With Labiba's connection, the meeting had officially begun. Traditionally, the one who organized the meeting would speak the first sentence. Thus, Hianyan cleared his throat. Labiba's hateful gaze was still fixed upon him.
"First of all, welcome, my friends. The fact that my request for a full assembly was so readily accepted proves that emergencies can still bring people to the same table."
"Especially if this emergency call comes from Hianyan..." Martin said in a mocking tone. "...we thought you found meetings unnecessary."
"Oh... darling..." said Veltin. "...since he's called an emergency meeting, I wonder whose pride was wounded this time." After a brief pause, she tilted her head slightly. "Nandu... how many times have we told you not to bury your waste around the TESO3 facilities...?"
"This matter has nothing to do with me, Veltin," Nandu said, slowly rolling her eyes. She perceived Veltin's age and recklessness not as a personal insult, but as habitual noise. She was one of those who preferred maintaining her coldness over raising her voice, but she also needed to secure her position by speaking with a stinging tone to a spoiled woman like Veltin.
"If you would allow me..." Hianyan interrupted. "...I will explain."
"Before you explain..." Labiba cut Hianyan off with a mechanical voice filtering through the wire cables in his throat. "...I want to clarify one point." His tone was cold, almost devoid of emotion. "If Hianyan hadn't organized this meeting, rest assured, I would have."
Some had wanted to speak, but seeing that Labiba was still talking, they sank back into their respectful silence; thus, Labiba was able to continue.
"First of all, hasn't this planet been a bit strange lately? TESO8 opened, and before we could truly celebrate this opening, suddenly the connection with the SWR Network was cut."
"I have an idea about that," Hianyan interjected.
"I'm sure you do," said Labiba. "Everyone has an idea. But what matters more than ideas is action. I find the shutdown of the SWR Network suspicious. What about you? Don't you find it suspicious?"
"Suspicious..." said Martin.
"Of course it's suspicious!" said Nandu.
Even Ormene broke his silence for the first time, saying: "It was indeed a strange event."
Everyone except Tallus and Capazo was on the verge of whispering.
"The Network outage wasn't the only suspicious thing," said Labiba. "Those clouds that suddenly appeared between the cities of Uruzen and Calos were also suspicious."
Capazo stirred slightly in his seat at these words, his back still turned; then he slowly turned his head and looked at Hianyan out of the corner of his eye.
"But do you know what the most suspicious thing was, my friends? My loyal employee and, most importantly, my equally loyal friend Nagara, whom I sent to the TESO2 factory, has still not returned to the factory and... and especially has not sent any signal for two hours. This meeting is indeed timely because there are too many abnormalities. It will be good to discuss these, but first, I want to start with the question I'm most curious about." Labiba turned his flying chair toward Hianyan and looked directly into his eyes.
"Where is Nagara?"
As Hianyan sank into a brief silence, curious eyes began to whisper among themselves. Hianyan remained quiet. This silence lasted for a few seconds, but it was far too long for everyone in the room. The whispering had already started to rise.
Hianyan took a step forward.
"Nagara is dead," he said.
He took a short breath.
"And yes... I killed him."
"A manager died?" said Veltin. "How... interesting. On this godforsaken planet, machines die, people are spent, but it was thought that managers were untouchable. It turns out we aren't as god-like as we thought, am I right?" She said and chuckled lightly.
"I liked Nagara," said Martin. "He was a hardworking man."
"So why did you kill him?" asked Veltin. "There... there must be a reason."
"Does one need a reason to kill a human?" Nandu shouted.
"The reason I killed him..." Hianyan began, but Labiba cut him off.
"A reason?" Labiba's mechanical voice was harsher this time. "There is only one meaning to killing a manager, Hianyan." A brief silence followed. "What is this if not a desire to start a war?"
Hianyan took a step forward and pointed his finger at Labiba. "There it is!" he shouted. "Exactly that! Do you see this paranoia?" he said, turning his gaze to the others. "He is ready to interpret everything as war. He is dragging us all into his own fears. Because of this paranoia, he will become a nuisance to all of us, if not now, then later!"
