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Nanana’s Buried Treasure Volume 7 Chapter 3.2

「If you find yourself without any coins and in a 《state of deb》, you have the opportunity to once plead with the viewers watching this show on TV with 《pleading time》.」

It somehow sounds exactly like the kind of gimmick you’d expect from a TV production.

Thus seizing the moment the live commentator (a lovely lady) begins her explanation.

「Okay, let me explain 《pleading time》. If any of the four participating teams falls into 《debt》, a female representative from that team will stand on a podium prepared at the edge of the hall and perform an embarrassing ‘plea’ pose in for the TV audience. You have one minute to charm the viewers. If the audience finds the plea appealing, they should continuously press the blue button among the four colored buttons on their remote controls to show their support. Coins will be distributed based on the number of times the button is pressed.」

Wow, what is this? The vibe feels like one of those late-night interactive TV programs.

「Let me remind you that this bailout measure is available only once per team, so please be very careful.」

After hearing M’s explanation of when times get desperate, I can hear the sound of an excited foreigner getting punched while saying, “In other words, if I purposefully go into 《debt》, I will be able to see Yukihime’s innocent side as she pleads?” While I purposefully ignore this, I promise myself to help in case of an emergency, Haruto-san.

Anyway, this peculiar rule sticks oddly out. Likely, it was Producer Baba-san or someone at his level who twisted arms to insert it forcibly.

「Now that the explanation is over, we would like to begin 《Sugoroku de Pon》, but are there any questions?」

No one raises a hand. They’re all hesitantly quiet, each person seeming to deliberately abstain from inquiries. Well, I guess that’s more reason for me to organize everything in my head.

First and foremost, while 《Sugoroku de Pon》 has various rules, the basic premise remains largely unchanged.

The objective for us is to collect coins and finish among the top two of the four teams. There are mainly two methods to increase coins:

1. Roll the dice, stop at a square, and clear a simple task in that room to earn more.
2. Steal from another team that lands on the same square via a 《forced acquisition game》.

The challenge becomes the plethora of rules within 《Sugoroku de Pon》.

For example the existence of dice tickets and a system that allows you to ignore the goal and keep circling. Accepting 《trades》 between teams, and the absolute authority of written transaction agreements. The stamps given to each team. The role of the banker. The 《bank》 that will purchase anything. The relief measure for when in debt known as 《pleading time》… It comes down to how adeptly you can navigate and utilize these elements. It’s about finding opportunities and averting crises.

Ah, and don’t forget. The crucial rule for this second stage.

「Anyone who reveals any knowledge of the Nanana collectio’ to those ignorant of it will be immediately disqualified.」

Within this rule, we must adeptly use the Nanana collection we possess.

This will surely be a factor that determines the course of the game. It will indeed be a decisive factor.

「No questions, then… Alright…」

「Before we start, may I ask one final question?」

Since no one else is asking, I figure I may as well make it memorable by asking a question.

「What is it? Is there something about the rules you do not understand?」

「No, the rules are clear to me. What piqued my curiosity is, who will serve as the judge?」

「The judge, you say?」

「The bank employees are supporters of progress, are they not? As such, who will make the final judgment if a problem arises?」

「In a typical board game, participants often reach a consensus. But wouldn’t it be unusual for M who is just another player in this game to have the ultimate decision-making authority?」

M thinks for a moment, then nods.

「Of course. The bank staff will manage the basic operations, and in the event of a problem they will determine the best decision after careful deliberation.」

「So there’s no individual discretion from M, right?」

「That is obvious. It is strictly by the rules.」

「Understood.」

Well, with the TV broadcast in progress, I did suspect she wouldn’t say something like ‘I am the rule’. Anyway, now any unforeseen events akin to the capricious bonus announcement at the end of the first stage are sealed. M might try to overturn the game with some convoluted reasoning, but with her own words now we can prevent it.

The second stage is strictly controlled within the newly announced rules.

All explanations finished, the live announcer wraps up.

「We’ll take a brief commercial break, and then finally, 《Sugoroku de Pon》 will commence.」

3

During the commercial, the TV crew and aid gorokuma begin working preparing tables and chairs for each team at a short distance from the Sugoroku board located in the center of the large hall.

