Time had slipped to half past six.Ryojin had casually sent his men to watch over Eri, not paying much mind to it.He himself had more pressing matters to attend to.
"Who the hell are you people?!"The furious voice echoed through the pitch-dark basement."Why the hell did you bring us here?!"
It was inside a rented house, used as a hideout.The basement was soundproof, with only a faint scattering of dim light.
In front of him sat three captives — two men and one woman.Their hands and feet were bound tightly.Their mouths were uncovered, yet no sound seemed to escape them.
One was a stout man, carrying an air of wealth and arrogance.Another, a slim man with glasses, his eyes sharp with coldness and obsession with order.The last, a well-built woman — sharp-tongued, the type that could easily be called dangerous.
Two of his men were also in the room,each wearing a half-face clown mask, revealing only their mouths.
Ryojin dragged a heavy chair across the floor, the screeching filling the silence,before sitting directly before the three captives.He pulled out a few documents, his gaze locking on the man with glasses.When he spoke, his voice was icy, cutting through the air.
"Watino… your family's name is far too grand to speak of politely."
Watino glared back at him, his voice laced with anger."So you do know how powerful my family is. Then let us go!"
"Yeah! Release us at once!"The woman shouted, her fury bursting out.
Ryojin gave a mock pitying tone, curling his lips into a cold smile."Oh, oh… not that simple.Big names or not, none of you are escaping tonight."
The room fell silent.All eyes fixed on him.
Ryojin leaned forward slightly."Watino… you've broken more laws than I can count — abducting a child, raping her in the hotel you booked yourself."His voice was raspy, yet carried a chilling weight."The girl was only thirteen. And afterward, you threatened her family to silence them."
The three captives froze in shock.Watino's face went pale, though he struggled to keep composure.
"And where's your proof? What evidence do you have?"His voice trembled.
He knew well he had erased every trace.No one could pin him down so easily.
"None."Ryojin's flat reply wiped the color from Watino's face.
"Why would I need proof when I'm going to kill you anyway?"The words fell without mercy."I only spoke of your sins to justify what's about to happen."
Then his gaze shifted to the woman."As for you… you're useful enough to keep alive. For now."
The woman exhaled in shaky relief.
"Do you want to know why you're really here?"Ryojin lifted a tablet, switching it on.
Their eyes widened in disbelief.On the screen were images from the island's grand party…but they hadn't attended that event themselves.
Yes. Ryojin had sent clones to impersonate them.Their doubles mingled and moved freely in their place.
Snapping the tablet shut, he continued.
"That's only the start of your troubles."His tone dropped lower, colder."Watino… after you threatened that family for a week, they suffered a sudden 'accident' when they tried to sue you."
He paused.At that exact moment, the basement door creaked open.
Watino's face turned ghostly pale.
A girl stepped inside.Half her face was charred, burned beyond recognition,the other half marked with deep scars.
Ryojin's gaze was devoid of emotion."Yes… one survived."His voice cut through the air like a blade of ice."And she hates you more than anyone."
The girl approached, then lowered her head respectfully before him.
"Take him to the other room."Ryojin ordered his men."Tonight, she'll return the favor… exactly as he once did to her."
The girl tilted her head back, madness etched across her half-burned face,a crazed smile spreading wide."I'll make him forget why he was ever born, Master."
Ryojin smirked faintly as she departed with two men dragging Watino away.
His eyes shifted to the obese man left behind,his gaze burning like the fires of hell.
Lowering his head, he held up another file.Marvin Ernesto — a wealthy real estate mogul,yet behind the veil of respectability, his hands were drenched in blood,the blood of those he had forced into the underground fighting pits he built,so his "special guests" could savor the sound of breaking bones.
Ryojin:"Marvin Ernesto… owner of countless properties on this island.But no matter how much money you have,you can't buy forgiveness from death."
He pulled another sheet from the file, this one with photographs —naked prisoners clashing within a steel cage,the blood-soaked arena that Marvin had created.
Ryojin:"You seem to love the suffering of others.You drag people into cages, force them to fight to the death like animals…You're the type who treats the scent of blood like cinema."
He ripped the documents from his hand and flung them to the floor,the sound of paper striking the concrete ringing out like a judgment from hell.
Marvin spat on the ground, his face flushed red with a twisted mix of rage and terror.
Marvin: "Who the hell do you think you are, huh?! How dare you do this to me! You bastard, do you even know who I am?!"
Ryojin was silent for a moment… then chuckled softly,like a demon laughing at a pathetic joke.
Ryojin (low, rasping voice): "No matter how powerful you are… you can't escape death."
He raised his hand, slowly removing his mask.His face was devoid of mercy, his eyes pitch black,like a bottomless pit that swallowed all light.He leaned closer, whispering slowly into Marvin's ear.
