"I bet there's no bullet in your gun."
"Oh? You still want to bet?"
Rinji's gun remained aimed at Yumeko's head. Yet she showed not a trace of fear.
"Your life belongs to me now. You want to gamble? With what?"
"Earlier, I staked my life to match your 10 million USD bet. If I lose this one…" Yumeko smiled, "I'll give you 10 million USD before I die."
"Interesting."
A grin crept onto Rinji's face.
"You guessed right. I never intended to kill you. I just wanted to make you feel the fear of death, so you'd give up gambling. But clearly, that's impossible."
"Of course it is." Yumeko's smile turned disturbingly giddy. "That thrill of dancing on the razor's edge—that's what makes gambling so exhilarating~"
"Then I guess I'll have to show you what hell is like."
Rinji smirked sinisterly.
"Too bad… you guessed wrong. There is a bullet in the gun."
Biu~
"Oww!"
Yumeko clutched her forehead in pain, and a small plastic BB pellet rolled across the floor.
"This is just a toy gun. The bullet was a BB. But a BB is still a bullet. So now, you owe me 10 million USD before you die… though judging by your situation, I doubt you have it."
Rinji set the toy gun aside, walked over, and pulled out his phone.
After a few rings, the call connected.
"Hello?"
"Hi, Aunt Balalaika?"
"Rinji, calling me at this hour—do you want to hire us for an assassination or something?" a hoarse, mature woman's voice answered.
"No, I've got a girl who owes me a massive debt. Think you can sell her in your shop? We'll settle the debt in installments with whatever she earns."
As he spoke, Rinji glanced at Yumeko.
"Big chest, round hips, pretty face. What do you think?"
"How much does she owe?"
"Ten million USD."
"Rinji, I'm friends with your dad, so I'll be straight with you," Balalaika said. "Even if I make her work 24 hours a day until she breaks, she won't earn ten million."
"Eh? Really?"
"Think about the market. You can hire someone for a hit job for under ten grand. You expect to recover ten million? How long do you want her working?"
"…Fine. Then check black market organ prices for me, will you?"
"Now I'm just curious—who's the girl bold enough to owe you money?"
"A new student at the Hyakkaou Private Academy. You know, that school where no one studies and everyone gambles."
"Oh, that school? Yeah, I've heard of it."
"Really? You have?"
"A lot of Japan's financial and political elites send their kids there. If she's from that school, her family probably has money. Just demand payment from her parents."
"Fair point. Thanks."
"Anytime. Come visit Roanapur sometime. I'll treat you right."
"Maybe when school's out."
After a bit of casual chat, Rinji hung up.
Momo, watching, asked curiously, "Who were you just talking to?"
"The Russian mafia's branch in Thailand. One of my dad's old friends," Rinji replied.
He looked back at Yumeko.
"Now then, how exactly do you plan to repay that 10 million USD? I hear students at Hyakkaou are usually rich. Can't you call home?"
"My parents are deceased. I only have one sister left, and she's in the hospital. I pay her medical bills every month."
"I see."
Rinji thought for a moment.
An older sister bedridden with a serious illness… there's no way she could repay the debt. Should he just harvest their organs?
"I actually have a proposal," Yumeko suddenly said.
"Let's hear it."
"I'll be attending Hyakkaou soon. There are tons of opportunities to gamble there. Within one year, I'll repay both the 10 million I lost and the extra 10 million I bet with my life."
"You still won't give up gambling?"
"Never. It's why I exist."
"I should've killed you already."
"You can if you want. My life belongs to you." Yumeko placed her hand on her chest and smiled. "You can take it anytime. But until then, I'm your slave. You can do whatever you want with me."
"Sounds like a good deal for me."
Rinji chuckled, then turned to Momo. "Do we have a computer and printer here?"
"Upstairs."
She led him to the second floor of the casino. A few minutes later, they returned, Rinji holding two contracts.
He slapped them onto the table in front of Yumeko.
"First contract: You must repay 20 million USD—about 2 billion yen—within a year. If you fail, I'll sell you and your hospitalized sister to settle the debt. Deal?"
"No problem." Yumeko smiled. "What's the second contract?"
"The second one wipes out your debt completely. You won't owe a thing."
"What's the catch?"
"A lifetime ban on gambling. Not too much to ask, right?"
"Understood~"
Without hesitation, Yumeko signed the first contract and sealed it with a fingerprint.
She didn't even glance at the second option—choosing the most brutal path with zero regret.
"…In some ways, I have to admire your willpower."
"Thank you~"
After signing, she tossed the pen aside, walked up to Rinji, and smiled.
"So, Takamine-kun, what would you like to do with me now? I'm your slave, after all~ You can do anything."
"Anything?"
"Of course."
"Alright then."
Rinji patted her on the shoulder.
"Our research division's short on test subjects for a new drug. You seem like a great fit. Time to contribute to science."