The next morning came quietly.
Caden woke up to silence.
For a second, he forgot where he was.
Then he sat up.
Right… STF HQ.
The barracks were half empty. Beds unmade, a few lockers open, most of the soldiers were already gone, probably out on missions or training before sunrise.
"…Guess they don't sleep in here," he muttered.
He got dressed and headed out.
The canteen was already alive.
Not loud, just steady. Controlled. Like everything else in this place.
Caden grabbed a tray, got some food, and sat down. He ate quickly, still adjusting to everything. New place. New life.
New expectations.
By the time he finished, he wandered into the common room, watching soldiers relax like yesterday had never happened.
That's when his phone buzzed.
Ian: Meet me in my office.
Caden stared at the message for a second.
"…Already?"
He stood up immediately.
Getting to Ian's office wasn't easy.
The HQ was massive, and even with signs, Caden found himself turning corners twice, checking directions, doubling back.
Eventually, he reached the upper levels.
The air felt different up here.
Quieter.
Important.
He stood in front of the door for a second… then knocked.
"Come in."
Caden stepped inside—
And froze.
Inside were three figures.
Ian.
Optimus.
Blade.
Three of the strongest people in the Empire… just standing there like it was normal.
Caden's heart started pounding.
Don't mess this up.
Ian spoke first.
"Hey," he said casually, gesturing toward Caden. "This is the vigilante I was telling you about."
Caden straightened slightly.
"He's going to help us build the new division."
Optimus crossed his arms, studying him carefully.
"What skills does he have?"
Ian didn't hesitate.
"Fast response. Quick thinking. Low destruction rate per mission."
He looked back at Caden briefly.
"He's exactly what we need."
Blade raised an eyebrow.
"Alright… but how is he actually helping?"
Ian stepped forward slightly, his tone shifting, more serious now.
"The Empire is stretched thin."
The room quieted.
"Cities across multiple planets are dealing with demon threats and high-level crime that local forces can't handle."
He glanced at Optimus and Blade.
"So I'm building something new."
Caden listened closely.
"A fast-response division," Ian continued. "Each city gets its own unit. Small, efficient, trained to move quickly, neutralize threats, and—most importantly, keep damage to a minimum."
Blade nodded slowly.
"…The politicians are going to love that last part."
Ian smirked.
"Exactly."
Optimus looked back at Caden.
"So that's why you brought him."
Ian nodded.
"He's the blueprint."
Blade turned fully toward Caden now.
No smile.
Just a sharp, evaluating look.
"So, Caden."
A pause.
"You up for that?"
Caden swallowed.
This was real.
This wasn't Graven Hollow anymore.
This was the Galactic Empire.
"…Yes, sir."
Blade held his gaze for a second longer—
Then nodded once.
"Good."
Ian clapped his hands lightly.
"Alright. Next step, approval."
Minutes later, the four of them were walking through the hangar.
Caden still hadn't fully processed what just happened.
He was walking with Greats like it was normal.
They were about to pitch his way of fighting… to the entire Empire.
Blade suddenly stopped.
"…Hold up."
Caden almost ran into him.
Blade looked him up and down.
"…Where's your suit?"
Caden blinked.
"Oh, uh… it's still at my house."
A pause.
"…Didn't think I'd need it."
Blade closed his eyes for a second.
Then sighed.
"Yeah… that's not going to work."
He turned.
"We're making a stop."
Valora Downs.
Bright. Alive. Completely different from Iron Summit.
They stepped into a high-end tailor shop, the kind of place Caden had never even thought about entering.
Blade didn't say much.
He just pointed.
"Try some on."
Caden went through rack after rack—formal suits, modern cuts, different styles.
Nothing felt right.
Until—
One did.
A sleek black suit.
Clean. Sharp. Simple.
He looked at himself in the mirror.
"…Yeah."
Blade noticed immediately.
"That's the one."
Caden stepped out.
"You think so?"
Blade nodded once.
"Yeah. You don't need flashy."
He paid without hesitation.
Caden blinked.
"Wait, thank you, seriously, "
Blade waved it off.
"Don't mention it."
A small smirk.
"Just don't make me regret it."
By the time they reached Iron Summit, the atmosphere had completely changed again.
Stone streets stretched wide beneath their feet.
Soldiers marched in formation.
Massive banners hung from buildings, shifting slightly in the wind coming down from the mountains.
This place felt… powerful.
They entered a giant dome-shaped building.
Inside, rows of officials, politicians, and leaders filled the space.
Caden stayed quiet, standing slightly behind as Ian stepped forward.
And spoke.
Clear.
Confident.
Direct.
He explained everything—the division, the need, the structure.
Caden's role.
For a moment,
Silence.
Then murmurs.
Then agreement.
Approval.
Just like that.
Afterward, they stepped out into the city again and sat down at a nearby restaurant.
The tension was gone.
Replaced with something else.
Momentum.
Ian leaned back in his chair, looking at Caden.
"Alright."
He tapped the table lightly.
"Your role in this is simple."
Caden leaned forward slightly.
Ian's tone sharpened.
"You're the example."
A pause.
"You train them. Show them how it's done. Set the standard."
Caden nodded slowly.
"…Got it."
Ian smiled slightly.
"Good."
He stood up.
"We launch tomorrow."