Iakov’s personal home was constructed just a few kilometers south-east of Ochridae, finishing some time around 2013. The residence was not public knowledge. All that was discovered by yellow paper journalists was an up-kept, wooden fence in the middle of high grassland and flat-grass steppes. The enclosed area was projected to be around 20 square kilometers.
A correct projection, most of the investment went into buying this huge “backyard”. The Founder himself decided on this for defensive and security reasons, coming in agreement with his spouse as she wanted a personal forest.
Considering that the residence employed around 100 people, among them gardeners, geologists, security forces, mechanists and other but with a noticeable lack of a house staff, it was an oddity that the area had no pathways within it. Instead, unusual trees and flowers were planted throughout the land as references for orientation.
Zihexh had been disarmed, sitting in a room of the house which seemed to be used as an office, some half hour of silence between the two occurred from being brought there. Iakov was compiling papers, it appeared as if he was trying to write a sort of documentation.
Although an interruption was attempted by the clearly annoyed and impatient captive, he was just left ignored. This gave enough time for Zihexh to consider the structure of this room.
At first, it seemed to be an office but it was unlike Iakov’s official chambers in Ochridae. It was more refined, detailed with ornaments made of expensive gems. Before trying to deduce who did work on the interior decoration, the stream of thoughts was interrupted;
Iakov asked, almost casually, “What did you bring me, Kader?” Zihexhs expression was that of surprised confusion, pausing before attempting to answer made Iakov elaborate, “When you are visiting someone’s home for the first time, it’s customary to bring a gift.” Adjusting posture from writing down a document of some sort to that of addressing someone created a short pause “I am assuming that you came to visit me for private matters?”
Noticeably annoyed by the act of naivete displayed, Zihexh responded, “There is no such thing as a purely private matter to me. I am visiting on behalf of the state interest of Viliakmon. To first disband the Office of Head of State and then authorize a dissolution of the legislature, all after being absent for months on end, is an act of treason.” It was delivered convincingly, he spoke with actual conviction in what was said.
Expecting an outburst, Xhuglini just replied to the accusations with a focused stare. A sense of disturbance could’ve been felt, arising and slowly filling the room, slowly turning into a state of panic. Zihexh began to try and string attach further explanation as he stood up, pacing around and signalling confused gestures, yet still – nothing.
“Is then failure to complete one’s duty to the state not also an act of betrayal?!” Iakov finally responded with an elevated tone, something rarely seen by anyone. “You failed to put me under arrest, just as you failed as lead command in the Rycco-Cordilian war. This incompetence recently caused Aelbasan to be captured by rogue divisions which you are supposed to be responsible for.”
Enraged by having his loyalty questioned, Zihexh responded “My own competence cannot be mistaken for deliberate betrayal. You have, affair by affair-“ Interrupted once more, “Lead to state dissolution? Yes, that’s why I authorized the Parliament disbanding itself. If an apparatus is kept on life support by one man, that is nothing short of an artificial structure, a dictatorship forced upon the population.” This rationale did calm Zihexh, who returned back to a seating position and staring into empty space. It appeared that this is what the CoC actually believed himself but refused to admit it.
“So, just let it die and allow the population to be victims of foreign scavangers?”, Zihexh asked with a defeated tone in his voice but received a firm, immediate answer, “No. I am fully confident in the Viliakmoni ability to resolve issues themselves. The population will create a better arrangement.”
It seemed as if the entire meeting was coming to a closure when doubt was casted, “By a better arrangement you mean, your wife, behind the Merimang.”
Iakov was dismissive of Merimag Group, “No, the Merimang Group is not an arrangement which I believe is an adequate successor.” However, this was followed by a deep sigh and a saddened expression appearing on Xhuglini’s until now dead serious demeanor.
The sudden change in demeanor and mentioning personal affairs first made Zihexh conclude that Iakov truthfully was suffering from a division, a conflict of personal and public self-interest. Interrupting the sulking by clearing his throat first,
“Then, I would suppose our only duty left is to craft a direction to be taken upon our mutual stripping of authority.” Iakov pointed to the paper he was writing when Zihexh came into the room, then said “I suppose it would be fair that if we dismiss one another, we also complete such a direction together.”
