《Code Antony》


 Mark Antony

    March 1956: Moscovia, Russian Republic


    "Up with Kaiser! Down with the Liberators!"


    Panic has grappled the capital of the Russian Republic as news of the death of Julius Kaiser on March 15, 1956 have spread. Kaiser was the victor of many battles, and the best known among his recent conquests was the American Wars (1942-1950), wherein he annex the entire American continent under Russian rule.


    The following day, the sixty conspirators who assassinated Kaiser (labeling themselves as the "Liberators") vacated the Kaiser Palace and went to barricade the Capitol. The city police are undermanned and was kept occupied in maintaining the sudden crime wave. Some of the people wanted to attack the Capitol. Some wanted to leave the city. Some wanted to take advantage of the panic by looting. Some tried to shut themselves in their own homes, hoping to avoid conflict. Most establishments have closed up, and inflation has hit new peak levels. The atmosphere reminds the nobles and the common people alike of the counterrevolution of Lucius Cornelius Sulla, who plunged the republic into civil war. Meanwhile, Kaiser''s allies are on the move.


    One of the more prominent was Mark Antony, who is being pushed by the remaining Kaiser allies to speak up in their late leader''s funeral. The others are planning to flush the conspirators out of the Capitol and execute them publicly. However, Antony chose to wait it out. He figured it was not yet time, especially with the citizens being whipped to a frenzy. Then again, who is Mark Antony?


    Born on January 14, 1917 in the Russian capital of Moscovia, Mark Antony was a member of the Antonov clan, a mixed family of nobles and commoners. His name, however, is an inheritance. Both his father and grandfather are named Mark Antony. However, while his family is politically involved in Russia, their record is not a favorable one. His grandfather, a Russian president (the highest elective office) in 1901, was a supporter of the Dictator Sulla during the latter''s counterrevolution. Meanwhile, his father was a military commissioner (a government office allotted a military command to complete a specific task) who failed in his mission to protect the Black Sea from pirates. His father, already deemed incompetent by his nation, died while fighting against the pirates. His mother left with another man. As for Antony himself, he made a massive debt of 5,000 aurei, which forced down by his parents.


    For those who are not yet familiar with Russian economics, one aureus (golden bill pegged with the price of gold) is equivalent to 25 denarii (silver bills with the price pegged at the ratio 1:25). Meanwhile, one denarius is equivalent to a day''s wages. To pay off this debt with a denarius a day, Antony would have to work for more than 300 years.


    To pay his debt, he tried to make easy money by doing things like gambling. However, he still ended up in the streets as a beggar. It was then when he was recruited to join the organized criminal group of General Publius Klodiy, a man known in the entire country for eliminating his rivals by having them assassinated. Klodiy''s armed gang is considered a disruptive force in Moscovia. However, as Klodiy''s political ambitions soared, Antony was able to escape the group, but not without facing a considerable number of Klodiy''s guards and surviving. While Klodiy did not harbor hard feelings for his departure, Antony eventually fled to Japan in 1942, a nation annexed by Russia in 1854 but staged a great revolt in 1922. With Russian control in Japan still loose due to the last revolt, he figured it would be one of the best places to escape his creditors. In Tokyo, the Japanese capital, he took his formal studies. It may well be a crash course, for he took his studies within a single year.


    In 1943, he moved to the Philippines. This is where he was employed as part of the military staff of Aulus Gabiniy, the Philippine presidential commissioner (the president''s representative which directly works under the presidential office and was assigned to watch the governor of the area). Gabiniy served alongside Klodiy as presidents of Russia a year back (1942), but they supported different leaders in the Paramount Triad, a loose alliance of Russia''s top military commanders assigned by the government as Joint Chiefs of Staff in 1940. Gabiniy supported General Ney Pompey, whose efforts in the east brought into the Russian sphere the Philippines and Indonesia (1937) as protectorates (and thus, no governor is being elected yet). Klodiy, after feeling betrayed by Pompey, shifted his support to General Lisiny Krassa and General Julius Kaiser, who was then beginning their military campaigns at the American Wars. With such different positions, Gabiniy figured he could use a deserter from Klodiy''s group, and therefore, accepted Antony as a military staff even without prior military experience (Russia begins recruiting people into the military when they turn 16, but at this time, Antony is 26). Antony proved himself in battle soon enough, for in 1944, he led the Russian army to crush a rebellion in the Philippines led by Alex Taruc.


    With Russian troubles in their eastern areas cleared, they turned their sights to China. The legitimate ruler, Emperor Tuo Lei Mi XII, was removed from power by his daughter. He fled to exile in Moscovia, where he appealed to the Paramount Triad about his problems at home. The Russian government chose to recognize Tuo XII but not to act yet. However, Pompey (by this time serving as President) gave Gabiniy permission to march into China. It was a quick campaign, and in 1945, Tuo XII was restored to his throne. His daughter and her allies were publicly executed. Thereafter, he incurred a large debt to Russia, leading to rising debt servicing for the Chinese government. The Russians were also allowed to keep a base in Shanghai, which can house up to 20,000 soldiers.


    As Gabiniy went back to the Philippines, he saw disorder reigning as the aftermath of the last rebellion. After trying to restore the peace, he handed over the commission to Lisiny Krassa, who seemed interested to the military developments in the east, as well as developing industries that may prove profitable to his business. Krassa, by this time, is Russia''s richest person with an estimated net worth of four million aurei, although financial analysts say it may be higher. Thus, he earned the distinction as Russia''s only millionaire. With Gabiniy out, Antony was sent back to Moscovia and finds himself unemployed once more. Soon enough, Klodiy contacted him and recommended his transfer to the American front. Antony was initially suspicious, thinking that it was a ploy to have him killed in the field after deserting the gang. However, when Kaiser himself visited to recruit him, he was compelled to go. Imagine a member of the Paramount Triad leaving the front line to get someone like you? He cannot forget one of Kaiser''s words:If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    "I know you''ve had a tough life. My family may be of noble blood, but I experienced hardships. I was forced to head the family at 15, but was persecuted during the dictatorship. I fled to another land. I was captured by pirates. I was in great debt, just like you. I''m still persecuted until now... All because I''m intending to change our nation to the core. Mark, if we''ll not do it now, when else can we move towards a better world?"


    Antony felt it was a great appointment, and proved himself well in battle.


    In 1948, Kaiser sends back Antony to begin a political career. He was elected senator, but with some in the Russian government thinking he might be Kaiser''s watchman in Moscovia, approved his appointment to go back to the American front within the same year. He was with Kaiser when the Russians crushed the largest American force mustered during the war at the Battle of Virginia. The American president was captured and forced to surrender. However, it would still take two more years to complete the campaign. By this time, Kaiser''s greatest fund source, Krassa, was killed while campaigning against the combined Indian-Khmer forces in Cambodia. Meanwhile, with Krassa dead, Pompey felt that he had a new rival with Kaiser. This led him to break from the Populist Party of Kaiser to the Republican Party, a political party once headed by Sulla. The populists sided with the commoners, while the republicans sided with the nobles.


    Before Kaiser could return to Russia, Pompey moved quickly after Krassa''s death. His supporters assassinated Klodiy in the same year, resulting to riots instigated by Klodiy''s gang. Even the Senate was burned, resulting them to transfer operations to the Capitol. To restore the peace, the Senate figured they could elect Pompey as sole President (by this time, Russia elects two presidents to balance power), although they were careful not to grant him dictatorship, which was gained by Sulla after his counterrevolution. The position of dictator is granted by election of the Senate in times of national emergency, such as rebellion, invasion, or civil war. Pompey did his job well by defeating the remnants of Klodiy''s gang. Meanwhile, Kaiser was ordered to disband his army and return to Moscovia. By this time, Kaiser commanded at least eight Russian divisions (160,000 troops), a force as large as contemporary standard national armies.


    On January 1, 1951, Kaiser, still based in America, let Antony assume office in the Senate for the first time since his election three years ago. As the Senate resumed session that year, Antony raised a proposal concerning the dissolution of Kaiser''s army. If Kaiser shall disband his army, he proposed that Pompey disband his army as well. In his own words, "Let public officials remain civil servants, not feuding warlords."


    While most in the Senate saw this as a good proposal, the Republican leaders saw this unfit, and the pro-Pompey Presidents (Claudius Marseille and Cornelius Lenticelle) ended up vetoing it anyway. Thus, Antony was forced to remake his proposal. Elect Kaiser as President in exchange of his commission in America and the dissolution of six divisions. That would mean two divisions remaining under Kaiser''s command. While the proposal seemed good to Pompey, the Republican leaders still rejected the proposal. On January 7, Antony was expelled from the Senate and was forced out of Moscovia by President Lenticelle himself. After this rejection, Antony returned to Kaiser. After being informed of the Russian government''s decision, Kaiser decided he will cross the Atlantic Ocean and return to Moscovia in three days.


    As Kaiser famously said, "The die is cast!"


    Meanwhile, as Kaiser launched another civil war, Antony was promoted as his lieutenant by becoming second in command. Within the year, Pompey was out of Moscovia and Kaiser marched triumphantly in the capital. Moscovia saw one of the largest crowds ever assembled in the city when more than 400,000 people flocked to see Kaiser''s triumphant entry. Soon enough, Kaiser had to leave the capital to flush out all Pompeian elements in the Russian Republic. However, before leaving Moscovia, Kaiser oversaw his election as President while Antony was elected as governor of the Moscovia Province, the region which included the capital. As for Pompey, he fled to China after being defeated by Kaiser in Japan. At haste, Kaiser left for China, only to find out that Pompey was killed by the Chinese. He may be his rival, but it was said that Kaiser cried because of Pompey''s death, although reasons behind this action may vary.


    As soon as Kaiser left the capital, Antony saw how popular he was with the people, as well as how unpopular he was with the politicians. He is of mixed noble and commoner lineage, after all. A half-caste like him stands in stark contrast within a government filled with feuding nobles and commoners. In addition to this, he had to face the rising debt caused by the wars waged by Kaiser at home and at abroad. As military expenses kept increasing, the resources to fund them are not. Meanwhile, the populist senator, Cornelius Donabelle, proposed a tax relief, especially for the veterans of the American Wars. The national budget is becoming constrained, especially after the death of the nations biggest taxpayer, Krassa. Considering this, Antony decided that the fiscal policy of Russia is more important, and thus moved towards the rejection of the proposal. In turn, Donabelle was furious and sought to get even with Antony. When Kaiser learned that Antony is not handling politics well back at home, especially with the Populist leaders fighting about the tax relief bill, he removed all of Antony''s government positions in his capacity as President. From 1954 to 1955, Antony lived as a citizen in Moscovia.


    While living as a private citizen, Kaiser visited him once more to reconcile. Antony understood that it was all politics, and Kaiser is only doing his work towards the same goal. Russia has been undergoing great change. Land reform began implementation. The calendar was reformed. Public works projects were contracted. The constitution was amended. The provinces were being reorganized. A plan towards poverty reduction was enacted. A lot has been going on. Then, it was settled. To repay Antony for his fortitude, Kaiser made Antony Russia''s President in 1956. Of course, Antony would be ruling with him. By this time, however, Kaiser is elevated to a much higher position. He was not only elected as dictator, he was made perpetual dictator (Dictator for Life). This very appointment led his rivals to eliminate him as soon as possible.


