Original subtitles

What gives a man ultimate power?

The definition of true power in this world.

Who can tell me?

Military power. Intelligence?

Market dominance.

Money, sir.

Money?

(Rinko Endo)

The real question is, how to use that money.

Your answer is too obvious, you dimwit!

A fallout shelter?

True power is the financial muscle

to build a fallout shelter.

Impressive, Tonegawa.

l'm interested not in a mere pit in the ground,

but a kingdom!

A large, underground empire.

It is a king's mandate to build a kingdom!

What's more,

You won't need to worry about labor for construction.

ln this country, there's an abundance of young men

Filled with innocent hope.

Come on... Give it to me...

Yes!

One more for 10,000 yen.

10,000 yen, please!

Damn it!

Thank you.

Allow us to help you realize your dreams.

For a true partner, choose Teiai.

Because the future is yours.

Thank you.

He looked at your chest.

Ew, creepy!

Totally staring!

Sick!

Watch out, asshole!

Whom are you calling creepy!

Damn!

Goddamn Mercedes!

Take that! Only people driving these

Are tax evaders and crooks who take bribes!

You're sickos!

Another Mercedes!

Get out of my face! Damn!

Hey, what'd you do that for?

Nothing...

Sorry, I didn't mean harm!

That woman said l'm a sicko...

Sorry, l didn't mean to...

Please forgive me...

It was dumb.

Please... It hurts.

Kaiji lto, right?

Yes...

Furuhata was a former co-worker.

I haven't even seen him in a while.

I've got nothing to do with him.

Well, he borrowed money and disappeared.

Remember signing this contract?

(Loan amount 300,000 yen)

I guess two years ago...

Or wait, did I?

Unfortunately, since the borrower disappeared,

you as the guarantor must pay for it.

I don't have 300,000 yen.

I'm barely making rent...

No, you owe 2.02 million.

2.02 million? lnterest.

From 300,000?

A chart of the compound interest. What can you afford each month?

lf you pay 60,000 per month, in 11 years...

You've got to be joking. l can't pay that.

l shouldn't have to...

Stop it!

Are you still a kid?

I don't want to hear your little excuses.

I could care less about you!

So you're going to pay or what?

The car damage, too.

l'm sorry.

But l just can't pay that kind of money.

There's a ship leaving

in four hours.

They're looking for participants.

lf you're lucky,

your debt will be cleared in a day.

The debt...

(Boarding Contract)

All cleared?

One night of a gambling cruise

with broke people like you.

Win the game, and your debt's cleared.

The ship is called Espoir.

It means hope in French.

Kaiji Ito.

Why don't you try it?

But what kind of game? Who knows?

But your life is worthless now, right?

You're just a lazy bum

with a cheap apartment and job,

sleepwalking through life,

making one excuse after another,

and now you're pushing 30.

You've done nothing. Nobody loves you.

Now wait... And soon you'll be dead.

l'm still working on it.

It's not supposed to end this way. One day I'll...

It's never going to happen.

Want to bet? Your life won't change.

l'm sure you know already.

Oh, poor thing, don't cry.

I'm saying I can give you one last chance to change your life.

Change my life? Right.

Change your life.

Change...

my life?

The ship is called Espoir.

lt's French...

for hope.

KAlJl

Who are these guys? They all look like losers.

That's ten. I filled my quota.

That guy took you for a nice person.

Me, a nice person? Please.

Welcome to the 23rd Annual Creative Cruise.

The objective is the salvation of young men.

Please gather by the stage.

Good evening.

I'm Tonegawa, your host for your big gamble.

To participate in the game, you'll first need to purchase

3 of these stars at 1 million each.

One million?

Needless to say,

you're all penniless,

so we will loan you the amount. A loan?

The 3 million yen

will be loaned at an interest of 1% per minute.

That's ridiculous!

Trying to squeeze more money from us?

Who the hell charges 1% per minute?

Forget these damn interests!

lf that's the rule, we're getting off!

Yes...

Be my guest. We won't stop you.

However, if you win,

not only will your debt be wiped clean,

we'll also buy back each star

for 1 million yen.

Considering your sizable debts,

this is quite generous.

I'll explain the rules.

But only once.

Listen carefully.

Place the stars on your breast

and open the envelope.

l'm sure you're all familiar with this game.

Rock, Paper, Scissors.

In this version,

you'll stand face to face

at the boxes behind you.

After agreeing to fight,

call out Scissors,

followed by Rock,

then Paper, as you throw down your card.

lf it's decisive,

the winner receives a star from the loser

and puts it on himself.

On draws, keep your star.

Drop used cards into the slots.

Choose your opponent freely

and play Rock Paper Scissors to stars.

lt's that simple.

The time limit is 30 minutes.

30 minutes only?

And finally, what constitutes a victory in this game?

Regardless of the method,

if you use up all 12 cards

and have at least 3 stars, you win.

That concludes the orientation.

What if we lose?

What will happen to us?

Like I said, l'll only explain once.

