Chapter 371: The Secret Key Card
Ren Shiroki's massive hand descended.
His fingers spread wide, engulfing Ryo Inaba's face. The pressure crushed the
boy's vision and breath, bringing a wave of dizziness, suffocation, and sharp
pain as Ren drove him backward with unstoppable momentum.
Squelch!
In that split second, Inaba's consciousness blurred, yet a strange sensation
surged through him.
So strong!
This was different from the cold, calculated feeling of an assassination
mission, where victory was achieved through a battle of wits against a target.
Facing Ren Shiroki, the sensation was far less complex. It was pure,
unadulterated "Strength."
Speed, power, technique, footwork, and even that ethereal Combat Aura and
suffocating pressure—it was all devastatingly potent.
Just now, Shiroki-san said... 'Duel'?
Is this what a warrior's duel feels like? To obtain this kind of 'Strength'...
how much training must one endure?
Ah...
A fighter's battle was more terrifying than an assassination, yet it felt
unexpectedly... good.
Urita was right, Inaba thought. Only warriors like this can handle the crisis
brewing within 'The Inside'—
The thought was cut short as Ren's hand suddenly exerted a violent downward
force.
BOOM!
Ren slammed Inaba's head into the pavement. A dull explosion of sound echoed as
the asphalt cratered and spider-webbed beneath the impact.
Crrr-clack!
Stone fragments sprayed into the night air.
Inaba's limbs went limp. His long mane of hair, previously a lethal web, now lay
scattered across the ground like a tangled pile of black silk. Every fiber of
his body screamed in agony.
But he was an assassin who had endured grueling, blood-soaked training; he
didn't lose consciousness. He lay there, pupils quivering, blood leaking from
his nose and mouth.
Kureishi, standing by the wall, began to clap. "Alright, match decided~!"
The pink-haired master walked over, tutting with faux disapproval. "Ren-chin,
you're way too heavy-handed!"
Ren put his hands on his hips and grinned. "Inaba-kun wanted a duel. I had to
satisfy him, didn't I? Otherwise, it would have been rude. Ugh—"
Ren exhaled a long plume of hot, alcoholic breath as the buzz of the beer
finally began to recede. But when he turned back to check on Inaba, he blinked.
The crater was there. But the "Spider" was gone.
"He's... gone?"
Ren was genuinely surprised. He hadn't expected Inaba to have the strength to
vanish so quickly.
"As expected of an assassination style," Kureishi mused. "Even with those
injuries, his movements are silent. A true ghost."
Kureishi looked around the crater and spotted something metallic gleaming in the
dirt.
"Oho?"
Kureishi picked it up, holding it high over his head like a vintage RPG
protagonist. "Dah-dah-dah-daaah! You got a loot drop!"
Ren shrugged. "I guess so."
Kureishi flicked the object toward Ren. "It's not a bone, so I'm not interested.
Did Inaba leave this for you?"
Ren caught the card, inspecting it under the yellow glow of the streetlamp. It
was a metal plate the size of a credit card—a Secret Key Card. It looked
high-tech but had no text, only a complex numerical encryption code.
"Looks like there was more than one."
Kureishi found a small scrap of paper on the ground nearby. The two men leaned
in to read the handwritten note:
"Please entrust this electronic key card to a reliable warrior. Keep them hidden
and dispersed. Do not allow IDEAL or the Worm to obtain them."
—Sukizo Urita, CEO of Penasonic.
Kureishi rubbed his chin. "So, standard corporate warfare mixed with
international crime syndicates? Sounds complicated."
Ren didn't seem bothered. "Actually, it's pretty simple."
He held the key card between two fingers, giving it a little shake. "Can you
smell it, Kureishi-aniki? This thing reeks of fresh blood."
Kureishi sighed. "You're going to get involved, aren't you?"
Ren cracked his neck. "It's not like I'm looking for trouble. But I had a great
time fighting Inaba-kun. I'd say we're practically friends now, right?"
Kureishi rolled his eyes. "Fine. I'll ask around and see what my contacts know."
Assassins have their convictions, criminals have their plots, CEOs have their
goals, and fighters have their pursuit of power.
And of course... students have their homework.
[The Next Day—Koyo Girls' Academy]
School had been back in session for a while now. The lazy days of summer were
over, replaced by the crisp, busy routine of autumn.
