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'Grateful from the bottom of his heart for taking care of Kurogane Ikki?'
Ryoji was stunned for a moment, completely unable to understand what this middle-aged man was thinking. His instructions to Mamoru Akaza to "handle" Kurogane Ikki clearly demonstrated his deep antipathy toward his son. So why express gratitude?
After all, Ryoji had completely sabotaged his plans and thwarted his intentions.
Theoretically, even if Kurogane Gen now wanted to make trouble for him or even take action against him, it wouldn't be surprising at all.
Since he couldn't figure it out, Ryoji decided to ask directly.
"Why would you thank me if you dislike Ikki?"
Kurogane Gen paused briefly, then shook his head.
"That's the second misunderstanding. I don't hate Ikki."
'Who are you trying to fool?'
'If you don't dislike him, why would you allow your subordinates to torment your own son like that?'
Ryoji had later learned from Kurogane Ikki himself that during his imprisonment at the League Branch, he had been treated like a common criminal—no, worse than a criminal. At least modern society's prisoners weren't subjected to torture and drugging.
Seeing Ryoji's skeptical expression, Kurogane Gen paused, deep in thought.
"Nangou-san, I don't know what you think of me, but I truly harbor no ill will toward Ikki. After all, he's my son. It's simply that Ikki and I have chosen diverging paths."
"Your path?"
"Exactly." Kurogane Gen nodded calmly.
"As Branch Leader of the Japan Branch, I have a duty to maintain domestic social order and security, especially within the Blazer Society. There are far too many individuals with reckless ambitions."
This was undeniable.
Although ordinary people committed more crimes in sheer numbers, the probability of Blazers committing crimes remained significantly higher.
After all, the ancient saying still held true: "The martial arts disrupt the law." Once people gain power, they easily stray from the righteous path.
Blazers typically possess power far exceeding that of ordinary people, and their crimes often result in greater casualties.
However, Ryoji's understanding clearly differed from Kurogane Gen's.
"I must maintain order among the Blazers. Therefore, exceptions like Ikki cannot be tolerated."
"?"
Ryoji was starting to get confused.
"The Blazer Society, and even society as a whole, maintains its clear order because people understand the difference between strength and weakness. Knowing their own weakness prevents them from foolishly challenging the strong or clinging to what they shouldn't have."
Kurogane Gen's tone was mechanical, devoid of any emotion.
"For example, the League doesn't treat F-Rank Blazers as true Blazers. Instead, they're regarded as ordinary people. Knowing their own weakness, these Blazers won't stubbornly try to enter the Blazer world. Instead, they willingly accept their place among the common masses."
"But what if they knew there was an F-Rank Blazer who broke this convention, rising from weakness to become a powerful Blazer Knight? What would happen then?"
Kurogane Gen paused briefly before continuing, "It would ignite an inappropriate ambition within them. They would see this person as a role model, convincing themselves that they too could achieve the impossible, and would inevitably try to imitate their success."
Indeed.
If Kurogane Ikki were to become a powerful Blazer, he would undoubtedly become a beacon of hope for countless F-Rank Blazers, inspiring them to strive beyond mediocrity.
"So?"
"It would disrupt the established Blazer order," Kurogane Gen replied. "When those lacking true strength forcibly pursue what they cannot rightfully obtain, the only outcome is chaos, devoid of any benefit."
Ryoji was momentarily stunned into silence.
"So, the reason you targeted Kurogane Ikki was because he might become a role model for F-Rank Blazers?"
"Exactly."
Kurogane Gen nodded firmly.
"He's inherently talentless. If that's the case, he should simply do nothing. At least then he'd be contributing to society by not causing trouble. If he ever achieves success, it would only spark chaos."
'If you lack talent, do nothing.'
This was Kurogane Gen's expectation for his son, Kurogane Ikki.
No, it wasn't even an expectation.
For Kurogane Ikki, who aspired to walk the path of the knight, this was the greatest despair imaginable.
"...Have you ever said this to Kurogane Ikki?" Ryoji asked.
"Yes, two days before your duel with him."
"So that's how it is... Heh, no wonder he said his heart had been broken by his own father."
Ryoji let out a bitter, mocking laugh.
On the day the competition began, Kurogane Ikki had indeed said those words.
Only later, Stella, Kurogane Shizuku, and the others pieced his shattered heart back together, giving him new motivation to strive forward.
Ryoji didn't know what Ikki truly thought of his father.
However, Ryoji knew exactly how he felt about Kurogane Gen.
"Your name suits you perfectly—ruthlessly strict with everyone, not even sparing your own son."
Ryoji let out a long sigh.
"Let me be blunt: I loathe you on a visceral level."
His words were utterly impolite, completely disregarding Kurogane Gen's status as the League's Branch Leader and openly expressing his disgust.
"What do you mean?"
Kurogane Gen's eyes flickered slightly.
Even after being confronted with such blatant animosity, he showed no sign of anger.
Ryoji began to understand.
This man wasn't devoid of emotions; rather, he had deliberately turned himself into a machine, suppressing his inner feelings to maintain order.
For the sake of order, he would sacrifice even his own son, even if it meant branding him with disgrace.
"To be honest, I've hated you from the start. Back then, I simply thought you were a terrible person, even oppressing your own son."
Ryoji recalled how the legal loli had instantly seen through his anger when he was training at the forest plaza.
"Now that I finally understand the truth, I hate you even more. I originally thought you despised your son because of the Kurogane Family's reputation, and that's why you went to such lengths to persecute him. But I never imagined that you didn't actually hate him and yet still actively chose to persecute him."
This was even more infuriating to Ryoji than if they had been enemies from the start, locked in a deadly feud.
Because they had the potential for a harmonious relationship, yet you deliberately chose persecution.
"I refuse to discuss such twisted logic. 'The strong always dominate, the weak always submit' is the philosophy I loathe most. Your warped sense of order only fills me with disgust."
Ryoji completely lost any desire to continue the conversation.
"If you summoned me here solely to thank me, then there's no need. I don't want your gratitude, and you shouldn't bother thanking me."
With a cold expression, he stood up and strode out of the conference room without looking back.
(End Of This Chapter)