HSBA Delta Branch: Where Paths Cross Again - CHAPTER 5

[HSBA Delta Training Camp — Hidden Masters of the Committee Office | 11:43 P.M.]

The underground operations chamber had finally begun to quiet.

Blue digital screens still flickered softly across the massive walls.

Encrypted terminals continued their silent processing.

Surveillance feeds rotated calmly overhead.

But the intense atmosphere from earlier had faded.

Now—

What remained was exhaustion.

Pure exhaustion.

After an entire day of training.

After preparing the trainees for tomorrow’s Day Zero Test.

After operational meetings.

After bureau reports.

After Ravielle’s sudden reappearance into the lives of Phantom Crest Squad members—

Even the Masters of the Committee were reaching their limits.

At the operations table—

Trainee Laurie nearly fell asleep while organizing RTP7 paperwork.

Her head dipped once.

Twice.

Then immediately jerked back upward.

Instructor Mark quietly noticed.

“…Laurie.”

Laurie blinked sleepily.

“…Hm…?”

“…Wrong document stack.”

Laurie immediately looked down.

“…Oh.”

Nearby—

Trainee Ashley quietly rubbed her eyes while still sorting BSA7 reports beside Instructor Monique.

Trainee Mirco leaned back slightly in his chair while updating VCT7 digital records.

His injured shoulder visibly stiff from overuse.

Even Trainee Ysabelle who normally looked perfectly composed, had slowed considerably.

She quietly held a file in one hand while reading.

But her blinking had noticeably become slower.

Across from them—

Instructor Yanzhi sat silently beside Instructor Flint and Instructor Justin.

All three had already removed their trainee disguises hours ago.

Yet despite being instructors themselves—

They looked just as exhausted.

Because earlier—

They had spent the entire day pretending to be trainees while secretly helping monitor the simulations at the same time.

Instructor Flint finally exhaled heavily.

“…I never want to wear a trainee uniform for twelve hours again.”

Instructor Justin muttered tiredly.

“…Agreed.”

Instructor Yanzhi rested her chin lightly against her hand.

“…You two complained more than the actual trainees.”

Flint looked offended immediately.

“…Because we’re older.”

Justin nodded seriously.

“…Our knees matter.”

That earned a faint tired laugh from several nearby instructors.

Then—

Instructor Sapphire finally stood.

Immediately—

The entire underground office slowly quieted.

Because regardless of who held higher authority elsewhere—

Inside the HSBA Delta Branch Training Camp—

Sapphire was the acting operational head.

Her calm eyes slowly scanned the room.

The exhausted instructors.

The exhausted trainees.

The piles of paperwork.

The unfinished digital logs.

Then she spoke calmly.

“…That’s enough for tonight.”

Silence settled.

Instructor Sapphire continued.

“…Everyone here has already done more than enough preparing for tomorrow.”

Her gaze shifted briefly toward the four hidden passers.

Trainee Ysabelle.

Trainee Laurie.

Trainee Ashley.

Trainee Mirco.

Still unaware—

That they had already survived their true Day Zero Simulation Test long ago.

“…Especially the trainees assigned to night operational duties.”

Trainee Laurie blinked sleepily.

Trainee Ashley straightened slightly.

Trainee Mirco quietly lowered his tablet.

Trainee Ysabelle listened calmly.

Instructor Sapphire’s voice softened faintly.

“…You four need proper rest.”

Then her eyes shifted toward—

Instructor Yanzhi.

Instructor Flint.

Instructor Justin.

“…Including the three instructors who spent all day pretending to be trainees.”

Instructor Flint immediately placed a hand over his chest dramatically.

“…Finally. Recognition.”

Instructor Justin sighed in relief.

Even Instructor Yanzhi smiled faintly.

A few nearby instructors laughed quietly.

Then Sapphire added calmly—

“…Tomorrow is Day Zero Test.”

“…If any of you collapse before it starts, I’ll personally consider it embarrassing.”

That immediately earned soft amused reactions around the chamber.

Even Instructor Britney smiled faintly beside Instructor Deia.

Instructor Bailey stretched tiredly.

“…Permission to disappear immediately?”

Instructor Skyrish raised her hand lazily.

“…Seconded.”

Instructor Raphael crossed his arms.

“…Thirded.”

Instructor Nexcialine already looked half-asleep against the digital table.

“…Motion approved.”

Even Instructor Amethyst sighed quietly.

“…We all need rest.”

Instructor Sapphire shook her head softly in amusement.

Then—

Her expression shifted slightly professional again.

“…Before everyone leaves.”

Immediately—

The room straightened again.

