Ayanokoji Kiyotaka had seen through Mibuomi Aoi from the very beginning.
He is not a revolutionary, nor a leader willing to seek happiness for the people; he is a politician.
A politician, so-called, is someone who engages in political speculation and manipulates political power for the political needs of their group or individual.
Like Trump and Biden, to win the people's votes, they can say anything, no matter how flowery the words.
Once he truly obtains the status he desires, he will kick aside the voters who gave him their ballots and embrace his true class; the people at the bottom who supported him mean nothing to him, they are completely expendable pawns.
Even if their numbers are vast, they are "unable to speak," unable to convey their voices to the upper e echelons, only able to complain powerlessly in private, without the strength to change the status quo.
If Mibuomi Aoi were truly willing to accept Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's gamble, it would mean Ayanokoji had misjudged him, and even transferring the patent rights to Mibuomi Aoi would not be out of the question.
Unfortunately, Mibuomi Aoi was not the kind of person Ayanokoji had hoped for.
He was silent for a moment, then changed the subject.
"Ayanokoji, I will not gamble with you, not because I lack the resolve, but because the patent rights for Landlord are completely dispensable to me; there's no need for me to bet my fortune on such a gamble with you, it's meaningless."
"Alright, stop making excuses for yourself." Ayanokoji shook his head with a wry smile, unceremoniously exposing him.
"Isn't what you really want the position of Student Council President? If you truly have that kind of resolve, then why don't you bet everything and gamble with the Student Council President? She definitely wouldn't refuse to gamble with you, right?"
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's gaze sharpened: "If you really have the guts, then go ahead.
Whether it's forming the Zenshoukai or recruiting talent, it's all to oppose the Student Council, right? Instead of wasting time on useless efforts, why don't you personally confront the Student Council President!"
"You speak of righteousness on the surface, but secretly you send your subordinates to trouble me, someone who wants nothing to do with the world.
Mibuomi Aoi, I'll be frank with you. I have no interest whatsoever in whether you or Momobami Kirari become the Student Council President. I simply want to make money using this casino.
As long as you stop now and don't bother me again, I won't cause you any trouble. We'll mind our own business, and let's pretend nothing happened before."
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's thoughts had always been simple.
He wanted to set up these two casinos that charged service fees, giving Meari and the others a place where they could make money even without gambling, rescuing her from the gambling abyss.
He wanted to spread the card game Landlord, allowing this popular form of entertainment to flourish in this world as well.
He wanted to use the database built by the casino's ranking system to find the "monitor" sent by his cheap old man, allowing him to have a relaxed life without surveillance during these three years of high school...
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka didn't want much; apart from the goals mentioned above, he had no other desires.
His greatest ambition was merely to flirt and fall in love with a few more cute girls.
He had no interest whatsoever in the conflict between the Zenshoukai and the Student Council.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka had now essentially laid his cards on the table with Mibuomi Aoi. As long as Mibuomi Aoi didn't bother him, Ayanokoji would mind his own business, and they would pretend that nothing had happened before.
"..."
Mibuomi Aoi was silent for a long time. His gaze towards Ayanokoji Kiyotaka was complex, containing worry, shame, anger, vigilance, apprehension, and even a hint of admiration.
After a long silence, he spoke.
"Ayanokoji, you should also know that I use the Martin Gale Strategy. As long as I win one game in these gambling matches, I can recover all the money I've lost.
My single gambling limit is one hundred million yen. If you can keep winning against me and win one hundred million yen from me in one go, I won't bother you anymore, and I won't ask for the patent rights either."
Mibuomi Aoi didn't say what would happen if Ayanokoji lost.
But it was obvious.
The reason he had these people test Ayanokoji was because he didn't know Ayanokoji's background, how superb his gambling skills truly were, and whether it was worth spending "heavy money" to gamble with Ayanokoji and win the patent rights from him.
The reason he was willing to say so much to Ayanokoji was entirely based on Ayanokoji's unfathomable "strength."
Now Ayanokoji's attitude was tough, but if Ayanokoji lost once, Mibuomi Aoi would know that Ayanokoji was "strong on the outside but weak on the inside." He would be like a hungry wolf, biting without mercy, not only taking the patent rights from Ayanokoji but also leaving him no casino at all.
"One hundred million yen, you really dare to ask for that much..." Ayanokoji was a little surprised.
One hundred million yen was five million RMB, enough to buy a decent house.
Did Mibuomi Aoi really think the patent rights were worth that much? Ayanokoji Kiyotaka was even a little tempted... Just kidding.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, including all his assets, already had one hundred million - US dollars, US dollar.
Now, money was just a number to Ayanokoji Kiyotaka. As long as he didn't suddenly go crazy and want to rebel, or engage in a century-long gamble, his money would be inexhaustible even if he squandered it for ten lifetimes.
"Do you really want the patent rights for Landlord that much? Actually, Landlord is just a symbol; any game can be called Landlord."
"I happen to have a new game on hand. If you're interested in new gameplay, I could sell this to you. The price is negotiable."
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka wanted to sell the game concept carefully conceived by Saotome Meari to Mibuomi Aoi.
"If you want some additional revolutionary ideas, I can even help you compile some. Don't look at me like this, I'm actually very good at reading comprehension..."
"What do you think about finding a silk scroll in a fish's belly, or a fox suddenly speaking human language on campus?"
"If you don't like those, I also have various rhetorical strategies like 'slaying the white snake in a dream' or 'are kings and generals born with a destiny?' You can choose whichever you like, and I can help you build momentum..."
Wasn't it just about finding an excuse to build momentum for his rebellion? Ayanokoji was very familiar with this kind of thing.
"No... Now, for me, the patent rights are no longer important." Mibuomi Aoi shook his head, looking at Ayanokoji with burning eyes, and said something that left Ayanokoji dumbfounded: "I want you."
...Wait, what does this guy mean?
Is this guy a homo!? Did he fall for him?
There's no smoke without fire! No wonder Kurume reported to him that many boys in the Zenshoukai were willing to "sacrifice themselves" for him. So he actually had a liking for men?
By the way, what about Miharu Taki Sakura? Did she know about Mibuomi Aoi's sexual orientation?
Did she choose to accept it silently?
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka thought a lot in an instant. Seeing the disgust in Ayanokoji's eyes, Mibuomi Aoi realized that Ayanokoji had misunderstood.
He smiled: "You misunderstood. What I value is your talent. I want you to join the Zenshoukai."
So he wanted him to join the Zenshoukai... Ayanokoji Kiyotaka finally breathed a sigh of relief.
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