Chapter 29: Link Start!

As soon as he ascended the stairs, Rei was met with a sight of black-clad figures standing in formation. In front of his door, Baki and Mitsunari awaited, accompanied by several large cardboard boxes.

Mitsunari's gaze remained fixated on the corridor, and upon spotting Rei's arrival, he promptly turned to Baki at his side, inquiring, "Is that him?" Baki nodded, noting that this seasoned fellow would become thrilled at the sight of a formidable fighter.

"I never anticipated that the spirit of a beast-like warrior would reside within such a slender frame!" Mitsunari exclaimed. If Rei were a martial artist of Gouki Shibukawa's caliber, it would be one thing, but this individual possessed the capacity to disintegrate others with his bare hands.

Subconsciously, Mitsunari envisioned Rei as a prodigious monster akin to Baki.

No, upon further reflection, it appeared even more extraordinary.

To be this potent despite such "slenderness" – if he were to bulk up, the level of devastation he could inflict might not merely shake the world, but potentially rival even the mightiest beings on the surface.

"Hello! I'm Tokugawa Mitsunari!

Simultaneously, I am the founder of the Tokyo Dome and the overseer of the Tokugawa Corporation."

"I have come to you with a simple request! Join me in the underground arena!" Mitsunari straightforwardly presented his proposition.

The fervent spirit of combat within him longed for Rei to enter the underground arena, to shed blood within its confines, and clash with the mightiest warriors to determine the ultimate champion, much like Baki's display in the past.

"Alright."

"Don't be too hasty to decline. While the underground arena lacks a prize system, the audience is comprised of the affluent and influential individuals. Once you establish a reputation, riches will flow to you endlessly... Wait, you agree?" Surprise graced Mitsunari's face.

Observing this man, who appeared to be eighty or ninety, still full of vigor and excitement, Rei worried that the very next moment might bring about his own demise.

Retrieving his keys, Rei unlocked his door and addressed the black-clad men outside, "You're welcome in my apartment. Come in and assist me with setting up the gaming hub." Mitsunari and Baki were the first to follow Rei into the room.

Even though the apartment may have been small, it was well furnished and contained everything one would need for a comfortable life.

Comparatively, Baki's residence was twice the size of Rei's, albeit slightly empty.

"Rei, if you lack a place to stay, how about allowing this old man to provide you with a house? Mitsunari took a seat unceremoniously on Rei's bed, extending his hand to pat the mattress. He assessed its softness and firmness, remarking, "There are still a few vacant villas in the city. I even gifted one to one of my men previously."

Rei shook his head, "No, I'm not accustomed to living in overly spacious homes. My needs are modest, and as you mentioned, as long as I complete the game at your place, money will continue to come my way."

These words only served to further brighten Mitsunari's smile, "Exactly! Then this old man won't trouble you further. Given your prowess, you're bound to make a wave. When the time comes, you'll decide where you wish to reside. Just know that whenever you desire, you may approach this old man for assistance." Mitsunari could discern Rei's intentions and refrained from further elaboration.

Observing the black-clad individuals meticulously unpacking and assembling the contents of the cardboard boxes, Mitsunari commented, "Nowadays, I'm completely out of touch with what the youth are into."Mitsunari hopped off the bed, poking at the dark gaming capsule and remarking, "When Baki first mentioned this, I could hardly believe it." As Baki sought to sit down, he was promptly pulled by Rei, "Classmate Baki, you're completely covered in blood. What if it stains my bed?"

Baki: "..."

What are you talking about? Don't you already know why I am covered in blood? Who do you think is responsible for this?

"As per our agreement, I've purchased the gaming capsule you desired – the collector's edition, the most expensive one." Baki pointed to the now-assembled gaming capsule and stated, "The only drawback is that it consumes a bit more power. If the building's wiring is old, it might lead to a blackout."

"Understood, I'll keep that in mind. If there's nothing else, you should return home and focus on your studies." Rei said as he walked them to the door, jesting a little. A muscle-bound man had his own matters to attend to, after all, "Farewell, and please remember to dispose of the trash for me." It wasn't until Rei closed the door that they left.

Mitsunari and Baki were still caught off guard. This guy really didn't leave any room for them once the gaming capsule was set up.

The two had been kicked out without even taking a moment to enjoy a cup of tea.

"Hahahahaha, he's certainly quite the character." Mitsunari chuckled heartily. He then glanced at Baki beside him, inquiring, "Baki, I'm still curious how you ended up in this state."

"You're one sly old man, you know."

Seeing a sizable group of black-clad figures descending the stairs alongside Mitsunari and Baki, the Doma siblings could finally breathe easy, relieved that nothing untoward had occurred.

Before departing, Mitsunari gave a nod to Taihei.

"Take care!" Taihei bid farewell with a slight bow.

As the black car sped away, Umaru immediately raced up the stairs. Taihei followed behind, offering a gentle word of caution, "Umaru, don't rush so much. Be careful not to trip."

"Ding Dong!" As soon as Rei activated the gaming hub, he heard a knock at the door. Opening it, he found a petite Umaru standing at one meter six. At this moment, the girl gazed at Rei with concern, "Oh, it's Umaru. Come in, senior will show you something amazing."

"Something amazing?"

Umaru had initially been worried for Rei, but his gaze then wandered to Rei's room. Adjacent to a power outlet, a massive gaming capsule had been erected. Any previous concern had now been replaced with unbridled excitement, "Is this... a legendary artifact? The collector's edition of the New World Gaming Capsule, capable of restoring 90% of in-game neuron feedback!"

"Senior, you actually bought this? My brother always refused to get it for me." Umaru swiftly migrated to the game hub, inspecting it intently and caressing its surface.

Rei didn't take long to spot the transformation; this girl had now turned into a little hamster.

"It's so roomy inside. I feel like I won't be cramped even with senior in there."

"The seats are soft too, it's amazing!"

"Senior, could you let me have a turn? Just for a little while."

While another individual might have played coy, this was Rei. Everything was out in the open, so what use was there in pretending to be a good girl? He granted his approval, "Of course..." As he met those longing eyes, Rei continued, "Not." Life wasn't all roses and lilies; he hadn't even tried it himself. How could he let Umaru have the first go?

Seeing Rei seated inside the gaming capsule, Umaru promptly hopped in as well. In hamster form, even with both of them inside, there was no sense of crowding.

"Little Umaru, how did you manage to squeeze in?"

"What's the big deal? Senior and I share this kind of relationship. Why should I bother about such things?" Umaru spoke nonchalantly, and all that remained in her sight was the game capsule's start button.

In other words, if this were a normal Umaru, Rei might have been more thrilled. However, the present Umaru was a large hamster – amusing, but it didn't evoke the same excitement.

"Never mind, it seems you can connect multiple interfaces according to the manual. It does, however, consume more power." Rei commented, no longer minding her. Alongside Umaru, he pressed his finger to the start button.

"Link Start!" x2

"Buzzing ~~~"

The gaming capsule emitted a constant hum of activity. Placing the neuron receptors on their temples and donning the headset, the scene before them immediately shifted. However, it differed from the VR helmet's entry effect – this time, it was pitch-black...

Hold on, pitch-black?

"Hold on, is it a power outrage?"