32:29

They both go towards the Great Leader's office, where CHE5TER was standing awake, trying to decipher the puzzle on His own for a while. RY4N and LUK3 enter, which kind of surprises Him a bit.

[CHE5TER]-Hm? I thought you went to sleep, LUCAS.

[LUK3]-Yeah, I thought as well!!

[RY4N]-I didn't manage to find the books we needed, so I asked him if he could bring some from the clan's residence. That's all.

[CHE5TER]-*sigh* So they've been sold already... Are you sure your clan has some copies, LUCAS?

[LUK3]-Yeah, yeah... My grandmother has a whole ass bookcase in her room after all. I doubt she doesn't have any. Now, can you just give me that damn paper to see why RY4N woke me up?

[CHE5TER]-...You told him about our letters?

[RY4N]-He is our friend, CHE5TER. Let him be.

[CHE5TER]-Isn't it suppose to be a discussion only around the family members, RY4N?

[RY4N]-Yeah, but--

[LUK3]- --Yeah, yeah, whatever. C0NNER already considers all of us cousins or some shit, so keep your mouth shut and show me the puzzle!

[CHE5TER]-..."Cousins"?

LUK3 goes towards the desk where he stares at the paper, before he starts looking around the room like a maniac too, leaving both of the brothers confused.

[CHE5TER]-...What are you even doing? Are you even aware yourself of what's in your mind?

[LUK3]-Yeah, man! Quick question! ...Do you have some glass?

[CHE5TER]-What? Why?

[LUK3]-You want me to help you or not!? Just answer the question!!

[CHE5TER]-I have some around the third drawer, but why do you need it?

[LUK3]-Leader LUCIA used to give me puzzles to solve when I was younger! She always said that a true Leader should know how to solve his confusions in any case, no matter how hard the puzzles might be. I was given to read between lines, find hidden messages and debunk them from simple conversations. For short, I was raised with this type of puzzles!

[RY4N]-...So you know how to solve it?

[LUK3]-Ehh... I won't say I know... I only knew how to solve my clan's puzzles. If I do not know the guy personally, I'm just making a few small theories here and there.

[CHE5TER]-I didn't know Mrs. LUCIA was so fascinated by puzzles...

[LUK3]-Oh, she truly was! She was fun as my grandmother! Probably she was the only XANTH3 that I've endured pretty easily!

[CHE5TER]-Do you might know why she was so interested in this type of things?

[LUK3]-Nope! She just liked them. I don't know anything more than that. And lucky you two... "eyesight" was a common puzzle that she was giving me. Most of the times I had to see through different objects or ores to debunk the message, but I don't know anything about "colour reading".

LUK3 finally gets a piece of glass and goes back to the desk, where he puts it on the paper, moving it around, trying to find anything that would seem like a hint.

[CHE5TER]-To be honest, I've never imagined you being a great puzzle solver before. Probably it's the first time I see you so serious myself...

[LUK3]-Yeah, yeah, whatever, Boss...

[CHE5TER]-So, do tell me... Do you see anything?

After a bit of moving the glass around, it gets to his attention a very small part from the right side of the paper with some weird symbols that he can barely see, though for us are pretty simple to observe them. Well, the whole paper is simple for us to debunk the whole legacy.

[LUK3]-...Besides these weird lines that I can barely see them myself all around, seems like here is one symbol that you might have to read. More than that, I can't really see anything special. RY4N, are you sure you need colour reading?

[RY4N]-I mean, I don't think the colours are just randomly put, right? They should have a meaning behind and all.

[CHE5TER]-Let me see the symbol...

LUK3 gives the Great Leader the small glass and He begins to look closer in that area. Indeed, it is a weirdly-shaped symbol there that is similar to a mountain which He can barely see as well.

[CHE5TER]-...You are right, LUK3. Something is there...

[LUK3]-Mhm!

[CHE5TER]-RY4N, do you think you might know what the symbol means?

Now, RY4N gets closer and tries to look at the paper, and he sees that hard to observe symbol as well, yet he doesn't seem to have any idea.

[RY4N]-...No. I don't think I've ever seen it before... *sigh* I really hope your grandmother has these books, LUK3...

[LUK3]-Can't guarantee you, but okay!

[CHE5TER]-...Why do you think He made the puzzle so hard?

[RY4N]-I don't know... Maybe because it's still about your dream journey, remember? Maybe that's what it was in His mind...

[LUK3]-Ooooh, so the gift is about what you guys wanted to become? That's why you got a book?

[RY4N]-Yeah, something like that...

[LUK3]-Okay, but what does the paper have to do with CHE5TER's dream?

[CHE5TER]-You tell me, LUCAS...

