One cannot possess both a Mercedes and an inferiority complex at the same time.

Buying a car. It is of vital importance to every man, especially after stepping into the workforce. A car is not merely a mode of transport to shield one from the wind and rain; it is a symbol of status and prestige. At the very least, in Harano Tsukasa’s developmental plan for mining gold-digging women, a car is an essential tool, perhaps even serving as a mobile artillery platform.

The strategic plan for targeting gold-diggers had been finalized. Tsukasa had given this serious thought. From a moral standpoint, gold-digging women rarely possess just one attribute, and while the extent of their absurdity varies, those who subscribe to the philosophy of money-above-all are generally not "good girls." Adhering to the principle of "don't let down the good girls, don't waste the bad girls," this was the only path Tsukasa could choose. Since they are not good girls, there is no need to speak of morality.

Truth be told, the "List of Malice" is akin to a wish—a wish of a sinister nature. The very actions required to fulfill it often deviate from the values and social morals of a normal person. Therefore, compared to many other extreme and negative thoughts, pursuing money is actually easier to achieve and carries no psychological burden. For such women, Tsukasa felt no need for any emotional weight; they could be discarded once used.

If he were to satisfy the malicious desires of women who did not chase after money, he would have to rack his brains to cater to their whims, create opportunities, wait patiently while taking various risks, and avoid crossing his own moral boundaries to keep his conscience clear. If he were to push too hard, he might find himself entangled by these women, facing retaliation, stalking, surveillance, or even them turning dark and taking his life. After all, he would be the one satisfying their malice. Being obsessively loved, hated, or entangled in endless demands are all standard outcomes. Even if he were cold-hearted enough to become a scumbag who watches women tear their hearts out for him without batting an eye, maintaining such internal indifference is difficult and unnecessary. Thus, he might as well stick to scumbags and "green tea" bitches. After all, he only intended to reap the rewards, enjoy life, and catch some fish along the way.

Therefore, wicked women became his only option. Dealing with scumbags and green tea bitches—especially those with strong gold-digging tendencies—allowed Tsukasa to avoid any psychological burden while obtaining both their bodies and his rewards. It was like killing two birds with one stone. In this day and age, where renting a home is often more cost-effective than buying, there is no need to be overly serious. A bus is worth millions, yet the fare is only two coins. Tsukasa understood this logic well.

"It's boiling. Tokyo is getting hotter and hotter. If only the section chief would organize a vacation to Hokkaido."

"We’ve never had a precedent for that."

"I’m just saying. How could we compare to civil servants? Just being a corporate drone is enough. Honestly, I’ve been thinking about quitting."

"Don't follow my example. You need to think these things through."

They had gotten dead drunk after work yesterday and slept until eleven this morning. It was fortunate that it was the weekend; otherwise, they wouldn't have drunk so much. After waking, they had agreed to head straight to the car dealership in the North Ward. June is known as the Water Month, and Tokyo was still enduring a long rainy season, with weather alternating between sunny and overcast. The air was thick with damp heat.

This season is not suitable for going out. Even though it wasn't raining, Tsukasa and Ryota Takizawa were sweating after only a few stops on the train, their clothes clinging to their skin. It would be another two weeks, until mid-July, before the rainy season gradually faded. Tsukasa was not accustomed to this weather, as his rented apartment was old and prone to mold in the corners—something he hadn't yet found the time to address.

Hiraga Genji didn't come today as he had other matters. Takizawa didn't know the salesperson, but he was excited to come along to buy the car. He didn't ask where Tsukasa got so much money, simply chatting about various other topics. They arrived at the dealership shortly after getting off the train, just as it hit noon.

This Mercedes-Benz dealership in the North Ward was quite large. As soon as Tsukasa and Takizawa entered, a receptionist in a crisp suit approached with a formulaic smile, her demeanor enthusiastic.

"Gentlemen, are you here to look at cars?"

"That's right."

"Please wait a moment, I will arrange for a client manager immediately. Which model are you interested in?"

"The AMG C 43 4MATIC."

Tsukasa had chosen this car after carefully weighing brand value against his personal finances. If possible, he would have preferred the C63, as it was a two-door coupe with greater killing power over gold-digging women, but his funds were currently insufficient. After receiving last month's salary, his original balance was over 1.6 million yen. Including the automatic salary increases from the last two days, he only had about 1.8 million yen. The C43, however, cost 11 million yen.

[Reward: Critical Rebate Card (Limit 1 million)]
[Reward: Single-use Credit Increase Card (1 million yen)]
[Reward: Single-use Credit Increase Card (10 million yen)]

Including the credit increase cards he had obtained from fulfilling the malice of Shigeda Shiori and Suzumiya Sayaka, he estimated he could just afford the car. As for the Critical Rebate Card, Tsukasa already understood its usage.

[Critical Rebate Card: Random multiple rebate on the first purchase after using this card, limited to 1 million yen.]

