Chapter 1

Even without heavy makeup, there was something about Yun’s eyes that made her irresistible to men. She had seductive eyes. Not many people knew the importance of this, choosing - not wrongly - to pay attention instead to the breasts or tight bubble-butt of the females they desire. Eyes in a female were in fact the defining feature for sexual selection. Everything else would fade away into insignificance if a woman did not have the right kind of eyes. The Japanese had got it right in a way, when they depict the characters in manga and anime with unnaturally large eyes. Yun’s eyes were literal pools to the soul, deep and wide enough to drown you in unawareness until you found yourself with penis firmly clamped in vagina.

And as if that were not enough, I have not even started on her figure. Her hourglass figure was the envy of many. Her curves accentuated by the way she carried herself with confidence and grace. Her full breasts were another focal point, perfectly proportioned to her slender waist, drawing the eyes of both men and women wherever she went. Men would stare without realising, while women would shoot her daggerlike stares of envy. How did you know your wife was desirable? How could you tell? It was not just by feeling, it was by things that actually happened on a regular basis. If Yun went to a club, without fail, she would get approached by men. Even drinking at a wine bar saw her being approached by a high-net-worth individual looking to keep her as his mistress. Then there were her sniped photos, posted on online forums of the lifestyle variety as well as the seedier ones. Deepfakes of her in the nude were plenty, and there was even a dedicated thread about her by men who said they wanted to bend her over and just give her a good humping. Some even claimed to have done it before. I knew most of them were lies. Just faceless men trying to stroke their own egos just because they knew some personal details and had a glimpse into Yun’s life.

Growing up with such attention made her a rather proud woman. Yun had always been aware of her allure - the power she held over those around her with just a glance. And maybe because she always got the attention of alpha males, it indirectly drove her to choose someone like me. Yes, I was not embarrassed to say that I am a beta. In fact, I honestly thought that lady luck shit on me by accident. I was okay looking, definitely not in the league of the other men looking to date Yun, but I was still presentable.

Yun liked me because I was easy going. I would give in to her most of the time, and I didn’t give off that strong, alpha male vibe that she hated. I was the envy of many when we went official. People all said that we wouldn’t last, but we proved them all wrong. Yun and I loved each other and we did what many young couples in Singapore did. We applied for a flat, did the whole wedding banquet in a hotel, pineapple rolling during key collection and all. We had no plans to start a family, and for the first few years of our marriage, we just travelled and enjoyed each other’s company. Our jobs were stable. Yun was in HR for a multinational company while I was in a startup. While most of our peers were worried during Covid, Yun and I practically breezed through it. Then, in early 2022, our lives changed. It was all because of Yun’s cousin, Clement. Our flat in Sengkang had hit its Minimum Occupation Period after which we could sell the flat, and Clement was advising us to sell it and upgrade. I still remembered what he said to us as if it happened yesterday.

Clement: James, Yun, if you don’t sell your first flat and upgrade, you will be poor forever. Your first flat is the first pot of gold the government gives you! If you don’t upgrade, you are doing yourself an injustice!

Clement: Literally sit there and wait for money to come in! Everyone is doing it, and if you don’t do, it is like money dropping from the sky and you don’t want to take it!

Yun pointed to the figures Clement had worked out on the piece of paper, asking if he was sure we could afford to upgrade.

Clement: Of course you can, your initial capital outlay is very little. You see your flat, when you moved in it was worth only 300 plus, now you can sell for 600. Double eh! You don’t want to sell? Your brain has holes in it?

Clement was not only good with his words, but also with his brainwashing skills. Not that Yun needed any brainwashing in the first place. Her eyes were literally gleaming when she thought about the prestige that living in a private condo would bring her. The majority of her peers were still living in HDB flats. Her upgrading to a condo would put her in a league above them, and not to mention being the owner and landlord of a second condo. That alone was enough to give her significant bragging rights. And so, it happened. One moment, Clement was telling us about our options and the properties he was trying to market and sell, then, almost suddenly, we had people coming to view our matrimonial home. Without even actually realising it, offers were being made and we blindly accepted one that was 40,000 dollars above valuation. I was shocked that people were willing to pay that premium, but Yun reminded me that our block was right in front of the LRT station.

One thing led to another, and before I knew it, I was signing papers, visiting law firms, and a couple of months later, Yun and I owned two private properties. A two-bedroom condo in Hillview where we stayed, and another one-bedroom in Bukit Panjang which was being tenanted. But after taking away the mortgage, expenses and what not, we were barely making money from rent. We made just an additional 250 dollars a month from renting out that unit. When we reflected this to Clement, this was his reply:

Clement: Hello, your property will appreciate in value! When tenancy renewal comes, we increase the price! Now it’s a landlord market, you just say the price, people will rent!

It was a strain on our finances; even after CPF deductions and the measly 250 dollars from renting out the other unit, we still had to top-up over a thousand dollars in cash and an additional 500 dollars for the maintenance fee. That required significant cutting back on our expenses, and our Toyota Camry was the first to go.

Yun: WHAT?! You want to sell the car?! Then, what? Are we supposed to take public transport? Might I remind you that we are owners of two private condos! How do you expect me to explain this to my friends?

After several arguments like that, I pulled the plug and did the most un-beta-like thing that ended up in disastrous consequences. Yes, I sold the bloody car. And Yun drove back less than a week later with a brand-new BMW 520i Sport.

James: How did get that car?! How did you even afford it?!

Yun shot me a look of disdain and proceeded to school me on the advantages of getting a long-term lease instead of just straight up buying a car.

Yun: James, nobody just straight up buys a car anymore. Did you know there are long-term leases that let you change to a brand-new car every 18 months? You don’t even have to put down the 40 percent down payment any more…

I was lost for words. With our monthly expenses already putting a severe strain on us, I was unable to comprehend what having this car would do to us.

Yun: Look, with this leasing scheme we pay only about 3,500 dollars a month. That’s a huge saving considering the 40 percent down payment that we did not have to pay! That 40 percent can be put into investments that will help offset the monthly payments. See, 140 thousand in down payment saved and invested, with a low four percent return will net us around 500 dollars a month!

Yun cut me off again with the most absurd statement that I have ever heard leaving her lips.

Yun: I even saved you money by getting this 5 series sedan instead of the X5 that I really wanted.

She folded her arms and waited for my retort. I was so flabbergasted by her line of thought that I did not know how to reply. I walked into our bathroom, turned on the shower and just sat there on the floor. I heard Yun yelling to me from the living room.

Yun: Do you know that I saved us 150 thousand by not getting that X5?

Chapter 2

All along, I knew Yun was a proud woman. She cared about her ‘face’, her reputation. She needed to appear as if she were a league above her friends. I didn’t have much say in these matters, I was the beta male, remember? As long as she was happy, I was happy. I had a beautiful wife, the sex was great, we owned two properties and a luxury car, what more could a man ask for? Sure, in reality we were barely making ends meet and Yun was secretly having to cut back on expenses. But to her and the rest of the social media world, she was living the life, the Singapore Dream.

