Romaxillions was the third largest skyscraper in Carter City. Its size wasn't necessarily a measure of its worth, as being loosely connected with an affluent, world-wide network of billionaires carried an indefinable value. Despite fierce desire for the property, its location was unlikely to change considering the city’s champion was only a class four martial expert and any attempted renegotiation of the building's ownership would garner the attention of said billionaires.

  It would take a monumental moron to make that challenge and bring down the wrath of a master, or god forbid grandmaster to the insignificant Carter City. Since Romaxillions was content to not take the first or second spot, things would peacefully remain as they were. Still, it was an undeniable fact that Romaxillions was the true sleeping giant in Carter.

  A hallmark of the building's prestige was its front entrance on the eleventh floor. Everything below that was solid durasteel without so much as a window. If one wasn't affluent enough to fly in, they didn't deserve to even look at the building.

  Raine and Mel's hovoursine waited in a long line outside, well above the ground. Mel's excitement mounted by the minute as she adorably flipped between staring out the window and chatting about who might be in the hover cars around them.

  Eventually, it was their turn to disembark on the extended ramp. Their AI pilot positioned the car and a tremor swept through the floorboards as it was latched in place. Raine got out first, opening Mel's door to receive a heart-melting smile. He extended his elbow and she giddily hooked her arm in his to be led inside.

  She was soaking up the attention from dozens of wealthy gazes while Raine cased the foyer and its inhabitants for threats. A lifetime of fending off assassination attempts couldn't be put aside just because he came back to a more peaceful era.

  Each piece of furniture, decorative plant, and chandelier was of high quality. Not the highest, but certainly a step above the norm for a wealthy establishment. Those in attendance almost exclusively wore Shillards, even the wait staff. The only exceptions were out-of-territory competitors which were a rare sight.

  Raine let a staff member scan their ticket, then led Mel toward the escalator bank on the far end of the expansive room. Waiting impatiently before their destination was a red-haired girl he'd expected to see. Luckily, she didn't recognize him after his recent full-body makeover.

  “Everything is so pretty,” Mel sighed, transfixed by the elegance around them.

  “And dangerous,” Raine warned, “You might be the only one here who isn't at least a class two martial. Stay close.”

  “Don't have to tell me twice,” she pulled herself tighter against him with a devious smile.

  They neared Celeste who stood alone. Those walking past gave her a wide berth, whispering secretly while sending her backward glances. Her focus was elsewhere. She weaved her head left and right to observe the entrance past those standing in the way, muttering and snarling all the while.

  She wore a silver, embroidered dress that had clearly been made for her with how snugly it fit her every curve. Her fiery hair and intense expression perfectly fit the image Raine remembered from the past: Aloof, dangerous, and vile toward any who stood against her.

  Not one person had approached her since they entered. Unsurprising with her already tarnished reputation. Raine took a single glance at her as they passed, snorting derisively.

  Stupid little girl. Using makeup to hide your freckles. I've never seen someone try so hard to look ugly.

  Celeste’s nostril flared. [Ugly?! Who wants to di-Wait! I know that voice!]

  Mel looked around for who Raine was thinking about just as Celeste spun to face them. Her mouth opened to hurl an insult at the fat bastard, only for her jaw to drop further and further until it hit the floor. She blinked at him uncomprehendingly as he walked right past without stopping to acknowledge her in the least.

  [Was he wearing a fatsuit? He’s actually fucking gorgeous! Damn, he played me and now I'm staring like a fool. I hate him so much!]

  Celeste stomped after them, reaching the duo as they arrived at the extra-wide escalator, “That's quite the trick, Mr. KongRu. I'll let your rudeness slide this time since you decided to join me after all.”

  Unlike Raine, Mel looked back. The girls appraised each other, neither liking what they found. Raine's deep voice was sharp, holding unmistakable threat, “Scram. Whatever game you're playing, I want no part in it.”

  With that dress, the bitch probably wants to use me to make some rich bastard jealous, or get them off her back. Maybe if she did a better job training her bodyguards, she wouldn't need to beg like a dog.

