EPISODE 4: THE ONE WHO STOLE THE FUTURE
I can't believe those soldiers. Putting you on the front line like that...
How do you know about that?
Oh, I just do.
Well, you're right! They even monitor me all the time!
We can go now.
Okay. Let's make a little trouble for those jerks.
What the heck? He isn't scary at all.
Someone like him would never curse me to death.
Plus, now that our eyes have met, I can read his future.
Oh, wait... I left the Future Guide at home.
COFFEE
Wh-What is this?
What are you doing?
Shh. Keep quiet. And give me your phone.
Did you think I don't know who you are?
The Future Guide belongs to you, right?
Oh, no! He knows who I am!
Please enjoy.
Shall we start our date, then?
Take out the Future Guide, and copy all the prophecies you see into this.
What kind of date is this?!
And the Future Guide is at my house.
Are you joking?
Touch the tattoo on your arm and say, "Future Guide."
That's how you summon it.
You don't even know the basics?
F-Future Guide...
It really appeared!
Write all of it. Make sure you don't miss anything.
You're slowing down. You'll never finish that way.
My arm hurts. I can't write any more.
If you want the Future Guide, it's yours!
So can't you just let me go?
No.
Why did I let him fool me just because he's hot?!
If I could take it, I would've done that by now.
But the Future Guide is a Legendary-grade relic at Grade S.
PANDORA'S RELIC RANKING GRADE SS (GOD-GRADE) GRADE S (LEGENDARY-GRADE) - FUTURE GUIDE GRADE A (EPIC-GRADE) - MURAMASA GRADE B (RARE-GRADE) - GOLD/SILVER AXE GRADE C (NORMAL-GRADE) - EGYPTIAN FUNERAL KNIFE GRADE D (ANTIQUE-GRADE)
The penalty for trying to force it under my control would be massive.
Unlike with Muramasa, which is a lower grade,
it wouldn't stop at just one arm.
Please, sir, you can't...
This is official business.
Just cooperate. It won't take long.
Those idiots found us.
That's enough.
P-Please don't.
I think I'd be more useful to you alive...
You're misunderstanding.
Damned human! What do you think you're doing?!
I did that for you.
[CRUEL RELIC DESTROYER] YOU ACQUIRED A NEW TITLE. YOUR DOMINANCE HAS INCREASED. YOUR AFFINITY HAS DECREASED.
YOUR ABILITY TO DETECT RELICS HAS IMPROVED. THE SKILL "SPY" HAS REACHED RANK E.
YOU DESTROYED A HIGH-GRADE RELIC AND DISCOVERED THE HIDDEN SKILL "GIANT HUNTER."
"Giant Hunter"?
Freeze!
Don't move!
No! Th-The Future Guide! What's going on here?!
Exactly what it looks like.
Exactly what it...
What's your problem?! I'll have you executed here and now!
Don't make me laugh.
Wh-What?
Have a bite of this instead.
HOUSEWIFE'S DELICIOUS RICE CAKE (GRADE C - NORMAL / CONSUMABLE RELIC) INSTANT FOOD (SINGLE USE)
I think you'll love it.
What is this guy plotting?
Huh? Where did he go?
What's that smell?
It smells so good...
That's mine!
You morons!
Did you forget who's in command here?! This is mine!
We've got guns, too!
You bastards!
Hand over the rice cake...
The rice cake is mine!
I said it's mine, you jackass!
G-Gentlemen, please...
Uh, what do we do about this?
Found it.
The Great Tombification.
Back then, the entire world was swallowed by a colossal tomb.
It also caused far more relics to start circulating.
"In January, the time will be ripe in the underground garden of greed."
"The great catastrophe that plunges the world into chaos will begin."
"There, the god who knows the depths of your greed will join you."
That must refer to the secret Midas auction house in Las Vegas.
And he's sure to be among the participants.
We found three participants with the initials "J.K."
That's good intel.
Is one of them the one you're looking for?
Oh, yes.
This is definitely Ogawara Taisei.
NATIONALITY: PROBABLY JAPANESE HEIGHT: 185 CM WEIGHT: 80 KG AGE: PROBABLY 50-60
If he's here, some good relics must be up for auction.
None of them are God-grade, though.
Then what was the prophecy referring to?
Hammurabi's Code, Shakespeare's Pen...
There are still a few things worth bidding on.
What? You're gonna bid?
