Saiyan stowaways on the Ark

The rebellious knights, whose scheme to win them over had been exposed, chose to lend a helping hand in their time of crisis.

"Good and bad," "reasonable and unreasonable" are merely rhetoric used by Charné to force Marc to choose a side.

What drives them to make decisions is not so-called "justice," but "interests." And when they stop at nothing to achieve their own interests, any pretense is futile—and they are willing to use any means necessary.

Irreconcilable conflicts of interest make it inevitable for some to rebel against the system they have established, and they will also take any means to eliminate those who threaten their interests.

The insurmountable class gap allows them to anesthetize batches of expendable people to dedicate themselves to their "cause," or to be forced to do so. Among them are employees and knights.

"Ah...so that's how it is...I was so stupid...I thought they treated me like a human being."

During the meal, Mark showed more awe towards Ciarne, and even tried to absorb and understand his remarks.

When Charne said that "everyone is working hard for Kazimir," he was actually a little smug, feeling that he had some common ground with the big shots.

But now that hope has been completely crushed by the other party's ruthlessness.

"In their eyes, everything is just... a tool for profit."

Mark finally realized where his unease came from.

Because he had previously chosen the option that even self-hypnosis couldn't put his mind at ease.

Mark couldn't place himself in those lofty beings, nor did he fantasize that he could, like Charnet, impose his position on others after labeling things as "reasonable."

Because I was just a "victim".

As pawns who are at the mercy of others and can be sacrificed at will, are we supposed to put ourselves in their shoes and understand their reasons for doing so on a spiritual level?

To be a wise butcher who wants to make money, one should be considerate of butchers, even those who drive other fellow beasts to the slaughterhouse.

Each enterprise is a pack animal raised by a business alliance, and the knights are pack animals raised by each enterprise.

Bottom-up "consideration" and "understanding" are always seen as something to be taken for granted, and butchers naturally prefer more docile livestock.

However, in Mark's mind, comparing Charnet, or rather the higher-ups in the business alliance of capital, to a butcher is not enough.

They are even more greedy and evil than the nocturnal blood demons of the Sarkaz legends.

The business alliance is all-powerful, monopolizing the promotion of knights and controlling the economic lifeline. A single spokesperson can influence the development of several city-states through their control of enterprises.

Mark was chosen and excluded by such forces, just as he had been randomly selected and appointed in the past, but his heart was not filled with panic or despair, but with an undisguised resentment.

Despite being a Kuranta, his hands were unusually weak, clenched tightly as if he were trying to tear his own flesh apart.

"The Unarmored Alliance... they've overreached a bit." The old knight, Vald, also looked warily out the window. "Old man, bring me my bow! There can't be only one here!"

The sudden appearance of the assassin made the atmosphere in the tavern tense. People no longer focused on Mark, who was clenching his fists. Koval quickly took a weapon case from the garage at the back door, threw it to Koval, and shouted, "Who are you calling an old man? Watch your own hands!"

"Does Mr. Tomat always keep his aura senses on? I didn't even notice anyone approaching the window." Gohan also cautiously sensed the aura around him.

“You’ve been too complacent. Just maintain a certain level of vigilance normally…” Thomas glanced at Gohan, who had become less alert due to adapting to the “peaceful” life here, then looked at Mark, “What do you plan to do now?”

Mark released his grip, his eyes filled with confusion and unease once more. He stared at the window, unsure if anyone would appear again, and said, his lips trembling, "..."

“I…I don’t know. If there were any other options, they wouldn’t be here. They don’t value me at all.”

"I just wanted to be a regular office worker with no debt... Why won't they even give me that kind of life..."

They were despised, exploited, and forced to do things they didn't want to do.

The dejected and cowardly Kuranta man's powerless appearance made it hard for Tomat not to think of the past, though he wouldn't show it so easily.

"Are you planning to continue living like this, or are you going to make some changes?"

"Tomat asked."

"Change...? What can I change?"

Mark's lifeless eyes darted around.

He couldn't imagine what abilities he had right now.

Even if he realized the conflict between interests and positions, his personal epiphany could not become anything powerful. In Kazimierz, where public opinion was controlled by corporations, it was even less likely that he could make any appeals.

Their ideas could not be understood or disseminated by others, and their strength could not match that of those active infected organizations.

Their personal lives are also in danger.

The sense of powerlessness caused by various factors will stifle any signs of resistance in their infancy.

"Change yourself."

[Main Text] Terra's World's Number One Martial Arts Tournament. Debate Chapter: Chapter Fifty-Nine (and many more)

The little incident at the bar ended before Gohan's match even began.

Not many people knew what had happened. Occasionally, passersby could only see seven or eight ordinary-looking people lying in the garbage heap in the alley.

This scene isn't too surprising, because it's common for people to spend lavishly in Kasimir and then be unable to pay, resulting in them being severely beaten by shopkeepers and thrown outside, their fate unknown.

As for Mark, who was abandoned by the business alliance and whose life was in danger, no one present was actually obligated to provide him with personal safety protection.