    Antony himself confided with Kaiser about such attempts as soon as he was elected President, but Kaiser was confident.


    He told Antony, "There''s still so much to do in our country... I can''t leave just yet. Believe me."


    Now, Kaiser is dead. The populists looked towards Antony to take their late leader''s torch, but will he even take action? With the Russian Republic in chaos, who will rise up to fix the mess?

 Crisis Of The Republic

    Two days have passed since Julius Kaiser was killed. His murderers woke up the Russian people with their press conference on radio.


    In the Moscovia Market, locally known as the Poor Man''s Forum, some of the vendors, who were at the time fixing their products to sell, huddled in one large radio to listen.


    "Who''s that speaking?", one male vendor asked.


    "Shh! We''re trying to listen here," a female vendor responded.


    "It''s the Liberators!", another shouted after listening the introduction.


    Just then, one would hear more of the market''s usual noises than the radio speech itself.


    "We know that!"


    "How''d they get to broadcast?!"


    "Hmph! Those Liberators are bad for business."


    "Aww. Don''t say that. They drive prices up like mad!"


    "Easy for you to say. Your metals sell more than a dozen pieces of meat!"


    "Bread, breasts, and creds! That''s what we need!"


    "You got nothing else to think but your lovers!"


    "I say, let them eat cake. Free candle for every purchase."


    "Speaking of candles, oil is spiking again with those Arabs trying to take advantage of the situation."


    "Whatever happened to the conquests in the East? Where''s the flow of new oil there?"


    "We might as well heat our homes with candles."


    "At least you''ve a home! I live in my cart!"


    "Settle down! Some people are trying to listen!"


    "Listen to my foot here!"


    Indeed, while the marketplace begins to come to life once more, the broadcast continues. Speaking was Mark June Barotov, one of the Liberators, and ironically, one of Kaiser''s closest friends. He is the most famous of the Liberators only because of his relations with Kaiser, for once upon a time, he was considered to be Kaiser''s adopted heir. Who would not want to inherit Kaiser''s estate, which has become the largest in Russia after the breakup of Krassa''s?


    "Resilience is our trait. We are people who can endure winters, and wars, as long as they last. Russians! Countrymen! Lovers! Hear me for our cause! Be silent, so you may hear! For all you who listen, believe me for I am honorable. Believe me for I am respectable. Think of it with your minds, awaken your senses, and be the judges. If any of you is a friend of Kaiser, believe me when I say that my love for the man is no less than yours! If any of you asks why Barotov did so to Kaiser, his beloved, then I say to you... I love Kaiser, but my love for Russia is greater. Kaiser is a dictator beyond imagination, and a Kaiser living will enslave this nation. With Kaiser dead, are you not all free men? Kaiser loved me, so I grieve. He was fortunate, so I celebrate. He was brave, so I honor him to the grave. But, get this... Kaiser is ambitious, so I ended his ambition! Now, who is offended? Who does not love his country? We leave our telephone lines open for any complaints. The numbers will be announced after this. We''ll be back in five minutes, so stay tuned."If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    For various reasons, not a single person called the phone lines opened by the Liberators. What reigned in the air was the national anthem of the Russian Republic, which was looped until Barotov continued his speech.


    "Therefore, I''ve offended none! Kaiser deserved death, and death did he receive. If you do believe in our cause, hear my plea. For two days, we have been holding out in the Capitol. So, I call upon the people, to flock the Capitol. No longer are you bonded, and you have nothing to lose but your chains. Go now, lovers, show the true power of the liberated! From there, we shall seize all other government buildings. When all is said and done, Russia shall forever be free. Long live liberty! Long live the Liberators!"


    As soon as Barotov finished his speech, a crowd of some 500 people, armed with makeshift melee weapons such as pitchforks and bats, responded to his call within an hour''s notice. By noon, when the people has reached at least 3,000, Barotov and some of the Liberators came out of the Capitol, but not in civilian clothes. They are in full battle gear, from helmets on their heads to boots covering their feet.


    "Good countrymen, I thank you. Let us lead the way to victory! Off we go to freedom!"


    First stop? The 4,000-strong ragtag army, still gathering more people as they go, marches towards Kaiser''s Palace, the single largest symbol of Julius Kaiser''s power over Russia. As they traversed the messy roads of Moscovia, they meet some 40 tanks guarding the entrance of the palace. One of the tanks open up, and behold the commander of the tank regiment, Aemilio Lepidov. A former president of Russia in 1954, Lepidov is one of Kaiser''s lieutenants and was appointed to command over the tanks of Russia when Kaiser became dictator. In fact, Kaiser even dined in Lepidov''s house the night before the former''s assassination.


    Barotov, aboard an army jeep, stood up and fired at Lepidov from his hand gun.


    Lepidov dodged the shot, and then shouted, "Barotov! You sly dog!"


    "Aemilio! You also deserved death, but I argued for your case! If you want to live, fall in with me!", Barotov declared as he raised his hand bearing the hand gun, "Long live the Liberators!"


    "Ha! Are you threatening me, Barotov? The tanks of Russia are the strongest in the world! What can you do about it?"


    As Lepidov laughed, some of the jeeps fired from their rear and caused two tanks to explode. The soldiers were shocked, and it was Barotov''s turn to laugh.


    "You''re the one dreaming, Aemilio! Behold, the Mjolnir! The very hand of Jupiter has come upon you!", he said as he sat down.


    The Mjolnir is actually an anti-tank gun named after the hammer of the thunder god. At least during the American Wars, there is no chance for any existing anti-tank gun to pierce through a Russian tank head on, which owed its invulnerability to a newly developed armor for the purpose. One has to get to the rear to at least stop the said tank.


    "Barotov! The blood of these people shall be on your head!", Lepidov exclaimed as he went inside his tank and ordered to have all main guns trained on Barotov and his ragtag army.


    Evidently, there are not enough Mjolnir guns to neutralize all the tanks at once. Tense moments reigned as no one seemed willing to fire the first shot. Then, an announcement thundered from the palace.


    "Stop! I will not tolerate more bloodshed between our own people, the citizens of this land!"


    Barotov jumped from his seat, and so did the other Liberators with him. The people were taken aback and many of them retreated, leaving their makeshift weapons behind out of their quick flight. The remaining hid behind the jeeps bearing the Mjolnir guns.


    Barotov muttered to himself, "It c-can''t...!"


    The republic is in another crisis, perhaps even worse than in the days of Sulla. Russians fighting other nations. Russians fighting their own. Now, here we are. Whose voice disbanded the Liberators'' army with a single sentence?

 On The Third Day

    "They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life."


    The tanks moved from the entrance and the palace gate was opened. The dictator''s official car slowly goes forward and stops in the middle of the two opposing forces. Then, the car doors are opened by the driver.


    Barotov shouted, "Who dare use that vehicle of oppression?!"


    All who remained saw the fantastic sight. The only person who can legally use the dictator''s official car steps out. It is the Perpetual Dictator himself, Julius Kaiser. Clad in his clothes at the time of his assassination, his figure struck fear on the Liberators and their followers. Coming out with him is Mark Antony. Meanwhile, Lepidov comes out of his tank and goes down.


    Cassini Longinus, also one of the Liberators, pointed at Antony and demanded, "You deceiver! We killed Kaiser! He can''t possibly...!"


    Antony glared at Longinus and said, "Alive? Ask the dictator himself!"


    Kaiser raised his hands and showed to all the stabs and the shots which left impressions on his clothing. As he does this, the "reserves" of the Liberators, or people from the suburbs of Moscovia who responded to Barotov''s radio message, arrived and saw the dictator alive. They numbered around 5,000 people, excluding the few who remained in the rear of the Liberators.


    Kaiser then declared, "Behold! All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me! O death, where is your victory?"


    The soldiers went out of their tanks and vehicles to applaud the dictator, but the Liberators were quick to their hand guns as the people were still in a state of shock. Soon enough, gunfire was heard. The Liberators were shooting at the dictator, but they keep on missing. As for the people, it seemed that Kaiser was invincible. They did not notice that the Liberators were actually missing their determined shots.


    Lepidov laughed, "They''re firing like drunks! No wonder they''re senators."


    When the people saw this, they fled. They do not want to be on the bad side of the dictator, as some of them still recalled the counterrevolution of Sulla. However, when they went downtown to proclaim Kaiser''s resurrection, the people thought they were crazy. They even detained some of the Liberator partisans, not because they marched to the palace and opposed Kaiser''s troops, but because they seemed to spout nonsense. There has been no announcement anywhere that Kaiser is not dead. The media is silent, and so the people doubted. Only the Liberators remained in the scene. By this time, their hand guns are out of ammo and some of them just threw their guns away. Barotov collapsed, although he is still conscious.


    While his fellow Liberators are down in spirit, Longinus remained firm and drew from his jeep a most antiquated weapon. It is his trademark weapon, the Spear of Longinus. Actually a metal lance with two red spearheads, Longinus used it during his campaigns in the eastern frontier of Russia. Its claim to fame was during the battle in Cambodia where Krassa was killed. Longinus was supposed to have killed at least 300 of the enemy with only the spear, and thus, he managed to survive despite the battle being a Russian defeat.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    As he drew the spear, Lepidov motioned to be quicker to the draw with his hand gun. However, Antony looked at him, and when Lepidov noticed this, he did not pull the trigger.


    Longinus shouted, "With the will of people behind the iron hammer, this single strike shall make Kaiser disappear!"


    Without further warning, the Spear of Longinus was thrown hard. As expected, Kaiser goes down with the fatal blow of the mighty spear. Antony was quick to recover Kaiser''s body, plucking out the spear, putting him inside the car, and then telling the driver to rush back to the palace. The soldiers'' morale dropped as Longinus celebrated his feat.


    Antony clapped slowly.


    Longinus noticed this, so he asked loudly, "What''s the matter, Antony?! Lost your mind?!"


    Lepidov said, "Yes, Antony. They just killed Master Kaiser. Again!"


    Barotov speaks for the first time, "W-what did you do?"


    Antony asks, "What? I can''t hear you!"


    "What did you do to father?! Cassini''s strike is strong, but no blood was there! Answer me! Where is father''s corpse?!"


    Indeed, no blood nor water gushed out of Kaiser''s body, which was struck by the spear at the abdomen.


    Antony smiled, "So, you''re not as dim as you look."


    "What did you say?!", Longinus challenged, "He''s not Julius Kaiser?!"


    "Of course, he is. At the same time, he isn''t."


    Barotov said, "Enough with the philosophy!"


    "Yes, I understand. I shall explain to you simply," Antony responded as he threw back the spear to Longinus.


    The body which showed up to the people is mechanical, and so, the real Kaiser remains dead. Kaiser had a robot of himself built when he was made dictator because he thought his enemies could easily spot a mere double. Of course, this meant a leap in technological advancement, for while robot technology has been studied since the time of the inventor Archiceres (1713-1788), appearance, movement, and speech are among the aspects which remained underdeveloped throughout the years.


    "Master Kaiser was so engrossed with immortality and how he may lengthen his life. In this era of wars, one would be fortunate to reach 50! When I remembered that he had a project like this, I came up with the idea of Kaiser''s resurrection."


    Lepidov muttered to himself, "I get it. The people still love Master Kaiser, more so here in Moscovia. His mere presence is enough to melt their hearts."


    Antony continued, "Your followers will lose their nerves, and even if you knew the truth, the people would still think you are mad. Everybody knew Master Kaiser is dead!"


