Liar Game 84

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The 3rd Round's Losers' Bracket finished with the victory of the Eastern Army.
As we promised, we used our winnings to lift the debts of the other 3 players.
As a result, me and Akiyama were unable to pay back our debts...

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And, as if nothing had happened, I returned to my normal life.
But this normality was only on the surface; though there are no documents, I have a debt 500 million.
When I become alone, I become really frightened; what is going to happen to me, after all of this?
Perhaps Akiyama has seen through these feelings: he sends me a text every day, reassuring me everything will be alright.
Akiyama-san...
!?

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Dude: Hi! :D
Nao: ...
Dude: Wait! I brought you information for Round 4.

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Dude: Seems like you've increased your debt again.
What are you going to do about 500 million? That's a lot of money.
Nao: (I understand that, he doesn't need to tell me...)
Dude: I have a good idea though, a way that allows you not to be in constant fear of the 500 million debt.
Nao: Really!?
What is it, please tell me!
Dude: It's simple ;)
Just continue playing the Liar Game.
As long as you continue the Liar Game, we won't ask for you to pay back your debts.
Although, if you don't do well, you'll just keep increasing it, lol.
Nao: (Speaking about it so lightly... just because it's about someone else >:0)

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Dude: So what are you going to do about Round 4?
Yokoya's going to be in that as well =/
Do you have some kind of strategy?
Nao: Strategy... well we don't have a strategy, but we're far more confident about victory in Round 4.
Dude: Oh?
Nao: Even though Fukunaga has been decieving me throughout the game, she has been slowly starting to come on our side.
Our victory in the 3rd Round's Losers' Bracket can be said to be attributed to Fukunaga.
It would not be wrong to say she... wait, is it he? has become our Nakama now.
Dude: ...is that all?
Nao: No, there is more.
Those that were part of Yokoya's team in Round 3 are also going to be in Round 4, aren't they?
Dude: Yes, that's correct.

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Nao: Those people must be holding a large grudge against Yokoya for his domination in Round 3.
It is very likely that they'll stand against Yokoya in Round 4.
Dude: And you think these people will join you to stand against a common enemy?
Nao: Yes, especially Akagi-san, who could have quite the Liar Game, but decided to stay on after understanding our cause.
That means that he will help me and Akiyama-san in Round 4.
Dude: Indeed.
Nao: It is true that I have been increasing my debt for every round I go through.
However, in exchange for that, I have also gained something priceless.

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Nao: That being the ties that exist between people.
Dude: Oh?
Nao: Playing this game, I have started to understand.
The most important aspect of this game is not the deception.
It is whether or not you can create a strong enough bond with another, strong enough to nullify even the most well thought out lie.
We will definitely win Round 4, as we have made more Nakama than ever before.
Dude: ...I see.
Oh, I'll leave your instructions here.
Well, good luck on Round 4.
I'll be rooting for you from afar. Goodbye.
Nao:...

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Dude: Heh...
Ties between people, eh?
Narration: Instructions for Round 4 were also passed to the other players.
Fukunaga: (It's arrived...)

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[flashback]
Akiyama: If the last remaining player of the tournament manages to increase his debt up to several billion, and has no way of repaying their debt, the Agency is sure to go bankrupt as well.
Fukunaga: You... you can't be planning to become that last person!?
Akiyama: ...
Fukunaga: Why do you have to go that far? What reason do you have!?
[flashback end]
Fukunaga: I won't let you...
I won't let you take such a burden.

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Narration: And to this person as well...
Dudette: Reading?
Yokoya: Yes, I was reading Mein Kampf.
Dudette: Hitler?
Yokoya: Indeed, his life and speeches are very study-worthy.
Though, of course, some of his actions are rather despicable...
Suicide whilst only halfway to realising his goal... he could not become a true dictator.
He is, at the end of the day, merely a failure.
Dudette: A... loser...
Yokoya: I have no intention of becoming a failure like Hitler.
Nothing will stop me from becoming a true dictator.
At life... and of course in the Liar Game as well.

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Dudette: I see... I have instructions for Round 4, by the way.
Yokoya: Hmm... a tenday hence, I see.
Dudette: Akiyama and Kanzaki will also be participating.
Yokoya: Haha, I'll be looking forward to it.
This time round, I shall show them what it is to suffer whole and utter defeat.
Oh...
May I ask just one question?
Dudette: ?

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Yokoya: What is the Liar Game Agency's true objective?
That is to say, what happens to those that lose in the Liar Game?
Dudette: That question is rather frequently asked, however
I'm afraid we're not allowed to give details, as part of the rules of this game.
We're very sorry about that.
Yokoya: No, no, I'm very pleased to hear that, actually.
Dudette: ?
Yokoya: If it is part of the rules to keep both the intents of the Agency, as well as the destinies of people who lose the games a secret,
then that means...