Then in mid-2023, our whole world came crashing down. Clement, with his shitload of shady dealings, was the first to be investigated by the authorities. This was even before the news of the government clamping down on people exploiting loopholes was released. And you know what he did? That fucker packed up, crossed the border into Malaysia and disappeared. And who do you think the authorities would go after next? People like Yun and me of course. Long story short, we were avoiding taxes and we were given a choice; pay the taxes we owed plus the fine, or get ready to be dragged through a very public case in the news along with others like us.

Yun’s cousin was also caught in this whole Clement fiasco. She did the same thing as us, selling her flat and getting two private properties. And now that the taxman had come knocking, her cousin was turning to us for help, no doubt drawn in by the lavish lifestyle that Yun portrayed on social media. But Yun denied everything, insisting that we went by the book and paid all the taxes She refused to admit, even to her own cousin, that we were in deep shit. Shit so deep that no amount of ‘girl-math’ or glamorous posts on the internet would ever get us out of. Yun flatly rejected her cousin’s plea for a loan, saying that we were cash-short but asset-rich.

Yun: Oh no, we just signed a letter of intent and wrote a cheque to wait till that is settled first, if not thanks to the seller of a land and house at central things got very messy. You know, you must spend money to make more money. If not how to get rich?

Oh, and you asked what was the final figure? Well, it came up to $487,786.45 including tax. That was almost half a million dollars and we had 30 days to settle it. We rejected and tried to fight the ruling the first time it was offered to us. We went to see our MP and it bought us another 30 days, but by the time the correspondence came back to us, we had 43 days before it was due. We couldn’t sell any of the properties or we would incur more taxes. Then the bank sent us letters, letting us know that interest rates would be rising. Clement had assured us that interest rates would not go up, making us sign on the dotted line for a floating rate for three years.

Yun and I did our sums; even if we emptied out our savings, sold all the stocks in our portfolio, we could barely put together 100 thousand. We could not even sell the bloody BMW because it was leased. What a fucking irony, there we were, proud owners of two properties and, after working for so many years, we didn’t even have 100 thousand dollars in combined savings for emergencies. How about borrowing you said? Borrow from whom? We were from average, middle-income families. Who the fuck had half a million sitting around for us to borrow?

I had a plausible option in mind, but Yun firmly rejected it. It involved the unthinkable; us liquidating everything, taking the additional taxes from the property sales, getting rid of the BMW, moving back to her parents’ house, coming clean with them and my parents, then proceeding to beg them and everyone we knew for a loan. At least then, there was a chance for us to raise money to pay the taxman.

James: Dear, I know it’s hard for you, but we really have no choice. I am sure our parents will help us. With the money from selling the properties, even at a big loss, and what money we can raise from our savings and investments, we just might get through this.

Yun: What the fuck are you talking about?! I already told my cousin, and I am sure she already told our whole family that we are not involved in this whole tax evasion case! We can’t be involved! What would my entire social circle think? What will they say behind my back? That we tried to cheat the government and were just making up our whole upper-class lifestyle?!

James: But… but you… we… really did that…

It was always about ‘face’ for my wife. It was not about how she saw herself, but about what other people saw of her. Everything for her was about making herself look good and delighting in the misery of others. It made me really wonder if she married me just because I always listened to her and let her have her way. This time, however, I felt that she had gone in too deep in maintaining her façade of the perfect life of luxury. It was affecting us both and threatening the very roof above our heads. Yun and I quarrelled almost daily about this, but she always had the final say.

Yun: I’ll figure something out

Conversations like these took place so many times that I lost count. Then, with 34 days left on the clock, on a Friday evening, Yun came back with a solution. She told me she was given a contact from one of her friends who owned a social escort agency.

James: What? You want to be a social escort? Are you crazy?

Yun explained that she had given her picture and profile to her friend, who in turn gave it to a Japanese agent, Kenji. Kenji worked among a select group of select clienteles, hooking them up with girls all over the world.

James: You got to be shitting me.

Yun: They have accessed our health records, and they saw that we are both healthy and ...and...free from any STIs.

James: How...how can they do that? And… what does it mean? Do you mean…?

But Yun silenced me when she opened her bag and put two stacks of US dollar bills on the table. I had never seen money like that before in real life, only on TV. It was literally two thick stacks of 100-dollar bills.

Yun: This is the deposit. Each stack has 200 bills. There’s 40,000 in deposit here.

I was so shocked that I could not even move. I just stared at my wife in disbelief. I didn’t know what to say.

James: No… I can’t let you do this. We’ll think of something else.

That was when Yun tears welled up, then she started to cry. She held onto me, and initially, I thought she was angry that I was stopping her from selling her body, but I was wrong. She had accepted the deposit in a moment of impulse. She took it and then she regretted it. Yun tried to give it back to Kenji at his hotel.

Yun: He wouldn’t take it.

Just then, the doorbell rang. Yun looked through the peephole and it was as if she saw a ghost. She started backing away from the door before turning around to look at me.

Yun: They’re here, dear…

Chapter 3

I went to the door and tried looking through the peephole. It was blocked. I opened the door and came face to face with three men. They were impeccably dressed in sharp black suits with pristine white shirts and crisp black ties. Each man had an air of silent confidence and composure that was both intimidating and captivating. Their presence demanded respect and evoked a sense of control that could only come from the uppermost tiers of Japanese society or the most insidious depths of the Japanese underworld.

James: Who… who are you?

They introduced themselves as Akito, Katsuhiro, and Katsuyuki.

Akito: Mr and Mrs James, we’ve come to discuss the terms of our agreement.

I was about to man up and ask them to leave, when he revealed the wakizashi - a short sword, easily concealed - he had under his jacket. I took an involuntary step back when I realised that all three men were similarly armed. They pushed their way into our home and shut the door. Yun held onto my hand and stood behind me, using my body as a shield - as if my weak body could be of any use.

Katsuhiro: You have an hour to finish packing, Yun-sama.

All the three men looked mean and menacing as they just stood there and waited. When Yun and I looked at each other in horrified confusion, the worst looking one of the lot, a bald man with a permanent scowl, took a step forward with a warning.

Katsuyuki: I suggest you start now, or we will do it for you…

Akito checked his watch and then turned back to us.

Akito: Three and a half hours.

James: What are you doing?

She was still in shock. Aside from kneeling in front of her empty suitcase, she hadn’t packed a single item.

James: Dear… are you okay?

The door to the bedroom burst open and all three men walked in. Katsuyuki, upon realising that Yun had not packed a single item, flew into a rage.

Katsuyuki: Do I look like I’m joking with you?

With a rough tug, he yanked Yun up by her arm, causing her to cry out in pain. Akito reminded his friend that Yun needed to be in good condition for the boss, and Katsuyuki threw my wife on the bed. I just stared in disbelief. I could not believe how much of a weakling I was. I could not protect my wife and I only gawked at the sight of her being manhandled. I hadn’t even digested the shock of her agreeing to take on the assignment. Seeing her being treated in that manner was like a punch to the gut.

