The TML, or the Machiavellian League, was once envisioned as a place where influential people from all over the world could gather and share their ideas for the future. But over the years, the organization has become something entirely different. It is now a place where power-hungry individuals come to battle for supremacy, using every tool at their disposal - gambles, battles of wits, and more.
Each battle in the TML is a grand spectacle, with hundreds of bodyguards, a judge, and money collectors all present to ensure that everything is fair and above board. The stakes are high, and the competitors are ruthless. The winner of each battle moves one step closer to claiming the title of Kaiser - the ultimate leader of the TML.
But the path to becoming Kaiser is not an easy one. To even challenge the current Kaiser, one must meet a set of strict requirements. They must have at least 800 million dollars to their name, a social status strong enough to conquer a city, and they must be willing to risk their life in the pursuit of power.
"And that's pretty much the TML, Aya," Toshiro said, taking a bite of his pocky. The two of them were sitting on his bike.
"So let me get this straight - you're willing to gamble your life for a secret organization where millionaires and politicians play games?" Aya asked.
"Yup," Toshiro said with a grin, taking another bite of his pocky. Aya started to shake with fear. "Am I in danger?" she asked.
Toshiro chuckled. "Oh, hush. Sure, the organization is dangerous, but we're not presidents with guards watching us 24/7. In fact, some members of the TML aren't even recognized on the street."
Aya looked skeptical. "So how does the organization know you're a member?"
"They have my name in their database - nothing special. Hey, by the way, mind if I crash at your place for a while?" Toshiro asked. "Huh? Why? what are you some pervert?" Aya looked at him in disgust.
"WHAT?! No!" Toshiro said. "I just need a place to crash to, my home is actually back in Canada, I'm going on a bike trip to America" Aya looked at him, still suspicious. her eyes narrowed towards him and Toshiro began to feel unease by her eyes.
"What? You owe me one, I paid back your debt remember?" Toshiro said, Aya actually remembered she did actually owe him for paying back her debt. "Okay fine, but your sleeping in the guest room and I'm locking you up in there until dawn! You got that?" Aya said.
When we arrived at her apartment, I immediately sank into the couch, letting out a tired sigh. "Ah, nothing beats a little rest after a gamble," I remarked. Toshiro, noticing a romance book on the coffee table, quipped, "Sweet cat husband? Interested in this kind of stuff?" I chuckled, but before I could react, Aya swiftly snatched the book from my hand and playfully bonked me on the head. "Ow!" I exclaimed, rubbing my head. "Don't touch my stuff," she warned, her tone icy.
"If you're staying in someone's home, please respect their privacy," Aya sternly reminded me as she walked away towards the kitchen. Toshiro rose from the couch and began exploring the room, examining bookshelves, action figures, and the TV. However, I stumbled upon several illegal loan flyers on her table. thinking (What a mess. There's no way these were delivered to her since she mentioned moving in just a month ago... Unless she collects them herself for gambling.)
I picked up one of the flyers and made my way over to Aya, who was busy cooking in the kitchen. "Hey, Aya, I'll be heading out for a bit," I informed her. Aya nodded, but her gaze fell upon the flyer in my hand, and confusion etched across her face. "Why do you have a flyer? Don't tell me..." she trailed off, concern lacing her words.
I grinned mischievously, meeting her gaze. "Oh, don't worry about it. I know what I'm doing," I assured her with a hint of mystery in my voice. With a flicker of excitement in my eyes, I pocketed the flyer and headed towards the door, leaving Aya both curious and intrigued. "No matter what I do, I just can't read him.
The scene changes to an Illegal loan office. "The hell did you just say, old man?! I'm not paying back illegal interest! Don't you dare mess with me, you worthless piece of crap!" The furious man violently slammed his hand on the table, causing it to shake uncontrollably. The old man, overwhelmed with fear, trembled like a leaf, his chattering teeth resembling a snowstorm. "This wasn't supposed to end like this," the old man lamented, his voice filled with regret.
