True Nature

"So? What are we going to do?" asked Kasugo, looking at the three unconscious bandits.

"The ninja is too dangerous to be left alive," Kuroki replied. "The archer can't do anything if he's tied up. I haven't yet discovered the scout's power, but he seems harmless without his weapons."

"But how are we going to kill her?" Iroko asked, looking confused. "What if someone sees the blood?"

"Minako, can you take her somewhere remote and get rid of her?" Kuroki asked. Minako easily grabbed her body and stopped, wondering where to go.

"Wait, I hadn't thought of that..." Kuroki said, scratching his forehead thoughtfully. "Just kill her, we'll have to leave this apartment anyway."

"Wait, what? You mean permanently?" Iroko asked, perplexed.

"Yes, they've already found us somehow. We need to find a new home after the event."

Iroko seemed unhappy about having to move so quickly, but he understood the situation.

"What about the others?" Iroko asked.

"We're going to ask them who sent them."

"Is it going to be that easy?"

"They are low-level players working for a higher-ranking one. If we threaten them, they won't hesitate to betray their employer."

The scout slowly opened his eyes. His head was still bleeding. Kasugo smiled at him. "Yo! Sorry about the beating."

"Why am I still alive...?" he said, trying to recollect his thoughts.

"Isn't it obvious?" Kuroki asked sarcastically. "Your contractor, tell us everything about them."

"But I won't receive my payment this way..."

"You won't get paid regardless, you've already lost. So, either you cooperate with us or you die. Understood?"

"You guys are going to kill me anyway..."

"Not if your answers satisfy me."

Kuroki descended from the building holding the hostage.

"If you answer correctly, I'll let you go." Kuroki reiterated.

"What about my allies?"

"My friends will ask them the same questions I do to ensure your answers are correct. If you come after us again, we will show no mercy. Do you understand?"

"Yes, I understand."

"Who is your contractor?"

"Sparky."

Sparky? Blazy's imitation?

"What was your mission?"

"To kill you or take you to her."

"So you chose to kill us, considering your fighting methods. However, can't you see that this plan was doomed to fail from the start?"

"What do you mean?"

"Players can't naturally share points. So, if you managed to kill us, Sparky would only gain something by killing you afterward, to recover our points and yours together. If you managed to capture us and take us to her, she would kill both us and you. Do you understand what I mean?"

"What? She said she would reward us with points."

"The only way to share points besides using a power is by killing. If she wanted to reward you with points, she would have to capture more players for you to kill. It's an endless cycle."

"There is no way she would do that... She's rich, isn't she? Why would she need more points?"

"All players seek points. Money is nothing compared to them. And do you know how she became rich? By working for a billionaire involved in human trafficking. Some of those humans are players."

"Wait, that can't be true... so their currency is points and players instead of money?"

"Now you get it? If you return to her, you're going to get yourself killed. You have no reason to come after us now, do you?"

"You're right, I don't... but what do I do now?"

"Kill players weaker than you. It's the only way to climb the rankings. If you try to cheat through human trafficking, you'll end up as a hostage."

"I see... is there anything else I should answer you?"

"Did Sparky give you any reason why she wanted us dead?"

"She said someone from this region killed her husband."

She's not trying to hide anything, huh? She's really going after recognition points...

"I see. Now I know you're not lying," Kuroki reassured him.

"Really? Then..."

"You can go now. I won't untie your hands as a precaution, but you can walk normally and do it yourself when you're outside."

"Thank you so much for sparing me! I will never target you again, I promise!"

He walked away. Kuroki called Kasugo. "There's no need to interrogate the archer, Sparky sent them."

"Sparky? Oh, that player whose husband Iroko killed?"

"Exactly. That's why it's definitely her. You can tell Iroko to take the shot."

"Of course, boss," Kasugo confirmed as he hung up. "Iroko, go ahead."

Iroko held his breath and aimed down the scope. The scout walked carefree, yet thoughtful, having just learned how the game truly worked. Taking advantage of this innocence, Iroko easily hit his head when he was already far enough away to be seen.

Kuroki returned to the apartment. "Let's leave now. We need to get settled in before the event starts."

They got into Kuroki's car, with him at the wheel. They drove to the area where the event would take place. The barrier delimiting the game area was already visible, although it wasn't yet operational. They entered the region but didn't get out of the car, as they needed to be as discreet as possible.

"Iroko, can you find a building tall enough for you?" Kuroki asked, without taking his eyes off the road. "It needs to be in a strategic location so you can see everything."

A strategic location? It would make sense to choose the tallest building, but that would be too obvious... I need to find a place near the barrier, so it's less likely someone will attack from behind.

"How about one near the barrier?" suggested Iroko.

"You wanna limit your field of view? Also, all civilians and non-players inside will disappear during the event."

"So players won't be able to hide among people... and only those inside will be able to win the event rewards, right?"

"Exactly."

"What if a player incapacitates someone, enters the barrier, and kills them?" Kasugo suggested.

"No player can enter the area after the event has already started. But if they enter before it starts and eliminate someone afterward, they will receive credit for the kill."

"Which means that players will keep some hostages for later," he added.

"Should we kill these hostages or save them?" Iroko asked innocently.

"They're players too," Kuroki replied. "Which means we have no reason to save them."

"So we're going to just steal from the cheaters? Sounds good."

"According to the rules of the game, they aren't cheaters."

"To me, they are. This game never pretended to be fair, but human trafficking is going too far. People are not commodities."

"Crimes also exist outside of this game. They've just become more apparent here. You know what I mean? Even if we manage to shut down the game, we won't accomplish much."

"We're solving the problem little by little. You want to understand how this game works, right, Kuroki? So that you can control it."

"Now you see that I'm not a good person. I want the game to end, but I still want to have power. Which means I need to become Pivot."

"Pivot? Can anyone become them?"

"I'm not sure yet, but the fact that they haven't appeared yet probably means they aren't a person. Perhaps is a selection game, with the goal of choosing the strongest as its ruler."

"You're not going to abandon us once you claim the throne, are you?"

"Of course not. I only commit necessary evil."

"What if killing us becomes necessary?"

"Then I will try to convince you otherwise."

Iroko laughed wryly. "So you still prioritize us. See? You're still a good person."

"You are my friends, of course I will prioritize you. But if you leave me no other choice, I will not back down."

"I'll help you with your plan, Kuroki. I also want to change the world for the better."

"So you're just going to agree with my methods?" He sighed. "You're no good person either."

They continued driving around the area to get a better feel for the place, until it got late and dark enough.

"Will the event start at midnight?" Iroko asked.

"It's scheduled to begin at noon and will last for two hours," Kuroki replied.

"Only two hours? I thought it would be an entire day..."

"Many things can happen in two hours, pal," Kasugo commented.

"Do we have to wait until the end to leave?"

"Not if each of us manage to get a kill or elimination, which includes assists," Kuroki answered.

"So the mission is to get a single elimination? Doesn't sound so bad."

"Don't underestimate your opponents."