[Host... which shonen anime are you trying to imitate?] The System's comment.
{Shut up,} Maximilian shot back.
Hearing Maximilian, Ricardo was stunned… All that talk, just to mock them!? His eyes filled with despair, disappointment, and a hint of resentment. He had thought Maximilian would offer a way out. Gritting his teeth, Ricardo clenched his fists.
"Making that face… Did you even hear me refuse yet?" Maximilian leaned closer to Ricardo's group, his voice deliberate. "Let me ask you plainly… Why should I? I'll spell it out for you if you're too slow to understand."
He slowed his words, emphasizing each one.
"I'm not a charity worker. So… what… do I… get out of this?"
Ricardo's mind went blank. Money? They had none. They only had a dilapidated building they rented from another gang—not even their own.
Seeing Ricardo frozen, Maximilian snorted before roughly resetting his dislocated shoulder.
"Grrh!!" Ricardo grunted in pain before the agony subsided, his joint back in place.
"I'll give you two days… think it over. If you can't come up with anything… forget I ever spoke." With that, Maximilian walked away, leaving Ricardo and his brothers to their own devices.
[Host, why not just say you want to recruit them? They wouldn't refuse.] The System's tone was curious.
{They wouldn't refuse,} Maximilian agreed, {but their gratitude and loyalty would be weak. The best outcome is if they ask me instead.}
[Huh? What's the difference?]
{Think about it. I've hinted this much, yet they still haven't connected the dots. That's because, in their minds, I'm not their leader. At best, they see me as a nice guy who taught them after beating them up. At worst? They'll see me as a convenient tool. They might follow me out of fear or necessity but not loyalty. Sooner or later, they'd stab me in the back. That's what happens if I ask them.}
He paused, then continued.
{But if they offer themselves… and they have nothing else to give? The only thing left is their lives... their loyalty. It won't be perfect, but at least I can trust they won't slit my throat in my sleep.}
[Hmm… (;⌣̀_⌣́)]
[Isn't this gaslighting?]
{Yes, it's gaslighting.}
[But you seem to hate gaslighting.]
{Huh? How do you know? Can you read my mind?} Maximilian eyed the System suspiciously.
[Honestly, I can't. But when you sleep, intense emotional dreams… leak through.]
{I see…} A brief silence followed. {Yes, I hate being gaslit. But I don't mind doing it to others when necessary. At least… I don't plan to make it a habit.}
[Isn't that hypocritical?] The System's voice held no judgment—only curiosity.
{I'm hosting the Greatest Villain System; why should I care about being a hypocrite?} He paused, then let out a cold chuckle. {Besides… in my view, 'Humans are creatures of hypocrisy.' And I'm still human.}
— Meanwhile - City Center —
Luther Rook sits in his penthouse office, which has been specially renovated for the upcoming city-state governor election. Several staff members work around the clock; the election day will begin in a month, right after the long holidays.
Now, his campaign is in full swing, and he's competing against the UEC-backed candidate. He needs a win to move on to the next phase of his plan. Right now, he has a 50% chance of victory, thanks to the mistakes of the previous governor—the UEC's former candidate.
Of course, this opportunity didn't fall from the sky. It was created by Luther Rook himself, with the cooperation of his associates and the early demise of the previous city-state governor.
And this time, he plans to create a breakthrough for his victory. A 50% chance is too risky—he refuses to be passive. He's already prepared a plan to ensure his competitor's downfall.
Luther checks his watch. By now, his incompetent subordinates—the ones who allowed themselves to be captured alive by the police—should have been dealt with. He's now awaiting the next scheduled report from his team, the one that guarantees his campaign's success.
He waits for about ten minutes before his phone buzzes with a message:
"The operation will begin as planned, at the city center square tomorrow night."
Reading this, Luther smirks and types a reply:
"Don't forget to use the thing I gave you when the show begins."
"Got it…" comes the response.
— A Day Later – Maximilian's POV —
After separating from Ricardo's group, I decided to explore the area between the slums and the city outskirts, where I stayed on the first night. The result? I found a lot of interesting things.
