"Otherwise, I'll just have to keep teaching you people a lesson until you understand what it means to give up."
Ryu froze for a moment.
He had considered the possibility that Ryuji might be a good person, but in his opinion, the chances hadn't been very high. He hadn't expected Ryuji to actually be a good person, and this made him feel quite relieved.
Moreover, he actually agreed with Ryuji's desire to protect the clones. It was just that those clones had neither minds of their own nor free will, and had all been brainwashed. On top of that, it wasn't his affair, so he hadn't interfered.
But now that a clone with her own will has appeared, perhaps things might change.
The only question is whether the Mugen Tenshin Clan would agree.
Ryu couldn't help but think about it.
He had already tested Ryuji's strength. Ryuji was somewhat stronger than him when he wasn't using the Dragon Sword, but if he used the Dragon Sword, then there would be no suspense in their battle.
However, Ryuji also give him a sense of danger, as though if he made a single careless mistake, he could be killed by Ryuji.
Ryu did indeed have such a feeling.
He was simply confident that he wouldn't make such a mistake.
"Mr. Ryuji, I didn't come here because of that. My purpose in coming here is to find out exactly what kind of deal you have with Mr. Douglas, and to make sure that you have no intention of harming this world. After all, with your strength, it would be far too easy for you to cause harm this world if you wanted to."
Ryu looked at Ryuji. Since a clone with her own will had already appeared among Kasumi's clones, he wouldn't interfere any further.
However, upon seeing Ryuji with his own eyes, Ryu felt as if he were looking at a monster even more terrifying than the Archfiend (Demon King).
It wasn't that Ryuji's strength surpassed the Archfiend's, but rather that there was some kind of terrifying power hidden within his body.
This power is chaotic and disorderly, filled with desire. It is a power even more terrifying than the Satsui no Hado!
Kasumi pursed her lips, gently tugged on Ryuji's clothes, and whispered,
"Ryu Hayabusa doesn't lie."
She knew Ryu very well, which was why she had panicked so much just now. But now that she had heard that Ryu wasn't here to kill her, she was relieved.
Ryuji gave Kasumi an almost imperceptible nod, then looked at Ryu.
"In that case, come inside and have a seat. Mai, prepare some tea for Mr. Hayabusa."
Ryuji made an inviting gesture. Ryu returned the gesture politely, then followed Ryuji into the Shiranui-ryu dojo, where the two of them sat down.
Mai quickly went to prepare the tea, while Cammy and Kasumi Shiranui knelt beside Ryuji, watching Ryuji and Ryu Hayabusa.
At this moment, Ryu also took the opportunity to observe Ryuji for a moment. Then his nose, hidden beneath his mask, twitched slightly, and the calm look in his eyes as he looked at Ryuji couldn't help but become strange.
Because he could smell the scent of multiple women on Ryuji!
So, he is actually quite the womanizer? Could it be an influence of the power within him?
Ryu couldn't help thinking about it.
"Hmm, Mr. Hayabusa, I want to know if you truly have no intention of pursuing Kasumi Shiranui."
Although Ryuji chose to trust Kasumi, since he didn't know who Ryu was, he still decided to make sure.
Ryu directly addressed Ryuji's concern.
"Of course not. I'm not a member of the Mugen Tenshin Clan, so as far as I'm concerned, whether it's Kasumi or anyone else, as long as I haven't received the corresponding request, I won't do anything. And the order I received was to kill Kasumi. So, may I ask you, miss..."
Ryu also wanted to make one final confirmation that Kasumi Shiranui truly possessed a will of her own, so he asked,
"Are you Kasumi?"
Kasumi Shiranui immediately shook her head. There was no point in getting hung up on Kasumi's identity, because she could never truly be Kasumi, so she answered directly.
"I am Kasumi Shiranui. Kasumi Shiranui of the Shiranui-ryu."
Ryu nodded in satisfaction.
"Then your affairs have nothing to do with me."
Ryu Hayabusa spoke naturally. In fact, when Hayate had asked him to kill Kasumi, he had already known that although Hayate didn't dare defy the village's rules, he didn't really want Kasumi dead either.
After all, if he really wanted to kill a rogue ninja, he definitely wouldn't have asked Ryu to do it.
"So, my main purpose here is still to find out why you, Mr. Ryuji, joined forces with Mr. Douglas, M. Bison and Rugal to organize the World Martial Arts Tournament."
That was still the question Ryu cared about most.
"To deal with the evil M. Bison in one fell swoop, and to eliminate the threat posed by Orochi."
Ryuji stated his purpose without the slightest hesitation. As far as he was concerned, there was nothing about his objective that needed to be hidden.
"Orochi? Indeed, I did sense Orochi's aura on Rugal..."
Ryu nodded. After confirming Ryuji's information, he relaxed a little.
However, he still didn't completely trust Ryuji.
"But why? As far as I know, you shouldn't have any deep hatred toward either of them, right?"
Ryu still wanted to understand Ryuji's thoughts a little better.
"Hmm, who said I don't?"
Ryuji pulled Cammy over to his side.
"M. Bison brainwashed countless innocent beautiful women and turned them into his killing tools. He also killed Chun-Li's father, one of my lovers. He and I have long been sworn enemies. I'm only cooperating with him to deal with Orochi. Even now, Cammy is still following his orders and trying to assassinate me!"
"Assassinate you?"
Ryu looked toward Cammy, while Cammy honestly nodded.
"That's right. Although I don't want to kill anyone, it is still an order from General M. Bison, who raised me, so I want to kill Ryuji. And after negotiating, Ryuji agreed to let me kill him by draining him dry through..."
Ryuji quickly covered Cammy's mouth to prevent Ryu from thinking he was some kind of pervert.
"....."
Ryu remained silent for a while. He looked at Ryuji, then at Cammy, and then at the slightly awkward smile on Ryuji's face before helplessly sighing.
"I understand. In other words, you're only using M. Bison to deal with Rugal, who is helping evil. But why are you helping Douglas? His company is..."
Seeing how Ryu had deliberately changed the subject, Ryuji now completely believed that this ninja held no hostility toward him, so he explained.
"His daughter Helena is very beautiful."
Ryu: "...."
~~~~~~~~~~
You can support me by subscribing on Patreon and read up to 20 chapters ahead.
patreon.com/Ranabir_20