Ryousuke Kawahara was once again isolated in the lonely bin on his own, far away from the rest of the other students. As he entered the white hallway with silver mosaics to the ground of the prison, alongside five guards constantly restraining him, he was thrown into the bin forcefully by the guards.

Despite Percy Phoenix being there with his own guards, Ryousuke Kawahara's time in prison was far from what a normal prisoner would consider "true" prison time as he saw it as an opportunity to gain advantage of his surroundings despite being circulated by a tight force.

"Soon enough, all your lousy friends will be here!"

Mocking Kawahara right off the bat while being ten meters away from the chained up Kawahara, Percy didn't hesitate to toy with his emotions right away. However, what Percy knew not was that being imprisoned was by far one of Kawahara's greatest desires as he was the ultimate piece of information.

Nonetheless, Kawahara simply grinned and didn't reply, which earned Percy's unwanted skepticism.

"Freak..."

Afterwards, Kawahara would spend his time in the cell pretending to be asleep. As of the moment, he had one goal in mind. That goal would be to wait out until the students started to realize that there was essentially no way to capture the rest because the rest of the students; Kawahara's classmates, had been leaked about this information by Hiroyoshi Sagasuga. Kawahara had informed Saitou Rayazaki and Takeshi Kuzan about what was happening while Hiroyoshi Sagasuga had informed Hirakibo Tatsu and Toharoh Tsudo about this circumstance.

In reality, this was all Kawahara's idea in mind, but the truth is that none of this was true; Kawahara simply was led to believe that way. In the first place, Hiroyoshi Sagasuga only informed Kawahara about this a day prior to Percy's arrival and Kawahara at first didn't believe it but now that he witnessed it with his own two eyes, he was in fact believing that Percy Phoenix, along with a plethora of other students had come to this island to hunt them down.

"Now then... Who will come first..."

This current Kawahara does not have the memories of what happened after the Sandsea. In other words, in his mind, Kawahara and Sagasuga were in fact in this together still, but the reality could not be further from the truth.

After spending thirty minutes of waiting in the lonely bin, Kawahara got his first visit.

It was a girl, who Kawahara was not familiar with. Her enthusiastic yet cold nature is remarkable, in a sense. Extremely long well-kept blonde hair made her the fan of many back in her own school yet to Kawahara, Shiori Denko was nothing more than a potential utilization for information.

"My first visitor! I was growing bored out here!"

".............."

She remained silent as she was not aware of how Kawahara could react as from earlier she was still a bit shocked.

However, her composure formed itself entirely once she realized that Kawahara was ten meters away from her.

"I saw it."

"Saw what?"

Kawahara thought of saying a funny joke in the heat of the moment but what Shiori Denko would say, would make Kawahara whistle in response.

"I saw you unconditionally surrender earlier. I played along with Percy since I knew he was lying all along."

"Phew! Yeah, I surrendered. I felt so bad for Phoenix over here that I had to give him a bonus compensation for his clown service recently."

"Hahaha!"

She laughed in an adorable way but went straight to her point.

"No, but seriously, why did you surrender? Are you stupid? There's no way out for you here."

"Maybe I don't want to get out."

"Why not?"

"I was thinking of finding interesting individuals here who are brimming with individualism. Tell me, blondie! Are you one of those individuals? Or are you just Percy's lapdog?"

"............."

Unable to respond, deep down, Shiori Denko got slightly mad, but brushed it off with a very low laugh. A laugh containing cuteness further adjusting her beautiful appearance as her closed eyes highlighted her purple make up.

"Haha... I will be back."

Shiori Denko deep down didn't like being below Percy Phoenix and viewed this as an opportunity to rise up. However, she knew if she wasn't careful enough, her intentions could be spoiled and her life here could be slightly ruined.

Kawahara reflected on something once he threw himself on his cell's grumpy bed whilst looking at the ceiling.

"She didn't reply well to that last sentence at all. Judging by her psychological response, she is not content with Percy in charge. No doubt, she's a fine contender."

