Chapter 7 - Protective Shadows

04.03.1642

The Council of the Underground City

23:07

[XANTH3]-I'm telling you, Master M4TTH3W! This is going to be a huge problem for the city's economy! We have to find the people behind this now!

[M4EK0]-Isn't it YOUR business to begin with? Why do we have to take from our spies and solve each problem of yours? They are already having something to investigate in the City of Above, why should they solve your never-ending concerns of the XANTH3 Clan?

[XANTH3]-This problem includes our city, Mrs. M4EK0! I do not care about the scums of the above at all!

[M4EK0]-Well, the problem of the above is affecting our city as well! I would even dare to say that it is more important than some scamming around the Underground City, Mr. XANTH3!

And yet, here we are again, at one of the meetings of the Council. The Great Leader seems to be a bit annoyed by the whole situation that is happening in the meeting though. So while everyone is arguing, He just looks down, avoiding eye contact with any of the people talking, before whispering to Himself.

["M4TTH3W"]-*sigh* I'm starting to get sick of each member of the XANTH3 Clan...

[KYR4]-At least LUK3 is not here to make the meeting worse.

["M4TTH3W"]-At least I can tolerate Mr. LUCAS and his behaviour, even with his strange... decisions. He does get on my nerves sometimes, but Mr. XANTH3 is beyond the anger any child could ever give me. Just because you represent the economic side of the city, doesn't mean you have to boss around with everyone at each Council meeting, god dammit!

[RY4N]-They are... surely alike...

["M4TTH3W"]-...Hmph.

So when He relaxes for a bit to not get angry, the Great Leader finally dares to look at the people around the huge table, wishing to intervene.

["M4TTH3W"]-If I may, Mr. XANTH3, this problem surely doesn't need any of the spies from the South Base. It is a simple task to do and it is possible to be solved even without experts. We fought many times with this type of problems before and none of those incidents needed any expert.

[XANTH3]-And each time it happened, we had to shut down the production of the Novha Currency even for months until we found the ones that fabricate those copies! Not to mention all the complains that we got in the past regarding the scamming! With all due respect, Master M4TTH3W, there are people that depend on our devices! If there won't be any money left, then the city will go back to how it was before the XANTH3 Clan's creation, when the C borns were exploited for their powers! It's enough the slavery from the above, why should it get inside our city as well??

["M4TTH3W"]-But we also got through the problem every time we've encountered it, haven't we, Mr. XANTH3? I am sure this time it's just as the other times and we can solve it quickly.

[XANTH3]-But, Master, we have t--

["M4TTH3W"]- --There is nothing we have to do. You have to understand that we need to focus on our own problems regarding the city's safety. We leave this type of problems for later to be solved, understood?

The Clan Leader looks at the ruler, pissed by His response. But the Great Leader doesn't really care. He only looks more annoyed than before, as if He didn't want to be here and assist this whole conversation.

[XANTH3]-...The economy of the city is important too. We cannot just leave it be solved on its own. But you are the Great Leader. You do you... Yet you will realise the mistake sooner or later, Master M4TTH3W.

["M4TTH3W"]-But I couldn't care less. You say this sentence each time we encounter problems like these and at the end of the day, nothing is really affected. Besides, putting the citizens of the city to use their powers if they desire something is a great idea of an "exercise". After all, they need to know how to use them at some point, right? If we really encounter a big problem regarding the Novha Currency, it will only be as a small training that the people of the city have to do until we solve it. I mean, they are C borns, aren't they? In case of an emergency in the Underground City, all the Creators should know how to defend themselves by using their blessing.

[XANTH3]-...

["M4TTH3W"]-Now, if nobody has any more problems to report, it is better to end this meeting for now. From what I know, the North Base has a mission in a few minutes and we should give them a bit of time to prepare. Dismissed!

