Yoichi stared at the fax paper his assistant had just handed him, feeling a mix of disbelief and curiosity.
For a few moments, he genuinely wondered if this was some sort of prank.
IRW had actually formally proposed.
Not only that, but they were willing to secede in every condition he thought they would contest.
The match would be aired through Vox, which was alright since they are currently without a TV deal anyway (RedTV walked out after the contract ended because of NPJW's poor ratings and recent fire)
Who knows, after they win the Promotion Wars, they might even get a new contract with Vox.
The venue would stay neutral, which was fair.
And, most shockingly, Vince had given him the power to decide the match formats himself.
Leaning back in his chair, Yoichi felt a grin creep across his face, and he couldn't help but chuckle softly to himself.
"Were they really that scared by my message?" he murmured.
His assistant stayed quiet, intently observing his boss's reaction.
Yoichi glanced back at the paper again.
Part of him still found it hard to believe that Vince would willingly relinquish that much control. Vince Maston wasn't exactly known for giving up advantages easily. He had built IRW into a thriving promotion precisely because he had a good vision, that much Yoichi grudgingly accepted, both from Maston Holdings and IRW.
So, this could mean one of two things.
Either Vince was making a huge mistake.
Or Vince was so confident that the specifics didn't even matter anymore.
Yoichi's smile dimmed a bit at that realization.
He began tapping his fingers rhythmically against the desk, lost in thought.
Finally, he brushed the worry aside.
"No," Yoichi said decisively. "If he wants to play the generous card, then I'll take it without hesitation."
He rose from his chair and made his way over to the large strategy board that hung in his office, where match cards and names were already scrawled in marker.
Two matches stood out right away.
The champions from both promotions were set to face off against each other. And the same went for the women's champions.
Yoichi studied the board intently.
IRW had some advantages that he was reluctant to acknowledge. Their tag division had gained unexpected popularity lately, especially with the introduction of tag team championships.
Other promotions, like ACW and WF had followed IRW and set up their own tag team championships.
Teams like the Apex Predators, Steel Titans, Flashpoint Brothers, and Road Warriors were actually drawing in fans now than some other single wrestlers.
On the flip side, NPJW was all about singles wrestling and extremes. They didn't even have official tag teams, which was a point of frustration for him.
That disparity was annoying, but it wasn't insurmountable.
Yoichi turned to his assistant.
"Get me two wrestlers right away," he instructed. "I want the two strongest men we have. Have them compete with IRW's tag champions."
The assistant nodded quickly and started jotting down notes.
Yoichi continued to stand in front of the board, contemplating the match ideas.
This was no longer just about revenge.
It had evolved into something much bigger.
A clash of two fundamentally different wrestling philosophies.
IRW stood for spectacle—characters, heroes and villains, emotional stakes, storylines, and larger-than-life personas.
NPJW, on the other hand, embodied tradition, high flying and broken bones.
Yoichi could already picture the headlines.
A faint smile crept onto his face.
Maybe Vince thought this event would further legitimize IRW.
Perhaps he believed that putting both promotions side by side would elevate his company.
But Yoichi had a different perspective altogether.
Once the audience recognized the stark contrast between "real wrestling" and Vince's more theatrical style, they naturally leaned towards what felt authentic.
At least, that was Yoichi's goal.
He shifted his gaze back to the board.
The earlier matches had already been settled.
Champion against champion.
Women's champion facing off with the women's champion.
Tag champions squaring off against NPJW representatives.
But the final match needed something more explosive.
Something wild enough to grab headlines afterward for NPJW's final victory.
Yoichi suddenly paused his finger-tapping.
"A battle royale," he declared.
The assistant perked up instantly.
"Five men from our side," Yoichi elaborated, his interest clearly piqued. "Five from IRW. Elimination rules. Last man standing takes it all."
The assistant hesitated for a moment.
"Sir… Zen is fantastic in battle royales," he said cautiously. "But with his injury…"
Yoichi barely registered the concern.
"We'll manage without him."
The assistant looked skeptical but chose to keep his thoughts to himself.
Yoichi strolled over to the window, gazing out at Dodge while continuing to voice his thoughts.
