Martial artists can never be ultimately insulted

Upon hearing Yuan Chen's words, Sakura Ibuki smiled and relaxed considerably.

Although from a business perspective, it seems absurd and contrary to business logic to give away most of the profits to others.

But the words those people with dark irises said when they left yesterday kept echoing in Sakura Ibuki's mind—"The martial arts world doesn't follow logic."

Moreover, being able to join the Kengan Association was already a great privilege. Ibuki had a clear understanding of her own abilities. In her view, being able to run a chain store well and be a small business owner was enough to satisfy her interests and fantasies. Anything more would be beyond her capabilities.

Thinking this, Sakura Ibuki took out her laptop, placed it on the table, and said:

"We have two competitors for the shop rental rights in the Ginza Center. Today is their competition day. Since we joined at the last minute, we will compete against the winner in two days."

"And these two competitors are Ivan Kalayev, known as the 'Russian Grim Reaper' under the Yoshibu Real Estate Group, and Komada, the Nogi Group's acting fighter... Hmm, the Nogi Group? I remember this company has a history of over four hundred years. I didn't expect them to be in the Kengan Association..."

"According to the information I found, Ivan Kalayev is a famous Russian kickboxing master whose powerful and fast uppercut is known as the 'Death Scythe'."

I haven't found much information about Komada Niou, but according to what I have, he is incredibly powerful. Some members of the Kengan Association have commented that his physical attributes are exceptionally strong, and he has achieved overwhelming victories in his four previous battles.

Upon hearing Sakura Ibuki's words, Yuan Chen's face showed a slight interest.

Yuan Chen was no stranger to Ivan and Komada—mainly because he had seen them in the manga. Although they appeared relatively early in the story, immediately being sacrificed to the manga's protagonist, Tokita Ohma, Yuan Chen quickly realized upon reflection that their hasty exit was likely due to their early appearance and sacrifice to the protagonist.

...Okay, Ivan is probably just a scapegoat, with no obvious display of strength.

But it's hard to say what Komada would say.

The main storyline of Kengan's first phase is the Kengan Deathmatch Tournament, during which a significant number of the 'pre-selected fighters' are temporarily replaced.

Niou Komata was killed by Tokita Ohma, which is a great loss. Other notable figures include Hong Xiaohu, who practices Kyokushin, Ozu Toshio of the Imperial Sakura Girls' Academy, and Takemoto Hisahisa of the Hyakuba Shimbun.

Among them, Hong Xiaohu's boxing record is 35 wins and 1 loss. The one loss was against Kana, the Fang of Destruction. It can only be said that the loss was not shameful. On the eve of the final elimination match, he was instantly killed by the successor of the Raijin-ryu Assassination Fist, Yu Lei Ling.

Toshio Ozu had an eleven-0 record, but Kiryu Setsuna twisted his neck 180 degrees and broke it. After a hospital examination, the injury was determined to be minor, and he continued to work as a physical education teacher at Kozakura Girls' Academy.

Then there's Takemoto Hisaaki, who's known as the 'God of War,' a master of combat karate who achieved a record of 90 wins in 90 unofficial matches. He seems incredibly strong, but he was instantly defeated by Nikaido Guren Musou.

In this situation...

To be regarded as a fighter by a giant corporation like Nogi Group, one's strength must be at least at the level of the top 32 in a elimination tournament.

But... that's only the level of the top 32.

“The three groups are competing with each other… No matter how you look at it, we’re the one who suddenly appeared, right?” Yuan Chen said.

Upon hearing Yuan Chen's words, Chun Li nodded in agreement:

"It must be the Wu clan behind it all. Although I don't know much about the Quanyuan Association, a business of this scale, like a family-run barbecue restaurant, is probably not enough to get involved in this level of competition..."

"Hmm, so it seems the reason they immediately put you in competition with the Nogi Group and Yoshibu Real Estate is because some bigwigs in the Kengan Association are interested in your background."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Chen nodded in agreement, then chuckled and said, "Judging by the time, I just asked Wu Qiqi last night, and the membership certificate was delivered this morning... He must have sent a message to the Kengan Association to arrange the membership status as soon as he got there, right?"

