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ROMANIA
Colombia was through the door at seven pm sharp and Romania immediately knew that the lighthearted mood Vietnam had established through his impromptu game of charades would quickly turn solemn. Dark circles lined beneath her dark blue eyes, flickering with uncertainty.

"I almost didn't think I'd make it here," she said, taking a few heavy exhales. "We tilted the cameras away from the road a few blocks' away from here and I suppose UN noticed, and now they're back. I had to wear one of Argentina's hoodies which he literally shipped to me through a pizza delivery guy."

Romania giggled. "Argentina?"

"Argentina's the type of guy to wear super heavy cologne," Switzerland complained, and then plugged his nose as he took a whiff of the air around Colombia's hoodie, fit snugly on her torso. "Eugh."

"Anyways, speaking of Argentina, that's what I'm here for. Point Veritas does reveal a passageway to a basement. The problem is, there's absolutely nothing in it," Colombia muttered. "Except for a drawing of a Global Leaderboard. And we thought about what France said in that video, something about safebases. It's safe to guess that something, somehow, leads that underground area to one beneath Congress. Two safebases across two dimensions, and given the purpose of a bunker, it was to escape a war. That leaderboard might be the cause of it. And apart from that, void."

"And did you find anything that connects the two bases? I told you about the portal, did I not?"

Colombia shook her head. "Nothing. It's just dust and grey. If there was a portal in there, we would've found it."

Romania exchanged glances with Vietnam and Switzerland. "How about that leaderboard?"

"Just America and Russia's names in first and second place. And a few empty rows and columns below it."

"I suppose─ our only option at information now is the meeting room, then," Switzerland frowned. "But I was hoping we should keep it a final resort, once we've exhausted all our leads. What if we get caught?"

"Me and my friends will do everything we can to ensure that you don't," Colombia nodded. Switzerland waved her off. "There's always the off-chance that it isn't enough."

"But what do we do all this for then? If we aren't going to take risks?"

"Give us a day or two to think it over," Vietnam advised calmly. "I mean, if there's a good enough distraction, we might be able to pull it off. But Switzerland is right ─ there's too much danger that comes with it. If we get caught, the entire operation here is done for and the future of our world relies on the Representatives in the real world. I'm not saying I don't trust them, but─"

"Okay," Colombia interrupted. "Sounds alright to me. Sorry. I'm just worried. We're too deep in to give up now, and that means we can't be rash."

Romania shrugged. She agreed with her friends, but at the same time, some deep part of her knew that in the end they would always end up at the idea of a Central Tower break-in. "I understand. We'll give you a short call over the telephone when we make our decision. Looks like it's safe to use it, for now." When the girl made a move for the door, she added a "get home safe."

And Colombia disappeared into the dusk without another word. Stress and resignation took the place of the spot she stood.

"She seems much less like herself," Vietnam pointed out pitifully. "I wish I could tell everyone how much I believed in them. I don't think many of us get to hear that support these days," he said, smiling loosely. "Because sometimes I look at the stars and I wonder if dimensions share the same sky. Because I'd like China to see them too."