Mr. Speak

Randall hadn't known about the book at all, or even more knowledgeable about the contents, but when Etienne showed him the details, he'd admit he got intrigued. Now, that Leo was bringing it all up, he knew something about that book can be of a greater use.

"Etienne explained to me about the late Jaina Montenegro's book earlier before I call you. Isn't that a revolutionary book?" A rebellious statement over an article or a book can lead you to death. It's like digging your own grave, letting the government look up how uncommon a citizen like you ever exist, or even… say to you you're worthless.

It's accompanied by a lot of insults coming from the higher positions. Those people who haven't experienced travelling down a mile to get to work or even deal with financial assistance to get another hefty amount of subsidy.

It's completely injustice to live on a country without gaining a harassment but famine for the next elections to date. As Leo retrieved shot glasses and whiskey bottle, the silence ensued. Randall has been thinking about his plan, and how it involved around everyone's freedom.

"You're going to spark an uprising? It's a terrible move, Leo."

Leo sat down across from him, opening up the whiskey wine without even blinking an eye, and poured down the rich, and fragrant brewed liquid down a huge glass. Randall observed the flourish streaming out of the lid.

"It's not a usual routine, but Randall… Idris isn't new about this thing. We should be able to open our minds to the possible effects of not speaking up for our freedom. Yunis…"

Leo leaned back, swirling the wine inside the glass, and turned to the reflection of the coffee table. Randall hasn't picked up his alcohol.

"… is a dictator. She's a woman, but she knows how to play the cards. Tina's much clever than Jeremy or even that new recruit, Sam Grobes. Didn't you even think about Zella Albert's case?"

Leo isn't waking up from the reality. He just opened his eyes, realizing that after he chose ignorance in their homeland, a lot of people had strived to take her down, but no one's taking their side. Probably afraid of what's to come at their houses when the night fell.

Yunis has cast a shadow to everyone's lives, always reprimanding them not to turn against the one handling them, even if they suffer from ravenous stomachs and little to nowhere currencies.

Yunis announced everyone should follow her orders, and a little deviation—a secret, perhaps—will result to an overwhelming amount of punches, grudge, bullets, and stabs.

"Leo, I've read her file. Everything's there, even the falsified evidences she had to prove nothing. Zella doesn't have money to hire a brilliant lawyer, so she had to fall under a national state free counselor. In which, that attorney received a cash to let Zella be on the death row," Randall discussed.

It was enough to prove Randall has been looking at the case, too. Leo couldn't understand the loophole of everything. They had to be knowledgeable and seek help to a professional, someone who could prove Zella is innocent.

"I know what you're thinking, Leo. Fair enough, Zella's case is one of Yunis' tactics to prove that she's powerful. And with Zella's Tempus Moneda deactivation, even crossing the line from Telamur to Calvorite, Yunis feared someone would followed her steps."

Leo gulped all the whiskey down as Randall connected everything. Tina Yunis' weakness should be revealed, as to gain sympathy from the citizens who still follow her around and let her do what's best for them, not for the Idris' people.

He placed the glass gently back to the coffee table, whispering, "That's why I haven't got a plan to Zella, Randall. I don't want to plot her killing. I don't want to behead her, everything that comes to mind. Zella is freaking innocent, and we're killing them."

Randall furrowed his eyebrows, and scoffed. Now that Leo realized it, does it mean how late they were to back down?

Randall chuckled, nodding repeatedly, brushing his hands down his face.

He muttered, "We killed so many innocent lives, Leo, but you only cared until now. It's Zella that woke you up, and made you believe in love, that maybe everything we have done is overly wicked, right?"

Leo shook his head, glaring at his subordinate. "Zella doesn't know anything about us being a spy and taking down every innocent life we have come across."

Randall crossed his legs, patting his lap, and couldn't believe that in just a single woman, every Leo's principle dissipated into thin air. No matter how hard they try to stay in their belief and gain benefits all over, they're humans, and their minds can change up all night.

"Your principle changed because of a woman?" Randall asked indefinitely.

Leo backed down from his colleague, and sighed. It's how deep the meaning is, but he knew it doesn't justify the ends. Leo has to switch sides. He only had a defense, but not an attack. As long as he wanted to protect Zella from Jeremy and Yunis, and even the inspection team, he's going to be all right.

"What's wrong with speaking up for the people of this country? Is it because I don't have the right to make some noise or because I have the right—the only, allowed right—to be silent?"

Leo stared at the skyscrapers while saying that famous line from Jaina's book. Randall's defiant glare disappeared. All of the composition of those words hit him hard. He might have considered reading the book tonight.

"Tina Yunis wouldn't let the people see her mistake. That is why if one tell the truth, she'll kill them right away. Then, they always shrug it off and state that people… have the right to remain silent, regardless of what the current situation they're in."

Leo licked his lips, propping his elbows at the top of his knees, staring at Randall. He snickered mockingly, asking, "Do you think they even let the people acknowledge the freedom of speech? Tina planted fear to everyone, Randall. As long as they're silent, they'll be fine, as she said."

Randall nodded slowly. It's a bit difficult to let the old habit of following them around die. Still, it's a fresh start not to be a dog anymore. Leo asked, "Do you ever think they live a fine life when they stay silent? They haven't said a word, but they suffer equally like the ones protesting out in the street."

Randall doesn't know about a thing in activism, but he's overly puzzled about how they connect the dots. Leo must be one of them, too, and that… Randall had to find out if he was.

"Have you ever protested in the street to know more about what they feel?"

It was an unexpected question waiting for a surprising answer. Randall picked up the whiskey bottle as Leo blinked several times, and tilted his head to one side. Does Randall have anything in store, and in a little while, he'd be able to fully know what Leo left behind?

"I'm admitting that I haven't been to a rally or even shouted at the streets for a fair democracy and justice. Have you ever done that, Leo?"

Picking up his glass in elegancy, he smiled faintly to his boss.

Leo recovered once in a while, and shrugged. "I should have known you didn't dig up about my past. Assuming about your question, you haven't known a single thing about me at all, Randall."

He smirked, gaze darkening, wondering if Randall could stir up this night and deal with his curiousness alone. Randall froze in his seat, narrowing his eyes.

"What's your deal now?" He couldn't help but to suppress a smile.

"It's on you," Leo tapped the table before standing up and throwing the bottle on a trash bin.