    Longinus grappled his spear, "Antony! This will be your last magic act! Barotov, ready the Mjolnir!"


    "I wouldn''t be doing that if I were you."


    "Why not?! Even if you are in full battle gear, my spear can still pierce you!"


    Antony pointed to one of the cameras around them.


    "We''re being recorded from the very beginning. We can easily portray you as the villains. Hungry for power, they kill Master Kaiser and all his men."


    Longinus and the Liberators look around. It is true, much to Longinus''s dismay. He threw down his spear on the ground as his teeth grind against each other. Barotov remained motionless, as if paralyzed. Before the assassination, Barotov argued to the other Liberators that they must not look like mutineers seizing power, but as freedom fighters. If the public sees a political infighting rather than a legitimate cause working for them, Kaiser''s legacy will live on, and the Liberators will be no more. This is why they agreed to kill Kaiser only, even if they had the chance to kill Lepidov and Kaiser''s other lieutenants had they acted earlier. This time, it seemed that Barotov''s plan for transition has backfired, and he blamed himself for it.


    Lepidov ordered his men to seize the Liberators, but they were quick with their jeeps and retreated to the Capitol. Meanwhile, the recording continues, and Antony, with Kaiser''s Palace, its soldiers, and its tanks on the background, begins his speech.

 Will Of The D.

    With Kaiser''s Palace on the background, Antony takes off his battle gear, revealing that he was actually wearing formal civilian clothes underneath. The palace staff takes to the entrance a casket, with Kaiser''s covered body in full view (only his head was made visible so the viewers can confirm that it really is the late dictator). Lepidov and the soldiers line up on Antony''s sides. Antony speaks to the public for the first time since Kaiser''s death, and he delivers his speech on national television, simulcast on radio.


    "Friends, Russians, countrymen! Lend me your ears. I am here to bury Kaiser, not to praise him. The evil people do lives beyond them, the good are often forgotten. Let it be so with Kaiser. The honorable Barotov has told you Kaiser was ambitious. If so, it was his great fault, and sadly, he got his fair share. Barotov is a respectable man. The Liberators are all honorable men!"


    Antony paused as he tried stopping tears from falling, which nevertheless kept flowing down his eyes.


    "Enough! I speak today at Kaiser''s funeral! He was my friend, faithful and just, a brother born for adversity. Barotov says he loves Kaiser, but he also says Kaiser was ambitious. Tell me, which of these show ambition? He brought glory back to Russia! He was conqueror of America! His estate he did not waste. Our treasury achieved a stable state. When the poor is in need, Kaiser heeds. I thrice proposed to him a crown deserving of a king, and thrice he refused, for he is no king! Kaiser once said, ''Kings live in palaces. I am no king. I wonder why they think so still.'' Friends, where is ambition? I don''t seek to disprove Barotov, but I speak of what I know. You, my countrymen, also loved him and his vision. Has his death caused you to mourn, or to lose your reason? My heart..."


    Antony pauses again, his tears seemingly dried up and his eyes flaming red because of it. This time, he steps closer to Kaiser''s casket and examines his bare face. Then, he looks back at the camera.


    "Oh, my heart doesn''t understand! My mind says this, my heart learns another. A few days past, Kaiser''s word moves the world. Now, he is gone, and revering him there is none... Friends, I have here Kaiser''s will. I dare not to read it publicly, but I am confident, for Kaiser only has our people in his heart. I do not pray to fuel your rage, but I pray only for your homage. Honor and respect the Liberators deserve, but who is so kind to keep even a little for Kaiser?"


    He raised up his clenched fist, holding Kaiser''s will still enclosed in an envelope.


    "Kaiser stood against the world for your sake! He may lie in state, but now the Republic is at stake! The decision we shall make, may our nation never regret to take."


    "And... cut!", someone shouted behind the camera.


    The cameraman turned his head and asked, "Good take, director?"


    "Of course! Now, take the tape to the TV stations. I want it airing within the hour! Ta-tah!", the director answered with a clap.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    Lepidov approached Antony, who still gazes at Kaiser''s face.


    He said as he taps Antony''s shoulder, "Nice acting out there, brother in arms."


    Antony sniffed, and turned at Lepidov, "It''s not acting Lepidov!"


    "Now, now. Let''s get back to the palace."


    "The will?"


    "Yes."


    "Well then. Keep your troops on high alert, but do not attack the Capitol. As master''s top lieutenants, we''re the only ones who can keep the Populists at bay."


    "Hmm. Planning to reconvene the Senate?"


    "Of course. You''re a senator, too, Lepidov."


    Lepidov let that one slide and just laughed. Despite his military capabilities, Lepidov was one of the senators with the most absences. Of course, due to the civil war initiated by Kaiser after his return from America, the sessions of the Senate are not as regular as it should be on paper. Soon, the two were inside Kaiser''s Palace. They join some two hundred more senators who temporarily assembled in the palace as the Capitol remained occupied by the Liberators.


    "Shh! Here comes Antony," one senator whispers. A lot of murmuring reigned in the air thereafter.


    "Friends, Russians, countrymen!", Antony opened.


    "Yeah, yeah. We heard that already. Let''s, let''s do this," Tullini Ciceron interrupted. Ever since Kaiser was made dictator, Cicerov proved to be one of the more outspoken opponents of Kaiser, rising to become Senate President.


    Another senator spoke, "That''s right! Get to the brass tacks, Antony!"


    "Well then. Get this pleb a seat, Lepidov."


    "Fine. Everybody calm down. This is what you all want, right?!", Lepidov shouted as he raised the envelope containing Kaiser''s will.


    As everybody tried to calm themselves and take their respective seats (the Republicans and the Populists occupied separate parts of the conference room), Antony, who remained standing by a podium, thought to himself, "Of course. Who would not want to know what happens to Kaiser''s vast estate?"


    When Krassa died, Kaiser may well be considered as Russia''s wealthiest person. After acquiring what was left of the Paramount Triad''s assets, Kaiser was estimated to have accumulated as much as 9 million aurei, more than double that of which Krassa was credited with. Of course, Kaiser did double wages across the board without devaluing the aureus. Minimum wage for a single day, at least in the four years before Kaiser''s death, remained two denarii, the highest it has been in a century. While in normal circumstances, it must have caused inflation so severe, the Russian economy must have collapsed, the influx of additional resources and the availability of additional land in newly acquired territories temporarily allowed Kaiser''s economic policy to go on.


    "Here goes," Antony said as broke the seal put by Kaiser himself, and then slowly opened the envelope containing the late dictator''s will. However, as his eyes browsed the document, he seemed to have not believed it, and he kept quiet for a number of minutes.


    Ciceron stood up from the Republican side of the senators and declared, "Hmph! This Antony is a phony! He''s only doing this for his political expediency. Kaiser didn''t leave any will. Why would he, when he was so confident of his invincibility? Doesn''t Perpetual Dictator ring a bell?"


    "Shut up, Tullini!", Lepidov said as he pointed at Ciceron.


    "Fellow senators, would we still allow Antony to fool us?! Kaiser charades himself as the champion of the masses, but what has his disastrous economic policy done is to hand our souls to Hades! Indeed, self-aggrandizement is the epitome of a dictator! I therefore forward to the Senate a proposal to seize Kaiser''s assets!"


    In mythology, Hades is the ruler of the underworld and personified with death itself. With Ciceron''s famous rhetoric taking action, some of the senators began talking with each other, while others seem to approve of Ciceron''s message as they voice their support of the motion. What does the will of the dictator contain? Will Ciceron''s suspicions be proven to have basis?

 Theirs Is The Kingdom

    Antony is visibly shaking as he read Kaiser''s will. Meanwhile, Ciceron is having a field day in his attempt to take away what little support remains in the Senate for the late dictator.


    Lepidov walked towards Antony and whispered to his ear, "Come on, buddy Antony. These senators are as restless as the mobs outside."


    Finally, Antony spoke, "I know, Aemilio!"


    "Alright, sheesh. What does it say?", Lepidov asks as he tries to peek the documents.


    Antony cleared his throat, and then declared, "Jubemus!"


    With Antony''s call for order, the senators look away from the standing Ciceron, and shift their eyes to the podium.


    "Consule. First... I would like to propose Kaiser to lie in state..."


    Ciceron interrupted, "Enough dilly-dallying! What is Kaiser''s will, if any?"


    "Don''t rush, my erstwhile friend. I''ll tell you all."


    "Spill it. We''re all ears," Ciceron responded, turning his back at Antony to face the senators and show them his iconic hand gesture which goes well with his rhetoric.


    "First...Divisa in partes tres. The 75 percent of my personal fortune shall be given to my great-nephew, Octavian, and I adopt him as my son!"


    The Senate as a whole was surprised. Even Ciceron cannot believe what he just heard, and so he bothered to look at Antony as he continued to read the will. The largely unknown relative of Kaiser is designated to inherit his powerful name.


    "In case Octavian is unavailable to claim what remains of my fortune, I designate Barotov as my second heir!"


    The Populists were thrown into a frenzy. One senator shouted, "How can he be Kaiser''s son?! He killed his own father!"


    Antony tried his best to ignore the grumbling Populists, and continued, "The 25 percent of my personal fortune shall be shared by my great-nephews, Quintin Pedov and Lucius Pinarov!"


    Pedov and Pinarov were grandsons of Kaiser''s sister Julia.


    "Then,Caesarem vehis, Caesarique fortunam!I declare all my gardens and parks be made public places, open for all citizens to see and enjoy! What land remains of my estate shall be given to all farmers through a revitalized land reform program! One hectare each! What finances remain of my estate shall be given to all citizens in Moscovia! Four hundred sestertii each!"


    This time, Kaiser amazed every senator of his magnanimity and generosity. If there are 450 million people in Russia by this time, with some 4 million residing in Moscovia alone, and assuming they are all citizens, then it means giving away 1.6 billion sestertii, which is equivalent to 400 million denarii or 4 million aurei. Taking out of consideration the inflation brought by Kaiser''s doubling of wages, the figure is as much as what Krassa was credited with. One can just imagine how much Kaiser''s personal finances were, which is rated by analysts to be as much as 9 million aurei, if he was so willing to give away that much money to as many people.


    One senator cried, "Kaiser was the world''s most powerful! Kaiser was the world''s wealthiest!"


    The senators applauded, and when Antony saw this, he said loudly, "Senators, do you approve?"


    Trying to regain lost initiative, Ciceron interrupted, "Not so fast, Antony! I propose to keep the distribution on hold until we''ve ascertained where all Kaiser''s money came from. Once distributed, we won''t be able to trace the paper trail."


    "Yeah, right," Lepidov said to rebut Ciceron, "Kaiser is dead. Who else will be prosecuted?"Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    "Why, his family, of course!"


    "You want to take Octavian''s head?! What savage behavior, Ciceron!"


    Antony remained silent as Lepidov and Ciceron deliberated on the latter''s proposal to investigate Kaiser''s estate. Observant as he is, Ciceron believes Antony was not pleased by Kaiser''s decision to bequeath the powerful Kaiser name to his distant nephew, as well as three-fourths of Kaiser''s personal wealth, which is estimated to be more than 6 million aurei. With Octavian as heir, none of the Populist leaders would have a political future to expect.


    "Lepidov, you are as dim as a coal mine, and I''m even doing injustice to the ol'' coal mine!"


