Antony and Lepidov wait in Kaiser's reading room, the place where the late dictator usually meets his inner circle.

"You know," Lepidov opened up, "aren't we supposed to feel less tense now?"

Antony looked at him and said, "What do you mean?"

"I mean, looking at this empty seat... I can't believe that he's gone," Lepidov points at Kaiser's table, which is already clean of clutter, but still bears the dictator's insignia.

"Tell me, Aemilio," Antony leaned backwards and crossed his legs, "You could really take over now, as you are his second-in-command, and thus, Deputy Dictator..."

"Come on, Mark," Lepidov responded with a laugh, "Look at it this way. We're both his second-in-command. It just so happened you fell out of his favor lately, that's all."

"Being six years older than I, you're effectively my senior, really. Besides, you're the one who secured Master Kaiser's dictatorship in '54."

"Oh... I see where this is going."

"Don't tell me Aemilio."

"I'll tell you alright! You're the one who publicly offers Master Kaiser a crown every time the February carnival arrives! You said it yourself, thrice. That means you have been offering him a crown fit for a king ever since he became dictator!"

Antony uncrossed his legs and leaned forward to the furious Lepidov. Speaking in a much softer voice, "Look here, rich guy... I'm not saying we helped hasten our master's demise... All I'm asking is this. We could just bypass Kaiser's will and have you take over as dictator."

Lepidov stood up, walked to the wine cabinet, and filled a glass for himself. Then, he turned back to Antony with a calmer demeanor, "Buddy... All of us had been called by this body to be its head, but in this age of war, the head usually comes off first. Look at this wine. It ages. It reaches its peak. Then what? It will be consumed just like everything else."

Antony clasped his hands and said, "I just don't want that... that kid. I've got a bad feeling of him taking over..."

Lepidov sipped his cup of wine, and then handed Antony another cup he filled.

"I also had doubts about the guy. It seemed that our master didn't have too many to choose with anyway, with most of his family killed during and after the counterrevolution. But..."

"Hmm?"

"You had your share of a dark past, Mark. You're half-caste, a mix of the noble and the commoner. You're part of Klodiy's gang. To be frank, I was surprised to know that our master decided to take in someone like you."

Antony smiled as he took the cup Lepidov gave. He sipped the wine first, and then spoke, "That's what I loved from Master Kaiser. In the outside, he has to maintain that ruthless, unforgiving facade... In the inside, his heart flows with mercy and compassion."

"Sure about that? I always felt tense when we meet our master," Lepidov said as he looked towards Kaiser's chair, "Heh... Remember that time when he said his sapiens was at its limits?"

Antony imitated Kaiser's gesture at the event Lepidov was mentioning, "I think I even heard it was sapient..."

"Antony, I can't take over as dictator."

"But you're a good administrator, even better than I, as our master once remarked."

"Sure, I've handled the capital for a few years, but you also did. Look at it this way. We're both qualified to take the position."

"In my case, I still have to undergo another grueling process with the Senate, but with you as deputy, you can become Acting Dictator without those senators meddling. I'm just saying the possible alternatives we can take. Besides, if we let the kid take over, then the Republic is finished!"

"Aren't you exaggerating a bit?", Lepidov asked as he sat back to his chair, which was parallel to Antony's.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

"No. Octavian is our master's heir, holding the potent Kaiser name, and if he becomes Russia's leader, then the Kaiser name would have become de facto dynasty! The very monarchy we abolished almost five hundred years ago would reemerge!"

"Confound it! Why on earth would Master Kaiser want that?! He'd be the enemy of the republic!"

Antony paused, as if he was dazed. Lepidov looked at him quizzically.

"Lord... Why..."

"Um... Antony?"

Antony pounded his right fist, and then wailed, "Kaiser had us! He wants the kid not only as the heir of his fortune, but as his political successor! I can't believe it! I'd never let him lie in state!"

"Hey! No need to shout," the surprised Lepidov said, "I know he is cunning and all, but surely he left something for us, right?"

"We both read the documents, Lepidov...," a seemingly drained Antony answered, "He has secured his family's future with that will... but not the future of the world... I was a fool to believe his vision... a world united... a world stable... a world at peace... Is it all empty rhetoric?"

"... Kaiser! My friend! The man I'd take a shell for! No!!", Lepidov shouted as the thought sank in him, and then he motioned to break his cup.

Antony stopped him by grabbing his wrist, and then spoke, "Calm, Aemilio... We can still work this out..."

