In the year MM-17, Caesar was walking in a quiet alley, wearing a white T-shirt, a khaki short and black sneakers while carrying an oversized backpack with several notes sticking out.
"Three more errands to run before I can go to pick up Rai and Eyo from school." Caesar said within, "By tomorrow I would have gathered enough money to pay their bus fees for the term.
It's not that I didn't have the money before, it's just that my dumbass parents burnt it up as a way to get back at me for having enough of their bullshit."
Caesar stopped at a closed shop nearby, dropped her backpack and sat on the ground to lean her back against the wall.
"Damn. I gotta rest." Caesar said in her heart, "Damn those idiots. All that money I saved for their bus fees, burnt up by those demons, all because I was done with them.
They defamed and screwed me over me with my university exams yet they had the balls to burn the money they didn't provide all because I called them out on their shit.
It's a good thing they didn't touch the school fees for Rai and Eyo, otherwise I would have left them in that fucking cell for the rest of their lives."
Caesar stared down at her palm and balled a fist.
"I can't believe I swung at them. My own parents." Caesar continued, "They say no child should ever hit their parents, but the defamation was just too much for me to bear. Not to mention the moment they touched the money for Rai and Eyo, I just lost it."
Caesar then tilted her head upward and sighed.
"It's been days, though, and I'm still pissed." Caesar said softly, "I should have left them in that cell. Can't believe it took this long, though . Calling the police on them... Should have done that a long time ago.
Still though, that university... That defamation really messed me up.
I would have entered the Red Rock university... Become a pilot. After all, eighty percent of people who go there end up becoming something in life but the brains to get in is crazy. Not many can make it.
Just like Sir Ivangton, all those sleepless nights for the exams... Wasted.
The worse part is that Red rock doesn't joke with anything malpractice.
Once they get a single report, they will black list you and since they are the highest university in all of Neo-earth, they will send the information to other universities and get you blacklisted as well."
Caesar then let out a bitter chuckle.
"Just like that, my future has ended." Caesar continued, "I can't contact them to make an appeal or do anything to get them to listen to me because I've been blocked.
My best shot is to go to the city and talk but I can't do that because the money to travel is something I haven't gathered yet. Plus... Rai and Eyo... I can't leave them in the hands of those bastards... I know what they are capable of.
They may have promised to behave once they got out but I still don't trust them. I can't even leave them in the care of others.
Damn. I really should have left their asses in that cell."
Caesar closed her eyes and exhaled.
"Oh well."
However , right before Caesar could stand, she caught sight of two humans, one a dark skinned red head and the other a fair skinned blonde, walking beside each other and talking.
"So your best friend has gone to tough enough? He really wants to enter EBW? Are you serious, bro?" The redhead human asked the blonde.
"I'm serious. He needs the money to pay for his mother's illness." The blonde replied, "Right now he is desperate and he is willing whatever it takes to get the money even if it means humiliating himself in front of people."
"Bullshit. He's going there just to get his dick sucked and taste some cookies. He just wants to feel good." The redhead said, "I never knew he was this much of a pervert."
"I know him, bro, he is not." The blonde replied, "He even said the ero-aspects are not something he would wish on his worst enemies.
It's just that he needs the money."
"If he needs the money then he should work hard and get a real job, not doing some perverted and shameless shit." The redhead said as he halted and glanced at the blonde with a glare, "Everyone is always giving excuses for why they entered this or that. Always trying to gather pity when they were just too lazy to actually work or find something decent doing.
I have nothing against him but the more you keep talking about him and trying to give some sob story, the more it pisses me off.
He's a degenerate, plain and simple. He just wants to wrestle chicks and feel good. That's it.
Don't give me this weak ass excuse for that little bitch."
The blonde human stared at the redhead for a while and glared at him.
"You know, that's your problem. Always acting so high and righteous. I don't agree with his decision, I don't like that company and neither does he but I can understand his desperation.
He has tried everything but nothing is working. I even lent him some money to help because I can see how much pain he is in. But here you are acting like some moral judge.
Tell me: the people who are on the streets, the guys who earn below minimum wage, can you say most of what happened to them is their fault? I know of a few who finished academy with first class and are currently living in one room. People who aced their exams but can't find a single job. There are some who got theirs and were still unfortunate because they were either cut off from their workplace or something else happened, and they couldn't get another place of work. Would you say it's on them?
Despite how humiliating, disgusting and shameful that work is, at least he is not committing any crime. He's not robbing or defrauding anyone or doing anything illegal.
He just wants to save his mother."
The blonde human scoffed and turned his back on the redhead.
"I guess the saying is true, huh? It's easier to throw stones than recieve them."
After the blonde had finished speaking, he walked away while the redhead watched for a while before following him.
As the two were walking, Caesar stared with a raised brow and stood on her feet to pick up her backpack.
Currently in the streets, the hum of the engine filled the quiet space between Caesar and Balland as they drove in the late afternoon.
While Balland was driving, he took notice of Caesar's bothered expression while she was facing forward.
"Is something wrong?" Balland asked.
"Hm?" Caesar said as she glanced at Balland, "No. Nothing. I mean..."
