23:31

[MSoldier1]-*sigh* Hard to say for sure though.

[MSoldier2]-Then what? You heard the General's words! He wants it to be done as soon as possible! If we keep him waiting, I'm sure he will get mad at some point!

[MSoldier1]-Then what do you suggest?

As they listen, CHE5TER tries to make it less obvious that they are trying to hear the conversation, so He pulls out two cigarettes and gives one to RY4N, so both of them start smoking again. Seems like they are besides a building's walls, near the soldiers' location, so that the soldiers won't get annoyed by them and leave.

[MSoldier2]-I don't know, pay more the researchers? Maybe they will work faster.

[MSoldier1]-We barely have money for ourselves, man. We won't have enough for those bastards if we really try to briber them.

[MSoldier2]-Then, if the General gets mad at us, I put the blame on you that we don't have what he had requested.

[MSoldier1]-If you ask me, I don't give a shit about all of this. It's just a bunch of nonsense. So put the blame on me if you truly want that.

[MSoldier2]-Oh, so you go off General's words now?

[MSoldier1]-No, that's not what I meant.

[MSoldier2]-Then? What do you mean?

[MSoldier1]-I'm just saying that... why would he request such thing anyway? Why does he need such a powerful weapon?

As He hears these words, He only got more curious, whispering a bit to Himself.

["BENJ4M1N"]-...Powerful weapon?

[RY4N]-What is it?

["BENJ4M1N"]-Shhhht!

...And yet, He makes His brother shut up quickly enough for Him to continue listening.

[MSoldier1]-...What does he intend to do with it? Is he thinking that we can get rid of the current problem with it?

[MSoldier2]-I don't think so... From what I saw, it's hard to even aim with it anyway. I don't think it will fit for this. Maybe he intends to demolish the walls and create something new against it?

[MSoldier1]-But even so... it will take a lot of time until we build something else. It simply doesn't make sense...

[MSoldier2]-*sigh* I guess we will find out when he will inform us about his plan in the end.

[MSoldier1]-Right... We waited a lot for that information though, who says we won't wait for even more?

[MSoldier2]-I don't know, but I really want to see what's up with the weapon. I saw when the researchers tested it after all and it's simply amazing the power it has! But I think we need to put some money for the repair of the damaged area because of it. A lot of people complained about the fall of the building nearby. Not to mention that we need even more slaves for the tests.

[MSoldier1]-Yeah, great... Seems like all my savings will go to waste in the end...

CHE5TER stops listening and get a bit lost in His thoughts.

["BENJ4M1N"]-...With such power, you are going to lose all the energy you have... One shot and you let your whole city with lack of energy for months. It's not gonna be enough for you to kill even half of my people. What do you intend to do, Mr. General...?

[RY4N]-Well? What are you thinking about? You got an idea in mind?

["BENJ4M1N"]-For now... not really. I cannot understand the intention of the General just from the soldiers' conversation.

[RY4N]-So what do we do?

["BENJ4M1N"]-Now?

[RY4N]-Yeah.

["BENJ4M1N"]-Just act natural.

[RY4N]-Hm? What do yo--

And as they talk, another soldier approaches them as he got some suspicions on them.

[ZAF4R]-Hey! You two! What are you doing here?

["BENJ4M1N"]-Hm? Us?

[ZAF4R]-Yeah! You!

["BENJ4M1N"]-Oh, we were just taking a small breath before we go back to our place. Anything wrong, Soldier?

[ZAF4R]-"Take a small breath", huh? May I see your identification cards?

["BENJ4M1N"]-Oh, but of course!

The ruler give the man His documents, as the soldier looks through them while CHE5TER continues.

["BENJ4M1N"]-I believe we met many times before, right, Mr. ZAF4R? You sure know well enough that I wouldn't try to trick you so easily. So why don't you trust me?

[ZAF4R]-Just... cut it! I don't have time for your bullshit right now.

["BENJ4M1N"]-Why are you so cold? I'm just telling you what's obvious, am I not? After all, you know already that I'm registered in the data and the soldiers have all the information about me.

RY4N looks in shock at his brother as He says these words though. He never knew this information before after all. Maybe it's a new information for everyone else. But the soldier gives the card back and looks at RY4N this time.

[ZAF4R]-Yeah, yeah. I know you like to get drunk and shit talk with everyone already. No need of doing it with me as well. Now, if you let me do my work, I would like to see your comrade's documents.

["BENJ4M1N"]-I wouldn't dare to not let you do your work, Soldier. You speak nonsense.

[ZAF4R]-Just shut up already! Give me your ID card! Now!

He looks a bit annoyed this time, so RY4N does as he says, a bit unsure of what to do. He gives him the documents and waits for him to look through it. But the guy doesn't really seem pleased, as if something seems wrong.

[ZAF4R]-Say, Mr. RY4N... From which part of the city are you?

[RY4N]-I-I--

["BENJ4M1N"]- --Oh, he is from the same part as me.

[ZAF4R]-Really?

["BENJ4M1N"]-Of course. After all, he is staying with me in the same apartment. Who do you think stood and took care of me back then?

[ZAF4R]-Okay... But I do not remember him being registered in the data. How do you explain that?

["BENJ4M1N"]-Simple. Because he stood at home to watch over me, he didn't really go out that much, so nobody bothered verifying him before.

[ZAF4R]-And school?

["BENJ4M1N"]-School? Are you kidding me? He does not need such a thing. I raised him well enough, no need of him to go to a school.