And so, everyone gets up from their seats and bow to the Great Leader before leaving the room. Only the representatives of the Southeast Base and the ruler Himself stand a bit on their positions before any decisions are made. As Leader XANTH3 goes towards the exit though, he stays for a second by the Great Leader's side and simply whispers to Him a final word before he leaves.

[XANTH3]-...You've changed since you've lost your son, Master M4TTH3W. I do want you to realise that.

["M4TTH3W"]-...

After that, the Clan Leader takes his leave without looking back at the people left behind, the door of the room finally closing. Yet with that, the Leader takes off the device that was disguising Him, revealing His true identity that He hides from the Council.

[CHE5TER]-*sigh*...I swear, I'm getting sick of these meetings too. Every day, the same old problems that we've encountered in the past and still, people manage to make them look worse.

[RY4N]-Mr. XANTH3 is just a bit pissed about the clan's fate, that's all.

[CHE5TER]-Mr. XANTH3 has this problem for years now. He should understand that his son's decision doesn't affect the clan at all. Only if he is afraid that it affects the bloodline of the family.

[KYR4]-Their whole family was as corrupted as him, Master. Ever since the founder of the clan. It's not the descendants' fault that he thought of the children of the clan to continue the tradition of it no matter what. I think only the second Clan Leader, LUCIA, was the only XANTH3 who was actually listening and trying to solve everything as she could.

[CHE5TER]-Hmph. I wonder if M1NERV4 Herself managed to endure the first XANTH3...

While they were talking, the Great Leader was doing something with His disguise device, changing the disguise totally when He puts it on. From the man He appeared before, to simply changing into the clothes that He seems to use every time He goes and wanders around the city, the crevaator clothes.

[KYR4]-So, you will go to investigate the problem yourself, I assume?

[CHE5TER]-No. I'm not wasting my time for this small problem now. At best I will go later this day to find more about it. Now, I want to investigate something else.

[RY4N]-...Can I come with you at least this time then?

[CHE5TER]-...

The Great Leader looks down as He hears these words though. He feels a bit bad as He seems to remember something, yet He has made His decision.

[CHE5TER]-It has... surely been a while since we did something together, Brother. But I can't take you with me this time either. I'm sorry.

[RY4N]-...

[CHE5TER]-...Don't worry. I still remember my word. Everything will go back to how it was before, just as I promised.

So, the Leader starts walking towards the exit, ready to fulfil His mission, but not until He says His last words before leaving.

[CHE5TER]-...Once everything is over.

The Southeast Military Base

36:13

And now we are going back at the base, where the little recruit seems to be training with LUK3 for some time now, while CHE5TER enters the room, searching for someone. As a consequence, LUK3 and N04H notice His presents and go after Him, stopping from whatever they were doing.

[LUK3]-Boss! Boss!! Can we take him with us in the next mission so he can see with his own eyes a real demonstration??

[CHE5TER]-What did I tell you every time you've asked me this question?

[LUK3]-...That he isn't ready and he needs more time and blah blah blaaah... But can he go this time, please??

[CHE5TER]-LUK3, not now...

[LUK3]-Come ooon! I know he is ready! Just this time, please!!

[CHE5TER]-I swear, I'm gonn... *sigh* Forget it. Tell me, have you seen MY4? I promised her that I will meet her later.

[LUK3]-Oh, I think she went to treat the wounded from the people that the North Base saved a few hours ago. I don't think she comes any sooner. Now can you PLEASE answer my question??

[CHE5TER]-LUCAS, we cannot take him with us yet. You are aware that he has two years of training needed in order for him to start working here properly.

[N04H]-...But how am I suppose to know what I need to do if I can't learn about the role itself?

[CHE5TER]-...

The Great Leader looks at the little boy for a while. He doesn't really want to take him in any mission in order to protect him. The role itself is hard to learn about even if He took him to see it in action. But He remembers the problem discussed at the Council's meeting and makes a decision.

[CHE5TER]-...You know what? I think I have a better mission in which I can actually take you so you can learn a bit about your role here.

