Gathering Intel & An Old Rival
Mumbai, Maharasthra, India…
Hwoarang won his 2nd fight out of three matches so far in the tournament. He defeated the newcomer, Josie Rizal, over at the excavation site of Kaliasanatha Temple where the Zaibatsu is trying to find a rare treasure. Not really caring about the treasure, Hwoarang was there to win and he did. However, Josie's crying annoyed Hwoarang to no end, until he thought about the promise he made Xiaoyu to find a site to build her dream amusement park. Since Josie was with the Zaibatsu, Hwoarang asked her to help him find a good place for Xiaoyu's park. Josie told him to wait on her phone call after she left the medical facility tent. Hwoarang was taken back to Mumbai on a chopper provided by the Zaibatsu. He patiently waited for Josie to call him back. It wasn't until Hwoarang entered back in his hotel is when Josie called him.
Hwoarang (Answers): "Yo!"
Josie: "Hwoarang? Am I speaking to Hwoarang?"
Hwoarang: "Yea it's me! Are you somewhere private where nobody can hear us?"
Josie: "Yes. I'm back in my barracks now. Just now I made a list of some areas that might be of interest to you for placing that park. Do you have an email address?"
Hwoarang: "Yeah I got one." (Tells her the email) "Send it there."
Josie (On the laptop.): "Ok I'm sending it to you right now. The Zaibatsu are trying to buy some of this property so I would hurry up and find a spot before the conglomerate can purchase the land for their usage."
Hwoarang: "Cool. I just gotta look at this list and find a spot to buy, even though I ain't got the money right now."
Josie: "You don't?"
Hwoarang: "Nope. That's another issue I got."
Josie: "Well that I can't help you with. Most of my money is going for the tournament and my family back home."
Hwoarang: "I'm hoping my friend will pay for the site that I pick so this list you gave me will make it a whole lot easier for me. Thanks again Josie."
Josie: "Oh! Well if you put it like that then I hope that you guys can find a spot! I was glad to help!"
Hwoarang: "That's what I'm talking about! We need more cheerful chicks like you in these tournaments. Anyway, no hard feelings on the match and good luck in the rest of the tournament Josie."
Josie: "You too Hwoarang! Hope to see you again soon! Bye!"
Hwoarang: "Later!" (Hangs up disappointed.) "She said my name wrong." (Sighs) "Let's see what she sent me."
Hwoarang opens up the laptop. He turns it on and of course it's a piece of junk that has been in use since his days in the Korean military. It always takes a long time to fully operate. By the time Hwoarang could get internet access from his hotel he checked his emails and sure enough, Josie's list was there. Hwoarang reads it closely.
Hwoarang: "Whoa! Josie found some places and them some! I need to forward this to Xiaoyu ASAP!" (Sends the email to Xiaoyu). "Hopefully she sees it. Now let me see who do I need to fight next."
Hwoarang opens up the tournament website and looks at his remaining schedule. His 3rd match is against an old rival of his. The rival is none other than Eddy Gordo, a master Capoeira expert. Their match would take place at the Ancient Acropolis in Greece. At any rate, Hwoarang did feel excited to fight Eddy once again. They had a tiebreaker amongst each other as fighters. For this third official bout, anything could go down, but Hwoarang vowed to break the tie.
The next day…
Arriving at the airport to leave India, Hwoarang eventually got a phone call. It was his master Baek.
Hwoarang: "Hello?"
Baek: "Hwoarang?"
Hwoarang: "Oh hey Master! You doing okay?"
Baek: "I'm alright, I just found out you won your first fight in the tournament. Good work."
Hwoarang: "Thanks master. So that means you care after all!" (Laughing.)
Baek: "Very funny. So have you solved your money issue at all?"
Hwoarang: "I think so old timer. The person I'm trying to help could give me a lot of more money if I can find some land to build her dream park."
Baek: "A dream park? What kind of person is this a kid?"
Hwoarang: "No…she's around my age."
Baek: "Hmmm…how much money exactly?"
Hwoarang: "Well she gave me enough money already to last for the rest of the tournament. If I can find the right spot for the park, I can get a lot more. Maybe multi millions master!"
Baek: "Well now…I guess this is good news. As long as you find the right spot and not forgetting what you promised that young lady that is."
Hwoarang: "Don't worry master I got this!"
Baek: "You outta give me some of the money too. The dojo needs it."
