Chapter 381: Kurayoshi Rino's Secret and Tricking the Kure Patriarch
Hiyama Shunka couldn't dispel the shadows of her past or the chasm of disparity so quickly, but she was undeniably feeling much better. The most crucial point, however, was her earlier attempt to hire Ren as her corporate fighter, a proposal that had been unanimously shot down. Now, she simply sat in silence, picking at her meal without another word.
Ren observed this and offered a comforting smile. "Don't worry, Miss Hiyama. With Miss Kurayoshi here, you probably won't have many opportunities to participate in Kengan matches anyway."
Kurayoshi Rino waved a dismissive hand. "Sorry, Ren, but you're wrong this time. I've already dismissed all my fighters. Companies at the top of the ladder rarely need to settle business disputes anymore. Maintaining the current status quo is a full-time job in itself."
Sōryūin Shion chimed in, her tone laced with playful curiosity. "Oh? Rino, you actually let go of your fighters? That's quite the surprise."
"Sōryūin Shion! That's enough!" Rino snapped, her cheeks flushing slightly. "You know exactly what's going on!"
Shion let out a theatrical sigh. "And what good does it do if I know? It's not like you have any interest in me. Wait a moment… that ability of yours… never mind."
A muscle in Kurayoshi Rino's jaw twitched. She turned her glare back to Ren. "That sentence you said just now! You knew what I was thinking, didn't you! I'm not that kind of person!"
Lucifer watched, momentarily stunned. It seemed there was a hidden story here, a significant secret, but his intuition told him it likely had nothing to do with the shopkeeper himself.
Hiyama Shunka, equally bewildered, quickly reached out and took Rino's hand, a silent gesture of support. Rino's breathing slowly evened out. Ren simply smiled, unperturbed. "Of course, I know. But… let's eat first. The dishes are all served."
Rino gave a curt nod and said no more.
"I feel like taking a day off today was the absolute right decision," Shion murmured, thoroughly enjoying the drama.
Kurayoshi Rino shot Shion a venomous look before her eyes landed on Ren, who was eating with quiet focus. She remained silent, deciding to pretend she had heard nothing and lowered her head to concentrate on her meal.
"Those fighters you saved should be very grateful to you," Ren said quietly, not looking up from his bowl.
"Eh? Ren! I knew it!" Rino's head snapped up. "You definitely knew!"
Ren naturally knew Kurayoshi Rino's true identity. She was the daughter of Hayami Katsumasa, the ambitious chairman of Toyo Electric Power who was plotting a rebellion within the Kengan Association. But Rino had not sided with her father; instead, she operated as a free agent, a member of the association in her own right.
Compared to Hayami, whose face was grim enough to frighten ghosts, Kurayoshi Rino was a stunning beauty. Her personality was far gentler and more playful than the other hardened corporate heads. However, her charm was a weapon in itself. A few well-placed words from her could inspire her fighters to battle to the death. She was always generous with her praise and encouragement, leading her combatants to believe that if they just kept winning, they could one day win her heart as well.
But it was never that simple. She never saw them as mere pawns, but she also maintained a clear employer-employee relationship. Any man who thought they could possess her was simply deluding himself.
A terrifying rumor, however, clung to her like a shroud: her fighters could not lose. They could not afford to lose. Victory meant a chance at winning the beauty; defeat meant disappearing without a trace. While no one had ever won their way to her side—that part was pure fantasy—the fact that losers vanished had been confirmed far too many times.
Over time, her stable of fighters became the stuff of legend, a high-stakes dungeon. Win, and you become a champion of life overnight. Lose, and it's game over, with no revive coins.
Only a select few knew the truth. Kurayoshi Rino never killed them. She didn't send them to labor in mines or condemn them to some other grim fate. Instead, she provided them with new identities, allowing them to retire from the brutal world of corporate combat and live out their days in peace.
