Tsuyoi ran like a desperate animal searching for food, storming out of the division without even bothering to ask any of the women. He heard them, even if they didn't say anything, which kept him from suspecting any of them.
The only clue he had to go on was Selma's words.
"If this isn't the doing of Biznes' men, then my name isn't Selma."
He had a hard time understanding what she meant by that, as her name literally was Selma.
Regardless, he ran to Division 1.
He learned that the leader of "The Bigshots", the only major gang of the four to share its division with more than two other gangs, was named 'Biznes'.
At the entrance to Division 1, however, what he saw was utterly confusing, to say the least. Unlike every other division, the gate was blocked by four guards. At that moment, Erik's earlier words clicked into place.
"I don't enjoy the rats of Biznes listening to our conversation."
[Tsuyoi: …Hello? Can I pass?]
One of the guards took a step forward and shook his head, rejecting his request without saying a word.
[Tsuyoi: Why not?!]
The guard stepped back to his original position, ignoring Tsuyoi's question.
Tsuyoi groaned in frustration, his mind racing to find a way in. He couldn't force his way through, as that would break one of the rules and get him punished.
[Tsuyoi: Listen, you damn rats! I am here to fulfill a mission given to me by the great commander Erik Eishelm!]
He fixed his posture in an attempt to look dominant and crossed his arms.
[Tsuyoi: So let me through!]
One of the guards laughed mockingly and pointed his spear at Tsuyoi. "You're not a great liar," he said.
The guard right next to him pulled him back and whispered in his ear, causing the one who had called Tsuyoi out to gasp and lower his spear. "I don't get paid enough to risk betraying a commander, let alone betraying him entirely," he said in defeat, opening the entrance.
Even if it was just for a moment, the taste of power and authority Tsuyoi got was intoxicating, causing the frown on his face to flip upside down and turn into a cocky, smug grin.
[Tsuyoi: Damn right! Tsuyoi, The Undying Phoenix, is coming through!]
The moment he entered, however, he realized that grin wouldn't last long. The sight in front of him as he stepped into the yard made him freeze.
It looked like an underground fighting cage. At each corner of the yard, people were fighting. And it wasn't just play fighting. They were actually beating the living crap out of each other.
Everyone had different outfits, headbands, wristbands or just anything to differentiate themselves from others. He couldn't tell who was with which gang, but he could tell one thing for certain: the owner of this hellish division was in the middle, sitting on the backs of two people who formed a seat beneath him, watching the chaos unfold with amusement.
The man was shirtless and wore a designer coat covered in gold over his bare torso, along with designer pants that were also covered in gold. Unlike everyone else in this prison, he didn't wear the jumpsuit. His shoes were top-of-the-market sportswear with golden streaks on them.
He had long golden dreadlocks reaching all the way down his back. It was hard to tell if they were also covered in gold or if he had just painted them to look that way.
In contrast, he had dark brown eyes and an otherwise boyish look with a fairly complex skin. He looked about Tsuyoi's age, maybe in his early twenties. Through his grin, you could see several golden teeth.
His eyes lit up in curiosity and excitement the moment Tsuyoi stepped into the yard. That look would cripple most inmates, but it didn't faze Tsuyoi. He walked up to the man who was possibly Biznes himself.
The first thing Biznes did was size him up, staring at his jumpsuit and his ID.
[Biznes: Uh… PE-1991…]
Biznes looked down at the men beneath him.
[Biznes: Guys, do we know any PE-1991?]
One of the men under him, the only one with enough strength left to even speak, answered.
"N-N-No… Biznes… that's a Q3 number…"
Tsuyoi clenched his fists and teeth, but held himself back to avoid starting a fight he didn't want to face the consequences of. For now, getting his friend Mr. Free back was his top priority.
[Biznes: I thought I told the guards not to let any outsiders inside.]
[Tsuyoi: They didn't. I told them something that made them let me inside.]
The two locked eyes, an invisible fight starting between them. Both sides were willing to fight, if only the other side threw the first punch.
[Biznes: So they betrayed me.]
He didn't look displeased after hearing this, though. He just giggled.
[Biznes: Good for them. I guess I gotta up their pay.]
[Tsuyoi: So you're Biznes?]
[Biznes: Yep. With a capital B. You look like a 'Jackie' now that I think about it. What about you? Who are you and where are you from?]
With a hand gesture, Biznes ordered one of his men to bring them both drinks.
[Tsuyoi: The name is Tsuyoi Ketsui, The Undying Phoenix of Thalorien.]
[Biznes: Got it.]
The two waited a bit until the inmate brought two cans of beer. Biznes passed one to Tsuyoi, who accepted it.
[Biznes: So the thing is, Jackie… I don't like people who just barge into my division.]
Biznes took a long chug from the can and leaned back, putting more weight on the two under him, who had just started to shake violently.