Hianyan continued. "When Nagara came to my facility, he accused me of obstructing Labiba's affairs. According to Labiba, I was hindering him in every matter. Preventing his business from proceeding... He claimed I wanted Labiba to descend from Uruzen City, and many more things... But most importantly, he claimed I wanted to seize that godforsaken transport vehicle."
"A transport vehicle?" asked Veltin. "What on earth is that?"
Even Nandu had set aside her politeness. She spoke with astonishment, almost mockingly: "A transport vehicle? Do you mean those damn, junk four-wheeled pickup trucks? Are there any of those left?"
In that room, there were only three men who possessed the technology to know what the transport vehicle meant: Labiba, Hianyan... and Capazo.
"Yes," said Labiba. His mechanical voice filtered through the wires in his throat. "A transport truck. It left Uruzen City. It's not four-wheeled, but it's in the class of an autonomous van. It is currently moving toward an area near the TESO3 factory. My transport truck..."
"And according to you, Hianyan wants to stop the transport vehicle, is that it?" asked Martin. "What is in the vehicle, dear Labiba?"
"The cargo inside the vehicle is a personal item of mine," said Labiba. "And I do not wish to share it with you..."
"It's quite interesting," said Nandu, "that your 'personal item' is heading to a point so close to the cities of Calos and Jijige."
"Oh, come on, friends..." said Veltin. "...we've all had times when we wanted to get rid of a mistake we needed to bury or a memory we disliked. No one here has the right to scrutinize anyone else's sins."
"Assuming Hianyan knows what is in the vehicle, do you think he wants to obstruct you?" asked Martin.
Labiba raised his hand. "I want you to see these images," he said. A hologram recording began to be shown in the very center of the semi-circle. Two cybernetics, in rainy weather, were in a state of war with three vehicles of Calosians coming toward them. While one of the cybernetics waited further back, the other used superior speed to fight the Calosians.
"This distantly captured image came from my truck." Then, as Labiba spoke, the images continued to change. "It is quite clear that these men are Calosians, both from their clothes and from several physical features that differ from the Uruzenians."
"Calosians setting an ambush for a transport vehicle, how interesting..." Ormene whispered.
"I am seeing the colonies so ready to fight for the first time," said Nandu. "Are we in danger?"
"No," said Labiba with cold certainty. "There is neither an uprising nor a conscious colony here. These are under control. These," Labiba continued, "are soldiers raised in Hianyan's jurisdiction, directed, and trained to be used against me."
Capazo had chuckled softly after hearing these words. It was a short, measured, and almost involuntary sound. But it hadn't escaped Labiba's attention. For the first time in a long while, someone was directly contradicting Labiba in a meeting.
"Capazo!" Labiba called out. His mechanical voice echoed in the center of the hall like metal. "You aren't thinking of just sitting there enjoying yourself by chuckling as if you know something, are you? How about joining our meeting?"
Capazo leaned back a bit further in his chair before answering. His back was still turned. It was as if he didn't deem anyone in the hall, even Labiba, worth addressing.
"I certainly know nothing, dear Labiba," he said in a calm voice. "I know very well... exactly when I should speak. And as far as I understand, for now, I will settle for just listening." As he said these words, his light blue hologram flickered, his image blurring for a moment before returning.
Hianyan didn't know Labiba possessed such information. From what he saw, those men really were Calosians. Even after the general secretary confirmed that there was no tampering with the images, Hianyan became quite uneasy.
"What would you like to say about this Calosian matter, dear Hianyan?" asked Martin.
"The clothes on them are Calosian clothes... Their physical features also resemble Calosians, but..."
"But you don't think they are Calosians," Nandu finished for him.
"Because they look too well-fed and..."
"Could they not have been fed by you?" Martin asked, interrupting Hianyan. "Besides..." He continued after a brief pause. "Those clouds in the sky are also quite suspicious, aren't they?"