The very fact that Shiori Denko was willing to approach Ryousuke Kawahara already spoke heights to him as he knew that it would take a mental toll to approach him to begin with.

The next two students who would come in would be Rokoro and Youjo. These contrasting forces wouldn't expect to be seen together, at all. Rokoro, the class geek who has a tremendous value when it comes knowledge and overall what many would deem as "useless" information. Meanwhile, there is the popular Youjo, who is a school idol, known greatly for her outer beauty.

It was not known as to why this pairing even came to life.

As it started, Youjo hid behind Rokoro as Rokoro was used as a meat shield in order to guard her from Kawahara.

Meanwhile, Rokoro didn't care as he simply continued to analyze Kawahara from afar while simultaneously adjusting his glasses constantly.

"This is my first time starring down a criminal... I know this is rushed, but can I do a psychological profile on you?! There will be massive casualties as the rest of your companions will be killed, however, you are the only one left alive, so I must seek this chance!"

Rokoro was glued with his hands firmly burning on the cell's bars but Kawahara wasn't bothered by that at all.

"A geek, huh? We must be distant relatives or some shit then. The answer is yes----if you are willing to pay the price for it."

At first, Rokoro was rather confused by Kawahara's first words but this quickly sparked his inner interest.

"Price?"

"I will tell you my whole life if you side with me and follow every single one of my orders. How about it?"

As Youjo saw that Rokoro was actually thinking on this for a second, she grabbed Rokoro's left wrist with her force and started to walk out of the vicinity.

"Are you stupid or something, you otaku?! That's a criminal right there! He's lying!"

"B-But my research!!"

"Your stupid research doesn't matter! Let's go!"

"Noooo!!!"

In a dramatic way, Rokoro was dragged out of the vicinity by Youjo.

Kawahara once was again all alone in his room and just like before, he reflected as he felt a soft wind blast pass through his nostrils.

"Don't think so, no. Kid think's this is a playground. Plus, the girl is skeptical as fuck."

Something Kawahara was doing was the following: With his nails, he would scrap the mosaic off and would either draw a cross or a ball manually. The cross would stand for the individuals who didn't make it and the ball for the ones that did make it.

One hour after, Kawahara got another visit, this time from a fairly tall person who had blonde short hair.

His stoic face reminded him of Sagasuga but he didn't looks as manipulative nor as calm. After all, he was relatively nervous despite being in front of Kawahara from afar.

Damian initiated the talk on his own.

"Ryousuke Kawahara....! Where are the rest?!"

Make no mistake, he wasn't entirely nervous, Damian was simply greedy to know where the other criminals were in the island since the hunt this afternoon proved to be extremely fruitless. Having capitalized on that, Kawahara spoke in accordance.

"Pay the price and I will say it."

"You... You'd sell your comrades for a price...!?"

"I never said they were my comrades, did I?"

The contrast in their composures could not be more obvious as Damian was fuming at the immorality of Ryousuke Kawahara meanwhile the other one was as calm as ever.

Releasing his hands from cell's bars, Damian held his anger and walked away from the scene.

No matter how one viewed this scene, Damian would never rationalize with Kawahara, as Kawahara was looking for individuals who were fairly more self-absorbed than the rest.

Ultimately, Kawahara applied the signal onto the wall as he deemed fit.

Subsequently, five minutes afterwards, a visit came through, which shocked Kawahara.

"I am famous around here, aren't I?!"

Enthusiastic at the sight of another girl coming to visit him, Kawahara gave a round of applause for himself.

By sheer contrast, this girl began to clap as well, as she liked clapping as well. It was the prodigy from block E, Musi.

"Nice to meet you! I am Musi!"

"I am Ryousuke Kawahara!"

Musi is not only a prodigy but she is massively unaware of what a criminal actually is. Never in her whole life, has she been tormented in a negative manner. Being only twelve years old; she thought to herself that what was happening around her was normal because everyone else was doing it.

She never felt the need to question her surroundings as it was all according to nature for her.

Therefore, the sight of Ryousuke Kawahara was something natural as well.

