Kengan Match.
It is a system of underground fist fights implemented over 300 years ago, and its purpose is to settle disputes and business deals between large corporations, organisations, and businesses by sending fighters to determine the victor in organised fights.
In the Shotoku Year 5 (1715), in the darker recesses of the nation of Japan, there were bloody conflicts between various merchants who all desired the status of Shogunate Purveyor (the highest rank among all merchant purveyors). With merchants willing to go to any lengths to achieve this status, the increasingly violent conflicts spiralled out of control. Finally, sick of all the bloodshed, the 7th Shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate, Tokugawa Ietsugu, intervened, summoning all the merchants at the heart of the quarrel. Ietsugu told them to settle their conflicts by "battling it out fair and square". Naïve and idealistic as this command was, it moved their hearts.
In accordance with the Shogun's command, the merchants formed a guild and, whenever a dispute arose, they would establish a venue of competition through the guild, with the results of the competition being indisputable. Conflicts were settled in a simple 1-on-1 fist fight between combatants hired by opposing merchants. As such, merchants entrusted their desires to the fists of fighters.
The first official Kengan match was not between merchants, but was to decide who would become the next Shogun after Tokugawa Ietsugu's early death. The two branch families, the Owari Fief and the Kii Fief, put forward their fighters, and the Kii Fief came out victorious, with their fighter being none other than the Lord of Kii Fief, Tokugawa Yoshimune, himself.
There are currently 1205 registered fighters in Kengan matches, with fighters having an average of 8.5 matches a year. Because of how frequent and brutal the fights are, fighters retiring early or even dying are by no means rare. However, they are promised decent compensation in return.
CEOs are free to hire any fighter who is willing to fight for them, regardless of the fighter's background. They can be a professional stage fighter, a police officer, a foreign military soldier, or even a death row criminal, and so on.
Though the matches are a secret from the public at large, they always draw a large crowd. Other members of the Kengan Association like to keep track of the Kengan matches, so they send representatives to witness the matches and report back. However, some CEOs prefer to watch in person. Larger tournaments can even attract foreign politicians.
To manage everything, an organization known as the Kengan Association existed, which consisted of illustrious business owners, large corporations, and influential people, with the current number of Association members resting at 418, and they are all led by the Chairman.
The Chairman has massive power within the Kengan Association, being the only one who may set the rules of the matches and other bylaws of the Association, and usually has more power and wealth than any other Association member. The Chairman is also the one who decides on the format and rules for his own replacement (usually by a tournament).
The current chairman, who is also the 58th Chairman of the Kengan Association, is Katahara Metsudo, who is also known as the director of Dainippon Bank, the biggest bank in the country.
Without a doubt, he was a legendary figure who rose from the dead as he was part of the suicide army, Kamikaze during World War II, and having been lucky enough to survive, he resolved to see just how far his luck could take him, which also made him into a legendary figure, who started from nothing and created the biggest bank and created a personal army mainly consisting of orphans called the Bodyguards.
By then, his power within the Kengan Association grew day by day, and all those who tried to challenge him failed, deterring future attempts to dethrone him. At the age of 92, his luck has taken him to the point where he has become not only the undisputed ruler of the Kengan Association but also the most influential man in the Japanese political and financial establishment.
No one could defy him, and while it was ironic, it might be possible to say that he was the god in this country.
Yet, somehow, someone tried to stir up a problem, and that problem might develop into something.
Many of the members of the Kengan Association were businessmen, and all of them were keen and noticed that something was about to happen. They weren't sure, and they believed that it was better to strengthen themselves by getting more powerful fighters for the future.
Among all of them, in the Koyo Women's University, building no. 2: The main lecture hall, no one was allowed to enter, and everyone was forbidden to get closer unless they were authorized or participating in the exam that was held in this place.
Yes, an exam.
Yet, instead of an entrance university exam, what had happened in this place was an exam to choose a fighter to represent the Koyo Academy Group, an educational conglomerate that includes the prestigious Koyo Women's University in its ranks.
The chairwoman of this group, Soryuin Shion, tried to find a new fighter by conducting "hidden" applicant exams known as the "Fighter Applicants' Battle Royale," where only the strongest were chosen, and the chosen one would be hired as a member of faculty and staff.
Founded in the 33rd year of the Meiji era, or in 1900, the Koyo Academy Group has always been led by the Soryuin family. They amassed a total of 578 victories and 190 losses in Kengan matches.
Naturally, Shion didn't want to tarnish her group's rank, and if possible, wanted to gain more during this moment of opportunity that was stirred by someone.
The bullet had been shot, and what she needed was just to follow behind, letting the one who took the initiative to die, then take all the profit on her own.
Yet, to do that, she needed a powerful fighter, not a strength within a number, but an absolute strength where one could overwhelm the mass!
"They are so powerful..."
Still, her secretary, Tomoko Matsuda, didn't seem to understand that and was just dumbfounded and a bit frightened by the brutality of the fight that had happened before her.
"It's not enough. They are not that powerful..."
The examiner she had chosen was too powerful.
Ozu Toshio.
Aka the Intelligent Barbarian.
As the representative fighter of the Koyo Group, he was a perfect fighter of the combination of strength, transcended combat ability, and high intelligence, which made him a fearsome, all-around combatant!
Before his might and brain, all the opponents had to bow down!
Yet, when Shiryu was disappointed, she noticed a handsome figure that appeared in the area, seemingly unnoticed, yet existing, and part of this battle royal. However, she was sure that she had never seen this participant since not only were there only 35 fighters that joined this exam, but it was also impossible for her not to notice a handsome guy like that if he appeared, so who was he?
Shinra, who had erased his presence, appeared, and it was time to join this battle.
"Boy, what are you doing here?"
As a monstrous figure stood before him, Shinra knew it was time for him to have his first fight in this world.
'Oh, no, it's my second fight.'
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