^^ Riley Ocean, Witch/Mage ^^

--- Day 132 AD, Dewdan, 10:00 ---

"- And the Tournament is tomorrow? What should I do?!?!" Tizzy was worrying over a project she'd left to Last Minute.

I chuckled. "Mora sugit, my dear." I said.

She growled at me. "What's that mean?"

"Procrastination Sucks." I laughed.

She grumbled and turned back to her project, writing furiously. I shrugged and walked out after a kiss to her cheek for good luck.

---

I hummed, watching the gambling going on in the floors below me. I sat on the inner balcony of my Casino, on the center Island of the Nexus.

Every gambling game that existed in this world was represented, as well as some my world's basic games to test the waters, such as Roulette, Dominoes, Poker, (5 and 7 card Stud), as well as Texas Hold'em, and BlackJack.

It had been a few weeks, and the place was filling in nicely. My manager stood by me nervously. I'd been sitting still for about twenty minutes.

I blinked, and nodded. "Well done." I said suddenly.

He jumped, and then bowed his head. "Thank you, My Lord-"

"How are the winnings?" I cut him off, impatient with the titles.

"We have already taken in 245 Koi, My Lord." He grinned, apparently proud of himself.

"245? The projected margin was 250." I said, raising an eyebrow.

He paled, and I sniffed him. He smelled like roses, and Fear. "Ahh, I see." I nodded. "You're skimming funds, because you believe I couldn't possibly notice. I'm a very busy man, after all." I nodded thoughtfully.

He paled even further, and took a subtle step back, his hand creeping towards his belt.

I smiled. "That gun will do you no good. I'm immortal, sonny. And besides, draw that pistol, and you'll never get the chance to fire it. Leave it holstered, and you may survive this." I said simply.

He drew his weapon swiftly, and my claws ended him before he even registered their existence. I looked at his second in command as his body crumbled to the stones, his head bouncing and rolling away slowly. "Understand that corruption and theft will always be handled this way. Hmm?" I nodded.

He nodded frantically, shaking with fear. I patted his shoulder. "Congratulations on your promotion. First order of business, get this cleaned up. Second, retrieve his stolen funds, and seize his lands and properties. They're yours now. Consider it a promotion bonus. It will also make sure you remember who gave them to you." I said into his ear, and walked away.

I left the building, and visited the Brothels, confirming their status, and then the Clubs, slowly and methodically working my way through my businesses, and then checking on the building process of one of the final buildings, which was a new addition.

It would become a Penthouse Hotel, where before it had been a Tavern, which was moved under the nearby river, creating a Subaquatic Glass structure. I nodded and walked away, assured it was moving according to plan.

I hummed, deciding to destroy Corruption in my business.

I created a plan, where I would fill a board room with Criminals that were to be executed, dressed as high-class successful businessman, and introduce them as corrupt officials, and then seed in one or two actual individuals from my organization. All the top members, corrupt or not.

Then I'd give a speech about corruption being the death of business, and execute the criminals, one by one, purposely skipping my people. Then I'd tell them that this was a warning, and that I knew everything that happened in my organization.

This would strike a note of pure terror in their hearts, and I would have loyal, frightened leadership.

I set out to collect a few thousand criminals.

--- Day 132 AD, 16:00 ---

"- And, of course, while corruption will be punished, Excellence will be rewarded in equal measure. I'm a very fair man, you see." I sat on the table, while the woman in front of me glanced, wide eyed, at the pools of blood all around her.

She nodded slowly, eyes calculating, and I narrowed my eyes. "You're interesting... Not scared at all... Who are you?" I asked.

"Riley Ocean." She replied smoothly.

I smiled. "I like you, Ocean. How would you like a leadership position within my organization?"

"I'd like that very much. Your business is on the quickest rise I've ever seen, milord, and honestly? I want in. It's the best possible job opportunity, at the moment." She said precisely.

I laughed. "True. Very good. I'm a busy man, I'm sure you know. I need someone who's good at directing hundreds of puppets, who will direct thousands more. Are you that Woman?" I asked.

"I believe I can be." She nodded.

"Good. You're hired... Again, I suppose." I chuckled.

"May I ask a question?" She asked.

"Of course."

"Who were these men?" She pointed at the bodies.

"Corrupt businessmen. Most were from my smaller companies in Textile and Merchant Trade. Not exactly high-powered individuals, but easily replaceable." I lied smoothly.

She nodded. "And the demonstration was to show me I was replaceable as well."

"Yes. And never make the mistake of believing you aren't." I warned, standing up, and walking to the door. "Now. Let's talk in cleaner quarters." I opened the door.

She nodded and walked next to me as I walked down the hallway. She wasn't my type, physically, as she was a short, petite woman, and so I was able to look at her directly, and have a full, intelligent conversation, with no annoying distractions.

"So. Your responsibilities will mostly include directing different projects I assign, though I usually like to do the minute details myself. You'll be handling the large scale monetary trafficking, as well as supervising the accounting. Are you comfortable with that task?"

"The only problem I have with that is the amount of computing I'll have to do, with the size of your company." She hummed.

"I have a Quantum Computer for the calculations, so that's a burden off of you, it'll mostly be reading what the accountants input into the QUEST, and then giving me the final product release specs. Simple, in that area." I nodded.

