Rory was emitting aura as if to intimidate Harden, but Harden just stood in place, unfazed, as he looked him in the eye.
"Pleasure meeting you, Rory," Harden said, extending his hand for a handshake.
Rory accepted Harden's handshake and squeezed hard on his hand. Harden returned the gesture, squeezing hard as well, but neither one could overpower the other.
"You're quite something, Harden Blade," Rory said, breaking the handshake. "I hope we'll meet again — preferably during the finals."
And with these words, he was on his way.
What the heck was that about? Is he someone I should be worried about? Harden thought.
"Who was that guy?" Raizo asked, walking towards Harden with skill books and a katana in his hands.
"He said he was Rory and it seems like he's going to participate in the tournament. He's quite strong too," Harden said.
"I guess the fact that he's with a sword means he's in the Samurai class."
"Yeah, I guess so," Harden replied.
"On that note... if I were to fight him, Harden, who'd win?" Raizo asked.
"Honestly, I'm almost certain he'd defeat you," Harden said.
Raizo's fingers wrapped tightly around the hilt of his sword, his knuckles whitening with pressure as he spoke.
"I see. I'll prove you wrong," he said.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Amy said as she approached the group. "Why the long faces?" she continued.
"It's nothing. Let's just head back," Harden said.
"If you say so. Sure," Amy replied.
The group headed back to Hawkins's basement, which had become their conventional training ground.
"That was an interesting exchange," a man wearing a trench coat said, watching from a distance. "Rory and Harden... seems like there's more for me to crush," the man said, laughing.