Chapter 206: Game Over

"Rinji, is something bothering you?"

"Huh? No, not really."

"You really suck at lying. Your worries are written all over your face."

In a small factory, Rinji sat chatting with a slightly weathered-looking middle-aged man.

The man's name was Amano. Rinji usually called him Uncle Amano. He was the CEO of a pharmaceutical company, the second business Rinji had invested in.

Because Rinji wanted to be deeply involved in this company's operations, over time, he and Uncle Amano had become pretty close.

"Hmm, let me guess," Uncle Amano smiled, tapping his chin playfully. "Did you get dumped?"

"…Yeah."

"…You really got dumped?"

Uncle Amano was startled.

He'd just said it as a joke, but it turned out to be true.

Thinking about it carefully—Rinji was only twelve years old. A kid who hadn't even hit puberty yet—how could he already be in love?

"Two days ago, I confessed to a girl I like, and she turned me down." Rinji lowered his head, looking completely heartbroken. "She probably hates me now."

"…It's just one rejection. Not a big deal."

"It's not you who got rejected, of course you'd think it's no big deal."

"Hey now, that's not fair," Uncle Amano complained. "I've been divorced, okay? Even people who get married can split up, so what's a little rejection before dating?"

"You make a good point," Rinji said. "But why did you get divorced, Uncle Amano?"

"…"

Now it was Amano's turn to fall silent.

He sighed. "The adult world is more complicated than you think. Most marriages aren't held together by love, but by intelligence. I wasn't smart enough, and that's why I got divorced."

"I see…"

"I haven't seen her in so long."

Uncle Amano looked up at the factory ceiling and smiled bitterly.

"I wonder how she's doing now. My son and daughter too…"

"Don't worry, Uncle Amano."

Rinji smiled to comfort him.

"Once the company makes it big, you'll have the confidence to face them again."

"Hahaha, hearing that from you really lifts my spirits."

Uncle Amano's laugh was full of life.

…

One month later.

Uncle Amano committed suicide.

Right in front of Rinji.

The reason: a licensing conflict with a Shinomiya Group-affiliated pharmaceutical plant. In the end, they used the same dirty tactics they'd used before on a real estate company boss.

The media's slander and attacks had worn Amano down, both mentally and physically. Protestors paralyzed factory operations. The staff, facing threats, all quit. Crushed by pressure, Amano took his own life.

"Shinomiya family… again."

The first failed investment, and now this. The shadow of the Shinomiya family loomed behind every tragedy.

Rinji stood before Amano's corpse, now covered by a white sheet. He still held a phone in his hand—the call had just ended.

"Rinji, don't go after the Shinomiya main house. At least not yet."

The voice on the other end had been IW's current president, Sagara Sosuke. Though he didn't know all the details, he'd heard Rinji was planning something and had called to stop him.

"Uncle Sagara, if my dad were here, what would he do?"

"He'd slaughter every last one of the Shinomiya family."

"Then why can't I?"

"Because you're not as smart as he was."

"…"

Sagara Sosuke sighed over the phone. "Your father was my instructor back in the day. I learned everything from him. He may have killed countless people, but he was never blinded by rage. Every death he caused served his plan. He even turned corpses into profit. IW only became what it is today because of his foresight."

"I see…"

"To be blunt, if your father were in your shoes, none of this would've happened. His mind was always calm. That's why I hope you can—"

"I'm very calm."

Rinji suddenly smiled.

"Attacking the Shinomiya family would harm IW's business in Japan. You don't want me to act now because our assets here haven't fully transferred yet."

"That's true…"

"But what if the Japanese government acknowledges that attacking the Shinomiya family is justified?"

"What?"

Rinji chuckled. "Uncle Sagara, the one lacking foresight here is you. Think—who benefits most from a crumbling conglomerate? Who stands to profit?"

"…You've connected with Japan's politicians?"

"More accurately, a banker. As long as someone's ready to take over those assets, everything's set."

"…"

The line went quiet for a moment. Then Sagara asked, "Rinji, I'll approve your move, but think it through. If I handle it, the Shinomiya family will still suffer heavily, and you won't need to stain your hands with blood."

"Thank you, Uncle Sagara."

Rinji smiled.

"Maybe there are better ways to solve this than killing… but right now, this is the only way."

He paused, then continued, "My father spent half his life building up wealth and power. From the day I was born, I never lacked anything. I lived like a spoiled heir. The reason I had it so easy was because my dad hoped that I'd never have to do the same things he did."

"Then why—?"

"Because this is what I was made for. In all my time in Japan, I've been suppressing my instincts. I forced myself to be a good person… but it's time to stop."

"…"

"Uncle Sagara, wear a mask long enough, and you forget who you really are. Villains don't need redemption. They need punishment," Rinji said, grinning viciously. "The Shinomiya family needs punishment. And I need punishment too."

"…I understand. Do it."

"Thanks."

Hanging up the phone, Rinji's expression softened slightly.

He gently brushed his hand over Amano's cold body, then turned and left.

Outside the hospital restroom, Rinji washed his face and stared into the mirror.

Just as Ryuju Momo had said, in trying to be a 'good person,' his face now looked like a squashed lump of dough.

"You… who the hell are you, really…"

Bang!

Rinji gritted his teeth and punched the mirror. The glass shattered and scattered across the floor.

In those broken shards was reflected the savage, murderous grin on his face.

"The good guy act is over. Time to do something that makes me feel alive."