“…All bureau documents are to be returned to their designated assigned sections.”

“…No files remain unsecured overnight.”

“…All encrypted systems must be shut down properly.”

“…And all classified materials return to storage.”

Instantly—

Everyone moved.

The underground chamber became active once more.

Files were stacked carefully.

Folders organized.

Digital tablets powered down.

Encrypted drives secured.

Cluster One bureaus first.

MCT7. MCF7. BST7. RTP7. BMA7. BCA7. BSA7. VCT7. RST7. RMA7. JSA7. FCT7.

Then Cluster Two.

ARB7. BNP7. BFP7. XRB7. ZRM7. ZST7.

Then Cluster Three.

XMB7. RJF7. BRM7. JSF7. SJP7. BRF7. DSA7.

The room moved with practiced precision.

No confusion. No wasted motion.

Meanwhile—

At the center of the underground office—

A large matte-black secured case rested atop the main operational table.

The HSBA Confidential Special Black Box.

Containing classified committee materials inaccessible even to normal instructors.

Instructor Sapphire calmly looked toward Instructor Faye.

“…Instructor Faye.”

Instructor Faye immediately stepped forward.

“…Yes, Instructor Sapphire.”

Instructor Sapphire activated the security scanner.

Blue light illuminated across the box instantly.

“…Final authorization lock.”

Instructor Faye nodded once.

Then slowly placed her right hand against the scanner panel.

BEEP.

A soft mechanical sound echoed.

Scanning fingerprints…

Scanning identity…

Scanning authorization clearance…

ACCESS VERIFIED.

VICE PRESIDENT MCT7.

COMMITTEE AUTHORIZATION CONFIRMED.

Then—

CLACK.

Heavy internal locks activated simultaneously.

One by one.

Sealing the black box completely.

The blue light faded.

ACCESS RESTRICTED.

Instructor Jonathan quietly observed the lock system.

“…Fully sealed.”

Instructor Arch Jude crossed his arms.

“…Nobody outside the Masters can open it now.”

Instructor Landrieu nodded once.

Instructor Azhette quietly exhaled.

“…Good.”

Instructor Sapphire finally turned away from the secured box.

“…Everything is complete.”

A brief silence followed.

Then—

“…Dismissed.”

Immediately—

The underground office relaxed completely.

Several instructors visibly released the exhaustion they had been suppressing for hours.

Instructor Bailey nearly collapsed against Skyrish dramatically.

“…Freedom.”

Instructor Skyrish laughed tiredly.

“…Barely.”

Instructor Raphael stretched both arms.

“…Tomorrow’s going to destroy the trainees.”

Instructor Nexcialine smirked sleepily.

“…As tradition demands.”

Nearby—

Trainee Ysabelle quietly stood first.

“…We should head back.”

Trainee Laurie nodded immediately despite barely functioning.

Trainee Ashley quietly gathered her files.

Trainee Mirco picked up the remaining tablets.

Then—

Instructor Yanzhi motioned calmly toward the eastern corridor.

“…Shortcut path.”

Instructor Flint immediately approved.

“…Bless the shortcut.”

Instructor Justin nodded seriously.

“…Stairs are enemy territory right now.”

A few nearby instructors laughed softly again.

Then—

The seven of them quietly departed together.

Instructor Yanzhi.

Instructor Flint.

Instructor Justin.

Trainee Ysabelle.

Trainee Laurie.

Trainee Ashley.

Trainee Mirco.

Using the concealed shortcut passage leading directly toward the trainee dormitory pathways.

None of the normal trainees aboveground would ever realize—

That some of their fellow “trainees” had just emerged from one of the most classified operational chambers inside HSBA Delta Training Camp Branch.

Meanwhile—

The remaining instructors began moving toward the opposite corridor leading toward the instructors’ dormitories.

Instructor Britney walked calmly at the center beside Instructor Deia.

Nearby—

Instructor Mikee.

Instructor William.

Instructor Khione.

Instructor Zeirah.

Instructor Hajime.

Instructor Renesmee.

Instructor Hazel.

Instructor Abigail.

Instructor Shade.

Instructor Raphael.

Instructor Dave.

Instructor Sapphire.

Instructor Skyrish.

Instructor Amethyst.

Instructor Bailey.

Instructor Maeve.

Instructor Zhyriel.

Instructor Khezia.

Instructor Francine.

Instructor Zhayne.

Instructor Felice.

Instructor Kaizer.

Instructor Cheshire.

Instructor Khylee.

Instructor Brylle.

Instructor Khyzelle.

Instructor Cyrus.

Instructor Sharmyst.

Instructor Ashryn.

