Sleep was elusive for Rei Takeda.
For years, he'd honed his mind to pick up patterns, predict results, and assess odds. It's how he'd advanced his career at AetherTech, and also why he was 99.7% sure Hana Kisaragi spelt trouble now.
Still, her business card remained on his nightstand, highlighted by the subdued urban lights seeping into his apartment.
Why should he trust her?
No convincing reason existed to think she was more than a persuasive speaker with grand illusions.
And yet…
She mentioned Kaoru Shinohara's name.
That was keeping him awake.
Kaoru Shinohara made him a nobody. Rei had been AetherTech's golden boy, their AI savant — all erased by a single executive decree. They cause his termination, ruined his reputation, and ensured he'd never work in the sector again. Meanwhile, she remained on top, profiting from the algorithms he had invented.
Rei's fists tightened. "Rei, you don't need to play by their rules. We can create our own." Hana's words replayed in his mind.
Insanity.
However, Rei recognized that insanity was all that remained for him.
As dawn arrived, his decision was firm.
12 Hours Later - The Conclave
The meeting location was surprising.
He'd been prepared for a formal business setting, a posh skyscraper, or possibly an underground hacktivist den.
Instead, he discovered a tranquil bookstore café nestled within two towering business structures in Minato. Wallto-wall bookcases, the invigorating smell of coffee, distant jazz melodies — it was a place of understated elegance.
Hidden in the rear corner was Hana Kisaragi.
Her daylight appearance was less formidable and more human. She wore a casual white blouse and dark jeans, her long black hair cascading over her shoulder as she skimmed through a book.
"Didn't picture this venue for illicit business dealings," Rei commented, pulling out the chair across her.
Closing her book, she smirked. 'The Art of War' was its title. "Heists are plotted in basements. But empires?
They're built in places like this."
Rei leaned back. "Alright. Lay out your plan for me."
Hana leaned forward, her chin resting on one hand. "Let's be clear from the start: this isn't solely about wealth."
Raising an eyebrow, he responded, "The project is named 'Billion Dare'. What else would it concern?"
"Power," she stated simply. "Influence. Legacy. A billion dollars are merely the starting point. Our true intent is to challenge the system. The stock market, the venture capitalists, the generational wealthy families that impose the rules— we're not joining them, Rei. We're outsmarting them."
Skeptical, Rei crossed his arms. "Sounds good in theory. But unless you've got a magic formula for generating money, I fail to see your plan's execution."
With a glint in her eyes, Hana said, "That's where you come into play."
Pulling out a tablet and sliding it across the table, she displays a real-time chart mapping financial transactions.
"This is... high-frequency trading data?" Rei asked, frowning.
"Precisely, data from some of Japan's leading investment firms. Observe—" She swiped across the screen, highlighting key maneuvers. "Notice the micro-fluctuations? That's an AI-directed trade execution mechanism, exclusive to top-tier hedge funds. It regulates billions of yen invisibly, controlled by automated algorithms every second."
Rei's brain went into overdrive. He had designed systems like these. They made thousands of trades per second, accommodating market shifts faster than any human trader. This was how the rich became wealthier—their algorithms were simply faster, smarter.
"So, you aim to manipulate the system?" Rei murmured.
Hana's grin flashed. "No, Rei. Predict. As you mentioned before, your algorithms perceive patterns that evade others. With the right tactics, we don't require the initial capital to begin—we just need an opportunity."
Rei drummed his fingers on the table, processing. "You're referring to market arbitrage, exploiting price discrepancies before anyone realizes."
"Absolutely. We identify inefficiencies, leverage them, and expand rapidly. The big firms won't know what hit them."
It was reckless. It was dangerous.
It was ingenious.
However, Rei wasn't going to dive headfirst without knowing more. "So, what's your experience in all this? You speak like someone who's gamed before."
Slightly wiping her smirk off, Hana responded.
"I grew up with the workings of money, witnessing who won and who was designed to lose. My father built an empire as an investment banker… and when he passed away…" She shrugged. "It hit me that the game's fixed." Rei narrowed his gaze. "So this is personal for you."
Hana met his look. "Isn't it the same for you?" Silence followed.
Rei directed his gaze back at the trading data, his mind plotting potential models.
This whole idea was crazy. He was aware. Yet, something about it felt … appropriate.
For the first time in months, he wasn't contemplating survival, he was considering victory.
Glancing back at Hana, Rei said, "We'll require infrastructure. Server access. Untraceable accounts."
"Those are in place."
"And we'll need capital."
Hana's lips formed a sinister smile. "That's the simplest part."
Rei let out a breath. "Okay. I'm on board."
Hana reached across the table, extending her hand. "Then let's script history." Rei hesitated for an iota of a second before shaking it.
And with that, the game was afoot.
Chapter 2 End.