"Hmm." Chun-Li nodded and said, "The fact that it was delivered so quickly means that the person who gave the order must have a high status in the Kengan Association."

Upon hearing Chunli's words, Yuan Chen simply replied:

"The current patriarch of the Wu clan, also known as 'Grandpa' by Feng Shui and Garuda, Wu Huili Yang is the first fighter of Katahara Metsudo, the current president of the Kengan Association, and the first Metsudo Fang... The current Metsudo Fang is the fifth generation."

"Huh?" Chunli was surprised to hear this and covered her mouth, saying, "Then when Wu Qiqi and the others went back last night and finished giving the message, didn't they mean that they might have called Katahara Metsudo directly in the middle of the night and asked him to arrange a membership?"

"Most likely," Yuan Chen shrugged, then looked at the computer screen and said.

"Now... it's quite obvious that Katahara Metsudo is also starting to wonder what kind of interesting person his old friend has met that would call him in the middle of the night to ask him to help arrange a membership."

As he spoke, Yuan Chen smiled and said, "Should I say that he is indeed a former partner? Just like the old patriarch of the Wu clan, this old gentleman from the Kengan Association also wants to test my 'quality'."

Upon hearing this, Chun-Li seemed to realize something, and with a hint of despair, she rubbed her temples and said, "So... what are you planning to do?"

“Of course we’ll respond,” Yuan Chen said with a smile. “But it wouldn’t be good to just wait for them to finish fighting before going over to reap the benefits, would it? After all, nobody wants an extra person suddenly appearing in a competition that’s already been arranged between two people… So, let’s just go.”

"You rascal... you get all excited just from the smell of blood."

As she said this, Chun-Li did not stop her, but said helplessly, "Just remember to be careful when you are there... I definitely can't stop you anyway."

"Hehe." Yuan Chen chuckled.

Meanwhile, watching Yuan Chen and Chun Li chat and laugh while reciting a series of names, Sakura Ibuki fell into a long silence.

Katahara Miedou?

It seems to be that Katahara Metsudo, the president of the Bank of Japan, a very important figure in the entire Japanese political and business world?

I... I guess I run a family-style barbecue restaurant? But these days, it seems like you can't join the Kengan Kai without adding some high-value ingredients to your meat...

Thinking this, Sakura Ibuki scratched her head helplessly, but quickly came to terms with it.

Anyway, if the sky falls, there are tall people to hold it up. Compared to their own barbecue restaurant, those big shots obviously care more about this young man who is staying at their house.

That afternoon, following the information on the Kengan Association website, Sakura Ibuki drove Yuan Chen and Chun Li to the underground parking lot of an unknown shopping mall.

Although it was called an unknown shopping mall, there were actually quite a few people coming and going. However, today was different from usual, as the underground parking lot was closed for pipeline maintenance. When Yuan Chen and his group tried to enter, the security guard standing at the entrance, whose physique showed obvious signs of exercise, also reached out his hand.

Seeing this, Sakura Ibuki handed over her Kengan Association membership card—although she didn't know why, even in the information age, this membership token was still a wooden token, Sakura Ibuki chose to respect it.

After a quick scan of the internal chip, the guard nodded, spoke into the walkie-talkie, and the three of them successfully entered the competition venue.

Stepping inside, Sakura Ibuki looked around with some curiosity, then sighed and said:

"As expected of the Kengan Association... Each of their outfits alone could cover my tuition for three years of university, and many of their faces look familiar, like I've seen them on a financial channel or something?"

Compared to Sakura Ibuki's curiosity and surprise, Yuan Chen and Chun Li's faces were calm, clearly showing that they were not interested in these so-called financial tycoons.

While the three were still rushing towards the center of the venue...

On the other side, in the monitoring room of the underground parking garage, there was a 96-year-old man, 161cm tall and weighing 48kg. It could be said that most of his body was buried in the ground, but Katahara Metsudo's face, which looked like old tree bark, still had a smile on it.

