"...Damn you, Takamine Rinji."
Staring at the bloodied severed head on the floor, the startled Hayami forced himself to suppress the rage boiling inside.
Back in the day, he had competed with Katahara for the position of chairman of the Kengan Association. After losing, half his face was disfigured in a fire. He endured humiliation for years, scheming until this very Kengan Annihilation Tournant—his long-awaited chance to finally claim that position.
He had used every trick in the book: bribery, coercion, talent recruitnt, even building his power base from scratch. Everything was for this mont.
And now, because of one person, it had all crumbled.
"Takamine Rinji..."
This youth... this wasn't their first clash.
The first ti was when Takamine rescued Ryuju Momo. That's when Hayami first learned that the mastermind behind the Ryujuka clan's affairs seed to be a young boy.
The second ti was two years ago. Hayami had legally obtained land in the Middle East via local governnt channels and started construction on a power plant.
He used official docuntation to evict the native inhabitants and quickly completed the facility.
But sohow, those natives contacted IW. Shortly after, Takamine Rinji ca alone to negotiate.
Hayami knew of IW—the infamously brutal organization that fueled and trafficked in war. Being targeted by them ant certain doom.
Still, he believed IW had declined since "that man" vanished from the public eye. With backing from local authorities and international law, plus his disdain for a "re brat," Hayami rejected Rinji's demands, citing his lawful ownership of the land.
Rinji had only chuckled lightly and left.
The next day, Hayami and his employees received a notice: IW would be conducting military exercises on the premises. They were told to evacuate.
Though alard, Hayami thought: We have hundreds of people working here. IW wouldn't dare attack—doing so would be mass murder.
Then, a thermobaric bomb was dropped. The plant and everyone inside were turned to ash. Only Hayami survived—he had been out on an inspection.
They really dared to massacre. Even after "that man" disappeared, the organization had been taken over by another lunatic.
Only later did Hayami learn so IW operatives were forr soldiers from that area. When their holand was threatened, they reached out to IW leadership. And that's how Rinji was dispatched to "handle it."
Hayami himself was a cruel businessman. He used threats, coercion, even targeted people's families to get what he wanted.
But he made one fatal mistake—
Never try to out-cruel Takamine Rinji.
"So Katahara tsudo... this is why you invited Takamine Rinji to the Kengan Annihilation Tournant, huh?"
He now realized Katahara had seen through his sches early and brought in this terrifying man specifically to eliminate him.
And Rinji had done exactly that. Every fighter Hayami had planted in the tournant, every covert operative he had waiting outside the venue—gone.
He was completely helpless now.
"Mr. Hayami..."
A few of his bodyguards entered, concerned after seeing his expression.
"I'm fine... Just get rid of this disgusting thing," Hayami said irritably, pointing to the severed head.
"...Yes, sir."
Despite feeling grossed out, the guards reluctantly approached and picked it up.
Then, they heard a sound from inside the head.
Beep. Beep. Beep...
"Hm?"
"What are you waiting for? Get rid of it!"
"But Mr. Hayami, this thing—"
Beep. Beep. Beep...
Hayami was older now, and his hearing wasn't what it used to be. But even he could hear it once the guard brought the head closer.
His eyes widened in horror.
"GET IT AWAY FROM !!"
"Huh?"
Beep. Beep... BOOP!
BOOM—
A massive explosion ripped through the room. The entire chamber, including the door, was blown to pieces.
---
"It's over."
Rinji smiled slightly and picked up the microphone.
"The winner is... Kanoh Agito! The final preliminary match has ended. Let's congratulate the sixteen advancing fighters who will proceed to the quarterfinals. And for those who lost, don't be discouraged—we hope to see you shine again in future Kengan matches."
Having completed his task, Rinji returned to the comntary booth to help announce the rest of the matches alongside Sakaya.
With Kanoh defeating Okubo Naoya from Muji TV, the preliminaries were officially over.
But the sixteen victorious fighters—and more accurately, the corporations behind them—now faced one more special task:
Earn the right to challenge Takamine Rinji.
As the last match concluded, several of the corporations and fighters began discussing their next moves.
"Hey, you're not seriously thinking of challenging Takamine, are you?"
Togo Tomari looked at the ever-smiling Kurayoshi Rino.
"I am. Rei has always wanted to fight that boy. So I agreed." Rino smiled. "Aren't you joining too?"
"Of course I am."
"Then how about an alliance?"
"Screw that! Who wants to team up with you!?" Togo laughed. "My fighter Muteba Gizenga is more than enough on his own."
She was lying. She had no intention of challenging Rinji herself—just trying to bait others into doing it.
Seeing Kurayoshi Rino take the bait, she could hardly hide her smile.
---
Elsewhere—
"Mr. Ohma, please reconsider!"
"No need. This is my one and only chance to challenge that guy again."
Inside a private office, besides Tokita Ohma and Yamashita Kazuo, were Nogi Hideki, Akiyama Kaede, and Nogi Group's fighter Hatsumi Sen. Also present were Furumi Pharmaceutical's CEO Furumi Heihachi and their fighter Wakatsuki Takeshi.
They had already agreed to form an alliance and challenge Rinji together.
"But Mr. Ohma... your body..."
"I'll be fine."
Ohma grinned, but he knew the truth.
At least before it's all over... let challenge that man one last ti. Even if... it costs my life.
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