"Um... This might be brief, but do you know what this is for...? Lord Phoenix gave it to me and I just can't figure it out... He said for me to not share it with someone else, but..."

As Musi was tilting the metallic bars, Ryousuke Kawahara opened his eyes wide for a second as he saw that both those bars contained an identical number to them on each side. In other words, Ryousuke Kawahara, at that very moment, became aware that those two metallic bars are in fact one of the components from the sections that are secretly inside this island.

The sections are a part of this island that Percy Phoenix and nobody except for a few individuals, Ryousuke Kawahara included, know about. With that in mind, Kawahara did not act in a way that would express greed, but simply threw a question at Musi from afar.

"I do know what that is... However, Musi, where are the rest?"

"Eh? I don't know, they are with the ones that lord Phoenix called earlier! Ah, I'm not supposed to tell you this! I must take my leave!"

Realizing her mistake, Musi left the scene in a rush, but her presence greatly benefit Ryousuke Kawahara's wicked way of thinking as he saw a fountain of opportunities lying within Musi, should she comply to Kawahara's orders.

Yet again, Kawahara reflected, but with something far more serious in mind this time.

"...Why do they have the components that's within the sections...? Does Percy know about the sections? No, Sagasuga said that Percy has no knowledge about them, so how come they are in possession of such items...?"

Hiroyoshi Sagasuga had told Ryousuke Kawahara that Percy Phoenix had no knowledge about the sections and that ultimately, he would struggle to find everyone else out. However, the truth is that Ryousuke Kawahara couldn't be more glad when Hiroyoshi Sagasuga said such words because this would mean that the moment Ryousuke Kawahara would tell the other students where they are, Sagasuga and the rest would be screwed; thus Kawahara emerging utterly victorious.

Such a flawless scenario was already visible to Kawahara.

Later on, Kawahara received a visit from yet another girl; Albaz Yasuda.

She did not show any reluctance when it came down to it and shot a question at Kawahara instantly.

"Where is Hiroyoshi Sagasuga?"

"In this island."

Kawahara's simple-minded response to Yasuda made her spit on Kawahara's cell's floor.

"I need to know where he is so I can get the bounty on his head! Spill it! And I'll be as kind as to give you some food..."

The truth is that Ryousuke Kawahara was not being treated like an average prisoner. Under Percy Phoenix's decree, he would absolutely starve to death, so what Yasuda proposed him wasn't by any means illogical.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Regardless, Kawahara laughed it off.

"Haha, that's it?! Stupid naive girl, I am not afraid to die. Give me a better deal and I wouldn't mind tell you where he is."

The top cut students have started to come to the slow realization that there is a hidden factor that's completely partial to the cameras all over the island. Something that only Ryousuke Kawahara should know.

With that in mind, Yasuda clearly wanted the reward for Sagasuga's bounty like many and was far willing to commit to this more than the rest, so she launched another offer.

"What do you want, filthy criminal?"

"Sex?"

Yasuda walked it out as she realized she was talking to a sex fiend. That was just an initial joke and Kawahara said something from his cell to which Yasuda listened to, despite being extremely pissed off.

"Come back with a better deal!"

Ryousuke Kawahara came to the swift conclusion that perhaps each individual that would visit him would have different bounties when it came to who they would prefer to kill. Kawahara knew that he couldn't become subjected to them, so he could further instigate this to his advantage.

"She is useful for sure."

Impulsive individuals like Albaz Yasuda were surely in Kawahara's list when it came down to the individuals he would use to set up his uprising plan. However, his plan couldn't be executed on spot, but would have to surely be executed soon, in no less than two days.

Up next was Karlos, a bald bulky individual.

His question was one unlike all the others thus far.

"Ryousuke Kawahara, I have a question for you..."

"Oh yeah? And what's that, tough guy?"

With his utmost seriousness, he asked Kawahara:

"Out of all the ten of you, who is the best when it comes to a physical fight showdown?"

To this, Kawahara obviously was confident in his answer as he saw no one else superior to him in that regard.