You're kidding.

Sorry, no questions.

Our fate's on the line. Answer us!

We have the right to know!

That's right...

That's right.

You assholes!

Want to die, you scums?

Do you always get answers?

You're all like selfish little kids,

expecting everything

to be given to you.

Talk about shameless naivete!

Grow up! The world is not your mommy!

You failed out there,

and you arrived here as trash.

And trash doesn't have any rights.

Not here, not out there.

That's absurd.

You have no one to blame but yourselves for being losers.

What you must do now

is to win.

Just win!

Don't hope to win. You have to win!

Living without winning is not an option!

lt's a slugfest for losers.

lf you lose here, l can't help you anymore.

Honestly, I couldn't care less.

Winning is everything.

lf you lose, you're garbage!

Let's get started

l can do it...

They ate it up.

There's no time. Someone, play me!

Someone, play me!

I won!

l'm taking this.

Calm down and think first.

Let me go!

Where are you taking me?

He already lost three times?

Lose your stars, you're out.

What the hell is that room?

Hasn't even been two minutes.

Demoralizing, isn't it?

In this game, if you use your head and find the right partner,

you can beat it. No way.

What do we need to do to win?

Use up your cards and end up with 3 stars.

Exactly. You don't need 4.

You just need to hold onto your 3.

What if we have 12 straight draws?

Draws? Then we'll survive.

Draws!

No! Let go of me!

How did you... l thought about it.

Word is, if you lose,

you're taken out to another ship

and treated like slaves.

But if you win,

you can leave with money.

l don't want to lose.

l just need to clear my debt and get off.

So I've been looking for the right partner.

You're not like the rest of these idiots here.

But...

As we speak,

the interest keeps accruing every minute.

Let's survive together.

My name's Funai.

Alright.

Let's do it, Funai.

I'm Kaiji. Let's go.

Please make a way.

Here we go.

In this order, Rock, Scissors, Paper.

Got it.

Jan, ken, pon.

Huh, a draw.

Jan, ken, pon.

I must be lucky.

ln this moment of crisis, I met a reliable partner.

With 12 draws,

I can clear my debt and leave safely.

Victory is mine!

Jan, ken, pon.

What?

I'm sorry. l messed up.

l'll put down Rock next.

Okay. Kaiji.

You put down Paper. Got it.

You win the next one. Okay, Paper.

Please!

Just for show.

They're watching.

Just for show. No...

They're watching.

Ready?

Yeah.

Jan, ken, pon.

No way.

Great.

This took practice.

Sorry.

The card I showed you...

and the one on the table...

I swapped them like this.

Nifty trick, huh?

Thank you very much.

Wait, Funai.

What's going on?

Are you a moron?

Now l've got 5 million. Jealous?

What're you looking at?

Funai.

You can't do this!

Give them back, Funai!

Give them back!

I'm bleeding. This guy hit me...

Give my stars back!

Calm down.

He told me to put down 12 draws and he betrayed me!

Don't be a baby. You were preyed on. That's all.

Why you... Enough!

Any more and you're disqualified. Now scram.

Wait, but he...

You guys, too.

Give them back...

You exposed yourself on a battlefield and got hit.

That's all.

A battlefield?

15 minutes left.

His card is Scissors!

His last card is Scissors!

If you have a Rock, you'll beat him.

His card is a Rock!

His last card is a Rock!

He's got 5 stars from tricking me.

Shut up!

Use up that Rock, or you're out.

Alright, who's got Paper? l'll let you win.

Who's got Paper?

Don't fall for it.

You two are trying to hustle us, huh?

They're trying to trick us, too.

No one's going to play you now!

We're not falling for it.

He was practicing something.

Sleight of hand?

Damn it!

Stealing a peek? Hell, no.

You're the one peeking. No.

What're you looking at? I'm not.

A melee.

Looks like most won't make it.

13 minutes left.

What should l do?

Think...

Listen up!

Please, it was just an impulse!

This man tried to flush his cards down the toilet.

Dumping your cards will get you disqualified.

Understood?

I'm terrible at this game.

There's no way I'll survive playing these many cards.

Let's re-shuffle!

Listen.

Let's give this a rest.

We're all suspicious of each other now,

but it won't do us any good.

11 minutes left.

I have an idea.

Let's re-shuffle.

We collect everyone's cards, shuffle them,

and deal the same number you had.

What do you think?

Help me...

Is that even allowed?

Well, is it?

The rules given earlier were all.

Alright, we don't have much time.

I'm in.

Me, too...

Help...

Someone help me...

l'll help you.

Count me in. And him, too.

Sure, why not? Let's start.

Alright, here we go.

How many? Two.

Three. Three cards.

Two. Got to be right.

Three.

Two. Alright.

Ten.

Ten?

Good luck.

One, right?

Two. Alright.

Four for each...

Done re-shuffling. Let's start again.

l'm going to win!

Please remember to drop used cards into the slots.

Kaiji.

Want to play me again?

With a con artist like you? No.

