"Thank you for the offer. I’ll think about it." Content orıginally comes from N()velFire.net
"That’s an interesting opportunity. I’m not sure about my availability."
"I appreciate your interest. I need time to consider my options."
The repetitive deflections eventually took effect. People began to understand that the new champion had no interest in leveraging his victory for social connections or business opportunities. The crowd of opportunists slowly thinned as they recognised the futility of pressing someone who clearly wanted to be left alone.
Hours passed as Noah waited for his scheduled departure, using the time to chill and wait for the journey home. The resort that had been his temporary residence felt oddly empty now that the tournament had concluded.
Finally, his transportation arrived. The bus ride back toward Tokyo felt peaceful after the constant interruptions at the resort, giving Noah time to reflect on everything that had transpired over the past week.
His stop arrived as evening shadows stretched across the city streets. Noah was dropped at Tanaka’s dojo, where his GTR remained parked exactly where he had left it days earlier. The familiar sight of the silver sports car brought a sense of normalcy after the intensity of tournament competition.
Tanaka was waiting outside the dojo entrance with a warm smile that contrasted sharply with the calculated expressions Noah had endured throughout the afternoon. His former master’s presence felt like a welcome return to authentic human connection after hours of superficial networking attempts.
"Noah," Tanaka greeted warmly, his tone carrying pride mixed with concern. "I wanted to see you off properly before you departed."
After talking with Tanaka for about five minutes, their conversation shifted from congratulations to more serious concerns. The master’s expression grew solemn as he broached the topic that had clearly been weighing on his mind.
"Noah, I need you to be extremely careful going forward," Tanaka said, his voice dropping to a more private tone. "Master Hideaki is not the type of man who only strikes at his enemies directly. He understands that sometimes the most effective revenge comes from targeting those someone cares about."
The implication hit immediately. A frown formed on Noah’s face as he processed the warning. It made perfect sense from such a man’s perspective. If Hideaki wanted to truly hurt him, attacking Noah directly might prove difficult or unsatisfying. But going after his father, his cousin Ethan, or anyone else close to him would cause far deeper pain than any physical injury.
The thought of his father becoming collateral damage in a martial arts vendetta made Noah’s blood run cold for a moment. His power meant little if he couldn’t protect the people he loved from threats he might never see coming when he was in his shop.
But soon the frown eased from his face as he remembered the resources at his disposal. He had the Amulet of Protection in his storage, along with several others from his daily rewards. Those magical items could shield his loved ones from harm, creating a defensive barrier that no mundane assassin or vengeful grandmaster could penetrate.
"I appreciate the warning, Master Tanaka," Noah said with genuine gratitude. "I’ll make sure to take precautions for everyone who might be affected."
Tanaka nodded, though his expression suggested he doubted any normal precautions would be sufficient against someone like Hideaki. He had no way of knowing that Noah’s "precautions" involved magical artefacts from another world rather than good, normal security measures.
"Stay safe, Noah. You have remarkable talent that deserves a long future ahead of it."
Noah nodded respectfully to his former teacher one final time before turning toward his GTR.
He settled into the driver’s seat, the familiar interior providing comfort after days away. The engine roared to life with its welcoming growl as Noah pulled out of the dojo’s parking area and began the drive back toward his house.
The Detroit streets passed by as he navigated through evening traffic, his mind already planning to distribute the Amulets of Protection. His father would receive one immediately; that was non-negotiable. Ethan and his family should probably have protection as well, given their current situation with the insurance scammers.
The drive gave him time to process everything that had occurred. The tournament victory, Kenzo’s attempted poisoning, the confrontation with Saika, and now the looming threat of a grandmaster’s revenge. Yet despite all the complications, Noah felt calm and centred.
His capabilities had grown far beyond what any Earth-bound martial artist could threaten, or so he thought, and his resources allowed him to protect those he cared about from dangers they couldn’t even perceive.
As his house came into view, Noah felt the satisfaction of returning home after successfully completing what he had set out to do. The tournament had provided valuable combat experience and confirmed just how far his advancement had taken him beyond normal human limitations.
He pulled into his driveway and killed the engine, sitting for a moment in the quiet darkness while considering his next steps. Tomorrow, he would return to Esta and continue his real training. Tonight, he would rest and make arrangements to protect his loved ones from any potential fallout from his tournament victory.
Inside his house, Noah was greeted by the sight of his father sitting on the sofa, clearly waiting for his return. When Alan heard the click of the door opening, he immediately got up with visible excitement.
"Noah! You’re finally back!" Alan said, his face lighting up with genuine joy. "How did everything go? Did you make it past the semifinals? I’ve been thinking about the tournament all day!"
Despite all of these questions, Alana managed to fit in a good hug in between.
Noah smiled at his father’s enthusiasm, setting down his bag near the entrance. "Everything went well, Dad. Better than well, actually."
"Tell me everything! Did you win your matches? Were the other fighters as skilled as you expected?" Alan pressed, moving closer with the eagerness of someone who had been waiting hours for this conversation.