Two thousand years ago, a lonely figure trudged through a barren pass in the hills of the country known today as Nepal.

His robes identified him as a monk, and his journey from an isolated monastery would take him through the Hill Region, which the local people called Pahad to the fabled city of Kathmandu.

He stopped to meditate upon the wonder of the glistening peaks that dominated the horizon. The highest of all, the monk knew was Sagarmatha. It is better known these days as Mount Everest, soaring majestically 8,850 meters into the clouds.

Of course, the monk did not know it was the world's highest mountain. He knew nothing of the world beyond the peaks, except tales of a place they called Tibet.

Then again, could anyone blame him?

He had always been a young and ambitious monk, no, even before he became a monk he was that ambitious. During his childhood, he spent most of his life in the isolated monastery of Tengboche in Nepal. However, like most youngsters, he grew bored. He was not content with the simple life and dreamed of exploring the world beyond the mountains.

One day, another day of boredom, he had enough.

Life is short, he rather fly around than stay mundane for the rest of his life. Soon, he packed his belongings and set off on foot, determined to reach his destination no matter what, and that led him to many places since. He had no regrets about making this decision.

As the monk continued his journey, he reached a desolate landscape where there were no villages or people to offer him food or water. He realized that he would have to use his wits to survive in this harsh environment for today.

He withdrew from his robes a silver bowl and examined it. It was, in truth, the begging bowl with which he appealed for food. The bowl was empty now for in this rocky wasteland there were no villagers to offer him chiura, the snack of beaten rice that he would consume with tea. And it would remain empty for days to come, for not even the poorest farmer could scratch a living in this desolate landscape. He ran his fingers around the rim of the bowl and his lips curled into a cunning smile. While his bowl was empty now, it would be filled with riches in Kathmandu. 

While one would perceive it as an ordinary bowl, it was a weapon of survival for a monk who is born with nothing. Long ago before arriving here, he longed to know that this trick would work just as well in Kathmandu and he couldn't wait to use it to make himself rich and famous someday. He had perfected a trick that he used to convince the villagers outside the monastery that his bowl possessed magical powers. He would invite a village elder to place a dollop of rice in the bowl, and then turn it into gold using his sleight of hand.

But no one needed to know the truth behind this trick. No, they just need to know that this is a magical bowl that could turn rice into gold. Like a fairy tale come to life.

The long sleeves of his robe could conceal all manner of trickery. And once they had seen his magic, the simple people pressed gifts on him to stay and make them rich. In a way, it was the earliest way of the Ponzi scheme, but who cares? Humans in nature are greedy, so why can't he exploit it and do the same for himself?

In Kathmandu, his silver bowl would bring him wealth and pleasure beyond his wildest dreams. This he knew for a fact. Once more, he ran his fingers around the rim of the bowl and smiled to himself, imagining the wealth and pleasure that awaited him in the city.

But he was a fool, he had seemed to forget that every fairy tale can't be completed without a villain.

Cinderella has an evil stepmother with stepsisters.

Snow White has an evil stepmother.

Even the little mermaid had an evil witch steal her voice in exchange for meeting the prince she fell for at first sight. But for the monk, he won't have it easily such as one preventing him from attending a lavish ball, nor be handed a poisonous apple, or having his voice erased. No, the fate that awaits him is far worse than the three mentioned.

A footfall on the rocky ground startled him. Too late, the monk clutched the bowl to his body as the robbers descended on him. Too late, the monk regretted his boastful claims in the last village.

The robbers were rough, hardened men with no mercy for a lone monk who dared to venture into their territory. As the knife sliced his throat and the robbers seized his silver bowl, the monk lay hard on the floor.

The robbers laughed at him, mocking him for his foolishness about his magical bowl. They beat him savagely, leaving him bruised and bloodied on the ground. They then snatched the silver bowl from his grasp before leaving him to die.

The monk's heart sank as he realized that his trick had failed him, and he was left with nothing.