"A battle royale brings unpredictability," he mused. "Crowds thrive on chaos. And they love a winner. We're going to deliver both."
He then turned back to his assistant.
"Get the formats sent to IRW right away."
"And the participants?" the assistant inquired.
Yoichi grinned.
"I'll pick them myself."
The assistant nodded, jotting down notes, though a nagging feeling of dread bubbled up inside him about where this was all heading.
Yoichi seemed too at ease.
Too self-assured.
And whenever Yoichi got overly confident, which was pretty much always, trouble was never far behind.
Still, voicing that concern would only provoke him.
Yoichi stretched out lazily before settling back down in his chair.
"And since I'm feeling generous," he said with a hint of sarcasm, "IRW can pick the date."
The assistant managed a small, forced laugh.
Just then, the office phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID and straightened up a bit.
"It's the builder," he announced.
"Of the arena?" Yoichi asked, keeping his tone casual.
The assistant picked up the call.
At first, he just listened in silence. Then, gradually, his face lost color.
Yoichi caught the shift immediately.
The assistant's expression tightened as frantic shouting echoed from the receiver.
"What's going on?" Yoichi asked, his voice sharp.
The assistant slowly lowered the phone.
"The police…" he said carefully. "They've halted reconstruction."
Yoichi's brow furrowed instantly.
"What?"
"They're looking into the recent arson."
For several seconds, the room fell into a heavy silence.
Then Yoichi's expression darkened.
"Why are they involved?"
The assistant swallowed hard.
"Apparently, someone reported suspicious activity related to the fire. They think it us related."
Yoichi's eyes narrowed at once.
"The police got an anonymous tip," the assistant continued cautiously. "They think NPJW might be involved."
For a moment, Yoichi just stared at him.
Then his expression grew even darker.
"What's the local precinct doing?" he snapped, anger rising. "Did they forget who funds them every month?"
"After the public brawl Vince Maston was involved in and how he was treated by the precinct afterwards, his lawyer lodged a formal complaint. That's why the local precinct is not doing anything."
Yoichi's face darkened.
The assistant quickly lowered his head.
Yoichi stood up abruptly and walked over to the window.
Below him, Dodge thrived under the city lights, but his mind was no longer on the Promotion War.
Yes he had spread the rumors, but he just wanted everyone to know it was a message.
He didn't know cops would show at the front of his house/
That frustrated him far more than the investigation itself.
Investigations could be managed.
Public perception was a much more dangerous game. (not that they had much positive reception left anyway)
Yoichi clenched the fax paper tightly before tossing it onto the desk.
"Find out who started this," he ordered, his voice low and intense.
After just a few days, IRW's latest show was already in full swing.
The arena was alive with excitement as thousands filled the seats, undeterred by the recent controversies surrounding the fire incident.
In the center of the ring stood Noah, microphone in hand, with Vox cameras zooming in on him.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we have an important announcement to make today."
The crowd gradually hushed.
Then Noah flashed a smile.
"Two weeks from tonight," he declared loudly, "Promotion War will officially kick off at ACW's Golden Bridge Arena!"
The place erupted.
Fans cheered wildly, and signs shot up into the air.
Some began chanting IRW's name.
Others looked taken aback that the event had been confirmed so quickly.
For weeks, wrestling forums and local discussion boards at bars had been buzzing with speculation. Rumors about NPJW's connection to the fire had spread like wildfire, even without any official proof, except for Yoichi's boasts.
And now, with Promotion War suddenly on the books, those suspicions were almost confirmed.
Noah let the crowd noise swell for a moment before continuing.
"And now," he said, "we're ready to kick off tonight's first championship match!"
The arena lights shifted dramatically.
Music blared through the speakers as Maya Hart made her entrance, the women's championship proudly draped over her shoulder.
The reaction was instant.
Some booed loudly.
Others cheered.
Maya brushed off both reactions.
"Maya Hart, the women's champion!" Irwin announced.
She strolled toward the ring with a calm, almost smug demeanor, clearly relishing the moment.
"And her challenger," Irwin continued, "the former champion herself… Tracey Prince!"