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Yokoya: I can incorporate players' lack of knowledge of said facts into my plans ;)
Dudette: !
(To look at it that way... this one isn't normal!)
Narration: 10 days later, the day of the 4th Round arrived.
Nao: Here's the meeting place...

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However, only me and Akiyama were there.
Nao: Hello, Akiyama-san. Where are the others?
Akiyama: No idea...
Mask: I shall be taking you to the real meeting place.
We will meet with everyone else there.
Nao: Woah! I... I see...
Mask: Please enter this bus.
Nao: O-okay...
We were put into a bus from which the outside was completely invisible,
then we were driven to the meeting place.

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Nao: We'll meet people that we met in Round 3 again, won't we, Akiyama-san.
Like the bandana person, Akagi-san, and people from the Northern Alliance...
Akiyama: I'm sorry, but...
I'd like to be left alone for a bit.
Nao: Oh... er...
Sorry about that...
(Akiyama-san is seems unusually anxious.)
(I guess we are facing that Yokoya again, after all...)

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Nao: (But it's okay, Akiyama-san!)
(We have many people on our side in this round!)
(Akagi-san, people from the Northern Alliance, abd Fukunaga-san...)
(if we all work together, we'll be certain to win!)
Mask: We have arrived.
Nao:!
This place is...
...a dock?
Are we doing Round 4 here?
Mask: The venue is over there.

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Nao: ?
(A... warehouse?)
Mask: The others have already arrived, let us join them.
Nao: (What is this place... there are lots of second-hand appliances lying around.)

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Nao: (So these are our opponents for Round 4... They're all people I don't know...)
(They must have come up from a different block to us.)
Akagi: Kanzaki-san, Akiyama-san!
Hi.
Nao: Oh! Akagi-san!
Akagi: It's great that you managed to make it to Round 4.
Nao: Of course!
We wouldn't lose in the 3rd Round's Losers' Bracket!
What happened to the other people from Round 3?
Akagi: Well actually, I haven't seen them either...

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Nao:(!!)
(Yokoya-san...)
Mask: Welcome to Round 4!

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Mask: I will be you main dealer this time round.
My name is...
Forli.
Akagi: Another wierd one...
Nao: Excuse me...
I think there are people who still haven't arrived yet.
Forli: Eh?
Nao: Like Fukunaga-san, and people that were in Round 3 like Ikezoe san, Murata-san-
Forli: Ah... I shall explain.

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Forli: Round 4 had many more entrants than we expected.
There are 24 entrants; this is slightly too many, and would affect the game we have prepared.
As such, we have decided to split players into two groups.
This place is the second of two venues. We would like the 12 people here to play a game.
In the other venue, the other 12 people have already started their game.
Who was it you mentioned? Ah, Fukunaga-san, Ikezoe-san, Murata-san... yes, they're all at the other venue.
Nao: (Wait, what?)
(That means...)

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Nao: (This game won't have Fukunaga-san!?)
(Oh no! Just when Fukunaga-san was starting to become one of our main forces!)
(Not only that!)
(There aren't people that were oppressed by Yokoya from Round 3!)
(This is definitely advantageous to Yokoya!)
(This is going to become a hard game for us...)
Dude: So basically, if we win this, we get through to Round 5, yes?
Forli: Actually,
that's not quite correct.

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Forli: What we are about to commence is merely the group stage of Round 4.
From this stage, we shall select who will participate in Round 4.
We aim to reduce numbers to about half.
People: What!?
So that means that if we lose, we won't be able to go to Round 4!
We become losers without even getting to Round 4!
Forli: That is correct.

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Nao: (What a surprise!)
(This is the first time they've ever brought out a qualifying stage!)
(If we lose this...)
(We become losers instantly!)
Forli: The game's rules are roughly similar to what they have been thus far.
We will loan players 100 million each.
At the end of the 4th Round, we will expect players to return said money.
However, the difference this time, is that...

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Forli: That money is prepared at the main venue for Round 4.
There is no money here.
The 2.4 Billion will only be used starting from Round 4.
If you lose in the qualifying stage, you will not even see your 100 million. However, we are still loaning it, so we would like you to leave 100 million before you leave.
People: So Round 4 will be played over the 2.4 Billion.
Forli: That's right.
People: And if we lose here, all we do is increase our debt by 100 million.
Forli: Again, that is correct.
People: (In that case...)
(I can't lose!)

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Yokoya: (A qualifying stage...)
(Haha)
(How interesting!)
Nao: (They want to halve the players, so that means 6 people here will disappear.)
(Oh dear...)
(Fukunaga-san isn't here either...)
(What am I going to do?)
Forli: Does anyone
have any questions?

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People: No...
Forli: In that case...
Let us begin!
The game we will have everyone play this time,
is...

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A Pandemic Game!
Pa-
Pandemic... Game...?