Inside, the conference room has been arranged with efficiency rather than comfort in mind. Its layout resembles an auction hall more than a meeting space.
Rows of chairs face a narrow desk positioned at the front, where OPBF and JBC officials are already seated with aligned documents.
The arrangement leaves little room for casual conversation, as each camp is meant to observe, calculate, and wait rather than negotiate openly.
Four Thai promotional groups have already taken their places along the right side of the room, occupying separate clusters that reflect rivalry rather than cooperation.
Each group consists of promoters, managers, and legal counsel, with assistants positioned slightly behind them like silent extensions of authority.
When Nakahara Gym enters, the shift in attention is immediate. Heads turn first toward Ryoma, whose presence draws instinctive recognition.
"That's him?" one of them murmurs.
