I see a bid.
Who is that?
No idea...
EPISODE 5: THE OWNER OF THE TREE OF LIFE
And another one over there.
Figures. Looks like Ogawara knows what it is, too.
A legendary monarch once held power in ancient Dahlia.
Desiring immortality, he searched desperately for this plant—
the Tree of Life.
Before I came to the past, when relic poison ravaged my body,
the fruit of the Tree of Life was keeping me alive.
But Ogawara had the fruit. That's why I had to do all of his dirty work.
It was basically my lifeline.
So this is where that old bastard got it.
If I let him have it, I'll face the same future again.
I have to win it!
That drew quite a reaction.
And for good reason. The fruit of this almond tree
is said to have an incredible effect on male potency.
You idiots don't know a thing!
That's not some ED drug!
In response to your excitement, I'll start the bidding at 200,000 dollars.
500,000!
505,000!
500,000?
That tree won't help your limp dicks!
Ten million dollars.
S-Sir!
Ten million dollars? Seriously?
Fifteen million!
Twenty million.
Twenty-two million.
Forty million.
Forty-five million!
Fifty million dollars!
Does it really work that well?
I wonder...
Damn it. Fifty million dollars...
I didn't expect this.
One hundred million dollars.
Sir!
Irene-san...
Well, then—
150 million dollars!
Did I hear that right?
W-We have 150 million!
Who is that?
Now it's her turn.
160 million!
200 million.
Why is that woman butting in all of a sudden?
Sir, I'm sorry, but you should stop here.
That's Irene Holton, the youngest daughter of the Holton family!
So what?
220 million.
Sir!
Please restrain yourself!
When it comes to money, you can't compete with the Holtons!
300 million!
Three hundred and—
Let go! Let go of me!
You can't! Please restrain yourself, sir!
Please calm down, sir! I'm begging you!
Sold!
Just a moment. We will prepare it for you.
Of course.
Thank you, though I feel a little guilty about the final price.
If this finally solves my problem, it's worth it.
Did you find a way to share your luck with me?
A talisman, perhaps?
No.
I won't be giving you anything. You need to give me something.
Like, for example, some strange item that follows you around?
Give it to me, and your misfortune will disappear.
She just needs to get rid of the Relic of Bankruptcy.
Good luck for her, a relic for me. Two birds with one stone.
An item that follows me around...
I can't think of anything.
What?
That can't be right. Nothing following her around?
Then has there been, say, a tattoo that suddenly appeared on you?
Bingo.
That tattoo is typical of bound relics.
The tattoo on Yuka Sasaki's arm
was the proof of the contract that made her the Future Guide's owner.
Unlike consumable relics, which anyone can use,
bound relics can only be used by their owner.
I-I'll show you a picture of it.
Here.
Wait...
That's a parasitic relic.
They're extremely rare relics that infect their owners.
I can't just take it from her like I would a bound relic.
Unfortunately, this won't be as easy as I had hoped.
Let's take our time finding a solution.
This is my number.
Don't worry. I'm not going to ditch you.
Thank you very much.
If I can't steal her power, I'll just keep it near me.
Thank you for your patience.
Here are the almond tree and the other items you won.
You may take the tree with you now.
For the remaining items, the fee is still due.
Since there are so many items, would you like me to carry anything?
No need. We'll take care of everything.
Why isn't anyone picking up?
Don't tell me...
Boss, isn't this far enough?
There's no way that guy will find us.
Yeah! Can't we take a break?
Yeah, I guess so.
We're rich!
Filthy rich!
With this, we're set for life.
It makes my heart race!
You dare run off with my money?
R-Ryoga?! How did you find us?
How do you think? The Silver Axe led me straight here.
C-Come on, Ryoga...
Shut up!
You'll pay for this.
Is that... a pumice stone?
Huh? It's glowing...
The ancient law code made by Hammurabi of Babylon.
It is the source of the famous phrase "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth."
It's a counter relic, meaning it reflects the enemy's actions.
I just won it in today's auction.
It was the first one I carried out. Now's a good chance to test it.
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth,
betrayal for betrayal.
Wh-What the—
It basically reflects all enemy attacks,
but it can also influence the target's future behavior.
HAMMURABI'S CODE IS NOW MONITORING THE SELECTED TARGETS.
That's how laws work, after all.
What was that? What just happened?
I... don't know...
As long as you don't betray me, nothing will happen to you.
But if you even think about doing it again, it'll tear you to pieces.
Of course!
It won't happen again!
Okay, let's get started.
Your job is to pick fruit from this tree.
Hey! Excuse me!
Why would you take me out of my pot?! Put me back!
F-Fruit?
Put me back at once!
Put me back at once, I say!
You bunch of nincompoops!
Hurry up and put it in its new pot.
Its babbling is getting on my nerves.
I will curse you all! Just wait!
Okay, first of all...
H-Hey... Who said you could touch me?
Just calm down, now.
Your hands feel most pleasant.
Er... really?
Ooh, yes! That's it!
The end of that branch! It has been feeling stiff lately!
Unexpected. The three of them must have high affinity.
Hey! Get away from me! Hands off!
Impudent human!
I tried to bind it to me with a contract last night,
You won't get away with this!
but the thing fought me too hard.
Ow! That hurts!
Hey, hey! Not so rough!
You wanna get cursed?!
The Tree of Life prefers people with high affinity.
That makes these guys perfect to look after it.
Easy now.
INCOMING CALL
I know that number.
He must have already started looking into me.
Hello?
Is this Goriki Ryoga-kun?
This is Ogawara Taisei from TKBM.
