Chapter 228 - Is that so? Isn't this great
Led by Ayase, Roy walked toward the Ayatsuji family dojo.
"Just across this street..."
Ayase looked forward, a trace of nostalgia and deep sadness in her eyes. She had walked this path countless times in the past, yet ever since Kuraudo Kurashiki defeated her father and seized their dojo, this place had become enemy territory.
Every time she came here, she left with a heavy heart and usually covered in bruises.
The street was lined with traditional Japanese-style houses, all well-maintained by their owners and the government.
However, as they passed through the neighborhood, they arrived at a quiet, secluded space overgrown with weeds.
A large, traditional mansion surrounded by fences appeared before them.
"This is my dojo..." Ayase looked at the structure, her eyes filled with unwillingness and resentment.
It was a mansion that had once been grand and imposing. Now, it could only be described as a ruin.
The outer walls were decaying, with large patches of plaster fallen away to reveal the brickwork underneath. Tiles were missing from the roof, and the pillars supporting the gate were blackened with rot.
The grounds were littered with cigarette butts, empty cans, and snack wrappers. No one had bothered to clean up. The pristine white walls were defaced with graffiti and spray paint.
For Ayase, this wasn't the first time she had seen this, but it still made her blood boil. This was her home, the place where she grew up, now treated like a garbage dump by a gang of delinquents.
In just two years, the luxurious dojo had been reduced to a dilapidated hangout.
At the edge of the crumbling threshold, three students from Donrou Academy were squatting. They held cigarettes between their fingers, blowing smoke rings and laughing vulgarly.
They were the same thugs from the restaurant.
Engrossed in their conversation about unsavory topics, they didn't notice Roy and Ayase approaching.
"Hey. You guys are making a mess," Roy called out with a warm smile.
"Which bastard... huh?!"
The thugs heard the remark and instinctively turned to get angry, but the words died in their throats.
The one Roy had slapped yesterday looked particularly terrified. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead as he touched his still swollen cheek, fearing another strike.
"Where is Kuraudo? Is he in?" Roy asked pleasantly.
The thugs were so scared they forgot how to speak for a moment.
"Don't go silent on me," Roy smiled. "Or is it a custom of Donrou Academy to exchange blows before exchanging words?"
"No! No, no!" one of the thugs stammered, shaking his head violently. "Kuraudo is inside!"
Fight him? They would have to be crazy.
This was an opponent even Kuraudo took seriously. Fighting him would result in nothing but a one sided beating.
"I-I'll go inform Kuraudo!"
One gangster scrambled to his feet and ran toward the mansion as if his shoes were on fire, terrified that staying a second longer would result in Roy beating him into a pulp.
"Please! This way, please!"
The thug Roy had slapped yesterday lost all his arrogance. He bowed obsequiously and acted like a servant, leading the way for Roy and Ayase.
Roy didn't care about their sudden change in attitude. He walked into the depths of the mansion with Ayase, heading toward the main training hall. Along the way, they passed other students from Donrou Academy, most of whom looked just as delinquent as the ones at the gate.
However, a few recognized Roy from the restaurant conflict and knew how powerful he was, so they didn't dare interfere.
Even when some ignorant members wanted to step up, they were quickly held back by their more informed partners.
Inside the dojo.
Kuraudo sat alone on a leather sofa that had been dragged into the middle of the training floor. He looked up at the ceiling, smoking a cigarette and sighing impatiently.
He was bored. The lackeys who followed him were just sycophants who admired his strength; he had nothing in common with them.
"Where the hell is that guy?" Kuraudo muttered, feeling melancholy.
Although he had left confident threats yesterday, he realized too late that he knew nothing about the stranger except his name, Roy.
He wanted to force a fight, but he had no idea where to find his target.
"I should have someone check if he's a student at Hagun Academy..." Kuraudo took a deep drag on his cigarette.
"Kuraudo!"
The thug from the gate burst into the room, panting heavily.
"What is it?" Kuraudo asked, annoyed by the interruption.
"That guy from yesterday... he's at the door!"
"What?" Kuraudo thought he had misheard.
"He and Ayase... they're walking in right now!" the thug added quickly.
"Hahahaha! Is that so? Isn't this great!"
Kuraudo tossed his cigarette butt aside and jumped up from the sofa, his boredom vanishing instantly.
He had just been thinking about how to find Roy, and now the prey had delivered itself to his doorstep.
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