Ryousuke Kawahara didn't speak, but instead pointed at himself silently while the corners of his lips rose gradually.

"Such a shame that I cannot fight you. I've always dreamed of fighting against those who are less restrained than I am."

Many would think that this would be the end of the conversation, but Ryousuke Kawahara said some intriguing lines to Karlos, as he was about to walk away.

"Very----but, very hypothetically speaking---if I were to leave this prison and we had to have a fight----would you follow me should I win?"

Challenged, Karlos also didn't hesitate in replying back.

"It's not gonna happen, but in that case, very hypothetically---yes."

"........."

A clashing silence was all that was left in their interaction as their glances soon dismissed each other with Karlos taking his leave.

Ryousuke Kawahara was indecisive as if he should consider Karlos a potential valuable pawn in the future as Karlos' potential could only further flourish once Kawahara was out of the prison and for that to happen, a few things had to happen first.

Against all the odds, Ryousuke Kawahara legitimately thought that he was going to bail out and that such not happening was ridiculous. That impressive drive of his allowed him to keep thinking of the situation as it would always be in his favor and as such, negative thoughts did not come to his mind at all.

To finalize the afternoon, two more individuals came forth.

They looked extremely dispirited and not willing to pursue with the current task at hand as they found it somewhat unnecessary and unfairly dangerous.

Yoh and Zwette met eyes with Ryousuke Kawahara and Yoh started the conversation.

His noticeable meek voice tone required absolute silence in his surroundings for him to be loud and clear, which was the case.

"..........Question: Why aren't the cameras capturing the criminals...? You know something, don't you...?"

"Naturally."

The truth is; Ryousuke Kawahara had absolutely no idea why the rest weren't showing up in the cameras, except for two individuals to whom he was inflituated with, but outside of those two, he had remotely no clue.

However, to Ryousuke Kawahara, someone's doubt, was an opportunity to manipulate someone.

In other words, Yoh was already entirely convinced that Ryousuke Kawahara knew why the cameras weren't capturing the individuals.

"...But why do you know that...?"

"Pay the price."

This would be Kawahara's initial strategy. If someone were to show interest in his supposed knowledge, he would issue the existence of a price to pay for such hypothetical information. Though, he would not issue what the price had to revolve around as he was undoubetely curious to see what the individuals could come up with.

Yoh was one of those individuals, as he had already thought of this scenario up ahead and as such, he made an offer to Kawahara.

"I am willing to share my bounty's reward with you, Ryousuke Kawahara..."

"Oh?"

Amused yet skeptical at the same time, Kawahara demanded to know more.

"Iron out the details for me, would you?"

Meekly, Yoh spoke in depth about his strategy.

"I aim to kill Akenama Kan... The reward for his death is 500,000 yen a year unconditionally... However.... It's not just me..."

Zwette, who was actually in this with Yoh, spoke lowly as well, as she came out of Yoh's back an faced Kawahara.

"...I am in this too."

"Our offer is the following: If you help us out and give us truthful information to our aid, we will share with you annually 250,000 yen.... We will split the rest in-between us... I also believe this is extremely fair and would benefit us all greatly... Well...?"

With great fear for rejection, both Yoh and Zwette looked at Kawahara, as they thought that maybe he would reject their offer, but Kawahara firstly applauded them for having the guts to make such a bold deal.

"I must say, it's not bad thought out! You'd get 125,000 yen each while I would get the upper 250,000 yen each."

They began to smile impulsively as Kawahara listed the positive factor about Yoh's offer.

"Then..."

However, they soon realized the crucial flaw of their offer.

"I can't accept it and here is why: I need an immediate reward. Allow me to clue you in----A reward that would greatly help my current position. What good is that many yen if I starve to death until then? Come back later but with an immediate reward and maybe then we'll strike a few deals."

"..........."

In reality, Yoh and Zwette were well aware of how much they would benefit out of this because Ryousuke Kawahara under no normal circumstances is making out alive here. It's evident that he is bound to starve since no one will feed him as everyone is forbidden to actually feed him but many not know this.

