The Southeast Military Base

36:13

Officer RY4N stands and reads one of the books that he found in his brother's office, staying alongside MY4, who was looking at him worried. They chatted for a while now, as the Officer wants to know about his brother's condition.

[MY4]-...RY4N, you know I can't do anything when it comes to what He wants to do. I cannot force Him into doing something He doesn't want to.

[RY4N]-*sigh* I know. He is the same stubborn child that I ever knew. But we can't just stay and do nothing about it. Great Leader or not, I do not want to lose him as well, MY4!

[MY4]-Maybe I can rearrange His schedule in His less busier hours, so that He can have more time for His rest.

[RY4N]-There is no point in doing so. He will cancel it over and over again no matter the case. It's not about how busy he is, it's about whether he wants or not.

[MY4]-Then what are our options, RY4N? His wound doesn't seem to heal as He keeps forcing Himself because of the work. I'm trying to force it to heal itself, but no matter how hard I try, the wound stays the same. The gas still affects Him as well and that doesn't help me either.

[RY4N]-Then our only option remaining is to end this war faster, is it not?

[MY4]-And how are we suppose to do that? We fight in this war for 250 years now and we barely made any progress! It's impossible for us to just end it all now! Look at how many people we've lost just by trying, RY4N! Look at what it costs us to end it!

Some tears appear on the girl's face though. They both know that ending this whole war is an unbearable pain, and the one who has the destiny to make this possible is an injured man. But before any of them could say another word, the Great Leader enters the room. He seems to be surprised to see MY4 present, even confused when He notices that she is crying.

[CHE5TER]-What's happening here?

So the girl wipes her tears and tries to stay strong, so that she can respond to Him calmly.

[MY4]-...Nothing. We were just discussing.

Though she was too scared to ask Him where was He all this time, His brother was more confident.

[RY4N]-Where have you been all this time?

[CHE5TER]-*sigh* We are starting well... I went to solve the problem regarding the currency. I told you, I have my own plan. And... it went well... I guess. The problem was indeed coming from one of the new recruits. I found out who was behind it and managed to discuss a bit about the situation with him. But now that I explained myself, it's time you tell me what were you two discussing.

[RY4N]-You know very well my answer, Brother. Why bother asking?

[CHE5TER]-So it's about the whole incident again... I told you already, to both of you, there is no point worrying about it. The wound in cause will heal itself eventually. There is no need for me to lose time staying and doing nothing. Besides, the whole treatment is the same as the way I affect it. Opening the wound forces it to heal itself. These are your words, MY4.

[RY4N]-But the opening itself needs to be done by a professional, not by forcing your body while working! Why don't you want to understand that!?

[MY4]-...CHE5TER, the wound barely healed in these months since you got back to your work. Because you kept forcing yourself, you didn't give your body the time to recover.

He looked for a while to both of them, but He made His decision long time ago. Nothing can stop Him.

[CHE5TER]-And you are aware of the fact that I won't stay and watch everything burn. I either do something about it, or die in the process. I already lost too much time back then and look at how the problems progressed. No words can change my mind now. I'm sorry.

He takes one last look at them and leaves, only for both of them to watch Him vanish in fear.

...Look at you. You call yourself a Leader, but you can barely calm everyone down. Your brother is disappointed in you and I'm sure your father is as well. Now even the one you love doesn't seem to be by your side. You betrayed them, CHE5TER. Don't you see that?

"It's either me... or them. The price of war's ending."

23.02.1642

The Council of The Underground City

19:53

The meeting seems to be going for a while now regarding the last problem spoken, but the Great Leader doesn't seem to be present. As always, with His absence, the room becomes a chaotic atmosphere. Everyone is fighting regarding old problems and new ones. The "Leader" and the Officer of the Southeast Base are present, but don't want to get involved in the fight at all. Officer KYR4 is trying to calm everyone down though, but Officer RY4N is only thinking about something.

Then, the Great Leader finally makes His arrival, and everyone calms down as they see Him entering. A man, one of the Leaders, raises his hand waiting for the Great Leader's approval to speak.

[EM3RY]-Greetings, Master M4TTH3W! You've informed us that the meeting of today will be around the discussion regarding the problem with the Verha currency. From what I understood, Mrs. M4EK0 told us that the situation seems to get worse for us.

