SSS-Class Profession: The Path to Mastery

The interior of the museum was stunning. High ceilings with ornate molding, polished marble floors that reflected the warm lighting from crystal chandeliers, and walls painted in soft, neutral tones that made the artwork pop. But what caught my attention immediately were the displays.

Six platforms arranged in a semi-circle in the main hall, each one spotlit and carefully curated to showcase a different persona from the Masked Syndicate.

The first one I approached was Mr. Fox.

The mask sat on a pedestal at eye level—a sleek, rust-colored fox mask with sharp angles and clever design work that made it look both playful and dangerous. Behind it, mounted on a mannequin, was the full outfit Camille had created: fireproof fabric in oranges and reds, designed to look stylish while maintaining functionality. The jacket had reinforced padding at the shoulders and elbows, and I could see the subtle flame-resistant coating that had saved my skin more than once.

A small placard beside the display read: "Mr. Fox - The Rescuer. Associated with firefighting and emergency response operations. Known for his ability to navigate dangerous situations with grace and precision."

"I made sure they got the descriptions right," Camille said beside me, watching my face carefully. "Each persona needed to reflect not just the aesthetic, but the purpose."

"You did good work," I said quietly, studying the way the outfit was displayed. It looked almost alive under the spotlight, ready to be worn again.

We moved to the next display.

Mr. Dust.

The mask was simple but effective—gray and featureless except for two eye holes, designed to be forgettable. The kind of face that could blend into any crowd and be forgotten five minutes later. The outfit matched: a long gray coat, dark pants, practical boots. Nothing flashy. Nothing memorable. Perfect for a detective who needed to observe without being observed.

"Mr. Dust - The Observer. Associated with detective work and investigation. Known for his ability solve cases in impossible scenarios."

I remembered wearing that coat. Remembered the feeling of being no one, just another face in an endless sea of faces. Observation and Deduction had felt particularly sharp when wearing Mr. Dust's persona, like the outfit itself sharpened those skills.

"People spent the longest time looking at this one during the preview," Camille said. "I think they appreciate the subtlety. It's the opposite of what people expect from someone with your reputation."

"That was kind of the point," I replied.

Mr. Angel was next.

The mask was white and gold, designed to evoke both divinity and the vastness of space. It had a slight metallic sheen that caught the light, and the eye holes were tinted to suggest something otherworldly. The outfit was perhaps my favorite of all of them—white fabric with gold accents, incorporating design elements that suggested both religious iconography and space suits. It was ambitious, almost pretentious, but Camille had pulled it off perfectly.

"Mr. Angel - The Ascended. Associated with space exploration and astronaut operations. Known for being the first human to reach Mars and miraculously return after having crash landed."

"Crash landed," I said with a slight smile. "You really leaned into the drama for this one."

"It deserved drama," Camille defended. "You were on Mars, Rey. That's not something you undersell."

Fair point.

Mr. Leviathan dominated the next platform.

The mask was intimidating—deep blue and black with sharp, angular features that suggested something massive and ancient rising from the depths. The outfit was a formal three-piece suit, but elevated. The fabric had a subtle scale-like pattern woven into it, and the cut was aggressive, designed to make the wearer look larger and more imposing than they actually were.

"Mr. Leviathan - The Truth. Associated with legal proceedings and courtroom warfare. Known for defeating an A-Rank lawyer as a D-Rank. Creating the precedent that ranks do not determine ones value."

I'd worn that suit during the Masked Syndicate's court case. A case so rigged against me that the opposition thought they were untouchable until Mr. Leviathan walked through the door.

"You like to exaggerate these descriptions don't you?" I ask.

"These aren't lies Rey," Camille countered. "Everything here is something that you did accomplish."

Mr. Beetle was simpler but no less impressive.

The mask was black with a hard, glossy finish that made it look like actual chitin. The outfit was practical—reinforced clothing designed for movement and protection, with padding in all the right places. Black and dark gray, built for someone who needed to be able to throw a punch or take one.

"Mr. Beetle - The Brawler. Associated with hand-to-hand combat and physical confrontation. Known for his relentless fighting style and ability to absorb punishment that would incapacitate others. The most physically present of the Masked Syndicate."

I flexed my hand unconsciously, remembering the weight of brass knuckles and the impact of fists against flesh. Mr. Beetle had been my shortest persona and it's only purpose was to fight.

"You got into dumb fights as Mr. Beetle," Camille said, shaking her head. "With the mafia no less."

"They were necessary fights," I said defensively.

"We thought you were going to die fighting Ragnar."

"I said they were necessary, not safe."

The final display was Mr. Jester.

