The sessions were grueling but illuminating, focusing on internal development rather than external show. Power without purpose is just violence, Thelma explained as they practiced a subtle weight shifting exercise. True strength comes from knowing when not to strike. At the dojo, tensions continued to rise. Tyler, still smarting from his early uh elimination at challenge day, publicly confronted Josh during a sparring session.
"Think you're special now because you're grandma's pet? " He taunted. "Let's see what you've got. " The match that followed shocked everyone. Josh fought differently. Gone was the aggressive, showy style his father had drilled into him. Instead, he moved economically, calmly, using Tyler's own momentum against him.
When it ended with Tyler on the mat, he looked up at Josh with a mixture of resentment and confusion. "What the hell was that? " he demanded. "Since when do you fight like that? " Josh offered his hand to help Tyler up. "Since I started learning for myself instead of for someone else. " Meanwhile, Mia had become something of an investigative journalist. Her initial video had led to connections with martial arts historians and former competitors who remembered Thelma from the '70s.
Each conversation revealed another piece of the puzzle. "Kojiro wasn't just a fight promoter," she explained to Josh as they compared notes in the dojo lobby. "He ran an entire underground network, illegal betting, fixed matches, even protection rackets for dojos in certain Tokyo districts. " "And Thelma exposed him? " "Not intentionally," Mia said. "She was supposed to lose a match against his champion. When she won instead, the betting syndicate lost millions.
Kojiro was disgraced. " "So now his son wants revenge? " Josh concluded. "But why wait 50 years? That's what I'm trying to figure out. According to my sources, Kojiro disappeared from the fight scene shortly after the scandal. Some say he went to prison, others think he fled to Korea.
Well, someone's rebuilding his operation here, Josh said grimly. That Hiroshi guy wasn't just some random challenger. Their research was interrupted by an unusual sight. Tyler approaching them with none of his usual swagger. Hey, he said awkwardly.
Can I talk to you guys for a second? Josh and Mia exchanged surprised glances, but made room for him on the bench. I saw something weird yesterday, Tyler began. Erica was in her office with some guy I've never seen before. They were arguing about the tournament brackets, something about ensuring certain matchups.
She was rigging the tournament? Mia asked incredulous. Tyler nodded uncomfortably. It's not the first time. She did the same thing before the regional competition last year.
He paused, then added reluctantly, and she knew about my supplements. Covered it up because she needed me to win. The performance enhancers in your locker, Josh said, understanding dawning. She knew? Yeah.