Chapter 39 - New Enemy

16.08.1642

The Underground City

30:11

It's been a few hours since this day has started, and it sure is the longest day we have witnessed ever since the start of this story. The Great Leader has gotten back to the base in the meantime, letting the outsider alone in the City of Above to watch the view and clear up its mind after the horrible news of a dead comrade. But that's not what we are now focusing on though.

What we see at the moment is not the base, nor the Great Leader with this new person. Instead, we see N04H and a friend of his, M1LO, somewhere outside around the Underground City. We know already that he was out with him the last time we've seen him, and it sure seems as he is still having his break with him at the moment. They are walking around the city, looking at a few views around the merchants area and other areas of the city as well. Then minutes later, they have to separate their paths for the sleep schedule, but they talk for the last time before doing so.

[M1LO]-*sigh* Sure is a pain with all the changes around the military, huh?

[N04H]-Heh, yeah. My base for example is barely doing what it was intended to do ever since all the new objectives that have appeared and which we have to get them done, as well as a small collaboration with the South Base.

[M1LO]-You got a lot of work to do there, if I'm thinking about it, N04H. I don't say it in a bad way, but gods... I'm beginning to be a bit jealous of you since you managed to get in such a good place.

[N04H]-I mean, you heard what my Officer said. You can always change your work place if you don't enjoy where you are right now.

[M1LO]-Yeah, but who says it won't get worse? I can't go to your base to have a guaranteed better environment, can I? And I don't know much about what the other bases are doing at the moment since ours doesn't have that many collaborations besides the important clans of the city.

[N04H]-But maybe it won't get worse.

[M1LO]-*sigh* Hard to say it, man...

There is a small pause, as N04H seems to have something on his mind, a bit nervous about it, but he looks back at M1LO and begins to talk again.

[N04H]-...Hey, M1LO, I was actually thinking of something.

[M1LO]-Something?

[N04H]-Yeah, I mean... you don't have anything planned this night, right?

[M1LO]-Yes? What do you want us to do?

[N04H]-Well... it will sound a bit strange, but... are you up for a small mission? Just us, not the other members from our bases.

[M1LO]-Hm? What do you mean by that?

[N04H]-I mean that... Oh, how should I put it... I just want to finally start my work properly around the City of Above and it feels like ages until I do that. You remember when I told you about my role, right?

[M1LO]-A bit...

[N04H]-Well... I was thinking of going this night around the City of Above to investigate on my own for some minutes. I got a bit bored of forever training and all... Maybe I can beg the Great Leader to give me permission to the city and we can have something to do? It's not like we have anything better to do now anyway.

[M1LO]-So you want to do the same mistake you did when we graduated, huh?

[N04H]-Oh, shut up! We are a part of the military now, aren't we? And I've trained for so long that I know I can survive up there on my own. Don't you want to do something too? You pretty much complain at me about your work for some time now. This way, we both have a chance of having some real work, right?

[M1LO]-Are you sure the Great Leader Himself will let you do such thing though? Every mission is suppose to be led by one of the Leaders after all. I don't think He will approve random ideas coming from His soldiers, right?

[N04H]-You are right... but I know a possible way of convincing Him. I just hope the information won't get to my master...

[M1LO]-Your master?

[N04H]-Yeah, my teacher. The one who helped me train all these months.

[M1LO]-Why don't you wish for it to arrive to him?

[N04H]-Well, he is... an interesting guy... And I bet the moment this information arrives at him, he will try his best to come with us too and it won't take long before the whole base will know that I'm going in the City of Above alone... So? Do you want to give it a try? Worst to happen will be for us to get caught and chased down, but I think we can handle it.

[M1LO]-You sure like danger, N04H... That's why you accepted that time too?

[N04H]-Yeah, I guess... But it also opened this new path for me, remember? Maybe it will do the same for you.

M1LO has a moment of hesitation at first. Knowing what happened the last time N04H went on a trip to the City of Above like this, ending up as a disaster, getting all the people involved caught and almost killed if it wasn't for N04H to come back with help in time, it sure made him a bit... afraid. But it's true. They are soldiers for almost a year now, both of them are trained and know some techniques of fighting and surviving. So, he makes up his mind.

[M1LO]-...Alright. I'm in. Just don't get us killed, okay?

[N04H]-I won't, alright?? We will just observe the city from the above or simply stay hidden from the soldiers! That's all!

[M1LO]-And are you sure you will be able to convince the Great Leader? The ruler Himself?

[N04H]-Oh, don't worry. I'm sure He will accept!

The Southeast Military Base

32:37

[CHE5TER]-...Are you insane, N04H? Did you stay too much with Mr. LUCAS?

And of course the answer is not by his side this time. N04H seems to be standing in front of the ruler in His office for quite some time now, waiting for His positive response that doesn't come.

[N04H]-But, Master, I--

[CHE5TER]- --I don't even want to hear it. The patrolling can be done only led by a Leader, N04H. Otherwise, in case of an emergency, it might not end up well for you.

[N04H]-I know that! But I promise that I will be careful! I've trained all these months at fighting and I barely made anything for the role itself! Isn't training better in a real situation?

[CHE5TER]-Little one...

[N04H]-Look! I know I have another year and all, but I want to feel that I'm part of the team too! I am an Investigator, am I not? I will just look around the city and see if I find anything new! I won't get in trouble and I won't disturb anyone from the City of Above! I will stay in the shadows!