Should a single guard spot food given towards Kawahara, they will interfere.

On the other hand, Ryousuke Kawahara was aware that he was being toyed with. By passing himself as an individual who has higher priorities and not as an individual who necessary saw through their facade; he will make Yoh and Zwette believe that a deal like this can happen---where Yoh and Zwette benefit way more than Ryousuke Kawahara, as long as the reward is "immediate".

At that moment as he reflected once again, Ryousuke Kawahara thought he would have no more visitors, but in this ending afternoon where the orange sun on the outside outshone anything across it, a girl walked in the vicinity.

Her name was Rena, but she wasn't walking normally. She was carefully inspecting the interior of the cells to see if there was anything strange inside as this was the first time she would be seeing a criminal.

Nonetheless, the moment she actually put her gentle innocent eyes on the fearless Kawahara, she wet herself and ran midway.

Ryousuke Kawahara thought of stretching his tongue out of the cell to see if he could get a taste of it, but he was unsuccessful since it was too far away.

"Goddamn it."

Bored out of his mind and still chained up, Ryousuke Kawahara heard the loud howling of his stomach as he had not eaten in more than 10 hours. The lack of dehydration would be noticeable in anyone else, but Kawahara had already thought to himself that his brain must stay in perfect condition despite the circumstance's harsh conditions.

Two hours went by and in pure silence, Kawahara kept looking for someone to pass down that lonely hall and eventually, around dinner time, he could hear everyone outside having fun despite the fact that every student was actually unsuccessful in hunting them down.

Percy Phoenix would often give speeches about morality as a way to boost everyone's egos and they would be more devoted to the task.

Speaking of Percy Phoenix, he would be the second last person Ryousuke Kawahara would see that day.

He was walking down the main hall with chicken wings on a plate and took a nearby chair as he sat silently in front of Kawahara while eating them loudly. Percy Phoenix would in no normal circumstances display such a lack of manners in front of other individuals while eating, but this was a one time exception as he got the urge to do it as he saw how Ryousuke Kawahara's eyes were gleaming with hunger.

At any given moment, Ryousuke Kawahara would erupt from his current allocation and would warp his body balance to the point of clashing in-between the iron-cladded bars and the hollow space separating both of the two individuals present.

He howled albeit silently and in response, Percy Phoenix spat a gigantic saliva cannonball that contained the ardous spice of the barbeque to Ryousuke Kawahara's left eyeball.

However, Ryousuke Kawahara resisted the immense pain his eyeball nerves were inflicting to his upper part and continued to glare at Percy Phoenix with his eyes as wide as possible without speaking a word. Upon seeing this, Percy Phoenix remained stoic and spoke.

"If you want this, all you have to do is beg like a dog. Say the magical words..."

"Fuck you."

Without saying anything else, Ryousuke Kawahara threw himself on the bed as he denied Percy Phoenix the pleasure of further tormenting him.

Before leaving, Percy Phoenix said his last words to the tired Ryousuke Kawahara.

"You will die a dog's death. Nobody will give a shit if a useless waste of oxygen like you dies from starvation. Bear that in mind."

Leaving at last, Ryousuke Kawahara was once again all alone in this bin. He didn't even have the privilege of having a nice ceiling to stare at as his ceiling was pitch black, dark as a nebula.

He attempted to sleep but the rigid surface of his bed made that impossible; plus the unnecessary noises from the outside enraged him deep down as he wanted every single one of them to shut up already so he could have a chance of sleeping.

But, Ryousuke Kawahara knew. That according to chances, someone would make her appearance once again, when everything quiets down.

This person silently walked in the hall and since the main hall had clear endings without dead destinations, the moonlight's radiance reflected an overpowering luminosity on her own blonde hair. Furthermore, she had brought food along in a plate now that the guards were taking a break from their shifts. Only during midnight on point, during the first fifteen minutes, the guards took a break.

