Azimuth: The Elden Throne

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[Call ended]

While Dale finished the call back in his home, Roger closed his eyes.

/Tap tap tap.../

His right index finger tapping on the table, he thought about the future.

'There's no turning back now… Not that I could before, after what I did in America.'

'I've chosen to interfere, so I'll make use of my status and advantages until they all realize what I'm up to, this is the best course of action I can follow.' .

"Just thinking about the consequences of that makes my head go numb, all of the meetings and complaints I received from the American congress regarding my actions have been... Numbing."

'But as always, they're easy to deal with, they like to make noise but as long as you throw a few stacks of money down their way they'll shut up.'

'Can't say the same for the Prime Minister, annoying guy... But a very competent one.'

'There's a reason why he's sustained his seat for 16 years in this overly tight and requesting country.'

'He perfectly balanced the power between the Common Parties and those of the other side while also pushing both sides into progress.'

'Of course, not without my help, but I must say I wouldn't have managed to do anything close.'

'As he likes to say, I only need to do my part and he'll take care of the rest.'

"Maybe I should give him a small apology, buy him a drink one of these days... I did cause some international conflict with my actions, it's no wonder he's calling me all the time."

'I managed to avoid conflict all these years by sticking to my neutrality no matter what happened around me.'

'I witnessed brutality and the displays of strength by those that did not wish to remain silent, and the scorn of those that wanted to prevent the world from descending into chaos.'

'For that very reason, I was given my current position, for not lusting after power and instead focusing on balance.'

'I was told more than them because they could not contain themselves with such information, those fools would corrupt themselves in no time, and even for me, keeping myself sane over the years wasn't easy.'

'I certainly did change, but there's no one left to tell me what changed.'

'My son tells me I grew old, but what does old mean?'

"..."

'My contract has long ended, and my previous aloof presence is not required of me anymore.'

'I can do whatever I want, I could share with the world the truth, the Oath I made before cannot bind me, it never did, my only Oath has been and will continue to be the one I did with my Wife all those years ago.'

'They don't know of this, from their perspective, the agreement partaken by all 100 of us still stands, and it'll remain until the day of reckoning.'

'The contract I signed with my blood during my early youth has ruled supreme above these trivialities for a long time, over five decades in fact... Nevertheless, time moves on, and it does not bind me anymore.'

'But speaking of this will lead to War and fear, an Era of change, of bloodshed between those that have no power and those that have all of it.'

'The people are not ready to hear about the feebleness of their existence, of the fact their accomplishments and desires are nothing in the face of a new order.'

'They'll reject it, or try to embrace it, and that will lead to even further deaths.'

'... Yet… Is remaining silent the right option?'

'Regardless of it all, that day will eventually come, just like in the past, it'll repeat again…'

'For a third and last time...'

'We previously managed to keep silent due to rules imposed by us, mine just happened to be lifted sooner, the benefit given to me for the compromises I took back in my youth.'

'I'm certainly not the only one given such benefits, I wonder what happened to the first one to learn about the truth of reality?'

'War will come regardless, and this time, it'll explode like none ever before.'

'A period of warring nations… But who will they be fighting against?'

"... Themselves."

'When those with powers emerge to claim what they feel they deserve, no laws will stop them.'

'Because our system relies on the expectation everyone obeys and complies, it breaks when people decide to rebel, when they realize they have the power to do something when in groups.'

'The System was made by those in power to control the ability of those below of rebelling, even though they made it seem the laws were made for them to live in a more controlled environment.'

'Justice is to serve them, injustice is to go against them, together with a few things here and there, whatever those below think is right for the times, they'll add whatever they think it's okay as long as they look away from the truth and are satisfied fighting amidst themselves.'

'Now, once people with the ability to surpass that of a Nation start to appear, when they start making demands... How many will actually oblige?'

'... Likely none.'

'It is inconceivable to bend to the authority of an individual as someone that rules over a society.'

'Even if some nations already have contact with this side and are aware of the truth, they still believe their Systems will prevail in this era of change and they'll remain on top.'

'Because they have managed to turn these variables into 'Data' they can study and analyze, they have yet to realize that even bullets have calibers.'

'Some are just more destructive than others... And if they keep going like this, they'll only realize that when the bullet is shot.'

'Some even think of profiting from it…'

'They're all fools in their own ways.'

"That doesn't exclude me." He mumbled to himself with a small smirk

/Creak…/

Roger got up from his seat, walking to the door.

'I promised him something, so I better deliver.'

'I already had something planned for that anyway, it's even better he contacted me first.'

'Hum... Some of them will likely be against this...'

'Well, not that it matters.'

'For almost fifty years I did nothing with my position, barely did I do something on my own terms, having a project go forward, giving an idea of my own making.'

'I only listened to those greedy wallets, I went with their whyms... Even if I could not fulfill their expectations.'

'Those pathetic fools, urging me to release a new product, thinking anything could do, wanting to make use of the company's name to profit, thinking anything would correlate to worldwide success through the analysis of Data...'

'They don't even realize what's at stake.'

'I should've eliminated them when I had the chance, that would've spared me of this tiredness...'

'But we needed their presence, they were a great curtain.'

'Regardless, I can already tell they aren't pleased with how I'm handling things and they'll likely try to depose me, unfortunately, Elden Throne is no Company.'

'You can't depose me, but once they realize of this, things will get annoying.'

'Will they even have the chance to do so I wonder?'

'Maybe it's time to abuse my power a little.'

'Before it loses all of its inherit value.'

"... I'm suddenly remembering some things." He said as he turned to the side, looking at another old picture

This time, it was a group of many young men and women of many ethnicities and ages, together with a phrase on the corner and a date.

It read: "Our first team, ready to take on Project Triad!"

"Sigh... It's been… 65 years now?" He asked out loud as he squinted his eyes

'Back then, when I had just graduated and found a job…? My very first job.'

'Did I ever imagine it would lead to this? Had any of you ever imagined this would be the result?'

'Was it planned from the start? What were your emotions as you shook our hands?' He asked as he looked at a certain man

65 years ago, Roger had just graduated from University.

Eager to start his life for real, he quickly found a job that seemed reasonable from its presentation to pay and demands.

He quickly found out that the people were sociable and his Boss was a good and reasonable person who was willing to keep up with their wages as time passed, it seemed like the perfect working environment.

They weren't a game company at the time, neither are them one now, it's just that their reputation outweighs everything else while also being the one that gives them their most porift...

And neither was at the top… He was just a small cog.

That's right, Roger was one of the original founders of Elden Throne!

"..."

Throughout his thoughts, his eyes were focused on an individual, a middle-aged man with slightly white hair standing at the back of the picture due to his height.

'... How much did you know?' He thought silently as he wiped some of the dust on the frame's glass

'When we started to realize something was wrong when our curiosity took the best of us, you died... And quickly replaced.'

'As if you were never there, to begin with.'

'What happened?'

'Was it due to our actions?... Did we cause your death by stepping too deep into the mud?... Please…'

He wanted to know, to let go of his life's greatest regret.

Was he the cause of his death?

"..."

His eyes then fell onto a woman, she seemed calm and collected, a nerdy chick with her thick glasses.

'As nerdy as ever.' He thought with a smile as he looked at the picture

But then... His expression grew solemn as he went silent.

'... I… Miss you. The world is a tad too gray without you.'

'You might've departed peacefully, but I…'

Clenching his fists, Roger eventually turned around and left.

He had a few meetings to schedule.

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Notes

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