    "Hey!"


    "Look at what Kaiser has done. Do you think he cares about any of us senators today? Do you think he cares how our people can get along day by day? Do you think he cares about these mundane affairs? No, I say. What Kaiser wants is to establish his name forever! Not as a general. Not as a dictator. Yes, Kaiser is not even a king. Kaiser wants to be god!"


    "What?! I''ve never heard such a preposterous idea! I''m Master Kaiser''s foremost tank commander and friend. I never knew of him as someone of such ambition."


    "Then what is this resolution in Senate to deify Kaiser? Surely you Populists forwarded this for your master''s sake!"


    "Hrgh... Hey, tell him Antony!"


    Antony finally speaks, although not with the same energy as he proposed carrying out Kaiser''s will.


    He said, "Kaiser... is not a king..."


    "What is he? Is he not so obsessed with his campaigns the world over, and then keeps on asking the treasury to give him more? Then, we find out he has the wealth of the world! What does your master seek? He says the Senate is an institution of old, and so he intended to destroy. But what has he replaced it with? A dictatorship that was seven times rejected by our good society! Tell me, what does Kaiser need with all the wealth, all the health, and all the strength of this world?"


    Lepidov answered, "What do you know? Are you not the one who regretted joining the party which is the assassination of Kaiser?!"


    "Don''t make me laugh. Who wouldn''t want to rid our country of tyranny?"


    Antony motioned his hand to stop Lepidov''s response, and then looked at Ciceron as he begins.


    "My friends, our late Master Kaiser seeks only one thing... A world united... A world stable... A world at peace... What has all the wars brought us? No progress come from such ingress to violence."


    Antony then walks forward, this time intending to address all senators.


    "All of you know how I lived my life in the past. I was a member of Klodiy''s gang. I robbed. I gambled. I killed. What can a man like me do when pressed down by a debt so great, all of us were forced to the streets? Enter Kaiser. At first, I examined the man. His reputation precedes him, as all of you may have seen. As I saw the man''s heart, I realize why he did it all. For the greater good, not only of Russia, but of the world. You senators granted him triumph, and then dictatorship, and then deity, but for what? His kindness you exchange with distrust. His generosity you exchange with disbelief. The very bureaucracy of this nation wallowing in envy. All of you are guilty of killing him! Do you not see? Kaiser has sacrificed his life for all of us! He was willing to bear the burden of the world... He was willing to corrupt it to the core... And destroy..."


    At this point, he looks down and his eyes burst to tears.


    "Is it not better for all to blame a man like Kaiser? A man who sought a new world, even if it means himself being unable to behold?"


    Lepidov approached Antony and tapped his shoulder. Meanwhile, Antony raised his head once more, wiping his tears away and motions his one hand as if gripping a ball.


    "If indeed Kaiser is a king, then yours is his kingdom! Enjoy it all you want! What else can a dead god do, if indeed Kaiser is one? As for me and my people, we will carry out Kaiser''s hopes!"


    He clenches his fist.


    "The world will not be healed with mere words! Action must be taken by those willing to do the work! Even if Kaiser is gone, life goes on!"


    Then, he raises his fist.


    "Therefore, I appeal to all of you! The work is not yet done! We have only just begun!"


    There was silence. A few seconds felt like a number of years. However, claps are heard. It was Lepidov, and when they saw him, the senators gave Antony a standing ovation. It seemed all but Ciceron applauded Antony''s extemporaneous speech. Soon enough, Ciceron, with a few senators personally close to him, walks out of the hall, but not before he uttered his parting words to a somewhat noisy crowd.


    "Hmph! Kaiser''s kingdom is mine alright. With the intrepid king gone, what can his dogs do with the crumbs?"


    Some of the Populists approached Antony and hugged him. Some of the Republicans shook hands with the Populists. At the end of the day, the proposal to carry out Kaiser''s will was approved.


    "Lepidov, call Octavian and have him come to Moscovia immediately."


    "Of course, Antony, but say the magic word."


    "Huh? Oh, alright... Please?"


    "Well then, at haste!"


    Lepidov takes his leave from the hall. Meanwhile, Antony calls the Senate to attention once more.


    "My friends, we have another issue at hand... the Liberators. I propose... their pardon!"


    The senators cannot believe their ears. Murmuring reigned, with most senators asking each other what Antony just said. What does Antony want with the Liberators, the murderers of the late dictator, alive? He has achieved the Senate''s approval, why propose such now?

 The Chosen One Arrives

    Lepidov was quick to reach the Palace emergency lines, which only Kaiser and his inner circle had exclusive access. He contacted the Russian government at Tokyo.


    "Governor! How are you?"


    "Deputy Dictator! I didn''t expect an urgent communication with you!"


    "Oh, please. Don''t call me that anymore, with our glorious dictator passing."


    "I apologize, sir."


    "Well then, let''s get to business. Get me Kaiser''s nephew Octavian."


    "Oh, sir!"


    "What is it?"


    "Octavian is not in Tokyo. He is currently taking studies at Osaka."


    "Then connect me to Osaka ASAP!"


    Silence followed as Lepidov waited for the Russian embassy to complete the necessary arrangements. Meanwhile, Antony has proposed the most uncanny resolution to the Senate.


    Senator Ludwig Cinna stood up and remarked, "Truly we are being presided by a madman! Who would grant pardon to his master''s enemies?"


    "I am not mad, my friends," Antony responded with unexpected candor, "Rather, why bring down the hammer of justice in our own hands? We are different from those we oppose. Where they are destined for, who are we to judge?"


    "Liar! Deceiver!", Cinna declared, "Why hide from us the true intentions of you damned Populists?! Let the matter be handled democratically!"


    "The Senate is not the sole government body in our noble government. If we take it all now, the foundations of our Republic will die in haste. The Senate will soon turn into a dictator it earnestly succeeded to decimate!"


    "Alright, oh-so-great Antony!", Cinna said while bobbing his head side by side, "Let us pretend I''m not an informed senator for a second... Give me the reason behind the pardon."


    "With pleasure, honorable Cinna," Antony began with a bow.


    He then arose and continued his answer, "As I said, we are different from those we oppose. If we execute them now, the people will think we are bound for revenge. This will give the Liberators ample reason to shift public support to their advantage. Our motto is SPQR... Senatus Populusque Rus. If we do not keep up with our creed, what is there to defend?"


    SPQR is a simplified abbreviation which stands for the "Senate and People of Russia", a motto which has been in use since the Republic''s first days.


    One senator shouted from the back, "On point!"


    Then, murmuring reigned in the hall once more, with Cinna being forced to sit down and talk with senators nearby. Antony retreated from the center of the hall to the podium, wearing a thin smile as he waited for the outcome of his proposal. Meanwhile, the embassy has connected to the mayor of Osaka.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    "Yes, sir. The dictator''s nephew is currently in the university. Shall I take him in custody?"


    "No, no. The child would think we''re abducting him. Be nice. Make him think he''s getting a day off from school... Though it might be for an indefinite period."


    "What do you mean, sir?"


    "You''ll know soon enough. What''s important is to send him to Moscovia as soon as possible."


    "Shall we arrange an escort, sir?"


    "Why, of course! Give him all you''ve got in Osaka!"


    "Understood."


    The mayor got up and went to Osaka University at haste, bringing with him an escort that may well occupy four vehicle lanes. Complete with police mobiles and motorcycles, as well as a fleet of black vans (with most of them aimed to be decoys only), it seemed far from what his orders implied. At the least, they kept their sirens off as they go, a practice also observed by the late dictator.


    The guard stopped the mayor with his baton, "Mayor Hashimoto, classes are ongoing."


    "Move aside. We''re on urgent and official business."


    "No, sir. I''ll have to confirm this with the university president."


    "I simply don''t have time for this!", the mayor said loudly as he motioned his hand to the Osaka Chief of Police. He whispered to his ear and the chief nodded.


    Soon enough, the university was flooded with policemen, rushing towards the college buildings.


    "Sir, I protest!", the guard managed to utter while he was cornered by three of the policemen.


    "Man, you have to understand. The republic is in crisis now," one policeman told him.


    "What crisis? I didn''t hear..."


    "Lord Kaiser is dead!"


    Silence came as if something struck their tongues to speak any further on the matter. They waited at the gates, and minutes later, a jolly 19-year old student emerged with the mayor, the chief of police, and their armed entourage. The student turns out to be Octavian himself. They were quick to bring him to the Kansai Airport, where the charge for Octavian''s transportation was carried over to the Russian security agencyKomitet Gosudarstvennoy Bezopasnosti (KGB). Kaiser himself organized the KGB as his elite guard in 1954 (the time he became dictator), but only a few of them were with him during the fateful day of his assassination, and none of them were able to intervene to the incident.


    Lepidov returns to the conference hall where he finds Antony waiting by the podium. He whispers that Octavian has been secured and is on his way to Moscovia. With this news, Antony walked forward a few steps, raised his hands, and shouted, "My friends!"


    With his voice thundering through the hall, the Senate falls quiet. Antony then spoke, "Has the noble Senate reached a decision?"


    Cinna thought to himself, "If the Liberators live, but their support in the capital was dissolved, they might get the chance to raise an army outside Moscovia. In that case..."


    One senator budged Cinna, as he is the main opponent of Antony''s current proposal.


    "Yes," Cinna finally answered, "I''ve no more questions to the resolution. I''ll let it pass."


    "I see," Antony said, "how about the rest of the senators?"


    Voting ended quickly as most of the senators approved Antony''s proposal to let the Liberators free. The Senate adjusted additional matters including the schedule of the special sessions, since that year was not supposed to be a regular session year with a dictator in position. As the day ends, so did the Senate session in Kaiser''s Palace. Antony and Lepidov remained, as well as Populist leaders of the Senate.


    "Are you sure about this, Antony? Let an inexperienced teenager handle all of Master Kaiser''s fortune?"


    "Even after death, I can''t let Master Kaiser''s will go unfulfilled..."


    "What about you, Sir Antony, and Deputy Dictator Lepidov?"


    Antony looked towards Lepidov, and the latter responded with a laugh, "We''re still here, aren''t we?"


    Antony followed up, "That''s a simple way to put it, really."


    "What do you two mean?"


    "I admit, I''m disappointed because neither of us were in our master''s will, but what else can we do? Rather than think on what the dead might have done, we should just act on what the living can still do now. I believe that Kaiser''s will go beyond these documents, and we''ll carry them out as much as possible... until we achieve the will that shall bless this world with peace."


    The following morning, the chosen one arrives. Octavian has come to Moscovia, and with his arrival, the will of the late dictator finally began to move. However, as it attempts to uphold his controversial legacy, where shall this take the Russian Republic?

 The Great Russian Game

    Antony and Lepidov wait in Kaiser''s reading room, the place where the late dictator usually meets his inner circle.


    "You know," Lepidov opened up, "aren''t we supposed to feel less tense now?"


    Antony looked at him and said, "What do you mean?"


    "I mean, looking at this empty seat... I can''t believe that he''s gone," Lepidov points at Kaiser''s table, which is already clean of clutter, but still bears the dictator''s insignia.


    "Tell me, Aemilio," Antony leaned backwards and crossed his legs, "You could really take over now, as you are his second-in-command, and thus, Deputy Dictator..."


