Nash Gold watched Chihiro Mayuzumi's retreating figure.
"If you ignore his offense, that kid would make a good sixth man."
"But that's all he'd be. He's nowhere near as strong as Hanamiya and the others."
Zack ran an irritated hand through his hair and muttered.
"Shit. Next time, I'm shutting him down completely."
The corner of Nash Gold's mouth lifted.
"I'll guard him."
Zack froze for a moment, then nodded.
"Fine!"
Once the two switched defensive assignments, Chihiro Mayuzumi was completely neutralized by Nash Gold.
Chihiro Mayuzumi repeatedly tried to get open, but Nash Gold blocked his path every time.
There was nothing Chihiro Mayuzumi could do. The remaining time slowly ticked away until the final buzzer.
"Beep! The game is over!"
The referee blew the final whistle, and the score was fixed at 88-8.
Aside from the eight points they scored at the beginning, Team Strky had failed to score a single point for the rest of the game.
Taiga Kagami and the members of [The Generation of Miracles], who had been watching the game on television, all fell silent.
The Black Dragon Team had not merely defeated their opponents. They had openly toyed with them out of contempt.
And the ones they had humiliated were senpai who had always looked out for them.
Kenichi Okamura was the sole exception.
Atsushi Murasakibara was still in China, after all.
The only ones upset on Kenichi Okamura's behalf were Wei Liu and the others.
On the court, the members of Team Strky rested their hands on their knees and gasped heavily for breath.
Jason Silver looked at the exhausted players with irritation.
"Tch. That little was enough to wear you out? I haven't even warmed up yet!"
Nash Gold did not respond. He simply watched Yukio Kasamatsu and the others in silence.
Yukio Kasamatsu noticed them watching. He wiped the sweat from his face, struggled upright, and extended his right hand.
"Thank you for the match."
Nash Gold stared at Yukio Kasamatsu with a cold, indifferent expression.
As far as he was concerned, Yukio Kasamatsu and the others had used underhanded means to take the places of Makoto Hanamiya and the others. Naturally, he had no intention of treating Yukio Kasamatsu kindly.
Yukio Kasamatsu kept his hand extended while Nash Gold merely stared at it.
The atmosphere instantly became painfully awkward, and silence settled over the court.
Watching from the television, Ryota Kise clenched his fists, his face twisted with anger.
As the host, the male announcer naturally noticed the tension. He quickly raised his voice.
"What an incredible match! The Black Dragon Team's strength is truly overwhelming!"
"Let's ask the members of the Black Dragon Team how they feel after their victory!"
He jogged over to Nash Gold, raised the microphone, and asked.
"How do you feel after winning the match?"
Nash Gold glanced at the host in annoyance before answering in a flat voice.
"How do I feel? Are you asking how I feel after playing a children's game with a bunch of weak monkeys?"
"I don't know how you choose your players, but if these monkeys are the best you could find, then you should get your heads examined."
With that, Nash Gold turned and walked away, completely ignoring Yukio Kasamatsu's outstretched hand.
He did not spit at them as he had in the original story. Miyamoto Tokima's guidance had at least improved his behavior somewhat.
Just as the Black Dragon Team was about to leave, Kagetora Aida stepped forward.
"Hey, you brats!"
From the sidelines, Riko Aida watched anxiously.
"Dad..."
On the court, Nash Gold and the others stopped when they heard him and turned slightly toward Kagetora Aida.
Kagetora Aida suppressed his anger as he spoke, his face dark.
"Since you've already come all this way, why not stay a little longer and play one more game?"
Allen glared at him in irritation and mocked him.
"Hey, old man, who the hell are you? You tell us to play again, and we're supposed to obey?"
Kagetora Aida looked directly at them.
"I'm the person in charge of Japan's representative team for this event!"
The expressions of Nash Gold and the others instantly changed, turning cold.
Nash Gold stared at Kagetora Aida.
"So you're the one who chose these people?"
Kagetora Aida answered grimly.
"That's right!"
Nash Gold continued.
"Were they really the most suitable players available?"
Kagetora Aida did not think much of the question before answering.
"The players I selected were the best choices available at the time!"
That was technically true. [The Generation of Miracles] had all been traveling in China then, so these players had been the most suitable candidates available.
At those words, Nash Gold burst out laughing.
"The most suitable? Hahahaha! Old man, you really have no dignity for someone your age!"
Kagetora Aida had no interest in arguing any further. He swept his hand outward and shouted angrily.
"So, do you dare play another match?! If I lose, I'll pay with my life right here and now! But if you lose, you'll apologize to us, then find a raft and get the hell out of Japan yourselves!"
Nash Gold and the others exchanged glances before bursting into laughter.
Still laughing, Nash Gold asked.
"Hey, old man. You're the one who said it, all right?"
Kagetora Aida's expression remained completely serious.
"I said it!"
Nash Gold clapped his hands and smiled.
"Fine. I accept. But I don't need you to commit seppuku. That goes against the rules set by Tokima-san."
"If you lose, you only need to pay the fee Tokima-san established. Five hundred thousand US dollars."
That was indeed a rule established by Miyamoto Tokima. Their world tour generally only visited countries whose organizers had paid the required fee.
Normally, they played a single match. Additional matches were also available as long as the organizers paid for them.
Five hundred thousand US dollars amounted to a little over three and a half million yuan, or approximately seventy-six million yen.
Of course, Miyamoto Tokima still gave each country's organizers a chance.
If they could defeat the Black Dragon Team in the additional match, they would not have to pay the five hundred thousand dollars.
But accomplishing that was easier said than done.
When Kagetora Aida heard that losing would cost him five hundred thousand US dollars, he hesitated for a moment.
Then the image of a certain person appeared in his mind, and he decided to go all in.
"Fine! It's a deal!"
Riko Aida could no longer remain seated. She stood and looked at Kagetora Aida anxiously.
"Dad!"
Junpei Hyuga was equally stunned.
"That's five hundred thousand US dollars! Isn't he being too impulsive?"
Riko Aida spoke worriedly.
"Exactly! Where are we supposed to find anyone capable of taking on the Black Dragon Team?"
Junpei Hyuga suddenly paused as a certain group came to mind. Then he smiled.
"We... might actually have people who can stand against them."
...
...
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