🍁Nine Ancient Obelisks

- Ha-ha, that's going to be a real letdown – to become a leader and then stumble over "sir, yes sir, may I report, sir!". Drilling the troops and polishing my mustache – that's definitely not for me. You did the right thing by ditching Calcite, old man, otherwise we wouldn't be here now.

- Hahaha, thanks. - The giant restrained himself from slapping the guy on the back, like Baka had done some time ago; his palm was obviously heavier than that of an ordinary man, and such a blow during a meal could easily be fatal. - There was one good thing about that job – it wasn't hard to find a woman to warm the bed, but I think I would have been sent to hell for my past methods in Asuguh. I heard about it, by the way, or not yet?
- He was talking about the "Gates of Exile," located southeast of us. - Baka decided to explain. - About twenty years ago, our country decided to abandon dungeons, and since then, minor and medium offenses are punishable by fines or forced labor, and more serious offenses result in exile through the southern border. This is practically a death sentence, but since it is carried out by nature and not in public, it seems that no one is directly taking a sin upon their soul.

- I can do anything, boss, I can even become a scientist and disprove your theory about sleep, or shoot fire from my eyes, or play the piano. But it all seems a bit boring to me. But you know, every time I remember my father, I feel a little better. He lived happily, enjoyed life, and always moved forward, but when he had bad luck once, he disappeared, luckily I survived, otherwise he would have been completely lost in the sands of time. He was here, and then he was gone. At least he had fun with the scorpion before the end. Eh! He was a good guy... He would be upset that I don't want to continue his work, but his experience taught me that I can apply myself even in a harmful way. Maybe there's a way to do it without drill sergeants, huh? - the young man winked in response. - You probably didn't do much marching yourself.

- Oh, I was just thinking about that today while I was getting ready, - remembering his brilliant morning thoughts, Alamush did not miss the opportunity to share them, - there used to be these aliens, who came to us from other worlds. And those who produced offspring essentially left not only their own mark on our world, but also the mark of an entire world! That's... significant. Well, those who just died left nothing, as if they never existed.
- ... I'll tell you about the drill sergeants, - Baka decided to ignore the important thought of his older brother. - In our country, there is a very hierarchical society, and it's practically a stratocracy. The Tsar is the main one, and whatever he says goes. Well, we, the nine heads, are a kind of Tsar-ministers: army, guard, and administrative resources all in one. Our job is to ensure that the Tsar's will is carried out, but each of us has our own methods. I don't put too much pressure on my guys, as long as they do their job properly. But the other eight have their own ideas, so it all depends on where you decide to build your career.

- Cheers, buddy! - cutting the squid and not sparing the salad, he throws them into the pot and chews for a while, nodding his head. - You know, he looks like a celestial being from a book, but he tastes like meat. It makes you think. But what? - leaving the rhetorical question hanging, he shows Alamush a thumbs up, chewing on the second piece, then nods to Baka. - M! About meat - do you know anything about "desire"? I'm passionate too, but I think it's pretty tough there. If you mess up, you'll drink poison, - Genza emphasized his words with a sip of a cocktail (which he would be ashamed to order in a normal situation in the company of guys). - ...and you probably have to march too.

- I heard that in the homeland of the current leader, servants had their heads cut off for spilling a drop of tea, so it might be tough. To be honest, I don't know much about them, except that, unlike our friend Alamush, they probably drink matcha and sake with sushi, and not rooibos and cocktails. - He sighs. - It used to be a detachment of professional warriors, but in the last two decades, they have essentially merged with this overseas clan. If you want to get in touch with them, go to Sizki and write "XYZ" on the city's bulletin board.