Katsuhiro, a man with streaks of grey in his slick hair, seemed to be the most gentlemanly among the three of them. He came forward and helped Yun off the bed.

Katsuhiro: Yun-sama, you are such a great beauty and you are so lucky to be selected by our boss. I assure you, you will be safe as long as you follow our instructions. Refusing to fulfil the agreement now will only result in severe consequences.

Yun: I… I…

He opened a few drawers before finding the one that held my wife’s underwear. Katsuhiro opened the drawer fully, smiling as he carefully selected each piece of lingerie, holding it up to the light to admire the intricate lacework and delicate fabrics. He moved with a dancer’s grace, his skilled hands deftly choosing the perfect ensemble for my wife.

Katsuhiro: You have good taste, Yun-sama.

Katsuhiro selected bras and undies of different types and designs, from sexy lace lingerie to cute schoolgirl bras and cotton underwear. He laid them all out on the bed alongside pantyhose, G-strings, thongs, and he even laid out the sexy sleepwear I bought for Yun.

Katsuhiro: Now, let’s choose some clothing for you to wear. You’ll need a mix of formal and casual outfits as you will be expected to accompany our boss on both official and social occasions.

Katsuhiro picked out a few elegant dresses in different colours and styles, along with blouses, skirts and pants that could be mixed and matched for different occasions. He even chose a few accessories like scarves and jewellery to complete the look. Yun stood silently by the side, nervously playing with her fingers as she watched Katsuhiro work his magic. I could tell she was uncomfortable with the whole situation but didn’t know how to voice her discomfort. How would you even begin to raise such an objection? Here was a total stranger planning out such an intimate aspect of your life, and you had no choice but to comply. Katsuyuki, on the other hand, seemed impatient with all the planning.

Katsuyuki: That is enough, Katsuhiro. We don’t have time for this nonsense. Just grab whatever clothes she needs and let’s get going.

Akito just fiddled with his phone, sending endless messages and receiving an equal amount in return. The brief moment of respite gave me some time to think about my next step. It allowed me to calm down enough to think. This was Singapore, there was no way they could do things like this in broad daylight. It was absurd to think that they could just kidnap us, force us on a plane and fly us halfway across the globe. I looked at my phone on the table and I slowly made my way towards it. Katsuyuki was hurrying his friend along and Akito was still busy on his phone. I took a deep breath and reached for my phone. I unlocked it and tapped the number ‘9’, three times. However, before I could hit the dial button, Katsuhiro dropped the dress he was holding, grabbed Yun and put her in an armlock. At the same time, he pulled the wakizashi from his belt and touched its edge to her neck.

James: NO!

Katsuyuki kicked me in my chest and I flew backwards. But I was still gripping onto my phone and I hit the dial button before I crashed to the floor. The number connected within seconds.

“Hello, this is the police. How may I help you?”

Before I could say a word, I noticed Katsuhiro’s demeanour. He was calm, oddly calm, as he held the weapon with a steady hand against Yun’s neck. Akito walked slowly over to my side and whispered,

Akito: I have no doubts about the efficiency of Singapore’s police force, but I doubt they can get here faster than Katsuhiro can swing his blade.

I hung up the phone and Akito took it from me. Katsuhiro let my wife go and Yun broke into tears. Katsuyuki struck me across my face, wrenching my head up by the hair and forcing me to look at my wife.

We didn’t understand what was being said, but we could probably guess when Akito gestured to my wife’s body, his hands drawing an introduction to her full breasts, a nice bouncy C-cup that I had always been proud of. Suddenly, he grabbed onto Yun’s leg.

Yun: Owwwwww!

He held onto her ankle and lifted up her right leg, as if a butcher were displaying a piece of prized meat to his customer. As Akito continued to speak to the man on the screen, Yun’s discomfort grew more palpable. She kept stealing glances at me, her eyes silently pleading for reassurance or a sign for what to do next. But I was powerless, helpless and bruised, unable to offer her any comfort in this terrifying situation. I swallowed a gulp of saliva when Katsuyuki positioned himself behind my wife, his presence casting a dark shadow over her. He watched her every move, his eyes gleaming with a cruel light, relishing in her discomfort. He leaned in close and whispered something in her ear, something that caused her to flinch involuntarily.

The man on the screen had a cold, calculating expression as he observed Yun. His eyes seemed to pierce through the screen, his steely gaze reaching out to Yun and sending a shiver down her spine. Akito stopped talking and waited for the mysterious man on the screen to speak. When he did, he said a few short phrases that triggered a series of shocking actions. Katsuyuki grabbed onto my wife’s wrists and held them over her head.

Yun: No… no, what are you doing? What are you doing?

I took a step forward, but Akito put a hand up, gesturing for me to stay out of the picture. Something in my subconscious made me obey, and I froze in place before I meekly stepped back.

Yun: Let me go… let me GO! Owwwww!

Akito’s hand reached out with a menacing grip, his fingers digging into the fabric of my wife’s blouse as he ruthlessly opened it button by button. She struggled against his hold, but Katsuyuki’s strong grasp kept her in place. With each button undone, Akito revealed more of my wife’s skin, her silky grey blouse falling open to expose a light maroon bra that only further emphasised her vulnerability. My heart raced with fear and anger as I watched helplessly, knowing I might never be able to save her from this violation.

Yun: NO… no, please no! Please… I’ll return the money! I’ll return all the money… please!

Not satisfied with just unbuttoning her blouse, Akito turned his attention to my wife’s pants. He pulled on them until they began to slide down her hips, revealing the smooth skin of her thighs and the unmatched pink panties she had on. My wife’s eyes widened in shock, tears streaming down her face as she begged for mercy.

Yun: Please… please, no…!

The men ignored her. And as if it was not humiliating enough for me to be made to witness my wife being stripped naked in front of me by strangers, I was made to assist in her undressing. Akito waved me over, pointing to a spot on the floor beside him where I was to stand. He draped my wife’s pants over my shoulder like I was his butler. Katsuyuki pulled my wife from the sitting position to her feet, forcing her feeble legs to support her own weight. Akito gestured to her panties, pointing out the only piece of thin fabric protecting her modesty to the man on the screen. It felt like an eternity while my wife stood there, tears streaming down her cheeks, her body trembling from the cold grip of fear and humiliation.

Akito’s gaze was intense as he eyed my wife’s delicate underwear, the faint blush of her pubic hair barely peeking out from the edges. His fingers danced over the material, teasing and coaxing it away from her body. Yun’s breath hitched in her throat, her eyes wide and filled with fear.

Yun: No… please, no… ernghh… uggghh!

Out of frame, but still holding my wife in place with her arms above her head, Katsuyuki leaned in and sniffed my wife’s underarms. He licked his lips as Akito continued rubbing his fingers on the outside of my wife’s panties. He was speaking to the man on the phone like he was giving a commentary for a documentary.

Yun:Owwwwww!

I watched, my heart in my throat, as Akito caressed her through her underwear, making my wife moist before sliding down her panties to reveal her neatly trimmed pubes. It was a display of intimacy and control, a deliberate act of humiliation in front of her husband, meant to break her spirit. The man on the screen silently watched the scene unfold. He gave a small nod, his satisfaction palpable as Yun’s sobs grew louder, her body shaking with fear and despair. And as if to demonstrate how moist my wife was, Akito stuck a finger into her vagina.