"Yeah, there is." Caesar said as resumed facing forward again, "Earlier, what Cedric told me about ero-wrestlers and majority of them being victims of circumstances... Back then, I used to believe that the workers there were only in it for pleasure. That they were nothing more than sickos who had no shame... Perverts playing dress-up in a wrestling ring. But after learning from him that many of them are... I don't know... I just feel so stupid.
People who are willing to give up their pride and bodies to work in a place like that just for them and their loved ones to survive... Similar to me; I had to give up my pride and body just so that Rai and Eyo wouldn't be sold off."
"This makes me remember when I was 17... When I overheard a conversation between two guys talking about life and choices especially with EBW." Caesar said as Balland glanced at her, "Who would have thought that three years later, I would end up in that same company. Life really is a cruel joke.
Though is that what Cardinal meant when he said I wasn't one of them? Because of how I got in? That to him and the others I came from a highly privileged position and never suffered like any of them did despite it being the opposite?"
"I mean... I 'am' being held hostage to pay a debt that isn't mine." Caesar said as she glanced at Balland, "It's not like I can do anything against them."
"...I don't know." Caesar said as she resumed facing forward, "I truly don't know."
Silence stayed for a time until Balland finally spoke.
"You can think about this when you get home. Sleep on it. That will help you process everything better.
Oh, and I'll be giving you a day off tomorrow so that you can meet Cedric again."
"Thank you, sir." Caesar replied.
"You can thank me if we manage to pull through. You do what you got to do and I do what 'I' got to do." Balland said, "By the way, I liked how you were flowing with Cedric's teachings in the ring."
"That man hits like I owe him money, yet I could tell that he was holding back. Said he's not gonna hit the face cuz he doesn't want to knock me out or leave me with a facial bruise or head injury... Yet my chest, belly and ribs tell a different story." Caesar replied, "How old is that guy anyway?"
"He's 60 years old." Balland answered.
"60 years yet he hits like a damn dump truck. Can't imagine what he was like in his prime." Caesar said.
"I did tell you he was a menace in his prime." Balland replied.
"Yeah, you did." Caesar said.
Moments later as Balland parked near Caesar's street, Caesar stepped out of the car and waved at him which Balland responded by waving back before driving off.
While Caesar was walking down to the direction of her house, she noticed a small black helicopter beside her house. Suddenly a strange scent filled her nose which made her eyes narrow.
Caesar increased her pacing and reached her house to open the door. As soon as she stepped in, she immediately spotted Akari and Rin Mizukai individually sitting on a chair while accompanied with bodyguards.
Akari slightly tilted her head and smirked.
"Oh, hello there. You've finally arrived." Akari said to Caesar.
"What... What are you doing here? And how did you get into my house?" Caesar asked.
"Your house? 'Your. House' ?" Akari asked with an arched brow as she was twirling a master key in her hand, "You poor little thing. This isn't your house... It is ours."
"What?" Caesar said in confusion.
"One of the things your parents gave as collateral for the money was this house." Rin Mizukai said, "We own it and we can come in whenever we please.
The reason why we haven't taken this house from you or even sold it is because it won't get us anything.
Be grateful we have no interest in doing neither, beastfolk."
Caesar's eyes slightly widened by the revelation and Akari chuckled.
"I'm sure you saw the helicopter outside?" Akari asked, "We flew in this morning, and elder sister is right. There is nothing to be gained from this house.
Anyway, we didn't come here to chat. We came to give you some information about your next opponent this coming Thursday.
You know... As your punishment for that insolent look last week."
"Who is it?" Caesar asked.
"Heh. Nero. Nero Rogue." Akari answered with a grin, "And I'm sure you won't know him, so I'd advice you to do a little research."
"But... Since I'm feeling a little generous..." Akari said as she stood on her feet and walked towards Caesar, "I'll give you a hint of who he is."
"He's a sadistic bastard with a 'strong' hatred for beastfolk and you, my dear... Are the very thing he'd take greatpleasure in destroying." Akari said with a dark grin as she stood face to face with Caesar, "And to be honest... I can't wait to see it happen. I also can't wait to see the gear I provided for you to be made 'useof' by him."
Caesar however held her peace and Akari smiled innocently while closing her eyes.
"Well then, I must be going now. Have a nice day."
Akari walked past Caesar and her guards followed.
Rin then stood on her feet, walked towards Caesar and stood face to face before speaking.
"Good luck with your match on Thursday. You'll need it... Filthyfurback."
Rin then walked past Caesar and her guards followed too.
After the Mizukais had left, Caesar had a recollection of two years ago with the Mizukais during her parents funeral.
"You see, I'd prefer for this not to get ugly." Raizan said to Caesar, "You know who we are. You've heard what we can do.
It would be wise you do not test us."
Raizan then glanced at Caesar's younger brothers staying at the withered oak tree before shifting his gaze back at her.
"Those are wonderful brothers you have there. Lovely and beautiful brothers. It would be sad if they woke up one day and learnt something bad happened to their eldest sister." Raizan said.
"Believe me... Wearemorethancapableofdeliveringfatesfarworsethandeath." Raizan said with a very cold tone as he slightly tilted his head.
For a moment, Caesar felt the evil pressure of Raizan and was slightly entranced as she saw a large red devil with blue eyes standing behind Raizan, causing the hair on her body to stand out of fear.
"So... What say you?" Raizan asked.
After the recollection, Caesar gritted her teeth and clenched her fists so hard that blood gushed out of her palms.