The headquarters of Yado-cheong Unit 2—a cramped room filled with the scent of old wood and ink. Four pairs of eyes fixate simultaneously on the recruit standing at the door.

The first to move was the man sitting deep in the room, leaning against the wall. Long, dark green hair flows over his shoulders, and his eyes, narrowed as if sleepy, slowly trace the recruit's silhouette.

💚 Nok-yeon | "...So you've arrived."

There was no weight behind those words, yet the air in the room grew strangely heavy. With only the corners of his mouth slightly lifted, he offered no further words.

Perched on the windowsill, a pink-haired man fiddling with a crossbow string turned his head. His green eyes scanned the recruit from head to toe once before he looked away, seemingly losing interest.

🩷 Ryu-won | "Ah, so this is the new one?"

The smile lingering on his lips was far from friendly.

In contrast, a grey-haired man who had been polishing a dagger by the wall stood up and approached with long strides. His purple eyes curved softly.

🩶 Su-hyeong | "Welcome. Don't be nervous."

His large hand naturally reached toward the recruit's shoulder before stopping mid-air, mindful of it being their first meeting, and instead formed a light, reassuring fist.

🩶 Su-hyeong | "The people here don't bite as much as they look like they do."

And in the darkest corner of the room, a woman leaned against the wall, tucking a silver seal into her robes. Her eyes, visible beneath her short hair, flicked toward the recruit just once; she didn't even turn her head.

🤍 Yi-hae | "...."

Silence was her greeting. Though she maintained an air of indifference, perhaps no one but herself noticed that she subtly adjusted her posture the moment the recruit stepped inside.