You do know that bids in Midas auctions start at a billion, right?
Of course. I don't have it on me now, though.
Huh?
Did you forget where we are?
Let's make some quick cash.
There's plenty of money to be won here in Las Vegas.
The Future Guide was indeed destroyed.
He shook off the soldiers who were there, too.
And you say he did that all by himself?
Yes. Should I find and eliminate him?
No. Not if he's capable enough to destroy the Future Guide.
We'll bring him to our side. I'm sure he'll be useful.
Yes, sir.
Damn, not again...
Unbelievable!
He's hitting the jackpot on every machine!
What trick is he using?
Again?!
Okay, on to the next machine.
I'm so jealous...
Teach me your secret! Please!
Excuse me, sir. Do you mind if we conduct a brief inspection?
No guest has ever hit this many jackpots in a row before.
Go right ahead.
What's this?
Oh, this? Just a keychain I bought as a souvenir.
What do you think? Lovely color, isn't it?
It also works as a pocket knife.
Pardon us.
It's actually the Gold Axe. I just changed its shape.
I used the Gold Axe's ability to attract wealth.
This is so humiliating!
Hey! How long do I have to stay in this for—
I think I've been here long enough.
Time to move elsewhere.
Man, what a pain in the ass. It's too damn crowded.
Everyone outta the way.
Don't block the walkways.
Don't you know a VIP is passing through? Talk about rude.
Found him. I knew he'd be here.
Absolutely disgraceful.
He's younger than he was back then, but still just as infuriating.
If Ito Takuya is here, then...
Out of the way.
Ogawara Taisei.
This way, sir.
He doesn't know me yet.
Just you wait, Ogawara.
I'll be taking home all the best relics in this auction.
Ryoga!
Something's up with your bag.
It's coming! It's coming!
What's coming?
It's coming! Oh, no!
Unlike the Gold Axe, which detects wealth for me,
the Silver Axe warns its owner of enemies targeting that wealth.
What is it sensing?
You bastard! You tricked me!
As if! Hand over the money already!
This is awful! How could all that money be stolen?
Uh, the stock prices are suddenly tanking...
Something's definitely up.
Why is everyone freaking out?
My smartphone doesn't work! It was fine just a minute ago!
Why is this happening?
Don't give me that bullshit!
That woman... Don't tell me...
Irene Holton, the youngest daughter of the Holton family.
Before I was sent to the past, owners of God-grade relics
were known as Kings of Fate, Conquest, or Abundance.
Among them, Irene Holton possessed the most terrifying power.
She was the Queen of Bankruptcy.
She brought disaster upon everyone she came near.
People lost their possessions or fell ill. Companies went bankrupt.
I should stay away from her.
Pack everything up. We're getting out of here.
What's going on?
Excuse me!
Please wait!
AN OMINOUS PRESENCE IS EMANATING FROM THE DOOR.
THE RELICS IN YOUR POSSESSION MAY TAKE MASSIVE DAMAGE.
WARNING NUMBER OF USES (DURABILITY) DECREASING!
Oh, damn it!
Excuse me!
Would you please hear me out?
AN OMINOUS RELIC'S PRESENCE HAS GRABBED YOU.
YOUR RELICS HAVE TAKEN SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE AND HAVE BEEN GREATLY WEAKENED.
YOUR LUCK IS COMPLETELY OVERSHADOWED. ANY FURTHER ATTEMPT WILL END IN FAILURE.
Let go!
Oh, I'm sorry.
I was just so happy to see you...
Hey, boss, what's up with Ryoga?
How should I know?
By any chance...
Were you the person who just hit the jackpot a bunch of times?
I've been looking for you.
Please tell me your secret!
I'm afraid you've got the wrong person.
Dude, are you nuts?!
A woman's approaching you, and you're just gonna turn her away?!
Wait right here. I'll smooth things over for you.
I-I could tell you the trick.
Hang on... uh... Wanna go grab dinner?
You know any good places?
What are you even doing?
Oh, gosh! I'm sorry!
Argh, my stomach...
I'm so sorry!
Please hear me out!
It will only take ten, no, five minutes! Please, just—
Are you all right?
Am I all right?
Don't give me that shit! This is all your fault!
That's exactly what I wanted to talk about!
What's that supposed to mean?
Everyone around me is met with misfortune.
I want to improve my luck
so I can bring them good fortune.
