8 Chapter 8: Preparation is the Key to Victory

After enjoying a delicious meal brought to me by Minami's employee and conversing a bit in private to finalise our deal, it was almost time to start up the stream again.

Naturally, as the time neared for my assassination to commence, sinister black clouds soon rolled in to fill the ever-darkening evening sky, and resonant crackles could be heard echoing throughout the city like a mighty whip of Zeus.

Glancing between I and the magnificent flashes of light that connected Heaven and Earth, Minami appeared to contemplate something beside me.

"Are you sure we'll be alright out here? I would prefer this outfit to not get soaked," She asked, peering up at the looming clouds above.

I tersely replied with eyes glued to the smartphone in my hands as I checked the time once again. "It's a dry thunderstorm."

21:25.

There were 35 minutes until 10pm, the time of my proclaimed death.

"Alright. Then, let's resume the stream."

Turning the camera on and changing the setting back to normal, I confirmed that everything was working properly.

"Hello."

[I will cry if he doesn't come back soon. The rock paper scissors was the funniest thing I've seen in a while]

[He's back]

[OMG]

[Our King 👑 Our King 👑 Our King 👑 Our King 👑]

[so many weirdos in chat excited about a guy who literally killed people]

[^^ 🤨why u here then??]

[^^ its fake *******]

It appears that the total number of viewers has decreased considerably, but most of the people who remained are engrossed.

About 400 viewers.

Still, though, I'm surprised there are this many people wanting to watch. Ordinarily, just like that one guy pointed out, people wouldn't want to watch something bizarre like this, right?

Although I knew people would want from me what others couldn't provide, I simply couldn't understand it... But, I suppose it doesn't matter so long as they enjoy it.

"Okay, the special event is soon to begin, guys―don't blink or you'll miss it."

Turning away from the camera with that, I gave one word to Minami.

"Watch."

Taken aback by my sudden command, she blinked and―

Whoosh-- Pang-!

Something whizzed past my ear as I slightly tilted my head the other way, impacting the floor behind me.

"...Eh? Wha... What was that?"

"I told you to hide." 

The enemy this time was a sniper. I crouched down to pick up the 7.62mm bullet that buried itself into the floor. It was warm, but nothing too bad, and I presented it to the camera.

"See, this is why you don't blink. One of these is so fast it can take you out in less than a tenth of that time."

I didn't mean that they should never blink, but they understand what I mean. It's just a cautionary message. I turned back to where I was shot from and gazed out into the distance.

"Hm."

I honestly had no idea where the guy that shot me was from up here, but apparently he was out there somewhere. Of course, I knew the vague location, and I could just ask where he was if I wanted the specifics, but there was no need for that.

"Take this as another lesson from me."

Facing the camera, I pulled a black stick topped with a red button from my coat pocket. 

"Preparedness is key. Do you know why?"

Following that, I took out a second, third, and fourth identical stick and held them, two in each hand.

Just because I couldn't see the enemy didn't mean I couldn't attack them, after all.

"So long as you are adequately prepared, nothing can stop you. Whether it's a sniper eyeing you from over a thousand metres away―"

I clicked the button on one of the sticks and a resounding explosion reverberated in the far distance.

"A squad of armed fools waiting on the ground floor who believe they've outsmarted you―"

Dropping the previous stick onto the floor, I pressed another one, to similar effect.

"A hidden helicopter, lying in wait for the situation to turn south to gun you down―"

Repeating the gesture for the third time, I peeked to see Minami staring at various locations throughout the city, utterly aghast.

"Or a concealed, underground missile silo that intends to bomb you as a last resort when the plan inevitably fails―"

For the fourth and final time, I pressed the button, letting the last detonator drop to the floor with a light clatter.

Boom--!!

I inwardly smiled as I listened to the faint sounds of panic and terror beginning to chime up around the city, but it was their fault to begin with.

"No matter what it is, remember; so long as you're prepared for it, it's not a problem."

I think that should do for today's lecture. I'm sure there'll be those who think 'oh, but even when I prepare, I still fail', and to that I laugh and say you failed because you didn't prepare enough.

Like I said before, if you are adequately prepared, you may not be able to accomplish absolutely anything you want, but at the very least it'll be impossible for anyone less prepared to stop you.

"That is why I am the winner."

Despite the enemy possessing might that far surpasses that of my own, numbers I would never be able to surpass, and political power on an incomprehensible level.

In spite of that, I pulled the ground right from under them and won before they even had a chance to make a move.

"All because I was more prepared than they were."

You'll have to try harder next time, military.

❖─────❖─────❖

Once the special event―that was, foiling the government's assassination plan―had concluded, I swiftly ended the broadcast after notifying the viewers I would be going live again later.

I don't think the government recognised me, seeing as how they planned something so basic, but well, they should've learnt their lesson from this.

Minami somehow seemed both uncertain and relieved once the contract was signed, but because she insisted on adding the condition that I would not put her in any danger while the contract was still in action, that's how it ended up.

The end date of the contract is in exactly a years' time, so mid-July next year.

Before then, I plan to have uprooted both the Chrysanth Order―or more precisely, their new head―and... 

Well, there was another group who have been after me for a long time, but they haven't made a move in a long time. Now that I'm having to deal with this, though, I'm sure they'll begin to take action.

First thing's first, I need a little money.

As I have mentioned previously, I'm not going to ask Minami when it comes to financial assistance―that would defeat the entire purpose of signing the contract, after all―so I have to find another way.

It's not so difficult for someone like me; obviously, there are things like stocks, and I'll do those after I get a nice starting amount. 

But, to get that starting amount, I wanted to do something that takes out two birds with one stone.

To that end, I planned to use the good old fashioned method of making money.

A bank robbery.