Chapter 862: Star Heaven Martial Arts Ritual (25)

"This guy thought the audience was easy to fool, but now he's reaped what he sowed by playing with fire…… tsk tsk tsk." Xiao Lin sighed incessantly; although Shajin's predicament was entirely his own fault, she couldn't help but admire Tuopa, who had schemed everything behind the scenes—if it weren't for her help, the target of today's public outrage would probably still be Lu Ka.

Relying solely on this method, he completely turned around public opinion between the two—truly worthy of the Stone Heart Ten.

"But, Lord Tuo Er, why would he agree to Tuopa?" Kang Na looked at Tuo Er with a puzzled expression, "... I don't understand."

"This kind of thing is quite common among humans. I suppose Tuopa promised him many benefits?" Tuo Er shrugged. "Just like… Fa Fu Na, that guy was once a dragon guarding treasure; for hundreds of years, who knows how many humans, greedy for his hoard, tried to seize it and ended up killed by him. To Shajin, the audience is just such a dragon guarding treasure…… When he tries to seize wealth from the dragon's claws, he must also prepare to be eaten by the dragon."

——

"Shajin on the stage vanished in an instant; he never imagined that, even wearing the company's mech, he could be blown apart by Lu Ka's single punch."

"His mech was as flimsy as paper; the opponent's iron punch tore a hole in its shell, and sparks fizzed out."

"... Ugh, how is this possible? The company's latest powered armor—there's no way it should lose to your rustic, backwater technology..."

"Shajin racked his brains but couldn't figure it out; still, he raised his head and shouted at the audience below: 'This must be a dark plot, no doubt! A dark plot! The company's dark plot! Friends in the audience, Lu Ka must have colluded with the company, using some shady means, to defeat me like this!'"

"The audience below wouldn't buy his story, retorting: 'What nonsense are you spouting? Isn't it you who's colluding with the company?'"

"Lu Ka coldly stared at him: 'Mr. Shajin, it looks like this time it's you who will suffer ruin and disgrace.'"

""It seems the match's outcome is already settled! The victor of this competition is none other than the much-anticipated 【Iron Arm】 Lu Ka!" Xi Mi's tone suddenly shifted: "Next, we will also reveal the brand-new product that Star Peace Company will grandly launch at this press conference—the 【Mami Tu 17ProPlus Combat Exoskeleton】!""

""That's right; the model Lu Ka is wearing now is exactly our new product! Lu Ka athlete, raise your victorious arm and show it to everyone!""

"Lu Ka wore a bewildered expression: 'Hold on a second—how did this become my prosthetic limb launch event…?'"

"Shajin gritted his teeth: 'Yeah, Miss Tuopa? Tuopa! Where did you run off to? How did this turn into his launch event? Isn't this supposed to be my launch event? Miss Tuopa, this isn't what we agreed on!'"

""First, this is neither 'your' launch event nor 'his' launch event; it's the company's product launch. Second, it's exactly as agreed, Mr. Shajin—this launch event will belong to the winning product.""

"Finally realizing what had happened, Shajin gnashed his teeth in rage: 'Tuopa! You treacherous, venomous company dog! I won't let you off—I'll kill you!'"

"Tuopa turned around without changing her expression: 'Security, clean this up.'"

——

Twin Cities War.

"So Tuopa had planned it this way after all—she really was hedging her bets."

"On an arched bridge in the Workshop District, Kaitelin was leaning on the railing, watching the skyline together with Wei; after personally witnessing Shajin's withdrawal, she only then belatedly realized that Lu Ka and Shajin were merely two pawns she needed to borrow in the process of resolving the company's public relations crisis."

"Perhaps she harbored private feelings of admiration mixed with regard for Lu Ka, but that alone wasn't enough to justify fully banking on him. Judging by the outcome, whichever side—Lu Ka or Shajin—won, she would profit without loss, facing no risk; all risk was borne by the sole 'loser' of the entire event."

"Tuopa had merely given Lu Ka an opportunity—a chance to rely on his strength to recover his reputation and expand his influence; fortunately he secured it firmly… but what if Lu Ka had lost? Thinking of this, Kaitelin couldn't help but feel a lingering unease."

"This is the Stone Heart Ten's mindset…… If it were Shajin, perhaps he'd still enjoy the thrill of gambling on any one of them, but this is Tuopa—she would only choose to arrange things as meticulously as possible."

"I never realized she had so many schemes behind her back—I thought she genuinely wanted to help Lu Ka." Wei curled her lip.

"She truly wanted to help him, but considering the pride of the Belo Berg people, she had to change her approach." Kaitelin looked up at Tuopa's back, "... a way that Lu Ka, the company, and even Shajin could accept—except Shajin simply lacked the ability to grasp it."

——

"Under Xi Mi's round of advertising promotion, everyone present shouted, 'Iron Fist Lu Ka! Invincible fist technique!' Seeing those who had just been cursing him a short while ago turn around and start praising him, Lu Ka couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion."

""It's quite moving~ and also lifts the mood, right?" Tuopa walked over to him."

""Hmm… my feelings are a bit complicated.""

""It's too noisy here, Lu Ka; let's find a quieter spot to chat.""

"Amidst a wave-like roar of cheers, Tuopa led Lu Ka to the edge of the upper stage."

""How about it, Lu Ka athlete—are you satisfied with my arrangements~?""

""Although letting Shajin reveal his true colors… but, Miss Tuopa, please do inform me of the arrangements beforehand next time! I don't understand—this guy Shajin despises the company down to his marrow; how could he so easily take the bait and agree to your collaboration invitation?""

"Tuopa smiled meaningfully: 'Hmm? Does Shajin hate the company? Not necessarily~'"

"……"

"12 system hours before the press conference began."

""An endorsement deal? What do you mean by that? I'm currently the opinion leader of all Luo Fu opposing the company's capital intrusion into Immortal Vessel martial arts." Shajin spoke righteously, mentioning his status as an 'opinion leader,' and proudly lifted his chin."

""The Strategic Investment Department has come to the venue of the Immortal Vessel Martial Arts Ritual not to fight over those trivial competition rankings. Using this match as an opportunity, to gain more commercial benefits—that's our purpose. Mr. Shajin, you surely feel the same, right? For people like us, morality, viewpoints, and positions are merely excuses we give others to listen to. The only thing that truly matters is countless credit points, isn't it?""