  The pink-haired arm ornament snickered just enough for Celeste to notice before looking away. Heat crept up Celeste’s neck and her jaw tightened painfully as she ground her teeth. [I wore this for you, ass! And I've already beat every idiot who wants me half to death. Get over yourself! Crap, I need to focus! I’ve got to recover this and make him think about uncle’s plans without giving my motives away.]

  Celeste’s voice turned sickly sweet, “Mr. KongRu, there's no reason for that. Can't we have a civil chat while we enjoy the breathtaking view?”

  The escalator trundled on, unaware of their spiff. Raine had to admit that the view was spectacular. Several floors in the center of the skyscraper had been hollowed out and replaced with a massive aquarium. The trio were lifted into and through the center, where the darkness of the bottom of the ocean enveloped them. Special lights revealed fascinating creatures that squirmed and slithered, traversing a simile of their natural habitat.

  Wrapping his arm around Mel's waist, Raine pulled her back into his side, “You can ignore her. We met earlier today when she sicked her guards on me.” Raine glanced back, piercing Celeste out of the corner of his eye, “Don't let her ruin the moment.”

  Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

  Mel nodded, redirecting her gaze to the exotic fish, “O-okay. I won’t.” [He's so sexy when he's being forceful. I don't have the guts to piss him off this much. I should thank her later for giving me such a show.]

  Celeste didn't speak again, though she did step up to his other side, inching closer to him as they ascended. [Not getting rid of me that easily. Not until I get what I want.]

  Raine growled deep in his throat.

  She really is trying to pit me against some corpo brat. What a pain in my ass. I don't want to be seen in the same room as her, let alone arriving together. As an up and coming big-shot of Ronexzera, they'll assume we have a connection. Wait… can't I use that?

  Raine’s thoughts blurred too fast for either girl to understand as his brain kicked into high gear.

  Celeste side-eyed him nervously. [What did he mean by that? Why do I have such a terrible feeling?]

  The escalator deposited them at the far edge of the fifteenth floor. Banquet tables crowded by fine foods and wine were surrounded by the most affluent in the city. The overwhelming eye candy left the casual observer grasping for where to go. Raine had checked the layout in advance and knew where the auction rooms were. Gently pulling Mel, he set off to the right. Celeste remained at his other side, looking for all the world like it was her natural place.

  His plan already in motion, Raine scanned the thick crowd, picking out several decent candidates, but nothing quite juicy enough to be worth it. Of course, every young man in attendance glared at him with open hatred. Not that most of them didn’t have one or two girls hovering at their sides as well. It was the Luu Rahn scion at his side—a prize each of them had failed to attract—which churned their guts, earning Raine a host of permanent enmity that most women were unaware even existed.

  Halfway to their table, he spotted the perfect prey and redirected Mel toward the target. Celeste shifted fluidly to follow. The man in question looked all too similar to his ZionLine avatar: Tall, muscular, and blonde with a charismatic smile. Froust, also known as Dimitrey Zhilikhoz, only briefly met Raine’s steady eyes before returning his attention to the four girls at his table.

  Dimitrey was by all rights the rising star of Carter City. As the sole class four martial, and at the young age of twenty-nine, few to none would question his meteoric status or authority at such a public event. Which is exactly why the entire room fell into shocked silence when Raine arrived and promptly kicked the man’s table toward him.

  Raine's aim was impeccable, sparing the girls who scattered as Dimitrey jumped back. His eyes went wide with outrage as tens of thousands of credits spilled across the floor in a shattering cascade of finery. Dimitrey’s exclamation perfectly mirrored Celeste’s thoughts, “What the fuck?!”

  In the past, there hadn’t been a week where Froust didn’t go out of his way to make Raine’s slavery in CronGate that much more miserable. For reasons he never understood, the man always had it out for him and their mutual master always took Froust’s side, leaving Raine no choice but to suffer the unending indignities.

  Raine’s voice was rife with long awaited satisfaction. He softly pushed Mel to the side and shouted, “What moron served this weakling before me?! I'll let it slide since you didn't know I was coming, but this better not happen again!”