Tsukasa already had a plan for this card. He wouldn't use it for the car—the limit was too low. But if used elsewhere, it might just achieve his goal of killing two birds with one stone.

The car selection went smoothly. Even though the AMG C 43 4MATIC wasn't a best-seller, there was one in stock. Tsukasa didn't opt for any extra accessories; all he needed was the three-pointed star on the front and the "AMG" badge on the back. He didn't buy the C260L because it seemed too entry-level. The E300 was too business-oriented, lacked sportiness, and most importantly, it wasn't an AMG.

For a sedan in this price range, they were invited into the VIP room. After a brief negotiation, Tsukasa pulled his legally valid personal seal from his pocket and pressed it down in front of Takizawa’s shocked eyes. In Japan, contracts are usually sealed rather than signed, and they are legally binding once registered at the ward office.

"Mr. Harano, a pleasure doing business with you."

The saleswoman, kneeling on the ground, brushed a stray lock of hair from her ear. She looked up at him with a wide smile, gripping his hand with both of hers, seemingly unbothered by the generous view of her white skin revealed by her low-cut top.

"Thank you," Tsukasa said, staring at her chest.

"If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me." The lightly made-up saleswoman slipped a business card into his palm and gave him a wink.

"I will," Tsukasa nodded slightly.

He summoned the List of Malice in his mind. A pale red screen flickered, quickly displaying the woman's malicious thoughts.

[Object of Malice: Uehara Misuzu]
[List of Malice:]
[1. This guy is pretty wealthy, he must be genuinely rich. If only I could trap him... (Purple)]
[2. I hope my venereal disease doesn't flare up again... (Blue)]
[3. That African guy from the day before yesterday wants to bring a few friends along to hang out; I sort of want to try that... (Blue)]

After clarifying the saleswoman's list, Tsukasa found a moment to crumple the business card he had been holding and threw it away. Everything after signing the contract was simple; since the car was in stock, he paid and drove away after obtaining the temporary license plate.

Honestly, neither in his past life nor this one had Tsukasa ever driven such a fine car. Both the interior and the power gave him a feeling he had never experienced before. Converted to Chinese currency, it was worth over half a million. Even though many online look down on million-dollar luxury cars, in reality, he hadn't been qualified for one until now. One cannot be both a Mercedes owner and feel inferior at the same time.

Music flowed from the Burmester sound system like liquid notes. The car was filled with the faint scent of leather. Even in the daytime, the ambient lighting shifted with the rhythm of the music, and the roar of the engine was barely audible in the well-insulated cabin.

During the ride, Takizawa was eager to try driving, clearly wanting to get a feel for it. Whether out of shyness or some other reason, he didn't speak up as bluntly as usual. Tsukasa didn't mind; after driving for twenty minutes, he pulled over and let him take the wheel. Takizawa’s hesitant expression instantly shifted back to excitement.

They sped along at the city speed limit until they reached Takizawa’s apartment. After parking, Takizawa seemed to remember something and asked with a pained expression, "Harano, we forgot the unwritten rules!"

"The unwritten rules of buying a car?" Tsukasa asked.

"Yes! For a car at this price, you’ve hit the threshold. Buying it so fast is such a waste! Think about it: the deposit, the final payment—that’s two whole opportunities! You just wasted them!" He clapped his thighs in frustration, as if he were the one who had missed out.

Tsukasa had actually considered this, but not for the sake of "unwritten rules," but rather to identify gold-diggers among the sales staff. However, the woman who served them today was clearly off the table. The mere fact that she had syphilis was enough to disqualify her, not to mention her plan to engage in a group activity with foreign friends. Calling her "damaged goods" would be an understatement; she was truly nauseating. After all, Japan is big, and there are plenty of women.

However, since he really didn't know these "unwritten rules," he asked out of curiosity, "Can you really get a free experience twice?"

"What free? That's just an entry ticket. You have to pay extra if you want to break a sweat!" Takizawa rolled his eyes, dismissing his naive thought.

"Then I’d rather just go to Ginza."

"That’s not the same. Something you can get easily is different from something with a threshold. Simply put, this is the 'professional aura' bonus." Takizawa became particularly animated when talking about such topics, his face contorted with a lecherous expression as he rubbed his hands together like a fly.

"I suppose that's true," Tsukasa nodded in agreement. After all, for someone who hasn't experienced it, the novelty is what matters most. Besides, someone who can afford a car at this price probably doesn't mind spending a little extra.

However, through this car-buying experience, Tsukasa discovered the true utility of the List of Malice: being able to read a person's true thoughts. At the very least, today's situation had helped him avoid the risk of a venereal disease. He should pay more attention to such keywords in the future.

Takizawa was still chattering in his ear, but Tsukasa barely heard him. Now that the tool—the car—was ready, he would officially begin his plan.

The Gold-Digger Plan is officially underway!
The first candidate has been selected!
Come here, Hoshino Ruka, you are the one!