Leonine grabbed some snacks, settled in, and started surfing the internet. She searched through various topics before coming across a site that caught her interest.
Leonine: "Since most of the information is likely covered up, I'll have to check the dark web."
She muttered to herself and opened a secure, multi-layered browser, beginning her search for clues. After a while, she stumbled upon an article.
---
**The Government's Darkest Secret: The Truth Behind the Massacres**
The government had declared the recent attack as a brutal act by the rebels, claiming it was their last attempt to make their demands heard. This resulted in the complete destruction of Gaijin's population and the severe degradation of the populations in Kohima, Shanghai, and New Hampton.
However, the truth was that these massacres were conducted by the government itself under "Project Red Blood." The official goal of this project was to eliminate the "Red Hood" rebel group, which had grown too powerful and posed a threat of exposing other government crimes and corruption.
Gaijin was a special case because it was inhabited by foreign, multi-ethnic groups, and the operation there ended in a disaster, far worse compared to the failed operations in Kohima, New Hampton, and Shanghai. The residents of Gaijin put up fierce resistance, causing immense problems for the government.
Under the command of four high-ranking officials—two senators, one commanding officer, and a general—the government forces cleansed the area. In short, Gaijin was utterly destroyed, and the truth about these events was erased from public records.
---
Leonine: "What is this?"
She gasped, leaning closer to her laptop as more shocking information was revealed.
Leonine leaned back in her chair, her mind racing. The article had confirmed her suspicions—the government had gone to extreme lengths to cover its crimes, and the world had no idea. She wondered how much more corruption had been buried, hidden beneath lies and propaganda.
Leonine: "How did this kid get all this information?"
As Leonine pondered, her phone rang. She glanced at the screen.
Leonine: "Wait, whose number is this again?"
After a moment's hesitation, she answered.
Endo: "Yo, Leonine-san."
Leonine: "Oh, Endo. What's the matter?"
Endo: "Did you find the article by Watch the World?"
His voice was casual yet curious.
Leonine froze.
Leonine: "Wait, how do you know about that?"
Endo: "Just a hunch since you mentioned you were checking things out."
Leonine: "Impressive,"
She remarked, genuinely surprised.
Endo: *"Well, I'm in contact with the writer of that article."*
Leonine shot up from her seat.
Leonine: *"How are you in contact with someone like that?"*
Endo: "I'm an internet nerd, probably one of those keyboard warriors or whatever,"
Endo chuckled.
Endo: *"I have a lot of online contacts."*
Leonine sighed.
Leonine: "Fine, we should meet in person."
Endo paused.
Endo: "You know we just met six hours ago, right?"
Leonine: "Yeah, yeah, I know. How about Saturday?"
Endo: "Sure, I'm free on Saturday."*
Leonine: "Great. Let's meet up in Sector 443 at McMillan's Big Burger Restaurant. Say, 11:30?"
Endo: "Okay, sounds good."
Leonine smiled.
Leonine: "You can call it a date."
Endo: "Please stop teasing me,"
He pleaded, his voice flustered.
Leonine: "Come on,"
She teased further.
Leonine: "I've been dropping you off at home with your mom's approval."
Endo: "Ugh, stop it,"
He groaned, blushing.
Endo: *"Thanks for the moral support."*
Leonine: *"That's what heroes do,"*
She replied, her tone softening.
Endo hesitated.
Endo: "Why are you treating me this way, though?"
Leonine's mind wandered back to a memory—herself, small and weak, longing for friends she never had. It was clear she felt something for Endo, but she wasn't ready to admit it.
Leonine: "You're not the only one who's felt despair and hopelessness,"
She whispered.
Endo, surprised by her tone, asked,
Endo: "Why do you like me?"
Leonine blushed slightly.
Leonine: "Who says I like you?"
Endo: *"Your actions, your words, your facial expressions. You can't hide it. Unless you're a trained spy."*
Leonine's face turned bright red, and she couldn't find the words to reply. Meanwhile, Endo was left wondering.
