Chapter 7

After walking travelling down the stairs. Michael slipped out the patio doors and followed a path to his father’s dojo. A while ago, Michael must have been 11 or 12 at the time, his father suddenly decided to have a dojo built. Being rich and pompous normal sports weren’t good enough. Oh yes! It wasn’t golf, cycling or even boxing for his father. Father must have spent a fortune on personal trainers teaching him fencing and various martial arts. Being smart, Michael avoided the place like the plague. Of course when his father wasn’t there Anna and he had enjoyed wildly swinging blunt swords at each other. Smiling faintly Michael remembered getting thwacked on the head by Anna after Arthur distracted him by entering the dojo. (It was a terrible moment to get ‘caught in the act’). Upon learning that he was playing with his swords father swiftly signed him up for instruction in the blade. (Honestly Michael was surprised it took this long. After spending a fortune to have the building built most parents would ensure it was put to good use. But that’s his father 3 years later and suddenly he was signed up.) This led to a rigorous year where ‘Master’ Cao decided to whip the pretty rich boy into shape. (If you can’t teach the father to stop being a stuck up workaholic perhaps you can teach the next generation.)

Now how it became the dreaded ‘Arena’ this was where his father came to ‘test’ how much he was improving. Pretty much he would appear every now and again and duel he or Anna. Generally, he appeared when they wanted something. (“Mother can I get this new video game?” -a wild father has appeared- “Come with me….”) That was pretty much it. If they didn’t win they never got what the desired and when you’re surrounded by rich friends its socially awkward when somebody doesn’t have something. For Anna and he these challenges were both terrifying and stressful. To them they ‘needed’ these items and if they had to cut down their own father in a swordfight… (Obviously they rarely won, their father had been training for years beforehand, furthermore, he was more diligent in his training.)

Entering the dojo Michael suppressed a shudder, he quickly saw his father practicing various stances. He recognized a couple from his own training. His father was alone. (If you discount the 2 bodyguards on opposite corners of the room.)

“Grab a sword and armor,” his father stated once he drew near. Michael quickly moved to the sword rack. He chose a dueling longsword. (From what he learnt battle longswords were different. Don’t ask him how.) And yes, longsword. His father decided that real men use real swords, not rapiers or foils. Michael prepared mentally for the soon to arrive painful thwack.

After putting on the weird armor which was all white. (It was a sweat inducing 45 seconds as he rushed in an effort to not keep his father waiting) Without speaking Michael walked until he was on the line. 5 meters from father.

The first match was a short bout. Michael swung wildly completely forgetting his training and received a painful strike to the ribs in return after his sword was deflected wide.

“Do better”, his father stated.

The second match was 15 seconds long. Michael played defensive. No more wild swings for him no siree. It ended when Michael went for what he perceived as an opening. His father had stepped wide of the swing. Another painful hit, this time to the left shoulder.

“Once More”

This time the match was a tie. Wanting to win Michael focused on the battle. He circled his father occasionally exchanging strikes. Strike, step back, parry and continue circling. It lasted for around 20 seconds. Michael avoided risks. (He really didn’t want to be hit again) As the bout dragged on Michael began to get tired. He had avoided the gym for the last month or 2 and now his ribs would pay the price. Realizing this Michael rushed in switching from stance to stance in an effort to find an opening in his fathers defence. Suddenly he saw it. Switching stance once more and launching an all out attack he managed to hit a satisfying strike on his father’s ribs. The satisfaction disappeared when he felt the hit on his right shoulder which came milliseconds later.

“Good fight, work out more,” his father said.

His father entered the changing room (which had been checked by a bodyguard moments before). Meanwhile Michael returned the swords to the rack and removed the armor. Taking a seat on a bench he waited for his father to come out. Arthur suddenly entered and quietly placed 2 glasses of iced water on the bench beside him. “Dinner soon” and then he was gone. Michaels father reappeared after 3 or so minutes. Michaels glass was near empty. Father sat quietly on the bench drinking from his glass. Michael refused to be the first to break the silence.

“I need you to play that game”, father suddenly said.

“umm, why?” he replied.

“Because its impossible.”

“Continue”

“It never existed until a month ago. As CEO I know all major developments and investments made by the company but suddenly this capsule appears. The owner suddenly, after decades of ignoring the company appeared and informed us of ‘Gods Online’”.

“But… how could it not exist.”

“Well on paper it exists and to pretty much anyone it could have existed for years without them learning of it but…”

“To you its suddenly appeared.”

“Yes, the files were suddenly added. Jupiter Enterprises suddenly owns a company I’ve never heard of. I’m fairly certain Hunter Corp is behind it. An independent subsidiary run by some family relation of the owner. If you’ve watched any interviews you’ve probably seen her… Artemis Hunter CEO of Hunter Corp a private security firm and a developer behind ‘Gods Online’.

“Interesting… but I don’t understand what you want me to do.”

“Just play the game and let me know what it is like. Jupiter Enterprises is putting a lot of money and its reputation on this and I can’t afford to fail. Especially over some stupid game.”

“If it works Jupiter Enterprises will be making a lot of money.”

“It already has but reputation is sometimes more important than money. It needs to work and nobody understands the science behind it and nobody will explain it. Even to me the CEO. Anyway we can talk after dinner.”

“Oh yes Arthur said it was soon.”

“Come” father stood up and left the dojo.