The news about Mutou Judai defeating Himuro Ryo spread just as Erina had said. Ten minutes after the Kengan match ended, basically all Kengan Association members with any connections had learned about it.
Hayami Katsumasa, the head of Toyo Electric, saw that Totsuki seemed to have a new fighter and slowly furrowed his brow. However, when he saw the title "Tiger," he snorted.
"What an arrogant fellow... But if it's a newcomer like this, then what happens next might be very interesting..."
After all...
The fighter Toyo Electric had found this time to deal with the Wu clan was—Tiger Wakatsuki Takeshi!
Of course, Hayami Katsumasa naturally called out to his subordinates nearby.
"Keep observing for now, and investigate this newcomer... If we determine he'll bring unexpected complications to our plan—you know what to do..."
"Yes!"
This was Hayami Katsumasa's reaction, while Tiger Wakatsuki Takeshi, who had agreed to fight one Kengan match for Toyo Electric due to his relationship with his boss and uncle Furumi Heihachi, was clearly stunned when he saw this newcomer's title.
Then Kanai Kosmoss, who had given him this information, looked at Wakatsuki Takeshi with a subtle expression.
"Moreover, Wakatsuki-san... I investigated a bit earlier, and it seems the 'Tiger' title has already been trademarked by someone... You might need to change your name later..."
This...
In all his time fighting Kengan matches, this was the first time Wakatsuki Takeshi had encountered such a thing!
But after being bewildered for a while, Wakatsuki Takeshi finally regained his composure and continued his adaptive training.
"Let's leave it at that for now... Since he represents the Nakiri family in battle, I should have a chance to face him in the upcoming Kengan match between Toyo Electric and Totsuki."
Bang!
With Wakatsuki Takeshi's words, his fist directly burst the sandbag in front of him.
Muscle fiber density fifty-two times that of a normal person from birth!
This was Wakatsuki Takeshi's greatest weapon!
"—Kengan matches, once you've fought enough of them, you'll understand they're ultimately extensions of business warfare. If you've seen enough fighters, you'll discover there are those with ultrasonic devices implanted in their bodies, those who attack enemy wounds with poison, and even those with weapons implanted inside them."
"So Kengan was never meant to be a fair, regulated competition, and everything related to it is the same. Titles and such—naturally only the winner has the right to claim them!"
Compared to Toyo Electric's side, Nakiri Senzaemon, who had been paying attention to new fighters recently, was even more bewildered than Toyo Electric when he saw that Mutou Judai beside Erina was actually a powerful fighter!
Should he be lamenting Totsuki's good luck now?
He didn't know.
However, aside from these Kengan Association members, Mutou Judai probably wouldn't think that at the orphanage where he came from, the orphanage director named Mutou Yugi had also obtained this intelligence.
"Kengan, huh..."
The small-statured and already aged Mutou Yugi looked at this intelligence and sighed slightly.
"Although I could already sense you would walk a path different from ordinary people and would make a name for yourself sooner or later, I never imagined the first time I'd hear your name would be in such a place..."
Mutou Yugi thought for a moment, then glanced at the shadow behind him.
"Go contact that child Judai... Tell him to come back recently. I have something to discuss with him."
...
Great Universe Bar.
Erina was discussing the temporary ownership of Great Universe Bar with Okuya Ken, while Mutou Judai leaned against the wall outside the room, contemplating what Erina had mentioned earlier about truly becoming a fighter.
Honestly, regarding whether to become a professional fighter, Mutou Judai was still thinking...
Of course, his hesitation wasn't about using curses in Kengan matches.
After all, Kengan matches involving large sums of money were extensions of business—talking about fairness in business warfare was too ridiculous.
Otherwise, according to Erina's explanation, Tiger's dozens of times superior physical attributes would be extremely unfair to ordinary people, and such a person shouldn't compete.
Then there was the Wu clan that Erina mentioned—spending 1300 years cultivating genes and optimizing techniques. Speaking of fairness, such people were too much like cheaters.
Did it only count as fair if one's own side was the weaker party?
Mutou Judai wasn't like that ultimate saint in Baki who was brought into the underground fighting arena by Hanma Yujiro and got beaten badly after just a few matches.
Using Doppo Orochi's philosophy to interpret it—when dealing with fighters, you naturally use whatever abilities you have. I might find your abilities strange, I might suffer because of your abilities, I might be unwilling to accept it, but I absolutely won't feel unhappy.
But if you hide them and don't use them, then you're looking down on me, and you're insulting the word "fighting"!
Only those born high above would look down on others from above.
Mutou Judai looked at everyone at eye level, so forget curses—if he became a professional fighter, even if he drew even more outrageous abilities, he would use them.
In his view, not using them would be outrageous.
An ability that instantly elevated you to the status of a Celestial Dragon, making you ignore human possibilities and even feel you were an existence above humanity, needing to pity humans... such a person would be far too arrogant.
Of course... if principles were defined from a position of looking down on others, most would develop into the most shameless moral blackmail. Mutou Judai wasn't someone who liked to preach randomly, and these were just his personal thoughts. So if someone called him despicable or shameless, that was fine too—he was prepared for that.
—Because his personality was just that bad.
But he couldn't be sure this was really suitable for him.
Fighting Kengan, he was very happy when he stepped onto the fighting stage.
No matter what methods were used, as long as they were within the arena and not outside it, he would feel happy after defeating his opponent.
But he had fought too few Kengan matches.
He still couldn't be sure if he would continue to be happy. In such circumstances, if he signed a contract and later discovered it wasn't actually that enjoyable, he might waste over ten years.
That's why Mutou Judai was conflicted.
And while he was conflicted, two people walked toward him.
"Mutou-san, hello."
Shinomiya Kaguya, accompanied by Hayasaka Ai, came before Mutou Judai with a light smile, performing a simple social courtesy.
"I am the eldest daughter of the Shinomiya family, Shinomiya Kaguya—according to my investigation, Mutou-san, you're not currently a professional fighter, are you? I have a fighter contract from the Shinomiya family here. Would you be interested?"
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