Lucas picked up the note and read:

“Before using any electronic device, turn on the tablet and enter the following data:

username ALICANTOpassword ZPkQQqJHgs771"

Lucas powered on the thin tablet and saw the logo of the BLACK STAR operating system, which he had never seen before. Once it turned on, it asked for the login details from the note, so he carefully typed in the password letter by letter. After pressing accept, the lights in his room went completely black.

“Did the power go out?” he asked aloud.

He left the tablet on the bed to get up and ask the others, but in the center of the room, there was a completely different sight.

As if it were a hallucination, a large glowing orb hovered in the middle of the room. Surprisingly, a voice came from it:

“Welcome Lucas Marilef, agent number 1000827 to the Special Cases Agency, code name ALICANTO. My name is HERA. It has been detected that your native language is Spanish. I have adjusted my linguistic parameters to ensure fluid and efficient communication.”

Lucas looked around and realized this was similar to the underground world’s artificial sky, where projections appear without a projector or any extra device. But this kind of tech wasn’t available to the public—he hadn’t even heard of anything like it from his smuggler neighbors.

“You are currently in a high-immersion simulation. Its purpose is to provide you with the necessary information before arriving at the main headquarters in Puerto Coronel Saint-Rousseau. We will begin with a brief introduction as an ACE initiate. Please take a seat.”

Lucas sat down obediently and received further explanations:

“Each ACE agent has two identifiers their civil name and their code name. The civil name is used strictly for civilian and administrative contexts, while the code name applies both inside and outside the organization, especially in high-complexity missions. Your code name is Alicanto. This identifier was assigned after a detailed analysis of your nuclear nature and the specific characteristics that distinguish you as an agent. This code name cannot be modified and must never be known by anyone outside the ACE. Would you like more context or explanation about this assignment?”

Lucas became intrigued by the last part, especially the mention of his nuclear nature. Nuclear nature is a topic reserved strictly for research and is not public knowledge. Within the academy, students are only familiar with their nucleus compatibility level, which was a requirement for admission.

“What do you mean by nuclear nature?” asked Lucas.

The orb floated in the air and projected screens with information about nuclei, alongside Da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man.

“ACE believes that nuclei have a primarily ethnic origin, where a symbiosis occurs between an individual’s ancestral astral memory and advanced technology still under study. This symbiosis gives rise to the nucleus, linked to a specific epigenetic code for each person.”

“Stop, stop, stop,” Lucas interrupted.

“Is something wrong, agent Alicanto?”

“Don’t explain it to me like I’m a brainiac. I didn’t retain any of what you just said,” Lucas said, annoyed.

“Apologies, I believe I did not resolve your question. If you wish, I can explain the concept of nuclear nature more simply with this example.”

A family tree illustration appeared before Lucas.

“Your code name is Alicanto. The Alicanto is a legend from northern Chile. According to your genetics, this influence comes from ancestors in that region.”

Lucas knew the legend of the Alicanto, a nocturnal bird that feeds on gold and silver and guides miners with good hearts, but he still had a concern.

“I get that, but I’m adopted,” Lucas said. “Even if we talk about genetics...”

Hera quickly interrupted him:

“Being adopted or not does not change our interpretation. Your nucleus shows a strong influence from this region, and that interpretation is likely accurate based on the study of your superhuman abilities. Like the Alicanto, you are capable of absorbing solid minerals upon touch and creating a thick layer of that mineral on your skin through a process involving capillarity and attraction following solid-to-liquid or sublimation conversion. Once in contact with your skin, it adheres and takes the shape of your body.”

When Lucas thought about it that way, it made sense. His grandmother used to talk about the Alicanto and how it would glow depending on whether it fed on gold or silver.

“The material you absorb forms a protective armor with resistance proportional to the material’s properties and the amount absorbed. Don’t you think our interpretation of your nuclear ability fits with the Alicanto?”

Lucas remained with his arms crossed. Truthfully, he expected something more “epic” than a little bird as his code name.

“I sense some dissatisfaction,” commented Hera.

“Go on, please.”

“Having finished the topic of nuclear nature, we will now move on to other guidelines you need to know.”

Lucas mentally reviewed many of the rules and norms. These included a strict ban on posting work-related content due to confidentiality, the likelihood that some missions would prevent him from returning home for extended periods, and that he wouldn’t have to worry about food, transportation, or lodging—everything would be covered by the agency.

But just as the agency covered everything, Lucas was required to maintain optimal physical condition through weekly weight and muscle mass checks. Likewise, his nuclear compatibility—the capacity to use his nucleus—had to either increase or remain stable, but never decrease.

Hera also explained that she contained an extensive database accessible with her assistance. This database was created in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Defense, and ProtoLink, and in fact, only ACE uses it under extremely strict control. Lucas’s first thought was that this tool could be useful in investigating Aria’s disappearance if they had access to nearly any file related to anomalies. But even if Lucas was excited about the tool, his exhaustion was winning.

He would review it more calmly in a few hours, so he listened to the remainder of Hera’s explanation.

“To conclude, I will show you the hierarchy within the organization,” Hera continued.

Hera displayed an extensive organizational chart with photos of each superior. From current Defense Minister Evan Chapman and National Security, who oversees the Armed Forces, to the current director of ACE, Arnold Bacs, who is above Deputy Director Goryashko.

“The inspectors are first-level superiors who, in high-risk missions, can execute autonomous protocols, even altering the mission objective without needing second-level superior approval in certain situations. Consider these inspectors your direct superiors. If you are assigned to a team with an inspector, regard them as your immediate superior,” explained Hera.

There were about 12 inspectors, among whom he recognized those who had welcomed him, such as Fenrir and Irene. What caught his attention was that many of them seemed to be planetary immigrants based on their names or physical characteristics.

Even though it wasn’t so obvious with Calisto—except for those unusual yellow eyes—he had just confessed moments ago that he was from Neptune. And not only that, it turned out that in the organizational chart he was listed as “Dr. Calisto Gavrilnov.” That struck him as odd—wasn’t he too young to already be a doctor?

His eyes then landed on his supervisor, Riley Martin, who was ranked above Calisto. Just when he thought he had finished looking at everything, something else caught his attention as soon as he saw who was listed under Deputy Director Goryashko:

“Doctor Calisto Gavrilnov?” Lucas read in astonishment.

Another detail that caught Lucas’s attention was seeing who was actually the Head of the Department of Operations and Reconnaissance Division: Damian Rosso. It surprised him a little, but after overhearing Calisto and Irene’s conversation, it didn’t catch him completely off guard.