    "Come on, Mark," Lepidov responded with a laugh, "Look at it this way. We''re bothhis second-in-command. It just so happened you fell out of his favor lately, that''s all."


    "Being six years older than I, you''re effectively my senior, really. Besides, you''re the one who secured Master Kaiser''s dictatorship in ''54."


    "Oh... I see where this is going."


    "Don''t tell me Aemilio."


    "I''ll tell you alright! You''re the one who publicly offers Master Kaiser a crown every time the February carnival arrives! You said it yourself, thrice. That means you have been offering him a crown fit for a king ever since he became dictator!"


    Antony uncrossed his legs and leaned forward to the furious Lepidov. Speaking in a much softer voice, "Look here, rich guy... I''m not saying we helped hasten our master''s demise... All I''m asking is this. We could just bypass Kaiser''s will and have you take over as dictator."


    Lepidov stood up, walked to the wine cabinet, and filled a glass for himself. Then, he turned back to Antony with a calmer demeanor, "Buddy... All of us had been called by this body to be its head, but in this age of war, the head usually comes off first. Look at this wine. It ages. It reaches its peak. Then what? It will be consumed just like everything else."


    Antony clasped his hands and said, "I just don''t want that... that kid. I''ve got a bad feeling of him taking over..."


    Lepidov sipped his cup of wine, and then handed Antony another cup he filled.


    "I also had doubts about the guy. It seemed that our master didn''t have too many to choose with anyway, with most of his family killed during and after the counterrevolution. But..."


    "Hmm?"


    "You had your share of a dark past, Mark. You''re half-caste, a mix of the noble and the commoner. You''re part of Klodiy''s gang. To be frank, I was surprised to know that our master decided to take in someone like you."


    Antony smiled as he took the cup Lepidov gave. He sipped the wine first, and then spoke, "That''s what I loved from Master Kaiser. In the outside, he has to maintain that ruthless, unforgiving facade... In the inside, his heart flows with mercy and compassion."


    "Sure about that? I always felt tense when we meet our master," Lepidov said as he looked towards Kaiser''s chair, "Heh... Remember that time when he said his sapiens was at its limits?"


    Antony imitated Kaiser''s gesture at the event Lepidov was mentioning, "I think I even heard it was sapient..."


    "Antony, I can''t take over as dictator."


    "But you''re a good administrator, even better than I, as our master once remarked."


    "Sure, I''ve handled the capital for a few years, but you also did. Look at it this way. We''re both qualified to take the position."


    "In my case, I still have to undergo another grueling process with the Senate, but with you as deputy, you can become Acting Dictator without those senators meddling. I''m just saying the possible alternatives we can take. Besides, if we let the kid take over, then the Republic is finished!"


    "Aren''t you exaggerating a bit?", Lepidov asked as he sat back to his chair, which was parallel to Antony''s.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    "No. Octavian is our master''s heir, holding the potent Kaiser name, and if he becomes Russia''s leader, then the Kaiser name would have become de facto dynasty! The very monarchy we abolished almost five hundred years ago would reemerge!"


    "Confound it! Why on earth would Master Kaiser want that?! He''d be the enemy of the republic!"


    Antony paused, as if he was dazed. Lepidov looked at him quizzically.


    "Lord... Why..."


    "Um... Antony?"


    Antony pounded his right fist, and then wailed, "Kaiser had us! He wants the kid not only as the heir of his fortune, but as his political successor! I can''t believe it! I''d never let him lie in state!"


    "Hey! No need to shout," the surprised Lepidov said, "I know he is cunning and all, but surely he left something for us, right?"


    "We both read the documents, Lepidov...," a seemingly drained Antony answered, "He has secured his family''s future with that will... but not the future of the world... I was a fool to believe his vision... a world united... a world stable... a world at peace... Is it all empty rhetoric?"


    "... Kaiser! My friend! The man I''d take a shell for! No!!", Lepidov shouted as the thought sank in him, and then he motioned to break his cup.


    Antony stopped him by grabbing his wrist, and then spoke, "Calm, Aemilio... We can still work this out..."


    Lepidov slightly trembled, but when he looked at Antony, the latter let go of his hand.


    "What can we do?"


    "The kid would arrive in the palace soon, right?"


    "Of course. I arranged it with the Komitet."


    "Good. Before he gets here, we have to plan it out."


    Lepidov''s eyes narrowed, "You''re furious at Kaiser a while ago, but now you''re calmer than ever. What''s your anger management secret?"


    Evidently, Lepidov is still fuming from Antony''s revelation. Antony just smiled, and then continued, "The kid must also be spinning when he discovers the rapidity of events. We should keep him spinning, while we consolidate our own positions. He won''t know what hit him. Forget Kaiser''s will. It shall be our will now. The Russian will. The will we carry is to save the republic, to unite the world, and bring an end to the era of wars. But, we cannot do that without a solid foundation for ourselves. As the great Archiceres once said, give me a place to stand and I shall move the world!"


    "Speaking of Archiceres, isn''t Ciceron the one doing research on the inventor? What about Ciceron and his associates?"


    "We''ll take care of Ciceron later. The greatest threat to the republic is Kaiser''s heir."


    "But Mark, how can we balance out the powerful Kaiser heir?"


    "We''ll use the strategy Kaiser also used in 1940... We''ll make a new Paramount Triad."


    Composed of Julius Kaiser, Ney Pompey, and Lisiny Krassa, the Paramount Triad is a loose alliance of Russia''s top military commanders, which was also assigned by the government as Joint Chiefs of Staff. It was widely accepted that it was Kaiser''s initiative to organize the triad. The triad''s support helped his first election as president in 1941, and funded his campaign across the Atlantic Ocean which began the American Wars in 1942.


    "You mean... us and...?"


    "Yes, my friend. The Great Russian Game has begun."


    The Great Russian Game was initially a term used by scholars to refer to the period of political and diplomatic maneuvering experienced within the republic whenever there is a national crisis, and there is a great general risk. It was particularly applied first with Sulla''s civil war and bid for dictatorship. Of course, to keep his enemies from targeting him, he stepped down when his term ended. Later on, it applied to the earlier times Russia had such crises. It was called a "game" in jest, an attempt to tone down the risk involved. It also underlines the belief that the players tend to be Russia''s leaders, and the people are merely expendables for their agenda.


    After drafting some key points, Antony and Lepidov agreed to take part in a new Paramount Triad, but they still have to await the decision of Kaiser''s chosen heir, Octavian, who they plan to take the third spot in the triad. Lepidov immediately asks the KGB to bring him to Kaiser''s Palace. Soon enough, he comes to the palace and meets his father''s two lieutenants.


    "Hello, Antony, Lepidov," Octavian greeted the two as he entered Kaiser''s reading room.


    "Yes. Good evening. Have a seat," Antony welcomed Octavian, "You look rested."


    The chair was slightly smaller than that of Antony and Lepidov. All the chairs in the room, save Kaiser''s chair, faced each other. One can easily sketch a triangle when looking at the scene from above.


    "How wouldn''t I? I''ve been studying for years and quite frankly, I''m sick of it. I can really use some fresh air here in Moscovia," Octavian said with cheer.


    "Do you know why you''re here?"


    "Hmm. Now that you mentioned, it feels quite eerie here. I was told by Mayor Hashimoto that I''m needed, but I only went to get out of university. Anyway, where''s daddy?"


    Antony looked at Lepidov, and the latter nodded.


    "Sport, I don''t want to break it down to you," Lepidov said with a serious tone, "but daddy''s... passed towards greater glory..."


    "You mean... he''s more than a dictator now? Oh joy! There must be a party! Now I see why there''s the rush to take me here!"


    Octavian clapped his hands and he did seem happy about it. Antony looked again at Lepidov, this time with irritation. While Octavian looked up and anticipated festivities, Antony used sign language to message Lepidov.


    "Tell him!" - Antony motioned to Lepidov.


    "But..." - Lepidov answered with sign language as well.


    Antony sighed out of exasperation. He then spoke with uncanny firmness, "No, my friend. Dad is dead. He is no more."


    Octavian stopped and looked intently at Antony.


    "W-what...?"


    "We prepared his cremation tomorrow. The people are allowed to fuel his funeral pyre."


    Octavian just stared at Kaiser''s empty seat, and he suddenly felt weak. His arms hang on the sides, almost reaching the floor.


    Lepidov said, "That... That''s right, sport... I''m sorry..."


    Antony interrupted, "And that''s what we want to talk about with you."


    It proved to be a long evening. What will come out from their discussion?

 Retreat To The East

    Cinna left the capital with some of his bodyguards that same night. They did not use his official Senate car, which may be bulletproof, but not invincible to tracking. They used the secret network of tunnels built by Pompey when he was president, which leads to areas outside the city. From there, they acquired a car which allowed them to reach Novgorod, some 600 kilometers north of Moscovia. When they reached the city before dawn, they entered another network of tunnels, this time leading them to the hideout of the Liberators, who fled the city after the public threw its support to the dead Kaiser.


    Cinna knocked at the metal door and said, "Open up!"


    It took few minutes before someone asked from the other side, "Password?"


    "What?!", Cinna exclaimed, "This is urgent!"


    "Password," the voice repeated.


    "Okay," Cinna said as he shakes his head once, and then snapped at one of his guards.


    The bodyguard at his right whispered, "Uh... J22M?"


    Cinna nodded and said loudly, "J22M!"


    "No. Password," the voice declared.


    Cinna hit the guard with his palm, and then snapped at another guard.


    The bodyguard at his left whispered, "Liberty or death?"


    Cinna nodded and said loudly, "Give me liberty or give me death!"


    A few more seconds passed, and the metal door clicked, as if indicating it was opened.


    "Recognized. Welcome, brother," the voice said.


    As the door opened, Cinna saw Servili Kaska, the first one to strike Kaiser during the assassination. Kaska shook Cinna''s hand, but then went closer to his ear and said, "Your guards have to wait in the lobby."


    Cinna whispered, "I understand."


    He then turned to his guards and asked them to wait at the lobby. The metal door was closed, and when they entered the lobby, there is another metal door. The guards remain in the lobby, which was equipped with good lighting, radio, electric fan, and even a refrigerator for snacks, while Cinna and Kaska enter the second metal door. When they close the second metal door, a dark tunnel was revealed, lighted only by small bulbs. The tunnel was quite small, and people can only enter by twos. After some walking, they reach the third metal door. When Kaska opened the third metal door, there revealed the rest of the conspirators who assassinated Julius Kaiser, watching on television a replay of Antony''s speech for the late dictator. All of them are in that one large room which featured better lighting and even air conditioning. The room also had three other metal doors, one on each side. With Cinna''s arrival, the evidently gloomy atmosphere seemed to have lightened up.


    "Cinna! How''s things at the capital? You could''ve just radioed us," Longinus greeted Cinna as he shook his hand.


    "Yeah," Barotov said to Cinna as he also shook his hand, "I suppose you''re not followed?"


    "Of course not," Cinna assured to Barotov.


    "Take a seat," Longinus motioned his hand to direct Cinna to a vacant chair.


    "Thank you," Cinna said with a smile.


    As he sat down, he noticed the rest of the conspiring senators talking softly with each other. Thinking he was being doubted by his own comrades, Cinna began his report.


    "Gentlemen! I bring news from the Senate. It turns out Kaiser''s will is real, but that''s not the big story..."If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    With this opening statement, all in the room looked at Cinna and listened intently.