Yun: ERNGHH! Nooooooo!

It was not a deep prod, just a slight tease before he pulled out, revealing a thick, viscous, gelatinous gob of pussy juice on the tip of his finger. My wife attempted to close her legs, but the way she positioned them in an alternating manner unintentionally added a touch of sexiness to her appearance.

Yun: Ohhhh! ERNGHHH!

He brought the phone close, allowing the man to inspect my wife’s reproductive organ in full HD. Akito continued speaking as he held the camera so close that it was almost touching my wife’s labia. At that point, it didn’t even occur to me that I was having a raging erection. I was rock-hard from looking at the men trying to sell my wife, who, I might add, had offered to whore her body for money in the first place. Putting the phone back on the table, Akito nudged Yun downwards on her shoulders to sit her back down. He unbuckled her bra and lifted the bra cups, revealing her supple C-cup tits and light brown areola. He displayed the cherry on top of the pie, the small yet button-like nipples my wife was blessed with.

Yun: ERNGHHH!

Akito gave her nipple a finger flick, drawing a gasp and moan from my wife.

Yun: Ernghhh… nooooo!

Finally, the man on the screen seemed to react. It appeared like he had made a decision. He nodded once and Akito suddenly halted his actions. The air in the room seemed to shift, as if some kind of unspoken agreement had just been reached. It looked like the buyer, or their boss, was a breast kind of man. Katsuyuki let go of my wife and Yun collapsed onto the sofa, sobbing in humiliation. She had never before been subjected to this sort of treatment in her life, and she just covered her body with both hands.

My wife sobbed as she got up on her feet.

Akito: Remove your hands…

She reluctantly did what she was told. Akito started the video recording function on his phone, pointing the lens at Yun. Then he told me to undress.

James: What?

I undressed, stripping myself down until there was nothing left. Not a single shred of clothing to cover my humiliation. Katsuyuki laughed when he saw the already small tool I was born with had shrivelled up into something that resembled a dried prune. I was made to stand beside my wife and we both held up our passports, facing the details page towards Akito.

Akito: Turn… Turn around, slowly.

My wife and I turned our bodies like slaves about to sold on the international market. After we made a full rotation, Akito asked me to step out of the frame.

Akito: Say your full name, Yun-sama…

My wife started to crack up and sob, but was quickly silenced when Katsuyuki grabbed a tuft of her hair and screamed in her face.

Katsuyuki: Don’t waste our time!

My wife frantically tried to compose herself. She wiped her tears off her cheeks with the back of her hand, smearing her makeup and mascara. Katsuhiro brought over some makeup removal wipes and handed them to her.

Katsuhiro: Clean up. Wipe away the makeup…

Akito kept his phone pointed at my wife while he waited. He held his hand up at the same angle without moving. It was as if his hand was not real; like a machine, he showed no signs of fatigue.

Akito: Are you ready? Again!

My wife swallowed a gulp of saliva and stood up, revealing her naked body to the camera.

Yun: My name is Liu Kai Yun.

Akito smiled and he finally stopped recording. And that was when the three men realised that my shrivelled prune of a dick had suddenly become rock-hard. No, they did not mock me or make fun of my reaction. They just looked at me and then turned away.

Akito: Get dressed. We are leaving for the airport.

I suddenly remembered that the agreement was for two weeks. I looked at my wife who was still shell shocked and sobbing on the sofa.

Akito: Get dressed. Now!

I quickly went over and helped Yun put on her clothes.

Yun: Dear… I don’t want… I’m sorry, I don’t want to do this… I really don’t want… What do we do?

I helped my wife put on her bra and slide on the panties that Akito had removed. It was underwear that she had been wearing for the whole day. I helped her button up her blouse and tuck it into her work pants. I similarly got dressed, then we looked to the men for instructions. Akito demanded that Yun dry her tears and touch up her makeup. He proceeded to take pictures of our passports and make more phone calls.

James: Wait, we need to bring our work laptops!

The men turned and looked at me as if I just said something stupid.

James: We will apply for leave from our offices, but we still need our workstations. This is Singapore, we need to reply to urgent mails even when we are on leave. If we are not contactable, it will cause more issues. We will cooperate, just let us pack what we need.

The three men discussed among themselves and decided to allow Yun and I to grab our laptop bags. I hurried into the room, and besides putting my work laptop into the bag, I opened a drawer and put in a spare phone. I was thankful that I had just switched phones recently and the spare one still had plenty of battery charge left in it. Akito had my wallet, but I had another travel wallet I kept in the drawer. It contained a travel debit card and mostly Malaysian Ringgit for across the causeway shopping. I chucked it into the inner compartment of my laptop bag. That was all I could manage before Katsuyuki came barking at us in the room. Katsuhiro came into the room next and leaned against the door while we packed our laptop bags. He looked at Yun and told her to relax. As long as we followed instructions, we would have the money and be back home in two weeks.

Katsuhiro: All your financial worries and troubles will be gone. No one will know. You can forget about this, like it never happened…

My wife just packed quietly, and Katsuhiro turned to me next.

Katsuhiro: It’s normal to feel aroused James-san.

Yun shot me a disgusted look, as if I should be reprimanded for being aroused.

James: Huh, what?

Katsuhiro laughed as if he were trying to explain something to schoolkids.

Katsuhiro: There will always be someone more successful, more powerful than you… and true arousal comes when you present your most precious belonging to him… Yun-sama might not admit it, but I assure you, arousal for the female comes when they know they are serving someone far better than the man they married. People won’t admit it - most don’t - but this is what it is. This is human nature. This is how animals behave, and do not for a moment forget that we are all animals. Hahaha…

I didn’t know what to say to that, so I just kept quiet. My mind was ablaze with thoughts as I gathered the final items, trying to wrap my head around what had just been said. The idea that my wife was serving other men for money was still difficult for me to grasp, much less the concept of it being a common fetish. The idea of feeling aroused by such a situation was completely alien to me, yet here I was, packing for an overseas trip with my wife, knowing that it would be for this very purpose.

Chapter 4

As we made our way to the car, the realisation of my own fetish weighed heavily on me. The arousal I felt at the prospect of my wife being with other men was undeniable and I couldn’t help but feel conflicted. On one hand, the thought of her being desired and appreciated by another man was exhilarating, yet on the other, the thought of her being with someone else sent shards of jealousy through my veins. Despite the uncomfortable and disconcerting nature of the situation, I couldn’t deny the fact that his comment had awakened a hidden desire within me - a fetish that I had never before acknowledged or even considered. The thought of my wife serving other men for money, of her being an object of desire for people far more successful and powerful than I, sent a surge of arousal through me. I couldn’t help but think of her naked body, submitting to other men, their hands and lips exploring her in ways that I had never been able to. It was a taboo that I had never even contemplated, yet in that

When we arrived at the airport, to our surprise, we were not the only ones headed to Japan for that special client. About a dozen other black MPVs like the one we travelled in were dropping off other couples and girls, some of them looked as distressed as we were, while some girls looked like they were about to head overseas for some partying. I saw a couple whose husband was pleading with the wife not to go ahead with the decision; he was practically crying, but she held firm with her decision. That lady walked proudly into the terminal while chaperoned by other men in black suits. Then I saw another couple where both of them looked like they had been crying during the entire journey to the airport. Compared to them, Yun and I did not look that bad considering what we went through back home. I spotted a couple of girls in obvious distress, some of them were young, probably only just hitting 18 years old. They looked lost as they were herded like sheep to the slaughterhouse. My observations were put to an end when Akito handed us our passports.

