12 The Sage, The Six Guardians vs. The Three Demons
Karl and Riko's food adventure was like a boost for their relationship. They revisited the memories of their first date, but this time they tried out new places for some tasty bites. At each stop, Karl and Riko chatted with regular folks - burger flippers, hungry customers, and talented chefs cooking up amazing dishes on the spot. These encounters made their food journey more interesting and allowed them to experience local culture. Waiting in line at stalls, they even joked about being "hangry" which showed how comfortable they had become after so many years. They were able to enjoy the adventure without any work or other worries getting in the way, making it a special and intimate time for both of them to relive those enjoyable moments together again.
"Sooo long since we did this," Karl hugs Riko.
"You're enjoying it, right?" asks Karl.
"Yup, you know me so well. You're like psychic or something!" responds Riko with a chuckle.
"I still remember our first date in Tokyo and how nervous you were." reminisces Karl.
"And I can never forget when we got drunk and hooked up!" adds Riko playfully.
"Haha! Good times!" agrees Karl as he recalls the memory fondly.
"And then we were married before even realizing what hit us!" Riko giggles at the sweet memory of their impromptu wedding ceremony that happened just a week later after they had gotten together romantically,
"We might not have much money, but hey - at least we have each other," asserts Karl confidently while wrapping his arms around her waist to pull her closer to him.
Startled by some onlookers glaring their way, Riko whispers coyly, "Why are these people looking?"
"I don't think they're staring because of anything," says Karl dismissively."It's pretty common here for politicians to be spotted out in public." "Huh? Why would anyone mistake us as one of them…we're broke!" exclaims an amused Riko
"We forgot we were a poor couple, Riko. It's pretty hard to survive in Japan without you. I would have been homesick if I never met you and stayed here on my own." Karl said as he passed some quail's eggs to his wife.
"You're right, Karl," replied Riko appreciatively after eating the food "You worked really hard for yourself."
Karl suddenly asked with a smirk on his face, "Who was your first love?"
"Definitely not you!" laughed back Riko.
"Don't worry about it then. Let me ask instead - do you know who my first celebrity crush was?" offered Karl.
"Moon Hee-Ji! Obviously, everyone knows that!" joked back Riko rolling her eyes playfully at her husband.
"You're wrong, hon," Karl laughs at his wife. "My top crush from back then was Riko Minomoto."
Riko couldn't believe what she heard - her husband actually knew who she was! She felt her heart pounding, staring at him in shock.
"Wait, what? I was your first crush?" Riko couldn't believe it. "You didn't even know I acted before you got with me and then married someone else instead of me."
"Wow," Karl replied, "I never could have imagined that I'd end up married to you. It's incredible how life surprises us sometimes." As they strolled towards the luxurious hotel where his former colleagues were eagerly awaiting him, he couldn't help but reflect on how much had changed in his life. As soon as they arrived in the lobby of the opulent establishment, a figure caught their attention - Pyon Biao. This skinny Chinese Dissident was now a very successful film and investment honcho holding an impressive position as vice-chairman at Penthouse Corporation. The sudden encounter with such a notable personality left them both taken aback by just how astonishingly different their lives had turned out from what they once envisioned for themselves.
"Hey man, long time no see!" Biao said to Karl as they high-fived and did a secret handshake. "Did Riko's English lessons pay off or what?"
"What do you mean?" asked Karl.
"You know, the ones where he taught you how to talk good," replied Biao.
"I'm not talking about that other stuff he showed you - seems like your boys are all over town!"
"The English lessons were worth it," confirmed Riko, shocking his Chinese friend.
"We've been waiting for you two," Michelle Peng said, giving Riko a kiss on the cheek. "Long time no see!" replied Riko with another kiss.
"Sergei! You're late!" Karl teased as he hugged his friend in greeting.
"I'm just a Prime Minister, not the president," Sergei chuckled back.
"Hey Commander Marino!" Ely Hung Kimpo yelled out, hugging Karl tightly.
