Osa slouched on the sagging couch in his cramped living room, a half-empty beer sweating on the coffee table. Noah leaned forward, phone in hand and eyes bright with opportunity.
"I can't thank you enough for your social networking. Now, my business is flourishing." Osa said.
"You see! I know how to make you money. I want to know, has Jared paid you back?"
"No. He still owes me."
"I know his mom got cancer. Maybe give him a break?"
Osa shook his head. "No. I have to support my family immigrating to Cascadia."
"How big is your family?"
"I've ten siblings. I've sponsored my four brothers and two sisters to come to Cascadia. How do you even know Jared?" Osa raised an eyebrow.
"From high school, we took history together and learned about the crimson war."
Osa snorted. "That massacre in Sumer was a bloodbath ordered by Anau as 'population control.' Millions died."
Osa grabbed the remote control from the table to turn on the television. "I have to watch the news. I know from reading the newspaper. Yesmin has invited Milton Sudan to Jayland to see the new upgrades on the parliament building."
After one minute of searching, Osa found the right channel of the live news conference.
Yesmin and Milton sat across from each other on the yellow sofas, and between them was a table. They were in the common room in the parliament building.
"Zo-pak speakers dislike you as a ruler. They feel there isn't enough job opportunities for them in Cascadia." Yesmin said. She drank from her coffee mug.
"That's so true," Osa remarked.
"I can't afford to accommodate Zo-pak speakers in my country," Milton replied. "The problem is that Sumer population is out of control, and too many illegal immigrants are coming into Cascadia through boats. I need more money invested in patrolling the border."
"Bullshit!" Osa barked and turned off the television with the remote control. "Milton Sudan is a fucking idiot! He doesn't want help from his own people! That's the problem with him!" Osa grabbed his beer bottle from the table to drink. "The leadership and laws in Cascadia need to change. Milton Sudan doesn't give a shit about Zo-pak speakers."
Noah took a swing from his beer bottle. "I can't argue with you about that."
"I'm planning a rally. I want you to be there." Osa said.
"What is the rally for?" Noah asked.
"To protest against the government," Osa said. "Zo-pak speakers have been treated like second-class citizens for too long. I'm planning on becoming Ruler of Cascadia."
Noah grins. "Count me in. But how do you plan to pull that off?"
"Through all means necessary. I'm not scared to get my hands bloody." Osa smile darkly.