[RY4N]-We believe that it's suppose to be the answer to some of the questions he asked Him, but never had the chance to hear it.

[LUK3]-Yeaaaah... I think you both got scammed.

[RY4N]-Hm?

[LUK3]-Whatever this paper is suppose to be, there is no way it has the answer to your questions, Boss. Just a symbol and some colour reading isn't enough to make a whole sentence, nor an answer. You said you had a lot of questions, right? Even if it was an answer, there is no way it can be for each and every one of them. Maybe it has a different meaning this paper.

[CHE5TER]-Like?

[LUK3]-I don't know! I didn't meet your father before so I could have an answer!

[CHE5TER]-Could it be just a piece of art?

[LUK3]-Maybe... But if it is... can I get the money from it since I have helped around? Pleaseeee! At least half!!

[CHE5TER]-In your dreams. I've waited years to get my hands on His final words. I won't simply give it away just for you to solve all your debts.

[LUK3]-*sigh* It was worth a try... Oh, right, the letter! Maybe it has some hints?

[CHE5TER]-We've tried it before. From it we got the hint "eyesight".

[LUK3]-No, I meant that maybe if you try to read between the lines? What does it say?

[CHE5TER]-"Follow its path to the Light and all your puzzles will finally get solved".

[LUK3]-Uh-uhh... Other than that?

[CHE5TER]-Um...

CHE5TER takes the letter again and tries to read it, only saying what He thinks it's important.

[CHE5TER]-..."Everything meets its end at some point"?

[LUK3]-More?

[CHE5TER]-..."I'm waiting for our reunion to finally come"? I don't think there is something hidden between the lines, LUCAS. It's just a goodbye letter from Him. It's just written formally.

[LUK3]-Okay, then how did you find the first hint, hmmm??

[CHE5TER]-I thought that the line with "Light" is a meaning of exposing the letter to a source of it. Then, we found some letters sparkling around it and got the sentence "Isha vaah".

[LUK3]-Well, I don't think that line is what He actually meant. I mean, yeah, for that hint as well, but I think it's more meant for the final solution as well. "Path to the Light" is more like an actual road and "Light" is representing the destination. At least that's what I've learnt from my old puzzles...

[RY4N]-And what's the destination then?

[LUK3]-Well... for that, you have to solve the puzzle of the paper to find it.

[CHE5TER]-Heh... Not bad. Not bad... Guess if we have any other puzzles in the future, we know who to call.

[LUK3]-Good, but not during THE GODDAMN SLEEP SCHEDULE!!

[RY4N]-Okay, okay... Sorry, LUK3. I won't wake you up next time.

[LUK3]-THANK YOU!

[CHE5TER]-...What we need now is to find the sentence behind the colours and the symbol. So you say you will bring the books from Mrs. LUCIA?

[LUK3]-Yeah, yeah, I'ma bring them in two days. Happy? And yes... I will talk with her about the LENKOV ancestors.

[CHE5TER]-Guess you truly deserve that raise we were talking about, hm?

[LUK3]-Hope I get it, bastard, 'cause if not...

[CHE5TER]-You will. Don't worry. You can go and rest now if you wish.

[LUK3]-Yeah, yeah...

LUK3 leaves in the end, while CHE5TER and RY4N remain to look around the paper again and analyse the symbol.

[CHE5TER]-We got closer... How fast...

[RY4N]-See? You worried about nothing in the end. We will find the answer sooner or later. Then, we will finally be able to see your part of the legacy.

[CHE5TER]-We just need to work harder from now on for it. I just need to work harder...

[RY4N]-Do not exhaust yourself for it. It can wait. We won't get rid of them until you don't find your answer. I promise.

36:13

RY4N looks to have slept until now so he could rest until the night schedule. Yet in their room, it looks like only he is present. CHE5TER doesn't seem to be around as well, so maybe He did not rest like RY4N. He gets up from his bed and looks around for His brother, until he decides to look around the base, thinking he might find Him at His usual place. And he was right in his theory, since he finds his brother in His office again, a bit exhausted from not resting, but having enough energy for the time being.

[RY4N]-So you didn't sleep, hm?

[CHE5TER]-Want me to be honest or lie?

[RY4N]-I just asked... So? You didn't take a break from it?

[CHE5TER]-...I'm sorry, RY4N, but I've waited for so long to not know what His answer is. You understand, right?

[RY4N]-I do to a point... I do not understand why can't you take it easy? The message doesn't go anywhere. I told you we won't do anything with them until you get your answers. Okay... let's forget about for a minute at least... What's the mission for today?

Yet CHE5TER freezes the moment He hears these words, looking at His brother that was standing in front of the desk waiting for an answer. On His face though, you can read maybe fear and disappointment?

