Demokracy: Nation Awaits

Chapter 66: Five Months Passed

Ferri 5, 1942

The sun shone brightly over Remdant City as President Denver Brooks sat in his office at Felora'n Palace. The room, usually filled with the low hum of staff and advisors, was eerily quiet this morning. Brooks had ordered all non-essential personnel out of the building. It was a rare moment of solitude as he prepared for the day's announcement—one that would close the chapter on a dark and turbulent period in Eldoria's history.

Five months had passed since the horrific Remdant Public Market Massacre, a tragedy that shook the very core of the nation. In those five months, the Republic had faced its darkest hour, with betrayal at the highest levels of government, a former Vice President now in custody, and countless lives lost.

Brooks glanced at the report before him once more—the final summary of the investigation. The Remdant Capital Police (RCP) had formally closed the case, naming the masterminds behind the massacre. The names were now etched into the pages of history: former Vice President Imelda Watson, the late former AIDA and DPA Presidential Nominee Limuel Johnson, and the disgraced Governor of the Central Bank of Eldoria, Duckett Barnes. These individuals, once pillars of power, were now in custody at the Autonomous Camp Saigon under the watchful eye of the Lord Warden.

Brooks leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping the edge of his desk. The weight of the situation hung over him. He had trusted Watson, appointed her as Vice President, and watched as she manipulated the very foundations of Eldoria's government. He had never imagined that the treachery would run so deep, and it had cost him dearly—not just in the loss of his trust in a close ally, but in the lives of innocent citizens.

At that moment, there was a knock at the door. Brooks didn't look up as his Chief of Staff, Harrison Vance, entered the room with a solemn expression on his face.

"Mr. President," Vance said, holding a stack of papers in his hand, "the General Assembly has approved your proposal regarding the Vice Presidency."

Brooks nodded, still staring at the report. "And what's the final decision?"

"They've agreed to leave the position vacant for now," Vance replied. "The people will decide in the 1943 National Election. No one will be appointed to fill the role in the meantime."

Brooks exhaled slowly, feeling a sense of relief mixed with uncertainty. "Good. It's the right decision. We need to heal as a nation, not rush into filling a position that may cause further division."

Vance hesitated for a moment, sensing the weight of Brooks' thoughts. "Mr. President, I know this has been a difficult time for you, but I want to remind you that the people are behind you. They trust your leadership."

Brooks looked up, meeting Vance's gaze. "Trust? How can they trust me after all this?" His voice softened, his usual composure slipping. "I appointed Watson. I trusted her. And now... now the damage is done. People died because of our failures."

Vance walked over to the desk and placed a hand on the report. "You couldn't have known, sir. You did what you thought was best. The truth came out, and justice is being served. We will move forward. But you can't carry the burden of this alone."

Brooks' eyes narrowed as he stood, pacing slowly. "Justice? How can I say justice is served when so many are dead, Vance? How can I feel right about anything when the blood of those victims is still on my hands?"

Vance stepped back, understanding the deep pain in his leader's words. "Sir, you didn't kill those people. You didn't order that massacre. The ones responsible have been identified and arrested. Imelda Watson, Limuel Johnson, Duckett Barnes... they were the ones who orchestrated this. It's over. We have to focus on rebuilding the country, on restoring the trust that's been broken."

Brooks stopped pacing and looked out the window, his gaze distant. "Rebuilding... Yeah, that's what we have to do, isn't it? We can't let this country fall apart because of what happened. We have to show the people that Eldoria is stronger than this. That we won't let betrayal tear us down."

A soft chime interrupted the moment, signaling the time for the press conference. Brooks straightened himself, clearing the weight of his thoughts from his face. He had a duty to fulfill today, one that would signal the official end of the investigation and the closure of the case to the nation.

He turned to Vance. "Let's get this over with. We need to show the people that the truth has come to light, and we're moving forward. They need to know that we're still a united nation."

The room was packed with journalists, all eagerly awaiting the President's statement. Brooks stood at the podium, his expression serious but composed. The lights of the cameras flickered on, capturing his every word.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the press," Brooks began, his voice steady, "today marks the conclusion of the official investigation into the Remdant Public Market Massacre. After months of painstaking work by the Remdant Capital Police and the Eldorian Intelligence Agency, we can now confirm the identities of those responsible for this atrocity."

A murmur rippled through the room, and Brooks took a breath before continuing.

"The masterminds behind this heinous act were former Vice President Imelda Watson, the late Limuel Johnson, and Duckett Barnes, the former Governor of the Central Bank of Eldoria. These individuals manipulated the system, abused their power, and caused the deaths of forty innocent citizens and the injury of over a hundred others."

A hushed silence fell over the room as Brooks' words sank in. He paused to let the weight of the announcement settle before speaking again.

"Watson, Johnson, and Barnes have all been taken into custody at the Autonomous Camp Saigon, where they will face justice under the authority of our legal system. Their actions were a betrayal of the people, and I promise you all, the people of Eldoria, that they will answer for what they've done."

A reporter raised their hand. "Mr. President, with the Vice President's office now vacant, how do you plan to move forward in the coming year?"

Brooks' gaze sharpened. "The General Assembly and I have agreed that the position of Vice President will remain vacant until the 1943 National Election. At that time, the people of Eldoria will elect a new President, Vice President, and Representatives for the General Assembly. This decision was made to ensure that the nation has a clear, untainted path forward."

Another reporter spoke up. "What about the general public's trust, Mr. President? How do you plan to rebuild faith in the government after these revelations?"

Brooks clenched his fists, but his voice was firm. "Rebuilding trust will take time, but we will start by ensuring transparency, by holding those in power accountable, and by never forgetting the victims of this massacre. Their deaths will not be in vain. We will rebuild this country, stronger than before, and we will ensure that such betrayal never happens again."

The room was quiet again as the journalists absorbed his words. Brooks stood tall, unwavering. The road ahead would be difficult, but he was ready to face it. Eldoria would heal, and the Republic would emerge from this tragedy stronger than ever.

As the press conference concluded, Brooks turned to leave, but his mind was still on the victims—their families, the innocent lives lost because of a conspiracy too great for anyone to have imagined.

But as he walked out, there was a flicker of hope, too. The country was still standing, and now, with the final chapter of the massacre closed, it was time to rebuild, to restore what had been lost.

And Eldoria would rise again.