Come on, l was just desperate.

Whatever.

ln that case,

how about for 2 stars?

You bet 1 for 2 of mine.

For 3, then. l'll play you for 3.

Ridiculous. 3 of mine to 1 of yours?

I'll bet 3, too.

Together, there's 3.

Us combined.

What? These are mine...

Shut up. This is ludicrous.

If l bet 3 and lose, I'm out.

But that card of Kaiji's...

I know it's Scissors.

l can win.

Fine.

l'm a man.

l accept your challenge.

Good.

Kaiji...

3 minutes left.

Let's do it.

Jan, ken...

pon!

What's wrong?

Hurry, throw it down.

Let me guess, Scissors?

You have Scissors?

l actually won!

You're going to hell.

What an idiot... you are!

Paper? How come?

We won!

Yes, I won!

Thanks for believing in me, mister.

l won...

You saw before I did

that your blood was on the Scissors card.

So you went up...

Let's re-shuffle!

I thought,

what you would do

if I joined in the re-shuffle.

I figured you'd give the Scissors

back to me,

and keep your Rock.

Then you'd beat me,

and finish with one more star.

So I needed help.

Trust me and do as l say.

Trust you?

Give me your Paper, hurry. Paper.

I wiped the Scissors card clean

and put blood on the Paper card.

Count me in.

You promptly marked your own card.

Sure, why not? Let's start.

You pretended to re-shuffle...

One, right?

But gave me the blood card

and kept the marked Rock card for yourself.

Let's start again!

But the blood card wasn't Scissors.

It was Paper!

You brought this on yourself with greed.

If you played someone else,

at least you wouldn't be out.

For a guy you talk an awful lot, you cheater!

Give me back my stars.

Let go of me!

I'm not the cheater.

No, wait!

Mister, hurry.

We'll use up our cards with draws.

Hurry.

It'll work.

Start with Rock.

Jan, ken, pon.

Good, again.

Jan, ken, pon.

Keep going.

Jan, ken, pon.

Last one.

Great.

We won!

Thanks, mister.

Three stars.

I won!

Kaiji, l'm sorry.

I had one in my pocket.

Here's your change.

Sorry to keep you waiting. Thanks.

Thanks.

You, get back to work!

Next thing I knew, l was somewhere deep underground,

in forced labor with others.

Keep working. Yes.

No stopping.

Don't just stand there.

Get moving.

We're forced to work every day.

15 years in this hell hole,

like worms wriggling deep in the earth.

This will be a resort area, with a tennis court here.

We'll need to go higher.

That's it for today...

Done for today...

March! One, two...

Damn it!

Goddamn it!

There's no escape.

Listen up.

Don't even think about escaping.

Every move you make

is being monitored 24 hours by the microchip under your brand.

l was so close to win.

Actually, l'd won.

lf only I'd just abandoned that man, Ishida.

We share this card. We're going together.

Kaiji...

ln the end, l lost again.

I'm a loser, even here.

Damn it!

Heads down. Okay.

Arms out. Okay.

Turn around. Okay.

Thank you.

Commence eating.

Thank you.

Good work today.

Today is the 25th, your payday.

The curfew is 10 p.m..

Here it is, boys.

Maeda. Here.

Miyoshi. Here.

Kaiji Ito.

Here.

Attention, everyone.

This is Kaiji's first paycheck here.

As you all remember, this is a momentous occasion. Give him a hand!

What the hell is it?

It's a perica bill.

Perica? lt's our currency underground.

Worth a tenth of the yen.

So your salary of 91,000 perica

is worth 9,100 yen.

9,100 yen? That's my monthly salary?

The day rate in the underground empire is 3,500 yen.

We deduct your debt repayment and facility fee,

leaving you 350 yen.

That, times 26 days.

350 yen per day?

Listen, like I always say, be thankful for what you receive.

Thanks to the Teiai Group,

your interest here is zero.

You're given an orderly life and the chance to repay your debt

slowly but surely. Yes.

Unbelievable!

Who is he, anyway?

Damn it! l'll just have to save these perica

so l can get out of here and change my life at last.

Here's your monthly treat!

Chips for 3,000, chicken for 7,000,

beer for 5,000 perica.

Give me beer!

Beer?

Thanks.

Beer...

Kaiji.

Want something?

Beer for 5,000 perica would be 500 yen!

It costs too much.

I need to repay my debt. l can't afford that.

l know how you feel.

You want to save up to pay off your debt.

I was like that, too.

But you need to take it easy.

This one's on me.

To celebrate your first paycheck. Enjoy.

Thank god!

lt's ice cold, too.

It's so good!

That's great.

One beer. Okay.

5,000 perica. Thank you.

5,000 perica...

What would you like?

Just one... What's that?

Just one beer. Sure, one beer for Kaiji.

Some nibbles? What?

Beer tastes better with nibbles.

Just try something.

Haven't had anything greasy in a month.

To get that chicken heated up and have it with my beer...

No, l shouldn't.

