Chapter 13: I Am Also a Good Person [Requesting Follow Reads]

"We don't have his specific identity yet; there's no matching data on hand."

The tall, thin swordsman wearing a white fox mask shook his head. "However, a beggar at the dock witnessed him disembarking from a passing cargo ship the night before last."

"His encounter with the brat from the Sakuraba family was likely just a coincidence—he probably tricked the kid to secure a qualification spot."

"An eyeless nobody."

The middle-aged man, dressed in luxurious attire, lifted his coffee cup and gently stroked its rim. "Then let him enjoy the same treatment as the Sakuraba brat; pack his group with some troublesome fellows."

"Yes, Boss."

The queue at the registration desk stretched incredibly long.

While waiting, Siano, having nothing better to do, looked around; after a moment, he suddenly noticed a curved wall on the north side of the square.

Seven dojo emblem patterns were lined up across the wall, yet right in the center, there was a large, incongruous blank space.

Looking closely, there seemed to be traces of it having been repainted.

"That spot used to bear the Sakuraba crest, didn't it?"

"Yes." Junichi nodded gloomily. "Actually, two emblems were erased: one was our Sakuraba Dojo's crest, and the other belonged to the Kendo Guild."

"The Kendo Guild? Was that founded by your father as well?"

"Not entirely. To be precise, he established it together with the masters of several other dojos; my father played the leading role, and afterward, he was elected by vote to serve as the Guild Master."

Siano clicked his tongue. "Sounds like your father commanded great prestige. Earlier, you mentioned that after his death, the Sakuraba Dojo suffered all sorts of suppression and strikes; I almost thought he had incurred everyone's wrath."

"They probably felt that I, who took over as dojo master, was unworthy of the position," Junichi said with a bitter smile.

"Ho, there you go again! I told you not to engage in self-doubt for no reason; keep that firmly in mind, kid!... By the way, earlier you mentioned your father died in an accident five years ago?"

"Mm, it was a shipwreck."

Junichi nodded, his face clouded with memory. "That happened just a few days before the Kendo Tournament. A storm struck the seas north of the island; the Guild received a distress signal stating that two ships carrying participating swordsmen had capsized."

"Father happened to be working at the Guild that day; he put down the Den Den Mushi and immediately led people to the rescue. Several senior brothers from the Sakuraba Dojo went with him, but in the end... none of them returned."

Siano fell silent for a while alongside him.

"Your father was a good man," he sighed. "Pity that on these seas, good men don't necessarily receive good rewards."

"..." Junichi didn't know what to say; after a long pause, he spoke softly, "Thank you."

Siano patted his back.

"By the way, there's something else that seems quite strange."

Junichi recalled something else, gazing at that row of dojo emblems.

"Back when the Guild still existed, there was a place for everyone to negotiate and discuss; the adults often argued noisily, and when disciples from different dojos met on the streets, they frequently felt dissatisfied with one another, issuing challenge letters to contest their rankings."

"Yet ever since the Guild vanished, the Seven Great Dojos have gradually begun to act as one, becoming as close as family. For instance, regarding this new regulation requiring payment to enter the tournament, as soon as rumors circulated among the populace, it was immediately finalized and implemented without hearing any disputes or opposition."

The more he thought about it, the more confused he became; he slapped his head hard in frustration. "Ah~ I feel like my brain cells are about to burn out; it's just very weird, it makes no sense at all..."

As close as family?

Siano sank into deep thought; suddenly, a jolt ran through the back of his head as if he had sensed something. He whipped his head around, narrowing his eyes to gaze at a café not far away.

The entrance on the first floor was crowded with people, yet the second-floor balcony was completely empty.

His sharp gaze swept up and down, finally locking onto a certain spot—on a round table near the balcony railing, two cups of coffee that had not yet cooled were still emitting wisps of steam.

"What's wrong?" Junichi asked curiously.

"Nothing."

Siano shook his head slightly and withdrew his gaze.

He looked at the queue ahead, which had shortened by more than half, and smiled:

"Let's not talk about these things for now; we're about to draw lots for our groups. I hope we don't meet too early; how about we both break through to the finals and sweep the championship and runner-up spots together?"

"Alright! Let's do our best together!"

Junichi clenched his fist and waved it. "Also! Don't wear that expression as if you've already secured the championship; when we actually reach the finals stage, you'd better be careful too—I won't be defeated as miserably as I was before!"

The results of the lot drawing for the groups came out quickly.

Siano was placed in Group B, while Junichi was in Group C.

According to the preliminary rules, each must face swordsmen from Group A and Group D in five rounds of matches; only those with a perfect victory record can advance directly to the top eight.

"Ha, now we won't meet at all during the preliminaries."

Junichi grew even more cheerful, holding the draw sheet and whistling.

"Then, Mr. Siano, I'll head over to Group C; see you at noon?"

"Mm, go ahead; I'll finish my matches as soon as possible and come find you."

Watching Junichi leave, Siano glanced once more at that café before setting off toward his assigned competition area.

At this moment, most of the wooden platforms scattered across the square were already occupied, though their progress varied.

Some matches had just begun, while others had already concluded, with participants going down to rest.

After all, there were simply too many swordsmen participating in the preliminaries; this was the most efficient method.

"Preliminaries, Areas A and B, Match Seven! Contestant Number 120, Siano, versus Contestant Number 28, Sica!"

Immediately, quite a few spectators gathered around the wooden platform in the corner; as the announcer's voice faded, both competitors took their positions at opposite ends of the platform.

Sica was a bald giant, powerfully built, standing about 2.3 meters tall.

The bamboo sword in his hand was noticeably larger than standard, its thickness and length both drawing attention.

"When buying bamboo swords, can one choose different models?"

Siano asked, slightly surprised.

"You don't even know that? Ha, what an idiot!"

Baldy Sika laughed wildly, "Don't know where this greenhorn came from, running into me, Great Master Sika, in the very first round; consider yourself unlucky."

"But rest assured, I won't let you suffer beatings for too long; I, Great Master Sika, am a kind-hearted good person and will end your pain as quickly as possible!"

"You two, remember the rules! In mutual attacks, only bamboo swords are permitted; no direct contact with hands or feet against the opponent is allowed. Whoever is knocked off the wooden platform loses, and the opponent wins outright, advancing to the next round! Do you understand?"

Both sides nodded.

"Good, then I declare!" The referee suddenly raised his hand, "The duel officially begins!"

The instant his words fell.

Boom!

A dull, heavy sound of a massive strike rang out.

Accompanied by a miserable scream, the huge body, over two meters tall, flew directly outward, crashing onto the ground several meters away with a thunderous boom.

"What a coincidence; I am also a good person."

A calm voice came from the wooden platform.

The surrounding audience fell utterly silent; the referee's gaze froze, his hand still suspended in mid-air, not yet having completed its downward swing.

Siano sheathed his bamboo sword at his waist, turned to look at this referee who had solidified into a statue, and offered a polite smile:

"My apologies, I am in a hurry; may I ask, can we proceed directly to the next match?"

(End of Chapter)