For several hours he lay there, unable to move or speak. His dreams of riches and fame in Kathmandu were shattered, replaced by the harsh reality of his situation. He had been a fool to think that he could cheat his way to success, and now, he is paying the price for his arrogance.

As the monk's lifeless body lay on the rocky ground, his silver bowl in the hands of the robbers, his dreams of wealth and fame died with him.

................................................................

"What? People actually are that much of an idiot to buy the monk's story?! Turning rice to gold?! Man, I get it that they belonged to a village where the school system sucks, but I didn't think they are that stupid to put their faith in a stranger they just met!"

Two males, a man and a little boy sat in the back room of an old warehouse by the river. The warehouse had been abandoned years ago, but the small, dingy office on the second floor made an excellent hideout.

The morning sunlight could not penetrate the thick film of grease on the window, so the older man's face was partly obscured by shadow. But even the dim light could not disguise the strange way his head shaped down to exaggerate his wide jaw.

When he spoke, his sharp upper teeth appeared to set in a row, like those of a predator. Those appeared to set in a row, like those of a predator. That is how the origin of the criminal's name, The Shark' came about thanks to this particular feature, but no one has ever dared to mention this directly to his face.

As far as his men known, The Shark assumed he got the name because he finally made a name for himself, wearing a Shark-mask once and committing a string of robberies back in the U.K, before relocating back to Japan in his father's hometown, who was terminally ill at that time. His father needed a successor to take over his criminal empire, so he had no hesitation in taking over the reins shortly after his passing.

The Shark held up a faded colour photograph."Well, the story itself did contain some truth to it," he observed. "I mean this itself is a rare Nepalese artefact called the Silver Begging Bowl of the Sacred Monks. Even the photo itself doesn't do its value justice."

"Why is it this lame-looking bowl is worth so much in value, that idiot monks are able to obtain it? I saw people do a better-crafting job than this crap." his young companion, clearly still in his preteens, sneered and shook his head. A weak shaft of light caught his ruggedly handsome features.

The little boy who is in disbelief over the legend is named Nori, having grown up in a poor family in the U.K, then his father relocated back to his father's hometown in Japan, where life was hard for both father and son. "In fact, if anyone put this in an exhibition sale, I wouldn't even bother to pay a million yen for a crummy old bowl had we not known of its value."

A dangerous look glinted in The Shark's small eyes.

"Nori, may I remind you that first and foremost, your family don't have millions of yen in the first place to hire some craftsmen to beautify it, alright? So just keep your mouth shut and listen."

"Hey, stop calling me Nori," the younger male protested. "It's such a lame name."

"Alright then, Yori," warned The Shark."You better learn to get used to it. I don't want you making any mistakes just because you slip up on something like a name."

The Sharks left the young boy's face, along with his wary eyes and he resumed their study of the photograph. "Firstly, to answer that question as to how the monks obtained we have to go back to Nepal over two thousand years ago. Back during their era, the majority of the monks were very into religion, they needed bowls to beg for food. But it was also a time when the country was very backward, which is why they looked for whatever they could find to make a durable bowl. Of course, they would not have guessed that back then, this material of such value would later be used to make those bowls. All they ever know is this material was good enough to do their bidding, it doesn't break apart easily, which is why many of those ugly bowls like this one were later made."

"But if there were many of them made, you still haven't told me why the value remains," Nori probed. "I mean, it's a begging bowl with a lame fairy tale story, plus unknown material that adds its value. Couldn't you have gotten it from the black market? Or at least, rob them quietly while they are away?"

"Ah...that's when this one is special from the other bowls, Nori." The Shark leaned backing his chair, "This bowl is different from the other bowls I mentioned for a reason."

"Let me guess, because of that dumb legend?" Nori snorted. "Value of such things...would legends even carry any value?"

The Shark's patience ran thin, he reminded himself that this Nori boy is 10 years of age, so he isn't completely in the know, but at the same time, he ain't like his father around that age who is curious about everything back then. "I told you, be quiet and listen," he snapped."According to the legend, this bowl can turn rice into gold."

