CHAPTER 74: REFEREE NUMBER TEN
On the upper deck of the cruise ship, the high-stakes gamble in the Grand Ballroom continued.
The other spectators were gathered in a secondary observation hall, where the walls were lined with banks of security monitors. These screens didn't just show the ballroom; they provided a live feed of the entire vessel, including the chaos currently unfolding on the lower decks.
Chairman Kazutaka Hyodo sat in his velvet chair, watching the screens with a look of predatory amusement. Even as a "Tyrant," he knew how to play the host to the distinguished guests from the Nogi Group and the Shinshinkai.
"Ka-ka-ka! Rest easy, everyone," Hyodo cackled, waving a hand at the monitors. "A few 'smugglers' are of no concern. As long as one prepares the appropriate 'Might,' the vultures won't dare to strike."
On the screen, the "Stranger Black-Suits"—Hyodo's personal mercenaries—had already drawn their SMGs, creating a tense perimeter around the IDEAL operatives.
The board was stabilizing.
"Ka-ka-ka! Exactly! No matter how many petty tricks you play, you cannot shake the Emperor in his fortress. I shall simply sit back and enjoy the music..."
Hyodo's eyes shifted back to the feed of the Grand Ballroom, locking onto Sadakuni.
"Now, Sadakuni-kun... when your plan for a hostile takeover fails, what will your next move be?"
The Grand Ballroom.
Because the current gamble revolved around the specialized cards from the lower deck, the players were permitted to maintain communication with their "Runners" outside.
Sadakuni adjusted his earpiece. Through the internal channel, he had received the full report on the stalemate downstairs.
"Hyodo... he anticipated the infiltration and brought his own soldiers," Sadakuni whispered, his expression as hard as iron.
"But it changes nothing. I only have eyes for the capital and the Kengan Membership."
"The money... I will win here at the table. As for the Membership—"
Sadakuni let out a low, dangerous bark. "MEPU!"
"At your service."
The shadow behind Sadakuni moved. It was the dark-haired, ominous Kakerou Referee. He gave a sharp, clinical nod.
"I'm handing the acquisition of the Kengan Membership to you," Sadakuni commanded.
"Understood," Mepu Kiro replied. He turned and vanished through the ballroom doors.
Seeing his counterpart depart, Yagyo Hikoichi, standing behind Akagi, raised an eyebrow.
"My, my," the silver-haired gentleman mused. "As Master Sadakuni's exclusive Referee, are you truly permitted to leave the table?"
"There is no rule stating a Referee must remain stationary," Mepu's voice echoed from the hallway. "Unless, of course, you've become too old to adjudicate a match on your own, Yagyo?"
Mepu had always resented the rank of the "Perfect Gentleman." His tone was venomous. "From this moment forward, I am acting as an agent 'under contract' to Master Sadakuni. Do not presume to interfere with my duties!"
With that parting shot, Mepu was gone. Yagyo offered a small, amused smile but made no move to stop him.
The Lower Deck. Main Hall.
The stalemate continued. The "Stranger Black-Suits" and the IDEAL mercenaries stood in a ring, muzzles leveled, fingers twitching on triggers. The silence was absolute.
The smoke from Ren's canister had finally begun to thin.
Ren Shiroki's silhouette emerged from the haze. He had his left arm locked around the throat of the lead mercenary. The man's temple was caved in from the impact of Ren's knee; he was twitching, a slurry of blood and foam leaking from his lips.
Seeing the "Might" was now balanced, Ren realized his human shield was no longer necessary. Besides, the man was bleeding all over his favorite jacket.
Ren walked over to the wall and set the man down gently.
THUD.
The mercenary slumped into a heap against the bulkhead. The sound was unnervingly loud in the silent hall. Enforcers and mercenaries alike stared at Ren, but neither side dared to break the peace.
Ren wiped a smear of blood from his hand and walked back over to Tonegawa. He stood there, looking relaxed, as if he were waiting for a train.
Tonegawa was baffled. "Ren-kun... what are we doing?"
Ren smiled. "Sadakuni wants my Membership. Now that raw violence has reached a dead end, he only has one path left: the Rules."