    "As expected, one of his family members get the Kaiser fortune, the young Octavian. However..."


    Barotov interrupted, "Just get to the point, Ludwig!"


    "Alright. Always the rushing one, eh?", Cinna remarked.


    He then continued with his report, "Barotov was designated as second heir, in the event Octavian dies!"


    Sounds of surprise and amazement dominated the room.


    "Not only will the heir inherit 75 percent of Kaiser''s fortune, estimated to be around 6 million aurei, he will also inherit the Kaiser name!"


    Longinus looked at Barotov and shook him by the shoulder.


    "This is great! We''re not beaten yet!", Longinus declared with joy.


    "What do you mean?", Barotov shot back.


    Kaska answered, "That means, we only have to dispose of the boy, and then you can have Kaiser''s fame and fortune!"


    "Wait!", Cinna interjected, "If we throw our support to someone with the Kaiser name, how can the Liberators remain committed to liberty? If Barotov takes Octavian''s role as successor, then a dynasty is still built."


    From rejoicing, silence again reigned in the room.


    Longinus tried to break the silence, "What now? Just ignore Kaiser''s fortune? We can fund a whole army with that money!"


    "Yes," Cinna responded, "it can be done. But two points must be cleared. First, can we kill Octavian? At this point, he must be in the capital, and Kaiser''s KGB must be working head over heels to protect him. Second, can we risk taking the Kaiser name? Kaiser is the very symbolism of tyranny. Remember, the will gives the fortune as a package."


    Barotov turned his head away from the people and tried to keep his tears from falling.


    "Father, my father," he murmured.


    Longinus said as he patted Barotov''s shoulder, "Very well. I take Cinna''s point, but what can we do to take away power from Kaiser''s men?"


    "Raise an army elsewhere," Cinna declared as he pulled out a map of the Russian Republic and placed it on the center table. Most of the Liberators looked on as they await Cinna''s explanation.


    "What do you propose?", Longinus asked the obvious question as he also looked at the map.


    Cinna circled his index finger at the area near Moscovia as he said, "The center is dangerous. You can''t raise any army here. The people are fired up by Antony''s speech, which has been viewed by almost a hundred million in Russia alone!"


    He then pointed in Russia''s eastern frontier.


    "You can''t also raise any army in the west, as Kaiser has just campaigned against America. It will take time for them to recover. The east had somewhat recovered, and with the Chinese threat, those people at the capital would think twice to move massive troops to the border."


    "Very well," Longinus said as he nodded, "which do you suggest in particular?"


    Cinna rubbed his chin and paused for a moment while looking intently at the map. The rest also made sounds to indicate that they were also thinking.


    After a few more minutes, Cinna softly said, "Japan..."


    "What?", Barotov asked as he faced his ear towards Cinna''s direction.


    Longinus heard Cinna and agreed to his recommendation. However, the rest of the Liberators deliberated the matter with incessant talking.


    "Why not the Philippines? Indonesia?"


    "America is still large enough to provide the manpower we need."


    "Let''s seek an asylum with China!"


    "How about the Arabs? They''d want to get some revenge."


    "Has anyone considered Africa?"


    "Let''s march to Moscovia again! Push our luck at the capital!"


    Cinna pounded the table with his fist, with the ends of the map flapping at its wake.


    "Quiet! Japan is the best candidate because it is the most modernized of all the eastern territories. Antony is loved in the Philippines and Indonesia for his stint there as Gabiniy''s staff. The cause of the Liberators can find fertile ground in Japan. The Japanese have been yearning to get revenge for the post-Sulla repression that crushed their rebellion in ''22."


    "That''s why I agree," Longinus entered, "I''m good at Nihongo, and I''m quite popular in the area for my service there during Kaiser''s civil war. Tadashii! I estimate that we can easily raise six divisions there!"


    A Russian division consists of around 20,000 troops. While Barotov kept quiet as he remembered his father''s memory, the Liberators were decided that they are to carry the fight elsewhere. Cinna was pleased to see his plans at work.


    "But wait," Kaska asked, "weren''t we supposed to be wanted for killing Kaiser? The borders must have been closed at the frontier!"


    "Don''t worry. Antony himself has arranged for your pardon, and I seconded the motion. I''m even here to grant for safe-conduct passes."


    "Unbelievable!", Longinus exclaimed, "Even after I threw a spear at him!"


    Cinna said, "I don''t know what he''s planning, but whatever that is, we must be ahead in this game."


    On the same day, the Liberators leave Novgorod, and split themselves into six groups. However, instead of going to Moscovia, they sneak their convoy to Hilin. From there, they take the railroad towards the eastern frontier. They cross through Korea, still neutral despite being pressured by Russia and China, in attempts to cover their trail for they suspected the safe-conduct passes. Within a week, they have arrived at Japan. The retreat to the east is complete. Each group is now tasked to raise a division. As for Cinna, he returned to Moscovia. With the Liberators building an army against Kaiser''s men, another civil war is imminent. Can the republic survive another armed conflict?

 The Stage Is Set

    April 1956: Russian Republic


    It has been a little more than two weeks since Kaiser was assassinated. The Liberators were granted pardon and were never heard of in the capital. Until now. The KGB reports that the Liberators secretly fled to Japan and has raised an army from six different points: Kagoshima, Hiroshima, Osaka, Nagaoka, Toyama, and Nagoya. While the Russian government tried to keep information from being leaked, the media got wind of the situation shortly before action breaks out. The forces from Osaka, Nagaoka, Toyama, and Nagoya charge straight to the provincial capital of Tokyo, with the Kagoshima and Hiroshima forces coming for Tokyo as well. All of it were caught in camera, and war correspondents are having a field day.


    Longinus, leading the Osaka division, orders to all channels, "Maintain radio silence. You have been briefed. We''ll meet you there. Over and out!"


    He then turns to Barotov, who rode the jeep with him, "What''s with the long face?"


    Barotov shook his head and answered, "I should ask you. Why take Tokyo?"


    "Comrade, the prestige of Tokyo as Japan''s capital is more than you can imagine. If we take the city, we can proclaim an independent country! A country to match the republic!"


    "Unbelievable! You intend to let the Japanese fight for our cause?"


    "What all these people want liberty, my good man.Sou desu ka?", Longinus said as he turned to the Japanese driver.


    The driver responded with a quick "sou da!" Longinus simply asked, "Is it not?" and the Japanese driver answered, "It is!" or "Indeed!"


    Barotov points to the driver, "Uh, this man can understand us?"


    Longinus just shrugged.


    Meanwhile, the people in the Russian capital of Moscovia has been purposely left behind the news by the KGB as the government discussed the recent developments.


    "We must declare martial law!", the young Octavian thundered in the war room, the part of Kaiser''s Palace where the late dictator used to plan his campaigns whenever he was in the capital.


    The room was packed with some of Kaiser''s remaining generals, as well as Kaiser''s remaining admirals just parallel who tend to oppose the generals.


    "You''re too soft, sport! Total war is what they deserve," Lepidov slapped Octavian''s back with force, enough to make him fall from his chair.


    Antony just stared at the map, which had the dispositions of the military forces represented by miniature figures of soldiers (for infantry), tanks (for armor), planes (for aircraft), ships (for fleets), and guns (for artillery). Sitting as he seemed deep in thought, his head was just over his hands clasped together.


    Lepidov turned to Antony and said with an accusing finger, "This is your fault, Antony! Had you let us march through the Senate or wherever they hid their butts in..."


    Antony slammed the map, almost putting the figures in disarray. Lepidov was taken aback, and so was Octavian, who just recovered from his fall from the chair.


    "Shut up, Aemilio! All is well," he responded while he gazed at the map again, looking at neither Lepidov, Octavian, and the rest of the admirals and generals present in the room.


    Konstanin Zhukov, one of the generals, spoke, "Lord Antony. If I may?"


    "Quit the silly adjectives, Konstantin. Sir is good enough."


    "Yes, Sir Antony," Zhukov nods and then turns to the rest of the people present, "Our ultimate plan is to crush the Liberators in one decisive military action."This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Lepidov took a seat and remarked, "Are you well, Zhukov? You''re just as supportive of the preemptive strike as I am! What''s with this change of mind?"


    Octavian shouts, "Eureka!"


    "You''re a what?!", Lepidov quickly asked.


    "We let them converge first, and then sweep them away in one blow! Swish!", Octavian motions a batting movement from his hands.


    "That''s not all...," Antony calmly said as he leaned back on his chair.


    Lepidov shot back, "What the-?!"


    "A battle has to be fought to know its outcome."


    "Right, right. We all know that saying. What''s new?!"


    "We can always wage war. Our history has been full of conflict. However, there is a detail dividing the good, the bad, and the ugly."


    "Stop making cultural references already."


    "The cause."


    Zhukov rose from his seat and shouted with a clenched fist, "A just cause to make war!"


    The rest of the military men nodded, apparently signifying their approval. Octavian, probably the only young person in the room, did not seem to carry the idealistic fervor of his generation for peace as he also nodded in response to Zhukov''s bold statement.


    "Yes," Antony continued, "If we attacked them right there and then, theirliberatingprinciple will hold. They will make us look like the bad guys."


    "Bad boys. Bad boys. What you gonna do? What you gonna do when we come for you?", Octavian sang, even if he was quite out of tune.


    Everyone glared at Kaiser''s heir. Tension seemed to rise, but Octavian does not get a wind of it.


    "What?", he asked innocently.


    Antony removed his look at Octavian and spoke once more, "We only needed a chance to make them look like the aggressor. Then, the people will be behind us when we make our move."


    Sergius Gorshkov, one of the admirals in the war room, raised his hand and asked, "Give me a break, Sir Antony. No need to be diplomatic in a room full of warriors."


    Lepidov coughed at that statement while he quickly glanced at Octavian.


    "Look at Kaiser''s American Wars! Look at our conquest of the Philippines and Indonesia!," Gorshkov continued, "We''re the aggressors, and yet, our people still calls for war..."


    Antony looked at Gorshkov''s direction, smiled, and said, "You cannot mold iron without making it hot."


    The meeting went on, culminating with a war plan against the Liberators. At the end of the day, the generals and the admirals were adjourned, being sent back to their respective posts. Octavian, who was exhausted of all the military talk, was allowed to be out of the Palace to enjoy himself in the city''s entertainment district. Lepidov and Antony remained in Kaiser''s Palace, discussing their situation in the reading room.


    "Damn those peace-loving algae-hugging admirals!", Lepidov thundered, swinging his fist upon a table, after making sure they were alone in the area, "Damn! Damn! Damn!"


    "What''d I do to have you here? Relax, Aemilio," Antony said with a little laugh as he wiped the punched table with a towel turned into a rag.


    "Mark, you know we can''t land in Japan without unqualified support from the Navy!"


    "At least, they didn''t disapprove of the plan altogether. That''s a start."


    "Hmph! I''d really blast my guns on those admirals when I have the chance."


    "Look, Gorshkov was promoted by Kaiser as Chief Admiral shortly before his death. He received the Order of Kaiser twice for his military service. If we don''t survive this, he is surely one of the viable candidates for power. In short, we can''t point guns at each other. For now."


    Lepidov finally calmed down after witnessing Antony''s demeanor.


    He asked, "What are youreallyplanning?"


    "Nothing much," Antony said as he pulled a document out of Kaiser''s drawer. He opened the folder and showed it to Lepidov.