"I'm looking at the data. It rains in that region once every thirty years. According to meteorological records, the probability of precipitation for that day was zero point zero zero one percent." Martin tilted his head slightly. "This is either the greatest coincidence in history... or someone has learned to persuade the weather as well."
"I sent the clouds," a voice said.
It was Capazo's voice.
The air in the hall suddenly grew heavy. Gazes caught between fear and astonishment involuntarily turned toward him. No one spoke; it was as if any word said would be wrong before it was even uttered.
Capazo slowly turned with his chair. For the first time, he was facing everyone head-on.
"Before you drown me with your questions..." he said in a calm tone. "...let me explain."
He coughed once, clearing his smoke-filled throat. "First of all, among the names working under the TESO banner, I might be the only one who gets caught up in small details," he began his speech. "That's why I'm generally cautious toward my surroundings. In fact, to be even more cautious, I wanted more eyes; unlike what you would do, I accepted the people of Jijige as my eyes."
"Therefore," Capazo said in a calm but pressing voice, "some actions might escape my sight or my factory's sight. But they cannot escape the eyes of the loyal Jijigeans wandering throughout the realm."
He paused briefly.
"Especially if the thing intended to be overlooked comes from Uruzen City..."
"My people?" Ormene said, unable to hide his astonishment.
"Yes, young man..." said Capazo. "My people."
The calmness in his voice was heavier than that of most people in the hall.
"I'm aware of your astonishment. Because no one here possesses the virtue to call them 'my people.' As for me..." He paused for a moment. "I trust these people even more than the computers most men here rely on. I don't just call them 'colonists' and move on. I know them, I recognize them... and I lead them."
"This is not the time to discuss colonial policies," Nandu said sharply. "What did those people see that was intended to be hidden from your eyes?"
"A road," said Capazo, "built for a transport vehicle, starting in Uruzen and ending near my city." His tone was still calm, but the sentence was heavy. "In an age where air transport is so widespread... who builds a road that ends at the edge of a city, especially in a place that remains a blind spot for factories? What does this man aim for? What is in this cargo?"
He coughed once more, clearing his smoke-filled throat.
"Perhaps I exaggerated this caution. I wanted more eyes. Unlike what you would do, I didn't just use the Jijige People; I bestowed upon them the grace of being my eyes."
"Labiba, this is quite a suspicious move," said Martin. "It could be said that your right to reply has arisen."
"Yes..." replied Labiba. "Perhaps this personal cargo of mine looks suspicious from the outside. But attacking with Calosian natives instead of resolving these suspicions by talking, sending clouds that cut the connection with the Network, and even killing Nagara... I ask you, were these truly options?"
"Well, wouldn't you prefer to tell us what is in your cargo, darling?" asked Veltin.
"While war is so close," Labiba said harshly, "and with two men who bear a grudge against me facing me... never!"
Capazo interjected. "But I still haven't given the answer to why I sent the clouds. When I noticed the suspicious route, the moment I fixed my eyes outside my factory, we sensed something odd. The moment a transport vehicle left the borders of Uruzen City, the connection with the SWR Network was cut."
"And that..." said Nandu, "...stands as an excessively large coincidence that needs to be explained. Coincidences upon coincidences, secrets upon secrets..."
"Yes!" laughed Veltin. "The meeting is turning out to be much more fun than I expected."
"I sent the clouds because I wanted to give Labiba a warning."
"A warning?" asked Martin. "What kind of warning?"
"Who would want their precious cargo to proceed through clouds that cut the connection with the SWR? I don't know why you cut the connection with the SWR before starting the journey, Labiba, but whatever is in your cargo, you want it to proceed even under these godforsaken chemical clouds; you want it to continue on its way! It doesn't stop, it doesn't change direction, it advances relentlessly!" His voice grew harsh. "And its destination coincidentally comes out to a deserted land near my city."
"What harm is there in a cargo going to a deserted land?" asked Martin.
"Why would a harmless cargo be hidden with a vow of silence in a way that could even cause a war?" asked Capazo.