The young boy glanced at the photograph, "Shark, again, don't get me wrong, but who'd believe something as stupid as that? Even if I am a 10-year-old boy, I know that it doesn't work that way. Otherwise, I wouldn't even be working for you in the first place."

"Listen, in those far оff days, the peasants in Nepal would believe anything, anything that might make them rich to escape poverty, that's why they will go all in for it without hesitation when the monk does his trick. The monk who owned the bowl in this photo....he was killed later on by this greedy wealthy merchant when one got word of the bowl's existence, not to mention when he learned what it's made of."

"What is it made off anyway, gold?"

"No, I will tell you that another time after this mission is completed."The Shark dismisses the boy's curiosity as he goes on rambling, "And when he obtained the bowl later on, shortly after selling it to a merchant richer than him, he was killed."

"Eh!?" Nori was stunned, "Why?"

"No clue, it was a separate incident according to the records one of my men was able to dig about it. A horse riding accident." The man shrugged before continuing his story, "Anyway, the person who bought this later then sold it to another, he too died. But this one was a hidden heart defect. And this continued on as years went by."

"Eh!? Again?" Sensing the worst, Nori then confronted, "Is that treasure cursed or something?"

"Who knows?" The Shark shrugs as if it was nothing, "Anyway, later on, the bowl kept on passing hands till towards the very end, it came into the possession of a Nepalese prince, who was to be king in 3 days' time."

"And let me guess, did he die before becoming king?" mocked Nori.

"Oh no, he did become king. But his kingdom suffered with plague and financial debts for many decades, so did his mental health and the descendants later on before the bowl finally vanished." The Shark confided, sending chills to Nori.

"Damn! I don't believe in curse objects, but if there are tons of deaths involved thanks to one bloody bowl, one should put a warning tag that says 'Don't buy or keep it, it will lead to your death'!" Suddenly it dawned on Nori before turning to The Shark, "You can't be serious about trying to obtain this bowl at the price of my life, right!?"

"No, but hear me out. The legend of this bowl's value had gone up because it involved royalty, other than the fact that it was the only one of its kind left. Then, about a hundred years ago, a British general got hold of it. By that time the bowl was a fortune. The general took it back to London."

"And so, did he die?"

"He did, of natural death. Don't worry, Nori, did you think I was going to endanger you before we went on with this plan to get this bowl?"

"Uh, yeah. I mean from your narration, it sounded like it is cursed!"

"Anyway, it passed into the ownership of his family, and there it stayed until a couple of years ago That's when the family fell on hard times, their business failed and they were forced to sell it privately to a collector. Since then, it seems, the bowl has changed hands a few more times. For a while, nobody really knew who owned it until the trail led here..."

"Oh wait, so in addition to causing deaths, it's also making people penniless!?" Nori was in dismay, "I don't want to lose the money I earned through working for you! I already had to deal with my father's gambling debts!"

"Don't worry, you just need to play the role of the boyfriend of that Shimizu girl, you don't have to steal the bowl, let the other professionals do their job. " The Shark revealed. "Shimizu Chika's Tousan collects old stuff like this, and so far, I got word that if one uses their glove, we would be spare of such nonsense that bowl has. And according to our informants, he has a bowl that looks just like this one."

Nori's eyes narrowed, "If that were the case, why not just break into his house and steal it?" He laughed sacarstіcally"Why go to all this fuss with trying to date her?"

"We don't want to tip our hand and get attention from anyone, let alone, the bowl's curse, from jeopardizing our success." The Shark told him. "First we've got to be sure he has got the bowl we're after. Then we've got to find out where he keeps it. Mr Shimizu might have more money than he knows what to do with, but he's not a fool," The Shark grinned showing his teeth. "That's where you come in. We need somebody who can get the inside information."

He checked his watch. "Now, when are you meeting that Shimizu Chika again?"

Nori groaned. "Tonight. She's so boring I mean she's pretty enough, but she's so dumb. Are girls from rich families no longer evolving anymore? I met girls in my old school who are smarter than this."

