In a dimly lit luxurious hall, Argeus sat comfortably on a plush crimson sofa, fingers drumming lazily on the armrest. In front of him stood four imposing figures — knights cloaked in white, each bearing the symbol of a four-leaf clover stitched proudly on their backs.
"So," one of the knights asked coldly, "when are we getting our money? Oliver already finished your target. He even brought that teddy for you."
Argeus chuckled, eyes glinting with malice. He raised his hand, revealing three cards between his fingers. "Choose," he said, his voice dripping with mockery. "If you pick the wrong one, you don't get paid. Pick the right one, and the money is yours."
One of the knights, clearly the most impatient, stormed forward. "Who do you think we are—"
Before the man could finish, Argeus's hand flashed — a thin, almost invisible blade slicing through the air — and in the next instant, the knight let out a muffled gurgle, clutching at his mouth as blood began dripping from the stump where his tongue had been.
The knight's hood fell back, revealing his long red hair and green, lizard-like eyes. But to Argeus's amusement, the wound regenerated in seconds, a fresh tongue growing from the ruined flesh.
Argeus smiled darkly. "A deal is always two-sided. Why would I dare cheat the mighty Four Clover Knights?" He lazily waved his hand. "As soon as Shinji and Charlie deliver the secrets of artificial Zenssai, I'll give you everything I promised."
The red-haired knight's eyes narrowed, but he gave a sharp nod. "Very well." Without another word, the knights vanished, melting into the shadows.
Scene shift.
Kai's limp body plummeted down the cliffside, his unconscious form bouncing off sharp rocks and tumbling through thorny branches. He finally crashed through the limbs of a massive tree, landing with a painful thud on the forest floor.
The sound caught the attention of a traveler wandering nearby.
He was a striking figure: long, jet-black hair tied neatly behind him, a well-groomed beard, and brilliant golden eyes that gleamed even in the shadowy woods. He wore a bright honey-gold hero costume with a vivid red cape flowing behind him.
The man's eyes lit up as he spotted Kai, crumpled and bleeding. With a grin, he whispered to himself, "Ah… even the gods acknowledge a hero when they see one." He clenched his fists dramatically. "It's time for me to shine! Let's go, Ijin Man!"
Calling his own name with passion, Ijin Man hoisted Kai's unconscious body over his shoulder and carried him through the forest to a hidden cave. There, he built a crackling fire and began chopping vegetables, humming cheerfully to himself.
Kai stirred awake, the scent of food and the sound of the knife against the chopping board pulling him back to consciousness. His first instinct was to reach for his sword, but when his hand found nothing, panic shot through him.
"Looking for this?" Ijin Man asked innocently, holding up Kai's precious sword, Ivar, between two fingers.
Kai snatched the sword back, bowing slightly. "Thank you for saving me," he muttered before quickly turning to leave.
But behind him, Ijin's cheerful voice suddenly turned sharp. "Hey, kid… you've angered me."
Kai paused, glancing back with a confused frown. "What?"
"My name…" Ijin said slowly, standing dramatically with one hand on his hip and the other raised toward the sky, "is not just 'man.' It's Ijin Man — the hero!"
Kai gave him an awkward, creeped-out look. "Y-yeah… Ijin."
But Ijin stepped forward with a wide grin. "No, no, no… it's Ijin Man!"
Kai clenched his fists in frustration. "Okay, okay, Ijin Man, what do you want?"
With a heroic sparkle in his golden eyes, Ijin Man raised his fists proudly. "You should thank a hero with respect, kid!"
Kai narrowed his eyes, unimpressed. "And what power do you even have to call yourself a hero?"
Ijin Man grinned wider. "A king's heart… and two fists." He raised his fists toward the sky, his red cape billowing dramatically behind him. "That's all a true hero needs!"
End of Chapter 17