38:26

Hours later, in the office of the Great Leader, the ruler is watching the Underground City from the same chair we got to see Him on for the first time. Above the city's beauty, in the silence of its darkness where nobody can find Him. What is interesting though is the fact that if you look at the specific location from which He watches, outside the building, from the city itself, this window is actually not visible at all. A hologram is standing right between the window and the city, making a simple citizen unable to spot the building, and enough for the ruler to watch everything without being known. To watch the city be alive.

Yet at this hour, the mission He has come up with earlier is also about to begin. So it is rather strange to see the ruler Himself just standing and watching the city while He is suppose to go do His duty. He then closes His eyes and puts His left hand on the back of His neck, for whatever reason. But if you look closely, there is actually something present exactly where He put His hand. Yet now, it is almost impossible to see what that truly is.

You know you can't keep them alive forever. One day, your weaknesses will kill them all. After all, you are a disgrace to the title "Great Leader". Even now you don't want to admit it, you still hide from your fears like someone is suppose to save you. Admit it, Little Ruler!

And we also don't even have the time to learn what that is, as the door of the office opens and someone disturbs the silence in which the ruler was standing.

[RY4N]-...I assume you are ready for your mission already?

It is the same man He was standing with. But this time, the ruler does not respond as quick as before.

[RY4N]-I've heard that the recruit managed to go through the Investigator role some hours ago and you didn't want to give him permission to continue with it. May I ask you why?

[CHE5TER]-I have my own reasons behind every word I say. Doesn't mean I have to explain them.

[RY4N]-I know my title means nothing to you as I'm your inferior, CHE5TER. And I know you don't want to even listen to the words I say. But don't you think I have the right to know what's happening with you as your own brother? Why are you making this difficult instead of simply saying what is bothering you?

[CHE5TER]-I have no problem to report, RY4N. The kid is simply not prepared for this role. My decision alone shouldn't even be in your mind. You are making your own Hell by continuing to find out exactly what I think behind every action I make.

[RY4N]-Oh, yeah? Then explain why did MY4 tell me you've cancelled your schedule again? Should this not bother me as well?

[CHE5TER]-I just didn't have enough time to be present at it because of the work I had to do. Nothing special. And you know this story already.

[RY4N]-We are talking about your own life here, Brother! You've been cancelling it almost every day lately! You refuse to rest or to take your medicine! You know damn well that not even a god can overwork as much as you do, especially when being in a critical state!

[CHE5TER]-And I told you that I have work to do. I cannot lose time with these little things just because you tell me so.

[RY4N]-I'm serious, CHE5TER!

[CHE5TER]-So am I. What's your point of telling me this?

[RY4N]-My point is that I'm worrying about you every day because of these decisions you take! Are you really that blind, or did you choose to ignore this fact?

[CHE5TER]-If you are so worried I'm not taking my rest, then let me inform you that I will be visiting an old friend after the mission is completed. That counts as "rest" as well, since I will not work on anything in the meantime. And I will try my best on not cancelling it again tomorrow. That is the best I can offer you at the moment. But for now, we have a mission to do, so let's stop talking about this subject and get moving.

Then, the Great Leader gets up from His chair and goes towards the door in which the man is standing. When He is just about to leave the room, the man speaks to Him for one last time for today about what is in his mind. They do not face each other. While one is facing the entrance of the room, the other one is facing the exit. And none of them dares to look at the other.

[RY4N]-...I've promised Him that I will protect you until the very end, but I can't even recognise the boy you were back then from the man that stands right besides me now. You even promised to me that we will remain the same as we were before, no matter what we'll see once we get involved in the war. What happened to our promises, Brother?

The ruler only stands besides Him. He does not look at the man, nor does the man look at Him. In fact, both of them stare at the ground for a while, until the Great Leader decides to respond.

[CHE5TER]-...Time changes everything, RY4N. Even people like us. Nothing can escape it. Deal with it, or you will find yourself living in constant despair.

With that, the ruler takes His leave while the man remains behind, right in the door. He continues to stare to the ground for a few seconds, before he says one last sentence.

[RY4N]-...So you would rather choose to lose your own glory, CHE5TER?

And then, he leaves too, closing the door of the office and bringing the silence back into the room. But once he left, we can notice a small photo being present right next to the door, standing in darkness where it can almost be forgotten completely. A photo of a man with white hair and blue eyes and two kids standing right next to him.

The Underground City

45:13

But even later, on the streets of the city, there is a weird figure wandering around. The clothes are strange and seem out of place. Long to the point they touch the ground, with a hood that makes the face of the person unable to be seen and not even the body can be noticed that well because of them. But somehow, nobody really seems to care at all. Even if those clothes would make you think of something similar to a cult member. Those are the crevaators' clothes, but now it isn't the time to talk about them in more details.

Once the figure arrives at its destination, it enters a specific bar and makes sure the door is closed. The barman wasn't really surprised to see the weird person. In some odd ways, he was rather happy. Once the figure comes right in front of him and sits down, he begins to have a conversation.

[AD4M]-...So you finally decided to pay me a visit in the end? I wouldn't imagine the Great Leader CHE5TER taking His time to visit an old barman like me, you know?

[CHE5TER]-Cut the whole "surprise visit". I'm taking my rest for now.

[AD4M]-Oh, so your brother was the one who came up with the idea. How strange of you to listen to him. I didn't know that the LENKOV C born obeyed to anybody's words, especially since He was younger.

[CHE5TER]-You want me to stay or not? I can always just leave if I'm not feeling welcomed here anymore.

[AD4M]-Hahahh... Oh, don't be so cold, young CHE5TER. I'm just joking around.

[CHE5TER]-Yeah... I imagined...

[AD4M]-One as always, is it? On the house, of course.

