At the top of the Fools’ Theater laid an invisible, floating cylindrical disc room. Much like the colosseum, it was marble with gold decor. Windows lined on its side. The interior housed a circular indoor pool, a minibar, and a table showing a holographic construct of the said colosseum. The room served as the private hangout of a seventy-six-year-old Kennedy McLagan. The Fools’ Theater’s twenty thousand and fifty-eighth chairman, CEO, and announcer.

Kennedy bathed with twelve women naked; half of them were demons, whom he found very daring and always loved to experiment. One of them lay next to him. She smirked while twiddling her index finger on his chest. “I’m going to massage it real good, sweety… But not the one you think. Here—let me just…” all the while, she kept French kissing Kennedy’s neck.

The demons rarely asked permission. Kennedy could not even remember the last time throughout his decades. He chuckled as she went deeper. “Damn, girl… Twenty seconds in—and you already found the perfect sp—” an Every Hub notification popped up in front of him. Kennedy quickly knew what this meant, becoming all giddy.

He asked the women to change and go outside to find seats in the colosseum.

Kennedy came out of the pool and wore a bathrobe. He looked at the application and chuckled again. “By the Gods, Hokori. You’ve picked an excellent prey item this time around…” he went behind a folding screen. Unlike the first owners wearing purple robes with red sashes, he wore a gray tuxedo with a blue shirt and yellow flannel necktie underneath. It was a poetic fashion statement to befit his gross net worth.

Just as Kennedy was ready to walk to the balcony and deliver an opening speech, The Every Hub notified him again; Harald, the king, brought along a guest. Pressing yes, the two transported to his room. “Oh, hey! If it isn’t the king—of gambling debts,” Kennedy bowed while smirking.

“It is truly wonderful to see you again, Mr. McLagan,” Harald smiled.

Kennedy chuckled. “Same with you, son… But could you mind introducing me to this fine gentleman here?” he looked behind his friend.

“Oh yes… indeed.” Harald turned and presented his guest in front. “Meet Richard Tregajorran. Thirty years old. He comes from a long line of Pegasus trainers. Richard. Kennedy.”

The two shook hands. Richard knew from the getgo that Kennedy had a lot of greens to burn.

The CEO caressed his chin. “Pegasus trainers, ‘ey? You’re the Minagawas’ chauffeur, arentcha?” he pointed with a smile.

“Yes, sir. I am,” Richard nodded. “Could you please tell me where they are? Are they in any of the seats?”

Kennedy chuckled again. “Oh, they’re fine. Haruto’s wife and kid aren’t on any seat—but inside one of our VIP rooms. The same goes for Hokori’s pals. Why do you ask, son?”

“I… I had quite a long talk with majesty. And then—I saw it—right in front of me,” Richard noted The Every Hub notification. His eyes drowned in regret, and he grunted. “Damn it…! I should have warned them about that man. But I was so happy about their new life I didn’t want them to turn it down…” he sat on a couch and placed a hand over his head.

Kennedy sighed and held his shoulder. “Don’t get too worked up on that, son. No one here has any real strength to stop Hokori, y’know? Besides—we’re running quite short on representatives. The ones from Lacus can’t leave at all, for example. And who knows, maybe this Haruto kid is more compatible with Hokori than Clovis ever was.”

Richard sighed. “I sure hope so…” he stood up. “I appreciate the hospitality, sir. But I must go see them.”

“Oh no, no, no…” he shook his head. “There’s no need for that, son.”

“B-But sir… I should—”

“Please, I insist. You’re fine here, arentcha? That means so are they. Come. Let’s place our bets,” Kennedy walked Richard to a table.

“Bets?” the latter noticed the hologram on top of it.

Kennedy sat down. “You see, son—in my world… you can bet on anything—even oversized insects. Humans we usually have, yes. But in reality—anything goes…” he pointed to Harald, “See my friend, here? He owes me twenty million.

“He keeps betting on the wrong people—while I keep betting on my champion. Ergo my idea of champions far eclipses his, even if it’s the same guy. Hahahahahaha!” Kennedy pulled up a holographic card showing a photo of Hokori. Beneath the image was a message prompting “Yes/No” to bet on said person.