Akito: Check-in and get your boarding pass. We will meet you in Japan. More instructions will be given to you when you arrive. And if for any reason you are not on that plane, or you try to escape, or you try to call and contact anyone, the video I took will be up on the internet. Is that clear?

Yun and I nodded.

Akito: Alright then, please enjoy your trip.

He smiled and directed us towards the line that was forming up in front of one of the check-in counters although it did not have an airline name displayed. The line was flanked by several men holding Japan tourism flags like they were tour guides ushering us for a trip. Yun and I lined up behind a group of girls who looked like they were a group of K-pop hopefuls vying for a chance to go for an audition. They were probably in their early twenties and still in university. They laughed about the free holiday their so-called sugar daddy sponsored along with the spending money. They probably didn’t know what they were getting themselves into.

Yun: What do we do, dear? What do we do? Sniff…

I could tell my wife was trying hard not to break down again and I put my arm around her shoulder.

James: Don’t worry, we’ll figure something out. One step at a time.

We discovered that the flight was a charter flight when we got our boarding passes and realised we were not seated together. The plane was configured in a ‘2 - 4 - 2’ configuration, and I rightly assumed I would be sitting with Yun, but our seat numbers were different. The staff that checked us in didn’t say anything either. She just printed our boarding passes and handed them to us together with our baggage tag for the check-in luggage. While it appeared as if we were being left alone, we were not. There were plenty of watchful eyes around us and I was not sure if we were special or anything, but I noticed a young guy following us around. He didn’t say a word, he just remained a few meters away. Even when we went to the toilet, he made sure to wait until we were done. Not wanting to hang around the departure area, we immediately made our way into the transit area. When the young guy saw us going towards immigration, he approached us.

Takuya: My name is Takuya. James-san and Yun-sama. I will be your guide for the next two weeks. Here are two lounge passes. The flight is delayed by two hours.

Takuya handed us the lounge passes and waited for us to clear immigration before he cleared it himself. We were about to head to the lounge when something happened. As luck would have it, Yun bumped into one of her bitchy secondary school classmates, Claris.

Claris: Oh, Yun, hello, how are you?

Claris came over for a hug, and my wife instinctively switched on her bitch mode - a side of her that I could not stand.

Yun: Oh, hi Claris. What a coincidence… Where are you going?

Claris asked while looking at the boarding passes in our hands.

Yun: We’re headed to Japan.

It was only at that exact moment when I finally realised that the materialistic driven, need for ‘face’ side of my wife would eventually be her downfall. Despite the dire situation that we were in - that she was in! - she still could laugh and banter with her friend as if it was the most natural thing to do. She talked, giggled and laughed as if our financial situation was green instead of red and we were not in a shitload of trouble. How could she flip a switch like that when just an hour ago, she was forced to strip naked for a blackmail video?

Claris: But I really envy you guys… My husband, I asked him to upgrade, but he only cares about changing cars. But then he just upgraded the old Mercedes to a Mercedes GLB! So big, it’s a seven-seater, but we don’t have kids. I don’t know what he is thinking. And he doesn’t even want to take a loan, he says interests rates are high now…hahaha… Ermm… how are the rates for you guys now? You are servicing two mortgages, right?

My wife chuckled as if she had just heard the funniest joke in her life coming from Claris’s lips.

Yun: Yeah, I have money issues. That’s why I need to go for a shopping and holiday in Japan after my conference. Haha… you know, you should have a good chat with your husband. Spending money on cars in Singapore? That’s being really bad with money. If you have not noticed, I also recently just switched cars. Nothing much, just a BMW 5 series, the sports version. People collect properties now. Unlike cars, they can generate income.

I gestured to the time on my watch, and partly to stop her from being such a bitch given the dire circumstances we were in. And I was more interested to talk to Takuya to find out more about the shit Yun had gotten us into.

Claris’s expression changed. It was obvious she was unhappy that we were doing well in our lives, and with the jibes that Yun was directing towards her. She folded her arms and rolled her eyes, adding that her estate had a high concentration of European cars. Yun ignored her comment entirely and continued talking like a high-handed bitch. It seemed as though she had an insatiable need to come out on top, to always prove herself superior to others. She simply could not tolerate failing at this.

Yun: Maybe next time, I can invite you all over for BBQ and swimming. We have a nice pool.

I could practically see Claris’ eye twitching as she forced a smile.

Claris: Alright, I got to… ermm… go meet my girls. They’re at the cafe somewhere… Would you like to join us for coffee?

My wife held up the lounge pass Takuya gave us.

Yun: It’s okay. My company got us lounge passes.

Yun just smiled and waved goodbye to Claris. It looked like she was about to blow her top. As we made our way towards the lounge and out of earshot of Claris, I asked my wife why she needed to do that.

My wife stopped walking in the middle of the transit lounge and practically stamped her foot in front of me.

Yun: You want me to admit that we made a mistake? That we should not have sold our flat and upgraded? Is that what you want?

Chapter 5

She walked off ahead of me as we made our way to the lounge. Upon arriving, we heard an announcement being broadcast. Due to technical issues, our flight to Osaka had been delayed by 120 minutes. I wondered how Takuya knew that even before it was announced. We presented our passes and stepped into the lounge. Takuya was sitting in a corner. He raised his glass of beer and waved at us. I looked around the lounge and realised, that aside from us, there was another couple with a minder sitting at the other end. Other than that, the rest were lone travellers looking to unwind after a long flight. We made our way over to Takuya. Upon entering the airport and seeing the number of girls and couples that were on that flight to Japan, the gnawing feeling that we had gotten ourselves into something so big that we could not possibly comprehend, had weighed heavily in my mind. I had so many questions that I need answered.

Takuya sat forward after taking a long sip of his beer. He looked like he was ready to answer any questions we might have. He was a handsome young man, with chiselled features and a ruggedly appealing air that made him stand out in the room. His dark hair was stylishly cut, falling in soft waves over his forehead, and his eyes were a deep, warm brown, filled with warmth and intelligence. He wore a well-tailored suit that accentuated his fit physique, and his demeanour was confident but not arrogant. He reminded me of those male hosts hawking for customers along the streets of Kabukicho. Yun and I sat down and I immediately fired off the first round of questions.

James: There are many others like us, girls, couples, are we all going over for the same thing? To serve the same customers?

I asked, even though I had an idea what he meant.

