of the suit's lag saw the short window of opportunity.

"Here!" Kazuya tossed his handgun towards Heike which caused the latter to be in shock. Heike immediately reached for Kazuya's gun.

"(As long as I get it..)" He had no reason why Kazuya did it but as long as he got his hands on it, he would have no weapon. "(wait.. a weapon!?)" realizing that he had overlooked a crucial part of the match, Heike glanced towards the opponent who was already located right in front of him.

In Kazuya's hand was a combat knife that was given to every participant. Since this was a competition that revolved around firearms, people only saw this knife as a decorative weapon because the blade itself was merely a projection. Heike did not expect that he would have been eliminated by a weapon that hasn't been used in the competition before.

*bzzzt* a tingling sensation assaulted his chest as the holographic blade made contact with his suit.

Complete defeat. It was over as before Heika's hand could even reach the gun that Kazuya thrown at his direction. What was even more depressing was that as soon as the shock the suit gave brought Heike to his knees, he saw Miyata's handgun on his opponent's holster.

"It's your win.." Heike had completely given up. There was no room to doubt. He had completely lost.

The audience that were on the edge of their seats just a few moments ago were now cheering as loudly as they could. The replays that slowed down what had happened in just a short span had them brimming with excitement.

Kazuya had won without spending a single bullet. The opponents he went against were going to get a shock once they reviewed the replay of the match. Kazuya's team had already discussed before the match had began that his sniper rifle armed companions would shoot at the opponents after Kazuya had pointed his gun to their heads. This was the reason that he led them to an open field in the first place. They were already sure to have fallen by his hands so no one would complain if he left the points for his teammates.

This was to show how important it was to follow a leader and his plan. This was a team battle after all. though Kazuya could just as easily taken out his three opponents by picking them off, he had opted to show the importance of team play as well as the weaknesses of those who have excessive pride. Victory or defeat, life or death was often determined with a single mistake, this was a lesson that those three who stood at the top needed to learn the most.

-

"Congratulations Kazuya-kun!" Kurumi immediately rushed to him and grabbed his hands after he exited the arena.

"Thank you." He gave her a light pat on the head. Kazuya knew that he had put on too much of a show so he turned towards Kurosawa who was looking at him like a manager who was looking at his next big star. "The last guy I battled with is the only one I would want on a team. The others are well suited for single participation events if their skills are really up to par." he excused himself and let Kurumi's bodyguards handle the rest as he went into the changing room.

Tenma who was still inside the VIP room was silent and upset. He had a bad premonition after Kazuya had skillfully shown his dominance over his arrangements. It had been a long time since he had felt a bad omen and this time, it was a particularly ominous one.

He wasn't exactly a person who believed in things such as premonitions but his experience over the years made him learn to trust his intuition. He sensed that trouble was about to come and it wasn't going to be small.

Just as he was about to make a call, his eldest son, Sousuke had given him a call.

"Father! I don't know what Shishio did but I've gotten word that some companies have been inquiring about contract termination fees." With the purpose of making trouble for his younger brother, Sousuke reported this piece of news right away. He read out the names of the companies that were trying to back out of either negotiations or current dealings with them. Big or small, Sousuke made sure to include them. "I've also gotten word that they are currently on the search for companies that are able to replace us."

"What?!" he had delegated Shishio's work to several of his people. He wanted Shishio to focus on his recovery before the Kurogane banquet so if there was anything that had changed, he is involuntarily responsible for it.

The timing couldn't have been more accurate. The foreboding ominous feeling he had been sensing recently was now rearing its ugly head. Their business had just started getting back on track so this was something that would damage their recovery.

What Tenma didn't know was that this was because of the advice Kazuya had given Stockton Jonson. Though there weren't any major deals between them and the Kurogane conglomerate ever since the incident a few years ago, this didn't stop the man from giving advice towards the companies that he had good relations with.

"What should we do father?" though making trouble for Shishio was his main purpose for reporting the incident, Sousuke knew the consequences if these companies did as they intended. Even though he wanted to win the seat of the clan head, he didn't want to sit on a throne that was only a throne in name.

"Stall them!" Tenma nearly cursed at his eldest son for not having one idea on how to deal with the situation himself. "Majority of these companies have good relations with Stockton international. It just so happens that your nephew just brought their little princess here. I'm going to try and set up a meeting with Stockton Jonson so work with the people under me and stall for time!" he commanded.

"R-right..!" Sousuke was taken aback after hearing that Kazuya was with Kurumi. Though he made trouble for his brother, having that bastard son of his take credit for solving this calamity was something that he didn't want.

Tenma ended the call and immediately tried to locate where Stockton Kurumi and Kazuya might have been. His losses today were nothing compared to the current problems they were going to face if the reports were indeed true.

When he found them preparing to leave, Tenma was blocked by the guards that were assigned to protect Kurumi. As insulted as Tenma was to be blocked by mere guards, conflict with the Stocktons was what the least to happen right now.

"I need to have a word with my grandson." Tenma said with a frown.

"Apologies if you feel any offence Tenma-sama." The leader of the bodyguards that guarded Kurumi bowed politely. "Jonson-sama has heard about the tragedy that has befallen the princess of the Shiroyuki-clan and has instructed that aside from himself, close family members, and Kazuya-sama, none may approach Kurumi-sama without our clearance."

"I see.." Tenma quietly mused. Thinking that this was an understandable response coming from a doting father, he had no choice but to accept it. It was Kurumi that had approached him earlier so they had no reason to block his way, the other way around however, no one could approach Stockton Kurumi no matter what their status was.

"Did you need me for something grandfather?" Kazuya already noticed Tenma's presence but decided to see the old man's pride take another hit.

"Come with me for a little bit" Tenma decided to pull his grandson aside. "I need your help to set up a meeting with the little girl's father.." Tenma told Kazuya of the current situation because he knew that Shishio had already started educating the boy about their clan's business. He already saw Kazuya as his own kin so he needn't hold back on asking him to help with the responsibilities. He was a candidate for Tenma's seat after all.

Kazuya was as shocked that Stockton Jonson had moved swiftly and decisively after just a few words from him. He didn't know why Kurumi's father trusted in his words or why Jonson had favored him a lot but this was out of his expectations.

"Don't worry grandfather. I know what I have to do for the family." Kazuya gave a confident smile that gave Tenma some assurance. This was a similar look that he gave when he had declared to win the competition.

"(This is just the beginning old man. I want to see what you can do to prolong your own suffering!)"

.