[ZAF4R]-Yeah, right. What are you hiding from me, Mr. BENJ4M1N?

CHE5TER gives him a death stare, but still smiling as He doesn't seem to stop playing His role yet. But in a moment of silence and hope for His plan to succeed, their salvation comes as Officer DU5TIN makes his way towards them.

[DU5TIN]-ZAF4R! Didn't I tell you to go check on the supplies?

[ZAF4R]-O-Oh, yes! Right! Apologies, Officer DU5TIN! I was just checking on these two quickly before I go back to my task!

[DU5TIN]-Checking on wh--

But as he looks, DU5TIN seems to be in shock seeing RY4N here out of nowhere. Almost as if he saw a ghost. Even RY4N is surprised, yet CHE5TER just smiles with such an emotionless expression. Then, after DU5TIN stops from staring at RY4N, he looks at the so-called "Mr. BENJ4M1N" with a rather... confused expression.

[ZAF4R]-I will go back on my task immediately, but I have one question.

[DU5TIN]-...Hm? O-Oh, right. What is it?

[ZAF4R]-Do you know anything about Mr. RY4N here? Have you ever seen him around?

CHE5TER just gives him a stare that could scare the hell out of you, only for DU5TIN to just look and respond.

[DU5TIN]-...Affirmative.

[ZAF4R]-Huh!?

[DU5TIN]-I know Mr. RY4N myself. He is alright, no need to check on him.

["BENJ4M1N"]-See, Mr. ZAF4R? I'm always right. Now, if you excuse me, I have a meeting with my couch. I would like to talk with you more, but I feel like I have to rest now.

[ZAF4R]-*sigh* Alright. I'm sorry for not trusting you both. Have a good rest, Mr. BENJ4M1N.

So, as CHE5TER starts leaving, RY4N just follows Him, only for him to be dragged by the soldier so he could whisper something to his ear.

[ZAF4R]-...If you ever want to take a break from him, just tell me. I know how much of a pain he is. I can arrange something. Alright, buddy?

RY4N nods affirmatively, playing his part of the role, before he starts walking again. But neither RY4N nor DU5TIN can stop staring at each other as they walk away on opposite directions. Yet RY4N doesn't take long before he wakes up to reality and tries to find the answers to a lot of questions.

[RY4N]-W... What was this all about!? How did you do that??

["BENJ4M1N"]-I know how to play roles pretty well, don't I? I saved your ass back there as well. After all, you are such a bad liar...

[RY4N]-Yeah, b-but, but... wasn't that--

["BENJ4M1N"]- --DU5TIN? The same little DU5TIN that we've met 14 years ago? Yeah, it was him. Don't recognise him anymore or what?

[RY4N]-...You've been talking to him all this time?

["BENJ4M1N"]-Why shouldn't I? He is our brother after all. Your second younger sibling and my second older brother.

[RY4N]-So this was all your plan? You saw this coming already?

["BENJ4M1N"]-Something like that.

[RY4N]-You convinced him to help us?

["BENJ4M1N"]-I guess it was more of a deal than "convincing".

[RY4N]-Deal? What deal?

["BENJ4M1N"]-Doesn't matter now. I will tell you later, when I decide that it's time to explain. So... should we go back? Your meeting will start soon after all, and we have nothing to do here anyway.

[RY4N]-*sigh* Of course there is nothing when I'm around, is it?

["BENJ4M1N"]-Do you want to argue again or what?

Yet as they fade away, going back to where they came from, DU5TIN is still staring at RY4N, looking at him leave and remembering a small conversation from a while ago.

"[CHE5TER]-...You are pretty though for a guy that just follows orders, aren't you? I still don't understand why you don't bother yourself with killing me. I know how much you seek to get rid of old CHE5TER here.

[DU5TIN]-Just because I don't try it, doesn't mean I can't do it. You want a war? I give you a war. Maybe you will leave me alone this way.

[CHE5TER]-But why should I leave you alone anyway? Don't you want to have a sibling anymore? I know you wished to have one when you were younger.

[DU5TIN]-I can have anybody as a sibling but you. I can't even understand how RY4N could ever tolerate you.

[CHE5TER]-RY4N, you say... *sigh* Our rivalry is probably what drags this error of the code down... If anything, maybe none of us deserves to be his Error. These should be blessings, not curses...

[DU5TIN]-...

[CHE5TER]-How about a deal?

[DU5TIN]-...A deal? With you? Yeah, in your dreams.

[CHE5TER]-I'm serious now, DU5TIN. Listen to what I have to say.

[DU5TIN]-THEN TALK ALREADY AND LEAVE ME ALONE!

DU5TIN looks in disgust at CHE5TER, even mad, yet the ruler seems so serious now. Even he doesn't understand this feeling that he sees on this face.

[CHE5TER]-...Look. You can try and kill me however you want, whenever you want. I wouldn't care about this anyway. But we should let RY4N out of this battle of ours. We are the sinners here, he is just a victim of the war. He did nothing wrong to deserve such a cruel destiny. Hate me as much as you want, kill me with my own blade! ...But let my brother live, alright?

Yet the hate in DU5TIN's eyes turns into pity, looking at CHE5TER being lost in His own thoughts again. It's a sign of guilt this time, no more games.

[DU5TIN]-...Alright then. I will do as you said. But just because I feel sorry for him as well. I do not give a shit about your begging, nor about you.

[CHE5TER]-Heh...

CHE5TER looks at him dead in the eyes, with that emotionless expression again, before He speaks once more.

[CHE5TER]-...Thank you, Brother."