Not even Mortis was awake at this time, as a human being, he also had to sleep eventually and no amount of loyalty will be able to interject with a human's functional necessity for sleep.

She took a seat in the chair that Percy Phoenix had previously used and started to talk with Ryousuke Kawahara, who was starring at the obscure ceiling despite being aware of the individual's presence on his right side---ten matters away from him.

"You won't make it like that."

"No kidding. A human body without nutrients is the equivalent of a volcano without magma."

The figure----Shiori Denko was not giving him free food or anything for free. She had come here with one purpose only.

"Earlier--- you said something about me being Percy's lapdog. Why did you say that?"

Ryousuke Kawahara felt as if this question was beyond easy and answered it while yawning; not caring about the form of disrespect that such act portrayed to Denko.

"You get motivated whenever he makes a speech----he tells you the reward of something, you do it for the reward----there's zero individualism present. Percy Phoenix strips the individualism out of someone. Strictly speaking, he is the bane to my existence."

The words of a criminal would not resonate with many, but to someone like Shiori Denko, who is capable of acknowledging the rationality in Ryousuke Kawahara's words, his sentence far struck her than she had initially expected.

She found herself hesitant to speak as she was afraid to let her guard down and as such, she lightly laughed at Kawahara.

"Haha, you are... interesting, yes. But I would like to just say that you are wrong."

"How?"

"I am acting on my own accord. Percy is just the organizer of this event. That doesn't necessarily mean that everyone co-associated to this event is his lapdog."

But Ryousuke Kawahara begged to differ for that exact same reason.

"That is what being a lapdog is---you wait for your master to tell you what to do and then you do it."

"Am I to understand that you think I'm his lapdog because I partook an event of his? Then by all means, you are also a lapdog as long as you partake in anything in life."

Once again, Ryousuke Kawahara argued differently.

"A bit wrong, missy. You aren't his lapdog because you partook this event. You are his lapdog because you allowed him to decide how the finalization of this event will be."

"......."

As Shiori Denko processed a new perspective, Ryousuke Kawahara gave her some time to think and then calmly spoke up in her direction.

"So? Are we here to debate our philosophies when it comes to being a lapdog?"

"No.... Are you... hungry?"

"I am."

Unable to deny it, Ryousuke Kawahara spoke the truth. He did it however deliberately because he wanted Shiori Denko to show him what he was capable of coming up with.

"What will you give me for this plate full of food?"

Ryousuke Kawahara didn't have to think about it as he already had thought about this scenario more than ten hours ago, right at the moment he firstly laid his eyes on the beautiful Shiori Denko.

"I will give you the exclusive location of two criminals----only to you."

This made Denko's jaw drop a bit as she couldn't believe in this sort of information, but Ryousuke Kawahara had a few demands in return to such information.

"There will be two conditions, however. The first one is: Killing these individuals is a no-no. The second one being: You'll have to be in touch with me for the next two days in-between to four to four hours."

"Why can't they be killed off? That's suspicious."

Denko was right and not even Kawahara could deny it as the truth was, having those two individuals killed would be extremely counterproductive for Kawahara. However, with the past argument being built up, Kawahara used the perfect excuse.

"If you kill them off, then I won't give you my services and without my services, you will never find them."

"And why should I believe what you've just said when I have the whole island to explore at will?"

Kawahara lightly laughed back as he was so aware of what she did not know that he felt like giving her a little hint.

"Kukuku... A hint: The cameras cannot capture it."

"....?"

This was a hard dilemma for Shiori Denko, but what Ryousuke Kawahara would do, would clue her in. He lifted his right hand index finger and spiraled it downwards in direction of the ground, indicating further existence within the island below it.

"Are you implying that---"

"You are free to assume whatever you want. Of course, you could naturally know more if you and I keep this little secret between us and us alone. Or, you could walk away and continue to be a lapdog. Isn't that the traditional dream? To do what you are told to do because its logical to do so?"

"..."

