Liar Game 4a

All of my translations are RESERVED


Liar Game, Roots of A, Chapter 4 (pp. 128~170)


<128>
Three Phase
~The Forbidden Divination~ ❷


<129>
The Three Phase Divination,
The most powerful divination known to man.

All other divinations pale in comparison.
Once a person shows their three phases (the face and hands), their past is exposed, and their future revealed.
It extends beyond mere fortune telling, into the realm of "prophecy."

The Three Phase Divination was developed in China during the Han Dynasty, but its enormous power meant it would constantly be manipulated by the rulers of each generation.
Fearing that the divination would throw society into chaos, the seers decided,

That the Three Phase Divination would only be passed down to one individual of outstanding moral character!!

From that day on, the divination became a legend...
But even after disappearing from the front pages of history, the technique was secretly passed down through the ages.

Does the technique still exist?
It does. One man has carried on the tradition.

And that man is here,
In Japan—


<130>
=Well—?
=How's it look? Should I tell him I like him?
PII—NG
=Hmm—

WHAP

=Tails, huh...
=Don't try it.
=Hey—!!

=What a phony fortune teller!! Let's go!!
=Wait, my money...!
=...Hah-hah-hah.

=I've found you at last.
=Mr. Asuka Kiryu, the rightful successor of the Three Phase Divination.

=...Oh...

=I don't know what you're talking about, but can you show me your hands?
=I'm not here for my fortune.


<131>
=I'll get straight to the point.
=Wanna team up with me?

=...Huh?

=Several years ago, you stormed the fortune telling industry with your godly abilities, and developed a huge following.
=The fortunes you told created millionaires.

However—
You suddenly disappeared half a year ago.

=There's still a lot of people out there who want your help.
=And many of them are willing to pay millions to get it.
=I'll be acting as the middleman.

=It's good business.
=You won't need to fret and fuss like you used to.

=Just take the offers that pay the most.
=...Umm

=I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about...
=Hah
=Still playing dumb?

=Don't underestimate me.
CLACK
=I know everything about you.


<132>
=Including the reason why you disappeared.

=Your prophetic abilities turned out to be a double-edged sword.
=You discovered something you didn't want to know—Your own destiny.

=The knowledge,
=That you would die in one year.

=You sunk to the depths of despair.
=Your destiny had a "fate number" of 100, meaning it was impossible to change.

=But there is one way to avoid this destiny.
=...That is,

=By meeting another individual with a "fate number" of 100. A destiny with a reciprocal relationship to your own.


<133>
That's why you abandoned all the fame and fortune you had amassed—
And began traveling in search of that "destined person."

=I know you no longer have any interest in money with that time limit on your life.
=That's why,
=I've prepared the thing you want the most to repay you for your services.

=I'm offering,

=The handprints of 2 million individuals.

=How did you...!?
=Heh-heh... You just have to know where to look.

=A certain country with a draft system requires a handprint to enter the military.
=I've obtained that data from inside sources.

=Well?
=That's 2 million destinies.

=Even if you look at 100 palms each day, you'll only get 30 thousand or so over a year...
=With 2 million samples, your chances of discovering that one destiny will increase exponentially, don't you think?

Hmm—


<134>
=I'll pass.
=Besides, I'm not the person you're looking for.//I'm just your everyday fortune teller.

=...Umm

=How far are you going to follow me?
=Until you agree to my proposal, of course.

=...But I never imagined you would be this stubborn.
=Really...? I think you're way more stubborn than me...

=Why won't you say yes?
=It's the perfect offer!
=I think so too.//I'm sure the real Asuka Kiryu would be happy to take up your offer.

=What was that?
GRIP
=You said the real Asuka Kiryu would take this offer, didn't you.
=...Huh?


<135>
=That means,
=You'll take the job if I can prove you're the real Asuka Kiryu, right?

=...Oh

=I know!!

=Within 48 hours, you'll definitely make a prophecy that only Asuka Kiryu would be able to make.
=If I can witness that moment, I'll know you're the real Asuka Kiryu.
=Which means you'll have no choice but to agree to my offer.

=If I don't see it within 48 hours, I'll never appear in front of you again.
=Umm...

=What counts as a prophecy that only Asuka Kiryu would be able to make?
=Heh-heh


<136>
=When an accident's going to happen,
=How many days someone has left to live,
=Stuff like that.

=...I see.

=...One more question.

=A person who can make perfect predictions can also make predictions that will never come true.
=Are you sure you have a chance of winning?

=Hah
=No problem.

=If I win,
=Will you really promise never to appear in front of me again?

=I promise.


<137>
=Then... I'll give it a shot.
=Yes—!!

