The African Union is a continental organization created in 2002. It was born out of the demand of African statesmen to reformulate integration policy and meet their new social and political demands.

Before that, there was the Organization of African Unity, founded in 1963 under the influence of Pan-Africanism, while large parts of Africa were still colonized by Europeans. The resolution to change it was passed at a conference in Sirte, Libya on September 9, 1999. The headquarters were inaugurated in 2003 in Ades Adeba, the capital of Ethiopia. In 2023, it became part of the G20.

The multi-ethnic and multi-religious country has experienced an intense contrast between its modernization and the civil wars that have devastated the country. Ethiopia, one of the first to join the second wave of BRICS+, has become one of the most important states on the African continent due to its important geographical position and economic potential.

Interim President Ojwang needed to join the African Union and convince the members to accept Ilu Nla. Bilateral agreements between the Ethiopian president and Ilu Nla for the transfer of cyber-military technology would help secure access to the club. However, Ojwang's ambition was even greater.

Two days before his speech defending Ilu Nla's entry into the body, a cocktail party was held for the representatives of African states at the Ethiopian president's official residence. Ojwang was well received and circulated around the room with a glass of champagne. Political allies and onlookers approached him and struck up conversations.

However, he realized he was being watched. He asked his interlocutors for permission and went out onto one of the building's balconies. He leaned against the railing, turned around, put an elbow on it and raised his glass as if offering it to someone behind the red velvet curtains.

"You're not very subtle, sir…"

The man stepped out from behind the curtains and introduced himself with a slight wave of his hand. He was slim, tall and wore a well-tailored suit. His hair was straight and unruly, flowing down to his shoulders. His dark, dry skin gave away his East African origins. His jovial face was partially covered by dark glasses and contradicted his elegant posture.

"Mr. Nobody, please. Thank you, but I can't drink on duty. I'm not following, not in the way I'd like. I'm merely curious in search of answers."

"The curious are the men who put themselves in the most danger. I don't know how you managed to get in here with that hobo holographic mask."

"I admit I was less prudent than the gentleman who managed to bypass presidential security and get in with wiretaps and subcutaneous locators."

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The newcomer approached. His confident aura made Ojwang take a step back. He put both elbows on the railing and removed his sunglasses, deactivating the holographic mask. It revealed his old face with its blotchy skin. He inhaled the air coming from the nearby mountains.

"The City of Men is incredible, isn't it? We're over two thousand meters above sea level, surrounded by the mountains of the Rift Valley. I can even hear Blue Nile…"

"I don't think you came here to talk about geography, my dear Babu. If you've come to kill me, you'd better give up."

Ojwang pretended to straighten his jacket sleeve. He switched on a micro-signal and, with a nod, pointed to the top of a building a few meters from where they were standing.

Babu narrowed his eyes. The air shook slightly and a huge dark mass became apparent. It was General Jitujeusi. With subtle gestures, he pulled a cigar from his suit pocket. Ojwang hurried to operate a lighter, with which his interlocutor lit the cigar. The scent of aromatic herbs spiraled from his mouth into the dark sky.

In a few seconds, Babu felt the synesthesia put him on alert. He had only come to talk to Ojwang. A dangerous attitude, but his intention was not hostile. That didn't determine how the head of state of Ilu Nla would receive his unexpected visit. Engaging in combat with a member of the Phalanx didn't seem smart.

Ojwang thought he had neutralized the threat. He felt more confident. It didn't seem that the leader of the undertakers wanted to assassinate him. He wanted to know the relationship between the undertaker and Akachi's ally, but he hadn't decided whether the possible Ilê Apanyan defector was a stumbling block or an asset in his hands. He decided not to risk it.

"They say you see into the future, is that true, undertaker?"

"Yes, I do."

"What do you see about me?"

"Nothing, and that worries me a lot."

"I thought you were omniscient, hohohoho."

"No, I only possess clairvoyance. Only God is omniscient and omnipotent, although some people always want to play God."

Babu gave Ojwang a firm look. The other gave a cynical smile, he had realized the threshold at which the enemy's investigative power lay.

"For many, it would be a curse. Imagine facing an unstoppable force and not being able to do anything about it!"

"For me, it's a blessing from God, and nothing more. But that gift doesn't reach you. I'm beginning to think that you don't belong in this world, or that you're not under the laws of our clock…"

"You're a philosopher, Mr. Babu. Too bad you're not very interested. I think you have less than ten minutes to get out of here before you're caught by the Ethiopian security guards. Oh, kindly take your puppy back to Ilê Apanyan, or he'll suffer the same fate as Ilu Nla's mediums."

Ignoring the danger, the leader of the assassins approached at a slow walk. He puffed on his cigar and blew all the smoke from his lungs into the statesman's face.

"He's not a dog, he's a wolf, he knows how to hunt like no one else and he has sharp fangs."

The assassin moved to leave, but Ojwang stood in his way. A bead of sweat dripped from his forehead. He didn't show fear, but uncontainable anger. They both stared at each other in great tension.

"Don't meddle in Ilu Nla's affairs! You're just a foreigner."

"You too are a foreigner in this land."

Babu left, leaving a pensive Ojwang behind. He wondered how much the man knew without his clairvoyance working. Babu was too dangerous to confront directly, and too sneaky to make the first attack. The interim president took a handkerchief from his pocket, wiped the sweat dripping from his forehead, and returned to his diplomatic theater. He needed to drum up support and change public opinion about his government in the rest of Africa.