CHAPTER 110: THE SHIROKI NETWORK
Regardless of Doppo Orochi's sudden shyness, Hideki Nogi was completely paralyzed.
He stared at the one-eyed, bald man sitting on the porch mat, then at Ren Shiroki. When Ren gave a slow, confirming nod, the reality hit Nogi like a physical blow. This man—this old "fossil" in paisley shorts—was indeed the ** God of War**, Doppo Orochi, in the flesh.
Ssssss—!?
Nogi took a sharp, audible breath, his eyes nearly bugging out of his head. He was speechless.
What is Doppo Orochi doing here? Did he hear that Ren beat his foster son and come to reclaim the family honor? No... a man with the title of God of War wouldn't be that petty.
As Nogi spiraled, Doppo remained perfectly relaxed. He sipped his Oolong tea, crunched on a rice cracker, and waved a dismissive hand at the CEO. "Don't mind me. I'm just visiting a fellow seeker. Carry on with your corporate talk."
"Ah... right."
Nogi cleared his throat, trying to reassemble his professional mask. He turned back to Ren, his voice dropping to a serious, low register. "Ren-kun... have you ever heard of the 'Fang'?"
Ren gave a small, knowing smile. The memories of the Association's history flared in his mind, aligning perfectly with Nogi's words.
"The Fang of Metsudo," Nogi whispered. "True to his name, he is the ultimate weapon of the Association's Chairman, Metsudo Katahara."
"His Kengan record: 157 wins. Zero losses. He is hailed as the strongest fighter in the four-hundred-year history of the Association."
"When the tournament I'm planning finally begins, the Fang will be the final wall. I assume a man of your 'Might' would find that irresistible?"
Nogi's fingers tightened on his cigar.
"In short: I am launching this tournament to seize the seat of the Chairman of the Kengan Association. I am going to challenge the 58th Chairman, Metsudo Katahara. I am putting everything I own on the line to destroy him."
Ren paused, his eyes drifting toward the gate. He looked dazed, as if he were lost in the sheer scale of Nogi's "Madness."
Nogi took the silence as awe.
According to Kaede's reports, Ren had met Metsudo once before. He knew what kind of "Monster" the Chairman was. It was only natural for a newcomer to feel overwhelmed by the idea of a coup against the King of the Underworld.
"That's right. I'm going to war with Metsudo Katahara!"
Nogi patted Ren's shoulder, his expression full of steely resolve. "He may be a monster with an inexhaustible supply of 'Destiny,' and he may still be growing even at ninety years old, but I've made my peace with the consequences."
"Of course, that's my struggle. You just have to focus on the ring, Ren-kun."
Ren remained silent, still staring into the distance.
Nogi was about to continue—preparing to launch into a detailed biography of the Chairman and the specifics of the Annihilation Tournament—when a high-pitched, cheerful voice echoed from the sidewalk.
"Hoo-hoo! Little Arisa! I've brought some delicious treats for you~!"
"Hmm? Your yard is quite crowded tonight! Is that Nogi standing over there? Vibrant as ever, I see! Truly magnificent!"
Nogi spun around. His blood turned to ice.
Standing at the gate was the 58th Chairman of the Kengan Association himself—Metsudo Katahara.
Nogi had spent the last five minutes explaining how he was going to destroy this man. And now, the "Target" had just strolled into the yard with a box of pastries.
"Chairman?!"
Even a man as calculated as Nogi couldn't stop himself from shrieking like a startled bird. His eyes were wide with a terror that bypassed his corporate logic.
Metsudo Katahara is on first-name basis with the Shiroki family?!
As Nogi stood frozen, he noticed the dynamic.
Metsudo didn't treat Ren like a peer or a threat. He treated him like a casual acquaintance. The person the Chairman was actually here for was Ren's sister—Arisa.
For some reason, the high school girl and the titan of industry were chatting like old friends. They shared a peculiar, vibrating energy—a double-dose of high-level "Madness."
Metsudo lived by a near-blind faith in his own "Destiny," constantly testing his luck to see how far it would take him. Arisa, according to Kaede's notes, possessed an identical, almost twisted level of optimism.
Nogi had a dizzying realization: From a psychological perspective, these two are exactly the same species!
Metsudo ignored Nogi's panic and walked up to the porch, nodding to Ren.
"Forgive the intrusion. I was passing through on business and realized I had an extra box of high-end sweets from a client. I figured little Arisa would appreciate them more than my bodyguards."
Metsudo peered at Nogi with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "What's this? Were you talking about me, Nogi-kun?"
Nogi: "..."
Nogi: "...Haha! Of course!"
Nogi realized the board had changed again. The God of War and the Chairman of the Association were both in Ren Shiroki's yard. This property wasn't just a gym; it was becoming a nexus of power. He'd have to recalibrate his entire strategy.
"Don't worry about the 'Coup,' Nogi-kun! I'm looking forward to it!"
Metsudo tapped his cane on the deck. "To call for a Chairmanship Challenge, you need the backing of fifty members. You've still got quite a bit of legwork to do! Keep grinding!"
Nogi gave a stiff nod. "I... I intend to, sir."
"Relax! It's not office hours!"
Metsudo waved his hand, signaling his bodyguards to set out the pastry boxes. "I'm just here to eat sweets with the youth. Confident young people are a rarity these days. It's refreshing!"
As he opened the box, Metsudo's eyes landed on the bald man sitting nearby.
"Oh ho! And who is this? It's been ages!"
"Hahaha! I was wondering when you'd notice me, Old Man Metsudo! Ren-kun's network is quite the web, isn't it?"
Doppo Orochi hopped to his feet, dusting off his swim trunks. He walked over and gave Metsudo a massive, crushing hug.
The bodyguards lunged forward to intervene, but Metsudo waved them off with a cackle. "Stay back! If 'Tiger-Slayer' Doppo actually wanted to kill me, you'd all be dead before your hearts could take another beat!"
Doppo chuckled, releasing the old man. "I wouldn't go that far. It would take at least three seconds."
Bodyguards: "..."
"So!"
Metsudo took a seat, enjoying the high-end vibes. "Doppo, you want to fight a Kengan match? I can set you up with a title shot tonight!"
"Give me a break, Chairman," Doppo declined with a smirk. "The Kengan atmosphere is too rigid for me. I'm past the age of fighting for someone else's stock prices. I prefer the scrap in the Tokyo Dome—it's much 'Purer.'"
"I suppose you're right."
Metsudo took a pastry and handed half to Ren. His expression went sharp, the "Grandfather" persona receding to reveal the Ruler beneath.
"Since the legends are gathered," Metsudo murmured, "I should share the news I received this afternoon."
Doppo's single eye sharpened. "Quit the suspense, Old Man."
"I visited the estate of Mitsunari Tokugawa today—the eleventh-generation descendant of Mito Komon and the master of the Dome."
"He told me something... fascinating."
Metsudo tapped his cane, his eyes narrowing into slits.
"Gentlemen... have you ever heard of the theory of 'Synchronicity'?"
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