(Crackers, 500 perica)

l'll have the crackers. Okay.

Kaiji, what you really want is the chicken, right?

Your heart is like a rubber ball.

lf you hold it down, it'll spring back.

You'll end up being stressed out.

You should reward yourself.

You need to indulge once in a while.

lt'll keep you going.

Well, you've got a point.

Great, he's buying chicken.

Thank you. Want it heated?

Absolutely.

And potato chips.

Potato chips for Kaiji. Thank you.

That'll be 15,000 perica.

Here they are.

That a boy. l'll bring change.

Damn, that's good.

Why did l do that?

Blowing my hard-earned pay like that, l'll never get out of here,

much less change my life.

Kaiji, here.

Mister...

Emergency...

Are you okay?

Back to your stations!

Wait... Hang in there.

Hang in there. We're almost there. You okay?

This man needs help.

Put him over there.

You'll be alright. I'm putting you down.

It hurts... You have to bear it.

What's going on?

Are they being treated at all?

Sure, but they need perica to buy medicine.

l can still work.

l can work.

Hey, you're in my team.

Those bastards...

In two years,

or sometimes in months, we all get these coughs.

lt keeps sending us to this hospital

so we can't get out.

Kaiji, was it?

You got framed, too?

No.

lt's possible I was framed,

but l just want to change my life.

Still haven't figured it out, huh?

Talk about losers?

Eating and drinking is all they have.

So the temptation is enormous.

Once they give in, they'll drown in it.

Especially the ones

who cave in on the first payday.

Forget those who say they'll work hard starting tomorrow.

Today is all that matters.

Tomorrow only comes to those who make it through today.

The foreman said that?

Garbage like us will always be garbage to them.

For us to get out of this,

it'll take one big shot

for a breakthrough.

Without an opening like that, we're never making it back!

Don't worry, you'll get your last chance soon.

(l'm off to Brave Men Road)

Brave Men Road?

The only path out of this hell.

Path?

When your debt gets even worse, that's where you're taken.

And you're running up your medicine bill.

Kaiji, no beer for you today?

Don't worry.

If you don't have enough, I'll advance your salary.

Only 60,000 perica, though.

60,000 perica only?

It's an advance. Can't give you the full 91,000.

We have to charge a fee on it.

You're one hell of a crook.

This is nothing but a racket.

All you're doing... is baiting us with these

so we can't ever pay off our debts,

so you can work us to the ground!

l know your type.

Sucking on the blood of poor, desperate people

like leeches!

l see.

lt's meant to accommodate you as much as possible.

It's unfortunate you don't appreciate it.

You can't defy the foreman.

Just shut up!

l know I'm a loser.

You're all losers.

Every person here is a loser.

Everyone's got loser written on his face.

Don't be silly. I'm not a loser.

Yes, you are.

How can you stand this?

Even the foreman's ripping us off!

How stupid can we be?

Say something...

Kaiji.

Foreman of team E.

Yup.

Makoto Sahara from your team

was chosen for the prestigious Brave Men Road.

As a reward, each member of team E

will receive 30,000 perica.

Thank you, sir.

Hooray...

Don't be so tactless, guys.

lt's in exchange for his life.

How can you say that?

If he wins, he gets to return to the surface.

Congratulations, Sahara!

Time to go.

I'm going, too.

If l win, l'm free, right?

Then l'm going.

l may be a weak person.

But for once, l'm changing my life.

Are you for real?

l see.

Very impressive.

Takes courage to volunteer for this.

Applause!

Stop!

Everyone listens.

Hear me. Don't be tricked.

Don't give up,

and find a way out of this hole.

I'm going to do it. I'll show the way to freedom.

Where are we heading?

Now we're going up.

An elevator?

Are we going to the surface?

Walk.

Stop.

Where are we?

Why...

Welcome to the Starside Party.

The main program is Brave Men Road, the way to freedom.

Here are the contestants.

We'll begin in just a moment.

Welcome, brave men.

Tonegawa...

The rule is utterly simple.

Nothing complicated whatsoever.

You'll now receive a cash voucher.

You'll then exchange it at a designated place. That's it.

Seven zeroes...

10 million yen?

It's yen, not perica!

The exchange location is room 5014, Starside Hotel.

Starside Hotel? Never heard of it.

Gentlemen, behold the Brave Men Road.

What is this?

Your path to freedom.

Make it across,

you win 10 million and freedom.

Just think of it as a long balance beam.

I'm sure you've tried it as kids.

Cut the crap!

lf we fall, we'd die!

Of course. It's 10 million yen!

Let me tell you what others shy away from saying.

Money is worth more than life!

You neither studied hard nor worked hard.

Endured or overcame nothing.

Why should slackers like you

be given 10 million so easily?

lf you want this kind of money without earning it,

and in a short time at that, then all you can do

is put your life on the line!

This is nonsense!

There's no way!

I'll do it.

l'm doing it. lt's the only way.

This time I won't lose.

That's the spirit.

Pave the way, brave man.

