[ The way Roland listens to Senku and Gen is with a practiced ear, sharp and without distraction. They play off of each other well, to a perfect pitch where one rises to the crescendo as the other dims their voice. It's easy to tell they have a bond that no one else can take away, even if Roland is pretending not to hear the code that comes in clear. He doesn't understand it anyway; their self-proclaimed cipher, mixed and matched in a language only they speak and know. But this is precisely the kind of dynamic that he knows he can learn from, the type that is willing to help him try to make things better for the people on this train just trying to get by.

A memory of another life flashes before open eyes. Roland, white in his hair and wrinkles on an otherwise smooth face, listening close to advisors from every sector. Drafting policies. Making bills. Universal healthcare close to completion.

Those were the days. And now, here he was, easily reminded of the past he's lost all because two geniuses decided to humor him for a moment. It draws a small smile to him, a quiet wave of gratitude sent their way. ]

All well-noted. Gentlemen, I have a proposition for you both. [ From the other end of the video, he stands up straight, giving him an illusion of being much taller than he actually is. Brows straight, serious. Determined. ] Would you be willing to help draft such an emergency protocol in the event of a breakdown of universal communication, similar to what happened before on the train? It doesn't have to be complicated. The only goal is to get people unified to either retreat or find each other if things go dark.

[ He grips his fist tight. ]

If we succeed...It would greatly benefit the train and its people. What say you, two?