Chapter 13
"Hahaha... Then let the Game of Death begin."
The moment the words left The Ace Master's lips, a heavy, suffocating tension filled the room. Haru's lead bodyguard instinctively shifted, his hand hovering over his holster as he leaned into Haru's ear. "Sir, something isn't right about this man. He's too calm."
Haru, blinded by his own arrogance, waved him off. He looked at the masked figure with a sneer. "The Game of Death? What, do you plan on dying today, Joker?"
"It's just the name of the game," The Ace Master replied, his voice a distorted, haunting chuckle. "No need to be so sensitive."
He pulled out a deck of cards that looked unlike anything Haru had ever seen. Two cards stood out: an Ace embossed with a golden Heraldry of Ace, and a dark, sinister Joker card inscribed with the words The Joker's Dead Card. The rest appeared normal.
"Go ahead," The Ace Master said, sliding the deck across the table. "Shuffle them. Mix our fates."
Haru took the deck, his fingers moving with practiced, professional grace. He shuffled with the speed of a man who had spent his life in underground dens. The Ace Master watched, nodding in mock appreciation. "Impressive. You truly are skilled, Haru."
"I have 999 wins for a reason," Haru countered, his ego swelling. "By the time this match is over, I'll have my thousandth win—and your kidney."
He dealt the cards. The Ace Master played a dangerous game of psychological manipulation. Through a subtle sleight of hand, he ensured Haru received a powerful opening: two normal Aces, a Joker, and a Queen.
Haru looked at his hand, a flicker of doubt crossing his mind. Two Aces and a Queen... strong. But where is the other Joker? Is it in the deck, or does this man already have it?
"Your move," The Ace Master prompted.
Haru drew from the deck—a 10. He looked at the board; two 10s were already revealed. Instead of taking the set, he played his Queen, testing the waters.
The Ace Master's eyes crinkled behind his mask. A smart move, Haru. But I know every fiber of your hand. You can run, but you can't hide.
The game unfolded like a rhythmic dance of predators. For nearly an hour, they traded blows. Haru managed to collect a full set of four Kings and three Queens, his confidence reaching a fever pitch. "It seems the Kings and Queens only favor me today!" he laughed, throwing down an Ace to challenge the table.
The Ace Master responded by revealing four 10s, snatching Haru's sets away in a swift, brutal move. "You have your Kings," Ranzo whispered, his voice cold. "But I have the numbers."
The atmosphere turned frigid. The deck was nearly empty. Only two cards remained on the table.
Haru's palms began to sweat. He had one Ace and one Joker left in his hand. Where is the final Ace? Is it on the table or does he have it? If I play my Joker now, I win on volume... but if he has the Heraldry Ace, I'm finished.
Swept up in a desperate gamble, Haru slammed his Joker onto the table. "I win!" he screamed.
The Ace Master didn't flinch. Instead, he began to laugh—a loud, echoing sound that sent shivers down Haru's spine. "The game is over, Haru. But you didn't just lose the match... you lost your life."
Instantly, Haru's bodyguards drew their weapons. "Watch your mouth! What do you think you're doing to Master Haru?"
"I've been waiting for you to play that Joker," The Ace Master said, his voice dropping to a terrifying, soul-piercing tone. "Because that's the moment the trap closes."
A gun was pressed against The Ace Master's temple. "Who are you? What do you want?"
The Ace Master looked directly into Haru's trembling eyes. "I am the nightmare that makes your kind wake up screaming."
With a flick of his wrist, he slammed the Heraldry of Ace onto the table. Haru's face drained of all color. "No... the Mafia Hunter... it was a setup!"
In one fluid, lightning-fast motion, The Ace Master hurled The Joker's Dead Card into the air. The card whistled through the wind like a spinning blade. With a metallic clink, it sliced clean through the bodyguard's handgun, severing the barrel as if it were made of paper.
"How...?" the guard stammered, staring at his broken weapon. "A card... cut through steel?"
"This isn't plastic," The Ace Master chuckled. "It's a specialized alloy. Stronger than any blade you've ever faced."
The lady standing beside him began to laugh—a dark, melodic sound. "Finish it, Ace Master. I want to see the color of this monster's blood."
"Do you really want the blood of a man who sells poison to the innocent?" Ranzo asked.
"Oh, absolutely," she purred. "It's the most delicious kind."
Terrified, Haru began to crawl toward the door, his dignity replaced by a primal fear. Dad! Save me! he screamed internally. But as his hand touched the door handle, The Joker's Dead Card returned like a boomerang, spinning through the air and burying itself deep into the side of Haru's neck.
Haru didn't even have time to scream. He collapsed instantly, his life force staining the expensive carpet.
The Ace Master stood up, walking slowly toward the corpse. He leaned down, his mask inches from Haru's dead, wide-eyed face. "Take him back to his father," he commanded the remaining guards, who were too paralyzed with fear to move. "Tell him that at 10:00 PM tonight, he will receive another gift. I am going to erase this Mafia plague, one by one."
He turned to the lady. "Let's go. We have a factory to burn to the ground."
As he walked out, Ranzo's mind shifted to his next target. Now... it's time for the factory to turn to ash.