Originally, if the Japan Team hadn't admitted defeat, there would have been a losers' bracket final in the afternoon, and only then would the last match of this King of Fighters tournament be held the next day. But now that the Japan Team surrendered, everything could only be moved ahead to this afternoon.
However, everyone present knew that the Psychic Soldiers Team simply wasn't a match for the Kagura Team. The afternoon match would at most be going through the motions, so fans of the Kagura Team were already calling for the organizers to announce the result directly ahead of time.
But this drew dissatisfaction from the Psychic Soldiers Team… or rather, Athena's fans. Even if they couldn't win, the match still had to go on. That way, they could continue watching their idol perform.
Similarly, quite a few spectators started arguing with the Kagura Team's fans. They came to watch matches. No matter who wins or loses, as long as there's a match, that's enough.
So the spectator stands became noisy and chaotic. Some fans of strong teams even began furiously yelling back and forth with the Kagura Team's fans.
"Fans really are a crazy group."
Seeing bottled water flying overhead, Helena protected Sharan with one arm while muttering…
"The Psychic Soldiers Team chooses to admit defeat."
"The organizers announce that this match is officially over. The champions are the Kagura Team, the runners-up are the Psychic Soldiers Team, and the third-place team is the Women Fighters Team."
While the audience in the stands were still arguing like crazy, the Psychic Soldiers Team, after discussing for a while, decided to surrender.
After the organizers received their declaration of surrender, they simply announced the results directly.
Although doing it this way made the tournament feel like a strong start with a weak finish, since the organizers had already announced the results, the audience couldn't complain. After all, the tickets were free, no loss either way.
And everyone knew that the Psychic Soldiers Team admitting defeat was the most dignified choice. The Kagura Team was simply too strong.
Not to mention Aiden, just Maki alone was enough to defeat an entire team by herself, not to mention Chizuru, who hadn't even gone on stage once. This also led many to suspect that Chizuru might actually be the strongest member of the Kagura Team.
But no matter what, the first King of Fighters tournament had finally come to an end. Although it wasn't perfectly executed, at least nothing went terribly wrong.
After that, the spectators exited the venue, and Aiden and the others met up with Mai Shiranui's group at one of the stadium's exits. The other fighter teams greeted each other and mostly went their separate ways, except for Aiden's group and one other team that stayed behind.
The Ikari Team.
After all, their reason for joining this tournament was purely because of Rugal. But now they still hadn't even seen a shadow of Rugal, and they were unwilling to leave just like that.
So they followed Aiden's group to this exit, because earlier the organizers had said that the champion team would be invited by the organizers to board a private aircraft carrier docked at a nearby port.
But the organizers made it clear that only the champion team could board that private carrier. So the three members of the Ikari Team could only stand far away, discussing how to follow behind Aiden's group and sneak into the carrier.
Meanwhile, Aiden and the others were discussing something, whether to attend the banquet prepared by the organizers or go elsewhere on their own to drink and celebrate.
But before they reached a decision, two women walked over.
Mature and Vice.
Seeing them appear, Shermie immediately waved and greeted them, while Maki instantly shifted into a defensive stance.
She sensed the Orochi aura from Mature and Vice.
Aside from Aiden and Shermie, the others didn't understand why Maki suddenly reacted like that, and looked at her with curious eyes. Chizuru froze for a moment, then instantly understood and also looked cautiously at Mature and Vice as they approached.
"Don't be so tense. They're the same as Shermie."
Aiden quietly said to the Kagura sisters, then turned his head toward Mature and Vice again.
"Rugal wants to see you." Mature folded her arms as she spoke, her gaze sizing up the Kagura sisters.
"Who's Rugal?"
This question came from Mai.
"The organizer of this tournament," Mature casually answered her.
"Oh! Him!" Mai suddenly understood.
"I almost forgot, the champion team still has to go to the organizer's private carrier to receive the award… Hey, I remember the champion prize money is one hundred million. Aiden, you're gonna be rich!"
At this moment, Chizuru said disdainfully, "Only a hundred million? That's nothing. If Aiden wants it, I can take out ten billion easily for him."
"We get it, you're rich and don't care about this petty money. Hmph, what's there to show off?" Mai pouted. She already didn't get along with Chizuru, so she immediately turned her head away, refusing to look at her.
Now Aiden looked at Mature with some surprise. "Rugal has guts that big?"
This made several people around him look confused, they didn't understand what he meant by that.
But although the others didn't know, Mature and Vice understood what he meant.
"Who knows? Maybe he's lost his mind," Vice shrugged, speaking badly of Rugal with clear malice. Then she looked at the frowning Maki, and gave her a smile that, in Maki's eyes, was extremely sinister.
This made Maki furrow her brows even tighter. After thinking for a moment, she whispered to Aiden, "Aiden, we'd better not go. I keep feeling that guy named Rugal has bad intentions, and so do they."
Maki pointed at Mature and Vice. The Three Sacred Treasures clan naturally disliked the Hakkesshu. Even if Aiden said they were like Shermie and had abandoned their destiny, she still didn't trust them.
And this also made the Kagura sisters feel wary of Rugal, after all, anyone willing to hire two Hakkesshu members couldn't be a good person.
"I actually want to go." Aiden shook his head. He really wanted to figure out what Rugal was trying to do… Couldn't he see that he wasn't Aiden's opponent at all?
"In that case, let's all go then." Maki would never oppose Aiden's decision.
At this moment, Mature shook her head. "Sorry, but Rugal only invited Aiden, only him."
"What?"
"Then we're not going."
The Kagura sisters said one after the other.
But Aiden said, "If it's just me, then it's just me."
Seeing them still wanting to say something, Aiden continued, "Don't you trust my strength? Don't worry, nothing will happen."
Hearing that, the sisters could only stop trying to persuade him and watched Aiden leave with Mature and Vice.
Meanwhile, Mai and the others stood there confused. They had no idea how receiving an award turned into something that seemed dangerous.
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