However, he was still transferred to Rhodes Island because Thomas said the Doctor might be interested in the "insider information" this person possessed, so he was sent over as a gift.

However, even if Thomas said he spared his life because he was useful, everyone knew that if he really had any important value, he wouldn't be so easily silenced after saying just a few words.

This effectively provides a safe haven where one doesn't have to worry about being easily infiltrated or assassinated.

After all, "active protection" and "failure to rescue" are two different things.

Even setting aside Tomat's personal motives, this man whose fate was manipulated at will by big capital was just a pitiful person.

Moreover, at least in the end, he chose to acknowledge the irrationality of all this, and at the same time, he nodded in agreement with Tomat's words—"After watching our game, you'll know how you need to change."

After taking care of everything else, Gohan had already prepared his "battle uniform" in the players' preparation room.

With a dark green base and a black upper body, topped with a bright red cape, this outfit, which has been criticized by countless people for its poor aesthetics and even made a skilled tailor like the operator's blood pressure rise, is the "Saiyan Knight's" knight armor—although the armor part seems to only consist of that motorcycle helmet-like headgear.

But that doesn't matter. Some riders can compete shirtless, and female riders wearing bikini-clad rider armor are even more popular.

"History always seems to repeat itself uncontrollably."

Thomas looked at Gohan posing in front of the mirror and couldn't help but sigh.

So the reason that led to his unique taste was indeed something that happened when he was a child.

No matter what the future holds, Gohan will do something similar whenever he has the chance.

"What did you say, Mr. Thomas?"

Gohan looked a little nervous; this kind of large-scale event was something he had never experienced before.

Demonstrating martial arts skills and fighting others in full view of others was something that was only mentioned in the stories told by fathers or elders.

And the master who was unwilling to admit his defeat.

"I was simply awestruck by the wonder of history."

Seeing Gohan's eagerness to try it out, Tomat decided not to dampen his fashion sense this time.

"Everyone's waiting in the stands, so put on a great show, but don't be too flashy—you don't need me to remind you of that, right?"

"Haha, of course. Speaking of which, wasn't Mr. Thomas's identity exposed before?"

While reassuring Thomas, Gohan brought up what had happened at the bar.

Mark already knew the identity of the Rookie Knight, and there were other people following him at the time. Although they were all dealt with, some of them overheard Tomat's identity and revealed it to him.

If we go a step further, we might even trace it back to Rhodes Island.

"So what if we find Rhodes Island? Are we just sending them to their deaths?"

But Tomat also dispelled Gohan's concerns with his own judgment.

"There are a bunch of angry operators on the island who weren't selected. Going to cause trouble now would be tantamount to courting death."

Then, Thomas asked in a doubtful tone:

"Don't worry about whether I'll be exposed. Look at yourself. Just because of this title, anyone on Rhodes Island who sees you play will recognize who you are."

He called himself Saiyan, and then he became one-armed.

No fool could tell you're that refined and cultured schoolteacher!

“I think it might not just be people from Rhodes Island.”

When he said this, Tomath seemed a little confused, while Gohan looked rather smug.

"...Did you really travel to different countries wearing this outfit?"

"Alright, Mr. Tomat, just look forward to my performance! The match will begin soon!"

Gohan brushed off the skeptical looks with a few words, and Tomat also left the makeshift preparation room intended for beginners.

There will be no fans or media crowds outside the door of the unknown rookie knight. As for what will happen next time, it all depends on Gohan's performance in this game.

The generous Zoffy booked a high-class seat, not specifically to watch Gohan's match, but to enjoy Maria's battle against Surgek from there later.

Therefore, several acquaintances of theirs were also invited here.

Normally, only finely dressed wealthy merchants or noble knights would sit here, but today it has been filled with all sorts of unkempt "ordinary people".

"Is that gentleman really alright? He's wearing cloth clothing, and he's missing an arm..."

Maria, who spoke with concern, had seen Gohan's unique outfit earlier.

But she never imagined that anyone would actually wear that kind of thing to compete; it couldn't even be called "armor."

"If my opponent's equipment is capable of harming him, then I'll have to find the craftsman who made the equipment and have a good talk with him."

The anaconda, who had been invited, casually spoke about things she didn't believe would happen.

"I've conducted so many material strength tests on it, and not a single one has been satisfactory..."

Looking at the woman beside her who exuded a scent of engine oil that Maria quite liked, she couldn't help but ask:

"Strength test? You're a craftsman? A craftsman from Rhodes Island?"

If it weren't for her family's current situation, Maria would have preferred to devote herself to studying craftsmanship. The white bear Ursus man was her master, and as a former senior craftsman of the Knights, she had learned a great deal about mechanics and forging from him.

"Yes." The anaconda nodded. "You must be Nearl's sister, right? She mentioned you, saying you really like machines."

The anaconda turned her attention back to the arena, and her revelation of her identity made Maria even more interested in the things that had been mentioned earlier.

"So... Mr. Gohan can also, like that operator, block all kinds of attacks with his physical body alone?"