=Alright then, exactly 48 hours from now.

=Ready—?
=Go!

=No one's coming.
=2 customers in 5 hours?
=Sorry about being so unpopular. Guess this really cuts into your chances.

=Oh well,
BEEP
=There's still a lot of time left.

=The next day—

=Umm...

=Are you sure you don't need to follow the customers?
=You won't know whether it's going to come true or not.

=Don't worry.
=You'll be making your important prophecy soon.

=Does she really expect to win like this...?


<138>
=Uhh—
=Can you read my fortune?

=Oh...
=Sure.

=May I see your hands, please?

WHUP

=I'm about to do something big.
=Is it gonna go well?

=O-
=One moment, please...


<139>
=Don't worry. You work—
=Will definitely bring about good results.

=Thank you.

WHUP
=Hey.
=Where are you going?

=...Oh, umm.
=I just remembered something important...

SMIRK


<140>
=Hey... What are we doing riding an express bus headed for Kanazawa?
=Uhh...
=I'm going to see a friend who lives there.

=You don't need to hide it. I know exactly what you're thinking.
=Huh!?

=You came here because you're worried about that guy, right?

=...Oh
=...Well
=When you looked into that man's future, you realized what he meant by "something big."
=And you're trying to prevent him from carrying it out.

=You see,
=My sources have also informed me about what he's planning.

=The "big job"//That you're now trying to prevent,
=...It's


<141>
=A bus-jacking.
=...Yep... He's going to try and hijack this bus.

=His name is Takeshi Abe.
=He's a fanatical member of the Galalazala cult, which shocked the country by organizing a large-scale serial killing a few years ago.
=Turns out the cult's been planning this bus-jacking for about a month.//And today is the day.

=I got this info from a high-ranking cult member, so I'm positive.
=Well? Isn't my intel amazing?

=...By the way, remember how he came asking for his fortune?//I planned that whole thing.
=Huh!?

=I used the high-ranking cult member who leaked me the info.
=I got them to send Abe this text message.


<142>
[phone]Before you carry out the operation, go to the spot marked on the map below. You will find an extremely able fortune teller waiting there. He will give you strength.

=As a low-ranking member of the organization, Abe followed orders, and went to the fortune teller marked on the map... Meaning he went to you.
High-ranking member
Sends the text message from his phone
Abe
Goes to see
=And you would learn what exactly his "big plan" was.

=So you see,//I arranged this whole thing.
HEH HEH HEH
=Just to win this little game against you.

=There's no way Asuka Kiryu could sit by knowing that a crime is about to unfold.

=A man with a limited lifespan,
=Can't stand to watch people throw away their lives.


<143>
=As expected, you got on this bus.
VRR
VRRRRR
=...Meaning, you took action to try and prevent him from carrying out the crime.//You predicted his future. There's no doubt about it.

=You've obviously lost!
=...Now just get rid of that maniac for us, okay?

=Th-That guy's seriously going to hijack this bus...?
=I-I... don't know anything about that.

=...Look, just stop joking around and...
=I'm not!!//I really just happened to get on this bus!!
=Anyways, what was that? Is that guy really going to hijack this bus?

=...Look...
=Geez!! Why wouldn't you tell me something that important beforehand!?//I wouldn't have gotten on knowing something this dangerous was about to happen!!

WHAP


<144>
=Hey!! Quit yapping around!!
=Stay where you are!! Don't move from your seats!!

=Oh no... He's starting it.
[x4]RABBLE
=What!? What!?
=What's going on!?

=I told you not to move—!!
BAA—NG
=Ahhh—!!

=It's a bus-jacking...!!
=The express bus is being hijacked—!!


<145>
=EEEEEEK
=W-Wait a second.
=You really didn't know this was going to happen!?

=Of course not!!
=If I had, I would've done something about it already!!

=Oh shit.
=Hey driver!! Change of destinations!!
=Turn around and get back on the Metropolitan Expressway!
=O-//Okay

=Alright!! Everyone on this bus is now a hostage!!
=I'll fucking kill anyone that tries anything funny!!//Got that!!?
=EEEEEK


<146>
=Hey look!!//If you weren't able to predict this situation, that's fine!
=But do something about this!
=You don't need to tell me!! I'm trying!!
=I'm racking my brain for ideas!

=...But you know
=What?

=Even if I were to find a way to get rid of this criminal...
=You're just going to say I was able to do it because I knew the crime was going to happen all along, and use that to drag me into your shady enterprise.

=So I lose either way. That doesn't get me too motivated.

=Fine... Let's forget about the game.
=Just hurry up and think of a way to get us out of here!
=Really?
=Awesome!! Now I'm totally motivated.