    It did not take long before Lepidov realized what it was all about.


    "Unbelievable... Kaiser... He had this made top secret...?"


    "No wonder he was so confident of taking the position of Perpetual Dictator. This weapon will make his enemies perpetually evaporate until none of them are left."


    Lepidov flipped more and more of the pages, and he cannot keep his amazement from his face.


    "Antony... Don''t tell me you''re planning to use this?!"


    "The breakthrough was almost reached before Kaiser was killed. Now, we have it working."


    "What will the colonized peoples think if we use this?"


    "Oh, no. We''re not the one using it," Antony answered, "Besides, forty centuries look down on us. Gorshkov had a point a while ago. The history of our people is war. Russia was built by continuous conflict. This may well bring the unexpected result... peace."


    Lepidov stared at the document, as if thinking, and then asked, "What more secrets did Kaiser have?"


    Antony looked at him, "Unfortunately... the KGB is as uncooperative as the Navy. Even the Populists cannot take hold of all Kaiser''s top secret files..."


    "Those conniving wretches are actually spying each other. Maybe I can use some of my men there to gather more information."


    "Agreed," Antony remarked as rose from his seat, "Then, the stage is set."


    The two parted ways late at night. Lepidov went back to the barracks to prepare his men for the expected onslaught on the island province, as well as ask the operatives he have inside the KGB for more information.


    Antony looked at the city from the palace porch. He thought to himself, "Japan... My return is a search for answers..."

 The War Over Tokyo

    "You may not be interested in war, but war is interested in you."


    War soon broke out in the Japan sector, but the Liberators did not expect the swift Russian maneuver. Instead of facing the enemy from Korea, the Pacific Fleet and the Eastern Air Force went around, launching the defensive effort from the Philippines and Hawaii. The speed is in itself a thing to reckon with, as it would have been easier to use the Korean peninsula as a launching pad. After three days of fierce fighting, the Japanese capital of Tokyo lay in ruins, but the Liberators still have strength to spare. They opened a new offensive on the fourth day.


    Longinus radioed all remaining troops, "This is the final battle. Liberty or death!"


    Barotov turned to his comrade, both in safe distance from the ongoing battle in Tokyo, after coded instructions were sent from their makeshift headquarters.


    "Cassini..."


    "Yes, Mark?"


    "Make or break?"


    "MJ... I''m really unsure at this point... These Japanese are not our people, and so, it''d be easier to abandon them. However, I have grown a sort of attachment to these people..."


    "The rest of the Liberators propose another retreat. Raise an army again elsewhere."


    "No. It''d be harder to raise the spirits of the people, wherever we go, if we carry the banner of defeat. Believe me, this is the final battle."


    Barotov was dismayed at Longinus for his pessimistic approach. He left the quarters of Longinus to converse with Kaska, whose troops joined the battle for the first time.


    "Servili, we can''t survive this!", Barotov said loudly, as if almost crying.


    "Woah there!", Kaska interjected, spilling his early morning cup of matcha tea.


    Barotov shook Kaska by the shoulders while wailing, "I know we put our lives at stake, but come on! We should regroup and fight another day!"


    Kaska pushed Barotov and said with his hands pointing to the ground, "Look what you did to my tea! It doesn''t have much of a taste, but still! The incessant battle noise is already enough a nuisance in a morning like this."


    "Sorry, but what is tea to me now that our lives are in danger?!"


    Kaska''s one eyebrow twitched as he looked at Barotov. He took Barotov to an empty tent.


    He responded thereafter, "Kid, do you even know how Kaiser was struck his death blow?"


    "Huh? Isn''t it because he saw me, his own son, among the Liberators?"


    Kaska smiled as he brewed another cup of tea and saying, "Look, how did I land the first hit on him? The old man''s not that weak. There''s reason behind his confidence to take a position never before held in history, Perpetual Dictatorship."


    Barotov look more puzzled, "Isn''t it because his model was Iskandar al-Akbar?"


    Iskandar is the famed warrior king who commanded his armies from the east, conquering as far west as the Arab world. To this day, epics and songs in the island nations of the east, mainly in the Philippines and Indonesia, commemorate Iskandar, the king of the Tagalogs, the conqueror of Java and Champa, the destroyer of Great China, and of course, the builder of Alexandria, now a thriving port city guarding (or choking, depending on the point of view) vital trading routes in the Indian and Arab worlds.


    "Are you really his son? I mean, really, jumping Jupiter?!", Kaska said as he slapped his forehead.


    Barotov looked down as Kaska continued making his tea.


    "Well, I..."


    "Frankly, your guesses are as good as an amateur," Kaska sipped his tea before continuing, "Let''s make this a better affair for you... Do you remember the story of Kaiser destroying a ship singlehandedly?"Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    "Hmm...," Barotov thought for a moment as Kaska put his feet up on the table between them.


    When Kaiser was around 25 years old, he was captured by pirates roaming the Pacific Ocean. Since the Kaiser family was fairly well-off, the pirates thought of exchanging the young Kaiser for a hefty ransom of 4,000 aurei (again, 1 aureus is equivalent to 25 days'' wages).


    "I won''t be doing that if I were you," Kaiser told his captors with an enigmatic smile, "You''d pay fifty times the cost you have put on my head."


    The pirates just laughed at him, knowing he cannot do much while he was tied alone in a cell. Some 38 days passed, and the Kaiser family stalled, making the pirates impatient. However, when they decided to make him walk the plank, Kaiser suddenly displayed unbelievable stealth and strength. It was as if he was not fed on meager rations nor weakened by lack of potable water. In a few minutes, the ironclad pirate ship was sunk.


    As if this was not enough, it was said that he swam to reach the rest of the pirate ships and sink them, too. A total of five ships were sunk. The total cost of the destroyed ships alone amount to around 200,000 aurei, which is indeed 50 times the ransom asked for his release.


    "I tell you," Kaska said, "Kaiser didn''t have the brute force required to do such a feat. Still, even at 55, he can easily do to us what he did when he was 25. You know why?"


    "Tell me, for Juno''s sake! We''re at war here!"


    "Simply put, he has thepower of god."


    "Power of god?"


    Just then, an enormous explosion was heard. When the two came out to witness what happened, they saw a vast white cloud coming up from the city. Up to 144 square kilometers were immediately suffered severe conflagration, while the adjacent areas are not spared from spreading flames. The blowing southeast wind did not help the situation. Even after the huge cloud cleared, military and civilian people alike are dying not only from the surrounding fire... but from something else. Something invisible, yet evidently deadly.


    "Radiation?" Antony asked to his aide Canuid Krassa while they were aboard the Russian bomber Tupolev Tu-95.


    Krassa peers to the window, and then replied, "Yes, sir. The blast size is just a bonus. What makes the weapon lethal is the radiation dose it gives. Unfortunately..."


    Antony made a sharp look at Krassa, "... I know... Such are the sacrifices of conflict..."


    "We can''t order a general retreat... Otherwise, the surprise effect fails..."


    "The bigger the risk, the bigger the returns."


    "Do you actually believe that principle, sir?"


    "Above all, try something... I only hope in my heart that we could''ve come up with a lesspainlessway. Maybe in the future."


    "Sir...," Krassa can only utter this softly as he seemed conflicted with the ends and the means.


    "Anyway, we must get to work. Full speed towards Okinawa!"


    Krassa pulled a radio from the front of his seat, and then ordering the crew to fly to a certain set of coordinates. After giving the necessary commands, he turned back to Antony.


    "You purposely chose a long-range bomber for this mission, sir?"


    The Tu-95 has a maximum range of 15,000 kilometers.


    "Yes," Antony answered, this time refraining from looking at his aide as he spoke.


    Seemingly understanding of Antony''s determined mood, he attempted to shift the conversation to the mission they are undertaking.


    "Sir, you say this is the key to the assassination?"


    "Yes. Okinawa is nothing more than a small stretch of an island in the Pacific. It''s very name means "rope at sea" or "rope to catch fish." It is as much of an island as any other in the West Pacific. However, KGB records say he frequented this island. Why do you think it is so?"


    "Um... To confuse spies spying the KGB?"


    Antony smiled at the educated guess, "Close, but not close enough, my candid Canuid."


    "Sir! Please stop saying my name withcandid!"


    "Alright, alright. The thing is... Kaiser had this secret power... the power of god."


    "God, sir? Which god?"


    Russia has at least 12 major gods: Jupiter, Juno, Neptune, Minerva, Mars, Venus, Apollo, Diana, Vulcan, Vesta, Mercury, and Ceres. However, as the republic expanded, so did their pantheon of gods. For example, Russia began to selectively assimilate Japan''s eight million gods.


    "Oh. Of course," Antony said with a quick laugh, "You see, while I''m studying here, in Japan, I was told of an old epic, which says that there were immortals residing with us... What keeps them alive is the power of god..."


    "Wait, sir! Didn''t Kaiser die?"


    "Obvious argument. The supposed answer is because Kaiser''s power inherited an incomplete power," Antony calmly responded, still gazing nowhere near his companion.


    "Incomplete power?", the more confused Krassa asked.


    "Imagine power as a system. All of us have power, and all of us are supposed to have equal portions of it. There are ways to disrupt this system. When a man gains power over the other, then it is a zero-sum relationship. However, the power coming from god gives a man additional power, without necessarily reducing the power of the other. Simply, one''s power gain is not necessarily the other''s loss. The latter disrupts the system more, because this adds much power while it is active, but reduces much when it becomes inactive. Kaiser is case in point."


    "I can very well imagine that, sir. However, how come Kaiser''s power is incomplete?"


    Antony sighed, and said, "Unfortunately, all of these lay mostly in theory. I''m also trying to sort out the difference between the god and the immortals, and between the immortals and Kaiser. Hopefully, we can find our lead in the rope at sea."


    Nevertheless, Antony and Krassa were not the only ones rushing to reach Okinawa. After seeing the massive explosion, Kaska and Barotov brought whoever they can muster, and proceeded to the place as well, abandoning the rest of the Liberators in the process. Kaska led the way, as he exposed whatever he knew of the power of god to Barotov. What is the potent weapon used to obliterate Tokyo? Is it potent enough to end the war with the Liberators? What is the power of god, and how does Okinawa complete the puzzle about it?

 Invincible Under The Heavens

    "By knowing things that exist, you can know that which does not exist."


    In the serene island, the coming bomber seemed an eerie presence hovering the Okinawa skies. Only a single major airport can handle the large plane''s landing. Fortunately for Antony and company, the Naha Airport is the nearest one can get to reach their destination. Formerly called Oroku, the airport was renamed as Naha when it was converted into a Russian air base after the 1922 revolt.


    "Alright," Antony remarked after he took off from the plane, "I need a well-armed escort group to take me to Tamago... Tamagoya..."


    "Tamagusuku, sir?", Krassa entered with a quick salute.


    "Oh... right, right," Antony responded while his eyes looked slightly upward, "Let''s go."


    It took less than thirty minutes to prepare Antony''s escort: six army trucks to travel in twos, and eight motorcycles. A total of 80 troops accompanied Antony and Krassa.


    "Tamagusuku is named after the former chief of the island," Krassa recounts as they went on their journey, "For a village that''s hardly inhabited, Tamagusuku must have done a bad job."


    Antony replied coolly, "At least he''s got something named after him."