I'll do it, too. Me, too.

Going back isn't an option, either.

I'll do it. Decided yet?

Shut up! Wait just a second.

How many times have you said that in your life?

The world won't wait for trash like you to make a decision!

Fine, keep wavering.

And miss out on your chances.

I'll do it.

Me, too... And me.

You're all idiots!

Very well.

It's electrified?

lndeed, we can't subject our customers

to the unseemly sight

of you crawling on the beam.

Customers?

Now hurry. The audience is waiting.

They wish to enjoy the sight

of men trembling and crumbling in front of fear.

The joy of knowing that they are safe from farm,

that fleeting pleasure we call safety...

They revel in it.

l can't...

I never should've agreed to this...

We can do this.

Just like he said,

think of it as a balance beam or a line on a sidewalk.

We can't! You have to!

No way!

No way I can do this!

I have an idea.

Your shoes.

It's part good-luck charm, part sighting system.

Like crosshairs on a gun.

Align the line on your shoes

with the center line on the beam as you walk.

That's brilliant! Kaiji.

Do it for me, too.

Me, too.

There's no reason we can't do this.

Let's hurry across and get the hell out of here.

Let's do it! We can do this!

You'll see.

We're all going to make it.

Don't let anyone fall.

We can make it...

lt's like a scream for help.

They're trying to numb themselves

to the fear.

But l'll bet you,

in 5 meters they'll wake up.

You lost weight?

And you gained some girth to go with your clout.

Disappointing to see you fall.

Work at here isn't bad. Good for dieting, too.

As long as you work and don't make a fuss.

Alright.

Let's go.

I can do it!

Align the lines together...

Good, there you go.

I can do it!

Don't think. Just don't think.

Align the lines together...

Falling means certain death.

No, don't think about it.

I can't do this.

Please, l don't want to fall.

I don't need money.

I'll work with debt all my life if l have to.

I just want to live!

Lightning?

It's going to rain?

lf it rains on us, we'll be dead.

Don't worry about rain. It's not even windy.

It's getting windy!

lt's blowing me! Wind?

It's blowing me away...

Calm down, there's no wind.

You're hallucinating! Help me!

Help me...

Help me, please!

Don't touch it! Sahara, hold him!

I can't!

Not on a bridge like this!

He fell...

Someone help me...

Help me...

Dear God, I'm sorry. l promise to mend my ways,

so stop my knees from shaking!

Calm down!

I don't need anything.

I'm being pulled!

No, don't touch it!

I'm not going to do it. I want to go back.

What the hell! Get away from me!

Boss.

Talk about bad taste.

Kaiji, help me.

Mister.

Idiot!

Be a man! No one can help.

We're on our own.

The only way is to make it across on our own.

That's the only way!

I'm going to do it!

Let's go.

Let's go, mister!

Kaiji...

I can't go anymore.

The image of them falling, l can't get it out of my head.

My knees won't stop shaking.

Don't you want to live?

Thank you.

lf it weren't for you, I wouldn't even...

Mister, just calm down.

Slowly, you can do it.

Good, there you go...

You can do it.

Kaiji...

I'm entrusting you with this.

lf it isn't too much,

please exchange this and give the money to her...

to my daughter who's seen nothing but misery.

She's still living a life of debt.

It's all my fault.

She's by Shin-Tomishita station...

What're you saying?

You're going to make it!

Give her the money yourself!

I already know!

There are two kinds of people.

Those who cower in these moments, and those who rise up to it.

l'm the weak type.

I can't do this.

Just standing here like this is more than l can handle.

But you're different. Shut up!

Pull yourself together!

Please.

After you crossed, go to Shin-Tomishita station,

to a pachinko parlor called Parlor Oasis.

She works there under the name Yasuda.

Her name's Hiromi lshida.

Please give her the money. Mister!

Now go, hurry!

Don't worry about me. Just go!

You have to win.

That's what life is about.

I failed.

l lost, and led a meaningless, worthless life.

You can't live a life like that.

You have to win, Kaiji.

Hurry, go!

lt wasn't meaningless.

You're wrong.

lt wasn't meaningless.

No such thing as a worthless life...

He fell.

Without a word.

That timid, frightened man...

In order to...

spare me from panic,

he fell without saying anything.

l'm going to make it!

No matter what!

I can see it.

Almost there.

Kaiji, you there?

l'm here, Sahara!

l'm fine!

I'm right here.

Kaiji, I understand now.

l'm alive right now.

Yeah.

Our lives up until now may have been garbage.

But we're alive.

We'll win.

We'll win, then start anew!

A new start...

lt'll be a new start!

That's right. And this time...

And this time, we're living our lives for real!

Sahara!

I did it!

We did it!

Sahara, we opened it.

This is our breakthrough.

Now let's go.

Behind that door is our future.

Wait.

Something...

Something's not right.

What're you talking about?

No!

A windblast, caused by

the difference in air pressure...

Sahara!

lmpressive performance.

What a feat!

An incredible feat!

