"What did Lord Bison say your name was? Sagat?"
H.C. followed him into his headquarters within the base. It looked like a mixture between a palace and a gym, filled with statues and training equipment.
"That's right. I am the Emperor of Muay Thai, Sagat."
He got to work on a punching bag suspended from the ceiling, his strikes pushing the bag a considerable distance back. H.C. decided to try to strike up a conversation, since Sagat seemed to be one of the only people here who actually wanted to talk to her.
"Emperor, huh? So you're the best in the world?"
He didn't say anything, but there seemed to be a slight nod as he continued hitting the bag. Maybe he didn't think she was being genuine?
"I mean, I hear Muay Thai is pretty powerful, so if you're the Emperor of it... I can't imagine anyone would be able to beat you."
No response again, but it almost seemed like he was striking the bag a bit harder, and it was moving back a bit more. Maybe he doesn't like just being called the best? H.C. decided to try to prompt him to tell a story, thinking perhaps he would rather explain exactly how he became the best.
"... How did you get that scar on your chest? Was it from a climactic battle to reach the top?"
He suddenly delivered a fierce uppercut to the bag, shattering the chain that held it and sending it flying across the room. H.C. instinctively hopped back, before regaining some composure.
"Oh, um... I guess I'll go clean that up."
"Don't. That was my fault. I'll take care of it."
H.C. wondered why he even asked for an assistant if he was going to do the work himself, but didn't complain. As he carried the bag over and began replacing the chain, he finally started explaining things.
"The truth is, kid, I used to be the best... Until I got this scar. Some nobody, using a completely different fighting style, beat up twenty Muay Thai fighters and challenged me. I thought it'd be an easy fight... Then he hit me with a foul uppercut, giving me this scar, and left."
"What? How could that ever happen? Who was that guy?"
"He only goes by Ryu. Mark my words, though. I will find him, and I'll show him just how big of a mistake he made."
H.C. thought for a brief moment. The move he launched the bag with... That was an uppercut as well, right?
"Is he the reason you're still training? Is there nobody else on your level?"
Sagat paused, not responding until he had finished setting up the bag.
"Well, I suppose so. The closest thing there is to someone on my level, aside from him, would be my student, Adon... But that's the biggest stretch of the century. He's still nowhere near me."
H.C. began thinking again. She's not a martial artist herself, but she's pretty sure they're not meant to be motivated by hatred. Her thoughts are interrupted when Sagat attempts that uppercut again, breaking the bag a second time.
"Ugh, this thing's no good. I used to just train in the forest, but eventually the trees couldn't handle my strength either. H.C., mind heading down to the Head of Finance and figuring out how much it would cost to get something more durable? His office is just across from where Bison is."
She nodded, before making her way out. As she walked, she wondered what the Head of Finance is like. Would they be nicer to her like Sagat, or meaner like Vega?