Watching this, Producer Baba steps in to explain.

「We anticipated a long event, so we prepared bases for each team to use as they please. We’ve also prepared some light refreshments at the bar counter—help yourselves. Although, please eat at the bar counter. We wouldn’t want you eating on camera at the Sugoroku board or the bases.」

「It’s quite the amenities you’re offering us.」

Being told this, Producer Baba chuckles wryly.

「The idea here is purely to observe the activity of everyone’s gaming. Frankly, you need not worry much about the television. Just enjoy your time here. For our part, as long as the ratings are good then anything goes.」

Is that really how it is?

With that, I take this opportunity to quickly grasp the situation in the grand hall.

About more than half of the grand hall is dedicated to the 《Sugoroku de Pon》 stage. This is essentially the filming location. The remainder is an area with TV staff present. There, cameras and lighting are set up, aimed at both the Sugoroku board and us. This area also features a bar counter.

From the perspective of the stationed cameras the Sugoroku board is centrally located and seated on a grand stand with the red carpeted staircase background. Each team’s table is strategically placed with all four tables stationed at either side of the staircase.

The second floor overlooking the hall serves as a gallery. The watchers who applauded during our entrance are seated there, peering down at us. It appears they’re positioned out of the television’s view.

「Wait, are those people…」

「Hey, we’ll be back from commercials shortly.」

One of the staff members calls out loudly.

4

Thus, with the end of the commercial break, the second stage of 《Sugoroku de Pon》 officially begins.

The first step is for each camp to place their coins on the large pedestals provided before them. It seems the possession of coins for each camp will be publicized in this manner.

But aren’t these coin stands a bit too imposing? If the number of coins is small, they look awfully pitiful placed upon them.

Meanwhile the TV audience is given a different explanation about the initial discrepancies in each team’s coin count. The live announcer waves away real reasoning with some mention of a handicap, among other things.

The data for the four teams displayed on the monitor now includes a new item, shown as follows:

– Great Detective Team (Blue Spade)
– Sakura Team (Yellow Diamond)
– Lady Team (Green Club)
– Cat Ear Team (Red Heart)

Great Detective & Phantom Thief
Coins: 70

Yamato Nadeshiko & Military Uniform
Coins: 220

Lady & Servant A & Servant B
Coins: 34

Masked Cat Ear & Cat Ear-chan
Coins: 35

「Now, for the first turn. We will collect your 《dice tickets》.」

Guided by the instructions of the masked banker Masaaki Kishitan-sani, who stands behind the Sugoroku board, a gorokuma (presumably assisting the banker since it’s wearing the same kind of mask as Masaaki-san), approaches us with outstretched hands. It seems they are indicating it’s time to hand over the tickets.

We place a single ticket from our bundle of 《dice tickets》 into their waiting hands.

「OK then. Representatives, please gather in turn to roll the dice.」

Following the predetermined order, the representatives start rolling the two dice placed on the game board.

「First up is the Great Detective Team’s initial roll.」

Tensai who came out for the Great Detective Team picks up the dice scattered across the board and tosses them in the air. The two dice roll in scattered directions, clattering against the board’s objects.

The outcome of the dice roll is 3 and 4 totaling 7.

However, the rule here is that the Blue Spade piece at the start point does not move yet. All pieces will only be moved after everyone has taken their turn rolling the dice.

Continuing the sequence is the second team, Sakura Team. The one who rolls the dice is a foreigner dressed in military attire, Neidhardt D. Polnareff (alias).

Haruto’s initial toss turns out to be…

「The situation has started to get interesting right from the start」, comments the live announcer lady. The outcome of the dice roll is a 2 and a 5 which adds up to a total of 7.

This means a 《forced acquisition game》 is set in motion right away.

Amid this sudden turn of events, murmurs ripple through the gallery.

But it wasn’t over yet.

Next turn belongs to us, the Lady Team. And of course, the one to cast our memorable first toss is none other than the purebred lady herself, Lady Ageha Kachou.