Initially, The Shark was going to scold him regarding the fact that not all girls from rich families are that ignorant.

Then again, he was reminded once that Nori used to study in a prestigious school for children in the U.K.

If The Shark wasn't told beforehand about this chapter of Nori's life, The Shark would've dismissed this story as bullshit from his father. After all, nobles barely exist in the 21st century anymore. Nowadays in the U.K., one could just buy paperwork and then anyone could be called Sir or Lady.

However, The Shark knew who his parents were.

Before The Shark relocated to Japan, Nori's parents used to reside in the prestigious neighbourhood, where children of pure blood were raised. The Shark used to have someone who worked there in the same neighbourhood, let alone, did a couple of minor crimes there on occasion. But before moving into the neighbourhood, Nori's dad was one of their people.

For many years, Nori's dad worked in the criminal underworld similarly to Nori's age back then under a different gangster group, which was also one of The Shark's alliances at that time in the U.K. Though they were not friends, they often cross paths with each other when it came to crime tasks. Although a hard worker, he was also a heavy gambler. But he was trustworthy, never once ratting out anyone.

One day, The Shark froze when he got word that he was seen dating a noble girl.

Even more so when he was engaged while she was 3 months in, and announced early retirement from his criminal days.

It was unclear how they met since the city they were in at that time was a place where even a noblewoman wouldn't even bother to dirty their hands. But the common ground everyone could agree on was this: He struck gold. Later, when The Shark speaks to Nori's soon-to-be former employer, he claims it was the beginning of hell for them, that it would be pointless having Nori's dad around once he marries his bride. The bride's family is not beneficial to their criminal empire.

And so, Nora's dad was let go and he went on to settle into married life and had Nori around 6 months later.

Before his mother passed away, Nori used to study in a prestigious school envied by many. So it wasn't a surprise when Nori came across a lot of girls his age back then who were very haughty, pompous, and lived a very extravagant life, studies would be boring to those kids. And Shark would be honest with himself if he was born with a diamond spoon like those children, he too wouldn't bother to study.

After all, The Shark's experience as a criminal had taught him that maybe there could be some truth in Nori's views.

He too had personally come across many kids Nori's age from rich families, and they are no closer to being any smarter than either him or Nori for that matter. Sure, Nori is an idiot, but he is considered to be street-smart in the criminal underworld. He recalled Nori bragging about having once opened a loan available for kids his age in this academy, but it was abruptly shut down later on.

After Nori's maternal family perished and left the father and son nothing, the two moved here and lived their lives since.

Suddenly he snapped his fingers."Hey Shark, I get it! You want me to ask her about the bowl?"

The Shark slammed his fist on the desk and Nori jеrked back. "Of course not! She might get suspicious!" Then the older man dropped his voice, spelling out his instructions carefully and clearly "No, Nori, all you have to do for now is make sure she trusts you. Then, when she invites you into her home to meet her parents, you can find out exactly where the bowl is kept. I want the plans of the house with the best entry and exit points. I want to know whether Mr Shimizu has installed special burglar alarms to protect the bowl. I want to know what kind are they and how they operate. You just tell me, Nori, and I'll do the rest."

"Neat," Nori praised The Shark.

"Yes," the older man agreed softly "Neat..." Once more, the man noticed Nori is fixated on the bowl, but with a bothered expression. And he knew what was bothering him, The Shark chuckled. "You're not someone who believes in curses, are you, Nori?"

Nori shook his head. "No, not really. But, I don't know. Something about this just feels off. I mean, there have been so many deaths associated with this bowl."

The Shark raised an eyebrow. "Well, I can assure you, Nori, that we have everything under control. We have a backup plan in case anything goes wrong."

Nori frowned. "What backup plan?"

The Shark leaned in closer and spoke in a low voice. "Let's just say that we have some powerful friends who owe us a favour. If anything happens to you or me, they'll take care of it."

