"What did you do? How did you get Allen-kun involved?"
In the hallway, the homeroom teacher asked Baki Hanma in a low voice, his gaze involuntarily drifting towards Allen, who stood beside Baki.
Allen's eyes were slightly red from a recent yawn, with a few tears still at the corners.
In the homeroom teacher's impression, this transfer student, who had only been at Tokyo Den High School for half a month, was a diligent student in class and exceptionally obedient.
Baki, on the other hand, was a notorious problem student at Tokyo Den High School. He couldn't understand how these two unrelated people got involved.
But looking at Allen's red eyes at that moment, the homeroom teacher's heart sank. Could it be that Baki had bullied the new student?
Although Baki was covered in injuries, who knew if he was the one who started it? The homeroom teacher secretly regretted not paying attention to the transfer student's adjustment.
Perhaps Baki had been bullying this new transfer student in some place he couldn't see.
"Nothing much," Baki replied indifferently, his hands in his pockets.
"Then do you know who's coming?" The homeroom teacher decided that after today's events, he absolutely had to have a serious talk with Baki.
"Sort of," Baki shrugged, his answer still casual.
Inside the principal's office, the bald principal was nervously looking at the short old man in front of him, fine beads of sweat seeping from his forehead.
"Having been a principal for so many years, I never expected such a sudden situation today," the principal said, rubbing his hands, his face full of fawning smiles.
"I never imagined our school would be graced by the presence of the esteemed Elder Tokugawa."
When the principal's office door was pushed open by Allen and Baki, Mitsunari Tokugawa, who had been sitting arrogantly on the sofa, immediately put on a warm, smiling face.
"Hello there, Champion," Tokugawa greeted Baki cordially.
"What are you trying to get at, old man?" Baki showed Tokugawa no respect.
"Old… old man!" The homeroom teacher and the bald principal beside them simultaneously gasped, their faces instantly turning pale.
Mitsunari Tokugawa, however, was unfazed. He simply slowly unfurled a fan emblazoned with the Tokugawa family crest and chuckled softly.
"Don't be so serious."
"Principal, could you please excuse us for a moment?" He looked at the bald principal and commanded in an unquestionable tone.
"Yes, yes," the principal and homeroom teacher bowed repeatedly, backing out of the room.
After all the extraneous people had left, Mitsunari Tokugawa curiously observed Allen, who had remained quietly standing beside Baki.
The young man's consistently calm expression made a glint of inquiry flash in his eyes.
"Baki, this person next to you is…"
"He's Allen, my friend, and a very strong fighter. These are his masterpieces."
Baki said, pointing to his injuries, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
Mitsunari Tokugawa's eyes immediately lit up at his words. His fan snapped shut with a "crack," and he leaned his entire upper body forward, carefully scrutinizing Allen.
Although this young man didn't look strong, that calm, placid gaze made his heart palpitate this time.
It was as if the young man's life-level far surpassed his own, an instinctive fear of a top predator stemming from his genes.
"Oh? A young man who can defeat Baki?" Mitsunari Tokugawa immediately stood up and walked around Allen once.
This seemingly frail young man was miraculously unharmed, a stark contrast to the heavily scarred Baki.
"He can injure Baki like this, yet remain completely unscathed himself?"
"Truly astonishing…" Mitsunari Tokugawa narrowed his eyes, gently tapping his palm with his fan.
Allen rubbed his slightly red eyes, his voice carrying a hint of weariness: "It was just a sparring match, a friendly exchange, not a fight to the death."
Baki grinned and interjected, "Old man, don't underestimate him."
His eyes sparkled with excitement.
"This guy is a monster."
A glint flashed in Mitsunari Tokugawa's eyes. He leaned closer to Allen, a kind smile on his face:
"Allen-kun, are you interested in participating in the Underground Arena matches? It's a place where strong individuals gather, and it's very helpful for improving one's strength."
Allen's heart stirred. The Underground Arena was indeed a good place to quickly improve one's strength.
Moreover, he could encounter more strong individuals, and perhaps find the abilities he desired.
"Sounds good," Allen nodded, agreeing.
"Excellent!" Mitsunari Tokugawa clapped his hands and laughed, then his expression turned serious.
"Tokyo hasn't been peaceful lately…"
"Five unrelated death row inmates, after simultaneously declaring their desire to experience defeat, collectively escaped from prison and headed to Tokyo."
"Do you know what this means?"
"So, they escaped from prison and came to Tokyo just to taste defeat?" Baki said indifferently.
"I'm telling you, Baki-kun, each of them is a strong individual who has killed more than 10 people in prison, a true Strong among the strong."
"This means they don't even need weapons for a death match, which is to say, they are all martial artists."
"That means…" A hint of excitement flashed in Allen's eyes as he exchanged a look with Baki.
"Exactly, they are all coming for Baki," Tokugawa said in a deep voice.
"In short, there's surface martial arts, based in the Underground Arena, and the criminal world, which is inner-side martial arts, based in the black market."
"To put it plainly, it's an all-out war between black and white martial arts!"
...On the streets of Tokyo, all electronic screens were continuously broadcasting urgent news.
"Death row inmate Spec, after killing a lawyer, successfully escaped from a submarine 200 meters underwater."
"According to the latest reports, the culprit has escaped after killing five security guards along the coastline."
"It's perplexing why five unrelated death row inmates would simultaneously target Tokyo?"
"Is it possible for death row inmates, who have been separately incarcerated for over a decade, to suddenly come to a unified decision?"
"Currently, the Police Headquarters and the FBI have launched a joint operation to fully respond to this urgent situation."
"Citizens can rest assured, trusting in the excellent crisis response capabilities of the Japanese police, along with the FBI's strategies for dealing with dangerous criminals."
...Tokyo Police Department, Detention Room 1.
Under the cold white light, death row inmate Spec lay on the iron bed in the detention room, his thick arms pillowing his head, a comfortable smile on his lips.
"Mmm~ comfortable," he squinted, stretching his body as if enjoying a vacation.
"The food is hot and the environment is good. Surrendering was indeed a good decision," Spec chuckled, muttering to himself.
"I'll temporarily use this as my base."
Meanwhile, in the second meeting room of the police department's detention management division.
A dozen experienced veteran detectives sat around a long table, their expressions all exceptionally grim, and a sense of oppression filled the air.
The projector was displaying the file of death row inmate Spec.
"Past data is completely useless, vastly different from the present," Police Superintendent Matsumoto said sternly, gritting his teeth.
He scanned the meeting room, his gaze sharp: "Please, everyone, be fully mentally prepared."
Matsumoto took a deep breath and continued: "Listen, from now on, don't treat this guy as a human. He's not like any type we've encountered so far."
"He's a monster!"
"A monster with a brain…"
The meeting room was silent, with only the hum of the air conditioner echoing. Everyone's faces showed tension, and they couldn't help but swallow.
"We will stake the credibility of the Police Headquarters! We must put this death row inmate on trial, even if it costs us our lives!"
"Raise the transport security level to the highest, and triple the number of surveillance personnel!"
Matsumoto finished speaking, slowly stood up, and closed the thick file book.
"Meeting adjourned."
On the projection screen, Spec was grinning, a cold sneer on his face, as if mocking the helplessness of these people.