The mask was the most theatrical of all of them—split down the middle with comedy and tragedy faces, one side painted in bright colors, the other in stark black and white. The outfit matched the chaos: mismatched patterns, bold colors, a design that seemed to say "nothing about me makes sense, and that's exactly the point."

"Mr. Jester - The Story-Teller. Associated with journalism and information dissemination. Known for speaking uncomfortable truths through humor and misdirection. The most unpredictable of the Masked Syndicate, using chaos to reveal reality."

I'd used Mr. Jester to break stories that no one else would touch. To ask questions that made powerful people uncomfortable. To be the voice that said what everyone was thinking but no one dared to say out loud. Though, the truth is that it was when I was trying to find Evelyn in Europe.

"This one was the hardest to design," Camille admitted. "How do you create something that represents controlled chaos? Something that looks random but is actually carefully constructed?"

"You figured it out," I said, studying the way the colors clashed and somehow worked together anyway.

We stood there for a moment, looking at all six displays arranged in their semi-circle. Six different personas. Six different approaches to the same problem: how to operate effectively in a world controlled by the World President.

"They're all you," Camille said quietly. "Different aspects of the same person. That's what I wanted people to see. Not that you're a man of many faces, but that you're a man complex enough to need many faces."

Before I could respond, a woman approached us—middle-aged, well-dressed, holding a museum pamphlet.

"Excuse me," she said, her voice slightly nervous. "Mr. Reynard Vale?"

I turned, putting on what I hoped was an approachable smile. "Yes, how can I help?"

Her face lit up. "I just wanted to say thank you. My son is a firefighter, and when he heard about Mr. Fox—about how you used that persona to help during emergencies—it inspired him. He's been working harder than ever."

Something warm settled in my chest. "That's… thank you for telling me. Your son sounds like a good man."

"He is," she said proudly. Then, more hesitantly: "Would it be okay if I took a picture with you?"

"Of course," I said.

Camille smoothly took the woman's phone and stepped back to frame the shot. The woman stood beside me, beaming, and Camille snapped several photos.

After that, it was like a dam broke.

More people approached. Some wanted pictures. Some wanted autographs on their pamphlets or exhibition catalogs. Some just wanted to shake my hand and tell me they supported what I was doing.

A young man in his twenties told me he'd started law school after watching footage of Mr. Leviathan winning that case a year ago.

An older gentleman said he'd been a detective for thirty years and seeing Mr. Dust's methods validated his own approach to investigation.

A teenage girl showed me a sketch she'd done of Mr. Angel and asked if I'd sign it.

Each interaction was brief but meaningful. And through it all, Camille stayed beside me, managing the flow of people, taking photos when requested, and somehow making sure I didn't get completely overwhelmed.

"You're good at this," I murmured during a brief lull.

"I've had practice," she said with a smile. "Fashion week is basically this, but with more champagne and worse lighting."

We moved through the museum, seeing the smaller displays that accompanied each main persona—sketches from Camille's design process, photographs of me wearing each outfit during actual operations, and even some of the tools and equipment associated with each identity.

The crowd followed us loosely, respectful but curious. Museum staff hovered nearby, making sure no one got too aggressive but otherwise letting people interact naturally.

"Mr. Vale!" A photographer called out. "Could we get a photo of you and Ms. Voss together?"

We turned, and I saw it was one of the press photographers from outside, now allowed into the museum proper for documentation.

"Of course," Camille said smoothly, moving closer to me.

We posed in front of the Mr. Fox display—seemed appropriate since it was the first persona we'd looked at. The photographer raised his camera, and I prepared for the standard flash and pose.

But then I saw Camille's expression shift. That teasing smile I knew too well appeared on her face, and I had exactly one second to realize what was about to happen before she turned, grabbed my face with both hands, and kissed me.

Not a peck. A real kiss. The kind that made a statement.

The museum exploded with camera flashes.

Not just from the one photographer we'd been posing for, but from dozens—maybe hundreds—of people who'd been standing nearby with their phones out. The sound of shutters clicking was like rainfall, constant and overwhelming.

Camille pulled back, that teasing smile still firmly in place, her hands still on my face.

"Camille," I said, aware that my voice was probably being recorded by multiple devices.

"What?" she asked innocently, though her eyes were sparkling with mischief. "You said we should give them good pictures."

"I did not say that."

"You were thinking it."

Around us, the crowd had erupted into excited chatter. I could hear people already pulling out their phones to check if the photos had turned out well, to post them on social media, to share the moment with the world.

More flashes went off. The photographers were definitely getting their money's worth.

"You're impossible," I said, but I was smiling despite myself.

"And you love me for it," she replied, finally dropping her hands but staying close.

"Unfortunately," I agreed.

She laughed, bright and genuine, and even more cameras captured the moment.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​