"Capazo, on what basis do you say that Labiba cut the SWR Network before the vehicle set out?"
Labiba had been sunk in a sorrowful silence since his cargo's name was mentioned. There wasn't the slightest gesture on his mechanical face; but everyone in the hall felt that silence growing heavy. The turn to speak passed to Hianyan.
"Please," he said, stepping forward, "let me answer that."
After a short pause, he continued:
"For some reason, Labiba was after Doctor Sevda. And Doctor Sevda, as you know, is an SWR citizen. If you cross paths with SWR citizens, you'll get into trouble. If you are going to deal with them, you cannot do it while the eyes of the SWR are upon you."
"Doctor Sevda?" Martin said sharply. "That damn idiot doctor obsessed with political correctness! She was in Uruzen City, wasn't she?"
"Take your words back, Martin!" Nandu snapped. "She is a proud and excessively hardworking woman. She deserves to be appreciated far more."
"You must have proof..." said the uneasy young man named Ormene. "...what you said... Well... what you said is a truly great accusation. No one, but no one, can detain an SWR citizen. Even if you are another SWR citizen, the SWR will not allow it."
Since Labiba was a mutant connected to a machine, he wasn't quite capable of showing his emotions. His skin didn't sweat easily, and he lacked the nerves and tissues necessary for trembling. His hair wouldn't stand on end because he had no hair. But one thing would happen. His left, blood-filled eye would twitch occasionally. Right now, while waiting for Hianyan's answer, that eye was twitching.
"A proof..." said Hianyan. "Unfortunately, I have no concrete proof at the moment. In fact, the person who told me all this was one of Doctor Sevda's loyal friends. He and Doctor Sevda had fled from Uruzen City to take refuge in my factory."
"Where is Doctor Sevda then?" asked Veltin. "I don't see her."
"Doctor Sevda was kidnapped. And that friend went after Sevda."
"Doesn't the man you keep calling 'friend' have a name?"
"Edmond... Edmond Kingsley..."
"Edmond?" Martin said mockingly. "Look at the name... isn't that the name in the Count of Monte Cristo? Kingsley is also a poet... what was that man, the 'Poet of the Dead Galaxy'? This name... this name is barely more than a fabricated name."
"Or a cleverly chosen name," said Nandu.
"I found that name quite cool..." said Veltin. "...I would definitely like to meet him."
"So the only proof you have is also nowhere to be found, is that it? Sevda was kidnapped, and Edmond is after Sevda..." said Martin.
"What did you say, Nandu? 'Coincidences upon coincidences, secrets upon secrets...' You said it like that, didn't you?" Martin added.
"I have no proof, but the man will rescue and bring back the woman who carries my proof. The moment he brings her, since Sevda is a cybernetic, I will share her memory module with you. And then you will believe me."
"Well, let's return to our main question. Why did you kill Nagara?"
"Because he offered Bolver a bribe. To organize a move in my facility, to work for Labiba, and most importantly, to catch Sevda..."
"A proof..." Martin was interjecting when Hianyan cut him off:
"Bolver's body was torn to pieces," he said. "His memory chip was damaged beyond recognition. They had a small fight with Edmond Kingsley. So, the only proof I have for this is Nagara."
"Well, where is Nagara's chip? Labiba... if you want us to trust your honesty, allow Hianyan to extract Nagara's chip and share it with us," said Martin.
"I'm sorry, but since Nagara's brain exploded, we cannot reach that either."
"Let me guess, did that Edmond Kingsley, whose non-fabrication we must be sure of, do this?" asked Martin.
"Yes... he also exploded Nagara's brain."
"I really, really want to meet this man," said Veltin.
When Labiba realized Hianyan had no tangible proof, he realized it was his turn to speak.
"Yes..." said Labiba quite confidently. "...since the theater play is over, we can move on to the actual meeting."
