Power and deception

~Ding, ding, ding~

~Chatter, chatter~

A bell hung on a door to a Bar in the slums rings as a customer enters.

The customer is a tall fair man, with peach-red hair and black eyes. His dress is different from the few customers inside, it's the slums so it was not a surprise that everyone inside was dressed tattered and dirty.

But the man who entered is simply and neatly dressed. He is wearing a light blue T-shirt and a pair of black trousers. His face cap compliments his dress code and he is quite handsome.

Everyone there already knows his kind, he is either here to meet someone or here to just pass out time.

He goes towards the bartender and sits beside a drunk and tattered man.

"Sir please what can I offer you?" The bartender asks

"I would appreciate it if I could get a soft drink," The man said.

"Ok, sir, I'll get it for you," The bartender says and goes to prepare his drink.

"...and then she said she that she thought she was a donkey!" 

"Hahahaha"

"Oh man, you're such a bad boy, why didn't you stop her when she wanted to get drunk"

"I didn't, cause, I was thinking, how high can she get? After all, she's as short as a dwarf"

"Hahahahahahaha"

"Man you always crack me up with your stories, you still..."

The laughter of the chattering men echoes I'm the partially empty Bar. It's the slums, only a few could feed twice a day and it's not a surprise to bit even have a customer in the Bar. 

"Alas friend, look what you've done to yourself Thompson," The man said to the drunk and tattered man beside him.

"You made me end up this way, so why are you surprised Max?" The old man whose name seems to be Thompson said to the neatly dressed customer, Max.

"Huh? I don't remember doing anything like that, it was..." 

"What do you want Max?" Thompson cuts Max in.

"I'm just here to see a friend, is that too much to ask?" Max said

~Scoffs~

"A friend huh? Sitting beside you like this to me is torture comparable to that of being in hell" Thompson says

"Come on, don't tell me you still hate me, your anger is like that of an erupting volcano," Max said

"Now that you have the power you so desperately want, how does it feel?" Thompson asks

"Not enough, I want more," Max says.

"You are truly shameless, aren't you? A power you get from wiping someone off everything he has, A power that does not even belong to you. How far are you going to go Max?" Thompson asks

"You say these things like it's all my fault, blame fate for always making me end up on the bad side of things, I no longer want fate to rule my life, my life is now mine and I control it. I get whatever I want, irrespective of how I get it or the consequences that follow." Max says.

". . ." Thompson did not say anything but stare at the glass of booze he was holding.

"Here's your drink sir," The bartender says as he hands Max a glass of wine.

"Sorry it took time, I was just trying to make sure you get the best sir" The bartender adds.

"Don't worry about it, I'll make sure to add a good tip for you.

"Thank you, sir," The bartender says as he smiles and moves some distance away from them, giving them privacy.

"You're here to talk about our bet aren't you?" Thompson asks.

"Seems like you're beginning to catch up, well, yes," Max says

"Ok then, why did you decide to go back on your words today, I saw the news and I know you're the one who attacked him," Thompson said

"I saw the news too, and I swear to you that I'm not the one, I don't even know who attacked him," Max says. Thompson knows that anytime Max swears, he is innocent.

". . ."

"While I was surprised that someone else was after my prey, there was something else that caught my eye. He was smiling in the face of death and you know what that means don't you? It means he has given up, and once he completely does, that spells the end of both of you" Max said with a smirk while slowly turning his glass of soft drink.

"You can stop them? The ones who are after him, you can can't you?" Thompson said.

~Chuckles~ Max chuckles softly but wickedly.

"Same old naive Thompson, you haven't changed at all, have you? You are nice, too nice and that's why I hate you. Do you know why? It's because nice people are stupid, weak, defenseless, and vulnerable. 

They are like preys in the den of predators and yet they refuse to recognize their surroundings, the most annoying thing is how simple-minded they are, but I admire them for one thing, their determination is strong, despite how fragile they tend to be, once their mind I'd set in doing something they will never back out, even if they get hurt during the process. 

They are people with talent, but they are blind to what they can do, they are all focused on others, looking for who to help when they need help. I know because I was once a nice person and honestly, nothing hurts more than being as stupid, naive, and narrow-minded as a nice person, abiding by what they call "Moral" and their "Hero" mindset limits their growth. 

Their weakness? They are scared of the truth, the truth of the unfair world, and they want to change things, sacrificing their comfort and life. 

Now, I'm no longer a prey, but a predator, and what do we predators do? We look for those nice people, who are unaware of their worth and importance and use it for them, we take advantage of their foolishness and their fear. We make them our own, and our meals. 

They want to sacrifice themselves for a better world right? They are all doing good as a portion of food to the wolves, at least, we'll be busy chewing down on your bones while the others get to safety."

". . ." Thompson stays silent because he knows that Max isn't lying, he is naive for thinking that he'll help. 

"Yes I can stop them, is that what you want me to do? How can a leprechaun throw away a free pot of gold? I know my prey is being hunted but at the end of the day, he's mine. I'll wait for them to do the hard work for me and then I'll snatch my price." Max says with a wide grin before gobbling up his soft drink. He puts money on the desk and drops the glass on it and stands up to leave.

"A nice place you've got here, I'll be coming around, don't worry, I will keep to my word." He says and takes a step to go but soon remembers

"Oh, before I forget, he has only a month to get to me, and if he doesn't that's an automatic loss on your side but if he does end up coming, don't think I'll go easy on him," Max says but before he could take another step, Thompson draws his attention back.

"What do you gain by all this? You have taken every single thing from him, his family, wealth, and even his memory, it's all this that got you to where you are now, what more could you possibly want?" 

"Hm? Who said I have taken everything from him? He still has more, like more than half of the money you kept for him and his new memories, I want it all, all of them, I need it to get to a higher level, as I said earlier 'I need more power' You of all people should know that humans never gets satisfied." Max says.

"Looks like I can't help you," Thompson says

"Thanks for the offer but I don't need your help, now a question for you, why are you so hell-bent on protecting him? What do you stand to gain from all this? I know you, Thompson, you want something from this and I can bet it's something beyond my imagination. So WHAT IS IT?" Max asks with a desperate look.

~Smiles~

"It's satisfying to see that look on your face, I'm not like you Max, I'm better. Why I'm protecting him? What do I stand to gain? It's all something your tiny brain can't comprehend. 

Face it Max, we both know you're afraid of him, he has always beaten you to the ground, hasn't he? 

That's why you're trying to take him out, but not before extorting him of what all have. He is coming for you, you have always lost and nothing's going to be different this time, you'll lose this time too." Thompson says with a smirk.

"Let him come, I'll be waiting for him beside his grave. You both will lose and become my disposable toys." Max says before walking out.

~Ding ding~ the bell sounds as he walks out.

~Sigh~ Heaving a sigh Thompson looks at his glass of wine

"I've done my part, it's your turn kid." He said before drinking his wine.

Meanwhile, Max who was outside was about to enter his luxurious car, he looked at the bar and muttered to himself.

"I won't lose, because this time is not the same as last time, I am getting stronger and he is getting weaker, in case e thing's go South, I need a backup plan." He enters his car and it drives away