What is pride? Is it something we should be proud of? Is it something we should admire or crush? Pride is something that leads us to arrogance. Many people have endless wealth, fame, and power which makes them arrogant at one point. So what happens after that? Do you become a god?
[System - Punisher Deployed]
September 24, 2024
Takahashi Yuto, a regular office employee. A gambling addict. In some places, gambling is legal, but there are some people who don't care about the consequences of gambling. Sometimes they take such pride in being a professional gambler. Yuto was rich though but never showed it to anyone; the money he earned from gambling, he just bet it all again and again. At one point, Yuto did something horrific that has activated the system.
The night was cold, the skies were covered in clouds. After Yuto finished his office work, he was going to a nearby gambling place. Most underground gambling places were illegal, but Yuto was kinda regular in those places. As Yuto got on the train, he pulled out his wallet and started counting how much money he had. He counts them rapidly, "4, 5, 6.... Damn, I guess I have to start low tonight" – he whispers. The train stops at a station, and most of the people got off. Yuto took out his phone and was gambling on his online account. He looked stressed; he bet a large amount of money. Yuto's eyes got wide, his forehead sweating, his legs constantly tapping. At one point, he grips the phone tightly. He lost the bet. Yuto looked furious and couldn't accept the loss. "Why you... It was the last coin I had. I can't even get a refund" – he yelled out loud. As time passed, he arrived at his station. Yuto looked frustrated and angry. His fist closed, his eyes filled with rage. Yuto got off the train.
As he was walking on the station, he noticed a man was walking behind him. The man appeared out of nowhere and started following him. At first, he didn't give it much thought. He stood near a vending machine to buy a drink, then the man also stopped right next to another machine. Yuto was purchasing his drink and was looking at the man. Long black hair, white suit, white pants, rimless glasses, a shining watch—the man was looking too good to buy something from a vending machine. By his dress-up, a five-star hotel goes perfectly with him. Yuto bought his drink, and the man did the same. Yuto started walking again, and the man? He was walking behind him as well.
Yuto exited the station and was going to his regular gambling place. After a few minutes, Yuto looked behind and noticed the man was still following him. This time, he panicked and stopped in the middle of the road. He turned around and asked – "Why are you following me?" The man looked at him while taking a sip from his drink. Yuto asked again – "Hey, why are you following me?" This time, the man replied – "Aren't you going to Georgia's?" The underground gambling place goes by the code name Georgia. Yuto was confused at first because he thought the man might be a cop following him to arrest them. He didn't say anything; Yuto was looking at the man with a suspicious look. The man laughed and said – "I am not a cop, so you can tell me." Yuto demanded to know his name. The man standing there said – "Well, I go by the name Joseph. You can call me the Gambler. I am going to Georgia as well." Yuto walked close to him and said that he looked too good to go to a place like that. Joseph laughs and says that he won this outfit from his previous gamble. After a few words exchanged, they seemed to get along, and both went there.
Both of them went to Georgia. They ordered drinks, played together, won some bets, lost some games. Surprisingly, Joseph didn't lose a single high-bet game, but he lost all the low-stakes ones, and somehow, Yuto managed to win the high-stakes games as well. Yuto won a lot of money. After hours of gambling and playing with others, they both decided to stop. Yuto was too drunk, but Joseph was in his senses. Yuto was yelling and was making a mess, so Joseph dragged him out and started walking towards the station again. Joseph was carrying Yuto, one hand on his shoulder, and he was dragging him. Yuto was too drunk to walk on his own and was blabbering. Joseph asks him if he had enjoyed or not. Yuto said it was his best game night so far and also said that this was the first time he won so many high-stakes games.
Joseph and Yuto get on the last train of the night. Joseph and Yuto were sitting on the train, and Yuto asked – "Hey, Joe." Joseph laughs and said – "Well, well, the man who didn't trust me is now giving me names, huh?" Yuto laughs and said – "Oh, come on, dude, you are my best friend now. After all, we make a good duo." Joseph smiles and asks Yuto about his family. Yuto's smile fades away, and he looks serious now. The drunk bump suddenly turns into his senses. He looks at Joseph and says – "Look, buddy, ask me anything you want, but not about my family." Joseph looks at him with a smile and says – "Why? Don't you have one?" Yuto yells and says – "Shut up. Just because I considered you my friend doesn't mean I have to tell you everything." Joseph says – "But that's what friends are for." Yuto's eyes widen. The train stops. It's Yuto's station. He grabs his bag and wallet and gets off the train. Joseph stands in front of the door, and Yuto outside of it. Before leaving, Yuto turns around and says – "Tomorrow, same time, okay?" Joseph smiles at him and raises his one hand to say goodbye – "Got you, buddy." The door closes, and the train starts leaving. Yuto stands in front of the platform, watching Joseph leave as he was waving.
Yuto turns around and starts making his way back home. He was thinking about the whole evening, the moments with Joseph. Usually, Yuto always goes there alone, but today, he actually enjoyed himself after a long time. Thinking about all that stuff, he makes his way back home.
Meanwhile, Joseph was boarding the train. Sitting in an empty train, Joseph relaxes his body by leaning on the seat. Legs spread across, hands spread on the seat. "God, I hate this job. Well, at least it was fun, but I regret losing those bets on purpose. Damn." The air glitches in front of him, and the system appears out of nowhere.
[System - Good Evening, Punisher. You have a message for the ONE.]
[System - Tap to read.]
Joseph reaches out his hand and presses it. The message opens up.
[∆¶§|∆¶|∆§¶Π∆Ω§ΩμΠ∆§|¶∆μ¶∆Ωμ|∆]
It was just an unreadable code again, which can only be read by the system and the Punishers.
After reading the message, Joseph puts his hand inside his suit's pocket and pulls out a card. A Joker card. He looks at it and says –
"Let the game begin."