Standing behind the enraged man was his long-haired friend, who reached for the phone to make a call. "Hello, this is—" The long-haired man's words were abruptly cut off by the voice on the other end of the line. "Daniel, you won't believe it! I just won the lottery! The winning number was 3-5-2-6-3, and I—"
"You called the same number just a few minutes ago! Are you telling me you got it wrong twice? Go to hell, you bastard!" Fueled by anger, the long-haired man viciously slammed the phone down, causing the table to tremble even more, as if echoing his fury.
"Th-that's what I said just now! The interest is exorbitant, a clear violation of financial laws, sir. It's illegal!" The old man stuttered, his body still trembling with fear.
"You were well aware of the terms when you borrowed the money in the first place! Keep your promises! Even a child would understand that!" The man bellowed angrily before sinking back into the couch and releasing a heavy sigh. "Hey, bro," he called out, catching the attention of his long-haired brother. "Need something?" his brother responded.
"Why don't we show this old geezer how we handle business?" The man chuckled, his brother joining in. "Let's strip him of his fancy clothes. I've heard his clothing brand is worth a fortune, especially that diamond ring he's wearing." His brother said. "Good Idea"
The man forcefully grabbed the old man by the collar, his grip tightening. "Please, no! This ring belonged to my deceased wife," the old man pleaded desperately.
"Does it look like we care? You're not the only one who has lost loved ones!" The man callously retorted, proceeding to snatch the old man's accessories. Helplessly, the old man could only watch as his belongings were taken away.
Suddenly, the attention of everyone in the room shifted towards Toshiro, who entered the loan office at that moment. "Stealing from grandpas? You two are a piece of work you know that?" Toshiro's voice pierced through the tension.
"Who the hell are you?" the man demanded, his voice tinged with hostility. "Me? I just came here to inquire about a loan. I saw your flier," Toshiro responded calmly, a hint of determination gleaming in his eyes.
Toshiro confidently took a seat beside the old man. "You're going to lend me some money, right?" he stated, his tone filled with an air of assurance. The two brothers continued to stare at Toshiro in confusion, unsure of how to react.
"Hey, young man, you shouldn't be behaving like this towards-" the old man began to caution, but Toshiro promptly interrupted him. "No need to be scared, gramps," Toshiro reassured him, his voice steady and calm.
"Who the hell are you?" the man demanded, his voice dripping with suspicion.
Toshiro smirked, a glimmer of mischief dancing in his eyes. "Who am I? That's my line. You two are nothing but a pair of lowlifes, preying on defenseless elders. this is how you two conduct business huh? Well, I can guarantee my buddies won't let this slide," he declared confidently.
The long-haired brother couldn't help but wonder, (Is he a gangster? Or maybe an extortionist?) "You've got it all wrong. Our friends have-" the brother attempted to explain.
"Call them," Toshiro interrupted, a challenge in his voice. The two brothers' eyes widened in surprise. "You have backup, right? I dare you to call them. But since I'm not in the mood for any unnecessary violence today, I'll come in peace and simply ask for a loan," Toshiro stated
"How much do you want? Our interest is 30% per day," the man declared.
"30%? You're quite the comedian. Well, let's start with $300,000," Toshiro responded casually, unfazed by the outrageous interest rate.
The two brothers' eyes widened in disbelief at Toshiro's request. "300 thousand dollars?! You're the one who's joking! There's no way we'll give you that much!" the man retorted angrily.
Toshiro let out a chuckle, maintaining his calm demeanor. "Lower your tone, buddy. I didn't say I expected it for free," he remarked, reaching into his pocket and retrieving his collateral items. "So, where's my money, huh?"
The old man gazed at the collaterals that Toshiro presented, only to be taken aback by what he saw. "Are these just discount coupons, a sports card, and some half-eaten snacks?!" he exclaimed, describing the seemingly worthless items.
As anger surged through the man's veins, steam appeared to emanate from his ears. Seeing the seemingly worthless items Toshiro had presented, he couldn't contain his rage. "Listen here, you asshole! Are you-"
"F*cking with you? Yeah, that's right. I'm f*cking with you," Toshiro interjected, a mischievous smirk spreading across his face, reminiscent of the Joker.
To be continued...