Super Fighting Tokyo.

"Two years ago, he became a member of the gambling club, and this time he returned to the country, claiming to be raising funds for terrorist activities. He may even be acting under the direction of that 'new force'."

"But I really didn't expect that he would say so bluntly that he had even set his sights on the Teiai Group, and that Chairman Hyodo didn't care about it at all."

"Those two are really crazy..."

Tonegawa rubbed his temples and clinked glasses with Shiraki, who was drinking cola. "Anyway, congratulations on successfully joining the Kengan Association."

Shiraki thanked Tonegawa, shook the cola until it was flat, and then gulped it down.

"Oh! Is it Coke without carbonation? I've only ever seen it on TV, that's amazing!"

Tonegawa was quite interested, saying, "It's said that doing this results in a very high energy absorption rate, and some marathon runners even like to drink it before a race."

He looked around again and suddenly realized something.

"Huh? Where did that girl who was with you go?"

"..."

Bai Mucheng finished his cola and casually said, "She thought it was too stuffy here, so she went to the deck to relax."

At the same time, Wu Fengshui's voice came through the communicator in the Bai Mu Cheng Er Cave, with a playful "I knew it" tone.

"Shiraki-chan, we were right, we can see it very clearly from the lookout tower!"

"There are people lying in ambush at the dock; it seems we're being watched too..."

Chapter Seventy-One: Forced Seizure

The Espoowaru cruise ship, top deck of the observation deck.

Wu Fengshui climbed up here early, took out the parts of a light sniper rifle from his backpack, assembled it, and then ate a late-night snack while observing the situation at the dock through the sniper scope.

Even though the night was dark, Wu Fengshui's eyesight allowed him to clearly see everything that happened on the dock.

Just as she and Shiraki Cheng had predicted—

A dozen or so furtive figures were lurking around the dock, seemingly waiting for someone's orders to make their move.

"..."

Wu Fengshui licked his lips and told Bai Mucheng his judgment.

"Judging from their stealthy movements, they should be 'professional' and no weaker than Q-Lang's mercenaries. They might even be armed."

"Even if we leave now, we'll most likely be watched, so it's better to settle this 'tonight'..."

"That's all. I'll wait and see how things develop. That's all."

……

……

Bai Mu understood and gently tapped the communicator in his ear to respond.

Beside him, the "Tonegawa Yukio" from the Teiai Group was clearly unaware of all this, and was still chatting with Shiraki Shigeki about the recent situation in the underworld.

"There have been quite a few fanatics emerging lately, and even the Metropolitan Police Department has deployed 'monsters.' The underground gray market is getting tough!"

Tonegawa lit a cigarette and glanced at Sada Kuni.

"Speaking of which, you can tell at a glance that guy is just like a 'religious fanatic,' the type who would absolutely lose control, making him a difficult person to entertain..."

Perhaps because their identities did not "intersect," Tonegawa and Shiraki were very relaxed when chatting, without the seriousness they showed when facing subordinates or the caution they showed when facing superiors.

However, as a mid-level manager at Teiai Group, Tonegawa's time to relax was destined to be very short.

"..."

At some point, the president of Teiai, Hyoudou Kazutaka, also joined Shiraki Sho's side.

He heard Tonegawa's words and peeked out, startling Tonegawa.

"President...President!"

Tonegawa immediately felt he had been rude and quickly apologized to Hyoudou Kazutaka for his actions.

Normally, if Hyoudou heard someone complaining about the work he was given behind his back, he would definitely get angry, but tonight he was in a great mood and didn't care much.

"Being targeted is something I can't help, after all, I am an 'emperor' in a high position."

Hyoudou glanced at Shiraki.

Although he was an old man with a full head of white hair and a messy beard, his eyes were very strong and he had an indescribable presence.

Or rather, those "special" people, whether it's Shiraki Sho, Hanayama Kaoru, Yoruhime Koichi, or Akagi Shigeru and Madarame Baku, all have different eyes, but they are all more special than ordinary people.

They're the type of people you can recognize at a glance.

“Sada Kuni is indeed a radical man. This time he entered the country to raise a lot of money, and he even has his eye on me—but I don’t care about any of that.”

Hyodo, leaning on his cane, said leisurely:

"There are too many crazy people in this world, and the higher your position, the more likely you are to be targeted by such people. This is unavoidable."

"However, no matter how crazy their actions are, their purpose remains the same. As long as we grasp this point, we can deal with them calmly."

