The Shinomiya Group—or rather, the Shinomiya family—held power in Japan far beyond what most could imagine. With total assets exceeding 200 trillion yen, their industries spanned nearly every sector.
It was no exaggeration to say the Shinomiya family controlled the lifeline of Japan's economy.
For a conglomerate of that size to suffer destruction of its subsidiaries and the deaths of its employees should have caused nationwide unrest. But somehow, both the Japanese government and the Shinomiya family themselves completely suppressed the incident.
You could understand the Shinomiya family's reasoning. They didn't want negative press to cause a stock collapse. What was harder to understand was the Japanese government's response.
Were they protecting the Shinomiya family? Possibly. But the strange part was that they didn't even pursue the actual perpetrator—Takamine Rinji.
If IW hadn't applied pressure, Rinji would've at least spent a few days in prison before being released. But in reality, he didn't even get a chance to warm the seat in the holding cell. The moment he arrived, an order from the top demanded his immediate release.
"I did some digging into what happened four years ago," Nogi Hideki said. "The Shinomiya family took a massive blow."
"Oh?"
"But I noticed something strange."
He paused, adjusting his posture.
"Let's go back to one day before the incident. Around that time, a large number of foreign institutions, as well as some domestic zaibatsu, began short-selling various Shinomiya Group stocks. Then the very next day, you struck. It was as if they already knew you were going to act."
Nogi had long suspected it: Takamine Rinji's actions may not have been a simple act of terrorism. There were likely enormous and hidden financial interests behind it.
"Within a week of your attack, dozens of the Shinomiya Group's stocks collapsed. That's when someone began buying them up—and that buyer turned out to be Dainippon Bank's..."
"Nogi-san."
Without anyone noticing, Takamine Rinji was already standing directly in front of him, his voice cold.
"You can investigate these things, but is there any benefit in saying them out loud? If you don't care about your own life, at least consider the safety of your subordinates."
"...My apologies."
"Let's leave it there. If you talk too much, the people at the top in Japan won't let you live. I'll pretend I didn't hear anything."
Rinji lifted his head and glanced at Nogi Hideki, whose expression had grown slightly tense.
"I do know Katahara Metsudo. Interesting old guy. You want me to help connect you?"
"Yes. But before that—I'd like to ask if you've ever heard of 'Kengan Matches'?"
"Kengan Matches, huh?"
Rinji tilted his head in thought.
"I've heard of them."
The so-called Kengan Matches were a kind of combat tournament that dated back to the Edo period in Japan. To put it simply—they were underground deathmatches.
But they weren't just mindless fights. Wealthy businessmen would stake their business interests on the matches by sending in their own hand-picked fighters known as "gladiators."
And the fairness and rules of the Kengan Matches were overseen by the "Kengan Association."
The current chairman of the Kengan Association was none other than Katahara Metsudo, the president of Dainippon Bank—whom Rinji had just mentioned.
"In essence, Kengan Matches are just a way to give financially clueless amateurs a chance to gamble with their capital," Rinji said with a smile. "So, you want me to contact the old man so you can become a Kengan Association member?"
To participate in the Kengan Matches, a company must first become a registered member of the Kengan Association. Without that, entry is impossible.
"No, I'm already a member. I even have my own fighter."
Nogi replied seriously, "But now I'm facing two problems."
"Go on."
"The first."
Nogi raised one finger.
"My original gladiator was someone with the title 'Nioh.' Name: Komada Shigeru. But he was defeated by Tokita Ohma."
He looked toward Tokita Ohma, who was still lying on the hospital bed.
"Ohma beat Komada to take the spot as our gladiator. Logically, that means Ohma should now represent Nogi Group. But then..."
He was beaten unconscious by Rinji, and no one knew if he'd still be able to fight.
"The second issue is what I want to ask your help with."
As Nogi said this, his expression grew more serious.
"I want to challenge Chairman Katahara to a Kengan Match."
"...And your goal?"
"I can't tell you right now."
"Even if you don't say, I can already guess the general idea."
Rinji chuckled, stood up, and walked over to Nogi, patting his shoulder.
It was a simple gesture—but it made Nogi Hideki, a man well-acquainted with the underworld, tense up.
For some reason, this teenager radiated an overwhelming aura of danger.
"You don't need me for this. Just go talk to him yourself. I'm sure the old man would be very interested."
"Huh?"
"If that's all, I'll be going now."
Rinji turned to leave again—but Nogi called out to him once more.
"Wait!"
"Is there something else?"
"...About the gladiator," Nogi Hideki replied, cold sweat running down his face. "As you know, my fighter has already been injured by you, and the next Kengan Match is the day after tomorrow. So..."
"So what? Don't tell me you want me to be your gladiator?" Takamine Rinji laughed. "Don't joke. If you do that, you might lose your head. Besides..."
Rinji turned and started walking forward.
"No one would allow someone who breaks the balance of the game to enter. It would ruin all the fun."
At the door, he turned back and glanced at the now nearly petrified Yamashita Kazuo and the tense secretary Akiyama Kaede.
"What your Nogi president said just now—keep it to yourselves."
The two of them nodded furiously.
"Good."
"Mr. Takamine..."
"President Nogi, that guy Tokita Ohma should be fully recovered by today. He'll be fine to fight in the match the day after tomorrow. However..."
He gave Nogi a mocking smile.
"Against that old man's gladiator, he's probably going to die."
"...I'm well aware."
"I see. Then it looks like you've got your own plans. I wish you the best."
…
By the time Takamine Rinji left the hospital, it was nearly noon.
After a moment of thought, he took out his phone and dialed one of the very few numbers in his contact list.
"Yo, old man Katahara, still alive?"