We headed toward the game exit. I explained everything to Lie in detail. She was stunned and didn't know how to react.
"Did you feel bad about pushing the Leader?"
"Would they have felt bad while killing us?"
She didn't answer. She understood.
I had won Seiko's game coins, but because he was killed immediately, I couldn't get the information about the traitor. There was nothing I could do about it. I let it go. We were brought back to the second layer. I told Lie to wait in the cell—Keibo had called me to his office.
I knocked and entered. Keibo greeted me.
"The elites have grown extremely fond of you."
"I figured."
He laughed at my indifferent response. "You're going more and more insane. Are you aware of it?"
"I'm aware."
"There's an elite who wants to meet you."
"Why?"
"He's very fond of you."
I scratched my head. Keeping good relations with the elites made sense. It could open opportunities for my secret plan. "I accept."
"He's waiting in the next room."
I left and opened the door to the adjacent room. A young boy with brown hair, green eyes, and a cute face stood there. His face lit up when he saw me.
"Rei!" He hugged me. I was surprised but didn't push him away. He pulled back. "I'm Itsuki! Do you know how much money I've made thanks to you? Thank you!"
"You're welcome. Nice to meet you."
I didn't know what to say, so I just tried to be agreeable. He went on at length about his admiration, his face flushing. He had a thing for intelligence—but not in a normal way. It was more like an intelligence fetish.
"If you want, I can help you. I could be your sponsor."
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely. I can also give you information about the traitor."
"I want to know about the traitor."
"Someone from your past. A girl you know very closely."
My eyes widened. Akari. The second student who competed against me in the training facility. She had struggled to surpass me, never could, and swore she would catch up. The girl I had sensed something strange about. She had changed her hair color and worn contacts, but she couldn't escape my intuition.
She had joined the previous game to observe me and gather information. She was the one who revived Shouya, the Leader, and all of them with the machine. She directed Wakamura, had him spread rumors and set traps. She was the one Shouya called "master."
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I shared my thoughts with Itsuki. He confirmed them.
"Akari wants revenge on you. She's obsessed. She runs a secret cult for that purpose. Shouya is a member of that cult, which is why he calls her 'master.' But he doesn't know her face, so he didn't recognize her in the last game. The one who sent Shouya after you, who revived them, who directed Wakamura—the real mastermind is Akari."
"I understand. Thank you. I can stay by your side."
"What do you do for work?"
"I own several companies. The biggest is a hospital."
"How far are you willing to go for my plans?"
His face reddened. He grew excited. "I'll do whatever you want."
He had a strange personality, but I understood his needs. I could use him in my plan.
"Will you stay loyal?"
He nodded.
I leaned in close and whispered in his ear. "I know what the next game is."
"What?" He was stunned. "How?"
"It's going to be an island game."
As an elite, he knew about the games. His shock deepened. I decided to reveal part of my secret plan.
"I knew about the dungeon's existence before I came here. I arranged the third game I would play myself, a year ago."
"A year ago?"
"When I killed Seiko, I already knew about the cell machine. I knew he could be revived. Everything I acted surprised about in the dungeon was just that—an act."
Itsuki froze. Then he asked excitedly, "How did you do it? What are you going to do?"
"While I was in the training facility, I infiltrated the system. The dungeon and the training headquarters were connected. The games are managed from a massive central system—all the data is stored there. I saw the cell machine there too. The system data was so tangled that no one would notice if I secretly made additions. The dungeon system was just starting up, so I added to the code."
"What did you add?"
"After I killed Seiko, I got into the system. I added the following code: On a specific date, launch the Island Game event. Allow participation from layers one through three. Game name: Chaos Island Game. No rules. Participation is not mandatory. No penalty for losing. High-level rewards for the winner. Player limit: one hundred. Rules will be introduced by the system during the game. In the island shop, a connected mine can be purchased for one hundred game coins. For every person killed by a mine, one hundred game coins will be transferred to Rei Rei's account. If Rei Rei dies within the system, he will be reborn from the cell machine."
Itsuki's eyes widened. "You arranged all of this a year ago?"
"I didn't know which games I'd face, but I predicted I'd play at least two. I already knew about the dungeon's existence, its rules, and the machine beforehand."
"So all those questions, all those reactions in the dungeon... were an act?"
I confirmed it.
"What were you going to do with the mines?"
"At first, it was for money. But a year ago, I changed my mind. I decided to destroy the system. During the game, I'd buy the mines and place them at strategic points all over the island. I'd trigger them in a domino effect, blowing everyone up along with myself. But I had set the system to rebirth me from the cell machine. After the explosion, I'd be reborn inside the machine with renewed cells. The machine is right next to the central computer. I'd access the computer, corrupt the data, cut the cables, and crash the system. While the authorities were dealing with the chaos, everyone would think I died on the island. I'd vanish without a trace."
"What about me?"
"I want you to help me. You can report it to the government, make it look like a hundred people were slaughtered on the island. You can use your power to destroy the system through the state. You'll gain fame from it. I need five thousand more game coins for the plan."
Itsuki froze. Then his face flushed with excitement. I was starting to think he was a sadist and a pervert.
"You really planned all of this a year ago?"
"Yes. You were just a variable."
He weighed his own interests. Then he accepted my offer and transferred five thousand game coins.
"Good doing business with you."
I left the room.
I had taken a risk, betting that Itsuki's perverted nature would make him accept. It paid off. Now I'll wait for the island event to begin.
My one-year plan is starting.