Tokyo: Rabbit Officer and Her Evil Partner
Chapter 377 - 277: Please Take Over as Chief Designer!

Chapter 377: Chapter 277: Please Take Over as Chief Designer!

Fushimi Roku lowered his head and saw the Fox Princess with her hair spread out, eyes shining with blood in the recesses of her mask, looking just like a Forbidden Woman.

As he floated up, he carried a canister full of oxygen chips and was holding a respirator. Instead of panicking after being grabbed, he turned back and calmly looked at the Fox Princess.

Has it finally turned into an oxygen depletion battle?

He had anticipated this move because it was his backup plan: if he lost the poker game, he would pretend to faint, seize the chance to grab his opponent’s ankle, and compete with her for oxygen.

If he guessed correctly, the Fox Princess’s oxygen was almost depleted...

As expected, every ten seconds or so, the Fox Princess would switch a chip — she hadn’t smashed the dial, so the remaining oxygen was clearly displayed, making it impossible to store too much oxygen without getting noticed.

Soon, the Fox Princess’s oxygen supply ran out, and she decisively reached for the chips left by her opponent.

According to the previous analysis, if Fushimi Roku had planned his oxygen storage from the start, the air supply would be quite sufficient... Luckily, Fushimi Roku found the key to adjust the chips, and some chips were close enough for her to reach.

But as she inserted her opponent’s chip into the respirator, a strong choking sensation surged over her. She tried her best to breathe but couldn’t catch her breath!

What’s going on...

The Fox Princess looked down at the dial, the needle pointing steadily to 0.

Empty...

How can it be empty...

Suddenly, she remembered.

In the fifth round, that guy had shown a flaw — no, it wasn’t a flaw, it was a deliberate ’performance’!

At the time, she bet a chip, and Fushimi Roku decisively chose to follow and directly raised the full amount. Then, the question arose, why did he raise the full amount?

If he was confident of victory in the game, placing one chip was enough to win. Why did he choose to raise fully?

She hypothesized that Fushimi Roku was storing oxygen to drag the game into a depletion match, which is why she folded in the fourth round and tentatively raised a chip to gauge his confidence...

The Fox Princess finally realized that her opponent raised the full amount, fearing she would fold!

This guy never stored oxygen from the start!!

If it became an oxygen depletion battle, he would lose without a doubt, so he set up this trap — he couldn’t help but follow, only raising to create a false impression of ’having surplus oxygen’!!

Hence, she further deduced that he was certain to win the fifth round before it even started, using psychological warfare to lure her into following!

But why was he so sure of victory?

How did he know my hand?!

From the start, the Fox Princess had a strange feeling, as if her hand was completely revealed to the opponent — he knew what cards she held, which is why he played 26 in the fourth round!

How on earth did he do it?!

...

Of course, Fushimi Roku wouldn’t answer.

Nor could he answer.

The Fox Princess gradually began to show signs of asphyxiation, swirling light spots appeared on her retinas, eardrums swelled into semi-transparent membranes due to imbalanced water pressure, and her heartbeat roared in magnified intensity.

"Blup... blup blup..."

She saw her carefully manicured nails turn a corpse-like purplish blue, as hemoglobin ravenously gnawed at the remnants of myoglobin.

Before she lost consciousness, Fushimi Roku climbed out of the glass chamber. Standing with one foot on the ground, drenched, he stood in the Pure White Square, locking eyes with the Fox Princess through the glass.

— Bang!

She slapped her right hand against the glass, slowly removing her mask with her left hand, her forehead veins bulging fiercely, face horribly distorted.

Fushimi Roku wanted to say something, but saw her open her mouth first, softly parting her lips, releasing a stream of bubbles.

She knew he could read lips.

...

The crowd gathered around him, chattering away.

Minamoto Tamako repeatedly asked him why he came and if he was hurt anywhere; Fujiwara Homare inquired if he also came for the trials and how he planned to spend the large score he won; Moriyama Yasurou looked at him with a complex expression, saying nothing.