<147>
=Alright then, how do we get out of here...
=Oh

=If it isn't Mr. Fortune Teller.
UCK

=Hi
=Yes, what a coincidence.
=Sorry...
=I don't have anything against you.

=Don't worry.
=I'm not gonna do anything if you just sit tight and follow my orders.

=He said he's not gonna do anything to us.
=Let's just sit tight.
=...Idiot

=Good, keep going.
=Keep circling around the inner highway at 60km/h until I tell you to stop.


<148>
=I'll fucking kill you if you start speeding up.
=EEEK

[bubble]PIP PIP

BAA—NG
=Ack!

=Hey!!
=Touch that phone again, and I'm really gonna kill you!!
=EEEEEK I'm sorryyy


<149>
=Whoa.
=I was thinking about trying something with my cellphone, but I guess not.

WHOOOSH

=How long are we gonna keep circling around the highway...?
=Hey

=Why is he hijacking this bus?
=I don't know what cult fanatics are thinking.
=They probably just wanted a way to attract attention to themselves.
=...Really?


<150>
=This cult made headlines with that serial killing a few years back.
=If they just wanted attention, I'm not sure they would do something this roundabout.

=The passengers are being held as hostages, right?//There must be some important meaning to having hostages.
=Does that ring a bell?
=Nope

=All I know is that Takeshi Abe is planning to hijack this bus.
=I was expecting you to handle the rest.
=Ohhh...

=Hey
=The hijacker's been checking the time a lot, hasn't he.

=I remember he was telling the driver to keep going at 60km/h, too.
=I wonder what that means? Maybe he's trying to get to a specific place at a specific time.
=Hey!! Concentrate on stuff that might actually help us get out of here!!


<151>
=Whoa//Now the police are here.
=The bus company called in. They must've noticed we weren't on the route anymore.

=Pull over, express bus!!
=Pull over immediately!!

RATTLE

=Hey!! Don't you dare try to stop this bus!!
=Get in the way, and I'll kill the passengers!!
=EEEEEK


<152>
=Breaking news! An express bus heading from Ikebukuro to Kanazawa has been hijacked by a man with a handgun!
=It is currently running through the inner circle of the Metropolitan Highway at approximately 60km/h.

=There are 41 hostages, including the driver...//No injuries have been reported thus far.
=This is getting pretty serious.
=...You be a bit more serious, will you!

=What does the hijacker want?
=Is it money?
=Or does he have some other ulterior motive?

=Hey
=Head for the North Tokyo Prison.
=O-
=Okay.


<153>
=Hey!!

=This bus is now gonna head for the North Tokyo Prison!!
=Contact the prison and get them to open their front gate!!

=If the gate isn't open by the time we get there, all the passengers are dead!!
=Ahhhhh!!

=The hijacker has finally made a demand!!
=He's demanding that the front gate to the North Tokyo Prison be opened!!
=It appears as though the hijacker is attempting to enter the North Tokyo Prison on the bus with the hostages on board!!


<154>
=North Tokyo Prison?
=Isn't that the place where the Galalazala cult members who got arrested over the serial murder case are being incarcerated?

=Huh?//...Then Abe's objective is to free the cult leader and followers?
=Seems like it.

=A half hour has passed since the hijacker made his demand—!
=The bus is drawing closer to the North Tokyo Prison!

=We've just received an update!! The North Tokyo Prison has opened its front gate!!
=And information about the hijacker is coming in!! The hijacker is Galalazala cult member Takeshi Abe, age 23!!//His aim is most likely—

=To free the leader and other high-ranking members of the Galalazala cult, who are currently being incarcerated in the North Tokyo Prison—!
=Hmm...
=That's weird.


<155>
=If his objective was to free the cult leader, his demand should've been "Free the leader, or the hostages die," right?
=How come he's just asking to get inside the prison gates?

=Well—//The police wouldn't accept a demand like that right off the bat.//They would try and delay things as much as possible.
=But a simple demand like "Let me into the prison" went through pretty easily, didn't it?
=...Which could mean,

=He has some sort of secret plan that would allow him to complete his objective just by getting the bus inside of the prison.

=The bus is now approaching the North Tokyo Prison!
VRRR
=The front gate is open, in accordance with the hijacker's demands!


<156>
=Ohh—! The bus has just now passed through the gate!!
=The bus has entered the prison walls, followed by a pack of police cars—!!

=How far will this bus try to go—!?

=Ahh!!
SCREECH

=It stopped!! The bus has stopped—!!
=It's now parked directly next to the back exit of the North Tokyo Prison 2nd Ward!
=The bus has finally come to a stop—!!


