[A/N: Don't forget the italicized sentences are Ashlyn/Ruan's inner voice! Aside from them, the rest are used to emphasize the words.]

"Ugh, why did they tell us to park our respected vehicles 100 meters away from the actual building?" Ashlyn groaned silently.

People nowadays don't have time to respect human beings, but they have time to respect vehicles. Wow. Humanity is definitely developing; just backward.

She continued to mock the agency's choice of words until she collided with someone.

Someone hot.

"Easy there, miss. I know I'm handsome, but it's bad to stare you know?" The handsome guy caught Ashlyn off guard.

"Oh shoot! I'm so sorry, are you hurt anywhere sir?" She asked, frantically looking around his body.

"Oh my god, she's checking him out that boldly?!" Whispers started to cling onto the air; the whole place was thrown in complete pandemonium.

"Blessed feathers, I swear I was just checking if you're fine or not. I swear."

"Blessed what?"

"I- nothing, it's a- nothing, it's nothing," She mentally facepalmed and continued to panic as she moved away from the guy.

"Are you a new candidate here?" He asked in amusement.

"Yes, you too?"

"Not really, no. I already work here,"

"Ah, figures why everyone knows you. You must be in a big position for everyone to be... so protective," She struggled to find the right words.

"Maybe," He replies, slightly smiling.

"There's still half an hour 'till 11:30, wanna take a stroll 'round here?" 

"Sure, I could use some knowledge on this place since I'm gonna be working here soon,"

"You do know they are gonna conduct more tests and you need to pass all of them to work there?"

"Yep,"

"I like your confidence, young lady." He simpered as they started walking towards wherever he was taking her.

What if he kidnaps me?

A small voice at the back of Ashlyn's mind poked her subconsciousness, but she shook it off and continued walking.

They kept walking in tranquil silence until they reached a small pond at the end of the forest. You could see the busy roads of Seoul from there; it was oddly pleasing to the eyes.

They saw a couple of old wooden benches, all of them were pretty dusty too. After lightly moving the dead leaves and particles of dust away, they sat on it.

"People don't come here often, as you can see," The guy started first.

"I don't get how people manage to abandon these beautiful places filled with nature," She replied thoughtfully, staring at the pond.

"You like nature?"

"Yeah, it's peaceful,"

"Damn, you remind me of someone I know. By the way, I'm Agent X-12. Nice to meet you," He brought his hand out for a shake. Ashlyn shook it, slightly perplexed.

"Ah right, you still don't have your code name." He smiled sheepishly, which took a box shape soon.

"Code names...?"

"That's a must if you work undercover, isn't it?"

"Oh right— sorry!" She mirrored the guy's actions.

"If you manage to pass the first two rounds of two different types of exams, then you will be qualified to work here. The last round will determine which department you will be headed to," He informs. "But I can't say what type of exams are going to take place."

"Oh no, you already helped me a lot with those heads-up. I didn't even know there were a total of three rounds of tests that I had to pass,"

"Don't tell anyone I told you—"

"Save it, I won't. Well, we should get going now. It was nice meeting you Mr...?" She questions.

"Kim Taehyung,"

"Mr Kim." She nods.

"Taehyung is fine, what's yours?"

"Lee Ruan, Ruan is fine!"

"Okay then, let's go Ruan-ssi!" He hops back and forth like a child.

"Let's go, Taehyung-ssi!"

︽ ︾ ︽ ︾︽ ︾︽ ︾︽ ︾︽ ︾︽

ASHLYN's POV:

Holy crap.

After four long years of trying, I managed to get in here, but can I even pass these so-called tests?

The place was crawling with life, there were at least 500 people here. Word says they handpicked all of them, by their résumés and background information. They seem to have a lot of free time in their hands. But again, handpicking them makes sense too.

It's an undercover agency, so it was legible that they didn't hold an open-for-all audition or something similar to that. Even so, it's kind of unfair to the candidates who were chosen. Out of 500 or so people, they were going to choose only 30 candidates.

Only 30. How nice.

After getting the hopes of all the people here with an email of getting accepted, they decided to pull this dirty little trick on us. Shaking my head, I checked the department division of the passing candidates that was just given to us, along with some guidelines.

ㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ

The department divisions are given below:

1. 15 candidates are going to be chosen to work in the desk job department.

2. 10 candidates are going to be chosen to work in the IT department.

3. 5 candidates are going to be chosen to work in the field department.

Please follow the guidelines given below to maintain safety and orderliness:

1. For the upcoming first test, we suggest you don't push yourself too far.

2. If you get disqualified, please head back to your respected residence instead of creating chaos that will disturb the other candidates.

3. If you get selected, head to the backyard for further instructions.

4. The rest will be revealed later.

We wish you the best of luck!

ㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ

And I need to get into the field department. Excellent.

Folding the paper and putting it in my back pocket, I sigh. Why is it that luck never happens to be on my side?

I need to be a field agent in order to attain his information. As the field department has the highest ranking of all other departments mentioned in the list, they will probably be able to access anyone's; literally, anyone's personal information easily— though it will be hard.

The other departments do the rest of the work, such as: finding missions, doing a background check on the suspects or the people associated with the case, doing the official paperwork, etcetera. They also seem to be the ones to cover up for the field agents' rare mistakes.

The first test is practical; which meant that we would be combating against someone. The second test is supposed to be an intelligence test; they need to check the candidates' focus and brain. The third test is still unknown.

Whoever manages to pass the first two tests gets to work at the Black Crystals— as Taehyung said. I'm guessing the third test is to decide the department.

In short, I have to pass all of them.

I am winning these even if it takes my life.

I need to win, there's no other choice.

Exhaling, I take one last look around myself, the people around me, the whole place, before forming a line and heading in the direction the security guard told all of us to.

I can do this.

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A/N NOTE:

Does anyone like this?

HAPPY READING!

To be continued...