[M4EK0]-Affirmative. Not only that, but we still didn't find any clues about who might be behind this whole situation. Were you informed about something these days that made you decide to start this meeting?

The Great Leader finally sits down and closes His eyes, as if He was annoyed, or even tired.

["M4TTH3W"]-...There is no problem about the currency anymore. At least, for the time being. There will be no more money for the M soldiers to find. The only problem we need to focus will be the matter regarding our safety. Now that they are aware of our presents, they will try to find us at all costs. We will need more people inside their city to be sure they do not find ours. I have a feeling that the crevaators' area will be their first place to supervise, and they don't seem so good at hiding their entrance. It's a good starting point to watch over. Understood?

Everyone was shocked when they heard His words, but also a bit curious to find out the truth. Of course, no one dared to say a word for now.

[M4EK0]-Y-Yes, Master! We will send more people to investigate the situation in the City of Above in the area of the crevaators to make sure they do not blow our cover. Besides that, I will try myself to look around what's happening regarding the soldiers in the city.

[R4YMOND]-I do not think that the M people are such a threat as you say though, Master M4TTH3W. I've protected the entrances of the Underground City for years and none of the soldiers were able to even get close to them. But of course, if you do indeed think it's best for the entrances to be guarded, I will do everything that's in my power.

["M4TTH3W"]-Very well. Then, if everything is solved, we can close this subject for now. No need of speaking about it until we get an update regarding it.

The North Base Leader raises his hand and waits for the Great Leader's approval. He seems to be the only one brave enough to ask for the truth.

[M1SH4M]-Master M4TTH3W, I have to say, I'm impressed by how you managed to fix this problem so quickly. But if I may ask, and I think I'm asking for everyone present in this room, how did you manage to solve it so suddenly alone?

The Great Leader looks at the Leader before He says a word. He knows some things are not to be revealed to the public eyes, not even to the people He works with.

["M4TTH3W"]-I have my ways to solve problems. Don't think about it too much, it's simply not that important.

Everyone starts whispering, maybe trying to make at least an idea of what could have possibly solve this problem. Even His Officer was curious, but nothing shown from His brother. He didn't seem to know about the truth either, but he was focusing on something else at that moment.

[KYR4]-Master, I know you have people everywhere, but there is no way you can solve a problem like this so soon. I really need to know how you managed to do this!

["M4TTH3W"]-...Let's just say a certain "friend" kept his promise this time.

The City of Above

17:01

But this time, seems like we are witnessing a Sergeant entering one of the rooms from a building of the above, looking at a man that stands in his chair, watching something that he holds in his hand, before the Sergeant speaks.

[MSergeant]-General C4E5AR, we've been informed that the crevaators refused to give us money in the past two days. We've tried to negotiate with them today, but with no results. The Captains demand more supplies for their equipment and we barely have any money left to satisfy all of them. Any orders?

[C4E5AR]-Heheh... I see... Well then, inform them that the city will go under the red code. Stop the usage of the money for pleasures and keep them for urgent situations and for the researchers. If they really want more things for free, we will start to use more of the survivors from the execution rooms.

[MSergeant]-Yes, Sir! Understood!

Yet the man doesn't stop looking at his hand, holding what it seems to be one of the secret money that he found recently. He seems to be thinking of something, but refuses to tell anything until the Sergeant leaves. So when he does so, the man speaks.

[C4E5AR]-...So they finally decided to revolt against us and try to shut us down. How foolish... You saw him, didn't you? The one they call a "Leader" is nothing but a child who is putting his people in danger in every second of his life, even his own self. If he really thinks he will save them all, he can keep on dreaming. The place where they belong is Hell, where all the monsters are.

Then he looks down, along with his smirk. A cold face, you know you can't negotiate with someone like him. As he is the General of the City of Above, the one that controls the whole city and every C born fears, and the same person who declared the law against the C borns 236 years ago, right after M1NERV4's death. As for his reasons, it is for us to find in the future.

[C4E5AR]-I must say, I'm curious myself. Where do you think they were hiding all these years...

"...Officer DU5TIN?"