Mio's heart pounded as she approached the distressed man, her voice firm despite the chaos around them. "It's okay! Believe in me. I'll bring you out of here."

Her words seemed to offer a glimmer of hope to the man, whose tears flowed freely. Comforting him as best she could, Mio wasted no time and swiftly made her way into the building. Then she notices footsteps echoing in the empty corridor, a rhythm of determination driving her forward.

But as she turned, a familiar presence emerged behind her. It was Mamoru Edmund, her mentor.

"Why did you come here, Commander Edmund?" Mio's voice mixes surprise and concern, she can't conceal the second when she sees her mentor she feels relief.

Mamoru's response was calm yet firm. "Because solo actions by mentees are prohibited. Thanks to you, I also have to return to this building."

Mio's determination flickered for a moment as she insisted, "No, please wait outside. I'll rescue that child."

With a playful flick to her forehead, Mamoru's confidence shone through, eliciting a cry of surprise from Mio, "It hurts!" Despite her protest, he held her back, a silent understanding passing between them.

"It's almost the time that Evelyn demanded. It's not wise to go for a rescue mission now," Mamoru reasoned, his tone gentle yet decisive.

Frustration bubbled within Mio as she realized the urgency of their situation. "Then, I think there's no time to chat! I'll resolve this as soon as possible!"

Mamoru knew there was no other way to stop his former mentee besides finishing it, He relented. "Alright, I understand. But I'll be the one to do it." Mamoru's gaze filled with unwavering trust, and he gently touched her shoulder, and it was a silent order. He didn't want Mio to argue with him on this thing anymore, time was ticking.

"Cato, guide her out of here," Mamoru said, his voice carrying a sense of responsibility.

Cato was Mamoru's mentee before, from the direct order of his former mentor, Cato had no right to say 'no'."Yes, yes, please don't interfere with Commander. Edmund's actions, Mio."

With that, Mio watched as Mamoru disappeared into the depths of the building, leaving her with her thoughts.

The last sound she heard was an explosion, and the last thing she saw was flame engulfing the building, everything turned into nothing, burned into dust.

"No-------------------!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

The darkness of night enveloped Mio's room as she awoke, her breaths coming in short gasps. Despite her best efforts, the memories of the day's mission still lingered, threatening to overwhelm her.

"Mamoru...." Miyoi's sobbing through the silence, desperate and chaotic tears her heart apart.

Struggling to regain her composure, Mio found herself on the cold floor, the weight of her emotions pressing down on her. With practiced familiarity, she reached for a paper bag, its crumpled form a lifeline in the darkness.

Each inhale brought a sense of calm, as she sought solace in the rhythm of her breaths, a notification on her phone shattered the fragile peace.

"You received a new message Mio, Do you want me to read for you?"

"No, El...just leave me alone."

"If you need any help, please call me, Mio."

When Mio's phone locked the screen again, Mio finally felt a sense of relief.

4 A.M.

Who the heck would send a message to people at this hour, besides jobs, Mio can't find anyone she knows can be this rude. With a mixture of disgust and frustration, Mio reached for her phone, and she saw a message from Elio Kishi.

Mio suddenly tossed her phone aside like it would burn her hand.

Alone in the darkness, Mio embraced her arms, from the slightly rough touch of the skin, the bonding mark that her mentor gave her was still there. This is the last connection between Mio and Mamoru.

"I'm sorry...please forgive me."

Mio Adrian hasn't slept tight for at least one week, every time she tries to find peace in sleeping, that memory comes for her. The smile of her mentor, and how kind his voice can be if she can trade her real life to exchange an eternal dream about Mamoru. She will trade it immediately.

All these silly thoughts will disappear when the sun rises.

"You haven't got your bonding mark?"

An overly energetic voice came from some distance. Mio finds a familiar figure standing beside that voice's owner.