"I didn't expect that such an ordinary shop could attract your attention, and even make you call me to harass me. Don't you know that old people need to get a good night's sleep?"

"You?? Sleep?" Upon hearing Katahara Metsudo's words, Go Hyori chuckled and said:

"Back when you were young, you would stay up for three days and three nights, squatting outside the other side's house to record information, just to get enough intelligence. Why don't you believe it now?"

“I’m not one of you assassins.” Upon hearing this, Katahara Metsudo said with a relaxed expression, “It’s normal for people to lose their energy as they get older.”

Wu Huili didn't believe Katahara Metsudo's words at all. After all, this old man, who seemed like he would step down at any time, had his two children born when he was seventy years old.

As the first Fang of the Destroyer, Go Hye-ryo was well aware of how strong the spirit of this old man, who was not a martial artist, was.

Seeing that Wu Huili didn't seem to care at all, Katahara Metsudo stopped joking and, after a brief silence, said:

"Although the entire shop being contested today is only worth a few hundred million yen, it involves two large corporations: the Nogi Group and Yoshibu Real Estate."

Adding another competitor to an already established list, even a humble family-run barbecue restaurant, will inevitably attract a lot of speculation… Are you sure the boy you're talking about is capable of handling this kind of attention?

Upon hearing this, Wu Huiliyang didn't say anything, but after waiting for a moment, a smile appeared on her lips, and she said, "Why don't you see for yourself?"

"Oh?"

Upon hearing his old man's words, Katahara Metsudo also turned his gaze to the crowd in the picture. Soon, he spotted Yuan Chen and the others that Wu Huili had mentioned.

As the start date approached, Yoshitake Keiro, the president of Yoshitake Real Estate, who looked like a Buddha statue, also arrived at the location of the Nogi Group.

Looking at Nogi Hideki, the president of the Nogi Group, Yoshitake Keiro, who had always been at odds with him, did not show the usual tense demeanor, but instead asked seriously:

"Nogi, about that third challenger... Sakura-so Charcoal Grilled Meat? How much do you know about him? Why would he get involved in this insignificant competition? Was it an order personally given by Katahara Metsudo?"

Upon hearing Yoshitake Keiro's words, Nogi Hideki shook his head and said:

"This was the chairman's decision, how would I know the reasons... However, I did a simple investigation into Sakura-sou Charcoal BBQ, and it's just an ordinary chain restaurant, probably just a front."

Upon hearing this, Yoshitake Keiro subconsciously frowned, but just as he was about to say something, the match next to him had already entered the warm-up phase.

"The battle for the exclusive lease of a shop in the heart of Ginza's Chuo-dori district, valued at 500 million yen, begins in its first round! Both sides enter the fray!"

As the referee from the Kengan Association gave a loud announcement, the already somewhat noisy scene erupted into a new wave of excitement. Accompanied by slightly loud background music, the fighters entered one after another, sparking a new round of discussion and anticipation among the spectators.

Although he was a newcomer, Yuan Chen noticed with just a little attention that what they were discussing was no different from what the group of people in Wangba were talking about.

In short, it's a matter of "must be quick" versus "instant kill".

Volume 1: Chapter 82 - Entrance

"The contestant is Death's Scythe from Yiwu Real Estate! Ivan Kalayev, 176cm tall, 76kg! Modern style!"

"The contestant is Komada from Nogi Group's Niou! Height 198cm! Weight 98kg! Modern style!"

As the referee spoke, the two people, one tall and one short, entered the field from both sides.

Watching the two locked in a standoff, the social elites seemed to be influenced by the atmosphere, their faces revealing a strong fighting spirit as they waved their fists to cheer on their favorite fighters.

"Let Komada taste your Grim Reaper's scythe! Ivan!"

"Give that Soviet bastard a good beating, Komada!"

"Ivan will kill Komada!"

"Instant hair!"

