Chapter 1019: Feeding the Vultures
With everyone in the gym focused on the sparring, nobody notices several journalists slipping inside one after another through the unlocked entrance.
"Excuse me..."
"Good afternoon, everyone..."
They continue offering polite greetings as they enter, but nobody answers. Only Hayakawa notices them coming in, yet he says nothing and simply behaves as though they are not there.
For these journalists, who have spent days struggling to get close enough to Ryoma for a story, this is an opportunity they cannot afford to waste. This is their chance to corner him about Umemoto’s issue.
Yet once they are inside and see how completely absorbed Ryoma is in the sparring, they find themselves standing still, momentarily unsure of what they are witnessing.
For several moments, they simply watch, trying to understand the situation before quietly gathering together and exchanging observations among themselves.
"What exactly is he doing?"
"I’m not sure."
"He’s coaching both of them."
"Yeah, but look at how he’s doing it."
Their voices remain low as they begin analyzing the scene more seriously, each journalist trying to understand what Ryoma is actually trying to accomplish.
The sparring session eventually comes to an end, and Ryoma gives Aramaki a few final words of advice before turning toward the opposite corner.
And he is already talking to Satoru before he even reaches him, continuing the same coaching without any pause between the two fighters.
In fact, Ronin Fight Management has recruited several additional coaches in recent months. With Nakahara absent today, at least seven other trainers are already gathered around the ring.
And yet, instead of stepping in to coach either of the two fighters who have just finished sparring, they remain where they are, listening to Ryoma as though they are attending a private coaching seminar.
The journalists exchange glances, their expressions turning increasingly skeptical as they watch Ryoma continue coaching.
"So, he thinks he can coach both fighters better than the actual trainers?"
"Not even letting other trainers do their jobs?"
They continue watching from the edge of the gym, their earlier excitement over finally getting inside gradually replaced by a more cynical interpretation of everything happening in front of them.
"He’s certainly making sure everyone sees him doing it."
"Maybe that’s why the door wasn’t locked today."
"You think it was deliberate?"
"Why else would it suddenly be unlocked when they’ve spent all this time keeping us out?"
"So we’re supposed to walk in, watch this little performance, and write about how brilliant he is?"
"Wouldn’t surprise me."
Eventually, several amateur fighters notice the journalists standing near the edge of the gym, and their attention is immediately drawn away from the ring.
Seeing their reactions, Sera and Murakami finally turn around and notice the journalists as well.
"You guys..." Sera says. "How did you get in?"
"Oh, you’re actually asking us that?" one of the journalists replies.
"As if you didn’t deliberately let us in," another adds.
Sera glances toward the entrance and sees another journalist walking through the door. Only then does he remember that nobody has locked it since Nakahara left the gym.
By the time Sera’s attention returns to them, the journalists have already started moving toward the ring, pulling out recorders and notebooks as they approach.
"Wait," Sera says, stepping toward them. "They’re still in the middle of training. You can’t just interrupt them like this."
"We only want a few questions."
"I understand, but this isn’t the right time. Let them finish their session first."
Before Sera can say anything more, the journalists continue toward the ring, completely ignoring him as they begin calling out questions toward Ryoma and extending their recorders through the ropes.
"Ryoma! Can you tell us what you think about the criticism surrounding Umemoto?"
"Do you still believe you did nothing wrong in that fight?"
"Are you aware that Umemoto’s supporters are demanding that you be held responsible for what happened?"
The questions come one after another, each journalist trying to push his recorder as close to Ryoma as possible while Sera’s attempts to stop them are treated as though they were never spoken.
Sera climbs onto the ring apron, stopping beside the ropes as he raises his voice over the journalists.
"Ronin has already made its position clear and issued a firm statement regarding this matter. No matter how many times you dig into the same issue, there won’t be any new statement from us."
One of the journalists immediately looks toward him.
"I didn’t ask you for an answer."
Another journalist nods in agreement.
"Statements from management don’t always represent the individual involved. We want to hear it directly from Ryoma."
"We’re here to hear his answer, not yours."
The journalists turn their attention back toward Ryoma, extending their recorders through the ropes again while Sera remains standing beside them.
With that, Ryoma’s demeanor shifts almost effortlessly. The friendly enthusiasm he had shown while coaching Satoru disappears, replaced by the composed and calculated expression of the Cruel King approaching the journalists.
"Oh, here come the vultures," Ryoma greets them with a cold smile.
The journalists exchange uneasy looks, visibly irritated by the insult, but none of them backs away from the opportunity.
Ryoma knows exactly what they are after, and he knows every effective argument he could use to redirect their scrutiny toward the other party. But instead of defending himself, he chooses to give them something else.
"So you’re still convinced that I’m responsible for what happened to Umemoto? Then go to the police and file a report. Or go to the WBO. Or, if you really want to, gather every journalist in this country and start a petition to have me cancelled."
"Are you seriously challenging us to do that?"
"Do you understand what you’re saying? If we actually take that challenge, you’ll have to answer for everything that happened to Umemoto."
"And if we gather enough people to demand action against you, are you really prepared to deal with the consequences?"
The entire gym grows tense as they hear the journalists’ arguments, painfully aware that the media has recently begun speaking with almost one voice against Ryoma.
If his reputation collapses, everyone associated with him will inevitably feel the consequences as well.
Yet Ryoma remains completely relaxed, leaning against the top rope with an amused grin.
"You should ask yourself whether you’re really prepared to deal with the consequences yourself."
The journalists exchange puzzled looks, clearly struggling to understand what Ryoma means by turning their own challenge back against them.
Ryoma catches their confusion and lets out a quiet chuckle, his amused expression widening as he watches them search for an answer.
"You seem to forget who you’re dealing with. I am the king here. And when a country loses its king, you already know what happens. The common people are the ones who suffer first. Businesses crumble, order disappears, and everyone beneath that throne pays the price. Even vultures like you, who circle above the battlefield waiting to feast on whatever remains after our wars."
The journalists remain silent for a moment, trying to digest the arrogance behind Ryoma’s words and understand where he is taking them.
"So you’re saying that if your reputation collapses, everyone around you goes down with you?"
"Are you threatening the people who criticize you?"
"Or are you saying that attacking you would hurt the entire organization as well?"
"Or have you simply become so arrogant that you genuinely believe you’re too important to be held accountable?"
"Nope," Ryoma says. "I’m merely giving you vultures a carcass to feast upon. I’ve given you a statement, and I trust you’re clever enough to turn it into whatever story you came here hunting for. Now leave my gym and return to your work."
For a moment, the journalists’ resentment toward Ryoma only deepens, their expressions hardening as they absorb the insult.
But journalists are still journalists, and with material this explosive suddenly handed to them, they waste no time gathering their recorders and notes, almost proving Ryoma’s assessment of them correct.
It takes little time for Ryoma to send them out of the gym. In one sense, his approach has worked; the interruption is over, and the gym can return to its training.
Yet the relief is short-lived. Around the ring, everyone remains uneasy, already considering what those journalists might do with the words Ryoma has just given them.