Chapter 28 - True Rulers

04.07.1642

The Southeast Military Base

21:17

LUK3 looks to be helping N04H with his training again, but for the moment, he just seems to let him punch a training dummy while he sits down, a bit distracted. Pretty much their usual at this point. No need of me to explain everything that happens all the time when it regards them.

[N04H]-So you say that if I hit like this, it would work?

[LUK3]-Hm? Oh, yeah! Yeah! Hit like that!

[N04H]-More to the right or to the left?

[LUK3]-To the right, I guess.

[N04H]-Are you sure? I think that to the left I can give it heavier.

[LUK3]-Aha... Punch!

At his command, N04H hits just as LUK3 said with a heavy punch, moving the dummy pretty well. Yet LUK3 wasn't really paying attention.

[N04H]-Alright. It was good, no? ...No?

LUK3 doesn't respond, as he is looking at his device from his arm continuously. So, N04H gets a bit annoyed and starts shouting at him.

[N04H]-LUK3!

[LUK3]-Huh!? What? What is it?

[N04H]-I was asking you if I did it well!

[LUK3]-Oh, right! Right! Yes! You did it well!

Yet N04H looks even more pissed at him, knowing damn well that LUK3 is too distracted to give a shit about his own disciple.

[N04H]-Come on, LUK3! I understand you have work regarding your clan and all later, but can't you just pay attention to me until you leave!?

[LUK3]-Yeah, you can take a break later, N04H...

[N04H]-*sigh* Are you serious... LUK3!!

[LUK3]-Whaaat!?

[N04H]-Why are you so distracted, god dammit??

[LUK3]-I HAVE to pay ATTENTION to the TIME! I explained it to you already!!

[N04H]-Yeah, but every single second!?

[LUK3]-I have to know when I have to leave, N04H! I told you! I don't want to meet up with the Leader of the clan, so I have to wait until he is suppose to go to the Council's meeting!

[N04H]-Yeah, but again! Every single second? It's enough to look one time and then leave it in peace!

[LUK3]-Ninini... Man, the meeting is close so that's why I'm so anxious. One wrong move and I might meet him when I leave!

[N04H]-*sigh* Okay, then at what time does it start?

[LUK3]-RY4N said that around 23:00. But it takes me 20 minutes to arrive at that place!

[N04H]-And? You still have time. Why are you in such a rush?

[LUK3]-Maybe because the meetings never have a clear schedule? So they can end even in a half an hour? I'm in a hurry because I have to go there in time, right when he is about to leave, avoid him and go to Leader LUCIA!

[N04H]-Okay... Then when exactly is he leaving?

[LUK3]-*sigh* I think... 15 minutes before the starting?

[N04H]-And when do you plan to leave?

[LUK3]-I think at 22:00. I have to inform Boss after all, speak to some people, maybe find someone to take my place for you to train...

[N04H]-I mean, you still got a lot of time until then.

[LUK3]-I'm just anxious, alright!? Last time I met up with him, it was a disaster, so I don't want to do the same mistake again! And, to be honest now, I didn't even see Leader LUCIA for years... I wonder how she has been doing lately...

[N04H]-You said she is in her 190s, right?

[LUK3]-Yeah, something like that.

[N04H]-So she is close to her end...?

[LUK3]-Mhm... Last time I saw her, she began to feel weak already and my father demanded to have some people that would watch over her condition. The moment you begin to feel weak, you know you cannot live for any longer... But she is still fighting till this day from what I remember. She remained as strong as I ever knew her...

[N04H]-...So you are afraid you are close to losing her?

[LUK3]-Yeah... I hate the clan and all, but she is still my grandmother, isn't she? I would feel really bad if I got a call from the clan informing me that she has started her eternal rest, knowing I wasn't present to say a last word to her... Maybe this way I will have a chance to talk with her again.

[N04H]-But when you were discussing with Master CHE5TER, you told Him she has some years left to live.

[LUK3]-Yes, but that's not guaranteed. That's a wish. You know already that from the age of 200, you don't know how many years you have left. It's a miracle if you get to 230, let alone if you live even longer! But you can die earlier as well. It's just that average deaths are from 200 to 230. If she began to feel weak already, that's not really a good sign...

[N04H]-But she managed to live even till this day! How long has it been since you last saw her?

[LUK3]-Kind of like the same time I left the clan, so eight years I guess.

[N04H]-For someone at that age, she stands pretty well! I mean, eight years after starting feeling weak? That's a good sign!

[LUK3]-That's because she got supervised. People shot her with Energy Killers every time they see that she loses her powers all of a sudden. They try to keep her alive, N04H! She was an important person for the Underground City in her times, and even after she retired from the title, she still served the city as if she was still the Clan Leader!

[N04H]-So you admire her?

[LUK3]-*sigh* Yeah... She was also the only person that didn't really obligate me to be the next Leader of the clan.

[N04H]-Why so?

[LUK3]-I'm... not sure myself. I'm actually pretty curious now as well since you asked.

[N04H]-She never told you?

[LUK3]-No, not really. Maybe because I never asked her...

And yet, LUK3 seems a bit upset about this subject, even N04H notices. So, to get rid of this bad feeling, N04H comes up with a different idea.

[N04H]-Then how about you go take a nap before you go meet up with her?

[LUK3]-...A nap?

[N04H]-Yeah! You can sleep for half an hour and I will go talk with the Great Leader regarding who will replace you until you come back.