[CHE5TER]-...N04H, the city's problems are progressing each day and I cannot keep up with everything. I have my limits like all of you. I cannot be present everywhere and whenever I want, nor can I protect every single soul when they get in trouble. But I can at least make sure they stay safe by making rules. I am not saying it because I don't trust you, please believe me. But going alone in the City of Above is not the best decision to approve.

[N04H]-But I won't be alone! I will go with a friend from the Central Base!

[CHE5TER]-Even so, it is still not enough. You need to be supervised by a few people.

[N04H]-Master, ever since the thing with the outsider has started, you barely had time for investigations around the City of Above! I am the only Investigator available at the moment, at least until you find out what's happening with that stranger! I know I'm not as experienced as you or any other member in this base, but I know that I'm able to do this quest on my own! It's time for me to finally start doing something in this base! Please!

[CHE5TER]-And what if you get in trouble and you can't contact us in time?

[N04H]-I won't get in trouble! I will stay hidden as you guys taught me! I've learnt from you and from LUK3 everything I need to know in order to survive up there! I know how to use the basic equipment and I know how to use my weapon as well, even if it's just the training prototype!

It sure annoys the ruler how persistent this recruit got. But it is how LUK3 said: a disciple learns from its master, like a child learning from its parent. He stood so much with him in these months that a bit of LUK3's personality got to be his as well. Sure, he doesn't have that stupid mindset his master has, but he still learnt a bit how to trick the ruler Himself to get the approval. We've focused so much on all the other members that it seems as N04H has also changed, ready to become an adult next year and ready to start working properly with his colleagues.

[CHE5TER]-*sigh*...And what exactly do you even want to investigate? The patrols themselves have this objective behind. Why would you want to lose your monthly break just to walk around the City of Above?

[N04H]-I thought that since the patrols are only to see what the M soldiers are doing around the streets and all, maybe I can go and do the same, but on my own. I can vanish on the streets, looking like a citizen of the above and hear what the soldiers say, or I can stay on the roofs of the tall buildings to supervise their movements for a bit. Either way, I won't get in trouble! I will be careful! We will be careful! It's just like a small training!

[CHE5TER]-And do you really think you will find something useful by doing so?

[N04H]-No, I never said that I believe I will find anything! I'm just going to do the normal patrolling, even if I don't get anything in return. In the past months though, we didn't get much information on what's happening around the City of Above anyway, so just investigating it for a bit more won't hurt anyone, right? And who knows? Maybe I'm lucky too! But you have to give me a chance, Master! I'm not a newcomer anymore!

The ruler stands a bit to think. What can He do? It's true what the boy says to Him and it's true that He barely did any work when it comes to investigations ever since the letter and the outsider's appearance.

[CHE5TER]-...Alright. I will give you a chance this time. But don't make me regret my decision.

[N04H]-I won't! I give you my words! And thank you for the chance you have given me!

He is pretty happy that he has succeeded into getting the ruler's approval. But as he tends to leave, the ruler looks a bit confused at him.

[CHE5TER]-...And where do you think you are you going now?

[N04H]-Huh? I'm going to inform the person that will come with me.

[CHE5TER]-And you think that everything is said and done? Do remember that you need the signed approval by the ruler to get to the City of Above now.

[N04H]-Yeah, I know! But I didn't plan on going now! I was thinking after the sleep schedule of the day! I have time until that!

[CHE5TER]-Easy to say it, but you need more than just that paper, N04H. You also need a fake document to "prove" that you are a citizen of the above in case the soldiers are stopping you, and not to mention the equipment that has to be ready. Do you really think that you and your friend will have time for that when you wake up?

[N04H]-Okay, I didn't know about the fake document until now... What do I have to do for it?

[CHE5TER]-I suggest you go and find some other people to help you out with this matter. You will have to find two R borns that are close to your age and that are accepting for you to assume that you have their blood code, and also in case on an emergency, to get a few drops of blood from them. That is if the soldiers put you to get registered in their data. Then, create your own disguise that you will use to appear as an R born in that city, take a small photo of you using it and come back to me to do the document. Both of you. The M borns are strict, so if they suspect you of a fake document, you might get in trouble.

[N04H]-...I need to do all of this just to investigate on my own?

[CHE5TER]-You've wished to start your work here properly, right? The team patrols don't need so many things because we do not show ourselves to the soldiers at all, so we can go as C borns and not hide our true identity. If we went as someone else, then we needed a lot of people to help us, and also might put the people in danger if they decide to go to the City of Above unauthorised. After all, the M soldiers don't forget how people look like, as well as how the criminals do. Why do you think they know about Seven Two's true appearance?

[N04H]-So you don't use disguises up there?

[CHE5TER]-Oh, but I do. Yet I do it when I know I'm in a mission which won't lead to me being chased down if I'm seen doing it. Vanishing and appearing as their own people should be used only when you know for sure that the soldiers won't try to kill you the moment they see you. For example... wandering around the streets as you suggested.

[N04H]-*sigh* Alright then. I will tell my friend about all of this and work to get everything done until we leave.

[CHE5TER]-Do come back when you've done it. Oh, and ask him about two unused disguises since he is a member of the Central Base. No need of buying new ones. Good luck.

Then, N04H bows at the ruler and finally leaves the office. Yet the Great Leader watches Him leave with such a strange face, and when the door shuts, He begins to crack a small smile and look back to His papers that He has on His desk.

[CHE5TER]-Heh... So that's how I was when I was younger, huh?