"I know we will receive a bonding mark from our mentor, but Ms.Adrian is also busy, and...since last time, I felt I did something wrong, I can't ask for more." Elio's words are full of guilt.

Donnie sighed briefly, then patted Elio's shoulder, "It sounds like you got dumped by Agent.Adrian."

"Shut up!! Are you out of your mind???"

Elio punched Donnie real hard, Donnie's screaming rang through the hallway. Once Donnie finished his over-acting, he grabbed his front pocket that was near his chest, Elio looked deeply at that badge to confirm what was written, it was the initial of Donnie's mentor and the number of how many mentees they had taught before. Donnie is the second mentee that Cato would spend a year teaching.

"Don't get jealous, I don't want to wear this stupid badge either. That sneaky bastard forced me to wear it, or he'll report me to the center. Can't you believe that??? He treats me like a dog!!" Donnie wants to grab that badge and throw it on the ground, but an electric current suddenly passes through his entire body, Donnie's kneels become weak, and he nearly lies on the ground.

"Are you OK? Donnie! Hey!" Elio seems concerned and tries to lend him a hang, but Donnie is back to normal again.

"Stupid bonding system!!!"

"Ahaha, Dummy Donnie, I've told you if you dare to take it off, it will give you some muscle-smoothing massages."

Elio could hear something from a short distance, but he couldn't tell, then he saw Donnie grab his clothes and argue with them. The first thing that came to Elio's mind, he thought Donnie was out of his mind because of that 'electric massage', then he heard Donnie was going with a name called 'Cato'. Then Elio understands everything.

"Eh...Mr.Quinton, do you mind if I ask you a question?"

"Sure, you don't have to talk firmly with me, and Donnie, learn from your friend, he knows exactly how to treat people who should be respected."

"Well, I don't think you should be respected, AHHHHH------------!!!"

"Nonono!!! Please forgive Donnie for a second!"

"Okay~"

"I just want to confirm whether this bonding system is mandatory or not, what if my mentor doesn't bond with me, what will happen?" Elio said with uncertainty, he had an instinct that his mentor would ignore him until the project closed.

"Don't worry Elio, She will eventually bond with you, Mio just needs some time. Or, you can push her to give you a mark."

"What?!" Elio can't believe what he just heard, and he finally understands why Donnie would said his mentor is a bastard.

"Oh, Elio, are you despising me?"

"Nononono, I am truly respect you, Mr. Quinto!!! And you can hear my emotion from that badge???" Elio can't believe this real genius can be a genius on the other dimension.

"HAHAHAHAHA------!!! You are too adorable, I can see you all with my drone, I'm not god, you are flattering me!" Cato stands on his mobility flying scooter, and the drone that he had mentioned is also flying near him. The creepier thing is, that it looks like a butterfly, and that's the reason why Elio couldn't notice it before.

"Don't make me shoot you down! Bastard!" Donnie has recovered from his last electric shock.

Every time Elio saw them stand together, they definitely argued with each other, Cato seems fully understand how to control Donnie's temper, just like right now, Donnie is chasing his mentor all the way, even though he is yelling with rude language, but Elio sure the next time to see Donnie, he will make some new invention that impressive everyone.

"I think that's the reason why Mr.Quinton always tries to piss Donnie off. Can't believe I feel a sense of jealousy of Donnie, when can Ms.Adrian treat me as her mentee..."

Maybe the god took pity on Elio, and the next second, he got a call from Evelyn. When he ran into the office of Special agents, Elio saw the duo of Valentino and Bell standing near the operation commander, Zanoah noticed Elio standing awkwardly at the gate, He waved to him, "Come here, Elio."

"Yes Sir!"

"Aha, now I've to tell you all this bummer information. Well, we received a request from the government."

"Hell no----!!!"Rurika swore loudly, she was the only one who dared to say those words in front of Zanoah, even though all of them were thinking about the same thing, their mentees didn't know what was going on and why their mentors became so frustrated.