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Nanana’s Buried Treasure Volume 7 Chapter 6.1

Episode 13: Second Stage part 3 – The worst of the worst intruders-

1

In the robbery room, Ikusaba-san and Batako-san are at an impasse.

As M sheepishly returns to the grand hall after being outmaneuvered by the rule-violating Batako-san. Lady Ageha and I remain to observe since we are nominally on the same team as the swapped Batako-san.

For Lady Ageha, who doesn’t know Batako-san’s true nature, a team member suddenly replaced is an unanticipated situation. Unsure of how to react, she watches the development with a troubled look.

Amid our watchful eyes, the 《forced acquisition game》 finally begins.

First, the method of battle must be decided.

Banker Yuiga shuffles a pile of #2 cards. Then Ikusaba, representing the team holding more coins, draws a card…

「This time, the forced acquisition game will be 《one-three group old maid》」, the banker announces.

He guides them to Table 3, a square table with chairs. Ikusaba-san and Batako-san sit across from each other.

In the middle stands President Yuiga, who places a deck of cards on the table.

「Let me explain the rules. This deck is half of a normal set, with two cards of each number totaling twenty-six pairs. Initially, three random cards will be removed to serve as the old maid for that turn. The goal here is different from regular old maid though. Instead it’s to guess which is the old maid. Let’s give it a try.」

The banker then arranges three face-down cards in front of him, and distributes the remaining twenty-three cards in two piles.

「With three dealt per side, we are left with eleven in one and twelve in the other. The person holding the twelve cards will go first in alternating turns.」

For the example, the two reveal their cards.

「In the manner of old maid, please remove and set aside matching pairs. Do so face-down, so that the numbers remain unknown.」

As instructed, Batako-san and Ikusaba-san both place their pairs face down on the table so that the cards are not visible. Batako-san had 7 cards left after setting aside 2 pairs from his original 11 cards. Ikusaba-san had 6 cards left after setting aside 3 pairs from his original 12 cards.

「From here on, we’ll take turns drawing one card from the other person’s hand as in a normal game of old maid. If you draw a pair that matches one in your hand, remove both from your hand and place them face down on the table.」

Following the prompt, Ikusaba-san (who has 12 cards) draws first from Batako-san’s cards. If he draws a pair, he places it face down on the table following the same procedure.

「Immediately after drawing a card, declare what you believe the old maid card is.」

After thinking for a moment, Ikusaba-san answers 「3.」

Having already confirmed which three cards were the old maids set aside earlier, President Yuiga says, 「Correct」, and turns over one of the cards.

「Since the Phantom Thief guessed correctly, the Phantom Thief retains the guessing rights.」

Hearing this, Ikusaba-san continues by guessing 「6.」

「Incorrect. Now it’s Servant B’s turn.」

Taking Tetsu-kun’s place as Servant B, Batako-san draws a card from Ikusaba-san’s hand. However, she simply places it into her own hand without laying down a pair. In other words, that card is…

「Servant B, please make your guess.」

「3.」

Ugh, this person really is the worst.

Remarkably, even after drawing an assured Old Maid card, Batako-san repeated 「3」, the same number Ikusaba-san had answered with before.

This prompted a stunned silence from both Yuiga the Banker and Ikusaba-san.

「That’s incorrect」, came the response.

In the next turn, Ikusaba-san drew from Batako-san’s hand and tossed aside a pair.

「5.」

「Correct.」

It was likely the number Batako-san had drawn before 5 which turned out to be correct. The turn continued correctly with 「Jack」 guessed next. This was also correct.

With three old maids correctly guessed, the game concluded. Both participants placed their remaining hands on the table.

「This sequence concludes the flow of the game. The winner is determined by who has guessed more old maids correctly, thus the victory will be assured by winning two out of three games.」 The rules were clearly laid out.

So, one-three groups old maid. A game seemingly ripe with elements for deduction.

「The game will consist of a total of five rounds, and the number of coins that will move depends on the difference between the wins and losses. The base rate will be ten times the number of loops」, it was explained.

So it’s the same as Lady Ageha and Haruto’s 《seven cards karuta》 from before.