[Tsuyoi: I didn't just barge in. I have a good reason for doing so. One of your guys took my friend away.]
Biznes' jaw dropped, and he let out a loud 'huh' in confusion, having heard nothing about it today.
[Biznes: Your friend? Nobody told me anything about that. What's his name?]
[Tsuyoi: Mr. Free.]
When he heard the name, Biznes almost spat out his drink, as if the answer had been a punch to the stomach.
[Biznes: Oh! Shit, I expected Loco to come here himself. I didn't know he made friends.]
He laughed and cleared his throat, causing a vein to pop in Tsuyoi's forehead and hands. To calm himself down, Tsuyoi opened the can of beer and chugged it down in one go, then burped in Biznes' face.
[Tsuyoi: Give him back. Or I'll make you. Or worse, he will.]
[Biznes: Of course you're from King's division. I'm sure he spoiled you because of how carefree he is. That beer was poisoned, Tsuyoi. Don't accept drinks from strangers.]
After revealing it, he watched Tsuyoi's face for any reaction and found none.
[Tsuyoi: I'm immune to poison because of my Treasure. Be careful who you're calling 'carefree'.]
Tsuyoi grinned as his robe glowed, a subtle blue light flickering inside his stomach.
[Biznes: I don't know if I should, Tsuyoi, because you just revealed to me that your Treasure allows you to heal.]
Tsuyoi gasped and instinctively took a step backward, though he tried to play it off.
[Tsuyoi: That's not all I can do, y'know?]
[Biznes: And now I know it has more abilities. You're too easy. Though I wonder if you can heal others.]
[Tsuyoi: Keep wondering. I'd never–]
Without waiting for him to finish, Biznes pulled a pistol from his waistband and shot the man next to him in the leg. He then tucked it back into his waistband as if it were nothing.
The inmate screamed in pain. Tsuyoi instinctively looked at him and raised his hand, but stopped himself before actually healing him.
[Biznes: And by that reaction alone, I can tell that you were going to heal him, but changed your mind.]
Tsuyoi raised his hands, ready to attack Biznes in anger. But his body betrayed him, and he healed the guy who was shot instead. Blue flames erupted from the man's wound, regenerating the bullet hole without leaving a scratch. The guy managed a 'Thank you' before running away in fear.
In response, Biznes just laughed uncontrollably and slapped his knee.
[Biznes: Aw, man. I didn't even poison that beer. I was just making shit up.]
He finished the rest of his beer as well and burped in Tsuyoi's face, returning the gesture.
[Biznes: Now I know your Treasure can heal you and others with blue flames, that it has at least one more ability other than healing, and, most importantly, that you're a softie-ass bitch.]
Biznes stood up, put his hands in his pockets, and got in Tsuyoi's face. Standing revealed that they were around the same height, with Biznes possibly a centimeter shorter. The men he had used as a chair collapsed, finally able to rest.
Tsuyoi gulped and contained the anger burning within his soul.
[Tsuyoi: Give my friend back.]
Tsuyoi burped.
[Biznes: What do I get out of it?]
Biznes burped back.
[Tsuyoi: You get to live.]
Tsuyoi somehow burped again.
[Biznes: Don't lowball me.]
So did Biznes.
The conversation was hard to understand, as they kept burping between their words in an attempt to display dominance, which only made them look dumb.
Tsuyoi crushed the can in his palms and grunted.
[Tsuyoi: What do you want for it?]
[Biznes: I'll give it to you right now, without any cost. Under specific conditions, of course.]
Biznes scratched the inside of his ear and flicked the dirt onto Tsuyoi's chest, which Tsuyoi somehow didn't notice.
[Tsuyoi: I'm listening.]
[Biznes: Do you know what a 'loan' is, Jackie?]
[Tsuyoi: Sure I do. Remind me anyway.]
[Biznes: I give something of value to you without any cost right now. But I will expect you to pay me later.]
[Tsuyoi: So like… debt?]
[Biznes: You know what debt is? Ah, who am I kidding? Of course you do, you Thalorien low-life.] He cackled at his own joke.
[Biznes: I don't normally do this. But I really don't want to stir things up with Loco if I intend to give it away for profit later anyway. So we both win. I get what I want later, and you get what you want right now.]
[Tsuyoi: Well, I'll ask again: what do you want for it?]
[Biznes: Bring me a strand of hair belonging to Y after you defeat him in the tournament. I expect payment after the skirmishes, or else…]
[Tsuyoi: Or else…?]
[Biznes: …I haven't thought of it yet. Just bring it to me as soon as possible!]
Biznes turned around to leave, intending to go back to his cell.
[Tsuyoi: Y is planning to forfeit against King. If he matches up against King before he matches up with me, I won't be able to face him.]
In response, Biznes flipped him off and kept striding away.
[Biznes: Not my problem. Good fucking luck.]