<157>
=This is where the situation becomes difficult!!
=The hijacker's objective must be the release of the cult leaders,
=So additional demands are expected to be made to either the police or the prison staff!!

*silence*

=Hey!!
=The door's opening!!
RATTLE

=Ah-
=Ahhhhh—!!


<158>
=The hostages are being released!!
=One by one, the passengers are filing off the bus!!

[x3]RABBLE
=It appears as though all of them are going to be released!!
=What could this mean!?

=Oh!! The last one out is—
=Th-The hijacker!!


<159>
=He's surrendering!!//What an unexpected outcome!!
=The hijacker has been surrounded and arrested by the police officers—!!

=In the end, not a single demand was made after the bus entered the prison walls—!!
=Are you okay? Do you have any injuries?
=N-No, I don't think any of the passengers have been hurt at all.

=Why did the hijacker suddenly release the hostages!?//Did one of the passengers persuade him to do so!?
=No, nobody did...

=The hijacker was constantly checking his watch, and it seemed like he just released us when the time came.
=What—!?

=...So he was planning on releasing the hostages after a certain period of time had passed!?
=Yes... It seemed that way... We're pretty surprised ourselves.
=What an unexpected conclusion!! It's safe to say that this bus-jacking case has now come to an end!!

=Hey!!
=This isn't over yet!!


<160>
=That bus parked right next to the building—
=It's got a time bomb planted near the fuel tank!!

=It's a pretty powerful one.
=This is a sturdy building, but that bomb should be able take out about a quarter of it.

=Half of the building is gonna be blasted open,
=And all the emergency exits are gonna open up for evacuation.
=—Meaning


<161>
=Every single prisoner in there is gonna have an easy time escaping.

=As you probably know, my objective is to free the leader and my other comrades!!
=The bus-jacking was just a camouflage!!
=I used the hostages to get into the best possible location to destroy the building!!

=...Oh shit.
=Hey!! Your friends could get hurt too if you do something like that!!

=Not to worry.//I've already told them when and where the bomb is gonna explode!!
=My comrades should be working at the factory in the opposite side of the building by now.

=Damn it... You calculated all that...!?
=...You're saying you don't care how many of the prisoners die as long as they aren't your friends!?
=Hey!!//Just get the bomb squad out here immediately!!
=Heh-heh-heh, it's too late.


<162>
=The bomb should be exploding in 30 seconds.

=Whaaaaaaat!?

=There's nothing you can do now.
=You guys better do your best to run away in the next 30 seconds so you don't get caught in the explosion.
=Whoaaaaaa!!


<163>
=Whoa!!
=Run!!//Get away from the bus!!
=Whoaaaaa—!!
=Hah-hah-hah!!

=Bastard!!
=Panic!!
=Quaver in fear!!

=Now there's only 10 seconds left!!
=9...8...7

=6...5
=4...3...

=2...1

=Zero!!


<164>
=...Huh?

=...It didn't explode!?

=Huh!?
=Why!?//What just happened!?


<165>
=Hah-hah-hah,
=That bomb you planted isn't going to explode.

=How come!?
=I timed it so it would explode exactly at 5 o'clock!!

=Ohh—You've made a huge mistake.


<166>
=What time is it right now, officer?

=Uhh—
=It's 4:42.

=Wh-
=What!?
=Hah-hah-hah//No wonder it hasn't exploded.
=It's still 20 minutes before 5 o'clock.

=Why...!?//Why is my watch...!?
=I checked it this morning!!
=Heh-heh... Remember how you came to get your palm read this morning?

=I secretly set your watch 20 minutes early.


<167>
=This time, the situation has really come to a conclusion.
=The bomb has been taken care of,
=And the situation has ended without a single injury—!!


<168>
=...Oh,//Can I ask you one thing before I go?

=Why'd you set my watch early?

=I don't get it.
=It's like you...
=You knew I had a bomb from the start.

=I did know.
=The instant I read your palm.

=Your connection to the Galalazala cult,
=Your plan to bomb the North Tokyo Prison,
=Hijack the bus,//And set the time bomb to explode at 5 o'clock... All of it.


<169>
=That,
=Is the power of the Three Phase Divination.

=Hah
=Hah-hah
=Wow, that's quite something...

=Didn't think I'd meet someone even more amazing than the leader before I got locked up.

I see... So the outcome was decided even before we got on the bus.
All he needed to do was keep watch to make sure that the hijacker's fortunes wouldn't change...


<170>
Asuka Kiryu...
Now I want you even more.

Three Phase ~The Forbidden Divination~ ❷ (END)