POV TATSUMI
"You are truly interesting, Tatsumi."
" .... "
" You were born 16 years ago, but sadly, your parents passed away when you were just 9 years old, leaving you orphaned. You were then taken in by the 'Storm' workshop, and you've been separated from your sister, Emi, since you were 10. Have I got that right?"
"You got it right?" I replied, leaning in towards the guy. "But what about you? Tell me about yourself?" i said with an intrigued tone.
As I uttered those words , he leaned toward me and said "Me, my name is Rick GAO, the young master of GAO Industries... and like you, I will be in class D."
He extended his hand and added, "Nice to meet you, classmate."
With a playful grin, I leaned back in my chair and said, "Alright, alright, classmate... Now that we know each other, how about you give me the darn reward!"
Rick chuckled and replied, "Impatient, aren't you? Well, Tatsumi, I appreciate your enthusiasm. But before we get to that, let's enjoy this little game first. It's going to be fun, I promise."
"Fine, let's play your game, Rick. But i want two reward !!! " i said with greedy smile
Rick chuckled, "Two rewards, huh? You drive a hard bargain, Tatsumi. But I like your spirit. Let's see if you can earn them."
Tatsumi asked, "So, what are we going to play?"
Rick suggested, "How about a game of blackjack? It's a classic and can be quite thrilling."*
"Alright, let's go with blackjack," Tatsumi agreed. A bodyguard approached the table and began dealing the cards. The game of blackjack unfolded, and the tension in the air grew with each draw.
After several intense rounds , Tatsumi emerged as the winner, a triumphant grin on his face. Rick chuckled and acknowledged, "Well done, Tatsumi. You certainly have some skills."
I leaned back in his chair, feeling a sense of satisfaction. "Thanks, Rick. Now, about those rewards..."
Rick nodded, acknowledging their agreement. "Of course, Tatsumi. You've earned it. I'll make sure you get what you deserve."
Rick leaned forward, his fingers tapping thoughtfully on the tabletop. "Now, Tatsumi, about those rewards," he began, his tone casual yet inquisitive.
"What exactly do you desire? Money? Power? Or perhaps something a bit more... unconventional? You've shown me you're a man of skill and resourcefulness. The world can be your oyster; you just have to name it."
I eyes sparked with excitement as he calmly stated, "Give me the transformation features, and let's hold off on the second reward for now."
Rick chuckled and replied, "As I mentioned during our game, you can have more, you know. GAO Industries is quite influential."
Responding with a grin, I said, "And just as I mentioned, where's the fun in taking everything at once? I'm just a beginner. Even if you gave me gold-ranked technology, I wouldn't understand a word of it. I don't merely want to use the technology; I want to comprehend it. Why? How?"
Rick chuckled and said, "I see ... HA HA HA I wasn't mistaken about your personality." He snapped his fingers, and a bodyguard approached him with a black briefcase.
He handed me the black briefcase with a confident smile, stating, " Just as I expected... Hehe, my intuition is rarely off. And judging by your expression, you've probably grasped that too."
"There's the technology you wanted to acquire. As you may be aware, a license on the MSC grants access to these technologies, but it comes with limitations time . "
" However, since it's developed by The GAO Industries, you'll have unlimited access with no time restrictions. The license is divided into several ranks, but for now, I'll only grant you access to the Bronze and Silver ranks," he said, pointing at the briefcase in my hand.
I stood up abruptly, a mix of excitement and impatience in my eyes. "Bronze and Silver ranks? That's more than enough for me to get started! Thanks, Rick. I'll take it from here" i said before turning and quickly leaving the café, clutching the briefcase tightly in my hand.
* VROUM VROUM *
Rick called out after Tatsumi, "Wait, Tatsumi! There's something else I wanted to discuss with you!" But Tatsumi had already left with his motorcycle.
"..." A moment of silence followed.
One of Rick's bodyguards asked, "Should we pursue him, young master?"
Rick shook his head. "It's okay, leave it. It's not like I won't see him in a month."
==================================
**1 hours later**
Tatsumi had just arrived in the hangar when suddenly, a metallic sphere shot straight at his stomach. The impact was so powerful that it pushed him back a few steps.
*KHUHH*
"Master, why did you leave me behind, having fun all by yourself..." Nexus asked.
Tatsumi remained silent, his response conveyed through his lack of words.
Regaining his balance, turned to Nexus and began to explain what had just transpired with Rick and the blackjack game. He tried to describe the unusual encounter, the rewards, and their conversation, but Nexus couldn't quite grasp why a card game like blackjack was involved.
Tatsumi explained that it was essentially a test initiated by Rick to assess the personalities of individuals he encountered.
Nexus, still puzzled, asked, "But why did he do this?" not entirely understanding the purpose behind it.
Tatsumi responded, "To determine if someone is worthy or not" shedding light on Rick's intentions.
Nexus blinked with his robotic eyes, processing the information. "I see, Master. But worthy of what ??? ".
Tatsumi leaned in closer to Nexus and whispered, "Worthy of something big, Nexus. I can sense it, but... "
He then took a step back and said, "I don't even know what he wants. This is the first time I've encountered someone this cunning. I'll just say that we'll become friends with benefits."
Nexus, with his robotic eyes blinking, seemed baffled by Tatsumi's cryptic words. He tilted his head slightly and asked, "Master, I'm not sure I understand. Friends with benefits? What does that mean in this context?"
"Mmmh, let's just say he will use me, and I will use him," said Tatsumi.
"Oh, okay. Then, are we also friends with benefits?" asked Nexus.
Tatsumi chuckled at Nexus' innocent question. "No, Nexus, not like that. We're just a team, partners."
* TCHEEP *
"Hmm, did you say something?" Tatsumi inquired, furrowing his brow as he turned around to inspect the curious metal sphere.
"No, nothing! By the way, what's in this briefcase?" Nexus asked, his robotic voice tinged with curiosity, his eyes flashing with intrigue.
"Ah, THIS IS MY NEW TOY!!!" Tatsumi exclaimed with an exuberant grin, lifting the briefcase high above his head.
"Nexus, get ready to modify the bike, ha ha ha," he said, sprinting towards his desk to analyze the documents.
With the transformation feature in mind, he aimed to turn his bike, which currently had two driving modes differing only in engine sound, into a multifunctional powerhouse!
Nexus replied with enthusiasm, "Of course, Master Tatsumi! I'll prepare all the necessary tools and equipment for the modifications."