Endo: "I'd really like to know why she likes me,"
He thought.
Back in her room, Leonine muttered to herself.
Leonine: "Damn it. I feel uneasy around him. He's kind, innocent, and relatable. Maybe... maybe I do want to try getting along with him."
She received a message from Endo.
---
Though I don't know what makes you like me, I do like you.
You make me feel like I have a purpose.
It may sound stupid, but I'll make you say you like me.
That's a promise.
---
Leonine's face turned crimson as she read the message.
Leonine: "Damn it,"
She whispered. She types back
Leonine: That's not how its done.
Elsewhere, Ivan looked puzzled by Louis's question.
Ivan: "What are the White Doves?"
He asked, intrigued.
Cassidy, who had been listening in, whispered to Louis.
Cassidy: "Do you seriously want him to be part of this?"
Louis: "At this point, we really need all the help we can get."
Cassidy sighed.
Cassidy: "Fine, I'll explain."
She turned to Ivan.
Cassidy: "Both Louis and I are part of the White Doves, a group of rebels aiming to change the government by demanding a thorough investigation into the ministers and the army. We also seek the removal of the Worldwide Improvement Act from Japan, which has caused more harm than good."
Ivan folded his arms.
Ivan: "What happened to the Shadows of the World?"
Cassidy: "We are the result of breaking them down. Though we're not as strong as they were, we're now the third-largest rebel group in Japan."
Louis chimed in.
Louis: "Even though we're reduced to a national group, we're still strong enough to influence the government."
Ivan took it all in before responding.
Ivan: "I refuse."
Cassidy, confused, asked.
Cassidy: "Why?"
Louis also seemed taken aback.
Louis: "Is there a problem?"
Ivan raised his right hand.
Ivan: "This hand holds half the power."
He said, then lifted his left.
Ivan: "And this one holds the other half. As I see it, the world keeps giving power to only a few individuals."
He paused, leaving Louis and Cassidy speechless as they processed his words.
Ivan continued, his voice steady but intense:
Ivan: "As I see the world right now, there's only one way to keep the power of those individuals in check."
He gripped his left hand tightly, the tension evident in his posture.
Ivan: "Half of that power must be taken from them."
Louis, starting to feel uneasy, glanced at Cassidy before cautiously asking:
Louis: "What are you implying?"
Ivan's gaze was cold, resolute.
Ivan: "In simple terms, I'm going to take control of half of every country there is."
Cassidy, stunned by his declaration, leaned forward, her voice sharp.
Cassidy: "And what exactly would that change?"
Ivan's tone remained calm, but his words carried a heavy weight.
Ivan: "It would be to keep the power of each nation in check. Balance must be restored."
Louis, now genuinely alarmed, challenged him:
Louis: "But that would just give you more power than the actual government. You're talking about controlling half the world. How is that any different from the tyranny you're opposing?"
Ivan turned his eyes to Louis, unwavering.
Ivan: "Because unlike them, I won't abuse it. I'll ensure no one can use their power unchecked, not even me."
Cassidy and Louis exchanged uneasy glances, realizing the scope of Ivan's ambitions—and the dangerous path it could lead them all down.
Ivan folded his arms, his expression calm but laced with a quiet intensity.
Ivan: "And because I believe in the world," he began, his voice steady.
He paused for a moment, letting the weight of his words settle.
Ivan: "Whenever the world is in danger, people come together. I have faith that humanity will unite—to stop me—once I've killed every last individual responsible for the suffering of those who have lost everything, like I have."
With deliberate slowness, he revealed the scars that marred his face, silent testimony to the pain and trauma of his past.
Ivan: "These scars... they're a reminder of what they did to me."
His eyes, filled with cold determination, met theirs as he spoke again.
Ivan: "So, in short, I'm telling you—that's not how it's done."