Takuya: A very important meeting will be taking place in Japan. Important men will meet and decide the direction that many organisations will take. And women, like Yun-sama, will be needed to entertain and serve these men.

Yun and I exchanged a look. I saw the look of worry appearing on her face once again.

Yun: Can we back out?

Takuya laughed.

Yun: What do you mean?

Takuya’s smile disappeared from his face. He sat back on his chair.

Takuya: These men… there are worse things they can do, other than sex.

If my wife was panicking earlier, she was on the verge of a full-blown meltdown by now.

Yun: Please be clear, Takuya. What exactly do I need to do? And pre-qualified means that I’m selected already? Selected by who? What about those that are not selected?

Takuya finished his beer and told us that we better get a beer each.

Takuya: This is going to take a while.

Both Yun and I ordered a drink. Then we watched Takuya opening up a napkin. He used a pen and drew a table, somewhat like the tournament table in the World Cup - boxes against boxes, winners moving a square up until the victor emerges.

Takuya: While the important meetings are going on, these games will be played concurrently. It is to provide both entertainment and relief to the bosses who have bid and paid for your body.

I asked, strangely eager to know the person who owned my wife’s body.

Takuya: Bondai Namco

Takuya: No. You help him make more money, you earn his respect, you do what he wants, you play his games, then… he sleeps with you…

He went on to explain, that the girls who did not have a sponsor would have to find one upon arriving. They had to do everything they could to secure a sponsor.

Takuya: They might even try and steal yours… hehehe…

I turned around and looked at the other couple, also deep in conversation with their guide. I reckoned everyone was here for the same reason. Money.

James: What’s in it for you, Takuya? Do you get money if we win?

Yun nodded.

Takuya: That is just the deposit. The prize money snowballs upwards. The winner takes USD 10 million, but the agent who recommended you will take a five percent cut from all your winnings. And as your guide, I will take 10 percent.

Takuya laughed and went to helped himself to another beer from the bar, leaving my wife and I sitting in shock at the couch. Yun blinked a couple of times and she looked away from me. I could tell she was holding back her tears. At that point, I really didn’t know what to say to her. I turned my attention to the other couple. They were younger than us and they looked like they had just got married. Unlike us, who were still in our office work clothes, they were both dressed in shorts and t-shirts, like they were just pulled out of bed. I took a deep breath and made my way over to their table. They, including their guide, looked up at me in surprise. Their guide quickly recovered and introduced himself.

Ren: Hi, my name is Ren. I am their guide. How may I help you?

I gestured to the couple. Ren chuckled.

Ren: No.

Ren got up, gave a polite bow, like what you would expect from a male host, and excused himself. I introduced myself to the couple and went straight to the point.

James: My name is James, and over there, that’s my wife, Yun.

Harry immediately nodded, adding that it happened to them too.

Harry: I… it was my fault. I… I agreed too fast without thinking it through. Before I knew it, there were men at our door and… and… there was nothing we could do…

Before Harry could continue, Simin burst into tears. He reached his arm around her and held her close.

Harry: They… they took videos… of… of us…

As Simin sobbed, I found myself stealing glances at her. She was young and beautiful. Like that sweet young thing neighbour you wish had just moved into the flat beside yours. Her pair of light grey cotton shorts were no stranger to controversy - many girls liked to wear something similar. They wrapped her bum nicely and tightly, revealing enough to pique your interest, yet leaving ample room for imagination. The loose white singlet allowed a generous peek of Simin’s bra straps and cleavage. Her breasts were not big, but they were firm and supple, looking all bouncy and just so squeezable. And her legs, hairless and smooth, pressed tightly together like that innocent housewife in a Japanese porn production, waiting to be violated by a burglar during home break in. Simin was shivering, her exposed arms shaking constantly. She looked cold, her clothes seemed insufficient to keep her warm in that environment. I would have offered her a jacket, but I did not have one. Looking at Harry in his loose t-shirt and Bermuda shorts, it was safe to say that they were the most underdressed travellers in the whole lounge.

Harry looked at Simin and they both nodded.

Harry: I agree.

I brought Yun over and introduced her to Harry and Simin.

Yun: Hi… I’m Yun.

Everyone shook hands and we made some small talk. I turned and saw Takuya and Ren leaning against the bar counter looking at us. They were chatting casually and it was obvious they knew each other. As I observed the dynamic between the guides, a sense of unease settled in my chest. The professional camaraderie between Takuya and Ren was unnerving, as if they were in on some secret that we were not privy to. The games we were promised could potentially bring us a fortune, but the cost of losing our autonomy and dignity felt too high. But there was no turning back for us, it was all too late.

Chapter 6

When it was time to board our flight, we were directed to the gate at the furthest end of the airport, still without any airline name shown. It was like we were being isolated on purpose. We cleared the security checks like everyone else; we scanned our boarding passes and boarded the plane. Yun’s seat was right at the front of the plane, while mine was right at the rear. We were not even in the same boarding group. We were not the only ones separated; our newly made friends, Harry and Simin, were also seated apart from each other. I walked past Harry, who sat in the middle of a group of young girls. As I continued making my way to the back, I realised my seat was at the left-hand side of the last row. Then I saw a familiar face, fiddling with her seatbelt at the window seat next to mine. It was none other than Simin.

James: Simin…

I could tell Simin was very nervous from the way she fiddled with her seatbelt. I helped her by removing the pillow and blanket from the back of her seat, holding onto them while she settled in.

Simin: Thank… thank you…

Simin sneezed and I helped her open the blanket.

Simin: Thank… thank you… We… we didn’t have time to change.

I saw a few other men taking up the seats near us. I assumed that they too were separated from their respective spouses. The girl sitting on my right was crying softly, sobbing to herself. She looked distraught and just kept her head down most of the time.

Once everyone boarded the flight, the cabin crew walked by to check that all the passengers’ seatbelts were fastened. I tried touching the in-flight entertainment panel, but it was not working. I think they disabled it or something. Someone tried to ask a flight attendant for a drink, but was ignored. It became apparent to me that this was not your typical flight. No one served warm towels or handed out headphones. The drinks cart came out even before we started taxiing on the runway. The crew offered everyone a cup of water, reminding us that this was the only drink we would be getting for the flight until we were about to reach our destination. Everyone took their cups and gulped down the water. I took mine and wanted to hand Simin hers, but the cabin crew rejected my offer to help, choosing to pass Simin her drink directly. The crew went to their take-off stations the moment the checks were

I too was exhausted from the long day and was on the verge of falling asleep, when I saw the blinking green cursor on my in-flight screen. The screen had turned on by itself. I looked at Simin’s screen, it had nothing on it. I stole a peek at the screen of others a few rows down. Some had the same blinking cursor, some didn’t. Unsure of what it meant, I tried tapping the screen and it yielded no results. I wanted to wake Simin up, but she was fast asleep, her head leaning against the adjustable headrest. I could hear her snoring softly too.

Suddenly, a line of text appeared on my screen. It appeared like the computer trying to speak to Neo in the Matrix. A line of green text, each letter appearing one after another before disappearing.