"People like Sada Kuni—as long as they continue to strive for fame and fortune and satisfy their own desires, they will only be bound forever."

Hyoudou Kazutaka chuckled softly.

"To prevent that kind of person from 'rioting,' it wouldn't hurt to occasionally satisfy his 'desire for challenge'!"

"Ultimately, if there are no malicious people around you, you can't be considered a true 'emperor'."

After saying that, Hyoudou squinted and sized up Shiraki Sei.

"And what's your opinion, young man who's a member of the Kengan Association...?"

"..."

Bai Mucheng thought for a moment, then suddenly said, "You're sulking."

Hyoudou was taken aback. "Huh?"

Shiraki Cheng laughed and said, "You must have met with the chairman of the Kengan Association, Katahara Metsudo. However, you and Mr. Metsudo have different views on the same issue of facing 'challengers'."

"Old Master Mie Tang is simply someone who craves challenges, while you only want to be challenged but never lose."

"So, you're trying to spite him and want other members of the Boxing Association to agree with your point of view, which is why you took the initiative to talk to me."

Shiraki looked back at Hyodo and said, "From this perspective, you also need to satisfy your own spiritual desires, don't you?"

"..."

Hyodo was genuinely surprised by what Shiraki said.

He truly never imagined that a mere fighter would so readily refute him, the "Emperor."

But what truly infuriated Hyoudou was what Akagi Shigeru said next.

“Successful, Mr. Cheng did not say it completely.”

Shigeru Akagi glanced at Hyoudou and said with a faint smile, "You're not just sulking, you're also 'afraid' because you lack confidence."

"Hmm?" Hyoudou frowned.

Shigeru Akagi flicked his cigarette ash. "You're trapped in the so-called 'emperor' role, afraid of losing the support of your people, which is why you let Sada do whatever he wants."

"It's clearly their own territory, yet they're so hesitant and restrained. What else could this be but 'fear'?"

"..."

Seemingly having his soft spot touched, Hyoudou chuckled a few times at Akagi Shigeru, then changed the subject and turned to give instructions to Tonegawa.

"Hey, Tonegawa, the upper levels are the real fun tonight. We don't need to worry about the trash on the lower levels anymore. Go and call back all the people who are maintaining order on the lower levels!"

Tonegawa was taken aback by his words. "Huh?"

He had never heard Chairman Hyodo mention this plan before. Was it another impulsive, spur-of-the-moment idea? Or did he have other plans?

Hyoudou, too lazy to say more, urged, "Go quickly!"

"Yes."

Tonegawa had no choice but to bite the bullet and do it anyway.

Shortly after Tonegawa left, everyone else in the venue was asked to leave, leaving the space for the next "gambling game" that evening.

After negotiations, only four people remained in the large reception room: Sada Kuni and Akagi Shigeru, along with their respective gambling notaries—Meguki Kiro and Yagyou Hikoichi.

……

……

Led by the men in black from the Imperial Love Group, the rest of the group went to another hall to watch the situation in the reception room through a monitor screen.

Suedo Atsushi originally wanted to leave, but Hyodo insisted on keeping him entertained, and Shiraki Seiya also insisted that he stay. So, unable to refuse their hospitality, he decided to just relax for the night.

To Tonegawa's surprise, Shiraki Shigeki did not stay in the hall, but instead went downstairs with him, saying that he also wanted some fresh air.

On the way, in the ship's passageway, Tonegawa received a communication from his subordinate and informed Shiraki of the situation in the reception room.

"The game has been decided: it's a card game."

"But these aren't ordinary 'cards,' but rather special cards from the lower level—limited to rock-paper-scissors games."

"It seems that the plan is for our own people to go down to the lower level to get the cards first, and then send them up to the upper level, so that they can serve as the 'ammunition depots' for both sides."

Tonegawa rubbed his temples. "Anyway, once the upper-level gambling is over, tonight should be considered finished."

"..."

While listening to Wu Fengshui's communications, Shiraki Cheng was also listening to Tonegawa's words.

In his mind, pieces of the puzzle merged with his memories, and he eventually pieced together the initial truth about the ship.

"Sada Kingdom wants to take it by force."

Shiraki Cheng was answering Tonegawa's question, while also responding to Wu Fengshui on the other side: "He doesn't want to talk about the rules of the game anymore; he wants to get what he wants by force!"

Tonegawa was shocked.