Nori felt a shiver run down his spine. The thought of needing backup protection from dangerous, powerful people terrified him.

"Okay," Nori said, nodding slowly. "I trust you, Shark."

The Shark smiled. "Good. Now, let's focus on the job at hand. We have a lot of planning to do before we make our move."

Nori nodded, and they parted ways later on.

................................................................

Walking his way home from meeting The Shark, Nori was lost in thought. "Powerful families, although I know The Shark has them...if they have children....what should I do with them to make sure they won't harass me?"

He was replaying a memory from his old school in the U.K., where he was bullied by children from powerful families.

"What are you doing here, Nori? Still dreaming of being a rich boy by marrying a rich girl?" one of the bullies sneered, approaching Nori with his gang.

Nori clenched his fists, trying to hold back his anger. He knew he couldn't fight them physically, and he didn't want to give them the satisfaction of seeing him break down.

"Yo, bro, you see that kid over there? He's totally asking for it."

"I know, right? He's like a sitting duck, waiting to be bullied."

"Hey, why don't you run along back to your poor dad and stop wasting your existence being in this school?"

Nori shook his head in bitterness, this was a stark reminder of the prejudice he had faced because of his father's financial status. Calling his dad a gold-digger and his mom a sugar mama.

It made him wish he had never been born with a poor father. He hated the fact that people judged him based on his background, and he couldn't help but feel ashamed of his father's actions.

As Nori trudged through the darkening streets, his mind raced with a million thoughts. He could feel the dampness of the night air on his skin. The streetlights flickered and buzzed like angry bees, casting eerie shadows on the walls around him.

He was a 10-year-old boy returning home after a long day, but his house was far from the one he had grown up in. The place he called home now was rundown and neglected, and it felt like it was crumbling around him.

The front door creaked open, a sound that sent shivers down Nori's spine. He knew he should oil it, but he couldn't be bothered. He knew what awaited him inside: a poor, run-down living room that he had grown all too familiar with.

The living room was a sight for sore eyes, and not in a good way. The ceiling was leaking, the paint was peeling, and the sofa he was lying on was riddled with holes. As Nori made his way to the sofa to lie down on it, he could feel its familiar lumps and bumps under his body before staring up at the cracked ceiling.

His eyes then drifted towards the wall where the family photo was hanging. It was a reminder of the happy memories they shared. Nori couldn't help but smile as he saw his younger self, wide-eyed and grinning, at the amusement park with his parents.

He remembered how excited he was to go on the rides and how his dad would always buy him cotton candy. His mother would hold his hand tightly and laugh as they rode the roller coaster together. Nori couldn't believe how different his life was now compared to those days.

He closed his eyes, letting the memories of the old days flood back. Memories of a time when he lived in a mansion with his parents at three years old, memories of his mother who was still alive then, memories of a life that he could never have again. 

He used to play with his toy cars on the lush green lawn, and his mom used to read stories to him while sitting on the grand oak chair in the library. Those were the good old days. Nori's dad at that time would be working as a Casino Manager thanks to his mother's connection, which is why Nori had everything one could ask for. They had a personal chef who made the most delicious dishes, and their butler made sure that everything was always in order.

There were times that Nori would even wear the fanciest of suits and bowties, branded goods especially. Nori remembers how he would always get so much attention from everyone, especially the ladies. And there was this one time when he was 2,  he used to wear a golden pacifier necklace, as he strutted around his mansion's grand halls.

It seemed like a different life back then.

"Man, those were the days," he murmured to himself, feeling a pang of sadness in his chest.

But then the reality was cruel, his mother had passed away from an illness, and his father was barely able to keep their heads above water.  He missed his mom. She was the light of his life, and now she was gone. Forever.

And all of this would not have happen, all thanks to that little girl in the Fox mask. 

Nori's eyes narrowed as he thought of her. She had ruined everything. It was all her fault that he was stuck here in this dump of a house. He could feel his blood boiling as he thought about how she had destroyed his life. Nori remembered her clearly. She had appeared out of nowhere one day in their school, and since then, everything had gone downhill. He didn't know why she ended up bringing his family to financial ruin, but he knew that she had brought nothing but chaos and destruction. 