[RY4N]-What? What is it?

[CHE5TER]-I... didn't prepare any mission today.

[RY4N]-What!?

[CHE5TER]-I think I got a bit carried off about the letter to the point I forgot to do my duty this time. Now that I think about it, I should've slept this time...

[RY4N]-CHE5TER, you told me you won't let it change you!

[CHE5TER]-And I didn't, alright!? I just forgot! I'm a simple being in the end, you know?? I can't do everything all the time! Even I have my own limits!

[RY4N]-*sigh* I can't even argue on this subject without sounding like a hypocrite... But seriously, Ches, from a letter, you forgot everything that was around you? I know I say you need to rest and all, but I've never imagined the only time you actually don't do your work is because you were disconnected from reality!

[CHE5TER]-Maybe instead of arguing, you come here and help me, what do you think!? On this occasion, I will take a break from the letter and all!

RY4N takes a small breath and goes to take a seat, while CHE5TER puts aside the letter and the strange paper, taking some documents from his drawers, something like schemes of the City of Above, and starts looking around.

[CHE5TER]-What did the Council say? Anything new we need to investigate?

[RY4N]-No, not really. Nothing's new. Mr. XANTH3 started arguing with everyone else because of your absence, so we barely had any problems to discuss.

[CHE5TER]-Then it's just a mission for Mr. M1SH4M at worst. Good.

He starts circling some of the buildings on the scheme and does some notes around.

[CHE5TER]-Okay... We have two buildings that he still wants us to see what's up with them. Then we have some investigation around the north area to see how things have progressed... maybe somewhere around the southwest as well... and maybe we will start from now on to watch the area of the Great Walls. Which one should we do today?

[RY4N]-Well... you told me that the other buildings are a bit more difficult for N04H, right? Maybe we leave them for when you come back in action?

[CHE5TER]-I'm not sure that's a good idea, though... Seven Two can stay dead for as much as He wants after all, and we probably have to see what is happening with them soon so we don't miss anything. Maybe if I put a Striker to do an Investigator work this time...? But if so, they are used to work in groups rather than going alone... Or maybe if I create a new disguise for myself to work with it until Seven gets back? But it will take me some hours...

[RY4N]-Why can't we put an experienced Striker? Most of them work for a longer time than us already, so maybe they know how to get the work done.

[CHE5TER]-You think just because of the years of work, they might know to get an Investigator work done?

[RY4N]-Maybe some of them can.

CHE5TER takes a small break to breath and takes a cigarette from His pockets. Then, as He lights it up, He looks around the letter again, lost a bit in His thoughts. And yet, even RY4N notices it, maybe a bit pissed this time, yet upset.

[RY4N]-...I thought we are taking a break from it.

[CHE5TER]-I know. I just... *sigh* I just wonder what He would have done.

[RY4N]-Is it because you miss Him?

[CHE5TER]-I won't bet only on that... Yeah, I guess I do miss the moments when He was alive and all, but that's because He was the one who raised us. I don't think this feeling of not wanting to let go is only because of that reason alone...

[RY4N]-Then why is that?

[CHE5TER]-I... don't know. But now that I got my hands on His last thing remained, it's just a bit hard for me to simply not think about it. I mean... I just don't understand why didn't He just give me the answers? Like how He gave you the gift?

[RY4N]-Maybe because... a true explorer never takes the shortest way to his destination. Problems and puzzles will be something you will forever encounter. Maybe He just tried to teach you this lesson.

[CHE5TER]-Yeah... I guess you are right...

[RY4N]-Mhm!

And so, they get back to the work as RY4N tried to cheer Him up. Yet even if they do so, the Great Leader doesn't seem to have get over the whole situation.

"RY4N... as much as I wanted to tell you everything that's in my mind, just like we used to... I cannot say anything for the sake of keeping you and all the others safe. It does not bother me a small problem that I need to find an answer to it. But I'm more afraid that I was the reason of His death all along... and maybe that's why He refused to talk with me.

It does not bother me that I have to work harder for everything, nor that you tell me every time to take a pause. It does not bother me all the things I have to do for these titles that I own, nor the responsibilities that are like a stone stuck to my soul... It bothers me that I'm afraid I might have to face my fate alone.

I always did promises, and I will forever do. And I am trying to keep them, I swear! Yet... the older I get, the more problems I encounter. I can get as strong as I want to become, but if the problems get harder each time as well, I cannot bet I will win a battle with my destiny. The world wanted me to change, to become a monster in order to protect what I cherish the most in this cruel world. And I'm afraid that..."

"...I will forever change just to make sure I survive as well."