"Can't... breathe..." panted Karl before getting smothered by Barbara Li's hug too.
"A Singaporean Congressman and Hong Kong Legislator? This is cool," smiled Riko at her husband who was still being greeted by everyone else around them.
"Oh look it's Yow Koh-san!" Biao exclaimed referring to Japanese Congressman and Opposition Leader Hiroyuki Kosaka
"We're all here! Let's party!" Ruskov exclaimed.
"The chairman couldn't make it because Bion and I left her with a ton of paperwork," Michelle explained, chuckling.
"But that's the life of a corporate executive."
"Hey, let's not forget about the delicious food in front of us!" interjected Barbara Li happily.
"We definitely don't want to waste Sergei's time!" The team quickly dug into the buffet, with some like Michelle and Ely Hung sampling everything while others chose wisely as they discussed their careers.
"You know what strikes me as odd?" Karl said to Sergei between bites of salad.
"Don't you have any security detail with you?" "This is just an informal gathering for our reunion," replied Sergei nonchalantly, taking a bite out of his steak.
"It didn't really call for formal protection anyway. Besides, even as senator, why do you come without any security too?"
"Taking a leave has consequences," Karl said. Ely Hung had a question,
"With your bank account and status plus machinery and power, are you planning to become president?" Karl passed the question to his wife Riko.
"I am not Fushimi-no-miya." Riko quickly replied that she wouldn't even consider it for one billion dollars. Michelle Peng asked if she wanted to be first lady, but Riko refused due to the low pay and excessive criticism of such position.
"I agree with her," commented Sergei as they noticed more people gathered around the TV screen. The group followed suit out of curiosity.
Retry
"Did anyone go crazy over a famous person or a pretty lady?" asked Kosaka, surprising everyone. Bernard Auvergne was on TV and said,
"Yo Mr. President! Give me $2 billion ASAP! Otherwise I'm holding 30 rich dudes with their families & important people from powerful countries as hostages whose heads I'll blow up one by one!"
"Bunch of scaredy cats," scoffed Sergei realizing that Karl's daughters were also taken hostage; he clenched his fists while looking at the TV seriously.
"This government can't beat Auvergne and his gang," remarked Karl angrily- catching everybody's attention.
"What jerks!" muttered Michelle as she swiftly pulled all of them out of the hotel room.
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The Penthouse Corporation is led by the highly esteemed Penthouse Seven Sages. Each member serves in various roles and holds impressive titles within their fields. As CEOs overseeing different businesses, they ensure success for each entity's goals and objectives. Their influence extends beyond corporate boundaries – these leaders hold significant positions of power in their country as well. The responsibilities handled by these remarkable individuals highlight their leadership excellence and dedication to driving success at every level
Sergei Ruskov, the Prime Minister of Russia, is truly remarkable. With his imposing stature and muscular build, he exudes dominance wherever he goes. His striking white hair pairs perfectly with his commanding voice that effortlessly attracts attention. Before becoming Prime Minister, Sergei held a respected position as Chief Operations Officer in a leading Russian oil and energy corporation where he was known for his expertise in managing complex operational systems. He is also renowned for being a skilled martial artist proficient in Aikido and Ra-yu-ken - both rigorous self-defense forms known for their physically demanding training regimens. Sergei not only possesses exceptional mental capacities gained through years of working on sensitive government projects but also boasts physical abilities envied by many politicians worldwide due to his muscular physique that signifies strength, fitness, and resilience required for top-level governance. As a charismatic leader who leads by example both physically fit and intelligent, he garners admiration from world leaders who seek guidance from him. His positive emulation consistently yields successful outcomes over time, setting him apart among other heads-of-states globally today.
