Chapter 181: Power Distribution
"Doctor! Doctor!!"
As the tournament continued, the infirmary saw a steady stream of new patients.
This time, it was Sawada Keizaburo, who had just been defeated by Julius. His tibia was completely broken, and his shoulder was injured from being slammed to the ground. If left untreated, he could be forced into early retirement.
"The doctor is currently treating another patient," the nurse bowed, recognizing both Sawada and Murder Music's CEO, Togawa Yoshiko.
"That bad, huh..."
"If you'd like, I could help with a basic dressing?" the nurse offered with a smile.
Her name was Yoshizawa Kokomi, a nurse-secretary from the affiliated hospital of Teito University.
Despite being a professional, her low-cut nurse outfit and fishnet stockings made her look more like she was cosplaying.
"That would be fine—"
"No way!!"
Even with a broken leg, Sawada was as dramatic as ever.
"I refuse to be treated by a woman! I'm waiting for the hot guy doctor!"
"Dr. Hanafusa is busy right now! And don't move, or your wound will open!"
"I don't care!!"
"Can you stop acting like a child!?"
Standing nearby, Rinji looked at the obviously broken tibia. He pulled a ring from his pocket and slipped it on, then grabbed a white coat and put it on.
"Miss Yoshizawa, how about letting me take care of it? I know a thing or two about treating trauma."
"You can treat it?"
"As long as you don't ask to see my medical license, there's no problem," Rinji smiled.
"But—"
"You'll do!" Sawada Keizaburo instantly lay flat on the bed. "Let the hot guy from the prelims treat me! If I end up crippled, it's on me!"
"..."
Yoshizawa sighed and rubbed her forehead. Fighters really weren't normal. She rolled his bed to a window-side corner of the infirmary.
Rinji walked up and gently placed his ringed hand on the injured leg.
"Handsome, want to have dinner with me tonight?"
"Shut it. I have a girlfriend," Rinji said calmly, pressing down.
Tiny blue sparks ran from his fingers into Sawada's leg. As Sawada cried out in pain, the bruising faded, and the broken bone quickly knit itself back together.
"...Is it done?"
"It's done," Rinji replied, taking off the white coat and hanging it up.
"Th-thank you..."
Togawa Yoshiko bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Mr. Takamine—for saving me, and for healing Sawada's injury."
"You're welcome."
"He saved you?"
Sawada hopped down and casually performed a few high-difficulty kicks. As he was admiring Rinji's impressive healing skills, he turned to Togawa's words with curiosity.
"It's like this. Earlier, I was threatened by someone sent by Hayami Katsumasa, trying to force me to withdraw from the Kengan Annihilation Tournament… In other words, you were originally going to forfeit."
"What!?"
Sawada's face twisted in an instant.
"Those bastards actually resorted to such despicable tactics? I'll kill them…"
"No need for you to act."
Rinji sat calmly on a nearby stool, removed the ring from his hand, and put it back in his pocket.
"Because they're already dead."
"Huh?"
Seeing Sawada's surprised expression, Rinji smiled faintly.
"When you fighters say 'I'll kill you' or 'I'll tear you apart,' you usually mean going all out with your attacks. Whether it results in death depends on the circumstances. But I'm different. If I decide to kill someone, they're already dead."
"…"
"Miss Togawa, I hope killing those two idiots won't cause you any issues?"
"It… will cause some," Togawa sighed, then looked at Rinji seriously.
"Mr. Takamine, since you just joined the Kengan Association, you probably don't know about the three major factions within it."
"Huh?"
"Thought so. You're not aware," she said patiently.
"Kengan matches are essentially corporate warfare. Fighters may see everyone as opponents, but companies often form alliances based on mutual interest. There are currently three major factions in the Kengan Association: the 'Three Nobles,' the 'Four Dragons,' and the 'Society of a Hundred.'"
"The 'Three Nobles' are CEO of Sentory, Hashida Takashi, and Nentendo's CEO Kono Akio… and one other that went bankrupt during the Meiji era," she explained.
"I see..."
Rinji glanced at the still-unconscious Mokichi Robinson.
Nentendo's fighter had also been defeated by Akoya, which meant that all the Three Stars had already been wiped out in this tournament.
Togawa continued, "The 'Four Dragons' consist of four companies: Akano Tessaki of Byakuya News, Iida Tadashi of Yato Trading, Furumi Heihachi of Furumi Pharmaceuticals, and lastly, Nogi Hideki of the Nogi Group."
"…That weirdo with the eccentric fashion must be…"
"That's right."
Togawa's expression turned grave.
"Nikaido Ren, Byakuya News' fighter. So that means one of the Four Dragons has already fallen under Hayami's control. And finally, there's the biggest force in the Kengan Association—'Association of a Hundred,' composed of 100 companies. Their leader is Hayami Katsumasa."
"…A hundred companies," Rinji muttered thoughtfully.
"Looks like you realize how serious this is," Togawa said tiredly. "Take me for example. Aside from threatening my life, they had other tactics too. My company relies on disc manufacturing and licensing talent. If we lose access to raw materials or licensing, we're finished. The Association of a Hundred covers every aspect of Japan's supply chain. If they decide to sanction us, our company collapses and a thousand employees lose their jobs."
"I get the picture."
Rinji now understood how bad things could get. He was planning to start operating Amano Pharmaceuticals. If the Hundred Association came after him, the company might go bankrupt before it even launched.
Even if he killed Hayami Katsumasa, there might just be another leader to replace him.
Which meant the most cost-effective and efficient solution would be…
"Kill the upper management of all one hundred companies."