The first ever to make it across this bridge.

That was quite a show, Tonegawa.

Yup.

l shall bestow on you

class A citizenship in our kingdom.

Thank you, your highness... Such drivel!

A show?

A stinking show?

You know how many people just died?

Pay up.

And no excuses.

Pay me 20 million!

No.

From your prize of 10 million,

we deduct the 9,246,800 you owe,

leaving you with 753,200 yen.

753,200 yen only?

Fine. l'm fine with that.

I won my freedom.

But this other voucher...

Imbecile!

What good is a dead man's voucher?

You asshole!

How am l supposed to face everyone like this?

How could l explain this to all the guys who died?

Tonegawa, you dirty asshole!

Kaiji, enough! At least you get to go back.

So you're one of their cronies, huh?

The money isn't for me.

l promised to deliver it to that man's daughter.

Unlike rich sleazebags like you,

he thought of someone other than himself at the very last moment.

He's a finer man than you'll ever be.

He showed in his final moment...

His will! His strength!

It wasn't a worthless life.

He wasn't a loser. He won.

He won, damn it!

Get him out of here.

lnteresting.

Very interesting.

The poor covet money, hoping to become king,

but in doing so merely strengthen the position of the king.

It's a vicious cycle from which there's no escape.

The only thing that

can threaten the king's position

is an act of desperation immune to the lure of money,

like a sudden act of violence.

The game you're about to play is a microcosm of such a society.

E-card.

E-card?

Over here, sit.

E-card involves two hands totaling 10 cards.

Each player receives 5 cards.

The emperor side has 4 citizens and 1 emperor.

The slave side has 4 citizens and 1 slave.

The game play is simple.

First, the slave side picks a card

and puts it face down on the table.

Next, the emperor side picks a card

and places it on the table.

Then the cards are shown.

A citizen against a citizen is a draw.

A citizen, of course, beats a slave.

An emperor beats a citizen.

The letter E,

The slave has nothing. He is oppressed, with no reprieve.

Yet he has nothing to lose.

Therefore, a slave beats an emperor.

One warning, though.

ln the past, some intimidated players have given up on strategy,

putting cards down randomly.

Such conduct is not allowed in this game.

You must look at the card before putting it down.

Got it.

We'll play 3 rounds.

As for the rate, a slave wins pays 10 to 1 .

10 to 1?

The slave side faces steep odds

against the emperor side.

Therefore, if you win with a slave,

you're paid 10 times as it is.

A slave win pays 10 to 1 .

If l win them all,

l'll have over 20 million.

You won't win.

Why don't I let this beginner...

Kaiji, sir.

Why don't I let this beginner Kaiji choose first?

You can choose whether you'd like the emperor or the slave.

l...

am a slave.

What?

For all 3 rounds, if it pays 10 to 1 .

What if you lose?

If you run out,

you're going back underground.

l know.

Then let's play.

The odds sound great.

But it's too big a disadvantage.

Like having to go first.

The emperor side gets to read the slave side's expression.

And the odds of winning with a slave is only one fifth.

Go ahead, Kaiji. Choose your card.

Okay, show.

We begin with a draw. Next card.

Okay.

Draw, again.

Go ahead, choose.

Come on, emperor. l'll kill him with the slave.

Give me the emperor...

Come on, emperor!

You're willing it so intensely,

l can't help but hear it.

Come on, emperor!

How could you...

Your card must be a slave.

If so...

It really is so pitiful, being a slave.

Barely put up a fight.

Truth is, l can read people's minds.

Impossible! When you...

put down the slave,

you leaned forward a bit further than you did before.

So, would you like to bet the remaining 50,000?

Or maybe just 10,000?

What a trifling, boring match!

You could've let him win first to bait him into a huge loss,

make him bet his finger or heart

in a game of life or death!

I'm terribly sorry, sir.

You there. How old are you?

Me, sir? I'm 39.

ln that case, l will loan you 390,000.

The collateral is you, yourself. 130 years of underground labor.

Against expectations, l'll go for it right away.

What's he looking at?

He didn't look at me earlier, either.

But why?

Isn't he supposed to check my expression?

Not his own cards, either.

Lower?

Come on. Put your card down.

Sure took long enough to choose.

After such long deliberation,

hard to say what you chose.

Tough one, but l'd have to go with...

this one.

Sorry, kid.

The slave...

was eaten...

by the citizen.

Two straight losses. You're finished.

Off you go, back to the underground.

Go.

Something feels wrong.

Was the game fixed? But how?

The cards looked legit.

Neither a person nor camera behinds me.

If there was one person who saw my cards

in that room... l'm so glad.

When you made it across the bridge, I thought I'd underestimated you,

but I was right. You're garbage.

You belong down there.

Looks good on you, this brand.

A permanent brand labeling you a loser.

Wait.

I know who it was. The one person who saw my cards...

It was...

me.

lt was me.

And during the game, he was looking at...

That's right, his watch.

But wait, that watch...

In room 5014, he wore a different watch.