‘Game Start’

I sat up in my seat and rubbed my eyes. Then I saw more lines of text appearing on my screen.

‘What is the colour of Simin’s underwear?’

I mumbled as the text disappeared. Then a countdown timer started for 30 minutes. The answers appeared on my screen. It was a multiple-choice question.

I could feel my heart racing when the choices remained on my screen. How the fuck was I supposed to know what the colour of Simin’s underwear was? I turned and looked at my seat partner. She was sound asleep and she looked so beautiful, so innocent, so tempting. I swallowed a gulp of saliva and I tried to figure out what this was about. What was this game’s purpose? Why was it asking me this for someone I barely knew? Then I saw a man on the far side of my row doing something unthinkable. He was reaching for the girl beside him and I could see his hands groping her. My heart rate spiked and I could feel my erection building. He was grabbing her breasts and squeezing them, and you know the puzzling part? There was no reaction from the girl. It was like she was unconscious. Suddenly, the pieces all fell into place. It was all in the drinks they gave us. The drugs in the water lulled most of the passengers into a deep sleep, but somehow, I managed to stay mostly lucid and aware of my surroundings. My drink had to be clean.

I glanced over at Simin, who was still sound asleep, her breathing steady and peaceful. I tried to unbuckle my seatbelt and realised that I couldn’t. It was fastened tight. That had to be part of the rules. I could not get out of the seat.

James: Simin… Simin?

I tapped her lightly to see if I could rouse her.

James: Simin?

She moved a little, the blanket covering her body falling down, revealing her chest and that nubile body of hers. Her skin was flawless, glowing in the dim light of the cabin, her chest heaving gently with each breath. The sight of her, seemingly innocent and vulnerable, filled me with a surging desire that threatened to consume me. I watched as she adjusted her position, moving slightly so that her legs stretched out in front of her, her knees slightly apart. That position exposed even more of her, revealing the soft curves of her inner thighs and the delicate roundness of her bottom. My eyes were drawn to the fabric of her shorts, so soft and tight, emphasising the contours of her body beneath. I steeled myself, trying to focus, to make sense of the chaos that was unfolding around me. I could feel my breath going shallow and rapid, my heart was pounding against my chest and there was a persistent throbbing in my groin that I couldn’t ignore. I glanced at Simin again, the sight of her innocence and beauty clouding my thoughts with desire.

James: Shit…

I froze, staring at Simin’s face. She was still asleep, her lips slightly apart. I looked around the cabin again, trying to be sure this was not all a dream. Most of the passengers were female. The only male passengers were like me, husband to a wife who was enroute to serve other men. I counted four within my line of sight. They were easy to spot even in the dim light of the cabin. The men were the only ones moving. Some were doing it rather vigorously; one was trying to remove his seatbelt and another was happily groping the girls seated on both sides of him. The one seated in the same row as me, at the other end by the window seat was the most brazen. My eyes widened in shock when I witnessed him pressing his lips forcefully against the unconscious girl’s, his hand sneaking under her t-shirt to caress her breasts. The scene was both disturbing and violating, sending shivers down my spine. I could feel my stomach churning at the sight of such a blatant display of disrespect and abuse. My heart ached for the girl, who lay defenceless and unaware of what was happening to her.

But peel away that white knight facade and it all became clear to me; it was just my morals speaking. Deep down, I was aroused, I was jealous, I wanted to be the man doing that to the girl. I wanted to be that pervert. By my estimate, he had to be at least 50 years old. But the girl, the girl was young. I would say 19, perhaps 20. Definitely still a university student. The man saw me staring at him and he just grinned at me. He continued violating the unconscious girl, kissing and licking her face like he wanted to devour her youth. I quickly looked away. Wasn’t he concerned about what was going to happen if the girl woke up? What about the consequences? I tried the seat belt again, flipping it over for closer inspection. It was electronically controlled, no doubt to keep everyone in their seat and also to stop the men from outright raping the girls while they slept. It functioned like a leash, reminding us that while we had certain freedom to do some things, others remained out of reach.

Chapter 7

“Mind your own business, bro!”

I literally jumped in my seat when he shouted from across the aisle. It was like he didn’t give a fuck about waking anyone. I stared straight ahead and my index finger twitched - the same finger that just dug into Simin’s waistband. I subconsciously brought it to my nose for a sniff. Inhaling sharply, I felt this strange sense of arousal and satisfaction. It made me want to do it again, to stick my finger down the insides of her shorts, to dip my fingertips into her womanly-well of fertile fragrance. I thought of closing my eyes for a quick rest when an icon of a video file appeared on my screen. It was offered for sale and it cost one gold coin. Curiosity got the better of me and I accepted the deal. The animation of my gold coin disappeared and the video started playing. I immediately sat upright.

James: What the fuck…

I gasped and covered my mouth as I stare wide-eyed at the screen. I was hit by a sudden realisation. When I was checking out Simin’s underwear colour, another man was doing the same thing to my wife. He, however, was not as gentle. He appeared not at all afraid of waking Yun up. While I was snooping around, trying to be cautious and careful, that man had balls of steel. He unbuckled my wife’s pants, removing them from her entirely, before stripping off her underwear, holding it up in front of the camera and waving it slowly. While the footage of his face might be blurred, I could tell he was sniffing my wife’s underwear. I gulped, feeling a wave of disgust and anger wash over me. How could he be so brazen, so shameless in front of others, especially when Yun was unconscious? Not only was he sniffing Yun’s panties, he was rubbing them all over his face like it was a piece of holy cloth. Then he did the unthinkable, he flipped it inside out such that the portion touching my wife’s privates was facing outward, and then, he pushed it into his nostrils. Despite the blurred footage, I knew what he was doing.

James: Oh my god…

As my eyes remain fixated on the screen, a flurry of emotions flooded through me. My heart raced and my body became tense. I was watching another man violating my wife while she was sleeping! The conflicting sensations of arousal and agitation were strong, causing my mind to spin with confusion and desire. It was a strange feeling, one that I had never experienced before, yet here I was, consumed by a mix of curiosity and arousal at this taboo act unfolding before me. My wife appeared peaceful in her slumber, unaware of the illicit actions being done to her. Yet, for some reason, it only added to the intensity of my emotions. It was a guilty pleasure, one that I couldn’t seem to turn away from despite the discomfort it brought.

As the video continued to play, I could hear the distinct sound of the man moaning, his breath catching in his throat with each thrust of his fingers. It was clear he was close to his own climax, his face contorted in pleasure and frustration. Then, just as suddenly as it had begun, the scene paused, leaving me with an emptiness that was both physical and emotional. I sat there, my heart pounding in my chest, my mind reeling from the images I had just witnessed. What was happening? Was this some kind of sick joke, or was it something more sinister? Was this just a cock-tease to get me to do something more to Simin? Perhaps a reminder to let me know that even though I could keep up my white knight facade or try to be a good guy, I could not deny the fact that other men were doing things to my wife. I had the choice of either watching them doing it, or I could join in.