  The threat to Deimitrey’s authority couldn’t have been more clear. The man’s nostrils flared as he kicked the table, sending it flying into a nearby wall, “I don’t know who you are, but you just sealed your own death. Since you issued the challenge, I’ll set the terms. One hundred percent of your assets, even the clothes off your back! Messing with me was the last mistake you’ll ever make.”

  What an idiot. Fine, if you want to lose everything you own, I’ll gladly accept your donations.

  Celeste was doing her best not to panic, and didn’t pull it off well. [He’s seriously going to fight the city champion? Fuuuuuuuuuck. What have I done? I wanted to figure out how NOT to get exiled from my family, now it’s going to happen even faster! Wait… even with that fatsuit, he took out Murang in one move. And he’s clearly confident. What if he wins… I’ve already thrown in with him and I need what's in his head. Now isn’t the time to hesitate!]

  Without thinking further, Celeste scampered to Mel’s side and pulled her further away from the ring of people that were moving to surround Raine and Dimitrey. Leaning in, she whispered, “Do you think he can win?”

  Mel shook her head, stunned by the rapid series of events, “I-I don’t know. I’ve seen him fight twice and both times it was over so fast. He’s strong, stronger than anyone I’ve ever seen in person. But… isn’t that the champion?” Now that they were so close and in better lighting, Mel got her first clear look at the redhead and her jaw dropped, “Ohmygosh, are you Celeste Luu Rahn?!”

  “Yes, but that won't be my name for long if your boyfriend loses,” Celeste clicked her tongue, resigned to the fate her impulsive actions had brought her.

  Celeste continued to drag Mel in a tight embrace, the two practically hugging. Mel's cheeks blossomed with a rosy sheen. Meanwhile, excited murmurs had broken out as bets were shouted across the room, “Two on the stranger! That kind of audacity has to come from somewhere!”

  “Five on Dimitrey. Third one this month and it won’t end any differently than the others.”

  Raine cracked his neck and squared up, casually lifting his fists, “I accept.”

  The rules of a martial duel were long held law, and neither combatant needed an explanation or referee. Still, the mayor was in attendance and he wasn’t about to miss a chance to edge in on the excitement. He clapped his hands twice, “Ladies and gentlemen! We have an official duel on our hands! Let’s hope it's more exciting than the last. If our hot-headed contestants would be so kind as to delay their grudge for but a moment, I’ll gladly oversee any disputes that wish to use this opportunity to settle.”

  Not only property and wealth could be settled by duels, minor grudges, small claims, law suits, and sometimes even major legal cases awaiting court judgements. In their martial society, the fist was the first and simplest arbiter of justice, though it was not the last; that honor was held by PsyCore—the only organization capable of putting any martial in their place.

  Raine and Dimitrey nodded, relaxing and backing off a pace. The mayor’s smile broadened, “Excellent. Most excellent indeed! Young challenger, you are aware that Zhilikhoz is a class four martial? Are you confident in giving us enough of a showing to be worth our wagers?”

  Raine nodded again, never taking his eyes off his prey, “You should be asking him that.” The crowd roared, eating up the taunt.

  Dimitrey scowled, “Big words for a dead man.”

  Raine popped his collar with a demeaning grin, “You’re not very good at this, are you? But that’s no surprise with how poorly you’re doing against DyingNight. Guess losing is your new standard.” Dimitrey quivered and he nearly lunged at Raine. Pure, unmitigated hatred sizzled in his glare as he bared his teeth.

  Raine, quick to capitalize, raised his voice, “I’ll be taking the full five. Don’t miss your chance to make a fortune.”

  The room gasped. Taking five percent of all winnings was rarely done in personal duels, and only by the clear victor to dissuade any foolish enough to bet against him. It was a statement that reeked of pride and arrogance, and they ate it up like hogs at a feast.

  The Mayor raised his hands high, voice even higher, “You heard him! Since our challenger is entirely unknown, all wagers will be five to one. Come… those of you brave enough to overturn the heavens!”

  And come they did; the mayor’s words sank into their hearts, inspiring the gamblers and thrill-seekers that they were to risk it all.