Instructor Autumn.

Instructor Seven.

Instructor Euphy.

Instructor Zephyr.

Instructor Nexcialine.

Instructor Avery.

Instructor Lyana.

Instructor Lawrence.

Instructor Eunice.

Instructor Xavier.

Instructor Sophie.

Instructor Angel.

Instructor Jaspher Miracle.

Instructor Raffy Angel.

Instructor Zhameia.

Instructor Chelaine.

Instructor Kevin.

Instructor Lianne.

Instructor Sharmaine.

Instructor Bryan.

Instructor Brielle.

Instructor Saela.

Instructor Syene.

Instructor Yanzhiel Rhaine .

And beside them—

The chosen eight main instructors of the Delta Branch First Team.

Instructor Faye.

Instructor Mark.

Instructor Landrieu.

Instructor Azhette.

Instructor Syndie.

Instructor Arch Jude.

Instructor Monique.

Instructor Jonathan.

Their footsteps echoed quietly through the dim underground corridor.

The atmosphere—

Tired. Peaceful. Quiet.

Then suddenly the Phantom Crest Squad members in their lower voice—

Instructor Bailey suddenly smiled softly while checking her phone again.

“…She replied again.”

Instructor Raphael glanced over.

“…Ravielle?”

Instructor Bailey nodded.

Instructor Skyrish sighed dramatically.

“…Finally heard from that stubborn squad leader after three years.”

Instructor Nexcialine smiled faintly.

“…At least she sounds okay now.”

Instructor Sapphire walked calmly beside them.

“…Civilian adjustment won’t be easy for her.”

Silence settled briefly.

Because all seven of them understood that truth deeply.

They had experienced it too.

The sudden quiet after military life.

The loss of structure.

The unfamiliarity of ordinary society.

Instructor Amethyst spoke softly.

“…Twenty-three years in service…”

Instructor Bailey lowered her gaze slightly.

“…That’s almost her entire adult life.”

Instructor Raphael exhaled quietly.

“…She followed both her father and grandfather into service.”

Instructor Britney’s expression softened slightly.

“…Military life was everything she knew.”

Instructor Skyrish quietly shoved her hands into her pockets.

“…Now she suddenly has to become normal again.”

Instructor Nexcialine muttered softly.

“…That’s the hardest part after discharge.”

Far away—

Across other different HSBA International Branches—

Instructor Sahm.

Instructor Patrick.

Instructor Blade.

Instructor Bryce.

Instructor Louie.

All carried the same thoughts tonight.

Concern.

Hope.

Worry for their former squad leader.

Because they all knew Ravielle best when she wore a uniform.

Strong. Reliable. Protective. Unbreakable.

But outside military service—

Would she be alright?

Would she adapt?

Would civilian life accept someone like her?

Instructor Bailey smiled faintly again while reading Ravielle’s newest message.

“…At least she’s not alone tonight.”

Instructor Raphael nodded.

“…Good.”

Instructor Britney quietly looked ahead down the dim corridor.

Then softly spoke.

“…Ravielle will survive.”

Everyone looked toward her briefly.

Instructor Britney’s calm gaze remained steady.

“…She always does.”

Silence followed.

But this time—

It felt warmer.

None of them knew—

That by tomorrow—

Their former Phantom Crest Squad Leader would officially enter the HSBA Delta Training Camp Branch itself.

Not as a soldier.

Not as a commander.

But as—

An instructor-in-training.

And far away—

Inside the massive Gaius Mansion—

Ravielle slept peacefully for the first time in months.

The elegant guest room remained dimly illuminated by soft bedside lighting.

Large curtains swayed gently beside the enormous glass windows.

Everything still felt unreal.

The mansion itself—

Far larger than she ever expected.

When she first arrived earlier with Headmaster Gaius and Zachary—

She had genuinely frozen upon entering.

Grand staircases.

Massive chandeliers.

Marble floors.

Quiet hallways lined with portraits.

Professional butlers and maids welcoming them respectfully.

It felt less like a residence—

And more like a private estate.

The household staff had welcomed her warmly.

Prepared a guest room immediately.

Served late-night tea.

Even reassured her repeatedly that she was not troubling anyone.

Headmaster Gaius himself had personally told her before resting—

“…This mansion is safe.”

“…So sleep peacefully tonight.”

And for the first time since her discharge—

Ravielle finally had.

Now—

She slept quietly beneath soft blankets.

Her discharge papers resting safely atop the bedside table.

Her phone nearby—

Still filled with unread messages from the Phantom Crest Squad members.

And unknowingly—

Tomorrow morning—

Her life would begin changing again.

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