“Take a look, could you?” Taj asked.

  Si had to admit that everything had become complicated lately. Only recently, because just a month ago, it had looked promising.

  The Academia was announced, and he hoped it would push science further. He even had plans to attend courses to learn the most current approach to engineering.

  He could spare time for that since Shadows’ matters were organized. He had time—quite a lot. The problem was that it would have been better if he hadn’t had it. Somehow, the fact that Si had time and could dive into science or offer help in other topics triggered Lukai.

  Lukai had no time.

  Also. Lukai wanted to do everything by himself. As he said, he was a doer.

  A doer.

  Was he, though?

  Taj was frustrated, but not without a reason. Lukai demanded from him twenty-four hours a day of availability. Whenever he had a question, he sent it to Gates and expected to receive a response immediately. If there was a delay, questions emerged.

  Taj was energy; he was in Gates. He didn’t sleep or eat; he could project whenever. He could work twenty-four hours, surely.

  However, was it fair?

  In Si’s opinion, Lukai abused it. He treated Taj as a personal assistant slash slave.

  He demanded that Taj work, but at the same time, when Taj did what he requested, Lukai had questions. How did he do it? With whom did he cooperate? Why did he talk to someone? Who else did he meet with? And so on.

  Si knew because Lukai had been questioning him more recently as well. As if Shadows’ businesses, which were running smoothly, were the problem. As if Si had achieved stability too quickly.

  Why wasn’t it a plus? Si organized his matters; now he could help in the Empire.

  Clearly it was not possible—Lukai wanted to do everything by himself.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  Because he was a doer.

  … Taj was enduring it, Si could tell, still with some grace. He was not the most patient person in the world, so it was visible that it was running out.

  Their current conversation was proof.

  Si concentrated—drilled down into the data, focused on it, then clicked through a few more times, and sighed.

  “So, Taj, it is more than good enough to use already…” he started to speak but was interrupted.

  “Correct, no? Si, he wanted the dashboards. I created them—and he said he has no time for that. For what did I do them then? Moreover, he said it was not what he wanted—but it is precisely how he wanted it. O, and Si? If he didn’t have time to look at it, how does he know it isn’t what he wanted? I currently lack the strength but understand its importance. I can fix it. Isn’t it easy to use? What is the problem? What should I change so that he will use it to make informed decisions?” Taj complained.

  “I will talk to Lukai; however, he also has no time for me,” Si said.

  What he said made Taj stop.

  The silence between them was calm, as if they both understood the situation. Taj was the first to comment on it, and what he said confirmed that yes—they saw it the same way.

  “When he says he has no time for that, it means he has no time for uncomfortable topics or people.”

  Si nodded. Unfortunately, exactly.

  “Taj, the difficulty is not with your dashboards, but with the data itself. Lukai would like to see other numbers. I am not certain about his expectations. However, I took a look; it seems like a good start. Progress won’t be quick. I didn’t expect it to be fast. Three planets, three moons to manage, many divisions. Surely, it needs time to organize, unify, and connect people in a way that they will understand and not riot.” Si stopped.

  Taj was silent. They exchanged looks.

  Si decided to continue.

  “Lukai is impatient, and this is the main issue here. In his mind, I guess, progress is too slow. Though, how can it be faster? It was years of Unio creating it that divided, and years of corruption as well. Planet One is the most diverse. It is easier here to see changes happening. However, other locations are completely separate; only the naming has stayed unified, but nothing else. Your dashboards show it clearly, and this is what is wrong with them,” he said.

  “Apologies, Si, for my outburst. My observations are similar. I want to help, but I cannot do much; I need to be careful.” Taj said slowly.

  “Is Lukai trying to observe you?” Si probed.

  He had this notion, as if Lukai was… jealous?

  Luna had mentioned something of this kind as well.

  “It is more about not trusting. He is setting traps to check what I do and if I tell the truth. He said it himself; he knows having me in Gates is the best choice, and he doesn’t want me to die. I even asked. Do not tell Luna. Lukai wants me in Gates; he wants me to work, but at the same time, he wants to know everything I do or think, as if—” Taj stopped.

  Si had a realization.

  “… So, I think I’m deepening your problem, along with Luna,” he said.

  “O? Truly.” Taj fell silent, his face sad immediately.

  “Let’s not meet with Luna for some time; with me also, let’s not trigger…” Si slowly paused.

  Could it work? Would Lukai relax?

  “Not amazing.” Taj summarized it like that.