19:37

ROLE SELECTION: INVESTIGATOR

SIMULATION READY

Yet again, the simulation is set and N04H waits for the weird man to finish his duty. But even he looks to be waiting for something. He walks around in circles, staring down, until the door of the room opens. When he hears the sound of the door, he looks quickly towards it and rushes to the man who is entering. N04H, on the other hand, remains to analyse the simulation given with the time he has while MY4 stands by his side.

[LUK3]-...Thanks for coming, man. I really appreciate it.

[N4THAN]-Don't worry about it, LUK3.

[LUK3]-Now, you know what we've talked about, right? No word has to arrive at Boss, or else we both get in trouble! You understand, yes?

Out of nowhere, LUK3 takes out a few golden coins out of his pockets and hands them to the man, taking his arm by force and putting the coins into his palm. The golden coins are somewhat smaller than the silver coins, being a different currency called "Novha". When the man looks at the items given in his palm, his expression is not mad nor annoyed. Rather more similar to disappointment.

[N4THAN]-...Who do you take me of? Some central bastard?

[LUK3]-I-I just want to make sure Boss doesn't hear any of this! Don't take it personal, N4THAN! I have nothing against you! I-I just fear that guy's will of punishment!

[N4THAN]-Just because I work for Him, doesn't mean I will tell Him everything I know about each soldier. Got my own secrets to hide from others, why should I reveal yours? Besides, those aren't even enough to buy you the casual drinks we order during the special events. At least if you try these methods, do it when you have money for yourself to begin with. *sigh* If IZA4K teaches you more of any of those craps, I will have to talk with someone to supervise you two when you are together...

The man simply gives back the coins to LUK3, after which he begins to walk towards the recruit, be it with the weird guy or not. LUK3 does notice that, so he hurries to arrive next to him and once they are closer to N04H, he begins to talk again.

[LUK3]-Alright, little man! Make acquaintance with Mr. N4THAN! He is the Great Leader's personal Defender and the same person who will be guiding you through the simulation!

[N4THAN]-Hello, N04H! It's nice to meet you! But I'll be honest, it's been a while since I've worked with someone else. Hope you can get in touch easily with my playstyle in this small game of ours.

[N04H]-Nice to meet you too, Mr. N4THAN!

[LUK3]-Oookay! The role is something similar to the Striker's! You just have to go inside the building created by the program and not get yourself revealed!

[N04H]-So I have to save people again?

[LUK3]-Nope! This time, you will search for a specific document similar to this one!

LUK3 then takes out a fake document created specifically for this simulation and shows it to N04H in order for him analyses it.

[LUK3]-Usually, I don't think you have any idea of how the document would look like, so you have to search everywhere like a demon. But... the simulation is put on an easier level, so you are only put to search for what we require you to get and from where we tell you to get it. N4THAN will be the one to guide you towards those specific spots.

[N4THAN]-Right. But just a few notes. In a real mission, the Defenders and Investigators are taught to communicate with short codes, which we won't be able to use. They are taught in the two years of practice for your role, and most of them are just the basics. You can also create your own codes with your personal Defender to make your work easier. An example could be "W6" which will be translated as "the 6th room of the west". Or even beep codes, like two beeps meaning "Tell me the way I need to take". So if I happen to say random codes, please tell me to stop. I got used working like this after years of missions.

[N04H]-Wait! I need to practice TWO YEARS for this role??

[N4THAN]-Yes. Unlike the other roles which can be put in practice after just some months or at worst one year, the Investigator needs to learn more than the basics. A whole year is dedicated to the codes themselves to make yourself a cryptic language with your personal Defender, and usually the first year is dedicated to techniques of martial arts because of the high chances of you getting into a fight. Strikers do get into fights too, but most of them are just defending, not actually fighting. And besides, in these two years, you will also learn how to depend on yourself in case of emergencies, like knowing an escaping route even in the most unfamiliar buildings or making your own plans during emergencies. Strikers work in groups most of the time, so they mostly depend on teamwork, while Investigators work alone and depend only on their knowledge and skills, getting help only in drastic situations.

[LUK3]-Like when we went to save your buddies! The whole plan belonged to KYR4 and the one who helped her execute it was C0NNER! I didn't do everything by my own idea! While an Investigator is always going after his own plan! The only thing he needs is the building construction details, position of every possible enemy and... other things as well.

[N4THAN]-Now, enough with the talk. Let's see what you are capable of and then we can draw some conclusions.

[N04H]-Dear M1NERV4, have mercy on me...