Tonegawa blinked. He understood the logic—when two forces are equal, they revert to the established protocol to decide the outcome.
"But what 'Protocol' can he use?" Tonegawa asked.
Suddenly, a spark of realization fired in Tonegawa's brain. "The Kengan Challenger Match!"
"Precisely!"
The answer didn't come from Ren. It came from the corridor entrance.
A man in a perfectly tailored black suit stepped into the hall. He had straight, shoulder-length blonde hair and a lean, hungry face. His expression was a mixture of deep gloom and manic cruelty.
"We meet again."
The man carried a heavy metal briefcase. "I am the Number Ten Referee of the Kakerou Club. My name is Mepu Kiro."
"But for the duration of this match, I am acting as the Fighter for Master Sadakuni. Ren Shiroki of the Soul Combat Hub... I am formally challenging you to a Kengan Match. The stake is your newly acquired Membership."
"The Kengan Association's sanctioned Referee is on this ship. He can hear us over the comms. He can monitor the fight via the cameras and announce the verdict over the speakers. Adding one more match to the night's schedule is no trouble at all."
Mepu Kiro's eyes locked onto Ren's, his grin widening into a predatory leer. "I advise you not to refuse. After all—"
Ren didn't let him finish. He began rolling his shoulders, a wide grin splitting his face. "Nice! Simply perfect!"
Mepu: "...?"
He was momentarily stunned by the lack of hesitation. Ren ignored the confusion.
"I can't convince you to stop your boss's plan, and you can't convince me to give up my seat. Why waste our breath talking?"
Ren flexed his fingers, tightening them into fists.
"Besides, I've never fought a Kakerou Referee before. I've been wondering what you guys 'feel' like when you hit."
Mepu Kiro stared at the youth. Looking at Ren's bright, eager smile, the Referee felt a sudden, inexplicable chill.
Unlike the other participants who were "Witnesses" or "Gamblers," Ren Shiroki was a "Seeker." He didn't care about the consequences; he only cared about the collision.
"Fine. If you're that eager to die..."
Ren waved at the security camera in the ceiling. "Referee-san! Can you hear me?"
"...Ahem! Yes! I can hear you!"
The speakers crackled as the Association Referee's voice filled the hall. He sounded bewildered by the rapid escalation, but he was a professional. "If both parties agree... a Challenger Match is technically permissible. Ren-san, do you accept?"
Ren nodded. "I do."
Mepu Kiro sneered, his fingers tightening on the briefcase handle. "Let's get on with it!"
The Association Referee paused for a second, then his voice boomed over the speakers.
"Very well! Fighters, prepare yourselves!"
"CHALLENGER: MEPU KIRO!"
"DEFENDER: REN SHIROKI!"
"READY... FIGHT!!!"
To everyone's surprise, Mepu didn't take a combat stance.
He reached up, holding the heavy metal briefcase in front of his face. He gave a thin, chilling laugh. "I almost forgot. The rules must be observed. Inside this case is One Hundred Million Yen in cash—the formal Challenge Fee. We wouldn't want the loser to have any excuses, would we?"
"Now... where should I put the money?"
SHING!
Before Mepu finished his sentence, he hurled the briefcase into the air.
The heavy metal box acted as a visual shield, momentarily blocking Ren's line of sight. Behind the distraction, Mepu dropped his center of gravity. His left foot slammed into the deck, propelling him forward in a high-speed dash.
Mepu's left shoulder dipped. He used the torque to whip his right arm around in a powerful, compact arc.
[MEPU: SHADOW CROSS]!
BOOM!
The punch was a hammer-strike.
But to Mepu's shock, Ren didn't go down. He didn't even reel. Ren had only been pushed back two paces before his boots found purchase.
Ren was in a tight, high guard. He had anticipated the dirty trick and used his forearms to absorb the impact, his elbows tucked to protect his vitals.
Ren peered through the "gap" between his arms, his eyes shining with a frightening level of joy.
"That felt like Boxing... but with a hint of Fa-jin internal energy. Very technical."
"Simply perfect!"
Ren's voice was a low, melodic purr.
"But the best part? I actually felt that one! You're strong enough to keep me awake!"