He had been searching for her ever since, desperate for any clues that could lead him to her.

When he heard about a child detective known as "The Fox" in the newspaper, he thought he had finally found her. He searched high and low, asking anyone who would listen about her whereabouts. But every time he thought he was getting closer, she would disappear without a trace.

He couldn't understand how someone could be so heartless, ruining people's lives without a second thought. He wondered if she had any remorse for what she had done, or if she was just a demon in the form of a little girl.

But then he remembered something his mom had told him. "You don't have to be rich to be happy," she had said. "All you need is love and kindness."

"Love and kindness...what a joke," Nori scoffed bitterly.

It was thanks to his mother being too kind, that was what led them to this predicament now. Marrying his father is a mistake, a huge mistake!

Nori's thoughts were interrupted by a sudden noise outside, causing him to jump up from the sofa. He tiptoed to the window and peeked out through the curtain, it was his dad, stumbling out of the car and slurring his words. Nori rolled his eyes and walked back to the sofa, knowing that it was going to be a long night.

His father stumbled through the door, reeking of alcohol and fury. "Where the hell have you been?" he barked, his breath hot and heavy on Nori's face.

Nori's mind raced, trying to come up with a plausible excuse. "I was at the library," he muttered, avoiding his father's gaze.

But his father wasn't buying it. "Don't you lie to me, boy. I know you've been hanging out with that Shark guy."

Nori rolled his eyes, feeling the weight of his father's accusations. "I wasn't with him, Tousan. I swear," he protested.

"You're lying to me again, Nori!" he bellowed. "I know it when my own son is lying!"

Nori felt his pulse quicken. He knew he had to keep his cool. "I'm going to bed," he said, trying to sound as firm as possible. "You need to sober up."

His father's face turned red with anger. "You can't be hanging out with criminals, Nori!" he shouted. "You need to focus on school!"

Nori couldn't take it anymore. "You're a hypocrite!" he snapped. "You work for The Shark too! Why can you do the same while I can't!?"

His father's face fell. "I had no choice," he said, his voice trembling. "Your mother died, and I had to raise you alone. And you are 10 for God's sake! You shouldn't be going around conning children, mainly girls! Is that how your mother and I raised you!?"

Nori felt his anger boil over. "You're right! You both raised me not to do that. But besides that, I recalled both of you telling me not to grow up as a hypocrite! And yet, here you are working for him to feed your gambling addiction!" he accused.

His father looked away, ashamed. "I couldn't accept it, your mother died and I couldn't accept it. I needed an outlet," he muttered to himself, tears streaming down his face.

"An outlet?!" Nori shook his head in disbelief and anger, "More like you wanted to satisfy your endless greed on wanting more money to live the old wealthy lifestyle you used to live, that is how you ended up tricking Okaasan into marrying you in the first place after having me!"

His father's face twisted with rage, "You!"

But before he could reply, Nori stormed up the stairs to his bedroom. Slamming the door shut, he wondered why he even bothered trying to communicate with this man? All he did was gamble their money away and make their lives miserable.

Why did his life have to be so complicated? Why did he have to live with a father like that? 

Nori felt a deep sense of despair wash over him. He looked around his room, searching for some sort of solace, but all he saw were the posters of his artwork and his collection of fidget spinners.

Nori's bedroom is a reflection of his inner self. Despite the rundown and torn appearance of the room, it is surprisingly tidy, with everything in its proper place. Nori had always been taught to keep his surroundings clean and organized, a habit he had picked up from his former life as a noble.

The bed in the centre of the room is neatly made, with the sheets and blankets straightened out to perfection. The pillows are fluffed up, ready to provide comfort to Nori after a long day. A small wooden bedside table sits beside the bed, with a lamp and a few books stacked neatly on top of it.