The barman then begins to make the ruler a special drink. It doesn't seem to be something extraordinary, but the Great Leader looks to enjoy it for sure. It is a simple heavy drink, yet the effect of it doesn't look to really bother Him that much.

[AD4M]-So? What is it this time? I know you don't come here just to get a drink.

[CHE5TER]-...Do you remember some time ago when I told you about how LUK3 brought me a new recruit?

[AD4M]-Oh, not that boy again... You always complain about him and his actions. I'm starting to get sick of just hearing these stories myself. I wouldn't even want to be present when they are made... What happened now?

[CHE5TER]-The recruit managed to find out about what I've instructed that guy not to do and managed to get the simulation result. LUK3 being LUK3, he thought it is best to try and go against my wishes, which resulted in the recruit to successfully pass the program. Which is what I knew would happen from the very beginning...

[AD4M]-And what's the big deal here? You should be happy for him, shouldn't you?

[CHE5TER]-I'm talking about the Investigator role, Mr. AD4M. You know very well how many losses we had just from that one title alone. How can I be happy when I know what could happen to the little man just because of one stupid decision?

[AD4M]-Oh, dear CHE5TER... You were just like him when you were little. Don't pretend that all of this is a new problem.

[CHE5TER]-Hmph. You say so?

Once the barman pours himself a drink as well, he looks with such a smile towards the Great Leader, before staring at the ceiling for a few seconds. Looking towards a past that is now far away from them.

[AD4M]-...Do you remember when you all came here for a break? Your father was talking to me about how the work was progressing around the base ever since I retired, and all of a sudden you came to us with your brother to tell Him how you wanted to join the Southeast Base in which I've worked and in which was your Master. His answer was the same as yours. He refused to let you get yourself in danger. But even so, little you never gave up, and look where you are now.

[CHE5TER]-Maybe because I didn't know what I was involving myself in. I was young and naive to even believe I was ready to face everything that was waiting for me by choosing this path.

[AD4M]-And he doesn't know the consequences either, CHE5TER. And even so, back then, you enjoyed to work in our base as you stood more with the people you knew the best. Your master used to tell me a lot about how you were progressing in your training. All he wants is to help, just like you wished. Don't be so harsh with him just because of this wish.

[CHE5TER]-...

[AD4M]-You don't need to overthink it, this is why you've changed all these years. You tell me the reason of your behaviour is because the sudden change of Great Leaders when your father died, but the true reason is because you do not trust your own powers. You've led them for years now, and you've progressed more than you could think of. Why do you still doubt your own abilities?

[CHE5TER]-..."Be the best, or die in nothingness". My master used to tell me this quote every time I failed to do something. Guess it applies now as well, as I failed to protect the little man...

They both stay silent for a while after the ruler's response. While He was taking a few sips of His drink, the barman only waited for Him to calm down.

[CHE5TER]-...I've heard that they still want to celebrate my father's day this year as well.

[AD4M]-They still don't know that He died? Oh, you sure hid it for a long time now...

[CHE5TER]-I cannot just go to the Council and announce His death after all these years, AD4M. They still think He is the one in charge of the whole city and that I'm the one who died that day. If they find out that I'm working as the Great Leader and the Leader of my base, they will start bringing more and more questions which will damage our progression towards the end of the conflict. I just have to wait until I can make my brother the Leader of the base. Until then, I will work as I did all this time.

[AD4M]-You know they already have questions regarding the next Great Leader, Ches. They think that your father has to retire soon after all. He has quite some time in this whole thing, even if He was suppose to only have the title for 25 years. And RY4N is seen to take His role in their perspective, remember? What would you do if the Council finally decides to ask you about this problem?

[CHE5TER]-I will just tell them the same thing I have told them for the last decade over and over again. "Until I find a capable Leader for my son's group in order for him to focus on his title, I will remain in my position of Great Leader of the Underground City". Don't you think that's enough?

[AD4M]-Heh, isn't it strange for both of you when you say these words? After all, your brother knows you are behind the whole disguise.

[CHE5TER]-I guess it is a little. But we can't do anything about it. We have to live with it until we find a way to fix everything.

[AD4M]-Heh...

After the conversation, the barman raises his glass towards the heavens and looks at the young ruler that was standing in front of him. The Great Leader, on the other hand, was puzzled by his action, but continued to play along.

[CHE5TER]-...What are the prayers for this time?

[AD4M]-You said your father's day is coming soon, didn't you? There's not much I can do, but He was my friend as well. So? What are you waiting for? Let us honour His soul for another year, for the rest He deserves after a life of protecting our city of freedom.

The ruler then smirks and shakes His head gently. But even if He mocked the barman with this gesture, the man still smiles at Him back and waits for His own glass. It's a pity though. For how much he can see the past memories of this young ruler every time he looks at His face, he still cannot do anything about changing this unfortunate soul's fate. But even if the memories will always be kept inside in a safe space where they can be abandoned in darkness, they cannot and will not be forgotten by those who choose to remember them. This is why He continues to fight, no matter how many years of suffering He will have to endure. And probably the same reason why He accepted this title.

[AD4M]-...Son of the first LENKOV, descendant of M1NERV4, may your soul be at rest even after the wars you had to fight your entire life. Even after the worries and fears you had to endure in your own solitude. Your children shall continue the work you've started, your dreams you've wished to see come true in the future. From your death, there is reborn, and the bloodline will continue existing once more. As you are our protector, and your memory shall live forever in our lands. Long rest the former ruler of our city and long live the Great Leader of the present!

It is surely not the first nor the last time these words will be spoken by someone. And they both seem to have done this for years now. As for the truth behind the past? Only time will reveal it. But even so, let it be for the gods to decide their fate from now on.

"...Long live the Renaissance."