As a high-prestige academy, Koyo's autumn wasn't just about lectures; it was the
season for the massive School Festival. Students were currently organizing into
teams, drafting themes, and scouting classrooms for their exhibitions.
Standard choices included cafes, haunted houses, and drama performances. But
some students had more... unique tastes.
"Let's open a gym!"
Akemi Soryuin, the Student Council President and a hardcore muscle enthusiast,
made the declaration with absolute authority.
To achieve this goal, she summoned her closest friends after class.
Hibiki Sakura and Ayaka Uehara—her fellow gym-rats—were a given. Joining them
were Arisa Sakurai, Karura Kure, and Hina Hongo.
Naturally, Marco was also part of the plan, currently doing "Street Workouts" in
the park just outside the school gates while he waited for Arisa.
Kozue Matsumoto was unfortunately absent, busy with her mother's business at
home. The six girls gathered in an empty classroom for a strategy meeting.
"Alright everyone! Let's discuss our project for the Koyo Festival!"
Akemi's eyes were practically glowing. "For example: we could open a gym. Or
perhaps, we could open a gym. Alternatively... we could open a gym!"
Hibiki Sakura slumped onto her desk, her cheeks squished against the wood.
"Yeah, yeah. We knew this was coming. Let's just go with Akemi's idea."
Hibiki's eyes shifted. "But Akemi-sama, you're the President, so the permit is
easy—but what about equipment and staff?"
Arisa raised her hand. "The Soul Combat Hub has plenty! Marco can help move the
heavy stuff. And... doesn't Akemi-sama have a massive private gym at home too?"
Akemi flashed a thumbs-up. "Exactly! Leave the logistics to me!"
Karura, who loved the chaotic energy of school events, looked thoughtful.
"But... just a gym? Isn't that a bit boring for the visitors? It might be hard
to get a good crowd flow."
Hina Hongo's eyes widened, the stars in her pupils shimmering. "Let's set up a
wrestling ring!"
Hibiki's head rolled across the desk. "Hina-chan just wants a sanctioned place
to hit people. The school board would shut us down in five minutes..."
Ayaka Uehara made a suggestion. "How about a Boxing theme? Like that 'Boxing
Exhibition' they held at the municipal gym. My family's dojo can help with the
gear."
Akemi nodded. "It's going to be a lot of work. Is everyone okay with that?"
Arisa, ever the optimist, beamed. "Woo-hoo! Count me in! I'll help prep the
boxing stuff!"
As the girls laughed and planned, a tall, elegant woman with long brown hair
walked past the classroom door.
She was Shion Soryuin, the Chairwoman of the Academy, a member of the Kengan
Association, and Akemi's older sister. She was followed by her short-haired
personal secretary.
Whenever Shion was stressed, she liked to wander the halls to clear her mind.
And lately, she was very stressed. IDEAL and other syndicates were moving
against Association members, and the pressure was mounting.
They want to swallow the Kakerou gambling dens and the Kengan matches? IDEAL is
looking down on us, Shion thought bitterly.
Metsudo-jiisan must have a plan. I need to find an opportunity for growth in
this chaos. Maybe I should look for a new fighter... someone with overwhelming
personal power...
She stopped as she heard the ruckus coming from the classroom.
"Oh, right. It's almost time for the Festival. I've been so focused on the
Street Brawl I nearly forgot about school business."
Shion looked at her sister, Akemi, laughing with her friends. "Well, at least
Akemi seems to have made some good friends."
The sight of the girls planning their festival booth brought back a wave of
nostalgia. Shion hadn't been the most "orderly" student herself—she'd even had a
messy romantic entanglement with a man known as [THE FLOATING CLOUD]. But those
days had been simple.
"Ordinary high school life is a treasure," Shion sighed, turning to leave.
Just then, she heard Arisa's voice through the door, full of confidence:
"Leave the boxing interviews to me! I'll just ask Rama-aniki to help us out!"
Rama?
Shion froze. Rama XIII? As in... the King of Thailand?
I heard the Thai [GOD OF WAR] is in Tokyo for the Brawl, and the King is
traveling with him...
Shion shook her head, a self-deprecating smile on her face. I must be losing my
mind from overwork. It's obviously just a coincidence. There's no way an
ordinary high schooler knows a King. As long as they're having fun...
☆☆☆
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