In just a few minutes, the simulation starts and N04H gets inside the building, completely invisible. He is guided by N4THAN, who speaks to him through the equipment he was given, telling him the plan and how to execute it. There are only three rooms he has to search in to get the document. He arrives at the first room, begins searching but doesn't find what he needs. He then goes towards the second room, in which he has a bit of trouble since there are "guards" who keep looking around the entrance. Even so, he follows N4THAN's advice and manages to create a small distraction in order to get in. He is a beginner, so you can't expect him to do the plans just yet. But even when he gets inside, he doesn't find what he needs. He goes towards the third room, the same story happens. He distracts the "guards" and then gets in. And this time, he manages to find the document.

Meanwhile, two figures enter the training room and notice the simulation being on. The first one seems to be Officer KYR4, who greets both LUK3 and MY4, but looks rather puzzled when noticing Mr. N4THAN being present too. But the moment the second figure enters, LUK3 freezes and hides behind KYR4. It is the Great Leader, who is also confused on why is His personal Defender here. When KYR4 asks LUK3 what simulation is now going, he prefers to whisper it in her ear so that the ruler won't hear it too. The very next second she hears the answer though, she exclaims the sentence "What!?" with such anger that it made it impossible for CHE5TER to not notice. But He also notices the fact that LUK3 doesn't want to tell Him, so instead, He decides to watch how the simulation goes to fully understand what is going on. And it doesn't take long before He understands either. But even so, He remains silent and continues to observe the show.

N04H manages to get his hand on the document, which also seems to have activated an alarm the moment he took it. Before he could even activate his device, the enemy enters the room and notices his presence. In order to get out of the room, he simply throws something he finds near him and pushes the guards away, even if they start shooting after him. Again, he cannot be harmed. So one worry is already not taken into consideration. He then starts running around the hallways of the simulated building while trying to escape the guards. At some point, out of pure instinct, he ignores what N4THAN commands him to do and goes to wherever he believes it is best to go. He ends up in a room with no escape, to which he locks the door and starts thinking of a different idea. But it doesn't take long before the enemy starts breaking the door, putting N04H in a stressful situation.

Yet when the enemy manages to destroy the whole door and get in, they don't find N04H no matter how much they search. He managed to activate his device before being spotted, getting out of the room unnoticed and running away right on the path N4THAN told him to follow, getting out of the building safely. Then, the simulation concludes while everyone rushes towards him to cheer for his success. Only the ruler remains behind and looks at the teen from the distance. Once He begins to come closer as well, everyone else starts to talk to Him. Even LUK3 gained a bit more confidence after N04H's performance.

[LUK3]-Look, Boss! Little N04H succeeded in his task! Maybe we shouldn't have hidden it after all!

[MY4]-Aren't you happy, CHE5TER? He passed the simulation!

[N4THAN]-We can finally have another Investigator, Master! We can talk to all the other Defenders and decide who will work wi--

[CHE5TER]- --And who exactly told you that I will let him choose this role?

Once He says His sentence, everyone's cheering stops and begin looking puzzled at the ruler.

[KYR4]-...But he managed to do the whole simulation correctly. He has the right to be admitted as Investigator.

[CHE5TER]-And doesn't he need my approval to begin with? I am sure he managed to get through this role, but my answer is no.

[N4THAN]-Master, with all due respect, you cannot just tell him such nonsense after all the hard work he has given to achieve this! You have to give him a chance!

[CHE5TER]-And you cannot tell me what I should and should not do, Mr. N4THAN. If you really think that I will stay two years to teach him everything regarding his position, you are terribly wrong. We barely have time for the problems we fight now, what makes you think that we will have a better chance of winning the war if I dedicate my time for this small duty instead of focusing on my actual work?

[LUK3]-But it doesn't have to be this way!

[KYR4]-Master, we worked with you for years now. Surely we can handle to teach a kid everything he needs to know about his position ourselves.

[CHE5TER]-Then if you are so sure of yourself, Officer KYR4, he will be your responsibility from now on. Whatever happens to him, you will be the one blamed for his actions. Understood?

[KYR4]-...

[LUK3]-Then... is that a yes?

[CHE5TER]-My answer is still yet to be decided. For now, you all should go back to your duties. Especially you, LUCAS. I know this was all your doing from the very beginning.

After that, the Great Leader leaves while everyone looks down. N04H was the only one watching the situation going down the hill, while everyone else was feeling it.

[N04H]-Did I really... cause you troubles?

[KYR4]-*sigh* No. It's not your fault, kid. Look, let's not think about this now. Do you want to celebrate your success with a drink? My treat.

[LUK3]-Your treat? Oh, then I'm coming too!

[KYR4]-You better behave if you come! 'Cause I saved your ass out of trouble again! Seriously now, LUK3! Can't you think for ONCE before you put your plans into action??

But while they were arguing, MY4 remained to watch the closed door through which the ruler left in silence, with such a sad expression on her gentle face that could break your heart the moment you see it.