Barbari Li is a fascinating individual who hails from the vibrant city of Hong Kong. With her middle age and plus-sized figure, she may not fit into society's conventional norms, but that has never stopped her from achieving great success in life. She has had an illustrious career as a finance expert, specializing in banking and stock exchange. Her astute knowledge of financial markets helped her rise up through the ranks to become the CEO of one of Hong Kong's top companies. Apart from being a successful businesswoman, Barbari Li is also an accomplished martial artist with expertise in Bat Fist techniques - particularly those specific to Ra-Yu-Ken style. This rare combat art requires years of diligent practice and discipline – only accessible by selected few ever able just to visualize it let alone mastering it for productivity use cases; yet here we have Ms.Barbari displaying exceptional abilities elevating herself onto higher levels pushing past all gender boundaries with remarkable prowess on display unmatched elsewhere!
Ely Hung Kimpo is a remarkable figure in Singaporean politics, known not just for his physical size but also for his impressive background as the former Chief Planning Officer with a specialization in Information Technology. He has made significant contributions to the country's development through his expertise and strategic planning skills. Moreover, Ely Hung Kimpo possesses extraordinary martial arts prowess that further adds to his overall stature. As an accomplished fighter trained in the rare Elephant Fist technique of Ra-Yu-Ken, he exemplifies discipline, focus and dedication - attributes that undoubtedly benefit him both on the political stage and beyond. Indeed, Ely Hung Kimpo represents so much more than just another plus-sized individual; rather he stands out as an exceptional leader who embodies strength-physical or otherwise- resilience and outstanding acumen across multiple domains.
Michelle Peng, an accomplished and multifaceted businesswoman at forty-nine years of age, holds the position of Vice Chairman at the Corporation with a focus on fashion and entertainment. She had previously served as Chief Information and Research Officer before ascending to her current role. Beyond her corporate responsibilities, she is also known for leading House of Peng – a famous courtier for stars in the industry – as its CEO along with serving as head honcho at Blue Star Entertainment - where Riko has long been employed. While impressive enough already, Michelle's skills go beyond just acumen in running successful businesses; she is also nicknamed "Fighting Goddess" due to her mastery over various martial art forms such as Karate, Aikido and Taekwondo. Her youthful beauty never fails even while executing moves like Penguin Fist from Ra-Yu-Ken style which require not only skill but grace too!
Pyon Yuen, a Chinese dissident who has been fighting for human rights in his country, serves as Vice Chairman of the Corporation. In addition to that role, he also holds the position of Chief Marketing Officer and puts his expertise into two key industries: mining and agriculture. Despite having already achieved so much professionally, Pyon's talents transcend mere business strategy. He is also an accomplished martial artist and can boast mastery over the Gazelle Fist of Ra-Yu-Ken style. This unique form requires deep discipline combined with rapid movements typical to its namesake animal - a level of proficiency that only comes after years spent honing one's skills through rigorous training sessions. Overall, it is clear that this multifaceted individual brings remarkable depth both to his professional pursuits as well as personal passions.
Among the esteemed and accomplished members of the Japanese House of Representatives is Hiroyuki Kosaka, whose previous roles include Chief Administrative Officer at Penthouse Seven. However, his true claim to fame lies in his mastery of Robotics and Inventions. Notably, he holds a revered position as the youngest member among an elite group known as "The Guardians". Within this circle, Mr.Kosaka boasts immense skill as he commands with precision and finesse the power consolidated within Shark Fist - a formidable martial art technique made famous under Ra-Yu-Ken school.
Karl Marino is a highly accomplished individual, whose contributions to the board of directors have been invaluable. As the former vice-chairman of the company and having an impressive mastery over all specializations, Karl has attained a grand master level in Felis Fist of Ra-Yu-Ken - a feat that has made him one of the most knowledgeable sages within his circles. Though greatly respected for his wisdom by members, sometimes even sought after for guidance on complex matters; it's unfortunate that at times they can't help but view as mere childish antics some aspects about him which he shares openly- providing fodder for lighthearted jests among fellow sages..
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As the Philippine Government got worried about the hostage-taking incident, Karl, Riko and their guest gathered on the top floor of Innovare headquarters to find ways to save hostages without any violence. Michelle questioned who would take charge if not the government; Sergei suggested calling Russian Navy for help but it might break country's sovereignty. "We can handle this ourselves," Karl said after taking Sergei's phone away while looking at skies. Then, Riko received a transmission from Svetlana through her laptop which they opened instantly.