    Krassa coughed a little, and then asked, "What exactly is our mission in that village, sir?"


    Antony decided not to respond, and while his aide waited for his answer, they already arrived in the area.


    "A cave, sir?", Krassa asked as he looked at the seemingly pale white sight.


    Stalactites and stalagmites littered the cave, yet its flowing waters are as blue as it can get.


    "Secure the perimeter," Antony ordered, "Wait for me here."


    "S-sir! Surely you''d need some company?"


    Antony walked to Krassa, and patted his shoulder with his right hand.


    "Man is born alone. He will live alone, and then depart alone."


    Krassa raised his head, looking at Antony''s eyes. At first, he was afraid, but then he realized that those were not the eyes of a man who lost hope. The eyes were lighting up with determination.


    "Y-yes, sir!"


    Krassa salutes, and so did the rest of the soldiers with him. Antony salutes back, motions them to be at ease, and turns to proceed to the inner portions of the cave. When Antony was out of sight, Krassa motioned to one of the Japanese soldiers that accompanied the escort. The Japanese rushed to his side.


    "Who are you, son?"


    The Japanese soldier saluted before saying, "N-nani ga arimasu ka?" (What is it?)


    "Eh? N-nani sore??", Krassa surprisingly remarked, "You don''t speak our language?!"


    One Russian soldier nearby saluted, and then shouted, "Sir! Major Rabukome Yahari here doesn''t speak our language, sir! Even his Japanese is quite different from that in Honshu."


    Krassa turned to Yahari with a different mood, "Major Yahari! You''re in the army now! You call yourself a soldier in the Russian army?! Better go back to the academy!"


    Yahari slightly bowed continuously, sensing that his senior officer is mad, even though he does not exactly understand how it is so.


    "G-gomenasai... Hontou ni gomenasai de arimasu..." (I''m sorry. I''m really sorry.)


    "Hrr...," Krassa can only utter as his teeth grind each other, "KindlyaskMajor Yahari about the cave..."


    The Russian soldier saluted again, and frantically asked Yahari in Nihongo concerning Krassa''s query.


    "Sir!," he translated, "Eto... He says... the cave is called... Gyokusendo."


    "Okay. What else?", Krassa said as he sat down on one of the rock formations.


    "Sir! Gyokusendo... was only discovered 150 years ago... because its location... location, deshou? It''s hard to get to..."


    "I see."


    "It was Kaiser-sama... who developed the roads in Okinawa... making the cave accessible only recently... but... wait... uso!"


    "Wait what?"


    "It is rumored... spirits roam the area... that''s why nobody really explored into the cave..."


    "Spirits, you say?", Krassa confirmed, with the thought of the power of god striking him again.


    "Yes... Voices heard... Nobody returns alive... except Kaiser-sama... The cave... estimated to be at least 5 kilometers deep... but we only explored... 800 meters... sir!"


    Krassa looked to the dark expanse of the cave, thinking of his master''s objective.


    "I never thought Sir Antony is a spelunker."


    "Uh, sir? That is all Yahari knows, sir."


    "That is all? Hmm..."


    Meanwhile, armed with the latest in spelunking technology, ventured deeper into the cave. The scenery seemed endless, making him feel like he was going forever, even if only an hour or so had passed. In the second hour of his exploration, he stopped to have a quick meal, and made this a habit by doing it again in the third hour. In every stop, he made distinguishable marks to guide his way.


    Four hours have passed, and Antony felt like he is lost in the depths of the cave. He did not expect the strenuous yet monotonous journey ahead. As he stopped once more to take a break, he sat on a nearby rock, but instead of keeping him upright, he fell on his seat. The rock moved downward. Just then, lights began to flicker from the rock walls. However, they are not simply torches. Apparently, crystals, or crystal-like materials, lighted the area. While darkness reigned in the cave, the lights seemed bright stars that are lined up. As he looked to where the lights go, it does not extend anywhere beyond his current position.The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    "The lights," Antony thought to himself, "They don''t light up the path I just traveled..."


    There are multiple paths with which Antony could have gone as he went on the fourth hour of his journey, but this time, the lights seem to point to a certain direction. While he remained cautious for traps, he decided to go to where the lights end. Going forward, Antony noticed that instead of getting more cramped, the path is leading to more spacious parts of the cave. As for the waters, they seem to get smaller and smaller. In his fifth hour, he stopped once more, but then he began to notice grass, flowers, and other plants growing in the area.


    "Plants? In this depth?", Antony again thought to himself, "Interesting..."


    In the sixth hour, he was about to take another break when he heard swishing sounds. A water source? Antony ran to check it out.


    "Dare ga?!" (Who is it?!)


    A voice thundered in the depths of the cave, and it even echoed.


    "How could''ve he known...?"


    Antony was surprised, because in his estimates, he is at least 500 meters away from the person. What added to the surprise was the fact that there is actually a person living so deep in the cave. He tried to hide behind one of the rocks, but as he was just about to observe the man, a blade struck deep into the rock. Antony even saw the shining blade as it went through his cover. He barely survived the encounter as he backstepped as fast as he can, and then tumbled once.


    "Wooh! I''m getting old now, am I not?", Antony said with a wry smile.


    "Hmph!", the man remarked as he pulled his sword out, "Dekashita!" (Well done!)


    Looking closer, Antony saw the man wearing a kimono of red and white, while holding a short sword (kodachi) on one hand, and a long sword (tachi) on the other. His head was balding on the top, but he still had gray hair growing on the sides.


    "A samurai?!"


    "Hmm!", the surprised man said as he stopped walking towards Antony, "Roshiajin?!" (Russian?!)


    "Um...," Antony said as he scratched his head, "Hai! Hai! Russia-jin desu?" (Yes! Yes! I''m Russian?)


    The angry face of the man turned into a calm, slightly happy face.


    "Jurius-kun?"


    "Ju-Jurius-kun? Iie... Boku wa Mark Antony desu...?" (No... I''m Mark Antony...?)


    "Antoni-san? Nani sore?" (Antony? What''s that?)


    "Um...," Antony says as he stretches out his hands, "A-anata wa Russian ga hanasemasu ka?"


    The man pouted, and then laughed. As he continued laughing, Antony also began to laugh a bit.


    "Roshiajin!", he finally said as he put back his swords into their sheaths, "Of course! I understand your language!"


    With this remark, Antony slowly went down, and then threw him some stones. At any rate, the man was able to evade all of them, although it appeared like he was actually dancing.


    "Mattaku... You should''ve said earlier! I''m running out of Japanese!"


    "Anton-san, maybe Jurius-kun is with you, eh?"


    "Jurius-kun?"


    "Hai! I mean, yes! Jurius Kaiser! He fell behind you?"


    "Kaiser! Oh, um, well... About that..."


    Antony went on to narrate an overview of what happened to Kaiser. The man looked down, as if trying to hold back his tears. Still, he quickly snapped out of it, and gaily offered Antony some snacks, and of course, tea.


    "You can grow tea here?!"


    "Nandemonaiya! I just buy them in the nearest store."


    "Uh, what? But I saw plants growing! Even here!"


    The man just shrugged, while saying, "Be indifferent to where you live. Besides, you should''ve just used the shortcut."


    Antony made a suspicious look at the man as he was rubbing his chin.


    "Who are you anyway? How did you know Kaiser?"


    "Eh? Well, I guess you won''t venture this deep into the Gyokusendo for nothing."


    "You seem adept with the use of two swords. I can well say you''re a samurai."


    The man smiled as he responded, "Iie... I''m no longer a samurai, but a ronin... Or rather, I''ve always been a ronin."


    "Ronin?"


    "Yes, and as far as I see, you can be considered a ronin, too."


    Antony''s eyes narrowed.


    "You really didn''t answer the question."


    "Oh, didn''t I?", the man said before laughing again.


    The laugh, which went something likeashi-ashi-ashi, seemed to annoy Antony.


    "I guess that''s what you get by living alone in the cave."


    "Hmm. I begin to see what Kaiser saw in you..."


    "Is that so?"


    "Alrighty then. You can call me... M. M."


    "M&M?"


    He ignored the mispronunciation, and continued, "M. M. I guess people came up with the nameInvincible under the Heavensfor me, but I don''t think much about that."


    "You go by initials only? That''s some tradition..."


    "Hey, why''re you really here, Anton-san?"


    The atmosphere suddenly became serious. It was as if the vast cave became a closed cage.


    "You really wanna know why?"


    "Mochiron."


    "You really wanna?"


    "Now you''re starting to sound silly."


    Antony paused for a while, gets some notebook from his bag, and then glances over it.


    "Leaders around the world. They''ve all been obsessed by one thing. Immortality."


    M. M. remained silent. He only nodded.


    "Kaiser''s different. He seemed sosureof immortality. Maybe you have an idea, M. M.? Are you called invincible because of this...?"


    Silence again reigned for a few minutes. M. M. then rose from his seat, and quickly removed what seemed like a wooden cover. The sight astounded Antony. It is a mural on the rock face.


    "W-wow...," Antony gaped as he saw the massive mural in full display.


    "A sharp tongue. But also, a sharp mind," M. M. calmly remarked, "No wonder Kaiser chose you."


    "Maybe, but not as sharp as your blade!"


    They both laughed at that last statement.


    "You see before you one of the many representations of God and His council."


    "God... The power of god?!"


    M. M. stared at Antony.


    "How muchdoyou know, Anton-san?"


    "The power of god... A grant given by god to his elect... but, are the immortals...?"


    "What is called the spirit is where there is nothing. It is beyond man''s knowing. Of course, you will see the Way as nothing."


    "The... Way...?"


    Antony scribbled whatever he can, even trying to sketch the mural as he forgot to take a camera with him. Besides, photography by this time was black and white. The various colors of the mural will not be taken into the photograph.


    "Yes. The Way is beyond any of us. We, the immortals... the eternals... Whatever you call those who have transcended the phenomenon called time. They''re only the elect of the Way."


    "God''s elect... I get it now! The elect are the immortals! But... what of Kaiser?"


    "A believer of the Way... but... he hasn''t achieved the necessary. Besides, he will have a long wait to be elected. I have been holding this position for more than 300 years."


    "Three hundred?! Of course... You''re immortals, after all... but, does that mean all seats have been taken?"


    "Heh. I say, that''s a casual way to put it. Behold, God''s council."


    Antony counted, and there were only 26 figures in the council, with God as the 27th figure. The council members form a large circle, circumscribing a square, and then another circle, and then a triangle, then another circle. The pattern goes on. A lot of similar designs litter the entire mural. The figure of God is the most striking of all. He is not drawn at all. Only the namekami-samatakes His place in the council.


    "The rest of the council are calledkami...," Antony observed, "The immortals are also gods!"


    "Iie. As there are manygodsand manylords, there is one God only. He is the Way."


    "I start to not get it at all."


    "In the beginning, God said, "Let us make mankind in our own image, in our likeness." The elect may have transcended time, but they certainly did not exist before time."


    "I see... but... letus?Ourimage?"


    "God is one, at the same time, God is all."


    "Thy one liners are as invincible as thy techniques!", Antony can only remark as he hastily took down notes of their conversation.


    They again laughed at this point. Still, did Antony just discover something beyond human knowledge? The power of god? The elect? Where does Kaiser, and the rest of the world for that matter, fit in this doctrine? As secrets begin to be revealed at Gyokusendo, where will Antony and his search eventually end up to?