The two cars continued their chase on the pebble-strewn dry riverbed. The remaining small puddles splashed out residual water when the tires rolled over them, making no more noise than Saburo Arasaka's whimper before his death.
The two cars, one in front and one behind, were in silent confrontation; the speed of their tires was their only weapon.
And as the distance between the two cars gradually closed, the outcome seemed decided.
Abandoned houses made of steel bars and plywood lined the riverbank. The winding riverbed suggested the rapid flow of the river in the past, and the pebbles in the riverbed were white and smooth like prehistoric giant eggs.
Just as Mitsuhide wanted to use these words to describe everything he saw, the luxury car ahead, as if knowing escape was impossible, sharply turned, kicking up a pile of stones, and stopped.
Things were changing.
Looking at the stopped vehicle, as if dead, Mitsuhide got out of the car.
Finally.
He couldn't wait to uncover the mystery.
Anders, he was determined to get him.
At the same time, the door of the opposite car also opened.
And the person who emerged was someone Mitsuhide hadn't expected.
"I never thought it would be you."
Mitsuhide's hand, gripping his katana hilt, stiffened slightly; he could hardly believe his eyes.
"We meet again, Samurai…"
Hearing this distinctly sushi-flavored English, there was no need to guess who it was.
Indeed, it was Saburo Arasaka's former chief Bodyguard, Goro Takemura.
It was this guy again, wearing a long black trench coat with an incongruous white shirt underneath, his hair tied in a samurai topknot, looking even more like a samurai than Mitsuhide.
He got out of the car, clenching his fist.
A katana, acquired from who-knows-where, also hung at his waist.
"Although it's good to see you again, I still want to ask, Anders Hellman, is that German guy with glasses in your car?"
Although he said he was happy, Mitsuhide's tightly gripped katana hilt betrayed him.
Actually, facing Mitsuhide, he still felt a little nervous.
"He is my 'guest' now…"
Goro Takemura.
This chief Bodyguard of Saburo Arasaka.
Born in the slums, he became Arasaka Corporation's most ruthless enforcer.
And now, he stood before Mitsuhide once again.
They say Stand users attract each other.
Mitsuhide now had to wonder if those who wield katanas also attracted each other.
Otherwise, how could Goro Takemura happen to share the same target as him?
In the silent confrontation, the atmosphere grew increasingly heavy.
The focus of the scene seemed to be shifting to the katanas at their waists and the hands gripping them... Goro Takemura's origins were not ideal.
Born in the slums, he tasted the iron fist of society's 'love' from the moment he left his mother's womb.
Without a job or education, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he literally lived by scavenging for food.
Until one day, this destined-to-be-extraordinary man was favored by the Iron Fist itself and became the chosen one.
Training, brainwashing—he became Saburo Arasaka's most loyal dog.
Goro Takemura undoubtedly underwent a certain transformation during his decades-long career as an Agent.
From being a victim of the company, he became the most loyal dog of the company's big boss.
A man who remains loyal even after his master dies.
A stray dog—that was the final description.
But unfortunately, this was a stray dog that could really fight.
Instead of begging on the streets like other down-and-out people, he could cause greater harm.
And now, his goal was simple.
That was to overthrow the rule of Yorinobu Arasaka, the current head of the Arasaka Corporation.
Unlike in the game, in reality, he didn't receive help from V or Berry.
In the end, he chose to solve it himself.
To uncover the truth, he first decided to capture Anders Hellman, the chief engineer of the Relic who had defected early, seemingly knowing something about the impending coup at the Arasaka Corporation.
He was indeed very capable.
So capable that, unlike V in the game's storyline, he didn't need an aerial strike halfway through to catch Anders, who was protected by heavy Kang Tao forces in the wilderness.
This guy straight up stole an armored vehicle and dared to charge single-handedly into the Kang Tao base guarding Anders, dragging Anders out.
If Mitsuhide and the others hadn't intercepted him now, he would have almost succeeded.
Therefore, Takemura was now staring solemnly at the man in front of him who possessed Saburo's Personal Katana.
This was the final obstacle to success.
The two men, sharing the same goal, stared at each other. A lethal atmosphere spread, and their invisible auras began to clash.
A great katana battle on the abandoned riverbed seemed inevitable.
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