"Hey Mrs. Marino, can I talk to your husband?" she asked Riko. Ely Hung saw Svetlana and took the video call.
"He's so brave because he knows Auvergne!" Ely exclaimed while the others agreed.
"Oh, Seven Kensei! It feels like a reunion," Rodall appeared on screen.
"What do you want?!" Karl shouted at him.
"The money," said Rodall showing a clip of his children in jail.
"I'll give two weeks for it", added Svetlana before ending the transmission. Angrily, Karl tried to book an emergency appointment with Palace but was declined by secretary which made him even more furious than ever
"I am with Russian Prime Minister now as Senate Pro-tempore so demand an audience with President right away!", screamed Karl,and finally got himself booked for it.
This happens when you have a weak leader and an incompetent second-in-command," Riko sighed, frustrated.
"What's the plan then?" Kosaka asked, to which Karl replied
"We can't even touch them. They might have explosives."
"So we're going to fight them?" Michelle questioned.
"If that's our only choice," Karl answered.
"You're right. This country is run by popularity rather than public service." Michelle said as she grabbed the armor of the sages from storage
"I guess there's no other option," Biao added while pulling out their best weapons
"We need to defeat them once and for all." Sergei declared "Our promise of non-violence can be broken in times like this- when our families are at risk or when our nation is being attacked."
A few minutes later, Riko got another message from Tokyo. Honoka, the chief of staff, said that the chairman wanted to meet them.
"I'll go and you guys stay here," Karl said. "That's smart. We can prepare while he's gone," Sergei agreed as they got ready to head to the palace.
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A few hours later, the Penthouse Seven appeared unexpectedly at the Presidential Palace. The President was taken aback by their presence and sat behind his desk with the sages in front of him. After taking a sip of water, he spoke to them directly,
"Alright Mr. Marino, what brings you here amidst all this chaos?" Karl presented his request for permission to send an elite private army to the island but was met with laughter from the President who underestimated their abilities.
The President replied mockingly, "Our armed forces are more than capable of handling this crisis compared to your army." In response Karl rolled his eyes and reminded him that even superpowers like Russia and US were struggling with finding a solution because it's such a heavy situation that cannot be tackled easily.
"You've gotta be kidding me, Marino! That's offensive," exclaimed the president as he hit his table. The Marino head and the President traded raised voices - one filled with arrogance, while the other was on edge thinking about his kids.
"I'm feeling anxious about my kids being held hostage, and I don't think you're sharing that same level of anxiety. While you might be worried about how the government looks to other countries, what really matters is getting my kids out safely. Even if we blame your bad decisions for putting them in danger, it won't bring back their lives if something terrible happens. So please Mr. President, let's focus on solving this crisis instead of trying to save face. Remember we are allies here- I have supported you before." Karl explained calmly but Riko was furious she stood up and slammed her hands on the president's desk saying," Listen! If anything were to happen to my children because of your mistakes,I will never forgive you!" The rest of Kenseis followed suit agreeing with Riko fervently
"If anything happens to those ambassadors, you better be ready to pay up," Sergei warned the president with an intense stare. Barbara Li echoed this sentiment regarding the Chinese ambassador's safety.
And Kosaka chimed in too, "If Japan's ambassador is killed, our economy will take a major hit and we won't back down."
The president was visibly shaken as all six guardians watched him carefully. Eventually he spoke up: "Alright guys, don't worry. I'll issue an executive order." The group breathed a small sigh of relief. Biao reminded him to keep it top secret and get it done ASAP. An hour later, they finally got word that it had been released.
----
After hanging out at the P Seven headquarters, they talked about their next move. Sergei called up the Russian President to ask for permission to do something that had been prohibited for years. This made the president angry and he shouted at his prime minister. Sergei tried to explain calmly,
"But Mr. President please let me do this favor as it's important for our nation and keeps Ambassador Kalayev safe."