What the hell?
She's the Queen of Bankruptcy.
The one who ruined people and left the world in chaos.
Is she putting on an act?
Will you tell me the secret of your luck?
I'll pay you as much as you want!
This is not how I imagined her.
YOU WERE ONCE AGAIN EXPOSED TO THE FATAL PRESENCE OF A GOD-GRADE RELIC. YOUR SKILL "TOLERANCE" HAS BEEN ACTIVATED.
My Tolerance?
YOUR TOLERANCE REDUCES THE ENEMY RELIC'S EFFECT BY HALF.
Isn't that the skill I got from that pill?
??? (CONSUMABLE RELIC / GRADE ?) INSTANT FOOD
And it activated because of the Queen of Bankruptcy's attack?
YOUR TOLERANCE REDUCES THE ENEMY RELIC'S EFFECT BY HALF.
So? What do you say?
In that case, I don't need to avoid this woman at all.
Just having her nearby strengthens my Tolerance. This is perfect.
On top of that, her presence will bring bad luck to the other bidders.
An intriguing proposal.
Unfortunately, I'm in a hurry. I have an important appointment.
Yes, I realize you're busy!
So, while I would love to discuss the details of our deal...
I need to get to the auction hall.
Oh, okay...
Why don't you... accompany me?
Of course! I'd be happy to!
Someone... call an ambulance...
Welcome, ladies and gentlemen.
We will now begin the 74th auction.
Thanks to Irene, two-thirds of the participants have already left.
They must be dealing with unexpected disasters.
I heard Ogawara Taisei's factory in the Republic of Bent caught fire,
but he didn't leave.
He definitely wants something that's up for sale today.
Wow, a 100-year-old wine from the Russian royal family!
The items I'm interested in will come later.
Ah, I see.
Irene Holton, Queen of Bankruptcy.
She's so different from how I remember her.
And she doesn't seem to know anything about relics.
I guess that's possible, if the relic attached itself to her against her will.
So the Queen of Bankruptcy was once a kindhearted woman?
I guess it was that relic that ruined her life
and gave her that nasty personality.
I... wanted to thank you for accepting my proposal.
Just telling someone about my worries has already helped me so much.
Oh, it was no big deal.
THE RELIC RESPONDS TO ITS OWNER'S MOOD.
ITS POWER IS INCREASING EXPLOSIVELY.
No, really! I'm truly happy!
Shit! This is bad!
A POWERFUL RELIC'S ENERGY SPREADS WITHIN A 1 KM RADIUS.
A MASSIVE WAVE OF MISFORTUNE BURIES EVERYTHING IN ITS PATH.
THE RELICS IN YOUR POSSESSION ARE TAKING HEAVY DAMAGE.
I'm going to break! Do something, you bastard!
The misfortune gets stronger the happier she is?
What kind of psychopathic relic is this?!
Irene-san, please calm down.
We haven't even reached an agreement yet.
I-I'm sorry. I've troubled you again.
AS ITS OWNER'S MOOD CHANGES, THE RELIC'S POWER DECREASES AGAIN.
W-We were briefly interrupted by an earthquake, but it seems to have stopped.
The bid currently stands at 707,000 dollars.
Does anyone bid more?
One million!
What the hell is this?!
If you've got a problem, then bid higher! I'm buying that thing!
P-Please, calm down, gentlemen!
Oh, you think I can't?!
Everyone's losing their minds because of the relic's effect.
I can use this to knock the other bidders out of the race.
Please don't feel bad.
You might be able to make the people around you happy.
Let's talk about the deal.
Really?
I made it sound like we could solve her problem in no time.
And the happier she became, the stronger the relic grew.
All the participants completely lost their minds
and fought over every single item at the auction.
Ogawara's dominance must have been ridiculously strong,
because he was barely affected and won several bids.
Naturally, when he showed interest in junk relics, I drove up the bid.
HAMMURABI'S CODE SHAKESPEARE'S PEN MARIE ANTOINETTE'S NECKLACE
Let's see... Hammurabi's Code, Shakespeare's Pen,
Marie Antoinette's Necklace...
But the God-grade relic from the prophecy still hasn't appeared.
What's the deal?
Now, we would like to present to you an item unannounced in the catalog.
You may have already seen this item in the news:
a mysterious almond tree sapling!
That's...
That sapling is... the Tree of Life!