[LUK3+N04H]-Wait, really?

[CHE5TER]-Affirmative. It's a simple task, yet you can learn to take actions wherever you are based only on the information you own. It is something that really helps you so you can make decisions on your own during the hard quests. Plus, there is no danger you should fear, so that's a bonus.

[LUK3]-Oh, oh, can I come too??

[CHE5TER]-I'm afraid not, Mr. LUCAS. It is only a teaching mission for little N04H. You simply have nothing to do in it.

[LUK3]-Man, why must you hurt me this way? ...Mmokay, okay... At least, what's this super secret mission about? I want to know what I'm losing!

[CHE5TER]-At the Council meeting today, Mr. XANTH3 reported me a problem regarding the Novha Currency, announcing th--

[LUK3]- --Ughh, not him again...

[CHE5TER]-Hm?

[LUK3]-...Nothing. I just know how he likes to makes a scene out of everything he doesn't agree with. Just... continue.

[N04H]-You hate the Leader of the XANTH3 Clan, LUK3?

[LUK3]-Oh, um... I guess?

[N04H]-How come? You know him personally?

[LUK3]-Yeah, something like that... Why? Do you... admire him or something?

[N04H]-I mean, it's the XANTH3 Clan we are talking about. Those people served the city ever since it was founded. Can you introduce me to him one day since you guys know each other?

[LUK3]-Umm... sure, buddy. I will see what I can do.

N04H looks at the soldier as he talks. He seems to be a bit unhappy, something unusual for this strange guy, yet CHE5TER intervenes and continues His explanation.

[CHE5TER]-Anyway... The point is that the mission is about someone who fabricated fake pieces of the Novha Currency and makes illegal trades with them around our city. Knowing from past incidents, the person is surely taking the real money he achieves and gives them to a being who has access to the City of Above, providing them with more and more supplies. So, basically, the person tries to let the city without any real reusable devices left. A foolish decision if I can say myself...

[N04H]-Why would anybody do that though?

[CHE5TER]-Well... Knowing from the people we caught doing these acts in the past... it seems like they desire to get something from the people of the City of Above, from their soldiers more specifically. Something that we, underground citizens, don't have... Yet I'm not sure what exactly could they pay them to do such thing.

[N04H]-This seems important... What if those people tell about our city to the soldiers? Why do you act like you don't care at all??

[CHE5TER]-Because it isn't important at all. The clan responsible for the economy of the city can always recreate each and every piece lost and we will never remain with nothing in our hands. The M soldiers already have our currency for years now, so it isn't something new either. And if you fear that these people doing this illegal business are going to tell the M soldiers about our city, you simply do not need to worry about it. No one dares to do such thing, no matter how bad their intentions are. If they do so though, they know they won't be spared just because they made the M borns win this war. Not even our traitors can escape death of the M's hands. After all... hiding an entire city from them is categorised as a huge sin, which they have to pay for after. And I guess our fear of Death coming from our culture is a thing that helps us regarding these people...

[LUK3]-Then why can't I come too???

[CHE5TER]-How can I put it gently... You are not the type of person that obeys to the rules. Even though you can easily stay hidden during the missions, I don't think you are ready for this type of quest.

[LUK3]-So you don't trust that I can stay in the shadows like you in other words...

[CHE5TER]-Don't worry. You can go and talk with Miss KYR4 about your free hours until the mission starts, if you wish, of course. As a gift of apology from me.

[LUK3]-Some free hours won't get me the fun that you guys will have, Boss!

[CHE5TER]-You want them or not?

[LUK3]-*sigh* Yeah, yeah...

[CHE5TER]-Very well. Follow me, N04H. It's time for you to learn.

The little recruit obeys to the order, following his Leader and leaving the room, LUK3 being the only one left behind, alone.

[LUK3]-Dammit, man! Why do I have to miss everything that's fun?