The following morning, Rion awoke just as the room was being filled with blinding sunlight, feeling a little groggy. Having just departed sweet dreamland, his eyes were painfully seared by the light and he could not help squeezing them shut again. Only after his eyes had gradually gotten used to the sunlight through his eyelids did he slowly open them once again.
He slowly got off the bed, walked to the bathroom and closed the door behind him. Once in, he carefully removed the skin mask and began taking a shower. The splashing water spattered his surroundings, but he did not mind it.
The slightly cool water from the shower head washed away his sleepiness. He then picked up the towel hanging by the door to wipe his body clean and began brushing his teeth. Then he gargled the water in his glass, rinsed his mouth, and spat it out into the basin.
After rinsing his mouth, Rion meticulously put the skin mask back on and walked out of the bathroom over to the changing mirror which was roughly as tall as he was and quickly donned a simple outfit that matched his new persona: worn jeans, a plain shirt, and a sturdy jacket.
And so, Everett Kane—the down on his luck ex-soldier—took shape.
The familiar image of himself he saw reflected in the mirror was an ordinary man with brown colored eyes that hinted at maturity that came with age and numerous life experiences.
Nice...
After this, he left the room, making his way back through the quiet corridor and down to the lobby. The receptionist barely glanced up as he passed by, a sign that his disguise was holding up well. Outside, the city was beginning to wake up, with people moving about and shops opening for business.
Rion took a deep breath, feeling the cool morning air fill his lungs. His first stop was the local branch of the Mercenary Legion, a nondescript building tucked away in a quiet part of the district. As he paid the taxi driver and entered the building, he realized that the interior of the building was surprisingly modern, with sleek, minimalist decor and state-of-the-art equipment. The sign outside read 'Pinnacle Security Solutions', giving the impression of a legitimate private security firm to anyone passing by.
Rion went forward to the front desk and revealed a gold coin with dark stripes to the receptionist. As the receptionist saw the coin, she beckoned to a server wearing white gloves who approached him and led him to an upper floor. The attendant led him past the reception on this floor to a room and ushered him inside.
There, he saw a a long counter made of polished dark wood with a big computer on top of it. Behind it was a young woman with sharp eyes who greeted him with a curt nod as he approached and handed over the coin.
"New recruit, I presume?" she asked, as her eyes left the computer screen in front of her.
"Yes," Rion replied in affirmation, his tone professional yet managing to drip with a certain roguish charm.
She flashed him a professional smile as she began. "Welcome to the Mercenary Legion, sir. It's good to see a new face. Please take a seat, I'll be creating your profile.
She gestured for him to take a seat in one of the chairs opposite her.
"Are you going solo or assembling a team?" she started after he had made himself comfortable.
"Solo."
"Any skills of note?"
"Yes. Marksmanship, expertise with a variety of firearms, secondary skills in hand-to-hand combat and tactical planning."
The woman continued creating his profile and filling in his skills and expertise.
"Alright. And what code name will you be using?"
Rion contemplated for a moment, deciding to go with a captivating name that would enhance his reputation and attract attention.
I got it....
"God Level Sniper!" he said confidently.
"...."
The professional look on the woman's face shattered into one of sheer stupefaction as her eyes finally left the screen. After a brief, awkward pause, she cleared her throat, attempting to regain her composure.
"God Level Sniper, huh? That's quite the moniker," she remarked dryly, trying to mask her astonishment. "Perhaps you could choose something... less... ambitious?" she delicately suggested.
Rion pondered for a moment. "Guns of Armageddon!"
The woman was rendered speechless. While such a name would intrigue employers, it was a bit excessive even by mercenary standards. She blinked a few times, regaining her composure.
"Well, that's... certainly a name," she said, trying to sound professional but unable to hide her incredulity. "Unfortunately it's too long."
Rion pondered again. "Alright, how about Deathbringer?"
"Taken," she replied without missing a beat, her fingers dancing over the keyboard. "Choose another."
"Titan!"
"... Taken."
"Emperor?"
"..... Taken."
"Dark Lord?"
".... Taken."
"Soul Reaper?"
"... Taken."
"King Of One Shot?"
"..... Too long."
This is harder than I thought...
Rion couldn't help but roll his eyes in frustration as he racked his brain for another option. "Well, this is getting ridiculous. Oh, I know. How about Black Phantom?" he suggested, trying to inject a hint of mystery into his persona.
She paused, raising an eyebrow. "Oh, you definitely can't use that. That's the codename of one of the current rising stars of the Legion."
Oh, come on! At this rate, I'll end up being named after a snack food.
Rion smacked his lips in irritation as he thought for a moment longer. "Great. Okay, how about... Forger?"
Her fingers hovered over the keys for a moment before answering. "You're in luck. That one's available."
"Finally," Rion muttered, rolling his eyes. "Took long enough."
Thank you, Forger, for finally putting an end to this nightmare....
She quickly recorded the name, her professionalism barely holding up against a grin. "Alright, Forger. Your registration is complete. You're now a Recruit-level mercenary with a blank resume. You can only rise to Operative-level after completing six Recruit-level assignments."
