Chapter 542: A System At Work Within three days since Ryoma’s interview circulated, every Ringside Premium seat has been sold out. And the speed of the sales becomes a story in itself. Japanese sports outlets begin shifting their tone. What was once described as a risky gamble starts being discussed as a potential turning point. Why are so many influential figures securing front row seats? What are they expecting to see? Back in the modest gym office, Nakahara and Kurogane stare at the updated figures on the tablet as if the numbers might rearrange themselves under closer scrutiny. "Sold out..." Kurogane says quietly, as though saying it too loudly might undo it. "All Ringside Premium, sold out. Every payment cleared. No cancellations." Another notification appears. Kurogane taps it open, scanning quickly. "Gold tier inquiry. Corporate." Nakahara exhales slowly, somewhere between disbelief and realization. "This isn’t random." Kurogane scrolls through the transaction details, his eyes sharpening as he notices the registered billing information. "It doesn’t feel like it," he replies. "Most of these purchases aren’t even domestic." Nakahara looks up. "Outside Japan?" Kurogane nods, scrolling further down the transaction list. "Thailand. The U.K. The U.S. Several routed through overseas corporate accounts." His thumb stops. "There’s even one group from Kazakhstan." Nakahara blinks. "Kazakhstan?" Kurogane zooms in on the billing details. "This might sound far-fetched, but I’d put money on that being Aleksandr Volkov’s camp." Nakahara’s gaze sharpens at once. The name carries weight. The reigning WBA Lightweight champion does not travel casually. "Volkov..." Nakahara mutters. "Cold. Methodical. Soviet-school technician," Kurogane continues. "If he’s coming, he won’t be here for spectacle. He’ll be studying." "And he won’t come alone," Nakahara says. "No," Kurogane agrees. "His trainer, Oleg Markovic, is known for turning scouting trips into strategic groundwork." Nakahara looks back at the seating map, at the glowing front row seats now occupied by unseen presences. Kazakhstan does not send its champion across continents for curiosity. If Aleksandr Volkov is coming, it means one thing. Ryoma is already under their radar. *** 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶 Meanwhile, at Kowa Sports Marketing, the atmosphere transforms. The department, once cautious and measured, now buzzes with overlapping conversations and ringing phones. Mihara Kazuhiro stands at his desk, speaking into a receiver while scanning projected layouts and sponsorship tiers spread before him. "Yes, Silver still has availability," he says steadily. "Branding near the fighter walkway can be discussed. We can also expand digital placement through the broadcast package." He listens carefully, adjusting figures with a pen while maintaining a composed tone. "Alright. I’ll send the revised proposal shortly." When the call ends, he remains still for a moment, absorbing the sudden acceleration of interest. Only days ago, persuading sponsors requires careful explanation. Now inquiries arrive unprompted. Moments later, a staff member approaches his desk. "Mihara-san, we’ve received an inquiry from a Korean company." "Korea?" Kazuhiro repeats, lifting his head. Before he can respond further, another voice calls out from across the room. "There’s one from Singapore as well." Kazuhiro leans back slowly, trying to understand the pattern forming in front of him. "Why all at once?" he murmurs. One colleague offers a tentative explanation. "They might have been watching from the beginning. Now seeing ringside sell out in just two days probably convinced them this event has traction." Another adds, "Gold and Silver VIP seats are already half gone." The room fills with rising momentum as overlapping conversations and ringing phones layer over one another. Kazuhiro slowly comes to realize that something intangible has shifted. It is not merely ticket sales that are increasing. The public perception has drastically changed too. The phones do not stop ringing. What begins as a manageable surge turns into a steady stream of inquiries that stretches into late afternoon. By early evening, the lights outside the office windows have begun to dim, but no one reaches for their coat. Kazuhiro stands near the center of the department, reviewing a revised sponsorship package while listening to another staff member summarize incoming interest from a regional brand. When he finally looks up at the wall clock, he realizes it is already past their usual closing time. "Everyone," he calls out. "I know it’s late. But we’re staying tonight. Prioritize the Gold and Silver conversions first. If they’re serious, we secure them before the weekend." No one complains. If anything, the energy sharpens. As dusk settles over the city, Kazuhiro watches his team return to their calls and spreadsheets with renewed focus. *** Meanwhile, at Korakuen Hall, the atmosphere is electric. The arena is sold out. Not only with fans eager for the East Block Rookie Tournament semifinal, but with journalists lining the designated media section, cameras and recorders ready. Their attention drifts