Sometimes you can't beat a good bastard in a story, someone who will do underhanded tactics to win, kick a defeated opponent when they are down or is always about the reward after they complete a quest/job.
Been reading The Greatest Estate Developer and it's your standard Isekai tale, guy wakes up in the body of a lords eldest son he read a fictional story about and knows they are in massive debt, all die to be the catalyst for the knight that serves them who's the MC. So he uses his architectural knowledge to change their fortunes but does it in the most bastard way.
He'll bitch slap an entire college full of stuck up nobles because he can get away with it, kurbstomp his opponent after he wins a duel to then trick him into exile, force a water contract on a rival noble that essentially binds his future generations to pay him extortionate fees and much more. This series jusy passed 100 episodes and has some of the best faces I've seen from a series.
So whether it's Leon from MobuSeka or Amos from The Expanse, who's your favourite fictional bastards?
There are a few characters I really enjoy watching in anime who fit this description of underhanded bastards.
Ayanokoji from Classroom of the Elite. He is a master tactician who is utterly cold blooded when it comes to winning by any means necessary as his emotions were trained to be repressed in childhood. He is cold and callous and just doesn't give a fuck when it comes to going too far.
Oberstein from Legend of the Galactic Heross. This man is pure pragmatism personified. He will do what is best for the majority of his people at any cost. He will go to any extreme measures to do so.
Aizen from Bleach. This magnificent bastard is the definition of master troll and master tactician. He plans everything down to the last detail, destroys almost all of his enemies and he revels in tormenting them while doing it.
I'm glad classroom of the elite got a second season as I was dreading people not seeing how cunning Ayanokoji is with just 1 season.