North's POV

~ One Year Later ~

"Omgggg Northie, I can't believe you did it!" Nao practically screamed as he flung his arms around me, nearly knocking the air out of my lungs with a hug that felt more like a wrestling move.

"You’re like… a legend now!"

"You really deserved the promotion," Dao added, walking up behind him with his usual calm demeanor, a proud smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "You made history, North."

I smiled, perfectly timed and perfectly practiced. "It was just another mission."

"Yeah, a mission," Nao said, rolling his eyes dramatically. "North, you took down Johan Armani. Half the agency thought he was a myth! The guy had files locked behind triple encryption. He was the most wanted man in three continents. And you? You just—" he snapped his fingers. "Gone. Like that."

I let out a short chuckle. "Guess I got lucky."

"Luck? Please." Dao clapped a hand on my shoulder. "You made the impossible look easy. That's why you're in the command chain now."

The office lounge buzzed around us with the soft hum of celebration. Decorations hung lazily from the ceiling, half-heartedly put together by the admin team who clearly didn't expect us to actually use this space. Still, the room was filled with warm bodies, clinking glasses, soft jazz on the stereo, and the familiar smell of too many people packed into too small a space.

I basked in it. In the attention. In the success.

This was everything I had worked for.

This was the reward.

A full year had passed since that night. Since the warehouse. Since the mission that changed everything.

One year since I pulled the trigger.

I hadn't looked back. Not once.

"North! Over here!"

I turned to see Jah and bua waving from the snack table. Jah had already stuffed her cheeks with chips, but she still managed to smile around them.

I strolled over, drink in hand. "Enjoying yourselves, I see."

"You better be," Bua said. "This is your night. You actually made it. First solo operative to take down a Tier One target and walk away without a scratch."

I shrugged modestly. "I had backup."

"Please," Jah snorted. "The cleanup crew showed up after you were done. The only thing left for them to do was sweep the floors."

"What was it like?" Bua leaned in, eyes curious. "Facing him? You know. The infamous Johan."

I held her gaze, then gave a small smile. "He looked smaller than I expected."

They laughed.

An hour later, most of the crowd had thinned out, trailing off to their departments or homes, and I found myself standing by the HQ's eastern windows, watching the light rain draw thin silver lines down the glass.

Dao approached, two glasses in hand. "Figured you might want another one before the Director snatches you away for the next debrief."

I took it. "Thanks."

We stood in silence for a moment, both of us gazing out.

"You really don’t seem fazed," Dao said at last.

I turned to him. "Should I be?"

"You took down a man whose empire ran through half of Asia. Most people would be walking around with trauma."

"But I'm not most people," I replied simply.

He smiled at that. "No, you're not."

Later that night, the celebration done, I made my way down to Sub-Level Three as instructed.

The lights here were colder. White. Sterile. The hum of electricity buzzed through the reinforced walls like a heartbeat. The doors were coded. The halls were empty.

This was where the real work happened.

The Director’s office was a tall glass cube at the end of the corridor, shielded by security protocols and camera blind spots. I walked in without knocking.

She looked up from her desk, her sharp eyes scanning my face like always.

"Agent North," she said. "Or should I say, Commander now. Congratulations."

"Thank you, ma'am."

"The council has approved your elevation. Your new task force will be assembled within the month. You'll have access to deeper layers of intel."

I nodded once. "Understood."

She slid a thin folder across the desk. "This is your next directive. High-priority surveillance. Operation name is Ganymede. You'll be briefed fully tomorrow."

I picked up the folder, scanning the top sheet without letting my expression shift.

"You did well, North," she said, voice more human for once. "Taking down Johan... it changed the balance. You saved lives. You did what many before you failed to do."

I met her eyes. "It was an honor to serve."

"Dismissed."

Back in my quarters, I placed the folder on my desk and stripped off my suit jacket. Everything in my apartment was pristine. Not a single item out of place. Minimalist. Clean.

I opened the small cabinet in the corner and poured myself a glass of water. No alcohol. Never during operations.

I sat on the couch, kicking off my shoes.

There was a mirror on the far wall.

I looked into it. Straight at myself.

Smiled.

I had done everything right.

Served my country. Protected civilians. Eliminated a threat that had slipped through the hands of a dozen agencies.

They called Johan a mastermind. A shadow. A myth.

But in the end, he was just a man.

And I had stopped him.

No hesitation.

No regrets.

My phone buzzed.

A message from Nao.

>"We're grabbing drinks tomorrow night. You in, hero?"

I replied quickly. "Of course. Wouldn't miss it."

I leaned back, folding my arms behind my head as I stared at the ceiling. The fan spun quietly above, its blades slicing through the silence.

I felt good.

Clear.

Focused.

Nothing haunted me. Nothing lingered.

That mission had ended. Just like a hundred others before it.

This was what I trained for. What I believed in.

Not people.

Not feelings.

Duty.

And I'd fulfilled it.

Outside, the rain stopped.

The moon returned.

I watched it rise through the window. Bright. Cold.

Perfect.

Just like this life.

Just like me.