Nauru, the "Safe Haven" is an island country in Oceania that housed tens of thousands of refugees during the Great Migration. The unexpected third world war that lasted over 13 years had an estimated death figure of 231 million(military and civilians). The constant death reports, fall in the economy, altered advancement in so many fields, gruesome warzones and most of all the fear of death was enough to make it seem like the end of the world. No one was safe from it, governments, individuals, groups, terrorists, conglomerates, etcetera. Everyone and everything saw the drastic effect of a madman's activity called "war".

The Great Migration was the people's reaction to the fear they felt. Hundreds of thousands flocked to Oceania, the least affected part of the world despite its risks, some even dying in the process. Nauru being an Oceanian Island was not an exception. For a nation that mostly relied on external help to get by, injured and weak refugees knocking on their doors didn't help matters. It became a desperate world. Poverty, inflation, falling economy, resource depletion, and small scaled battles were just some of the many problems that the overpopulated Oceanian islands suffered. Governments even deployed the military to purge refugees that refused to leave the borders. It was chaos.

After the war, these islands were declared 'Safe Havens' by the 'Bodyguard Agencies' who established recruitment branches on them for the so-called 'opportunity project'. Everybody knew it was bullshit. They just wanted to gather their power safely without outside interference by raising the very well war familiar public into first-rate bodyguards. Everyone knew but no one dared to refute the new power that even the island governments gave into. Besides, the 'Safe Haven' term wasn't just a metaphor, it was an agreement between most of the powerful agencies that stated 'there should be no clash between any individual or group on the Safe havens no matter the situation'. The fourth World War that passed by without affecting the islands was proof of this statement.

It's been 23 years since then and Nauru is currently divided between Seventeen agencies, each in charge of a district and 14 months from now the 'Safe Haven' rule that has lasted for decades is about to shatter and cause a huge fuss.

1 YEAR AND 2 MONTHS left till  D-DAY

Buada District 7, recruitment branch of Northwest Pro, a large Bodyguard Agency formed around Korean military deserters. The office of Director  Myung...

A middle-aged man wore an office suit that advertised his well-built body, he was flexing the typical 'bodyguard' style that was common in the early era. He had a tight expression on his face and an upright posture, his gaze was focused on a man sitting in front of him who he could only see the back of. There was a bold nameplate on the man's table that stated 'DIRECTOR MYUNG'

With a voice full of respect for his superior, Secretary Kim Cheol reported

"Name; Nei Floren, 22 years old, he has a complicated birth background like most people that were born on the island. His parents were little kids who moved out here during the Great Migration. The father and mother are Nigerian and South Korean respectively but he keeps claiming to have been born in Japan without providing any evidence. But this probably won't cause much..."

Director Myung cut him off mid-sentence

"We can't afford to rely on probability, be sure of everything and anything, if 'this' fails, both our heads are gonna fly"

"Yes sir!" Secretary Kim shouted vigorously before gulping

"Go on"

"After the death of his parents, he was scouted by Team leader Cho of the Talent Acquisition Division and has been a trainee in Team C for six years refusing several promotions. The reason, in the words of his colleagues, was  'He wants to be able to watch anime'. He earned the title  'Veteran Novice' on his team because he always had a little above average performance in field operations despite the lack of adequate experience"

"Ohh 'Veteran Novice', now that's a strange one. Secretary Kim, you should have been watching him yourself, what impression does he give?"

Almost immediately, Secretary Kim replied

"Lazy"

'Huh'. The immediate response and disgusted face he got from Secretary Kim seemed very unusual, especially for Secretary Kim, someone who always thought carefully before speaking and mostly had a firm expressionless face. There was a brief moment of awkwardness before Secretary Kim finally broke the silence.

"Am sorry for my attitude just now. Nei is certainly above average but that prick- I mean that boy is unconditionally lazy. He maintains a good co-worker relationship with his colleagues and he is proficient in close combat, rifles, and short knives. The title of 'Veteran Novice' seems appropriate but ..."

"But?" Director Seong finally titled his chair and faced Secretary Kim directly. He seemed irritated and wanted Secretary Kim to get to the point. Secretary Kim's large and sturdy body was like that of a child compared to Director Myung's. Despite his wrinkles and white hair that pointed out his old age, he had a firm figure and sharp eyes. His hands and face which were riddled with scars gave him an imposing aura. He also looked like a first-generation cheobul in his fancy suit and watch.

