Chapter 53 - C56 — Love Rival

A/N: I finally got to play Tag Force for the first time. It kinda ignited my passion for YuGiOh so after this one, I think I'll write a GX fic. Always loved Jaden as a main character, way more than Yugi to be honest."Go ahead… Give it a try." I motion toward the plate of minced meat on the table. It's my favorite dish, the one that kept me from starving. Just two spoonfuls a day with two bowls of rice can satisfy even the biggest appetite. "What is it?" "Sweet and spicy minced meat, perfectly seared; soaked in animal fat and a touch of butter, served with peppers and onions. You eat it with rice. The trick is to spread the meat evenly over the rice and ultilize the sauce to consume as much rice as possible." I explain wisely, nodding in approval. "It's affordable and delicious. With just a few bucks for meat, rice, peppers, and spices, it can last days! A whole week, even!" She blinks at me rapidly, then chuckles. "You seem pretty excited." "I've never cooked for anyone besides myself and my family before. The dish on the side is scrambled eggs made with the leftover meat, and that—" I point to the cup beside her and wink. "Is iced, salted coffee with melted vanilla ice cream and a shot of milk on top. I call this the 'Leo's Special.' Thanks to this diet, I was able to save up to my first 10K. Maybe it isn't that good, but I have a soft spot for it in my heart." Gil took a spoonful and tasted the dish, chewing thoughtfully. "It's too salty." "That's because it's meant to be eaten with hot rice and veggies. The sauce can make anything delicious, even bland or bitter vegetables." Maybe it sounds odd, but having an entire steak for one meal just seems excessive to me, but to each their own. If someone can afford it and wants to enjoy a nice, juicy steak, who am I to judge? Personally, I can't eat without rice to soak up the juices. Meat alone feels too heavy, too greasy. Listening to my suggestion, Gil spooned some over her rice and took a bite. "Oh?" "Well? How was it?" "Not the best I've tasted, but not too bad. The spiciness and sweetness compliment the rice quite we—" Just then, my phone starts to ring. When I flip it open, it's none other than my manager. She's quite the force of nature—intense but incredibly competent. "Sorry, I have to take this." She's probably not too happy with me. "This is Leonis' phone." "—Where the hell are you, you cocky little cumstain?! I swear when I get my hands on you, I'll—$%÷@!" Jesus H. Christ, I never knew Japanese could be so… Foul. "My name's Jasper Hangman, and I'm Leo's cousin. May I know who this is?" A brief pause follows, then another stream of curses fills my ear. "—You think making your voice deeper will get you anywhere? You think I'm that stupid?" A hint of irritation crosses my brain briefly. Ms. Miyamoto's lucky I still her to seize control of the entertainment industry for me. With only so much room for innovation and the standard of living set to rise significantly over the next two decades, the explosion of the entertainment industry will be impossible to overlook, and like everything else, I want to my fingers and toes both in that delicious pie. I need it, in fact, as my cash cow and propaganda tool. Young people may not care much for politicians, but their favorite celebrity? It's straight cult-like behavior. "You've got me mistaken, miss. I'm his cousin. Leo's a bit tied up at the moment. You're Miss Miyamoto, right? His talent manager?" "—This isn't funny, Leo." "I'm not Leo, I'm Jasper." Liar, liar, Leonis on fire. "But he's told me a lot about you…" "—That little sh—" She abruptly stops to revise her choice of word. "—He's been talking shit behind my back, hasn't he?" "He said you're dedicated, talented, and a real looker." A little sugarcoating never hurt anyone, even if it was a total fabrication. "—Bullshit." "No, really! He did! Said you're a bit… Intense… Which is just another word for being dedicated to your work, isn't it?" "—Sorry 'bout that…" Works every time. "—Can you put Leo on the phone?" "I'll let him know you called, but I think you might've scared him… Just a bit." Slipping into another persona; becoming someone else entirely—it works wonders taking the pressure off my brain. Jasper Hangman and Leonis Magnus are two different people, after all. "But, I do have a proposition for you." "—Proposition, for me?" "I… I'm aware the Japanese market is booming, especially in the entertainment sector. That's why I'm considering… Opening a talent agency there. Whatever your current salary is, I'll double it if you come work for me." "—Is this a joke?" "Oh, I'm dead serious. Of course, company will be run by someone else on papers," Her, probably. "But I'll be the one bankrolling it which means I have the final say." My financial advisor, to be precise. I had