Hwoarang: "Yeah…no problem." (Thinks) "Greedy bastard, of course he wants the money I get from Xiaoyu. Damn it all!"
Baek: "Better not be. So…Who will you fight next?"
Hwoarang: "Would you believe it if I told you its Eddy?"
Baek: "Eddy Gordo?"
Hwoarang: "Uh huh. He's back."
Baek: "So he was alive all of this time. I feared for the worst after the last tournament. No one heard from him. Glad he is competing again. I'm sure you two will have much to talk about when you both fight."
Hwoarang: "Yeah. I just hope he isn't affiliated with the Zaibatsu anymore. If he is then he's getting no mercy from me."
Baek: "With Heihachi running the show I doubt Eddy is with them. Either way, keep me posted on your progress Hwoarang."
Hwoarang: "Will do Master. And thanks for calling."
Baek: "You're welcome Hwoarang. Take care."
Hwoarang; "You too." (Hangs up.) "I wonder if Xiaoyu got that email yet." (Sighs while picking up his duffel bag)
After a long day of flying…
Hwoarang was really tired, but he made it to Athens, Greece with no issues. He was sick of being surveyed by the Zaibatsu, but that was still a small nuisance. In his hotel, Hwoarang went back to his computer to see if Xiaoyu actually responded to him before sleeping. And it turns out.
Hwoarang: "She did respond!"
Xiaoyu email reads…
"Hi Hwoarang, I got your attachment. Not sure how you did it, but this is a pretty good list of spots for the park. Give me some time to narrow down my top spots. I will send this back to you soon with a more simplified list. In the meantime, just keep fighting in the tournament and don't spend all of my money at once. I'll talk to you later!"
Email ends…
Hwoarang (Relieved): "Well…at least she liked what I gave her. I thought I wouldn't be able to find a spot for Xiaoyu. Josie saved my tail here with this list. Now I can concentrate on my next fight with no trouble at all!"
The next day, near the Acropolis, Greece…
Feeling rejuvenated, Hwoarang eagerly stepped out of the armored truck which escorted him up the long hill in a built in platform just outside the famous Acropolis Parthenon. Right behind Hwoarang's escorted truck was another Zaibatsu owned vehicle with Eddy Gordo riding in it. He steps out in his traditional Capoeria outfit where as Hwoarang had on his traditional Taekwondo uniform. Of course, Hwoarang did not tie up his jacket showing off his abdominal muscles. When the two fighters walked on the padded platform, they briefly talked head to head before throwing down.
Hwoarang: "Yo! It's been a while man! I thought you were ghost after the last tournament!"
Eddy: "It's good to see you again."
Hwoarang: "Look here man! I didn't appreciate you working under Jin but I can understand the reason why you did! So anyway, did that scrub at least help you cure your teacher?"
Eddy: "No. He did very little to help him."
Hwoarang: "Why am I not surprised! All the more reason why I'm gonna pulverize him when the time comes to face him!"
Eddy: "On that note I wish you luck. So how is your master these days?"
Hwoarang: "That old fart is still the same bro. He is just taking a break from these contests ya know?"
Eddy: "I see. It's been 2 tournaments since we last fought. You think you can stop me this time?"
Hwoarang: "Hell yeah I can! It's a bad day for you Eddy because I got some new moves to share with ya! Kiiiyaaahhh!" (In stance.)
Eddy (Smirks in Ginga stance.): "Come on!"
The fight lasted for almost 35 minutes. Both guys were exhausted and battered but Hwoarang caught Eddy in the solar plexus with an aerial sidekick! Eddy landed on the platform hard. The pain paralyzed the Capoeirista and he was unable to stand up again because of it. Hwoarang landed on his feet but got down on his right knee since it was weak due to Eddy's low attacks. The official went over and saw Eddy was blacking out. This match would go to Hwoarang.
Official: "Hwoarang wins!"
Hwoarang: "Alright! Ow ow!" (Holds his shoulder.)
Both guys were tended to by the medics and were taken to their privately owned hospital. Nothing serious happened with either guy, but Hwoarang and Eddy would need to rest in bed for at least 2 days before they could be medically cleared to go. Oddly enough both fighters woke up around the same time. They talked about their current situations in the tournament. There wasn't much Eddy could do for Hwoarang as far as a park was concerned, but he did mention an old abandoned park in Rio De Janeiro State in Brazil that was shut down by its owner back in 1980s. Perhaps Hwoarang could look into that if he wanted to help Xiaoyu build her dream park.