She explained the rules and regulations of the mercenary legion, which were surprisingly lax. "Employers will usually pick from our whole list of contractors. If someone chooses you, we'll contact you. Until then, you can take up assignments open to everyone on the market or pick up bounties. You can also accept private jobs."
She then called out a string of numbers to him. "This is your login code to the Black Lotus page on the dark web. Open the page on your device, and move to the Mercenary Legion portal. You'll see all available jobs for your level and other important information. Do make sure to memorize the code."
She paused to let this information sink in before moving on. "Your profile will include a comprehensive work history, which employers can access. They can see your past missions, your success rate, and any reviews or comments from previous clients. This transparency is essential for building trust and ensuring the quality of our services."
Rion straightened up slightly, his grin turning into a sly smile. "Ah, so my dazzling record will be on full display. Good to know. Transparency and all that. What else?"
"Now, regarding missions," she continued, her smile remaining professional, "while we don't have any hard requirements for our contractors, the most important thing is to adhere to the mission parameters set by the client. Deviating from these can lead to complications and potential penalties. You should also report any changes in mission status immediately. If you encounter unforeseen issues, it's crucial to keep us and the client informed."
"In order to ensure that each task receives your full attention and effort, you can only accept one mission at a time, reducing the risk of failure due to divided focus. This rule is non-negotiable."
Rion's eyes twinkled with mischief, but he kept his voice steady. "One mission at a time? Well, I suppose that's fair. Don't want to overextend myself and compromise on quality, right?"
"Precisely!" she replied. "This might seem restrictive, but it's designed to protect both you and the employer. If you're stretched too thin, you can't perform at your best. And our clients expect top-tier performance. In exceptional cases, some missions may require special permissions, but these are rare.
"Upon completion of a mission, your profile will be automatically updated and your payment disbursed into your bound account. However, we'll take five percent of the reward as our commission."
The woman continued, covering various aspects of the mercenary conduct, including choosing missions carefully and forbidding all unauthorized duels or fights on Legion premises.
She stopped typing at the keyboard. "Do you have any questions so far?"
Rion shook his head in response.
"Good," she said, standing up. "You'll find a copy of the rules in your welcome message on the page in case you want to revise. Once you leave this place, you can approach any of the servers outside and they'll direct you to the relaxation area. You can also ask them any questions that might be troubling you and they'll answer to the best of their ability."
"Alright." Rion nodded his head to indicate that he understood.
"Welcome to the Mercenary Legion, Forger. Good luck." The woman gave him a smile that seemed somewhat forced.
He paid it no mind and left the room. The server who had escorted him earlier was waiting just outside the door, ready to escort him wherever he needed to go.
"I'll take you to the relaxation area now, sir," the server said, falling into step beside him. They walked down a series of hallways until they reached a large, open lounge area. The space was elegantly designed with plush seating, a sleek bar, a cozy cafe, and even a small restaurant in the corner. Other mercenaries milled about, some in quiet conversation, others enjoying a meal or drink.
"Feel free to make use of any of the facilities here," the server continued. "If you have any questions, you can ask me or any of the staff members you see around. Enjoy your stay."
"Do you happen to know where I can procure some materials or equipment?" he said, stressing the word 'equipment'.
The server nodded. "Certainly, sir. We have partnerships with several underground stores that cater to associates like yourself. I can provide you with the contact information for a few of them, if you'd like."
"That would be fantastic," Rion replied eagerly, his mind already racing with possibilities.
The server quickly jotted down the names and contact details of several reputable suppliers and handed the list to Rion. "Here you go, sir. These establishments should be able to supply you with most of what you need."
"Thank you," Rion said gratefully, tucking the list into his pocket. "I appreciate the assistance."
"My pleasure, sir," the server replied with a nod, subtly extending his hand in a gesture that quietly suggested a tip might be welcome.
With a broad grin, Rion clasped the server's hand in a firm handshake. "Thank you so much for your help, really top-notch service. You're doing a great job," he said with exaggerated enthusiasm, pumping the server's hand up and down.
The server's smile faltered for a split second, the tip he was hoping for vanishing like a mirage in the desert. But with practiced professionalism, he returned the handshake, though Rion could feel the slight tension in the server's grip.
"You're most welcome, sir," the server managed, his voice steady despite the obvious disappointment. "If there's anything else you require, please don't hesitate to ask."
Rion lightly grinned as he watched the server walk away with an awkward mix of frustration and resignation. He settled on a stool and ordered a coffee, using the time to gather his thoughts and plan his next move.
The barista brought his coffee, and he sipped it slowly, observing the other mercenaries in the lounge. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the muted buzz of conversations and the occasional clink of glassware. The lounge was a melting pot of characters, each one distinct and intriguing in their own right.
They came in all shapes and sizes, each with a unique presence that hinted at their skills and experiences. Some were discussing upcoming assignments, while others swapped stories of past exploits. It was a stark reminder that he was now part of a world filled with dangerous and capable individuals.
He then picked up his phone and attempted to log into the Black Lotus dark web page. The screen lit up with a picture of a beautiful black lotus, the logo of the syndicate and prompted him to enter his login code. He carefully typed in the numbers the woman had given him, and the system welcomed him to the Black Lotus network.