already hashed out the details—as Jasper Hangman; cousin to Leonis, naturally. "I can assure you, this is a genuine offer. If you excel, there's plenty of room for growth. The first few years establishing the company will be challenging, though." Thankfully, I had a mental shortlist of incredibly talented Japanese artists already lined up. Once we've squeezed this market dry, we'll start development in other countries—South Korea for instance; the US next and then the UK. "No pressure, of course. I will give you a week to mull it over, but that's about all the time I can spare." "—What's the initial offer?" "100K annually, with a 5% raise every year." Compared to the going rate for scouts and managers these days, it is a steal; an offer I wouldn't hesitate to snatch up if I were in her position. "—And that includes bonuses?" "5% of your annual income. You won't find a better deal than that." Not in the cutthroat world of Japanese entertainment. I could probably find someone with even more experience, but I knew her, and that gave Miyamoto a natural advantage over her competitors. Favoritism is an absolute fact; The issue of trust and loyalty asides, it is a privilege I truly believe everyone's owed, for even the Gods had their favorites: Demigods, Heroes, or simply a beautiful woman they saw down the street. I am not obligated to offer fairness or opportunity, just as nobody is obligated to offer them to me. Such a mindness prevents envy from infesting in one's mind. But enough arbitrary—"So? What do you say?" "—It'll be too much to ask for vacation days, won't it?" "Not really, as long as you avoid choosing holidays." Those are the busiest times of the year for a reason. Everything is in a frenzy, and with the gradual decline of attention spans, the stars we manage will need to be consistently visible. "How about… Fifteen days per year?" "—Really? You're seriously offering that many? Wait, I don't have to do any… Favors for this, do I?" For Heaven's sake, could she be any less crude? "… No." "—I noticed you hesitated… Ugh, fine. If I have to suck your di—" This bitch is unbelievable. "Get your mind out of the gutter!" Beside me, Gilgamesh chuckles, pressing two fingers to her lips and feigning a moan. "Jasper~ Come back to bed!" Did she just pull off the equivalent of—No, there's no comparison. She definitely just moan-pranked me. "Gil!" I hiss, but that just makes her laugh even louder; clinking of pearls and chimes that instantly douse the flame of embarrassement in my chest. "—Was that a hint?! I mean, Leo's gonna be a looker, so his cousin can't be far behind, right? I'm not oppo—" With an exasperated roll of my eyes, I cut her off, snapping the phone shut. "Call back when you're of sound mind, Miyamoto-san." Then I turn my attention to the giggling Queen, stretching her cheeks—and no, you degenerates, not those cheeks!—and giving them a good squeeze. But my attempt at discipline only makes her laugh harder. Clicking my tongue, I bite back a smile and try to school my features into a stern expression. "That wasn't funny." "Uhm, it kinda was." She replies cheekily. "It really wasn't." I retort, leaning in just a fraction too close. Close enough to catch the intoxicating scent of alcohol on her breath. It must be something stronger; magical even, to have this mesmerizing effect on me. Not that I'm any saint myself, but I usually have a tighter rein on my impulses. Lips practically brushing hers, I catch myself just as my phone starts to ring. "What am I, a Smurf?!" It's my alarm… The one set so I wouldn't miss the showdown with Lorelei's simps. "Fuck, it's already time." "Let's go then. Wouldn't want them to think you chickened out." "Urgh." I groan like a petulant child—which, considering the circumstances, isn't far off the mark. Like being dragged out of a candy store for 'official business.' Blergh. "Just give me five minutes, I'll go with you." "Gil, I can't. They'll think I actually ran." I'm well-versed in the language of women; 'five minutes' translates to a solid two and a half hours at the least. "Gil, you're gorgeous as is, no need for makeup." "I'm just putting my clothes on!" She stops abruptly, golden ripples cascading as she throws a suit onto the bed. "You'll have to look presentable too. Those clothes are self-repairing, put them on." Then, the Queen disappears in the bathroom. Strange. She usually wasn't shy about changing in front of me. "Whatever." I shrug off my simple t-shirt and khakis, replacing them with the white suit threaded with gold. Not really my style—I'm more of a dark color palette kind of guy—but I can trust Gil's judgment, especially when it comes to fashion. "This is a bit much, isn't it?" There's even a black coat with gold threading, a delicate cord attached should I decide to drape it over my shoulders. "Are