Kennedy chose obviously. “So… I assume your choice is the same as Harald’s, right son? The real question is how high you would like the stakes to be,” he pointed.

Richard raised his hands in front. “S-Sir… I don’t want to participate—”

Harald stepped in front and raised his index finger, “We would like to bet four million each on Haruto, please…” he smiled.

“What?!!” he turned to the king with narrowed eyes.

Kennedy grinned. “Hahahahahaha! What are you trying to pull here, Harald? I can’t force people I’ve just met to pay me absurd amounts! I may be swimming in cash, but even I have standards, your majesty….” he mockingly bowed down again.

Harald shook his head. “I’m not pulling anything, old friend… I feel like Hokori will toy around with his opponent more than any other before. So here’s my bet. If Hokori says he forfeits the battle, Richard and I will take the money. How about yours?” The king asked in a very calm fashion as if looking down on Kennedy.

The CEO caressed his chin once more, “Hmmm… You never change, do ya? Regardless, here’s mine. If Hokori forfeits the battle out of any other reason—you’ll have to cough up the other four million in Richard’s name. Because I’ll not involve him in this.”

Harald chuckled with a closed mouth. “Deal…” he picked Haruto’s betting card. The two shook hands, and with the bets made, the table’s hologram simulated a real-time footage scale of the whole arena. Harald and Richard sat down.

“Aaaand it’s settled. Now it’s finally time for the show. I almost yawned back there.” Kennedy fixed his tie and walked to the balcony. Snapping fingers, his private room became visible. He pulled up a microphone.

Spectators who waited in their seats noticed the CEO’s presence, so they stopped killing their time. “Holy shit, it’s him! It’s finally happening!!” a teenager shouted to his friends.

The crowd went wild even before the main event. Children jumped around from their seats in extreme excitement. Upperclassmen in both outside and the VIP rooms gagged over their expensive liquor.

After the long wait, Kennedy McLagan finally delivered his speech. “Grata domum, mi genus!!!” he announced to the crowd, raising his arms in a V-shape. Raising one hand next, they stopped cheering. “I’ll repeat myself once more. Welcome home, my kind. Today is yet another day for us to enlighten ourselves over the true meaning of ‘a good fight.’ It’s no better than it is also entertaining. And once the red dust settles—our eyes shall open wider!

“All thanks to our ongoing cultural presence, our eyes see no difference. Is it a rich man? A poor man? One in the middle? Nonhuman? Is it even living? Wonder not to wonder, my kind. These pinnacles of power can throw blows far greater than we ever could. In the end, blood is still blood. So are the skulls. We should instead wonder whose blood shall spill first. And whose skull shall break last!

“For almost a mega annum—we stood tall beside our bloodied culture—no matter how many in our nation frowned upon it. I say to them: ‘We are now in too deep, my friend! Our hearts already beat as one before any of you warred each other!’ I find the irony very filling.” Kennedy walked closer to the balcony’s railing. “And so… Grata domum, mi genus!! To the two million and thirty-sixth battle!!!”

The crowd went wild again.

After Kennedy’s speech, runes appeared in Haruto’s room, forming a door shape. Dominique walked closer. “That’s your cue, kid. Ain’t no way outta there until one wins or gives up. If you manage to do the impossible, just come back inside.”

“Normally, we would transport people back to where they were, but in your case, you’ll be at your new home along with your family. So anyways—best of luck to ya,” he gave a thumbs up.

Haruto looked back. “I’m glad I met you, Larry. Best luck to you, too,” he lent out the handshake this time. Dominique quickly complied.

In the other room, Hokori yawned and did stretches, “Aight… Time for the bloodbath….”

Engo walked closer from behind, “My apologies, sir Hokori. I’m still confused why I should—” she was interrupted by his chuckle.

“Just hurry up and go…” he stretched some more, “…I’m gonna shove reality way up his rectum. I hope he feels it forever….” His grin widened until his eyes were half-closed.

Engo sighed. “I have no idea what you’re saying…” she shook her head.

Hokori turned around, still speaking Japanese, “Anyways… it was nice meetin’ ya, Engo. Good luck!” he waved at her behind while walking out to the arena.

Engo sighed again with her eyes closed. She slowly walked out with hunched back. “Oh, Gods… I pray to lend me your strength….”