Why would he switch his watch?

lt can't be...

Listen up.

Don't even think about escaping.

Every move you make is being monitored 24 hours

by the microchip under your brand.

Bastards...

Those bastards!

Cheating bastards...

What're you doing?

They made me bet my remaining life,

and then cheated me, damn it!

Crying again.

Look, l understand how you feel, but...

So what if I cry? l'm finished.

l'll be underground till the day I die.

I'm finished.

No, wait.

Time to go.

Get up.

Wait, can l go to the bathroom?

Fine.

Lady.

You there?

What do you want? You can't escape.

A lady in the age of 39...

What's your name?

What's this about?

Would you mind...

loaning me some money?

What did you just ask?

l can win.

I know l can win.

I can beat their scheme.

Scheme?

You're his assistant, and you didn't know this?

I'm not his assistant.

We were colleagues.

Look, this is a voice from above.

The fact you're here right now is a sign that l should win,

to avenge the death of Ishida and Sahara,

and defeat Tonegawa.

Look... I'm doing it.

l have to.

l can't let this slip away.

You gave me this chance!

Excuse me?

Another round? Yes.

He wants to play the third round, as planned.

Figured it out, has he?

But he has no more money left.

l've got money.

50 million yen.

So you've joined the slaves.

Just a discretionary loan from the funds entrusted to me.

You have no such thing!

They all belong to the chairman...

lnteresting.

So you'll put your own life on the line, too?

Yes. Tonegawa.

Play one more round with him.

Thanks, chairman.

I sure do look like an idiot.

That's why l'm always a loser.

Damn idiot!

Stop!

Are you crazy? Damn right, I'm crazy!

You need to be crazy

to kill the devil.

Only if I'm out of my mind

will l find victory.

Don't get carried away, fool.

Outstanding.

Treasure the one life you have, they say.

Parents, teachers, TV commentators,

even singers and most other people say so.

That's the problem.

Life needs to be treated more recklessly.

Coddle it too much and it will grow stagnant and rot.

People today try to protect themselves so much,

they miss their chances

and end up regressing and rotting.

He's right.

ln the end, games are about thrill.

lt's the thrilling duel that makes victory sweet.

Even now, l can feel the chills in my body.

You know what I'm saying, don't you?

Tonegawa.

You little punk.

l'm juiced up, huh?

Unlike you half-dead, money-grubbing zombies,

l'm alive.

Because I'm alive, l feel pain, fear, sadness.

I fight alongside others, watch them die,

and the thought of avenging them

gets me fired up like this.

You understand? I'm alive, damn it!

This is what it being alive is!

Had enough? You'll bleed to death

before the game even starts.

Interesting strategy, l admit.

You'd stand a fair chance.

But I can't.

You understand? lf I loan you money,

l'll be defying the top man in the firm.

So defy those crooks!

You said so yourself.

Change your life.

I can tell.

You're a loan shark, but you're different.

Don't tell me you still think I'm a good person.

l do.

Or maybe not.

But let's fight.

Let's beat them together.

You'll change your life, too.

But if you lose,

l'd have to work in that underground.

Sure, but I won't lose. Trust me.

Why should l trust you?

Believe in me.

When in doubt, hope.

Following hope feels right,

even if we might sink to hell.

I promise you,

if we end up being sent down,

every month on payday,

l'll buy you a cold beer,

until you grow old and die.

So please...

It's Endo.

My name.

I'll hold you to it.

The beer.

What was I thinking?

A loss means 130 years of labor.

ln other words, death.

And l'll be ruined.

Must be because he's bleeding. This is useless now.

Until now, he's only won by cheating.

lt's his first real fight.

If l lose playing the emperor side,

it'll get ugly for me.

The emperor side has the overwhelming advantage.

So there's no need to rush.

Going by the book, start with citizen and wait for him to self-destruct.

No, that's why I should go with emperor.

An emperor first as a surprise attack.

No, wait.

What if he's expecting the surprise attack?

Why do you take so long?

Dragging your feet...

That's why that old man calls you boring.

I'm killing this punk.

He's dead meat.

No, calm down.

He may be provoking this.

As expected, Tonegawa feels it out with a citizen.

A draw, to start.

Hard to start with an emperor,

even if you know.

That's right, I know it's hard.

But here I come.

Damn!

You cocky piece of trash.

Trash like you can afford to be fearless

because you have nothing to lose.

But not me.

l have a life l've built up.

That corner...

Is that a bloodstain?

He didn't wipe it off?

Think...

What does it mean?

Only if I'm out of my mind

will l find victory.

He left the two cards used

during the second round on the table.

A citizen and a slave.

Which means...

his blood fell on those two, a citizen and a slave.

Then this card...

has half chance of being a slave.

Come on, slave...

Damn it!

But the next card he puts down with a bloodstain is the slave.

Kill it with a citizen, and I win.

No blood.

Which means... it's a citizen.

l can win with the emperor now.

Wait, don't get ahead of yourself.