Lepidov slightly trembled, but when he looked at Antony, the latter let go of his hand.

"What can we do?"

"The kid would arrive in the palace soon, right?"

"Of course. I arranged it with the Komitet."

"Good. Before he gets here, we have to plan it out."

Lepidov's eyes narrowed, "You're furious at Kaiser a while ago, but now you're calmer than ever. What's your anger management secret?"

Evidently, Lepidov is still fuming from Antony's revelation. Antony just smiled, and then continued, "The kid must also be spinning when he discovers the rapidity of events. We should keep him spinning, while we consolidate our own positions. He won't know what hit him. Forget Kaiser's will. It shall be our will now. The Russian will. The will we carry is to save the republic, to unite the world, and bring an end to the era of wars. But, we cannot do that without a solid foundation for ourselves. As the great Archiceres once said, give me a place to stand and I shall move the world!"

"Speaking of Archiceres, isn't Ciceron the one doing research on the inventor? What about Ciceron and his associates?"

"We'll take care of Ciceron later. The greatest threat to the republic is Kaiser's heir."

"But Mark, how can we balance out the powerful Kaiser heir?"

"We'll use the strategy Kaiser also used in 1940... We'll make a new Paramount Triad."

Composed of Julius Kaiser, Ney Pompey, and Lisiny Krassa, the Paramount Triad is a loose alliance of Russia's top military commanders, which was also assigned by the government as Joint Chiefs of Staff. It was widely accepted that it was Kaiser's initiative to organize the triad. The triad's support helped his first election as president in 1941, and funded his campaign across the Atlantic Ocean which began the American Wars in 1942.

"You mean... us and...?"

"Yes, my friend. The Great Russian Game has begun."

The Great Russian Game was initially a term used by scholars to refer to the period of political and diplomatic maneuvering experienced within the republic whenever there is a national crisis, and there is a great general risk. It was particularly applied first with Sulla's civil war and bid for dictatorship. Of course, to keep his enemies from targeting him, he stepped down when his term ended. Later on, it applied to the earlier times Russia had such crises. It was called a "game" in jest, an attempt to tone down the risk involved. It also underlines the belief that the players tend to be Russia's leaders, and the people are merely expendables for their agenda.

After drafting some key points, Antony and Lepidov agreed to take part in a new Paramount Triad, but they still have to await the decision of Kaiser's chosen heir, Octavian, who they plan to take the third spot in the triad. Lepidov immediately asks the KGB to bring him to Kaiser's Palace. Soon enough, he comes to the palace and meets his father's two lieutenants.

"Hello, Antony, Lepidov," Octavian greeted the two as he entered Kaiser's reading room.

"Yes. Good evening. Have a seat," Antony welcomed Octavian, "You look rested."

The chair was slightly smaller than that of Antony and Lepidov. All the chairs in the room, save Kaiser's chair, faced each other. One can easily sketch a triangle when looking at the scene from above.

"How wouldn't I? I've been studying for years and quite frankly, I'm sick of it. I can really use some fresh air here in Moscovia," Octavian said with cheer.

"Do you know why you're here?"

"Hmm. Now that you mentioned, it feels quite eerie here. I was told by Mayor Hashimoto that I'm needed, but I only went to get out of university. Anyway, where's daddy?"

Antony looked at Lepidov, and the latter nodded.

"Sport, I don't want to break it down to you," Lepidov said with a serious tone, "but daddy's... passed towards greater glory..."

"You mean... he's more than a dictator now? Oh joy! There must be a party! Now I see why there's the rush to take me here!"

Octavian clapped his hands and he did seem happy about it. Antony looked again at Lepidov, this time with irritation. While Octavian looked up and anticipated festivities, Antony used sign language to message Lepidov.

"Tell him!" - Antony motioned to Lepidov.

"But..." - Lepidov answered with sign language as well.

Antony sighed out of exasperation. He then spoke with uncanny firmness, "No, my friend. Dad is dead. He is no more."

Octavian stopped and looked intently at Antony.

"W-what...?"

"We prepared his cremation tomorrow. The people are allowed to fuel his funeral pyre."

Octavian just stared at Kaiser's empty seat, and he suddenly felt weak. His arms hang on the sides, almost reaching the floor.

Lepidov said, "That... That's right, sport... I'm sorry..."

Antony interrupted, "And that's what we want to talk about with you."

It proved to be a long evening. What will come out from their discussion?