Inside the Emergency Room of the Military Hospital, five of the finest doctors were fighting to save the life of a young soldier. His entire body was pierced with needles, soaked in blood. On the monitors, he still appeared alive, but one glance at him made it look as if the life had already drained from his eyes. His body lay completely motionless—almost lifeless.
Outside the Emergency Room, two other soldiers stood covered in blood, their torn uniforms revealing the brutal battle they had survived. They waited anxiously for the doctors to step out. With every passing minute of the operation, their condition worsened. After two agonizing hours, the doors of the Operation Theatre finally opened. The two soldiers and their team rushed toward the doctors.
"Is he okay?" they all asked at once.
Four doctors walked away shaking their heads, but one doctor stayed behind and answered.
"Yes… we managed to save him."
Relief washed over the soldiers' faces. But the 'Team Instructor' didn't seem convinced. Something felt off.
"He'll make a full recovery… right?" the Instructor asked.
The doctor hesitated.
"Ahh… his physical injuries aren't the real concern. The serum he was injected with during the fight… that's dangerous. We've never seen anything like it. It falls under the Defective Serum Category. Because of the delay in treating him, the serum has mixed into his bloodstream and is weakening him."
Both soldiers froze in shock.
"Weak? What do you mean weak? Will it affect his strength and performance?"
"The serum has spread through his entire system. Right now, it's hard to predict its long-term impact. But yes… it could be deadly. What happened to him is tragic. For such a brave soldier to face something like this… it's deeply concerning."
Silence filled the hallway. Both soldiers were devastated. Suddenly, one of them—David—lost control. He slammed his fist into the wall. Blood began dripping from inside his gloves.
"It's all my fault… Aahhh… shit… Leo told me to leave… (tsk)… this is all because of me—"
Before he could finish, the Team Instructor grabbed him by the collar.
"How many times have I told you to follow Leo's orders without question? And this mission wasn't some ordinary mission. 'Follow orders'—do these two words mean nothing to you?"
"I… I just wanted to grab something before we left. I didn't know anyone was still alive there."
Just then, the Senior Officer in the room spoke up.
"What exactly happened out there? Tell me."
The second soldier leaned weakly against the wall and replied softly,
"Leo told us to retreat. But when David went back to grab something, a scientist attacked him with an injection of that serum. Leo rushed to save him, and the serum ended up injected into Leo instead."
Hearing this, the Senior Officer turned to David and yelled,
"How will you live with this guilt?"
"I just want Leo to be okay," David whispered, crushed.
"All this drama is useless right now," the doctor interrupted firmly. "Go inside and check on him."
Gathering their courage, both soldiers stepped toward Leo's room.
Meanwhile, the Team Instructor turned to the Senior Officer.
"Will he still be able to join the Midnight Intelligence Bureau?"
The Senior Officer's voice carried uncertainty.
"The mission succeeded, and we destroyed their research base. But if the doctor is right… Leo may no longer be physically capable. And you know the MIB only takes the best of the best. Still, don't lose hope—his strength will be tested. And you recommended three candidates for MIB. Two have already passed their missions. Their admission is confirmed."
The Instructor didn't seem pleased.
Outside the room, David—who had been secretly listening—broke down again. The other soldier sat beside Leo, covering him with a blanket. He had no words left; he had already slapped David twice for his reckless mistake.
---
THE NEXT MORNING
Leo waited silently outside the physical examination room, wiping his sweat. David stood beside him, equally tense. They had been inseparable since the day they joined the army. What would happen now if Leo failed? Nothing would ever be the same.
A man walked out with a folder.
"The results aren't good. Want to hear them?"
Leo, ever the soldier, smiled confidently.
"Of course."
"Your power, speed, strength… everything has dropped severely."
Leo—once one of the strongest soldiers—now tested no better than an ordinary man. No one had the courage to tell him openly that he could no longer join the 'Midnight Intelligence Bureau'.
But Leo still kept a smile on his face. A soldier's smile always has hidden meanings. When everyone left, David broke down crying. Leo placed a hand on his shoulder—
"Take care of yourself. You're going to the MIB now. And remember—there, you must follow orders. You can't act on your own."
"Leo… forgive me. This is all my fault," David sobbed.
Leo comforted him and walked toward the exit. His heart was heavy. At the stairs, Ray, their third teammate, appeared.
"Work hard. And don't embarrass me."
Ray replied,
"I'll wait for you at the MIB."
In those few words, his faith in Leo was clear.
Leo nodded, said goodbye, and returned to his quarters to pack his bags. He didn't want to extend the pain of his teammates. Before leaving, he placed a photo of the three of them—his team—into his bag and walked out.
---
AT THE TEAM INSTRUCTOR'S OFFICE
"Leo, I want you to stay. You may not be able to fight, but you can work with me as a Team Instructor."
"Sir, I just want a break… to enjoy life a bit," Leo replied with a faint smile. "You know me—I only want to leave behind a good impression in the military."
"You're still a great soldier."
"Just not the best anymore."
The Instructor fell silent. He handed Leo a reference letter.
"I know you'll come back. Meanwhile, I've arranged a position for you in the police department in Riverdale, near your home."
Leo saluted him, thanked him, and left. He didn't want David or Ray to lose focus. They had all worked for years to join the MIB. Their dream shouldn't shatter because of him.
Leo's father Reo Larson had been his role model since childhood. Joining the MIB wasn't just Leo's dream; it was his father's too.
This wasn't the end of Leo's military career.
It was the beginning of a new chapter.
Leo would return to the MIB. A true soldier doesn't quit because of a single accident.
As Leo reached the gate of the military camp, he looked back one last time. This place had given him the best moments of his life.
Suddenly, his eyes fell on a billboard by the roadside—
a movie poster featuring none other than the famous Hollywood actress Aurelia, dressed as a stunning princess, staring straight ahead.
Leo's pupils widened instantly.
The Team Instructor noticed.
"That's the famous actress Aurelia, right? Do you know her?"
"Know her?"
For Leo and Aurelia… that word was an understatement.
Flooded by memories, Leo walked away without answering.