The bloodstain may not mean anything.

Even though the last one was stained,

he may have wiped the other clean.

The slave might not be stained.

lf this card happens to be a slave

and l put down the emperor,

l'll lose.

Darn, it was a citizen.

The third draw.

Only two cards left.

You better win, Kaiji.

There it is! Blood!

It's the slave!

Victory is mine.

With the citizen,

l'll slay the slave!

He stopped. Wait.

Wouldn't he notice?

Given how small the stain is, it's easy to overlook,

but he sprayed the blood on, and he wiped it himself.

He has to know.

This game is a matter of life and death for him.

There's no way he'd allow himself to leave a stain like that.

Not even garbage would make that mistake.

Now that I think of it...

That's right.

He swapped the slave card with the citizen card in his hand.

Then both cards on the table when he sprayed blood on them...

were citizens!

He used the same trick on the ship.

Show me Paper. Paper.

Count me in.

You are the one going to the hell!

Trying to poison me!

This punk is scheming to kill me.

He's quietly waiting for me to let my guard down.

A snake! That's what he is.

A deceptive snake, waiting to eat me.

He acts righteous,

but he's a cowardly snake willing to do anything to win.

No mistake. The blood on that card is intentional.

Which means that this card is...

a citizen!

He realized something.

Sneaky...

I see why he's made it this far. He's a formidable foe.

However... That look...

He figured it out!

It all makes sense.

Unfortunately,

you're one step... behind me.

No...

He's going to lose! Die!

So close, Kaiji.

But your venom leaked.

Couldn't quite poison me.

Tonegawa,

I looked like a snake? Damn right.

You're a snake.

l see.

That makes you a snake.

A wordless mind game like this is like a mirror.

In trying to read the opponent's mind,

you end up thinking about what you would do yourself.

So if l looked like a snake,

you'd be a snake yourself.

Enough bullshit! No.

l...

l'm thanking you.

Thanks for being a snake.

He did it.

But how?

A slave, why?

Didn't you swap it before the blood sprayed on it?

Sorry, but no.

All l did was...

pull the face down citizen and slave cards close to me,

then put a citizen card over one,

only to pull it back.

That's all.

ln other words,

l only pretended to swap.

He didn't swap them?

Impossible! How could this be possible?

Why...

Why didn't you swap them?

That's easy.

Because l had faith.

Faith?

Clearly, you're brilliant.

Out of anyone l've ever met,

you have the sharpest mind.

A man like you

would never fail to notice this blood.

Of course you'd notice.

And when you do, you'd be suspicious.

You'd scrutinize it,

realize it's a scheme and see through my plan.

You have to, because you're smart!

That's why you'd be suspicious,

and would recall

how I'd swapped cards on the ship,

and that I had the chance here.

Then you'd snicker...

how foolish I am.

You'd be completely convinced.

And why not?

After all, your opponent

is just trash compared to someone like you. Trash!

You'd gloat.

Because you're superior.

No trash has ever come close to beating you.

So I used your arrogant superiority against you!

And this pathetic slave beat you!

I won.

l won, damn it!

Give me 500 million!

You...

Goddamn it... I won!

Give me back my money!

All your money belongs to me anyway.

Give it all back to me!

You're nothing but a second-rate minion who fails when it counts!

You humiliated me!

l revoke your citizenship in the kingdom

and order you to a lifetime of labor underground! Take him!

Don't touch me!

l'll go myself.

I did it.

I won.

I won!

Damn, it's good!

So good it's wicked!

One more. Alright.

Eat all you want. My treat.

But let's take care of business first.

Here you go. Thanks.

Here's 100 million.

Another 100 million.

The 50 million l borrowed,

plus the remaining half, for 100.

Received. Thanks.

Your beer. One more toast.

Kaiji.

This stuff's too strong.

Sir.

Where's Endo?

Your friend's already left.

Where's the money?

Money? 200 million.

200 million?

You're joking!

Endo.

What, that was real?

You're kidding me!

Dear Kaiji,

Again, congratulations on your return home.

l know I said you'll be a loser for life,

but I take it back.

You certainly won.

But you've forgotten about two things.

The first...

is the interest on the 50 million loan.

The compound interest was set at 30% per 10 minutes,

and the 50 million was loaned for 68 minutes.

Therefore, l've taken 197,774,090 yen

in interest.

The second is the car damage.

Repairs cost 1.47 million including tax,

leaving you with 435,910 yen.

My 200 million...

The days l shared with you

were quite exciting, like an adventure.

l'm sure it was nerve-racking,

but it was for me, too.

That kind of passion...

probably won't come by too often from here on.

I'm sure you'll be able to win again.

And one day,

l'm sure we'll meet somewhere again.

You're terrible, boss.

Who ever said I was good?

To my beloved Kaiji,

Rinko Endo

Damn it!

Endo!

(Pachinko Oasis)

Sorry, coming through!

Yasuda.

Someone just left this for you.

There. I delivered it!

Choose Teiai. Because the future is yours.