Saiyan stowaways on the Ark

Business alliances are very powerful for them.

But if she continues to fight now, she will face a far more oppressive and tangible force.

"Since the match has been postponed, let's go back first."

Zofia noticed the melancholy on that young face, but she didn't point it out. Instead, she suggested to those around her that they return home.

"I feel the only advantage of watching live is that it makes it easier to intervene and stop the attack. If it's not necessary afterward, it's better to just watch the live stream elsewhere."

Most of the audience members from Rhodes Island made this comment, and then immediately got up to leave.

However, out of politeness, they stopped to wait for Maria's family and friends who had planned to watch her match—the older generation of knights and craftsmen, who seemed not to have fully recovered from the shock of the previous match.

"Well... it's hard to admit that was a knight..."

The old knight Wald stood up, and in a calmer tone, he sighed, then added.

"Ah, I don't mean spiritual level or noble status or anything like that... I know very well that you must be upright people, otherwise you wouldn't take such a big risk to rescue the infected. I just had this feeling."

“Old man, I understand what you mean. It’s like when I saw the Blood Knight—stop worrying about whether he is a knight or not, the point is whether he is human or not.”

The old craftsman from Ursus chimed in.

This is merely a feeling of awe and confusion arising from "power".

It is so powerful that it makes people hesitate to approach, yet one can't help but wonder why it is so powerful.

"I have a feeling that a lot will change after this Special Championship..."

Martin touched his bald head and forced a smile.

Regardless of the circumstances, this lukewarm knightly competition is constantly corrupting the entire Kazimierz region, whether economically, politically, or even spiritually.

The struggles of individual knights or infected individuals appear far too insignificant in the face of large corporations and capital.

Kazimir needs a strong medicine.

And this potent medicine was taking effect right before his eyes.

"Change? You mean institutionally, or geographically?"

Thomas looked at the crater that, with just a little more force, would have shattered the entire arena and the city, and uttered a question that sounded like a joke.

The three Saiyans awaited their turn to fight, unconcerned about any obstacles, focusing solely on their own power.

The chosen operators on Rhodes Island are preparing for their first battle—they understand they may not have the same resources as the other three and need to deal with the covert interference from the Business Alliance, but none of them have the idea that they will lose.

Meanwhile, another group of people—the infected operators of Rhodes Island—are carrying out another mission.

[Main Text] Terra's World's Greatest Martial Arts Tournament: Debate Chapter 64 "Even If It's Deceiving Myself"

"Where's that older brother from before?"

With nothing to do in the arena, Tomat and the others temporarily separated from Maria and her group and returned to Rhodes Island first.

Upon returning, the first thing Thomas asked was where Mark, whom he had left in the cafeteria and then ignored, was.

It wasn't that they weren't responsible for his safety, but rather that Thomas felt the Rhodes Island mess hall was the safest place on the entire ship.

Fights occasionally break out in other places, whether it's the dormitory or the infirmary, but here no one causes trouble.

"Uncle Tomat, are you talking about that grumpy-faced Uncle Kuranta you brought back?"

Gummy asked Tomat without any malice:

"After watching Gohan's match, he said he wanted to 'calm down,' and I think he probably went to the deck. It seems like newcomers always like to go to the deck, I don't know why."

Guided by Gummy, Tomat did indeed find Mark, who was standing on the deck in a daze.

The barrier used to isolate the dense fog of Originium dust has been lowered as the fog dissipates, and a cool breeze, unlike anything found in the sweltering city, is blowing in Rhodes Island, located on the outskirts of the three major cities.

"Ah...you've arrived...I watched the match...but I still don't quite understand some of it."

When Tomat, a man who both intimidated and intrigued him, approached him again, he took the initiative to bring up the matter of watching the game.

Perhaps out of trust in Rhodes Island and not worrying about being attacked here, or simply out of wishful thinking that the Merchant Alliance would not continue to pursue him, Mark was positioned on the deck near the edge, facing the city of Casimir.

The building across the street wasn't far away; if possible, perhaps an assassin from the Business Alliance was hiding in one of the windows, waiting to snipe him.

However, his face now showed more confusion than worry.

Mark shook his head and continued in a confused and somewhat timid tone:

"No...no, I understand, I know what you mean. You mean 'If you become as powerful as that, you won't be at the mercy of others'—of course I know that principle, but...I...have no possibility of becoming that powerful."

"I was frail and sickly from a young age. Even in track and field, which the Kuranta people excel at, I always came in last among my peers in races. When I was very young, I dreamed of being a knight. I thought it was very admirable to see them wearing armor and adventuring everywhere or charging fearlessly against strong enemies on the battlefield."

“But I know I can’t be on the same path as them, so after graduation I chose to work in the industry that is closest to knights... namely the business world.”

