Chapter 17: Kakerou
The atmosphere... changed.
The moment Q-Taro placed ten million yen on the table, the entire room's atmosphere shifted. It became thick and muddy, making it hard to breathe.
"..."
Shiraki Kei's eyes narrowed as he scanned the room. Everyone was reacting differently.
The most obvious—and most normal—reaction, of course, came from Kaji Takaomi. One second he was bored to the point of nodding off, and the next, he was jolted awake, his eyes wide with terror at the cash on the table.
"Huh!?"
What is that old man talking about?
Pulling out this much cash... has he completely lost it?
"T-Ten million?!" Kaji Takaomi was stunned. He subconsciously asked, "That's... so much. But what's the gamble?"
This was exactly the reaction Q-Taro had been waiting for.
"My, my. Never seen this much cash, have you? It's very simple, really..."
"All you have to do... is take the money and walk out of this building!"
Q-Taro slammed his hand on the table, his voice electric with excitement. "Just carry it out of here, and it's all yours! Come on! Take it! Don't be shy!"
That unnatural, manic energy, combined with the ten million yen, was crushing. Kaji Takaomi could barely breathe.
A normal office worker would have to work for five years straight, without eating or drinking, to save ten million yen. And now this man was just... giving it away? All they had to do was take it?!
"Ngh... huff..."
Kaji Takaomi's breathing grew ragged. He knew something was wrong, but he couldn't tear his eyes away from the cash.
Q-Taro had expected this. He'd seen it too many times. Thinking was useless. In the face of money, humans were no different from animals—their behavior was completely predictable.
So, no one would refuse... right?
A flicker of doubt entered Q-Taro's confident mind.
Because, apart from Kaji Takaomi, the other three were not reacting as he'd expected. In fact... they all looked completely different.
...
The silver-haired man still had a cigarette dangling from his lips, as if the ten million yen on the table didn't even exist.
The muscular one was cracking his neck, his eyes darting around, as if searching for something.
And the slender, white-haired young man was considering the gamble, but his attention wasn't on the money. He was just... smiling, staring right at Q-Taro.
...
"Way off the mark."
Madarame Baku shrugged. "I thought you were finally showing your true colors, but... these stakes aren't appealing at all."
"I've smelled thick blood ever since I stepped into this building..."
"And you... you have the stench of an executioner on you."
"..."
Hearing this, Q-Taro realized again that tonight's guests were far from ordinary.
"...I see. You're very observant, sir."
"I was planning to explain after you took the money, but... fine."
Q-Taro, still smiling, snapped his fingers.
Snap!
Another figure appeared, standing abruptly at Q-Taro's side. His intense presence instantly captured everyone's attention.
He was a man in a terrifying mask, his hair spiked straight up. His upper body was bare, bound only by simple, crossed straps, and he wore long pants. His muscles were sharply defined.
In terms of physique, the masked man was in no way inferior to Shiraki Kei.
In terms of aura, unlike Shiraki Kei's casual confidence, the masked man was overflowing with killing intent. He was, by any definition, an "abnormality."
"He... He's..."
Kaji Takaomi was shocked speechless, completely at a loss.
Shiraki Kei, however, was calm. Things are a little different from my memories, he thought, but the man who was supposed to show up... is here.
Shiraki Kei met the masked man's gaze. Despite the man's intimidating build, the "feeling" he gave off was... immature. The contrast was stark.
That's him. The masked man. The "tool" Q-Taro uses to kill for fun. The "Abandoned Building Demon" of absolute violence!
"As you can see..." Q-Taro continued, "if you can leave this place with the money, you win. I, however, have a helper who will do his best to stop you."
"A very simple gamble, isn't it?"
"..."
Shiraki Kei understood. He pulled the photo of the Nogi Group representative from his pocket and placed it in front of Q-Taro.
"I see." He looked at Q-Taro. "The Nogi Group rep who came here... you played this same game with him, didn't you?"
"Yes, yes! That's right!" Q-Taro clapped, looking at the photo and laughing. "I remember him! A young fella. Just bought a house in Tokyo, was worried sick about his mortgage! I told him, 'You win, and I'll pay off that debt to the Nogi Group for you.'"
"..." Shiraki Kei stared into Q-Taro's eyes. "So what was the result? Where is he now?"
"I have no idea! Did he go missing?" Q-Taro cackled, completely lost in his own amusement. "As for the result... it's no fun if I just tell you!"
"Did the poor kid fail? Couldn't face his boss without the money? Or... did he win a fortune off me and skip town to live the high life? It's a real mystery..."
"..."
The meaning was clear. The representative was dead, killed trying to escape this building.
Hearing this, Shiraki Kei's expression darkened.
He didn't care about the Nogi Group's bottom line, but as a martial artist—someone who connects through combat—he had become especially sensitive to the "human" element.
He had looked at the man's file. This was just supposed to be a sales call. Maybe he would have gotten a bonus. Instead, he was lured here by Q-Taro and slaughtered for sport.
If you can't pay, don't play. And if you're not a gambler, you should never be forced to bet your life.
Q-Taro's game wasn't a gamble; it was just a slaughterhouse he'd built for his own amusement.
"..."
Madarame Baku noticed the shift in Kei's mood.
As the tension thickened, Baku sighed and muttered, "That said, for four... no, five players... isn't ten million a little low for the pot?"
Q-Taro heard the hook. The kid was interested.
To fan the flames, he picked up the phone, still smiling. "Of course. I hate boring games, too. And tonight should be a great show! So, I'll invite a 'referee'."
"—A referee from 'Kakerou'."
"..."
The instant he said the name, Kaji Takaomi saw Baku-san go rigid.
He thought nothing could faze a guy like Baku, but his expression had suddenly gone dark.
Baku muttered the name under his breath. "Heh... Kakerou..."
...
...
About ten minutes later, there was a knock.
An elegant old gentleman stood at the door, impeccably dressed, his posture perfect.
He removed his hat and bowed to the room.
"Apologies for the wait. You must be Member Kokonoe?"
He introduced himself calmly. "I am Kakerou's Referee Number 2, Yako Hikoichi."
...
...
Tonight, Kaji Takaomi, who had lived his entire life in the normal world, finally understood just how insignificant the morals taught by his parents and teachers truly were.
Humans...
They are capable of anything.