The fundamental reason was protection. She was shielding them from her own father, Hayami, who would have undoubtedly eliminated any fighter who failed her. This act of secret mercy was the origin of the fearsome rumors. Eventually, Hayami grew too lazy to bother with her affairs, content to let her deal with her own "failures." Rino, in turn, became too weary to fight the rumors, allowing the legend of the Kengan Association's femme fatale to grow—a woman who would reward her champions with everything she had, and condemn her losers to death.
This secret, much like her true parentage, was known to very few. Unfortunately for her, Ren was one of them, and he understood the situation completely. His source, naturally, was Katahara Metsudo and Kure Erioh.
When Ren had first asked Kure Erioh to investigate the whereabouts of the fighters who had vanished under Kurayoshi Rino's banner, the old patriarch had nearly erupted.
"Karura is still in school!" Erioh had roared, his voice a low growl that promised violence. "And you want me to investigate a woman with a reputation like that?! What are you trying to pull?! Are you asking for a lesson from this old man?!"
Before Ren could even formulate a reply, a cheerful voice sliced through the tension. "Wow! It's Ren! Ren, you came to see me! Huh? Grandpa, why are you here too? Are you two up to something?"
Kure Karura.
Erioh, who had been radiating enough killing intent to suffocate a lesser man, froze. He watched as his granddaughter immediately latched onto Ren's arm, her smile bright and carefree. A vein throbbed at the old man's temple. Good heavens, even though he had begrudgingly accepted their relationship, the sight still made his blood pressure skyrocket.
Ren smiled warmly. "Karura, what are you doing back?"
"It's the cultural festival, so I came home since I had the afternoon free," she chirped. "What were you and Grandpa talking about? I want to listen too!"
"It's nothing important," Ren said, his tone deceptively casual. "I was just asking the old man for a small favor, but he seemed unwilling. He even looked like he was about to scold me."
Kure Erioh was stunned into silence. Where did my dignity go? he thought, aghast. While Ren's words were technically consistent with their conversation, he had masterfully sidestepped the entire part about investigating a dangerous woman!
In that moment, Kure Erioh understood the true wickedness of human nature.
Just as he was about to protest, Karura whirled on him, her hands on her hips. "Grandpa! Ren is family! It's one thing if you don't want to help, but you were going to scold him? Why?!"
Erioh saw the faintest, almost imperceptible smile touch Ren's lips. He gritted his teeth, the sound of grinding enamel filling the air. "No, no," he forced out, his voice strained. "I was just joking with the boy. For such a small matter, I'll have the men in the identity fabrication unit look into it later."
"Hmph! That's more like it!" Karura beamed, satisfied. She turned back to Ren. "So! What are you doing later?"
"Nothing, really. I've been quite free lately."
"Then come shopping with me!"
"Yay! Wait for me! I'm going to change clothes!" she exclaimed, already dashing off. She paused at the door, pointing a finger at her grandfather. "Grandpa! You can't go back on your word!"
"Mhm, mhm!" Erioh nodded stiffly.
It wasn't until Karura's presence had completely vanished that Kure Erioh finally exploded. He rounded on Ren, his face a mask of fury. "You little brat!" he seethed. "You actually tricked me!"
"Eh? Old man," Ren replied, his expression one of perfect innocence. "You can't lie to your granddaughter."
"This old man knows that! But you'd best rein in your thoughts! All I know is that woman isn't as simple as she seems. Now, I'm off to handle this. You keep Karura company!"
"Bye-bye," Ren waved cheerfully as the fuming patriarch stormed away.
Even Ren had been a bit surprised when he received the final report. The two old men, Erioh and Metsudo, had both remarked with a shared sense of weary amusement: "It truly is a bizarre world we live in…"
Thinking back on it now, Ren still felt a laugh bubbling up. Those two old patriarchs were certainly interesting characters. He glanced over at Kurayoshi Rino, who was now eating with a faint smile, her earlier agitation gone. He sighed softly.
"It really is one absurd thing after another in the wake of every Kengan match."
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