Chapter 340: The Kengan Lunatics, and Yumiko's Defenses Breached Once More
Courage paused, gathering her thoughts before speaking in a measured tone. "First, let's establish what 'Kengan' is. To put it simply, Kengan Matches are competitions held when major corporations find themselves in irreconcilable disputes over business, resources, or territory."
She continued, her voice low and serious. "Each side hires a powerful martial artist to fight on their behalf. These fighters are called Combatants. And because Kengan Matches are a form of underground combat, the rules are… severe. It is permissible for Combatants to kill or permanently cripple one another during a match. Of course, the fallout from such an outcome is something the employers on both sides must resolve privately."
Sora's face went pale. "Kill… kill?!" she whispered, her voice trembling.
Yumiko's expression was also one of disbelief. "Such competitions actually exist? Surely not many people would participate, would they? After all, even if the Combatants have some semblance of a conscience and refrain from killing, injuries must be incredibly common."
Courage shook her head, a grim set to her lips. "Quite the opposite. To date, a vast number of corporations have registered as members of the Kengan Association. This system isn't just limited to Japan; it's a tacitly accepted method for resolving disputes worldwide. Many entrepreneurs and martial artists are absolutely fanatical about it."
Yumiko's brow furrowed slightly. "But if that's the case, wouldn't it cause a massive stir in the news?"
"No, it wouldn't. As you guessed, fatalities are generally avoided, and the combined influence of these corporations is immense enough to suppress any leaks. Now, as for the event being held this time… it's the Kengan Annihilation Tournament, the most insane competition within the entire Kengan framework."
"Insane?" The word echoed from four different voices at once.
Courage's expression darkened. "Exactly. This tournament requires the joint organization of fifty member corporations of the Kengan Association. It's triggered when a member challenges the current chairman for his position, which is why it's also known as the Chairman Scramble."
Lucifer tilted her head, a curious glint in her eyes. "That doesn't sound so extreme. Just a tournament to decide a leader. Why call it insane?"
Courage shook her head again. "First, while it's organized by fifty corporations, well over a hundred typically participate, meaning over a hundred Combatants. The entry condition is membership, but it's not a casual affair. Each participating corporation must pay a fee of five billion Japanese yen., if the corporation that initiated the challenge fails, it must immediately dissolve and declare bankruptcy."
Yumiko gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. "This… this is completely staking their entire corporate fortune on the fists of a single fighter. What about the other participants? What happens if they lose?"
"If they lose, they're simply out," Courage explained. "But the Annihilation Tournament has a brutal culling process. Although many corporations enter, a maximum of thirty-three—and often far fewer—make it to the main event."
She leaned forward, her voice dropping. "Aside from the top twenty-eight seeded corporations, all remaining participants are confined to a massive arena on a separate ship for a preliminary round. It's a no-holds-barred free-for-all. By sunrise the next day, a maximum of five Combatants can remain standing. If more than five are still able to fight by the deadline, they are all eliminated."
Yumiko stared, her face a mask of horror. "That… that's no different from a gladiatorial beast fight…"
Courage nodded grimly, then let out a soft sigh. "It's an incredibly intense world. The WGO, however, has never had to engage with it. As the sole international organization of our kind, our status places us above such conflicts."
Lucifer nodded slowly, processing the information. "Looking at it that way, it really is completely insane… A gathering of fighting fanatics risking their lives… I can't even begin to picture what that scene must be like… But who exactly is this Katahara Metsudo?"
"He is the owner of the largest bank in the East and the current chairman of the Kengan Association," Courage supplied. "His strongest Combatant is known as the 'Fang of Metsudo,' and his personal bodyguards, called the Guardians, are all said to possess monstrous levels of strength."
Yumiko let out a long, troubled sigh. "I never imagined Ren would be involved in something like this… I can't picture him fighting at all."
Sora nodded vigorously in agreement.
Lucifer, however, thought for a moment. "Cerberus and I have seen it, though. He was fighting that man named Kure Raian, right at the shop's entrance. Honestly… watching him, it was impossible to believe he was human."
Under Yumiko's intensely curious gaze, Lucifer recounted the events of that day—the blur of motion, the shocking power, the casual way Ren had handled a seemingly unstoppable opponent. When she finished, Yumiko simply sighed again. "I see. And yet, I still don't understand."
Lucifer shrugged. "I suppose only Ren can truly explain it. But no matter what, Rindou and Kirari both said that Ren is the 'White Butler' who has never lost a single match."
"White Butler?"
Lucifer nodded, a hint of helplessness in her gesture. "It's like Kaolan's 'The Thai God of War,' or the 'Fang of Metsudo'—they're all titles. You can think of them as epithets, I guess."
Yumiko nodded, propping her chin on her hand as she leaned on the table. A confused look crossed her face. "I understand what you're saying, but why does Ren have a title like that? Both 'The Thai God of War' and 'Fang of Metsudo' have clear explanations. What's the story behind 'White Butler'? Is Ren actually a butler?"
"I don't know," Lucifer admitted with a shake of her head. "I didn't ask. But I'm sure we'll find out eventually. None of that is important right now. Speaking of which, Yuko, did you give that thing to Sora?"
Sora, who had been listening intently, blinked in surprise.
Yumiko took a moment to recall. "Ah! I remember now. I went to the store earlier and bought more of that incense you liked, Sora. It's in the pink bag in my room. Go ahead and get it."
"Eh? Okay!"
Sora's face lit up. She truly loved the scent of that particular incense. She immediately set her phone down and hurried upstairs.
With a soft sigh, Yumiko stretched languidly, her graceful, statuesque figure arching in a way that made Courage watch with open admiration.
"Yuko, what are your plans for tomorrow?" Courage asked.
"Tomorrow?" Yumiko considered it. "Uh… I don't know. I don't have any other clothes to wear. How can I possibly go out?"
It was only then that the others truly noticed she had been wearing the same elegant formal dress and high heels all day.
Courage's eyes widened. "It's amazing you haven't collapsed from exhaustion, Yuko… If I wore a dress and heels for an entire day, I'd probably die on the spot."
Yumiko sighed softly. "It's alright. The dress wasn't constricting, but my feet are quite tired. Still, I can't very well walk around outside in a formal gown and slippers, can I? One's image is still very important. It's not like I'm at home, after all."
Lucifer's lips curled into a playful smirk. "Yuko, you're using the word 'home' very skillfully now."
Yumiko paused, then a gentle smile touched her lips. "Because it's the only word that fits."
"No," a calm voice corrected from behind her. "It's because there are family members here. And because there's a future here."
Yumiko froze. She turned her head slowly and saw Ren standing there, holding a bowl of freshly prepared fruit salad. He had appeared without a sound.
She looked up at him, her expression unreadable. Ren simply met her gaze with a placid smile.
"Yuko, even if you look at me like that, I'm not going to feed you."
A faint blush rose on her cheeks. "Who wants you to feed me?!"
"Hmm, that's good, then."
"Hmm… Hmm?! What is that supposed to mean?!"
"It means nothing."
"You mean nothing by it in every sense of the word?"
"Precisely."
Yumiko had to admit, she had once again been thoroughly provoked by this infuriatingly charming man she now called the head of her household. In some ways, this man was even more devious than Clow Reed.
Devious in every single sense of the word.
Someone, please define the limits of his audacity
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