"Perhaps I cannot personally reach the pinnacle of the knight's path, but at least I can help those who also harbor such dreams overcome obstacles. In that case, I can say that I have realized half of my dream."

Mark paused at this point while talking about his past.

"But even in the business world, there is no place for a naive person like me. So-called dreams are nothing in the face of other more powerful capital. I have watched one knight after another head towards destruction because they did not follow the rules they set. I was the same. One wrong investment, one misjudgment of the plan, and I went from a manager to a jobless person with heavy debts... and that was all in one night."

Tomat did not interrupt this man, whose edges had been smoothed out by the society of Casimir, as he reminisced about his life.

Surprisingly, there was no sense of regret, remorse, or disdain for his past self in his words.

Rather, it was more like his expression, filled with nothing but confusion.

“My talent made me give up my initial dream, and then the struggles in society completely extinguished my passion. Just when I felt that my life was finally starting to improve, I rose to prominence under the ‘will’ of others—and then fell to the bottom again.”

"As you can see, Lord Knight Cai..."

Thomas interrupted here:

"Just call him Tomat."

Mark hesitated for a moment.

“Okay, okay... Mr. Thomas, you should be able to tell that I am not some great man with amazing potential. I am just a nobody who was born destined to be mediocre or manipulated by others.”

"Even if I grit my teeth and participate in knightly competitions, start a business—or even be regarded as a 'colleague' by a truly important person, it's just wishful thinking on my part or something deliberately done by others."

"On the field, armor becomes more important than knighthood, and in society, people only respect a well-fitting suit. But perhaps there is no knight under the armor, and no important person under the suit. I have fully understood this."

Mark finished speaking, but Thomas remained silent for a long time.

When he looked at the other person in confusion, he realized that Tomat was now looking at him with an almost sympathetic gaze.

The two weren't that much different in height, but Mark's hunched posture and the way he looked at people from below made him appear to be a head shorter than Tomat.

"Goodness, I haven't even said a few words and you've already complained so much."

"Ah... I'm sorry, I talked too much."

Mark became somewhat flustered when he saw that the other party was about to criticize him.

"It's okay, I understand what you mean."

But Tomat withdrew that gaze.

"Anyway... thank you so much for your encouragement, but I appreciate your kindness, I know I can't become that kind of strong person."

Mark forced a wry smile.

In his eyes, Tomat, a person with whom he had no prior connection, was already kind enough.

It protected his life and gave him shelter, but more importantly, it allowed him to see the true nature of his surroundings. Now, Mark has a more open mind about many things and is no longer so emotional.

As for the lesson Tomat wanted him to understand—he knew it, but he couldn't learn it.

But that was still much better than Charlene's insincere "acknowledgment," in which he claimed to be talented but only wanted to use himself as a tool to win over the rookie knight.

"encourage?"

But Tomat looked puzzled upon hearing this, then said calmly:

"Who wants to encourage you, you self-destructive piece of trash? Don't talk about 'we are strong' as if 'you are useless' is a matter of course."

"ah...?"

Mark was stunned when he was suddenly scolded.

"You're just scared and lazy. You feel more comfortable as you are. Trying something new will only make you feel uneasy. You think, 'I've been through all kinds of storms, so I don't care about anything anymore'—that's shameful."

According to Thomas, Mark's resentment towards the unfair treatment he suffered, which he expressed under pressure in the bar, had completely vanished after he calmed down and reflected on himself on Rhodes Island.

He accepted his insignificance with equanimity, and after seeing the gap between himself and others, he "accepted" the injustice.

If you have absolutely no means to resist, why would you expect others to stand up for you?

That was his idea.

Mark didn't really take the phrase "change yourself" to heart, because he had denied his own potential from the very beginning.

So he didn't show any emotion in the face of Tomat's contempt.

With Charnet, he had two choices: one was to become a worker in what he called a business alliance, and the other...

He understood that the former meant becoming a puppet manipulated by others, while the latter meant remaining silent forever.

Out of fear of power, he forced himself to choose the former.

As for Tomat, he also has two options.

Either make changes that he sees as impossible, or continue down this path of decadence.

These two choices are different from before; they are not for the benefit of others, but to make him consider his own interests.

At least he can make his own choice according to his own wishes, so he tends to choose the more "comfortable" second option.

"...I'm sorry to have disappointed you, I...I..."

Mark is about to announce his decision.

And knowing that he had no reason to stay on Rhodes Island, he decided to leave.

Leaving meant certain death; abandoned by the business alliance and intended to be silenced, he had nowhere to go in Kazimierz.

But at least this time, it was his own choice to "liberate" himself after he saw clearly the true nature of business alliances and how powerless and insignificant he really was.

Being able to be "himself" before he dies is enough for him to feel free in the last moment of his life.

"Fear...dread...laziness, submitting to decisions imposed upon oneself by others, possessing a position that others dare not imagine but which one does not desire..."