Currently, as the loop count is 「2」, the base rate’s MAX will be twenty coins. If the outcome is three to two, twenty coins will move, for four to one it’s sixty coins, and for five to zero, it will be a hundred coins.

「That’s all. Any questions?」

「What happens if among the three old maids there are doubles, forming a pair?」 Batako-san asked while scanning the twenty-six cards laid on the table that Yuiga the banker was overlooking.

「If there is a pair among the Old Maids, in effect, you’d only have one Old Maid, and whoever picks that one will be victorious」, Yuiga the banker clarified his oversight.

「Is there any special bonus or something?」

「There is none」, came the answer.

「I see. Well then, one more thing.」

「What might that be?」

「Explain all the rules properly, idiot.」

Ah, Yuiga the Banker clearly felt irritated.

「My apologies.」

And what’s up with this person? So dismissive of others.

「’Sides, there’re fewer of them」,Batako-san criticized further.

「Fewer, you say?」 Yuiga the banker frowned.

「Yeah. Why don’t we double the stakes and the number of rounds while we’re at it?」

Batako-san suddenly proposed this, putting Yuiga the banker into a fluster.

「That would cause complications! Raising the rate beyond the limit is…」

Of course. I mean, why is this person suddenly being so capricious?

But that wasn’t the case.

「It doesn’t have to be that way. We can just make a 《trade》, right?」

「《Trade》, you say?」

「On paper, this match is capped at twenty coins. But you and I can have a personal bet outside the rules.」

This caught me by surprise. Using 《trading》 in such a manner was beyond my imagination.

What a thing to come up with.

At this sudden proposal, how would Ikusaba-san respond?

「Unfortunately, there isn’t much benefit for us holding the lead in the coin count to accept your proposition」, Ikusaba-san refused calmly.

To this, Batako-san came back with something outrageous.

「I wouldn’t expect you to do it for nothing. How about this, if you agree to this 《trade》, I’ll give you a hundred coins as a signing bonus.」

Wow, a hundred coins!

「You’re quite generous, aren’t you?」

「Seems like the shy boy needs some leading from his older sister here since he can’t do much on his own」, Batako-san taunted.

Ikusaba-san’s expression grew sharp.

Continuing with a smirk, Batako-san added,「What if, by some chance, you actually beat me? Wouldn’t that become a feather in your cap? After all, this is filmed and will be recorded for posterity.」

Pointing at the TV camera, Batako-san made her point.

「Let’s be honest, chances like this don’t come around often. Me being here to challenge you, that is.」

Listening to the added conditions posed by Batako-san, Ikusaba-san pondered his options.

Observing his cautious demeanor, Batako-san let out a snort through his nose.

「What? With all the help I’m offering, you still can’t decide? If so, call that girl you liked who left the island and ask her. Tell her, ‘I can’t decide anything on my own…’ Oh, but you had your cel phone confiscated, right? There, you’re off the hook. Lucky you, boy. You’ve spared yourself some embarrassment.」

Crack.

I could have sworn I heard such a sound.

Well at least Batako-san’s provocation is not to be underestimated.

「Let’s go with ten rounds. However, the rate will be thirty coins.」

「Typical stingy guy」, Batako-san muttered disparagingly.

「It’s only appropriate to make some concessions when dealing with you, isn’t it?」

「Fine, it’s settled then.」

With a grin, Batako-san gestured towards us, who were gathered in the corner as onlookers. She’s probably signaling to me, but honestly I’d rather ignore her and run away. But ignoring her would only invite a scarier outcome later on.

「Did you call for me?」

To my obsequious approach, Batako-san extended a hand.

「The stamp. We need it for the 《trade》, right?」

Evidently, she knew the rules of 《Sugoroku de Pon》 pretty well.

Upon her prompt, I glanced briefly at Lady Ageha beside me.

Though she hadn’t fully grasped the situation, Lady Ageha obediently handed over her stamp in response to Batako-san’s dictation.

And with that, the two of us hastily moved to the corner of the room. More like we fled.

「Is it really okay to leave such a big gamble in the hands of that New Servant B… the older sister?」

Even Lady Ageha seemed unable to fully dismiss Batako-san outright. It’s understandable because with such a presence and aura, Batako-san isn’t someone you can easily write off.

But still…

「We should let Batako-san handle this 《trade》.」

More than anything, I wanted to see it for myself. Could Batako-san, who instigated such a bold wager, defeat Ikusaba-san.

《Document of Trade》

– Trade Team

Lady Team・Great Detective Team

– Trade Time

03:52:16

– Content of Trade

In turn eleven of the 《forced acquisition game》 (「one-three group old maid」), apart from the existing rules, they will conduct a ten-round match with a rate of thirty coins.

Furthermore, in relation to this trade, the Lady Team will pay the Great Detective Team a hundred coins without compensation.

– Stamp

Club

「There you go, hurry up and stamp it.」

After neatly filling out the document and stamping it, Batako-san tossed it to Ikusaba-san.

Ikusaba-san, who apparently had his stamp ready, pulled it out from his breast pocket and pressed it onto the document with force.

Yuiga the banker took the completed document and checked it before applying an official 「Trade Acceptance ★2」 stamp.

With this, their 《trade》 was complete.

「I’m surprised you didn’t run away.」

Batako-san’s one-eyed grin was met with Ikusaba-san’s unyielding stance.

「Considering the circumstances, it’s quite an efficient resolution to defeat you」, Ikusaba-san retorted confidently.

Hearing this, Batako-san laughed with evident amusement.

「Geez… I’ve always wanted to say this once.」

2

The 《forced acquisition game》 of Batako-san.

The method of battle: 《one-three group old maid》 for ten rounds.

The number of coins that will move is the product of thirty times the difference in wins and losses between them.

If there’s a five-five tie, it’s a draw. With a six-four outcome, sixty coins move. For an eight-two result, one hundred eighty coins shift. If it comes to a ten-zero landslide, a whopping three hundred coins are set in motion.

Moreover, to make the wager stand, Batako-san gave Ikusaba-san a hundred coins.

So, accounting for this grand venture, the current coin situation stands as follows.

Hiiyo Ikksuba (Phantom Thief), Great Detective Team: coins: 385

VS

Batako-san (Servant B), Lady Team, coins: 94

If after all this, if Batako-san suffers a devastating defeat then our team will plummet into a serious deficit. Directly into 《debt》.

Yet, the possibility of defeat isn’t absent. After all, the opponent is Ikusaba-san.

How will Batako-san face off against Ikusaba-san, who presumably possesses some power from the Nanana collection allowing him to command?

And thus, the fateful match commences.

First Round.

Yuiga the banker, having shuffled the twenty-six cards, lays out three face-down as the old maids. He distributes the rest to the two players.

Lady Ageha and I, mere spectators, move behind Batako-san. We watch her hand from a slight distance.

– From Batako-san’s Perspective

Batako-san’s hand (starting from 12):

A, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, J, K – Discarded Pairs: 7, 10

Ikusaba-san’s hand (starting from 11):

Unknown, Unknown, Unknown, Unknown, Unknown, Discarded Pairs: Unknown, Unknown

Old Maids:

Unknown, Unknown,

Batako-san, starting the game with twelve cards, draws first from Ikusaba-san’s hand. The card drawn is 「J」, making a pair and laid face-down on the table.

Batako-san’s hand:

A, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, K

Discarded Pairs: 7, 10, J

Ikusaba-san’s hand:

Unknown, Unknown, Unknown, Unknown, Unknown, Unknown, Discarded Pairs: Unknown, Unknown

Old Maids:

Unown, Unknown, Unknown,

Next up is the crucial Old Maid guess. Batako-san specifies 「6」.

Yuiga the banker verifies the three old maid cards in front of him and makes his judgement.

「That is incorrect」.

The incorrect guess leads to a switch in offense and defense. It’s now Ikusaba-san’s turn. He draws 「9」 from Batako-san’s hand and places the paired set face-down on the table. On his guess for the old maid, Ikusaba-san nominates 「10」. But since it’s already in Batako-san’s discarded pairs, it’s naturally incorrect.

Then it was Batako-san’s turn to draw. She pulls 「8」, completing another pair to discard.