Around the circular open space, the social elites in suits and ties had long since shed their usual reserve.

A drunken, bulbous-nosed man said nonchalantly, "Ivan bets three thousand. I still remember his high kick vividly. Komada's personality is what it is. No matter how strong his physique is, his chin can't withstand a high kick!"

Upon hearing this, his companion chuckled and said, "I think it's risky. Look at Komada's physique; his arms are thicker than Ivan's legs. He can't win even if he grabs Ivan... I'll bet four thousand on Komada!"

Similar conversations echoed among the crowd. Some people were quickly calculating the odds on the back of their betting slips, while others made quick phone calls to place additional bets after a brief comparison of the two individuals' condition and apparent strength.

Others were already slightly tipsy, showing no interest in pursuing a doctorate whatsoever, simply raising their whiskey glasses and shouting encouragement—a literal display of bloodlust.

As the person involved, Yoshitake Keiro simply stayed in the back of the calm, his gaze sweeping around.

Nogi Hideki, who was opposite him, was in a similar state. Although he looked very relaxed, his eyes were scanning the surrounding spectators.

Because every Kengan match involves huge commercial interests, once a new member emerges, fighters and even bosses from other companies will come to watch and gather information.

In a continuous competition like this, competitors usually try to gather information about each other in advance.

And that Sakura Manor charcoal grilled meat... didn't they come?

This left Nogi Hideki somewhat bewildered.

For both the Nogi Group and Yoshitake Real Estate, the lease rights to shops worth three to five hundred million yen are a small matter and don't require much effort.

The reason why both presidents and CEOs have come out together is that Katahara Metsudo personally requested the arrival of a competitor.

This was undoubtedly a special signal for the veterans of the Kengan Association. It could be basically understood as Katahara Metsudo, as the chairman, conveying to them a message like, "A meat-eating guy is coming~ Keep your eyes peeled and pay attention~".

Nogi Hideki does indeed have some new ideas about the current situation of the Kengan Association, which is why he specifically took the time to participate in this match, which can only be considered a small-budget event.

But now it seems they didn't come?

While Nogi Hideki and Yoshitake Keiro were still hesitating, on the other side, in the circular open space, the referee raised his hand, signaling for both sides to take their positions.

Ivan moved his shoulders, his toes lightly tapping the ground in a quick and rapid rhythm. Komada, on the other hand, simply stared coldly at Ivan. His massive body resembled a small mountain of muscles, and with each warm-up exercise, the muscles in his upper body rippled slightly, looking quite intimidating.

But just as the two were getting into the zone, a commotion and pushing erupted from the crowd nearby.

Someone wants to squeeze to the front row? That's most people's first thought. After all, in underground fighting, apart from major official matches, there's never really a concept of seating. It's all about standing high and seeing far, or squeezing to the front row based on your strength.

But soon, people realized that the person wasn't squeezing in, and didn't even make any big movements; he simply walked forward with his hands in his pockets and a calm expression.

For some unknown reason, the person's upper body and face were almost entirely bathed in pitch black, with only a pair of eyes that shone brightly, unabashedly radiating an indescribable sense of oppression.

As the person walked, an invisible aura spread with each step, accompanied by a sense of oppression that made it difficult to breathe.

Simply walking straight ahead, without even speaking or reaching out, causes the wall of people in front of them to involuntarily swerve, separate, squeeze, and push to either side.

Hearing the noise, Nogi Hideki's face also showed a look of great interest.

As Yuan Chen continued his journey, when Nogi Hideki sensed the pervasive aura, he noticed something, and his brows furrowed slightly.

Although it was their first meeting and they hadn't even made a move yet... as the head of the Nogi Group, a business with a 400-year history, the experienced Hideki Nogi had already sensed something more subtle.

Meanwhile, Yoshitake Keiro, the president of Yoshigoku Real Estate, stared with even greater seriousness at the figure emerging from the crowd, his expression changing repeatedly.

Stepping out from the crowd and into the spotlight, people finally saw what the creature, bathed in shadow, actually looked like.