TH EB ILLIO ND ARE
Chapter 2: The Opening Gambit
Rei Takeda struggled to get enough sleep. He had spent years perfecting his ability to identify patterns, make predictions about outcomes, and evaluate the odds. His career at AetherTech was enhanced by this, which also led to him reaching the age of 99. Hana Kisaragi is facing difficulties with a score of 7%. However, her business card remained on his nightstand display as muted urban lights trickled in from his apartment. There was No convincing basis to believe she was more than just a persuasive speaker with impressive illusions, so why should he trust her?. Nevertheless, She brought up Kaoru Shinohara’s name. That was causing him to stay awake. Kaoru Shinohara relegated him to the status of a nobody. AetherTech’s golden boy, Rei, had been removed from his position by a single executive decree. They led to his termination, ruined his reputation, and made him unfit for employment in the industry. In the meantime, she remained in power, benefiting from the algorithms he had created. Rei’s fists tightened. “Rei, you don’t have to follow their instructions.”. Our own creations are within our capabilities. “Hana’s words stuck in his mind.”. Insanity. However, Rei did admit that he was only left with the insane thoughts. By the crack of dawn, he had made his decision. The Conclave is scheduled to take place 12 hours Later
The meeting’s location was unexpected. His preparations had included a formal business environment, upscale high-rise structures, and potentially underground hacker colonies. He chose a serene bookstore café situated between two skyscrapers’ commercial buildings in Minato. The place had wall-to-wall bookcases, the aroma of coffee, distant jazz harmonies and a subdued elegance. Hana Kisaragi was concealed in the back of the lineup
During the day, her appearance was less intimidating and more human-like. She sported a relaxed white shirt and dark jeans, with long black hair reaching over her shoulder as she read. Rei remarked that she couldn’t imagine using the venue for unsavory business dealings and then closed her book with a smirk. The book was titled’ The Art of War ‘. Basements are being plotted for heists, according to the speaker. What is the reason for the existence of empires in places like this?. ”
Rei leaned back. “Alright. Lay out your plan for me. ” Hana leaned forward, her chin resting on one hand. “Let’s be clear from the start: this isn’t solely about wealth. ” Raising an eyebrow, he responded, “The project is named ‘Billion Dare’. What else would it concern? ” “Power, ” she stated simply. ”Influence. Legacy. A billion dollars is merely the starting point
Our true intent is to challenge the system. The stock market, the venture capitalists, the generational wealthy families that impose the rules— we’re not joining them, Rei. We’re outsmarting them. ” Skeptical, Rei crossed his arms. “Sounds good in theory. But unless you’ve got a magic formula for generating money, I fail to see your plan’s execution. ”
Hana’s eyes sparkled with delight as she stated, “You come in here to play.”. By removing a tablet and placing it on the table, she displays an interactive real-time chart that maps financial transactions. “This is. “What about high-frequency trading data?” Rei inquired, appearing to be frowning. “Intelligence from prominent Japanese investment firms provides precise data.”. Watch as She swiped across the screen, highlighting crucial actions. The use of AI-controlled trade execution mechanisms, known as micro-fluctuations, is limited to elite hedge funds. Every second, automated algorithms control the movements of billions of yen in an unnoticed manner. ”
Rei’s brain went into overdrive. He had designed systems like these. They made thousands of trades per second, accommodating market shifts faster than any human trader. This was how the rich became wealthier—their algorithms were simply faster, smarter. “So, you aim to manipulate the system?” Rei murmured. Hana’s grin flashed. “No, Rei. Predict. As you mentioned before, your algorithms perceive patterns that evade others. With the right tactics, we don’t require the initial capital to begin—we just need an opportunity. ” Rei drummed his fingers on the table, processing. “You’re referring to market arbitrage, exploiting price discrepancies before anyone realizes. ”
“Absolutely. Our approach uncovers inefficiencies, employs them, and expands rapidly. The major corporations will not be aware of the impact they have. ” It was reckless. It was dangerous. It was ingenious. Without gaining more knowledge, Rei wasn’t going to dive headfirst.” What’s your impression of the situation? You speak like a gamer. “. Hana’s response was accompanied by a wiggling face, and she responded
“The way money works inside me, I see what was and wasn’t designed to be. She shrugged” My father was an investment banker who built an empire. And then he died. “. The game’s fault was a big no no for me. ” Rei narrowed his gaze. “This is a personal matter for you as an individual. ” Hana met his look.” You don’t have the same reaction as me? “. Rei glanced back at the trading data, his mind imagining potential models. The whole thing was irrational. He was aware. Nevertheless, it had a certain vibe that made it feel authentic
He had not been thinking about survival for months, but he finally did. Hana was looked at by Rei, who stated that” We’ll need buildings. “. Server access. Untraceable accounts. Those are in place.” We’ll need the money. “. Hana’s lips emitted a sinister expression.” The most straightforward part is that. Rei let out a breath-taking cry. “Okay. I’m on board. Hana reached across the table, extending her hand. Let’s examine the script history. Rei paused for an instant before shaking it again. Consequently, the action was taking place