38:26

The Great Leader is watching the Underground City in His office. A mission is about to come immediately, because after all, He was the one who planned it at this hour. You can see the people enjoying their lives from the distant, as they think they are protected by the Great Leader. But for how long?

He then closes His eyes, maybe to get rid of His worries. But He seems to be getting more tense every second that passes, as He is hearing something that nobody can, or even see it. Maybe is it guilt? Fear? Who knows.

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!

Then, a man enters the room. He seems to be Officer RY4N, CHE5TER's brother, the one that was gone at the Council for Him.

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

Yet the Great Leader won't stop standing in front of the city's view.

[RY4N]-I 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, but as your brother, I have the rights to know every problem of yours, CHE5TER! Why don't you want to tell me anything?

[CHE5TER]-I have no problem to report, that's all. The kid is simply not prepared for this role.

[RY4N]-Oh, yeah? Then explain why did MY4 tell me that you cancelled your schedule again?

[CHE5TER]-I just didn't have enough time because of the work I had to do. Nothing special. You know this story already.

[RY4N]-We are talking about your own life here, Brother! You've been cancelling it almost every day! You refuse to rest or take your medicine!

[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]-I am as well. What's your point?

[RY4N]-My point is that I'm worrying about you every day! Are you that blind, or you choose to ignore this fact?

[CHE5TER]-If you are so worried that 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, as I will not work at anything in the meantime. And for the other thing, I will try my best on not cancelling it again tomorrow. But for now, we have a quest to do, so let's stop talking about this subject.

So, as the Great Leader wants to exit the door, the Officer says one last thing.

[RY4N]-...I promised Him that I will protect you till the end, but I can't even recognise the boy that you were back then from the man that stands in front of me now. You even promised to me that we will remain the same as we were before. What happened to these promises of ours?

CHE5TER stands, with His back to the Officer, looking down as He hears those words. He knows it is the truth, but what can He do now?

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

The Underground City

45:13

A figure wanders the streets, alone. His hood hides His face so nobody knows who exactly He is, but nobody seems to care anyway, as He walks the opposite way from everyone else. He watches everyone living happily together and enjoying their times. But He doesn't stand much on the streets as He enters a closed bar.

The owner was about to open the bar from an earlier break as he was preparing everything needed, but didn't seem to be bothered by the figure's presence.

[AD4M]-...So you finally decided to pay me a visit after all? I wouldn't imagine that the Great Leader CHE5TER will take His time to visit an old barman like me.

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

The barman makes Him a drink. It doesn't seem to be something extraordinary, but the Great Leader seems to enjoy it for quite a while now. It is a simple heavy drink, yet the effect of it doesn't seem to bother Him.

[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 that I told you about how LUCAS brought me a new recruit?

[AD4M]-Oh, not him again. You always complain about him and his actions. I'm starting to get annoyed by these stories myself... So? What did he do this time?

[CHE5TER]-The recruit seemed to have noticed that I hid a role from him. After all, I knew already that it would be his first choice, and the one that fits him the most. So, LUCAS told him about it in the end and let him have his chance, resulting in, well, him passing the simulation.

[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 small title. How can I be happy when I know what could happen to the little guy?

[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?

The barman was looking at Him and smiling as he was seeing something from far far away in the times.

[AD4M]-...Do you remember when you all came here for a break? Your father was talking to me of how His work was progressing as I was a former soldier of His, and all of a sudden, you came to us with your brother and told Him how you wanted to join the Southeast Base in which He worked the most. His answer was the same as yours: No. 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 that I was ready to face everything that was waiting for me by choosing this path.

[AD4M]-And he doesn't know the consequences either. And even so, back then, you enjoyed to work as you stood more and more with the other people you knew. Your master used to tell me a lot of how you were progressing. All he wants is to help, just like you wished. Don't be so harsh with him.

[CHE5TER]-...

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

[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. The Great Leader was enjoying His drink even after the whole conversation.

[CHE5TER]-...I 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 and won't be able to do their work properly. 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. What would you do if the Council finally decides to ask you about this problem?

[CHE5TER]-I will just tell them the same thing over and over again if needed. "Until I find a capable Leader for my son's group so he can take this title, I will remain in my position of Great Leader of the City of the Underground". Do I need more?

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

The barman takes a glass and puts himself a drink too. CHE5TER looks at him a bit curious, as the man comes closer to Him. He holds his glass up and looks at the young Leader, who was still perplexed.

[CHE5TER]-For what do we have a toast?

[AD4M]-You said your father's day is coming soon after all. It's not much I can do, but He was my friend as well. So? Let us honour His soul for another year, for the rest He deserves after a life of protecting this city of ours.

The young Leader looks at him and smiles. He remembers the old days when He was just a small child and every memory made back then. How He was playing and argued almost every day with His brother. How He learnt new techniques from His master. How His father managed to take from His time for both of His sons. Memories that He was keeping inside safely, never to be forgotten. This is why He continues to fight after all these painful years. And probably the same reason of Him accepting this title.

[AD4M]-...Son of the first LENKOV, descendant of M1NERV4, may your soul be at rest, even after your biggest wars of your life, even after the worries and fears you had to endure. Your children shall continue the work you've started, your dreams you've wished to see come true one day. 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 the city and long live the Great Leader from the present!

It is surely not the first time these words are said. They both seem to do this for years now. As for the truth behind the past? Only they know what are they talking about. But even so, let it be for the gods to decide their future from now on.

"...Long live the Renaissance."