"You're supposed to be working! Why are you bothering me?" yelled the Russian president on phone.
"I'm sorry sir, but I am catching up with my old friends after four long years," replied Sergei apologetically.
Finally, the president relented saying "Fine go ahead if there is no other way". The group doubted whether they were still skilled enough since it had been so long since their last fight. Biao sighed while putting on his armor.
"This is gonna be fun, our bodies are craving for action," Kosaka said as they adjusted their guns.
"With the latest weapons and our unique abilities, no one can beat us," Sergei added, pointing his gun at nothing in particular.
"Hey Fumi, could you get the enforcers?" Karl asked his secretary.
"Sure thing boss!" Fumi replied before heading out.
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Later that night, Retsu, Chuck and Alexis bought in their contingent at a briefing together with the Penthouse Seven, they were also eager to save their boss's lives and so as Karl's children, few minutes later, Tiffany and Jamie arrived together with their femme fatale army and a contingent team of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Fumi stood behind the rostrum and called out to all the military units. "I will call on the commanders present, BGen. Rene Repair of the Western Command; Col. E. Mergency of MCU 2; Col. TY Hashim of ML 12; Col. Usok Maaso of COD 2; Col. Oscar Tapias of BTS 4; Col. B. Sikleta of PUBG 3; Col. O Nasaan of ASAP Command, and Admiral Kalas of Naval Command all accounted for."
"Fumi, call the roll call of the deputies," Ruskov instructed
"Lady Yoon, Lady Kwon, Lady Im, Lady Kuroki, Mister Feng, Mister Jo, Mister Shimata, all accounted for," Fumi informed the sages. "For the assistants, Lady Seo, Mister Goto, Mister Shirasaki, Lady Scott, Lady Lee are all accounted for."
"All the guardians, all are present," Michelle Peng informed everyone.
"On the part of the medical and stress rendezvous team, Dr. Vicky Bola, Atty. Kamat Ayan, Dr. Emman Lalait and Mr. MGGG Hasa are all accounted for," Tiffany added.
Sergei was at the forefront, indicating on a map their plan of attack. "Here's the gist- Restu and his crew will be in charge of securing the southern gates while Alexis and her team take charge up front. Chuck shall make an entrance through their secret tunnel along with us, whereas everyone else can hold off for ten minutes just in case there are any spontaneous explosions before we proceed."
As they wrapped things up, Sergei added one more detail nonchalantly by saying,
"Tiffany you'll have to tag along since your boss is currently having a meeting down Tokyo with our chairperson so it won't hurt to have some extra hands-on deck." Tiffany replied affirmatively as she unveiled an armor specifically meant for her superior.
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That fateful night, the elite Army troops boarded their trusted C-130 plane in Manila and flew towards the southern province of Davao. From there, they embarked on a daring naval journey aboard an unassuming ship which led them to the meticulously chosen resort mission site. Without any hint of reluctance or fear, these master soldiers meticulously infiltrated every corner of this seemingly tranquil holiday location with unparalleled precision. As expected from highly trained operatives, they left no stone unturned as they carefully searched for crucial pieces of evidence that would lead to busting one of the country's most elusive syndicates lurking within "Camelot Resort." Despite going through every inch and crevice mapped out by intel reports prior to arrival at their final destination - nothing substantial was discovered during their careful search. However unbeknownst even to those conducting it; what seemed like just another raid turned into something else entirely - essentially becoming more than just a clever diversionary tactic!
For the highly anticipated event, under darkness, Penthouse Seven embarked on a risky adventure by navigating treacherous waters aboard a rubber boat. Their destination: an island with a towering castle. The team knew time was against them as they had set themselves the deadline to complete their operation before sunrise - every second counted. State-of-the-art cameras were ready at the presidential palace to broadcast everything unseen. Once Alexis and Auvergne's soldiers clashed, chaos erupted as gunfire echoed from all directions. The conflict intensified when Retsu, Chuck, and their comrades swiftly breached the southern and eastern gates while others infiltrated unguarded crevices. Surprisingly though, their progress was soon met with unexpected resistance; Auvergne stood alongside three wicked demons. Amidst alarms blaring relentlessly and unraveled surroundings, six guardians and their teammates sought shelter behind nearby stone walls to fight fervently for an unforgettable climax...
