Mayor Endier (Big Chapter Seeking Monthly Ticket)

"Have you received a reply from the leader?"

Inside the abandoned Factory Building, morning sunlight streamed through the windows onto the cracked concrete floor. The Brown-haired Man, powerfully built and covered in muscles, with bandages wrapped tightly around his chest, turned to look at the Bald Man beside him, whose arm was also bandaged.

"No."

The Bald Man shook his head. "The leader may have gone out into the wilderness again. You know there's no signal out there."

As he spoke, he paused, glanced at the "companions" around them, each bearing injuries of varying severity, and said softly,

"You really don't need to worry too much. You've followed the leader for so long. You know he's an understanding man.

"And this plan was discussed by you and the others, and it was approved by the leader. Even though you were the only one who survived in the end, that doesn't mean it was your fault.

"Last night was obviously an attack those heretics had prepared for a long time. They formed an alliance with United Industries, which we never expected. This city is their stronghold, and they're far stronger than us to begin with."

At that, he looked at the bandages on the Brown-haired Man's chest.

"And we all saw you fighting those damned heretics last night. Many of the brothers escaped only because of your cover, and you were badly injured too. Those injuries are proof of your merits. The leader will see that."

"I know."

The Brown-haired Man gazed out at the sky beyond the window. "But for some reason, I keep having a bad feeling."

He turned back to the Bald Man. "What I'm really worried about isn't the leader. It's those heretics."

"Although those heretics are powerful right now,"

the Bald Man immediately said, "they have