In the darkness, the two stared at each other.
In Ren's red eyes, not a trace of emotion could be seen, as calm and unperturbed.
He seemed entirely unsurprised by this last visitor.
The other party's red eyes, however, were filled with a burning heat, as if concealing a flame that would consume everything.
The two moved with the precision of a planned script, simultaneously attacking each other's chests. Neither made any attempt to block.
Thump… thump-thump-thump…
After taking the blow, Ren stumbled back two steps to dissipate the force, while the other retreated three steps.
Without speaking, and utterly unafraid of any surprise attack, Ren began to take off his shirt, as if concerned about getting his clothes dirty later.
Ren's body, covered in scars and frighteningly muscular, looked even more chilling under the intermittent moonlight.
The other party did the same as Ren, revealing his own perfect physique beneath his clothes.
"Dragon, you are truly magnificent!"
Once everything was ready, the other party finally spoke his first words to Ren since meeting him tonight.
Kōenji tensed all his muscles, bent his arms, clenched his fists, and began to lightly bounce in place—the standard starting stance of Muay Thai.
Seeing Kōenji's posture, Ren adopted the same stance: "Lion, are you going to wade into this mess too?"
"No, no, Dragon. Kakeru Ryūen and his lot don't deserve to be called a mess. I came specifically to find you tonight." Kōenji threw a heavy, powerful punch toward Ren's face.
The instant Kōenji swung his fist, Ren used identical force and technique, causing their fists to collide mid-way.
The two used the same punching style and the same technique, exchanging blow after blow. The red light in Kōenji's eyes grew stronger and stronger.
At this moment, Kōenji began to recite the intelligence about the Katsuragi Family that his family had acquired through unknown means.
The Katsuragi Family was a lineage that had originated in Kyoto and established its power base in Japan.
Unlike other conglomerates focused on making money and expansion, the Katsuragi Family had only one goal for the country of Japan from the beginning until now:
To enter politics, attempting to control every crucial junction point in Japan.
The moment the Katsuragi Family marched into Japan, the United States took corresponding measures.
The Kōenji Family was the United States' choice for their entry into Japan, serving as a chess piece to contend with the Katsuragi Family.
However, the Kōenji Family—or rather, the United States—had misunderstood one thing...
Both believed that the Katsuragi family, like themselves, wanted to extract wealth. Therefore, the Kōenji family mercilessly squeezed Japan's resources.
It wasn't until Ren appeared, and they conducted a deeper investigation into Ren, that they discovered the Katsuragi Family's true goal: to assert complete dominance over Japan, ruling from Kyoto.
"Heh, Dragon. No wonder your Katsuragi Family looked down on the White Room back then… you are far more ruthless than they are." Trading a punch to the face with Ren, Kōenji wiped the blood from his lips and spoke gravely.
Kōenji, who cared deeply about Ren, had naturally also investigated Kiyotaka Ayanokōji, whom Ren was targeting.
All the information on Kiyotaka Ayanokōji, the perfect test subject from the White Room, was also laid out before Kōenji.
Comparing the White Room data with the Katsuragi Family data collected by his family, even Kōenji couldn't help but feel a hint of fear towards the Katsuragi Family.
Tossing all 12-year-old children into the mountains and making them live alone for one month. They would either emerge at death's door and be carried out by their family members as failures, or they would fight to survive.
This process continued until a truly qualified leader was chosen, a process the Katsuragi Family called "The Dragon's Ascension."
They were not only ruthless to outsiders but even more brutal internally—this was the Katsuragi Family's "breeding of vipers."
Those who "survived" under these conditions would "live" at all costs, at any time.
They learned instinct to survive, sharpened their claws to survive, and would stop at nothing to survive.
And Ren was the monster within the Katsuragi Family who ended the "The Dragon's Ascension" process.
It wasn't one month…
When he was still a child, Ren, at the entrance and in front of the family members, beat up the other fourteen family members who were supposed to participate in the trial, and walked into the mountain alone.
The beating was not to demonstrate his strength, but to take on all his family members' trials onto himself.
"Surviving alone in the mountain for one year and three months…"
"On the final day, he even returned to the original entrance."
Kōenji continued to recount Ren's past, while Ren's offense became fiercer and fiercer. Kōenji, who had initially held the upper hand, began to retreat and defend.
"Is this the source of your scars, Dragon!!!" Kōenji roared, punching toward the area where Ren's scars were most concentrated.
Taking Kōenji's blow without emotion, Ren returned a punch to Kōenji's cheek: "What exactly are you trying to say, Lion?"
"Heh heh… Several generations of the Katsuragi Family failed to assert dominance over Japan. Now, all that pressure has been forced onto you."
Retreating a few steps and giving up on further grappling with Ren, Kōenji twisted his neck, making a cracking sound.
"No wonder the people of the Katsuragi Family kept your files so tightly hidden, and why they are so fervent about you."
"Dragon, those boring adults truly raised you to be a weapon."
This was the purpose of Kōenji coming to find Ren today. He felt that Ren should not be bound by the pressure imposed by his own family.
Ren, who shared the same arrogance as himself, should be free, just like him!
Now, he was going to break the shackles on Ren!
Not rushing to attack, Ren stood in place, waiting for Kōenji to regulate his breathing.
Ren tilted his head, looking at Kōenji in confusion, and asked his first question of the night: "Lion, why do you think I'm bound by my family?"
Now it was Kōenji's turn to be stunned.
Sensing that Kōenji's breathing had stabilized, Ren began his offense.
"What exactly are you talking to yourself about, Lion…"
"They are my family, and whether they put pressure on me or not… that is the path I chose myself…"
"What do you mean by putting pressure on me… Kyoto is our destiny, what is wrong with wanting to fulfill that destiny with honor?"
"And I… will conquer all of 'Japan' as a gift with my family, and establish our supreme seat of power in Kyoto."
Quickly breaking free from Kōenji's attack range, Ren raised both hands and comfortably stretched: "Lion, is our warm-up complete?"
Understanding Ren's resolve, Kōenji said no more, changing to a new starting stance.
It was at that moment that Kōenji finally understood the inexplicable note at the end of Ren's file.
The Black Dragon of the Katsuragi family!
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