"Dear friends..." said Labiba. "...most of what I've seen so far can be divided into two: tangible facts and threats containing paranoia. I would first like to talk about the facts. An attack was organized on my transport vehicle by the Calosians. Clouds were sent to cut the connection with the SWR satellite so that the connection with my transport vehicle would be severed. As if that wasn't enough, my loyal friend Nagara was killed. While all these are being done to me, there is nothing tangible that I have done. Only theories..."
"Claiming I cut the SWR Network is just an accusation! Claiming I want to catch Sevda is just an accusation! Not only do they lack proof, but the names they have are barely more than fabrications! Yes... I have a cargo, and I cannot say what it is. I will continue to keep it from you like a secret, but is this the reward for doing so?" Labiba added.
"I see empty theater plays performed here to postpone a war that will happen. No!" Labiba said angrily. He gripped the edges of his flying chair to straighten up and pushed himself forward slightly. "I do not accept this! This is now a war filled with revenge, and it will be destructive! Therefore, my friends, I ask you! There are two sides in this war. Hianyan and Labiba! Let those on my side make their positions clear now, so they don't find Uruzen rockets waiting at their doors!"
"Now..." muttered Martin. "...I feel like it would be foolish not to be with Labiba. The man seems right..."
"All you think about is your commercial interests, isn't it?" said Veltin. "Ah... how he looks for an excuse for himself..."
"We'll see you too, Veltin," said Martin. Then he added. "Therefore, TESO4, Gondo City, Martin, is on Labiba's side." Following these words, Martin's hologram was cut.
"I respect Doctor Sevda," said Nandu. "I respect her so much that even if all this said is just a rumor, I would want to stand by Sevda just because of the concern I feel."
She stopped for a moment. She scanned the holograms one by one. "However, I cannot risk fighting with Martin, friends. For me, he is not just an ally... he is an excessively loyal friend." "No decision taken at this table should drag me to that point." She clarified her final words: "Therefore, TESO5, Lapik City, Nandu, is neutral in this war."
Tallus then raised one of the random hands emerging from his body and pointed at Labiba.
"TESO6, Brezya City, Tallus, is with me," said Labiba.
Everything was going as Hianyan expected. No matter how much he talked, the sides became clear in this way the moment the war began. Veltin and Ormene would probably join Labiba's side too. Veltin was one of Labiba's oldest friends. Ormene was cowardly enough to know he had to choose the strong side in the war.
"Actually..." said Veltin, putting her index finger to her red lips while thinking. "...I think I might be on Hianyan's side just to be a bit marginal."
"What?" shouted Labiba. "Veltin, have you lost your mind?"
"What's the matter, darling... I've known you for centuries, and I'm bored of you. I wouldn't even care if you died. But Edmond Kingsley, I really want to meet him. That's why..."
"Don't you dare, Veltin! Don't be ridiculous!" Labiba was saying, but Veltin did not change her decision.
"Ravnez City, TESO7, Veltin, is on Hianyan's side..." she said, and the hologram suddenly vanished. There was a look of shocked disappointment on Labiba's face.
But his mind had already started calculating. In this situation, there was someone to stall Tallus and his army: Veltin. Under normal conditions, they didn't have much time until the northern armies gathered and raided TESO3. Veltin could buy at least a little time for Edmond Kingsley's return.
"This is nonsense..." Labiba said, continuing to clench his fist.
"I'm Ormene... Well... Hanem City, TESO8, Ormene, is neutral." Ormene suddenly disappeared from the scene.
"Neutral? How can he not be on my side!" Labiba spat out in anger.
"Maybe you scared him so much, Labiba, that the boy was finally even afraid to fight by your side," said Hianyan.
"I won't talk much," said Capazo. "Jijige City, TESO3, Capazo; is on Hianyan's side."
The holograms closed one by one upon these words. Before closing, Labiba was looking at Hianyan as if vomiting hatred. Hianyan, although a cybernetic, dropped himself to the floor as he was psychologically quite exhausted.
At that moment, the general secretary connected to Hianyan's ear and said: "Capazo sent you a message. He wants to have a private meeting with you through a proxy server."
"Then prepare a proxy server for us immediately. I want you to add Veltin to this server as well!"