Crash!

The instant the arbitrator pushed open the glass chamber’s top cover, the Fox Princess’s body was suddenly sucked into a hidden compartment at the bottom. Blood diffused in the water as metal claws from an electronic lock clamped onto her ankle, and like a giant beast’s throat, the entire floor turned over, swallowing the dying woman without a trace in the blink of an eye.

"This is the standard procedure to prevent the loser from contaminating the venue."

The arbitrator gently tapped his earpiece with his fingertip, saying: "The position of the chief designer is now vacant, and according to the rules, you are eligible to succeed — Mr. Fushimi, you now hold the highest authority over Cat Island, provided you are willing to stay... Please take the position of chief designer!"

Saying this, he took out the last card from his pocket, densely inscribed with the Cat Island Code, one clause bolded and blackened, precisely the core rule of "Ascending the Steps":

"The position of chief designer is succeeded by the person with the highest score who defeats the former chief designer in trials or duels."

Seeing that Fushimi Roku was unmoved, busying himself wringing water from his clothes, the arbitrator began to elaborate on the benefits of being the chief designer, trying to persuade him to stay: "The wealth that Cat Island possesses is beyond your imagination. If you choose to stay, money will only be a string of numbers to you..."

Before Fushimi Roku could respond, Minamoto Tamako stepped in front of the arbitrator, hands on her hips, and said:

"Sorry, we don’t need money!"

...

Actually, we lack it, Fushimi Roku’s high-interest loan hasn’t been paid off yet.

Even though he doesn’t plan to pay it, the fact that he borrowed a high-interest loan is enough to show that the landlord’s house really ran out of food.

Thinking of this, Fushimi Roku quickly reached out to cover Minamoto Tamako’s small mouth, just pondering how to take a little advantage back, when he heard the arbitrator continue: "Indeed, money is just a vassal of power. As you can see, if you are willing to stay, politicians and celebrities from all over Japan will become your ’pieces’..."

Fushimi Roku was about to say, "Show me fifty million to see your strength," but Minamoto Tamako pulled his hand away and loudly retorted: "That’s not legitimate power at all! FXS dictatorship is clearly a global enemy! We don’t care for it!"

The arbitrator nodded, but did not argue back, instead continued to persuade, giving reasons beyond money and power, there are endless beauties—the voice of Minamoto Tamako refusing grew louder, her little hand clenched the gun grip, saying ’we’ in every sentence.

’We don’t care for it’, ’We are not those kinds of people’, ’Once we get out, we’ll definitely report’, ’We will share no peace with evil’...

The arbitrator had excellent psychological quality, continuously refused, still didn’t give up, he continued: "Since you are not interested in money, power, or beauty, it shows you might have some unique hobbies, right? Some hobbies can only be fulfilled on Cat Island... For instance, ’Trials’ and ’Betting’, earlier I saw you had a lot of fun, if you leave Cat Island, there won’t be any way to experience them anymore..."

The others were fine, but Fushimi Roku is genuinely interested in the ’Trials’ here.

Honestly speaking, coming to Cat Island feels like coming home, everyone here is a talent and speaks nicely, he really likes it here!

Pushing it ten thousand steps further, he’s going to die anyway, been chopping people all his life, can’t he enjoy it?

"Hmm, this..."

Fushimi Roku glanced at Minamoto Tamako, who looked at him smugly, as if her expression was saying ’Fushimi beast quickly slam this guy’s face’!

"Well..."

Fushimi Roku turned his face away, through the corner of his eye he glanced at Watanabe Shun, who just came out of the emergency room, his head wrapped in gauze, speaking with a slurred tongue, looking smug as well, like saying ’how’s that, isn’t my underling awesome’?

"Ah, ouch..."

Fushimi Roku pretended to scratch an itch, turned around, and met Moriyama Yasurou’s gaze, who didn’t show a smug expression, but his gaze made Fushimi Roku uncomfortable, like saying ’indeed, no man is good’...