[LUK3]-Okay... But what if I don't wake up?

[N04H]-Can't you put an alarm for yourself?

[LUK3]-I don't usually wake up to them. I wake up to the big alarm from the morning.

[N04H]-Then... I will wake you up? How about that?

[LUK3]-Really? Would you really do that for me?

[N04H]-Sure! But I have one request! Actually... two requests.

[LUK3]-And what's that, buddy?

[N04H]-Well... I would like to meet Leader LUCIA one day as well. Do you think you can give me this chance in the future? She did a lot for the city after all, so I thought of thanking her as well.

[LUK3]-Heheh... Alright. I will try, little buddy!

[N04H]-Thank you!

[LUK3]-And... the second one?

[N04H]-...Pay attention to me when we are training, god dammit...

The XANTH3 Residence

22:42

LUK3 is now standing in front of the entrance of the XANTH3 Residence, where he searches for the bell hidden underground that we know about from the last visit here. Then it doesn't take long before the same guard from back then comes and greets him once again. But they do not stay together for too much like the last time, as they start going towards one of the entrances of the building, trying to get LUK3 inside unidentified so that his father won't know he is present.

They go, more exactly, to the entrance from the back which is barely used, yet after, LUK3 says his goodbye to the guard and goes alone towards his grandmother's room. Unfortunately for him, a lot of people already saw him, yet he doesn't really seem bothered as long as nobody tells the Clan Leader about him. He goes towards the highest floor, where are the important rooms such as the Leader's office, as well as the room in which Leader LUCIA is suppose to rest.

But as expected since he is still one of the members of the XANTH3 family, it doesn't take long before someone goes towards him to greet the descendant for his coming.

[AB1SAI]-Young Master XANTH3! What a pleasant surprise! How come you are here? Do you want me to call your father for you?

[LUK3]-No, no, no, no, no, no! Just please! Mind your business and don't tell him anything about me! *sigh* And greetings to you too, AB1SAI.

[AB1SAI]-Aren't you here to talk with him though?

[LUK3]-No! I have other business around the residence now!

[AB1SAI]-I understand that, but if you need him at any moment, you might have to hurry. He is about to leave.

[LUK3]-What!?? He didn't leave yet???

[AB1SAI]-N-No. Something came up and he had to solve it. Master is in his office right now, but I don't think it will take long before he takes his leave.

[LUK3]-Great... Just great... The only time he decides to be late to the Council is exactly when I don't need him present...

[AB1SAI]-What's the problem though? Can I help in any way?

[LUK3]-No, no. Just... don't tell him that I'm here, alright?

[AB1SAI]-Okay, but why? Is there something that bothers y--

[XANTH3]- --Just tell him that I will speak with Mr. EZR4H later about the situation of the riot in cause! I'm already late to the meeting, GET5UM3I! I cannot stay for any longer!

[LUK3]-Oh, you gotta be kidding me...

The Leader seems to be leaving his office while he is talking with someone else inside it. Then he looks at his device on his hand, before he notices AB1SAI staying on the hallway, alone, staring weirdly at him.

[XANTH3]-What? What is it, AB1SAI?

[AB1SAI]-O-Oh? N-Nothing, Master...

[XANTH3]-Then, why are you staring at me like that? Do you have something to tell me?

[AB1SAI]-N-No, no. I was just wondering about...

[XANTH3]-...About?

[AB1SAI]-...A-About... Umm...

[XANTH3]-*sigh* You know what? Just forget it if it wasn't that important. You will tell me after I come back, alright?

[AB1SAI]-A-Alright, Master!

The Clan Leader then takes his leave, as the AB1SAI remains alone, watching him fade away, while a voice begins to talk.

[LUK3]-Did he leave?

[AB1SAI]-...Yep. You can get down now.

And then we can finally see where LUK3 has been hiding, right on the ceiling, sticking himself to it like a gum, before he finally jumps down and looks around the area while thanking the clan helper.

[LUK3]-Oh, you don't know how much I owe you for this one, man! Thanks for the help!

[AB1SAI]-It's nothing, really. But I feel bad for lying to the Clan Leader...

[LUK3]-Well, you did it for his son, so it is not much of a difference!

[AB1SAI]-May I ask you a question, though? If it's not bothering you, of course.

[LUK3]-Go ahead!

[AB1SAI]-Alright... Why are you hiding from him? Did something happen?

[LUK3]-I just... don't want him to know that I'm here! You know how I came for a visit a while ago? It was nothing but a disaster the moment I met him!

[AB1SAI]-I understand that, but... he is your father. You cannot just avoid him for the rest of your life, you know?

[LUK3]-*sigh* I know, I know... But right now, I have some business to take care of, and I don't want to waste my time arguing again.

[AB1SAI]-And what's this business all about?

[LUK3]-I just have to talk with Leader LUCIA, nothing special. I mean, last time I came, I didn't manage to meet her as well, as I left too early from anger and all...

[AB1SAI]-Oh, so you just want to visit her?

[LUK3]-Something like that. Can I count on you and all the others to not say a word about me being present to my father?

[AB1SAI]-Yes, of course! I will inform everyone about this information. The room is on this corridor, on the left.

[LUK3]-Yeah, I remember. Thank you anyway!

[AB1SAI]-My pleasure. Just tell me if you need anything else.

The clan member leaves, while LUK3 starts looking for LUCIA's room, where he knocks on the door and opens it immediately after.