Rayo: I find myself currently on Madina Beach, known as Reina. It's around nine in the morning. The sea is as blue as the sky, sparkling like a star. The sand renews itself as fish swim, seagulls eat, and waves crash. I walk infront of this magnificent sight. Yet, I walk infront a murderer. Every year, the sea engulfs over 300,000 people, yet it holds no weapon, its method unchanged. There's a well-known quote: "In a fight, I am not afraid of the one who practices a thousand kicks once, but of the one who practices one kick a thousand times." From one angle, it's true, but I modify it in my own way: "In a fight, I am not afraid of the one who practices a thousand kicks once, nor of the one who practices one kick a thousand times, but of the one who pushes us to fight."
Rayo: [What do you think? X]
X: [You're absolutely right, sir.]
Rayo: [X! Agreed that whatever I command, you will do.]
X: [Indeed, I will never disobey you.]
Rayo: [And if I ordered you to kill me, would you?]
X: [I wouldn't doubt your decision for a millisecond, it will always be right.]
Rayo: [Perfect then, take this paper, read it, then carry out the task exactly as described. Remember, I haven't forgotten that you were unable to kill him and he escaped, complicating matters.]
X: [I'm well aware, fear not, I work day and night to find his trail, he can't hide forever.]
Rayo: [Don't disappoint me, know if you delay too long, I'll do it myself. One last piece of advice before you go, never remove your mask.]
Rayo: It's exactly ten o'clock, I went the opposite way until I reached the carriage. Karagi and Hori were waiting for me to tour the new palace. It was a carriage with three horses and four seats. Karagi and Hori sat in front of me, dazzled by its interior. I looked at Karagi, then the landscape outside; I looked at Hori, then the landscape outside. Suddenly, a huge palace was in sight, so huge you could see it from here. It was a blue I couldn't describe, inspiring wealth with plenty of golden parts. As soon as I arrived, I was greeted with a red carpet to the throne where I sat. Beside me were Karagi and Hori. In front, on the sides, were representatives of the inhabitants offering me gifts. None of them caught my attention; most were ordinary Madina residents.
{In Rio, changing nationality is greatly simplified with almost no conditions, just residency. Former Mendika residents only had to spend a day in Madina to change nationality. The current population is 5000.}
Rayo: After the opening ceremony, I immediately took the city microphone to address all of Madina through scattered speakers: [Dear Madina residents, I am Rayo Zighko, your king. On this special day, I invite the entire city to participate in a huge recruitment, regardless of age. The winner or winners will receive a valuable reward. It will consist of 4 main phases: the first being a riddle, leading to either qualification or elimination. The second phase will be fights, allocated by age. The journey ends here for those under 13 except for some; their reward will come in due time. The third phase will test loyalty, and the fourth, I will decide your reward. It starts today in front of the palace, thank you.] I turned it off and saw only Hori and Karagi in the room. I felt they'd ask a question, and as expected, it came.
Hori: [Your Majesty, why do you never talk about yourself?]
Rayo: [I prefer others' stories.]
Karagi: [And why have we found almost nothing about you?]
Rayo: [Perhaps you haven't looked well enough!]
Hori: [P.E.S., does it ring a bell?]
Rayo: [Yes, the organization I founded 15 years ago.]
Karagi: [Why mention it openly now when you hid it before?]
Rayo: [Because you already know what happened. Why hide it from you? Especially you, Hori, and you, Karagi,If I were to give advice, don't follow blindly.]
Hori: [Your Majesty! Where are your parents and who are they? I doubt you want to answer, hence why I'd like to make a pact with you.]
Rayo: [And what does it entail?]
Hori: [No conditions, if I find your parents, you must use 50% more of your true potential, which is -80% + 50% = -30%. If not, I'll reveal what you've always wanted to hear.]
Rayo: [This offer seems fair, I accept, though your percentage is off. Let's shake hands as a signature, with Karagi as a witness.] I stood from the throne and walked toward her. Karagi had stepped back to get a better view. I reached out, she reciprocated. Our hands approached at different speeds; she moved slower to withdraw if she changed her mind. After a few seconds, we shook hands. Her left hand held the microphone, her right, mine. My right hand shook Hori's hand, my left held Karagi's blade, poised to pierce my heart. After, I calmly returned to the throne to assess.
Rayo: [Well, Karagi, what's the honor for this act? Don't lie, it's pointless.]
Karagi: [I'll be direct, we want you to use all your potential.]
Rayo: [So that's how you see me.]
Hori: [As we see it, you already know why we're doing this.]
Rayo: [And if you had killed me?]
Karagi: [If you died like that, then these stories are false, which is impossible.]
Rayo: [Do as you please, as long as you obey and don't harm others, I won't oppose.]
Quote: "In cards as in life, the threat doesn't come from the best player, but from the one who deals them."