repeatedly toward the blue corner, not because of the rookie preparing to fight, but because of the man standing just outside the ropes. Ryoma Takeda. The young OPBF champion who publicly declared himself a co-promoter only days ago now stands in the role of chief-second, licensed and composed, wearing a cornerman’s jacket instead of gloves. Even his team is young. Hiroshi stands ready with the stool and water. Kenta prepares the towel. Kenta watches the ring with sharp, restless focus. Nakahara is absent tonight, remaining at the gym office alongside Kurogane to monitor the sudden surge in coordination with Kowa’s headquarters in Kanagawa. In the media section of the upper stands, a small cluster of journalists leans toward one another, exchanging low remarks as the bell signals the end of the first round. Below them, Satoru Yoshitomo sits on his stool in the blue corner, leaning forward slightly while Ryoma speaks close to his ear, delivering instructions in an unbreakable composure. "This is absurd," one journalist mutters. "Champion, co-promoter, and now chief-second? He’s stretching himself thin." "It’s risky," another agrees. "One mistake and they’ll call it arrogance." A third shakes his head. "Or ambition without limits." But a more observant reporter keeps his eyes on the ring. "Look at that rookie. He came into this tournament with one win and one loss. Biggest underdog in the bracket. And he already eliminated Kaga Shigetaka." "Shigetaka underestimated him," someone counters. "Did he?" the reporter replies. "Then watch how that kid controls this fight." In the blue corner stands Enomoto Juzaburo, an aggressive puncher who scores a spectacular second-round knockout in his previous bout. He stalks forward as the bell rings, shoulders tight with intent. But Satoru does not meet aggression with aggression. He stands composed, almost detached, listening to the simple instructions Ryoma gives before the round. "Left. Left. Left." The words echo in Satoru’s mind as he moves. "Pivot. Change angles. Jab." He does not fight with visible intensity. His expression remains blank, focused entirely on execution. Each jab lands cleanly, not hard, but precise. Each pivot denies Juzaburo the angle he wants. The crowd senses the tension, but Satoru never appears rushed. Gradually, frustration creeps into Juzaburo’s movements. His steps grow heavier. His punches become wider. And Satoru’s jabs continue. Left. Left. Left. They are not dramatic. They are not flashy. But they chip away at composure. Juzaburo begins to swing harder, trying to break the rhythm. His punches cut through air more often than they land. When the situation has become this chaotic, the next instruction surfaces inside Satoru’s mind. "Stop the jab. And watch." He lowers his output. He focuses on defense, letting Juzaburo believe the pressure is finally working. "Wait..." A hook whistles past his guard. "Wait..." Juzaburo lunges forward again, convinced the tide is turning. Satoru takes a subtle half step forward this time, dropping his right glove just enough to expose his chin. He twitches as if about to throw, then hesitates. Juzaburo sees the hesitation, and decides to punish it. "Eat this..." But Satoru has already pulled his lead foot back, his head sliding just out of range. The hook slices past his face, and... "Now!" The counter explodes from his right hand. The impact echoes sharply, and the arena falls into stunned silence as Juzaburo’s body stiffens before collapsing to the canvas at Satoru’s feet. The referee does not count. He waves both arms immediately, a technical knockout at the final minute of the second round. Satoru stands still, breathing steady. There is no roar of triumph in his expression, only confirmation. He turns toward the red corner and raises his right glove, the one that delivers the counter, in a small firm gesture. Ryoma meets his eyes and gives a single nod. He stays calm, as if the outcome is written long before the punch is thrown. In the media section, the earlier critics fall quiet. "Now you see it," a reporter says. "That wasn’t reckless. That wasn’t just a rookie winning. That was instruction executed perfectly. That was a system working." A pause settles between them, until someone mutters, half in disbelief, half in reluctant admiration, "A young OPBF champion. A co-promoter. And now... a prodigy trainer." Then a veteran journalist, a man whose byline has followed Japanese boxing for decades, folds his notebook shut. "If anyone thinks that mega-event at Yoyogi is going to be the end of his career," he says calmly, "they should prepare for the opposite. I’ve covered this sport long enough to recognize a shift when I see one." The younger reporters glance toward him. The veteran then nods subtly toward Ryoma, who stands near the red corner with the same composed expression he carries before a fight. "I’m putting my name on this kid," he continues. "I’ll follow that boy to the end of his road. Before long, he won’t just headline in Japan. He’ll be the face of Japanese boxing on the global stage." No one laughs this time, no one scoffs. Because after what they have just witnessed, the statement no longer sounds exaggerated.