My Scumbag System Chapter 499: The Whole World is Watching

The dawn broke over New Vein City, much like the commencement of a grand performance.

Park Hyun-Jae's booming voice permeated millions of homes, his holographic likeness appearing in living rooms spanning from Veridian Hills to the city's furthest reaches.

Sterling Weaver leaned forward at the news desk, his neatly styled salt-and-pepper hair complementing an intense expression, as if he were announcing the world's final moments rather than a mere student tournament.

"Seven years," he declared. "Seven consecutive years the Argent Sentinels have held the championship. But this year? The betting markets have experienced a significant shift. For the very first time in the academy's history, the Onyx Hounds are the favorites to claim the title."

Isaiah Foster brought up the current odds on his tablet. "The Hounds are at three-to-one. The Sentinels are at five-to-one. The Phantoms are listed at eight-to-one, the Vipers at twelve, and the Strikers at a distant twenty."

"And when we speak of the Hounds," Sterling continued, his tone softening to one of reverence, "we are essentially speaking of a single individual. One remarkable visage. One vexingly handsome maverick who has taken this academy by absolute storm."

The screen transitioned to footage of Satori: glimpses of his training, his performances in the Gate runs, and the Crucible duel with Reyna, where lightning itself seemed to bend to his command as if he were the very embodiment of the tempest.

"Satori Nakano," Hyun-Jae announced. "Known as the Stray Dog. The late bloomer who only achieved his manifestation at seventeen yet managed to persuade a substantial portion of the academy's most promising talents to join him in the campus's least reputable guild. The young man who rescued the President's sister. The madman who vanquished an A-Rank Boss using nothing but a baseball bat. And, of course, the heartthrob of New Vein."

"That last designation is unofficial," Isaiah interjected.

"The internet vociferously disagrees." Hyun-Jae displayed trending hashtags. "#StrayDogWatch holds the number one global spot. #NakanoDaddy is trending across seventeen nations. An entire online community is dedicated to dissecting his training videos."

Within a modest apartment in the Asahi District, Emi’s father, Haruto, sipped his morning coffee, his attention fixed on the broadcast playing on their aging television set.

"Is that the young man?" His wife, Hanako, leaned over his shoulder, gazing at the screen. "The one our daughter is constantly texting about?"

"So it seems."

"He is quite handsome."

"He is incredibly dangerous," Haruto countered. "Observe his eyes. You are not looking at a boy engaging in a hunt. You are witnessing someone who has already faced death and defiantly spat in its face."

The on-screen footage depicted Satori standing triumphantly over a defeated Hydra, blood trickling from his nose, a wild grin plastered across his face.

"Our daughter is infatuated with that sort of spectacle?" Hanako sank back into her chair, looking stunned. "We might be grandparents before we even reach fifty."

"Don't tempt fate like that."

In the opulent Presidential Tower, Seraphina stood by her window, her gaze sweeping across the sprawling cityscape. Behind her, three separate screens displayed the broadcast, each showing different perspectives of the tournament preparations.

Commander Graves stood at rigid attention. "The surveillance teams have been deployed and are in their designated positions. We will maintain constant observation of Nakano throughout the entire event."

"Excellent."

"The betting markets are certainly intriguing," Graves continued. "Professional bookmakers are showing a considerable preference for the Hounds. This is highly unusual. Never against the Sentinels."

"People are drawn to an underdog narrative," Seraphina stated, her reflection in the glass revealing nothing of her emotions. "Especially when the underdog possesses such a striking appearance."

"You do not believe his popularity is solely attributed to his looks."

"I believe Satori Nakano possesses a remarkable talent for inspiring belief in others. Whether that belief is ultimately warranted remains to be determined."

The screen shifted to footage of Celeste walking alongside Satori on the academy grounds, both engaged in shared laughter over something only they seemed to comprehend.

Seraphina's jaw tightened, an almost imperceptible movement.

"Increase the surveillance detail twofold," she commanded. "I require a complete report on every word he exchanges with my sister. Every glance. Every physical contact."

"Understood, Madame President."

Within the dormitory of the Scarlet Phantoms, Diego lounged on a sofa, casually eating cereal while observing the broadcast on the expansive wall screen.

"They're showing the kiss again," he announced to the room at large.

Leo passed by without pausing. "Which kiss are you referring to?"

"The one with the Princess. Celeste. The clip from the medical bay."

Kira emerged from a hallway and stopped to watch. The recently leaked footage depicted Satori and Celeste seated on a hospital bed, their hands clasped, both chuckling at something occurring off-camera.

"That's not the kiss that truly captured everyone's attention," Kira remarked. "The kiss that everyone is talking about is the one with Natalia. The one where she essentially declared to the entire academy that he belongs to her."

"Multiple romantic encounters," Diego mused. "Involving different young women. This individual is living out the ultimate teenage boy fantasy while simultaneously making a significant portion of the academy desire his demise."

Reyna strode into the doorway, clad in her combat attire. "Have you three finished your middle-schooler-level gossiping?"

"Just admiring the competition," Diego responded, raising his bowl in a mock toast. "Our fearless leader managed a stalemate against this guy. That certainly earns respect."

"I'm going to defeat him today," Reyna stated tonelessly.

"Oh, I'm sure," Kira's smile was sharp. "That's precisely why you've rewatched the Crucible footage eighty-three times."

"Eighty-four," Leo corrected.

Reyna flashed them both a middle finger and departed.

On the screen, the news anchors continued their in-depth analysis. Sterling brought up various social media posts, thousands of them scrolling by in a rapid blur.

"The internet has firmly chosen its sides," he announced. "Team Stray Dog versus Team Sentinels. Team Underdog versus Team Legacy. And the most popular post circulating this morning comes from someone posing the very question on everyone's mind."

The screen then displayed a viral post, accumulating forty-seven thousand likes.

The leading reply had garnered sixty thousand likes.

In Graystone Park, within a cramped apartment reeking of instant ramen and lingering regrets, Mrs. Tanaka sat beside her husband, both fixated on the television with moisture gathering in their eyes.

"That's our Satori," she whispered. "Kimiko's boy."

"He's grown up so much," Mr. Tanaka murmured, roughly wiping his eyes. "The kid who used to have his lunch money pilfered every week. And now, look at him."

Visible on the screen, Satori walked alongside Natalia across the academy grounds. Both were attired in combat gear, moving with the profound confidence of individuals who had endured hell together and emerged victorious, hand in hand.

"Kimiko never relinquished her faith in him," Mrs. Tanaka said. "When every other person declared he'd never achieve anything, when the doctors stated he'd never manifest, when he spent all those years being overlooked. She held onto her belief."

"And now, the entire nation recognizes his name."

The broadcast shifted to the arena, where a multitude of spectators were already making their way to their seats, even though the tournament was still three hours away from commencing.

Hyun-Jae provided narration over sweeping visuals of the assembling crowds.

Sterling interjected,