"Geese... has changed." Mr. Big's expression turned grave.
"About half a year ago, before the KOF tournament invitations went out, Geese mysteriously disappeared for a while. When he reappeared, his strength had undergone earth-shaking changes."
"According to intelligence from my moles planted near him, Geese seems to have obtained a power that doesn't belong to humans through some mysterious channel!"
"That power is filled with evil and ominous energy. Anyone infected by it experiences explosive growth in strength, but also becomes more violent and bloodthirsty. Billy Kane is a prime example."
"My people risked their lives to steal a fragment of research documents from Geese's secret laboratory."
As he spoke, Mr. Big produced a folded, slightly charred piece of paper from inside his jacket and handed it to Cloud.
Cloud accepted the paper and slowly unfolded it.
On it, scrawled in German, were several lines of text. A few words had been heavily circled in red pen—
"Blood of the Divine Tribe!"
"Riot of the Blood!"
The instant Cloud saw these words, his pupils contracted sharply!
Riot of the Blood!
So that's it!
He finally understood why Geese's power carried that ominous, corrosive aura!
This guy had gotten himself tangled up with the Divine Tribe!
In the KOF worldview, "Riot of the Blood"—also known as "Blood of the Divine Tribe"—was another name for the Hakkesshu bloodline.
And the Hakkesshu were the most loyal servants of Orochi!
Their bloodlines contained a trace of diluted but extremely violent "Orochi power"!
If someone couldn't control this power, they would enter a state of "Blood Riot"—strength skyrocketing, but becoming utterly berserk!
The most classic examples were Iori Yagami and Leona in later arcs.
So Geese somehow got his hands on Hakkesshu blood and... transplanted it into himself. Cloud's mind quickly pieced together the cause and effect.
This guy would really do anything and "graft" anything onto himself in pursuit of power!
"Well, Mr. Cloud?" Mr. Big observed Cloud's suddenly serious expression, knowing his "bargaining chip" had done its job. "Was this intelligence valuable enough?"
"Geese has grand ambitions—he won't be satisfied with just South Town. Once he fully digests that divine power, his next target might be... the entire world!"
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend. We join forces, take down Geese, and then—we split South Town's underground world between us!" Mr. Big's eyes glinted with greed as he dangled what he believed was an irresistible offer.
However, after hearing his "passionate" pitch, Cloud simply smiled faintly.
He casually tossed the paper containing the earth-shattering secret onto the stone table, then picked up the now-cold cup of "biological weapon" goji tea and took a light sip.
"Deal."
Cloud stood and extended his hand to Mr. Big.
"Looking forward to working with you."
Two hands representing South Town's "old era" and "new era" clasped firmly together in that moment.
"I invite you to my Jazz Club for detailed discussions, Mr. Cloud!"
"After you."
A massive storm that would overturn South Town's entire power structure had officially begun.
...
The rooftop of the Jazz Club. The night breeze was cool.
Cloud and Mr. Big—two titans representing South Town's "new era" and "old era" respectively—had just concluded their fragile, calculation-filled "Anti-Geese United Front."
The air carried the mellow scent of whiskey and an aroma called "conspiracy."
Mr. Big had put his sunglasses back on, resuming his "Godfather" demeanor of having everything under control.
He raised his glass toward Cloud with a businessman's standard smile.
"Then, to our upcoming great partnership, and to South Town's bright future—cheers."
"To peace in South Town." Cloud also raised his glass, a meaningful curve at the corner of his lips.
However, just as the two glasses were about to clink together, symbolizing the official activation of their "contract"—
Everything changed in an instant!
An indescribable aura of terror—like that of a medieval dark lord, full of majesty and oppression—descended without warning from above!
VWOOOM—!!!!
The air across the entire rooftop seemed to be sucked away in that instant!
The mellow jazz music from the bar below cut off abruptly.
The clamor from the streets seemed to have a mute button pressed.
Even the bright moon in the sky appeared to dim under this overwhelming presence!
Mr. Big's face, which had maintained its composure throughout, twisted into an expression of absolute horror!
The glass in his hand cracked—crushed into fragments by an invisible pressure!
"This... this aura is...?!" He cried out in shock.
Cloud, meanwhile, slowly set down his glass and raised his head to look toward the edge of the rooftop.
His expression turned deadly serious, but more than that, there was... the excitement of meeting a worthy opponent!
At the building's edge, a figure massive as a mountain, radiating explosive power, had appeared at some point without anyone noticing.
He wore magnificent golden armor like an ancient emperor's battle dress, with a crimson cape that billowed in the night wind.
His golden mane of hair, like a lion's, cascaded wildly behind him.
That face—with features as sharply defined as an ancient Greek sculpture—bore an absolute arrogance that regarded no hero under heaven as his equal!
He simply stood there, as if he were the only king beneath this night sky!
...
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