She hummed. "I see. Then no, I have no problems. This seems like a challenging, but rewarding job. The Pay?" She asked.

I laughed heartily. "I like you, Ocean, you have a little Spitfire in you... The pay will be 10 Koi a Fiscal Period, and you will receive bonuses as I deem fit, for projects done. When it is time for you to retire, I will have a dwelling befitting my respect for your work built, and you and your family will own it. Acceptable?" I asked.

She smiled. "Yes."

"Do you already have family?" I asked.

"One daughter and a newborn son on the way from my wife." She smiled.

"Artificial Insemination?" I asked.

"Yes, Milord." She nodded.

"Very interesting. And are your lodgings sufficient?" I asked simply.

"They are, though I'll need a bit more room once the new baby is born." She huffed, obviously stressed.

"It'll be take care of." I nodded, and stopped in front of the elevator.

"Where are we going?" She asked curiously, as we went up the elevator.

"Up." I shrugged.

The elevator stopped at the top floor, and we stepped out onto glass, where a small, magically suspended lake was under us, filled with giant fish and Sharks.

She gasped, and I laughed, walking over it to the small island that held her Desk and her Computer. "This is yours. This office will serve as your headquarters, and your assistant will also work here, at that desk." I pointed at a smaller desk, next to the elevator.

She sat down slowly in the large chair. "Amazing... Thank you..."

"Don't thank me, you're going to be working like an Ox with this Job. Your assistant will fetch things for you, and anything else you need, lightening the load a little. Have fun." I said, and walked out, commanding one of my fish Familiar's, located in the Tank below, to keep a close watch on her and her office, and assistant, so nothing went unnoticed.

Camera's didn't exist in this world, which was odd, and I didn't know enough about film to create them in any form other than the digital version. Instead, I used Familiar's, draining their senses into my database as audio and video.

--- Day 133 AD, 05:15 ---

I sat on my roof, and breathed deeply of the fresh air that was all around.

The air was amazingly crisp, even underground, due to the massive amounts of foliage down here.

Jazz sat down next to me. "Nervous?" She asked, referring to the tournament in a few hours.

"Too Excited to sleep." I shook my head.

She smirked. "I could help with-"

"Not tonight." I shook my head, surprising both of us.

She blinked slowly. "Wow. You really are nervous."

"No, like I said. I'm excited. What do I have to be nervous about? There's no penalty for losing, and I don't plan on losing anyway." I shrugged.

She hummed. "Alright... Well, come to bed anyway, lover. You'll catch cold."

"No I won't." I shrugged.

She sighed. "You know what I mean. Come on."

I sighed and followed her into my house, and into my bed.

--- 08:00 ---

I stood in the arena, eyes scanning the contestants for familiar faces. I smirked when I saw that Tizzy and Ira were the only contestants I recognized instantly, though I saw a few more I vaguely recalled.

"LORDS AND LADIES, WELCOME TO THE FIRST DAY OF THE LEGENDARY TOURNAMENT, HOSTED BY THE PHYSICAL AND MAGICAL WARFARE SECT'S OF THE MIGHTY SHUN IMPERIAL COLLEGE!" The male announcer shouted into the vocal amplifier, inciting a roaring cheer from the crowd of at least 20,000 mage Alumni who'd come for the show.

There were no normal citizens, of course. Only mages were allowed into the College, after all, though I was displaying it on screens in The Nexus and my other establishments, and allowing betting to take place for the first time in college history.

The Council had objected at first, but at my point that it would let ordinary people see Imperial Mages fighting, and strike fear and respect into the normal citizens, they relented willingly. Gem sat on the very edge of the stadium, observing everything and transmitting it faithfully.

I was also selling rights to receive the video on NovaTech, allowing the Police Force to watch, as well as anyone else within the city with access to a bar I owned, which were most of the bars in the city.

It was a lucrative business, Telecasting what was essentially Magical warfare mixed with MMA.

The Announcer continued once the noise died down.

"Now, today, we have a rather interesting selection process. We will hold the First Bouts shortly, but first, a brief explanation of the rules and guidelines by my esteemed Guest, Princess Teresa!" He said excitedly.

'Oh? Haven't heard from her in a while...'

"Thank you for that introduction, Sir. The rules of the Tournament are rather simple for any level of teaching. Intentional Maiming is forfeit, as well as killing the opponent, or using any means not prescribed in the current Competition. For example: Shifting during a Magical Warfare match, or Using Magic of any kind during a Physical Warfare match." She said crisply.

"Thank you, Princess, that was very informative, yes! So for anyone still confused, good luck!!" He laughed. Then he turned to her. "Now, Princess, it's my understanding that you are personally interested in the outcome of this Tournament. May I ask why?"

I hummed, looking up at her in the box. She looked well, so I suppose that was good. She noticed me looking at her, and blinked slowly, before turning to reply to the Announcer.

"It's quite simple. My future husband is in the competition. I'd like to view his success's and/or failures, as they happen, instead of receiving a summary later. He'll get no special treatment, of course, if anything I'll be a harsher judge of him." She said simply, smiling at him.

"Oh?!? This is the first we've heard of this! And who might this lucky man be, may I ask?" The announcer pounced on the Intel.

'Don't do it...' I sighed, rubbing my neck.

"His name is Lord Caleb Johnson." She said easily.

'Fuck my life...'