At last, Shiori Denko had arrived at the conclusion that Ryousuke Kawahara wanted her to arrive at from the start. By secretly parterning up with Kawahara, she is freeing herself partially from Percy's control and she would no longer be one of his lapdogs, as Ryousuke Kawahara had stated.

However, there was something controversial, that Ryousuke Kawahara felt the need to clarify.

"No, this doesn't make you my lapdog. We equally benefit here, in the long run. An equal merit is what divides everything. So, what'll it be? Oh yeah, what's your name again? I don't think I asked before, or did I?"

"You haven't. My name is Denko. But let's talk about the deal. So, in conclusion, you will give me the location of two criminals under the two conditions which are: they cannot be killed and I will have to be in touch with you under the time period of two days for four to four hours all in-between..."

"Denko, I'll say something in addition; the more time you lose the worse it gets. I'm not the monster here. And I think you know who actually is."

As Denko had a clue and the correct thought of the person, she lightly laughed before continuing.

"They are working with you, aren't they?"

"That's not a bad assumption. However, that's not true. I simply know where they stand at the moment. A piece of advice---- give others the location in an indirect manner so they do their work for you while also making sure they don't kill them. The guards--- for example. They are objective and goal-driven. Instead of using those emotion-driven students around the vicinity you are better off using them. But that's just me. You do you. Unless we don't have a deal?"

"......."

After thinking for a while she saw little to no consequences to this deal. Denko doesn't like to be on the spotlight and prefers if others do their work for her. She was already thinking about the lies she would tell those around her so they could do their work. For example----she could say that she spotted such individuals in a certain location through the cameras and as such, she would not be the one technically responsible to find it if she claims that several other students saw the exact same image simultaneously.

Avoiding killing the individuals was arguably the hardest part of the task as everyone would be beyond more than glad to kill them and since Shiori Denko didn't want to actually take all of this risk on her own, she planned to have others do the entire task while she pulls the strings from the shadows. This way, if Kawahara tricked her, she won't be unrewarded.

In her mind, this was a win-win situation no matter how she looked at it.

Therefore, she softly slided the plate with food to Kawahara, who calmly walked up to get it.

"We are now talking. By the way---- I forgot to ask. What does your do?"

"...I'm sorry...? I don't understand what you are implying."

She really didn't, but soon understood what Kawahara was implying once he was more succint; only after taking a bite out of the cold barbeque.

"I am talking about the little toys Percy gave all of you ten."

"How do you know that...?"

"So you don't know, huh? Guy's more of a liar than I am on a good day. Well---I need all of the ten components, you see. I am not saying you get them----now, just, don't do anything with it. They are not meant for outsiders to use it."

"I'm afraid that's up to me, is it not?"

He grinned while eating fastly.

"I kinda like ya, not gonna lie. Gimme a map so I can give you the location."

Fortunately, Shiori Denko always carried about a map in her skirt's pocket, so this was no trouble at all.

She handed the map and with his dirty thumb from all the sauce, Kawahara laid out the zone where the two individuals would be.

Afterwards, he returned the map to her.

"I already mentioned this, but I'll say it again---keep this between us. If Percy knows about this, you and I are pretty screwed."

"You're already screwed, Ryousuke Kawahara. It's fun watching you struggle. I know a dead person walking on a lively body once I see one. You reflect the exact opposite."

"I appreciate the faith."

"Make no mistake... If I kill them, then I benefit more than you ever will and the fact that you are entrusting me to not do so is authentically dumb."

Having a counter answer to this already, Ryousuke Kawahara didn't hesitate to lay out the truth.

"If you kill them, you are officially Percy's lapdog because you committed the action for the benefit which is the reward of their deaths. If you can live with that, then Shiori Denko, be my guest."

".........Hmpf."

Without wishing goodnight or saying anything else, Shiori Denko left the vicinity which meant that Ryousuke Kawahara was all alone once again, but this time he was eating something.

Done eating, he hid the evidence below his bed sheets and crossed all fingers whilst snapping them through.

Uniting then his mouth with his fingers, he spoke to himself silently as he further reflected on the status of the situation.

"Soon, I will control them all."