Hello, Ogawara-san. What can I do for you?
I'll get straight to the point.
I hear you are in possession of the tree Irene Holton won.
I would like to discuss that with you.
I have nothing to say on that matter.
How dare he?
Sir, I will retrieve the tree.
Hm? You?
Yes. If you'll give me access to the company relics, I'll handle it in no time.
He's a civilian, after all. It can't be that difficult.
I need to take care of this and score some points.
The Silver Axe sounded the alarm days ago.
Seems they're already on my trail...
but they sure are taking their time.
I'm getting tired of waiting.
Excuse me.
Finally.
Might you be Goriki Ryoga-san?
Ito Takuya. He came alone?
They're seriously underestimating me.
Excuse me, Goriki-san?
Yes! He has a relic with him.
Hey! Can you hear me or what?!
When someone talks to you, you answer!
Gosh, I'm so sorry.
You startled me, yelling like that out of nowhere.
You bastard!
Don't pretend you don't know me!
We met at the Midas auction house!
Did we?
Oh, I remember!
You were that old bastard's hanger-on!
His what?
How dare you?!
YOUR OPPONENT HAS LOST HIS COMPOSURE. HIS DOMINANCE HAS BEEN TEMPORARILY WEAKENED.
So that's his weakness.
Ito Takuya.
He likes to put on airs, but he's really just compensating.
I just had to agitate that sore spot, and he blew up with rage.
And since dominance depends on one's mental state,
he can no longer use high-grade relics.
Right. Actually, your boss called me earlier.
He wants those "almonds" that bad, huh?
I almost feel sorry for him.
What?!
You bastard!
Why won't it come out?
My nose!
You know you can't use a relic when your dominance is weakened.
Wait, you know about relics?
Of course.
I'll take good care of this.
You will pay for this!
A bound relic.
No! Don't!
I'm your owner now.
Who are you?
Ooh, your dominance is quite impressive.
You are welcome to use me.
Stop! Don't do it!
The Voodoo Priest's Zombie Powder,
a Grade A bound relic.
Voodoo originally developed among slaves in Africa.
They believed that sinners would become zombies.
Touch or inhale this powder,
and you briefly turn into a mindless zombie.
Imagine being taken down by your own relic.
This should slow Ogawara down for now.
Does he belong to you?
What did that moron do?!
He apparently stripped naked and acted like a zombie.
They seem to be preparing a drug test...
Forget Ito.
Just bring me back the relics he had!
Um, actually...
He had nothing on him when he was arrested.
What?
Call Nogami Masako! Now!
Y-Yes, sir!
We'll just have to adjust our strategy.
Ugh, my back! Ow, ow, ow!
Hey, Ryoga.
"Boss."
Ah, right. Boss.
Do we really have to carry all of this?
Yes. Every single piece.
This is all our capital.
None of this looks that valuable.
That was a pretty good haul.
I almost had too much luck.
First, there was the Egyptian Funeral Knife, which I already had.
Then I got the Gold/Silver Axe, the Rope, and Muramasa.
And from the auction, Hammurabi's Code, Shakespeare's Pen,
Marie Antoinette's Necklace,
and the legendary monarch's Tree of Life.
Then, from Ito, I got the Zombie Powder,
the wealth-type Foxtail Millet, and Homer's Glasses.
With these, we should be well equipped to collect even more relics.
Excuse me. Goriki-san?
I am Nogami Masako, legal representative of TKBM.
And here she is.
There is no need to worry.
Chairman Ogawara holds your abilities in very high regard.
I am here to offer you a contract on TKBM's behalf.
It includes a payment of 100 million dollars.
In addition, you will receive a monthly salary.
No one will interfere with your private life.
You will simply act as part of our team.
I was wondering what this was about.
So he wants to offer me a slave contract?
Goriki-san, please watch what you say.
What do you intend to do if Chairman Ogawara demands the stolen items back?
He could wipe out the likes of an art gallery in no time,
and your people could also die of an unknown disease.
Naturally, the same goes for you.
Ah. So if I don't want to die, I need to fall in line?
You should really choose your enemies more carefully.
Otherwise, you'll be the one who disappears without a trace.
The Zombie Powder?
Hah. Bluffs will get you nowhere.
You can't use that relic in front of all these people.
Oh, can't I? Let's find out.
You're insane!
Water Cannon!
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth...
a Water Cannon for a Water Cannon!
Hey, something's going on!
That was cool!
Wow, what was that?
What're they doing?
There. Now we have an audience.
Let's end this.
No!
We need backup! I repeat, we need backup!
An explosion was heard at the café! Possible terrorist attack!
Send backup immediately!
A naked woman is reportedly harassing other guests in front of the café!
MONTMARTRE PAINTER'S INK GRADE C - RARE, CONSUMABLE. USES: 50/100
All right. An unexpected find.
Human, follow my voice.
Danger is approaching.
The crow?
Huh?
What crow? Why are you muttering at the air?
Uh, what?
They can't hear the crow, then.
Hurry up. Come to me.
You relics don't get to order me around!
You sent me back into the past with no explanation,
you ignore my questions, and now you want to give me orders?
You will regret this.
As if I'd trust a relic!
You've certainly been enjoying yourself.
Goriki Ryoga, was it?
Ogawara Taisei...
Yo, that's the real Ogawara. What happens now? Are we gonna be okay?
I am Ogawara Taisei of TKBM.
Ah, uh... Hello!
Nice to meet you...
Silence.
Boss! What's wrong?!
Are you okay?!
Ow! It hurts!
Shit!