First off, there are many smuggling stashes scattered throughout the slums. I randomly checked a few using the black ops knowledge I gained from assimilating Blood Mongoose. These stashes were easy to break into, no fancy mag-locks or any kind of advanced security systems that Blood Mongoose couldn't bypass.
The stuff inside ranged from drugs to special hardware such as guns, blades, and SWAT-grade Kevlar armor, which I already klept it; a villain needs protection, too! There's no way I'm charging into another fight against armed men while swaggering around in a toga ever again!
— Main Quest: The Starting Journey of the Greatest Villain! —
Description: Every great villain has to start somewhere; every great journey begins with a single small step. Begin the path of villainy today! Become the Greatest Villain tomorrow!
Time Limit: -
Objective: Beat up a group of innocents.
Bonus Objective: Preferably helpless innocents. If they can't fight back, even better.
Reward: Unlocks Villain Score feature, Unlocks Storage feature
Bonus Reward: Ordinary Guy Glasses
—
The main quest UI dangles in front of me—one of the reasons I decided to explore this area. Right now, I'm hunting for prey.
[Since you're searching for prey, why haven't you started yet? There are plenty of harmless-looking people here.]
The System shows me a GPS map filled with green dots, each marking a "harmless" target.
{C'mon, do you expect me to beat up some poor bastard with no money or a random drug addict? Seriously… You call yourself "The Greatest Villain System" and still don't get it?}
[Get what? (´･ω･`)]
{A Great Villain chooses their prey with style. I'm not some psycho, batshit villain who bites indiscriminately. A true villain needs class, codes, and even the respect of heroes!}
[Okay… now, the real reason, please? (눈_눈)]
{…I just don't feel like it. Beating these poor sods doesn't satisfy me.}
[But beating thugs and gangsters like you did yesterday afternoon, and this morning won't fill your quest progress either. They're not innocent. (￣▽￣;)]
The System has a point. While I was exploring the neighborhood, way too many idiots thought I was an easy target. Maybe it's the "bullied aura" from my past life that draws them in? Whatever. If they come at me, I'll beat the shit out of them. If they keep coming, I'll break their bones until they understand that I'm not their prey.
But seriously? Crushing these thugs is delicious. Their bones crack so nicely, and the look on their faces when they realize they've f*cked with the wrong guy… that fear, that dread! Aaaaahhh, I could never get enough! So. Damn. Satisfying!
{Hmm… you're right. Let's check the news.}
I agreed with the system and pulled out the phone I 'liberated' from one of this morning's thugs. Such a generous guy, he even handed it over with a smile while kneeling respectfully. Truly, a model of proper manners.
The real prize? His phone is the newest, trendiest model on the market. Again… what a great guy. Important things deserve emphasis.
Review 10/10: Would beat him up again if I found him, though.
I scroll through this world's most popular social network and discover that the city center will celebrate a three-day holiday called 'Victory Week' - commemorating humanity's victory against the aliens and their liberation.
The city center will host a celebration parade, and numerous restaurants and bars will distribute free food and drinks! This means... Massive crowds will flood the city center. Police and law enforcement will have their hand full in maintaining order during the celebrations.
Most importantly, plenty of innocent stragglers will be separated from the main groups, which are perfect targets that can be attacked while avoiding the overstretched authorities.
{I've decided! Tomorrow night, I'll hunt near the city center. At least city folks will have more substance to them when I beat them up while still technically counting as innocents.}
[Hmm... Is that the case? (￣▽￣;)]
{That's absolutely the case!} I reply to the System. I need proper preparation for this hunt. It's time to craft some protective armor!
— Meanwhile —
Ricardo had borrowed money from a rival gang to cover his brother's medical bills - the result of Maximilian's brutal handiwork. The total came to just over $10,000. Now, he needs to repay the loan within three days, or else the gang's exorbitant interest rates will slowly choke him and his brothers.
With few options left, Ricardo made his decision. Tomorrow night, during the Victory Week celebrations, he would take advantage of the chaotic crowds in the city center to find some money to repay them.