Ryojin: "The condemned… have no right to speak."
The words drove into Marvin's heart like nails hammered straight into his chest.Ryojin's laughter echoed through the chamber,like the mocking howl of a devil delighting in the world's misery.
Ryojin: "Let's put it this way… I'll let you star in a film. The kind you'll enjoy most.Raw. Unscripted. No special effects.The title is… Snuff Film."
He leaned in closer still, his whisper like the breath of a grave.
Ryojin: "You'll be the leading man… with the most authentic experience possible.No other place on earth could ever give you such a gift."
Marvin's eyes bulged wide with madness.His body shook, drenched in sweat, tears spilling without him even realizing.He knew now — tonight, there would be no script, no director.Only death.And the cameras that would not blink.
Ryojin's laughter grew higher, sharper,until it became a haunting shriek that bounced off the cold walls,like the forgotten screams of the dead.
His mad laughter filled the chamber,and moments later, men came to drag Marvin away.
Now, only Ryojin and the last captive remained.
Madison.
She trembled violently, sweat beading down her skin, tears spilling freely.From the beginning until now, she hadn't spoken a single word.She was truly terrified of the man before her.
Ryojin tilted his head, watching her with mock sympathy.(It wasn't real, not in the slightest.)
Ryojin: "Well… you're lucky.You've committed no crimes.So I won't kill you."
His words brought her the faintest sigh of relief…until Ryojin smiled. Wickedly.
Ryojin: "But… it seems your daughter isn't so innocent."
Her eyes snapped to him, panic flooding her.She already understood.
Ryojin: "Your daughter framed one of her classmates…planting drugs on her, pushing her into ruin.That girl's life ended because of it.And you—"
He rose to his feet, stepping closer, lowering his voice.
Ryojin (whispering): "You're her mother.So you carry the burden."
He snapped his fingers.
Moments later, the basement door creaked open again.A girl — no older than sixteen — stepped inside.Her face hidden behind a mask,her body dressed in a revealing bunny suit that dripped with perverse suggestion.
Ryojin turned to Madison.Her face was frozen in horror, tears streaming as she recognized her own daughter.
Ryojin: "Your precious girl threw another child to the wolves,forced her to take the blame for drugs,and that child's life was destroyed.And you… used your wealth to bury the truth,to forge records, to make sure the dead were the only ones punished."
His grin widened.
Ryojin: "But don't worry…I won't kill either of you.You can breathe easy."
The girl suddenly broke down in tears, falling to her knees.
Madison's Daughter: "Mom! I'm scared! I don't want this, I don't want any of this! Please, Mom, save me!"
Her sobs filled the room, raw and desperate.Madison tried to reach out,but before she could, Ryojin wrapped an arm around her daughter,pulling the trembling girl close to him.
Ryojin (softly): "Shhh… there, there.It'll be alright."
English Version (Edited for Dark Tone but Safe Content)
Ryojin pulled her into his arms, stroking her head, his voice dripping with demonic mockery.
Ryojin:"From now on, the two of you will be mine—slaves to my will. For the rest of your lives."
Both women trembled in terror. Ryojin stepped closer to Madison, ripping away the last of her defenses. Tears streamed down her face as she gritted her teeth.
Madison:"Why are you doing this?! Is it money you want?! I can give you everything—just let me and my daughter go!"
Ryojin smirked, turning his gaze toward the trembling girl. He brushed a hand across her cheek, sending her into hysterics.
Ryojin:"Don't worry. I'll take everything—your wealth, your influence, and your freedom. You and your daughter will serve me. Body and soul."
He laughed, sharp and cruel. He knew he had the upper hand—using his clone's ability to pull out memories and bend personalities. Their lives, their fortunes, their very identities were now under his control.
Ryojin:"At first, I thought I'd simply kill you. Quick, merciful. But now? Now that I've seen what you've done… oh, it's far more satisfying to break you this way."
He snapped his fingers.
At once, a squad of black-clad women emerged from the shadows. They seized Madison and her daughter, dragging them away despite their cries.
Ryojin's cold eyes followed them only for a moment before turning back to his tablet.
Yes, it was cruel. Monstrous, even. But he wasn't a good man. Why should he care? He only cared for his comrades, his love, and the innocent.The rest—scum and filth—were nothing more than pawns to be crushed.
He would do whatever it took. No matter how brutal.Because this world was filled with dangers. To protect it, cruelty was a necessity.
Switching the camera feed, he saw Momo and the others arriving at the front gates.They looked stunning, better prepared than ever.
Ryojin (smiling faintly):"Once this is over, Todoroki… I'll have to pay you a visit."
Moments later, the island's alarm system wailed—the signal.The plan had begun.
Ryojin:"Time for a little walk…"