those fucking earrings?" They resemble Gil's own, but instead of the simple gold taels dangling from strings, mine bear the snarling visage of a lion. The left earring depicts the creature in all its regal glory, mane fully extended. The right, however, captures the lion mid-hunt, its jaws clamped around the neck of a helpless hyena. "Yeah… I'm not putting that on." Shit, and I thought I was egotistical. "Why not? You'll look good." "Gil, I think your definition of 'looking good' and mine differ vastly." I spin around, words dying on my lips. I'm used to her in a tracksuit, or her usual white linen shirt and black pants, but I've never seen her in a full dress before. "Our definitions clearly don't differ that much if you like my look." I've always been partial to a more casual look, but I wouldn't object to her dressing like this every now and then. "This is too ostentatious." Grabbing my collar, she pulls me in a heated kiss that ends too soon in my opinions. "That's the point." By the time we head to the limo Gil arranged, I'm out of my old outfit and glasses. "So this is lookmaxxing, huh?" I laugh at the meme, draping my arm over her shoulder as we step into the limo and roll down the street. "Feeling anxious?" "A bit." I confess. No matter how many fights I've been in, there's always that touch of fear… "Here, let me." Taking half a shot, she climbs onto my lap, pressing the liquid against my lips. "The driver—" Just as I'm about to speak, the small divider between our seats and his slides shut. "Good man." 5 Stars, would recommend. Mumbling the words, I groan as she grinds against me, alcohol trickling down our chins, licked clean playfully by her tongue. I've been with a wild girl before—the kind who insists on winning every sexual skirmish, even saliva-swapping—but none have ignited such a fire in me. With Ciri, it was thrilling and exhilarating and good, Gil is instead pure passion; a blaze in the form of a shapely woman who'll either uplift me, or bring me to my ruin. "We're here, Sir?" The voice over the speaker snaps us out of our alcohol-induced trance, causing my frustration to surface. I quickly suppress it, choosing to reserve it for the worthless simps pushing my button. "Holy—Is that him?!" "He's here! Spread the news, he's here!" "… His eye's hot." That's the first I've heard that… "Just his eye?" "Who's the woman next to him?" Ignoring the murmurs, Gil and I make our way down the Tower to the training floor. When the elevator doors open, we are met by the sight of over a hundred men of various ages standing in groups, their expressions clouded with a thunderous rage. A few girls are scattered among them, but men overwhelmingly dominate the scene. "Sorry, I crossed a black cat on the way back." "Tsk, more like you chickene—" "Stop!" I cut in, pointing at the Magus. "I know where this is headed. You're going to throw around some nonsense to rile me up, and then I'll have to kick your ass… Can we just fast-forward to the second part where I do exactly that? I'm a busy man." Besides me, Gil summons the plates I made earlier—them and an ostentatious throne which she sits upon. "You brought it with you." "You put effort into making them; I didn't want them to go to waste. Now, go get the 'hyenas.'" "I will." I wink, stepping forward as the Magi continue to yap, whine, and complain. They're on about me already having Lorelei but still daring to bring another girl to the Tower, or something along that line. "My God, bro, will you shut the fuck up! Don't you ever get tired of your own voice?" Speechless, the first Magus yells, lunging at me with a spear in hand. He should have chosen a different weapon. I'm average with swords, knives, and even guns, but when it comes to spears? Instantly, my hand catches the Mystic Code just below the blade, my feet steady as a rock despite his efforts. "Yo—" He doesn't get the chance to finish as I start tossing him left and right like a ragdoll, leaving craters in the floor. Then, the sole of my foot connects with his solar plexus, sending him crashing to the ground a few feet away from me, the impact cracking the floor. "That's it?" I scrunch my nose at the unconscious Magus, grabbing the bottled water out of a maid's hands. "Wasn't he talking the most shit earlier? What the Hell even is his Magecraft, anyway?" "U- Uhm… Runic Magecraft? Lord Ligma House's big on Enochian Runes, which they use to enhance their prowess in combat. They have lots of dealings with the Church." Ah, so a Buffer then—'Wait…' Staring at her, I nearly choke on the mouthful of water. "You dead-ass? His name's Ligma?" "Yes, sir. I believe it's French?" "C'mon, you've gotta be kidding. 