"Long time no see!" Svetlana exclaimed, shooting at the guardians' hiding spot.
"You guys had some nerve breaking out of a prison in the Arctic Circle," Ely Hung retorted, tossing a grenade toward three demons.
"We're fighting our old buddies," Barbara Li muttered, peeking from behind the wall.
"You killed Master Rusty!" Kosaka accused as Rodal threw a grenade. Luckily they all dodged it.
"It's time to get serious now," Sergei announced before charging into battle against their former colleagues turned enemies. Soon after, Auvergne ran away while Ely Hung and Biao fought Shrimpo and Kosaka and Sergei took on Rodall.
Barbara and Michelle rushed towards the dungeon and swiftly neutralized the guards. They were trying to open the gates when Svetlana appeared out of nowhere, kicking Michelle hard against a steel bar.
Barbara tried her best to fend off Svetlana's jellyfish-fist technique but failed as she was slammed onto a wall. Michelle retaliated with her signature penguin-fist move followed by flapper spin kick which got blocked by Svetlana who then engaged into hand-to-hand combat with her foe.
"You never change, Michelle!" taunted Svetlana as they both headed upstairs where others had already started fighting back. Meanwhile, Barbara was struggling alone in opening up the dungeon gates until Tiffany suddenly appeared from nowhere and gave helpful support- taking down Svetlana by knocking away at her legs!
"Hey, free the prisoners!" Michelle shouted as she got punched in the gut by Svetlana. She shook it off and fought back, giving Tiffany a chance to rescue the hostages.
"Quickly get them out of here," Barbara said coolly while continuing to exchange blows with Svetlana alongside Michelle.
"Oh no! Aunt Michelle, Rafael's been taken!" Bianca exclaimed worriedly.
"Don't worry at all, I got this covered. Your father will make sure your brother is safe," Tiffany said confidently, ushering the hostages to safety and leading them towards the grand entrance. As they walked past the Grand Staircase, they couldn't help but pause and watch in awe as Penthouse Seven engaged in an epic battle with The Guardians and The Demons - a sight to behold! However, just before reaching the door, enemy soldiers suddenly appeared out of nowhere causing Michelle some trouble while dealing with them.
"Tiff, we need to get out of here. It's not safe," Michelle warned as she hurled a stun grenade at the enemy soldiers who were quickly taken aback by the sudden attack. Out of nowhere came Emily, who blocked Michelle with her sabre.
"I won't let you go after Madam Peng; it'll be your death!" exclaimed Emily fiercely.
However, Michelle was quick on her feet and immediately signaled Jiena and Kyoko for backup. With no intention of fighting against law-violating minors like Emily,
Michelle said to Tiff: "We have to leave now!" Meanwhile, Charlie and Gustav took down the elite soldiers before facing off against Emily themselves.
Soon enough Jiena punched her in the face while Kyoko launched an unexpected counterattack towards their common enemy along with other hostage takers"Tiff, get everyone to safety," Michelle commanded.
With a swift stun grenade throw, she knocked the enemy soldiers down before Emily unexpectedly intervened. Emily blocked Michelle's path fiercely with her trusty sabre and declared that Madam Peng was not leaving alive.
But then again, thank goodness for armor technology! Equipped similarly as Michelle's tactical wear were Jiena and Kyoko. Soundly knowing what to do next, Michelle swiftly transmitted necessary information to them in an instant!
"Sorry Emily but breaking laws won't solve anything- let's leave!" said sensible Tiffany prompting immediate escape. While Charlie & Gustav furiously engaged in combat against their elite opponents; setting free hostages - it was time for some high-flying action from Jiena who landed multiple punches on Emily whilst Kyoko launched a rapid assault towards their mutual foes .
---chapter end--
