Sagat had already been standing outside the door for a while.
When it came to Yang, Sagat had never known how he was supposed to face him—indeed, he didn’t even know whether he ought to hate him.
The reason was simple: this was not the first time.
If his previous battle with Ryu had merely been because his own disciple had run rampant terrorizing the locals, and Ryu, seeing injustice on the road, had drawn his blade to lend a hand—that was still only a personal grievance between warriors, between fighters.
But this time, he had not only been defeated, he had also been arrested by Interpol…
If not for the Thai King’s grace…
And now, the very man who had defeated him was right there inside the room.
How was Sagat supposed to face this?
Revenge?
But hadn’t he set out on this very path for the sake of revenge?
Just as Sagat was still mulling it over, the conversation between Yang and the others drifted to his ears.
And upon hearing Yang ask whether the punishment could be lightened through a “victim’s pardon,” Sagat could no longer hold back the emotions and bafflement within him.
Pushing open the door and stooping to step inside, he said: “There’s no need for that.” “Hm?” Seeing Sagat come in, a trace of confusion crossed Yang’s face, and then he turned a somewhat startled gaze toward Dorai beside him.
Plainly dressed, the bargain old uncle scratched his head and said, “The Thai King’s envoy won’t arrive for a while yet.
In the meantime, Sagat will be staying here temporarily…
well, mainly because Interpol’s Hong Kong headquarters has suffered an infiltration.” Dorai sighed.
“The Hong Kong headquarters is currently undergoing a major purge, and I happen to be the only person the international headquarters still trusts.
On top of that, Sagat has had a cooperative attitude since his arrest, so this is how it was all arranged.” Seeing Yang somewhat astonished, Sagat, standing nearby, fell silent for a moment before pulling up his trouser leg.
It was only then that Yang noticed Sagat had, at some unknown point, changed into long trousers.
Because of his proportions and height, Sagat wore shorts most of the time.
Apart from being more casual and comfortable for someone of his build, the main reason was that it better facilitated his Muay Thai.
But now, Sagat had put on long trousers, the legs of which were even somewhat baggy.
Now that he had pulled them up, what came into Yang’s view was an electronic shackle at least two centimeters thick.
“The two electronic shackles are each loaded with zero-point-three kilograms of high-energy explosive,” Sagat said expressionlessly.
“Combined with a high-voltage current, until Dorai grants authorization, a single command can paralyze me on the spot—or take my lower body from me.” Beside him, Dorai nodded and added, “Beyond that, my own vital signs are also linked remotely to headquarters.
If no data is uploaded for a certain stretch of time, these shackles will detonate as well.” “I see.” Hearing this, Yang didn’t pay it much mind, only looking at Sagat and saying, “So…
why did you say there’s no need?” “Because I don’t understand.” Sagat looked at Yang, arms folded across his chest.
Because Go Hibiki had taken one of his eyes in their earlier battle, Sagat’s face now bore an eyepatch.
Even so, that single remaining eye still brimmed with a chilling severity that made one shudder.
Looking at Yang, Sagat clearly had not softened his attitude on account of Yang’s forgiveness.
Or rather, just as he had said, he didn’t understand.
“I nearly killed you…
no, I should say I did kill you.
It was only because of that miraculous energy of yours that you came back to life, as if you carried an automatic defibrillator on you.” “A grudge like that…
why are you able to forgive me?
I killed you—how could you possibly forgive me?” Sagat demanded of Yang.
At this, Chun-Li, Dorai, and the others standing nearby wore looks of bewilderment.
Dorai could still keep his composure, but Chun-Li wasn’t about to bother with all that.
Or perhaps it was precisely because Chun-Li had truly fought Sagat, had faced that undisguised Satsui no Hadō head-on, that even now she remained fully on guard against him.
Sure enough, seeing Sagat interrogate Yang like this, question after question, Chun-Li shot to her feet, indignation on her face.
“What’s that supposed to mean?!
Yang clearly—” “Hold on, Chun-Li.” Grabbing Chun-Li’s hand and meeting her puzzled gaze, Yang shook his head, turning his eyes toward Sagat as he said: “What sort of doubt are you carrying inside?
If you can, take your time and tell me.” Seeing how calm Yang was, Sagat pressed his lips together, then looked at him and asked in earnest, “Why…
would you forgive me?” Sensing the resentment and pent-up bitterness in Sagat’s eyes, Yang fell silent for a moment, then nodded thoughtfully.
A great many times, the knot in a person’s heart over some matter can never be judged by appearances alone.
Though Sagat now appeared to be asking Yang why he had forgiven him, in truth it was directly connected to the story that had unfolded between Sagat and Ryu.
Back when he was defeated by Ryu, Sagat had lost nearly all his honor—even his own disciple looked down on him and betrayed him.
And now, even though Sagat had nearly killed Yang, the very moment Yang awoke and learned what had happened to him, he asked whether Sagat’s punishment might be lightened through a victim’s pardon.
Sagat could not understand it…
This was death, after all.
And Yang’s meridians were now severed clean through—as a practitioner of ancient Muay Thai, Sagat understood all too well just how grave an impact that carried.
Even though Yang and Gen kept saying things like “it won’t be a serious problem,” to Sagat it was nothing more than putting on a brave face in a bitter situation…
An injury severe enough to leave a warrior, a fighter, outright ‘finished’—how could it possibly have no effect at all?
At the very least, Sagat couldn’t understand it…
couldn’t understand it in the slightest.
If something like this could be forgiven as a matter of course…
then what had it all been for—everything he himself had done, the revenge he had craved?!
Was it all a joke?!
Meeting the resentment in Sagat’s gaze, Yang too fell silent for a moment, then looked at him and asked, “When you killed me…
did you feel happy?” “…Hm?” Hearing Yang’s words, Sagat was slightly taken aback, then sank into silence.
After a moment he looked at Yang and said, “Those words of yours…
what are they supposed to mean now?” “Killing me, or killing Go Hibiki, or in the very moment you claimed victory…
did you get what you wanted?
Did you feel happy, or satisfied?” “…So I’m asking you—what do you mean?!” Sagat clenched his fists without even realizing it.
He couldn’t make sense of what Yang was saying, yet he could feel that Yang was putting into words something he had never noticed—something that had veiled his heart and his eyes.
“Those endings you’re unwilling to accept—they mean the journey isn’t over yet.” ____ 👻🔥Walnut-chan in “P” for more!🔥👻 🔥 New history: