ShangriLa Frontier Chapter 612: Money and Dreams Move People’s Hearts Part 1
For the time being, I have reached a conclusion that the Trading Card Game was of no real use to me, since there was no way I would be able to brute force my way through it or weasel my way through its specs. Well, technically I could do something about the specs, but I really lack the time and mental fortitude now to think about a new deck and the way in which it would be supposed to work.
Let’s also forget for now about the fact that I have made quite the detour just for the sake of my own personal use. For now, let’s talk about the results of the survey that each member of our party managed to conduct on their own. The other two also played around for entire hour, so they need to have some good news…… But once we started doing that, it took us way more time than we would have liked.
「When it comes, to me, I…… even met Rust-san here.」
「Rust? Really?」
「Umm……She went into severe debt and was even at the edge of going completely bankrupt…… So she was forced to play as a jokey in the horse racing as a method of compensation?」
Wait a minute here, it’s it a little bit of a foul play to throw such big and juicy story at us from the get-go? No I really want to see that myself! And what’s that about being a jockey!? Is it something super exciting? Does it beat gathering meat in the lower level? And is it something that is worth becoming bankrupt!?
「Umm…… Is it something like those Mecha Horse Racing? By any chance?」
「Ah, I see. Now it all starts to make an awful lot of sense.」
If I was ever to go bankrupt, I am sure it would be because I was trying to strike it big in hopes of getting rich fast. But also, if I were to strike it big, I could be well-prepared for what would lie ahead in front of me for the fourth layer. I could even buy myself a nice toy or two, instead of just renting them…… But I’m sure that I’ll be just smiling like a god-damned fool all the time. It was then that I turned my gaze to the side.
「…… So? What about you?」
「This is all that I was able to harvest. Earlier I went absolutely bonkers on the slots machines.」
「Oh wow…… I am terribly sorry for the inconvenience this will probably cost you, but do you think you could actually share some of your scores with me?」
「And get back to the point at which I started? No thank you.」
「YASHIRO BIRD, FOR SOMEONE WHO IS WELL ON HIS WAY TOWARDS BANKCRPCY, ONE WOULD ASSUME THAT YOU WILL LEARN TO MANAGE YOUR CHIPS BETTER.」
It was the tone of voice that I would have recognized even at the end of the world. But not because we like one another so much. It’s the opposite –– because I absolutely couldn’t stand the guy. Even the “Brave Fish” was speaking to him in a tone unlike of which I have ever heard before, not to mention the expression that was showing borderline disgust and disapproval.
What’s wrong, Yashiro Bird? Or should I call you Mister CEO? Finally decided to finish yourself and descended into the gaping maw of gambling addiction? Is that it?
「Survival, this is Ato…… Yashiro Bird. Or at the very least that’s the name under which he’s known in here.」
「Oh, the pleasure is all mine, but you could have at least put some more effort in to that introduction…… But man, I really can’t seem to score it big when it comes to slot machines!」
「It’s Only One! Only One, I swear…… No, seriously! If I have a little bit more funds here, U am sure that I can turn things around! I can feel it! I’m so close! The winds of change are about to blow my way!」
It’s not that I do not understand you r plight, but I am not going to part ways with my own funds just so that you can gamble them all away. Especially if you do not know how to spot yourself. It’s a symptom characteristic of all gambling addicts. It would be a whole lot better for the society in general if this guy was to be left on the deserted island and rot away there rather than polluting some other communities.
「Say, “Brave Fish”? What’s this “Only One” thing that he’s been talking about?」
「IT’S A FIGHTER PLANE WITH A SPECIAL PAINT JOB PREPARED AS A REWARD FOR WINNING THE GRAND PRIZE JACKPOT IN THE SLOT MACHINES. AND AS FAR AS I CAN REMEMBER, THERE IS ONLY ONE SPECIAL PAINT JOB LIKE THAT BEING DISTRIBUTED HERE……」
「Hmm?」
「DO YOU HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS? BECAUSE IF SO, THIS HERE “BRAVE FISH” SHALL ANSWER THEM FOR YOU!」
A fighter plane with a special paint job? The one and only such thing in the entire world? What the hell is this all about ……?
「Say, Sanraku? Does that mean that……?」
「Could it be that we are thinking the same thing?」
「Hm? What’s wrong?」
「Umm…… That one and only thing in the entire world…… Surely it cannot be…… But, there is no other way……」
「………???」
Ahh, that’s right. In other words……
「Say, Brave Fish? Could you give me the gist of this whole “Only One” idea? Just the gist, without the details. Is that prize something that can only be obtained here? There is no way of getting your hands on that on the other layers?」
「WELL, THAT MUCH SHOULD HAVE BEEN PRETTY OBVIOUS HERE, ISN’T IT? THE FOURTH LAYER IS THE LEVIATHAN’S ARSENAL, A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN OBTAIN EVERY SINLGE ONE OF THE WEAPONS THAT WERE PRODUCED IN HERE AND DISTRIBUTED. SO THERE IS NO WAY TO OBTAIN PRIZES THERE.」
It was at that moment that all three of us had the colors drain from our faces relatively at the same time. That’s how powerful the words of the “Brave Fish” were, plus the tone in which she said them, as if it was something completely natural and obvious, were the extra kick to the gut in here. Then we all looked towards Yashiro Bird.
Speaking of that stupid idiot, what’s with that outfit? It was all wrinkled and thematically all over the place, with a cowboy hat to top it all off. Not to mention striking a retarded pose clearly borrowed from god-knows where while wearing a really irritating expression on his face……
「Hey, hey! I have heard it all from Survival, but you’re planning to go up, aren’t you? When will you move up? I will keep you company, if you don’t mind.」
「Which is it going to be? The issue of balance between personalities? Or maybe the specs that won’t go well with one another?」
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