'Ligma Balls,' just say it and be done with it already." "I—I don't follow? I'm a woman; I don't have balls, sir." What is this? What kind of humorless Hell have I landed into? "Never mind. Is that really all his Magecraft has to offer?" Shaking her head, she replies shyly, a pink blush dusting her cheeks as our eyes meet. "I don't think so… I haven't seen him use the Enochian Runes on himself, sir." Turning to the Magus, I ask, "Did you seriously forget to Buff yourself, you fucking muppet? You had one job! I even arrived late!" The Magus just groans, clutching his stomach while I kick his spear aside. "Man, just go take a hike. You're not that guy, trust me. You not that guy." It must be getting blue-balled not once, not twice—thrice! But I feel like I'm a grumpier person than I was this morning. "Urgh, screw this. All of you, come on up! I'm going to kick all your asse—" Midway through my rant, Lord Ligma leaps to his feet, lunging at me from behind. Od instantly surges into the Bo'Oh'O'Wa'er in my hand, which I dodge-ball the muppet's head with enough force to stop him in his tracks, causing Lord Ligma crashes to the floor in an unconscious heap. "Should've listened." To my astonishment, all the Magi leap towards me with no hesitation. I had expected some to refuse the opportunity out of honor, but apparently, the shock from Lorelei's sudden marriage has knocked all the senses out of them. I will knock them back in, free of charge. 'Speak of the Devil…' "Go for it!" One of the Magi shouts, drawing her sword and stabbing into a distortion in Space. The action triggers a chain reaction, causing more distortions to form around me. My [Shield] absorbs the impact of the colliding blades, cutting off my speech, though my mind continues to analyze the Spell. It reminds me of Ciri's [Blink], which enables her to adopt the positions of her alternate-selves and instantly 'teleport' to their locations. However, instead of assuming a position in a Timeline which infringes upon the domain of the Kaleidoscope, what they are doing seems more… Unconventional… Less, somehow. Allowing the blades to slide off my [Shield]s, I activate [Vibration], infusing the air with energy as the air molecules rub together. It's not a particularly sophisticated Spell, but as an attack? I can create soundwaves louder than the noise of a fighter jet's sonic boom. An ear-splitting sound, somewhere between the snarls of a starved tiger and a lion's roar, erupts from my palm, causing the room to quake as it tears through my own eardrums. Despite being the source, I'm fortunately positioned away from the path of the sound waves—or more accurately, the shockwaves. Twenty of the Magi aren't so lucky, bearing the full brunt of 190 dB right in their faces. Suddenly, the walls around us glow with a deep, golden hue, teleporting them away while a gentle light envelops each Magi, blood streaming from their eyes, ears, mouths, and nostrils. As I watch them writhe and scream, the only thought that goes through my head, 'I can go even louder.' That is, until a revolting insect lands on my forearm. 'A botfly?!' I thought Crest Worms were bad, but this is a thousand times worse. "What the fuck is with you assholes and insects?!" Roaring, I crush the disgusting Familiar in pieces, which instead of fading away as they ought to, start to absorb Mana directly from the Greater Source to form more of the botflies. At least 300 chunks there were, and in seconds they've matured to an adult botflies constantly buzzing around me. Every attack I make, every kill I get only seems to worsen my situation, until the swarm has grown to a sizeable tornado chipping away at my [Shield]s. "You got him!" My regenerating eardrums pick up the sound as hundreds more swords materialize around me, tearing through the botflies and spawning even more of them. "That little bastard thought he could challenge us?!" I think viciously, and [Super-Charged] responds to my anger with an [Infernal Blast]. I still have nine Charges stored—plenty to utterly incinerate them all. There's a brief moment of silence as I manipulate the air currents to envelop me, creating a vacuum where I stand; an area where no fire can affect me. Then, the cone of fire expands outward. Even shielded in the vacuum, I can feel the ultraviolet light and radiation tingling against my skin. The botflies, reduced to ash, fall around me in a circle. I step through, brushing away the remains with the fierce winds I summon, revealing myself entirely unharmed except for a few black, ashy marks I overlooked. "An Elemental Spell of that magnitude… The last time I witnessed such a thing was when Lady Barthomeloi—" Why do these people always trail off mid-sentence? "Oh, God, it's another 'monster.'" One of the spectating Magi murmurs. "For your information," I start, pointing at my opponents; gaze sweeping over all fifty of them with a smug, shit-eating grin. "That wasn't even the most powerful Spell I have in my arsenal."