Chapter 165: I Just Want to Beat You Up

(Lihito → Rihito)

"Raijin shakes slightly, scattering rain upon the clouds, may you stay? Raijin shakes not, though skies are clear, I stay with you…? What the hell?"

Once separated from Karura, Rinji remembered he still had summer homework. On the way to the hall, he pulled out the crumpled paper and started answering questions again.

"The translation is: 'A faint rumble of thunder, cloudy skies. I hope the storm will come, so you'll stay here. A faint rumble of thunder, cloudy skies. Even if no rain comes, I will still stay.'"

A voice behind him explained.

"Oh, thanks… wait, what the hell?!"

He turned to thank the person helping him—only to see a 188 cm tall, blond musclehead standing there.

It was Ichiro Nakata, codenamed "Razor"—Rihito.

In Rinji's memory, this guy had the intelligence of someone who couldn't even pass middle school math. He always gave off the vibe of a fool—yet here he was solving high school-level questions?

"Why do you look so shocked?" RIhito asked in confusion.

"I just… think I need to reassess your IQ."

"Don't underestimate me!" Rihito said indignantly. "I graduated from Teito University, you know."

"How the hell did you even get in?"

Rihito was a qualified contestant and also the president of SF Freezing Co. Since Katahara had summoned all 32 company heads, he was included.

"Rinji, you're really not a fighter?"

"Nope," Rinji replied. "The prelim match was just me playing around. I'm not participating in the main event."

"That's too bad. When I found out you were a guy, I really wanted to fight you."

"What do you mean 'when you found out'... But hey, maybe we'll get the chance."

As they spoke, they arrived at a pitch-black hall.

The room was already filled with people—familiar faces like Kazuo Yamashita, Shion Soryuin, and Rino Kurayoshi. There were also presidents of major corporations.

Every person here was a tycoon with assets in the hundreds of billions, some even in the trillions (except Yamashita).

Each entrepreneur deliberately kept a distance from the others—because after today, they would be rivals in the fight for the Kengan Association presidency.

"Yo, if it isn't Rihito~"

A strange, effeminate voice called out. A makeup-wearing, feminine-looking man stepped out from the crowd and approached Rihito.

He was the CEO of Yoshitake Real Estate and Rihito's former employer. After Rihito was defeated by Ohma Tokita, he fired him.

"You, a loser, actually got in? Who are you working for now?"

"What are you talking about?" Rihito scoffed. "I'm my own boss."

"Huh?"

"I'm both a business owner and a fighter." Rihito grinned.

"You, seriously…"

"Enough, stop arguing here." Rinji cut off the skinny, effeminate middle-aged man. "Save it for the arena."

"Yes, this young man is quite right."

Unlike his sneering expression toward Rihito, the man instantly put on a smile when facing Rinji.

"Hello, Mr. Takamine. Here's my business card."

"Thanks."

Rinji accepted the card—it read: Yoshitake Real Estate Chairman, Yoshitake Yoshiro.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Yoshitake."

"Likewise, likewise. I've heard of your achievements, Mr. Takamine. Starting Amano Pharmaceuticals at just sixteen and becoming a member of the Kengan Association." Yoshitake Yoshiro raised his orchid fingers to his lips and smiled. "But Amano Pharmaceuticals… I feel like I've heard that name before."

"Four years ago, the company went bankrupt."

"Oh, now I remember. I heard the CEO committed suicide… What a tragedy. Are you trying to restart the company?"

"Yes."

"What a good boy."

Yoshitake dabbed his eyes with a handkerchief.

"Kids with such a sense of loyalty are rare these days."

As they chatted, more people entered the hall—one of them being Hideki Nogi, the initiator of this elimination tournament.

From the moment he walked in, Nogi exuded an intense aura, like he had staked everything on this.

Which made sense—since he was the one who proposed re-electing the association Chairman. If he lost, the entire Nogi Group would go down.

Chairman Katahara also arrived, looking around at the gathered entrepreneurs.

"Is everyone here?"

"Not yet."

A powerful voice called from the entrance.

An elderly man, thin and leaning on a cane, walked into the hall.

The moment he entered, a suffocating pressure filled the room. Then everyone saw his face.

The left half was completely burned—scars so grotesque they could make a child cry.

"Hayami Katsumasa…"

"The one from Toyo Electric…"

"They say he's the closest person to becoming the Kengan Association chairman. That aura really is something else."

Everyone held high opinions about him, though quite a few also showed clear disdain. Yoshitake even took two steps back.

His reputation in the circle was infamous—someone who would stoop to anything to achieve his goals, a complete scumbag.

Hayami Katsumasa, of course, didn't care what the others thought. He stood there arrogantly, looking down on everyone present. In his eyes, none of these people were qualified to contend for the position of Kengan Association chairman.

Until Rinji walked up to him.

"Long time no see, Hayami Katsumasa." Rinji smiled. "Can't believe that cluster bomb last time didn't finish you off. You sure ran fast."

"...Heh, isn't this Mr. Takamine Rinji?"

Though a little surprised to see Rinji standing in front of him, Hayami remained confident.

Kengan Association rules stated that members couldn't attack other members. He was sure Rinji wouldn't kill him here and now—and even if he tried, Hayami had backup plans.

"Didn't expect you to become a member too. Starting a company and getting approved just like that—seems like Katahara's vetting process is getting sloppy."

Hearing that, Rinji just smiled slightly.

Then, under the stunned gazes of everyone present, he kicked Hayami squarely in the gut.

Bam!!

Don't be fooled by how smug this old man looked—his strength lay entirely in the power behind him. Physically, he was just a frail old man.

Before Hayami could react from being knocked to the floor, Rinji snatched up his cane and began beating him with it.

"Acting all tough, huh? Say something cocky again, I dare you."

After a few hits, Hayami's limbs were clearly broken.