Phantom Legion

CHAPTER 17: UNSTEADY GROUND

The gym room, more like an indoor stadium, stretched wide with two distinct levels, each serving a different purpose. The upper floor was a hub of activity, filled with the hum of machines and the steady rhythm of agents pushing themselves through solo workouts. Weights clanged as they were lifted and dropped, while some agents sparred with punching bags or pushed through their cardio routines on treadmills. Trainers were scattered throughout, offering assistance and corrections to those who needed it, their sharp eyes watching every move. The sleek, state-of-the-art equipment gleamed under the bright, sterile lights, each machine perfectly calibrated for the agency's rigorous standards.

The lower floor, in stark contrast, was a sprawling open space, vast enough to accommodate large-scale exercises. This was where the real action took place. Today, it was set up for a sparring session, with various mats laid out in different sections with rings around them, creating zones for one-on-one or group training. This was where the newer recruits were drilled into shape, learning the fundamentals of combat, strategy, and discipline. Though the agents who regularly went on missions didn't need to attend these daily sessions, they still had monthly training to hone their skills, ensuring they stayed sharp. Rehabilitation exercises for injured agents also took place here, with modified routines designed to ease them back into form.

The space itself could hold up to a thousand people, though the number of agents stationed at the base was nowhere near that. The extra room wasn't just for capacity but for flexibility—enough space to allow for group exercises, extensive drills, and mock scenarios without feeling cramped.

When Bangtan entered the training hall, they found it already buzzing with activity. Dozens of agents were either preparing for the day's session or already engaged in their workouts. A few turned their heads as the team entered, but most were focused on their tasks.

They were running late. After Jin had finished his breakfast, Taehyung and Jungkook had gotten into one of their playful competitions—this time about who could do more push-ups. Their laughter had echoed through the hallways as they tried to outdo each other, muscles straining as they pushed themselves harder. It had escalated to the point where Hoseok and Jimin had to step in, dragging them apart before it got too heated. By then, valuable time had slipped away, and now they were left hurrying into the gym to catch up with the rest.

Jin walked slightly ahead of the group, his shoulders tense, his mind elsewhere. The weight of the morning's meeting clung to him like a heavy cloak. The team had noticed his distant demeanor, but they didn't press him on it. They were used to it by now—whenever he returned from leader meetings, Jin carried an extra heaviness. They assumed it was the toll of leadership, the responsibility of making decisions that could affect them all. It wasn't unusual for him to be quieter on days like this, and they trusted he would return to his usual self after some time.The others exchanged brief glances, silently agreeing to give him the space he seemed to need. Jin's role as leader wasn't one they envied, and while they admired his ability to manage it, they also knew it came with burdens none of them fully understood. They didn't push him to share; they never did. His leadership, though softer than others, was grounded in a quiet strength, and they respected that.

As they made their way across the lower floor, the hum of voices and the steady thud of fists hitting training pads filled the air. The atmosphere was alive with a kind of restrained energy, agents preparing mentally and physically for the upcoming sparring. Jin's eyes drifted around the room, half-focused. He could see Namjoon a few steps behind, moving quietly with the others, his usual hesitance showing in the way he kept to the back. The weight of the earlier conversation gnawed at Jin's mind, the stranger's words about Namjoon circling like vultures in his thoughts.