"..."

He was silent for a moment, figured out what he really wanted, finally said helplessly:

"Forget it."

The arbitrator nodded, indicating he understood.

Next, he took everyone to leave.

Passing through the Seven Sins Temple, the applause from the surrounding participants rang like thunder, lasting for a long time, which was the sincere tribute from viewers to the victor.

The arbitrator took the opportunity to sidestep, asked Fushimi Roku if he wants to reconsider. The latter glanced back, seeing Minamoto Tamako and others following behind, covered by applause, he took the chance to ask the arbitrator: "Forget about being the chief designer, I’m not good at setting questions... By the way, can I come back to play in the future?"

The arbitrator showed a meaningful gaze: "Of course, always welcome your arrival."

Thus, the initial chief designer of Cat Island set the iron rule with life, creating a ’Trial’ legend during the two-hour term.

Anyone—whether male or female, old or young, rich or poor, any participant who sets foot on Cat Island, can use their wisdom, courage, strength, and luck to strive for everything they desire!

Under life and death, it’s absolute fairness!

Along with the broadcast, the reputation of the ’Cat Island Arbitrator’ spread, his absolute execution and unbiased hosting manner, earned the most rare yet universal token in the underworld—that is rules and credibility.

After leaving the Seven Sins Temple, the arbitrator took everyone to the lounge, and met Taira Sakurako and Kazama Tatsuya.

Minamoto Tamako, with tearful eyes, hugged Sakurako almost cried out, constantly saying ’It’s all my fault for not protecting you’ ... Watanabe Shun watching this scene, with a pig head also glanced at Kazama Tatsuya, wondering if he should express himself to the boss.

As a result, he was rejected by Kazama Tatsuya before he could speak.

"I’m fine..."

He cleaned the blood off his skin, wiping his face with a towel, casually said: "Just a nosebleed."

After a simple break, everyone gathered in a guest room, with some sleeping pills and cups of warm water on the coffee table.

The arbitrator explained: "Sorry, because Cat Island’s coordinates can’t be disclosed, we can only use this way to send you back... If you have no objections, take the sleeping pills, just a night’s sleep, and you’ll be home when you wake up."

Upon hearing, Fujiwara Homare was the first to raise a hand to object: "I don’t want to go home, I was planning to go travel to Cambodia and Myanmar..."

Fushimi Roku pinched his mouth, saying not to mind this guy’s words.

Moriyama Yasurou and Kazama Tatsuya distrusted the arbitrator, worried their personal safety couldn’t be ensured after taking the sleeping pills.

Helplessly, the arbitrator reluctantly agreed to blindfold and cover their ears, sending them home without restricting their limb freedom—while Fushimi Roku and Minamoto Tamako must take the pills, they might estimate the position through shaking, touching and balancing senses, the arbitrator couldn’t risk Cat Island.

After mutual negotiation, each compromised a step.

Fushimi Roku swallowed the sleeping pills, leaned on the sofa, hearing Minamoto Tamako’s voice of emotion: "Finally... can go home..."

Under the effect of the medicine, he slowly closed his eyes.

At this moment, Minamoto Tamako suddenly asked: "By the way... how do you know... the opponent’s cards?"

She was always curious, if the problem wasn’t cleared up, she’d even toss and turn all night unable to sleep.

Fushimi Roku, too sleepy to open his eyes, casually said: "Earlier played a few rounds of cards with Mr. Sazaki, he has bad eyes, and I inserted a small mirror on his wheelchair back... Also the same in the glass cabin, when the woman surfaced, I smashed the dial, inserted glass fragments on her chair back."

No reply by the ear, only the even sound of breathing remained.

Suddenly, Fushimi Roku felt a weight on his chest, he managed to open his eyes, through the eyelashes gap, seeing Minamoto Tamako leaned against his chest, deeply asleep.