mark remained completely calm.
The giant threw everything he had into one punch.
Mark stepped forward.
Then—
BAM!
His punch landed first.
The entire corridor seemed to shake.
The giant's eyes widened.
For the first time all day, he looked shocked.
Then his body lifted off the ground.
He flew backward several meters.
CRASH!
He hit the floor and slid across it.
Silence filled the hallway.
The giant tried to stand.
His arms trembled.
Then—
THUD.
He fell unconscious.
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
Even the captured criminals were staring.
Anshuman looked at the unconscious giant.
Then at Mark.
Then back at the giant.
Then back at Mark.
"How strong is he?"
Ayaan shrugged.
"I stopped asking."
Emma nodded.
"That's probably the correct decision."
Mark casually dusted off his jacket as if nothing had happened.
The giant who had thrown people through walls and smashed lockers was lying unconscious at his feet.
One of the agency agents arrived and looked at the scene.
"Sir, did you defeat him alone?"
Mark looked confused.
"Was I supposed to need help?"
The agent immediately stopped asking questions.
A few minutes later, agency reinforcements arrived at the school.
The thief was arrested.
The fake principal was arrested.
The giant was arrested.
The remaining members of the organization were taken into custody.
Chip X-9 was secured inside a reinforced case.
Mission complete.
Outside the school, the four agents stood near their armored car.
The sun was beginning to set over Paris.
Anshuman stretched.
"So..."
"What now?"
Mark looked at them.
"You return to headquarters tomorrow."
"Tonight?"
"Enjoy Paris."
Anshuman's eyes immediately lit up.
"Best mission ever."
Ayaan pointed at him.
"We got attacked by a giant."
"Details."
"We chased a stolen chip across countries."
"Minor details."
Emma laughed.
Mark shook his head.
"I have no idea how you three succeed."
Ayaan looked at Emma and Anshuman.
"Neither do I."
The three agents laughed.
For the first time since the mission began, everything was finally over.
And for once, nobody was running, fighting, or being thrown through walls.