On the other side of the room, a small study desk is placed beside the window. The desk is cluttered with papers, pencils, and books, but each item is arranged with a sense of order. Nori had always been an avid reader, and his collection of books is a testament to that. The bookshelf beside the desk is filled with his favourite novels, all arranged neatly in alphabetical order.

A few pieces of artwork adorn the walls of the room, hand-drawn by Nori himself. His artistic skills are impressive for a 10-year-old, and he takes great pride in his creations. The room has a serene and peaceful vibe to it, despite the wear and tear of the surroundings.

Nori takes a deep breath and surveys his room, taking comfort in the tidiness of his personal space. He may no longer have the luxurious life he once had, but he still carries his old habits and values with him. His bedroom is a testament to his determination to maintain a sense of order and structure in his life, no matter the circumstances.

He picked up one of the spinners and spun it so fast that it flew off his finger and landed on his bed.

Screw it, I am done.

Suddenly, flashes of white clapped outside his bedroom window, indicating it was about to rain tonight. Nori couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness as he remembered how he used to enjoy watching storms with his dad.

But now, his dad was just a shell of the man he used to be. He was always on edge, and always irritable. Nori didn't know how much longer he could take it. What did his mother see in him? He only had a high school diploma while his mother had a degree, from two different worlds...was his mother manipulated to be with his dad? If so, he wished his mom aborted him. At least he wouldn't be living the life he is living right now.

As he lay on his bed, Nori couldn't help but think about how much he missed his mother. She would have never let his father get this bad. But then again, she wasn't around anymore. Nori felt trapped like he had nowhere to turn.

A sense of despair and anger welled up inside him. How did his life come to this? How did he end up living in this dump with a father who won't leave him alone? All he has is a father who drinks and gambles away their money.

But for now, Nori was left alone with his thoughts and the reality of his life. 

He was only 10, and he was already involved in some shady business with a criminal. It was as if fate had dealt him a crappy hand, and he had no choice but to play it. He felt like he was living in two different worlds. 

Nori's mind was racing faster than the beat of a trap song. He wished he could just hit the "pause" button on his life and take a breather. His dad's gambling addiction was turning their home into a mini-casino, and Nori was stuck playing the role of the dealer. He was tired of feeling like a puppet in his own life. But what could he do? He was just a kid.

On the one hand, he had the life he used to live, where he was surrounded by luxury and love. On the other hand, he had the life he was living now, where he had to lie and cheat just to survive.

Nori couldn't understand why his dad was so obsessed with working for The Shark. He knew it was because of his gambling addiction, but it still didn't make sense to him. He wished his dad could just snap out of it and see that what he was doing was wrong. But Nori knew he couldn't rely on his dad to get him out of this mess. He had to take matters into his own hands and do his job for The Shark. It was the only way he could make enough money to escape this life and live on his own.

He pulls out his phone and starts scrolling through his messages, trying to find the instructions on how to con the little girl. He knows that he has to do this right. One misstep will be the end of his life away from his dad. As he thought about what he had to do, Nori couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt. He was going to con a little girl to get that bowl, and he knew it was wrong. But he also knew he had no choice. He had to do this, or he would be stuck living with his dad forever.

He thought about all the things he wanted to do once he had enough money to leave. He wanted to travel the world and go to all the places he had only seen in pictures. He wanted to learn new things, meet new people, and just experience life. Just like his old life when his family was wealthy.

Soon, Nori found himself researching everything he could about the little girl he had to con. He knew that he had to be prepared, and he couldn't afford to make any mistakes.

"I won't let The Shark or my dad bring me down. I'm in charge of my own destiny." 

And with that, he starts working on the plan to con the little girl, determined to succeed and change his life for the better.

Little did he know, his father was sitting downstairs, tears streaming down his own face before staring at the family picture hung on the wall. Especially his smiling late wife, "Joan, you need to tell Kami-sama (God) to borrow me more time, I have to get our son out of here, cause right now..." he whispered to himself. "I don't have much time left anymore."