Post from the official profile of the Acting President of the Democratic Republic of Ilu Nla:

  "It is with heavy hearts that I mourn the passing of our Happy Prince. With his professionalism, dedication to entertaining and giving a voice to the humble people of Ilu Nla, he will be forever missed."

  @PresidentOjwang

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  Ilu Nla State Communication Network:

  "Today on our program, we will have a very special guest, the Acting President of the Republic of Ilu Nla, His Excellency, President Ojwang. Today he will give us some valuable information about the current state of the country. Welcome."

  The reporter read the teleprompter, trying to keep his words safe. Everything had been rehearsed. The soundtrack, the schedule, the title of the story, the head of the nation would speak, and the puppet theater needed to be sharp for the performance. The questions were selected in advance, even their reactions were predetermined.

  For the first time in his life, the news anchor was sweating like a pig. He knew that one false step would put not only his career at risk, but his life.

  "Thank you, good morning to Gowon and all the citizens. Ilu Nla is in mourning. Unfortunately Prince Happy has left us, but his memory will never be forgotten."

  "It was a shock for the whole nation. You have decreed three days of mourning in Ilu Nla."

  “That's right, he deserves that honor.”

  Ojwang tried hard not to grit his teeth as he spoke. To keep calm, he took a tranquilizer, otherwise he would explode with rage. His serene face was nothing more than a medicated mask. At great expense, special advisor Lomungo persuaded him to make a public statement on the state media.

  Gowon snorted. He leaned back in his chair, and in a more serious tone, asked the politician a question:

  "According to an official statement from the Technical Police Department, there are strong indications that Prince Happy was killed by the Circle of Sages. Is this murder related to the bomb attack on the construction site on the wall?"

  It was like in a soccer match, the news anchor would pass the ball and the interviewee would kick it into the goal.

  "Yes, our Intelligence Service has already confirmed the participation of the sages in the death of our beloved digital influencer. They were being monitored. Three hundred and eighty Ilu Nla workers died in the terrorist attack, and another two hundred were injured. In addition to the loss of several housing units under the new National Housing Plan. To our surprise, this attack was carried out in collaboration with the Ilu Nla National Liberation Movement."

  Rumors were rife. To hush up the situation, it was necessary to martyr Prince Happy. To link Gahiji's mistakes to the rebels, and to criminalize the Circle of Sages.

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  With every word Ojwang said, Gowon nodded in agreement.

  “Is it possible that the terrorists of the Ilu Nla National Liberation Movement are cooperating with the sages?”

  "Without a doubt! However, in order not to jeopardize the progress of the investigations, I can't give any further details. At a meeting with the Ministerial Cabinet, I will decide whether or not to declare a State of Defense until the internal enemies have been eliminated. Until that day, the Circle of Sages and the terrorists disguised as revolutionaries."

  "I understand, Your Excellency. I thank you, Mr. President, for your clarifications. Have a good day at work."

  "I wish the same for the entire nation of Ilu Nla. May all citizens rest easy, the republic will not fail like the old regime."

  ?

  As soon as the cameras and microphones were switched off, Ojwang got up from his chair. He opened the drawer of the presidential desk and took out a box of cigars; he needed a smoke. The effects of the tranquilizers were wearing off.

  Lomungo, in order to reduce the president's nervousness, decided to pay him a compliment:

  "Mr. President, you were fabulous. I've never seen you so confident…"

  Branc! The cigar box was thrown at the wall. It grazed Lomungo's ear. The man was so startled that he fell on his butt against the wall.

  “Sir!”

  "Shut up, you sycophantic son of a bitch! I've lost a general of the Phalanx. Luena and Jitujeusi fight over the spoils of Gahiji's troops. Generals convulse the barracks wanting the dead man's uniform. We lost one of our biggest sources of income with the explosion of the Great Arena! Prince Happy, our double agent has been killed. There's no reason to celebrate, get out of here! Get out!"

  Lomungo came running out of the presidential office on all fours. Ojwang rubbed his face with his free hand. He tried to puff on his cigar, but it wasn't lit.

  ?

  The screens scattered around the rebel headquarters were perplexed by Ojwang's speeches. The president had lamented the death of people who didn't exist. The camp area had been abandoned for years, the housing projects mere ways of laundering public money and diverting international loans.

  Ojwang's only major loss was General Gahiji and Adisa's escape, and even that was compensated for by the conquest of the spiritual keys and the death of three sages.

  Hakim spat on the ground. Spin Bomb flashed his middle finger at the NeTV screen. Ekundayo looked at Azekel and said:

  "We need to speed things up. The State of Defense Decree could evolve into a State of Siege soon."

  “The State of Defense lasts thirty days, time is not our enemy at the moment.”

  "Mr. Azekel, if there is another attack, we will be vulnerable. We can't afford to lose any more comrades. We need to plan a counter-attack…"

  “Ojwang won't do that.”

  “Why are you so convinced?”

  Azekel fixed his beret on his head and gave a small smile that puzzled his interlocutor.

  “I once heard a Chinese proverb: ‘When the game of chess is over, the pawn and the king go into the same box’.”

  ?

  In the corridors of Ojwang's underground laboratories, Luena was walking into one of the rooms to hand in one of her reports. On the other side came Jitujeusi. The aura of hostility between the two of them stretched several meters along the facility.

  They both stopped facing each other, neither of them willing to give up their space. Luean gave a smile, seeming to enjoy the situation.

  “Get out of my way, you take up a lot of unnecessary space.”

  "Sorry, it's just that you're so tiny that I didn't see you coming. I only realized you were there after your noise."

  “Your rudeness is equal to your height.”

  "Don't play funny with me. President Ojwang may have put his hand on your head, but if it were up to me, I'd put a sword through it."

  “That's why you've always been the reserve general.”

  “Oh, come on…”

  A group of scientists crossed the corridor with some prototype weapons. The two gave way. One of the scientists asked General Jitujeusi for an inspection. The military officer formally escorted the scientists to another department.

  General Luena punched the wall, leaving a huge hole in it. She hated Jitujeusi. She wanted to get the general out of the way and become Chief of Staff, no longer sharing her power with others. She had already eliminated Gahiji, there was just one more to go.