Chapter 269: The Anti-Gambling Club Is Born

"Does the desk go here?"

"Anywhere is fine. Not like we have many members anyway."

After securing an empty classroom as their base, the "Anti-Gambling Club" was officially established.

Current members: Takamine Rinji and Tsubomi Nanami.

Normally, a club with only two people wouldn't be approved. But at Hyakkaou Private Academy, there was a rule—you could earn anything through gambling.

If you beat even a single student council member in a gamble, no matter how ridiculous your club was, it could be approved.

Of course, Rinji didn't beat anyone in a gamble. He simply threatened them.

As he put it: "I didn't come to ask your opinion—I came to get the paperwork done. I want to hear one word: Yes. Say anything else and I'll send you to the afterlife."

Maybe it was that defiance of all norms—his arrogant madness—that scared Kaede enough to sign off on the club.

He didn't have a choice. There was a gun to his head.

Nanami finished hanging a sign labeled "Anti-Gambling Club" on the classroom door and walked over to Rinji.

"It's done."

"Alright, then from this moment forward, the Anti-Gambling Club is officially active."

Rinji smiled as he sat behind an office desk pieced together from several student desks.

"I'm the president, and Nanami, you're the vice-president. It's just the two of us for now."

"Yes…"

Nanami blushed slightly as she nodded.

"So, President… what should we do next?"

"Simple. The goal of our club is to help students quit gambling," Rinji said as he stood up. "Many students labeled as 'livestock' by the student council ended up that way because they couldn't pay the mandatory dues. But a large portion fell into debt through gambling losses. I believe most of them never wanted to gamble in the first place. In this school, the only way to stop being livestock is to gamble your way out. My idea is—help them pay off their debts."

"Eh!?"

Nanami was stunned.

"Pay off their debts!?"

"That's right."

"…You mean lending them money?"

"No, giving it to them."

"For free?"

"For free. But they'll have to sign a lifelong anti-gambling agreement and a withdrawal form."

"…Isn't that just giving away money?" Nanami asked, clearly worried. "Some students owe tens of millions, even hundreds of millions of yen… That's..."

"Pocket change."

"…"

"True anti-gambling means guiding them with both reason and compassion. For those who sincerely want to quit, our Anti-Gambling Club must provide them care and support," Rinji said with a smile. "That's what I call charity."

"You're so kind, Takamine-kun." Reina's eyes sparkled with admiration.

She had strategically ignored the fact that he previously stabbed a student in the eye.

To her, Rinji was a hero—someone who saved her and the other suffering students.

"What about those who can't pay the student council dues in the first place?"

Some students, like herself, came from ordinary families and were turned into livestock simply because they couldn't afford the exorbitant dues.

Just like how a place like Shuchiin Academy might have a rare student like Miyuki Shirogane among the rich elite, Hyakkaou also admitted ordinary kids hoping to rise in status.

Or their parents just wanted them to connect with influential people. There were plenty of delusional families like that.

"We can bring those students into the Anti-Gambling Club," Rinji replied. "As long as they join us and truly quit gambling, they're family. And the student council won't dare ask us for a single yen."

"But the student council—"

"If you're going to say they have power, don't worry. Their power is nothing compared to mine."

Rinji patted Nanami's shoulder reassuringly.

"They won't dare ask us for dues—unless they don't value their lives."

"Understood."

Reina nodded. While Rinji's words were extreme, for some reason, she trusted him completely.

It was as if he could do anything.

"Then… what about the ordinary students?" she asked. "The ones doing well here—how do you convince them to quit gambling?"

"Simple. Give them a lesson they'll never forget."

Rinji's smile turned sinister.

"Like losing a hand or a leg because of gambling. Or maybe even their life—"

Knock knock knock.

"Hm?"

Rinji looked toward the door.

It hadn't even been long—someone was already here.

"Come in."

Click.

The door opened slowly and cautiously.

In walked a beautiful girl with glasses, looking visibly nervous as she glanced at Rinji and Nanami inside.

"Excuse me… is this the Anti-Gambling Club?" she asked softly, her eyes shifting back and forth between them.

"Oh? So soon and someone already wants to quit gambling?"

Rinji sat upright and smiled warmly.

"Welcome! I truly admire your decision—and I assure you, you'll be grateful for this choice in the future."

"My name is Nureba Ayame," the girl introduced herself quietly. "I just… came to see if I could get some help or something…"

"Help? Absolutely."

Rinji smiled again.

"Staying away from gambling is good for anyone. So what can we help you with, Nureba-san?"

"I… I owe someone money… but I don't know what to do anymore."

Tears welled up in Ayame's eyes, and her words became choked and confused.

"Because I owed a classmate money, she kept forcing me to gamble to repay it… and the more I gambled, the more I owed. I wanted to quit, but I couldn't. Then she said if I couldn't pay, she'd introduce me to greasy old men… that I just had to spend a few nights with them to pay it off. I don't want that… I even thought about ending my life, but I didn't have the courage… When I saw the Anti-Gambling Club sign, I wondered if maybe I could get help… but… sorry, I was naïve. I shouldn't have come—"

Slap~

She spoke quickly and was about to leave.

But in the next moment, Rinji suddenly threw two thick stacks of cash onto the table.

Judging by the thickness, it was a full ten million yen.

"Eh..."

Ayame looked at Rinji in shock, while Rinji smiled and said, "Our club welcomes all students who want to quit gambling, and we're willing to provide all necessary assistance, including paying off debts."