"But as I said earlier, he is seriously lazy. He rarely comes to the office, dozes off on-site, is careless with packages, he has a very nonchalant attitude toward everything and everyone. He was even caught watching a show with a client multiple times". Secretary Kim had witnessed all of these things himself and it was much worse than this but if he had said anymore here then the reason for picking him for 'this' would become invalid.

"Hmm... I don't understand, everything you have just said isn't uncommon and if it was that bad why hasn't he been let go?". Director Myung still taught Secretary Kim's attitude toward Nei was overkill. It's not like he was the first trainee to behave like a kid.

"Team Leader Cho sticks up for him every time he messes up and despite his attitude, he hasn't failed a single job in seven years"

"Seven? I thought he has been a trainee for six years"

"It's seven, a trainee for six years and an outside mercenary for 1 year. He served under Mr.Lee of the 'Money mercenaries', the Agencies only external group."

External Groups were very common in Mid and Small Agencies. Except for agencies that held authority equivalent to that of a continent or Nation(the only ones who possess this kind of authority are mostly those who participated in WWIII), other agencies had to wage wars with large agencies for authority, provide more than half the troops in a Nation or use various methods to escape the restraints the United Nations have tried to desperately put on them. External Groups like illegal Mercenaries, Banks, Conglomerates, and many more were used for illegal activities and funding. Groups like these only existed on the surface and if they were caught by the armed forces, they were left to take responsibility alone. It was a high-risk, high-return kind of place to work in.

And Secretary Kim said Nei was in one of those groups seven years ago. He should have been a 15-year-old kid then. The only reason a kid would be in a Mercenary group that was essentially a criminal group was to act as bait. Yet, Nei was still alive and breathing. It wasn't anything that special, but it wasn't normal either.

"Huhu, was that the deciding factor in you choosing him?"

"Yes, it was. He is tenacious despite his attitude, so he should last for a year before our preparations are done"

"Nei, huh". 'This' required Nei's death at the end, so he was gonna act as cannon fodder. But he at least needed the skills to survive for at most a year for 'this' to proceed without any problems. After hearing about him from Secretary Kim, Director Myung thought Nei was the perfect person for 'this'.

"Call him up to the office, let's see the so-called 'Veteran Novice'"

"Yes sir". Secretary Kim was happy and at the same time worried that his boss seemed satisfied with Nei. He was sure Director Myung's meeting with Nei wouldn't be smooth.

****

The Nauru of the past had a little over 10,000 people living in it. Today, the Bauda district alone has about 100,000 people. Despite the determent and loss of various technology during the wars, there has been a large development in technology compared to the early eras and land expansion is one of them. Artificially created islands weren't foreign topics even in the early eras so expanding land in 2095 shouldn't seem so unusual.

The tower, armed forces barrack, and trainee community here in Buada were the three symbols of Northwest Pro who were the largest and most powerful agency on this island. In one of those symbols, a young man that would almost bleed to death in a few months was just waking up at 6:37 pm.

Trainee Community, Apartment complex 2, room 165...

Ring.....

Ringing sounds coming from the walls permeated Nei's small room. Yep, ringing sounds came from the walls and the shirtless Nei lying on a bed only reacted after a while

"Oh, come on. How many times do I have to tell you not to do that "

"Team leader Cho asked me to make the noise as loud as I can when he calls" an AI-like voice responded. It was Nei's personal AI, Simon.

"I am your fucking owner, shouldn't you listen to me?" Nei said while still dumping his face into the pillow.

"It was a small favor and I don't have to listen to you just because you own me. I am here to make your life better"

"Wow, I can't believe you guys haven't taken over the world with that attitude. We should have listened to Alon"

"Sarcasm isn't appreciated Nei"

"Yeah....get off my back Mom, let's hear what the team leader has to say, I bet he's gonna whine like you"

Nei finally got up from his bed. He had a well-trained body,  smooth skin, bright pink lips, eyes that looked like 'they couldn't give a fuck less', and silky silver hair that covered his forehead. He also has a tattoo on his arm that read 'flo'. Nei had a mild form of vitiligo on his hands and face but it honestly only made him look prettier. This was the reason he refused to completely cure it or....he was probably too lazy to go see a doctor. Only he knows.

"Call accepted"

Maybe Laziness was a good thing for Nei because waking up and accepting this phone call was the beginning of what Nei would call 'the time I almost bled to death arc'.