Turning to look at Simin, it made me feel that I had not done enough. I had not gotten my pound of flesh in return for the sacrifice that I had to endure. My wife was being fingerfucked by another man, so why should I be denied the pleasure? Why should I miss out on the fun when it was Yun who got us into this shit in the first place? The video resumed playing, but it seemed to have skipped forward. The man seemed to be well aware that the cameras were recording everything. I thought he would help my wife put her underwear back on, but he didn’t. He opened the dining tray and just set it down, leaving my wife bottomless, legs spread and sleeping with her mouth apart. The video faded to black and disappeared. I took a deep breath and tried to organise my thoughts. I assumed every man on the plane would be able to buy their wife’s video. Some might do it, some might not. Those that did, like me, would see what had been done to their wife, but they would not know who did it. Those that did not buy the video might not even know what happened. They might not even have answered the question on the screen or chose not to partake in the challenge.

Through that, I established something very simple. Playing the game and following the instructions would earn me gold coins. And with the gold coins, I got to buy things. Playing the game would earn me privileges. But what did the men planning these games get in return? I pondered the situation for a moment and concluded that it was all just for their own entertainment. To them, our actions were nothing more than a form of amusement. I trembled and turned towards Simin again. If other men were doing this to my wife, why should I hold back from doing the same to theirs? I pulled away the blanket and looked at Simin’s legs. They were pressed together, angled towards the window and away from me. She looked so demure, pure and untouched, untainted. And it made me want to violate her. My hand reached towards her just as the rumble from the meal trolley stopped beside me.

James: Shit… Oh, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to…

The female flight crew paid me no heed. She literally treated me as if I were invisible. She just placed a tray of food on my lap without asking if I liked chicken or fish. Then she made her way down to the other men, putting a tray of food in front of each them. I shook off the shock and unfolded the tray, placing the food down for a proper look. That was when things became more puzzling. The food they served me was a plain slice of bread and a serving of cold soba noodles without the dipping sauce.

James: What the hell is this…?

More instructions flashed out on the screen.

Chapter 8

James: Holy fuck…

I quickly looked away. My heart was in my mouth at the realisation of what the instructions meant. Butter the bread, the instructions said. It didn’t say butter with what. That, I assumed, was up to our imagination. I adjusted the erection in my pants. My penis was really throbbing hard at that point. I needed to butter the piece of bread with Simin, but the question was from where? Where could I get butter from such a beautiful woman’s body? Where would the butter be the most fragrant? Should I butter the bread with her breasts? Should I rub the soft slice of bread all over her nipples, allowing her unique love-pillow scent to permeate into the bread? Or should I do it like what my fellow passenger did, buttering it up with Simin’s pussy-butter. No matter which I chose, it was still going to require a sick and perverse act. I pressed the button on the armrest and pushed Simin’s seat back, putting it at an incline. I pushed it down as far as I could.

Simin: Mmmh…

I swallowed a gulp of saliva when I saw the vulnerable state she was in. My left hand went to Simin’s thighs and I gently nudged them apart. They opened up easily, welcoming the warmth of my palm. I gasped. Just staring at the crotch area of Simin’s shorts was enough to drive me into a frenzy, and for a moment, I was glad that my seatbelt kept me in place because, if not, I might well do something I would regret. I was terrified when I reached my finger for Simin’s privates. Hovering an inch away from her privates, I paused, taking a deep breath to steady my nerves. This was the moment of truth, the point of no return. I knew that once I touched her, there would be no going back. But the primitive instincts took over and I slowly pressed my finger against the soft, warm fabric covering her most intimate part.

Simin: Mmmhh… ernghhh…

Simin moaned softly, her body shivering slightly as my finger gently rubbed against her. My heart raced and I could feel a mixture of guilt and exhilaration coursing through my veins. I was taking part in an act that I normally would never consider doing, yet here I was, in a state of arousal that I couldn’t deny. I could see her eyelids fluttering like she wanted to wake from a nightmare but she couldn’t. Like she was being tortured and she could feel everything yet was unable to resist. I rubbed Simin a couple of dozen times, sliding my finger up and down her privates, feeling the slight hump of her pussy against her shorts and underwear. It didn’t take long for the moisture to start seeping through, wetting the very fabric she wore to protect her modesty.

Simin: Mmmmh… mmhh… ernghh…

Her moans were those of discomfort, like she was being suppressed. I could do better; I knew I could. But all I wanted was to butter my slice of bread. So, I pried aside the layers of cotton, my finger striking gold when I felt the slick and slippery insides of Simin’s vagina-lips. It felt so good and the mental arousal of it all was out of this world. Just a couple of hours ago, I had made acquaintance with Simin and her husband, Harry. And now, 20,000 feet in the air, I was fingering Simin and using her pussy-juice to butter my bread. Simin’s vagina secretions were thick and sweet smelling; like that of an expensive shower gel from some top-grade hotel. I pulled my finger out, looking around sheepishly, embarrassed that others might see what I was doing. Putting my finger into my mouth, I sucked hard and groaned uncontrollably.

The flavour was nothing extraordinary, just a creation of my imagination. But the thrill it brought me was beyond anything I had ever experienced before. Realising that everything I did was being captured, I quickly returned to the task on hand. I dipped my finger into Simin’s honeypot and buttered my bread. It took five dips before I could fully cover the slice of bread. I placed the bread back on the serving dish and saw new options appearing on screen, asking if I would like to submit my dish. I tapped yes, and immediately regretted it. I did not realise that the submit button meant both dishes - the cold noodle soba and the bread. The screen registered that I submitted ‘1 bread, 0 Soba’. I saw a two gold coin reward appearing on the screen. Not only that, I heard an electronic buzzing coming my seatbelt and I was able to unbuckle it. I quickly returned Simin’s seat to the original position and did my best to adjust her shorts properly. I even covered her with the blanket. But when I turned around, I felt the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end. I saw what the 50-year-old man was doing with his soba noodles. He practically squeezed the cheeks of the girl he was violating, opened up her mouth and dipped the noodles inside her mouth. He swished it around, rubbing the soba against the insides of her cheeks, collecting the essence of her saliva before returning it to the bowl. I had to rub my eyes to be sure of what I was seeing. He then calmly tapped the screen to submit his entry before releasing his seatbelt.

“What are you staring at, brother? You don’t know staring like that might start a fight, eh?”

I quickly looked away as he adjusted his erection and pants like some pornstar who had just finished impregnating a woman.

Man: I’m just kidding! Haha… just fucking with you… My name is Herman…

He extended his hand over a row of sleeping girls and I introduced myself as well.

Herman: Nice to meet you, James… Hehe… first time?

Man: Hi… I’m Spencer… It’s my first time…

Spencer was about the same age as me. He looked a lot more tired and drained. The other guys who did not manage to unbuckle themselves turned around and asked us how we did it. I wanted to answer, but Herman stopped me.

Herman: No. Everyone that gets out of the seat is competition. There is limited prize money, so the fewer people that figure out the first step, the more our split.

From other men, I could hear calls.

“Pssst! How to unbuckle? How come you all can do it? Psst!”

Herman ignored them and dragged me and Spencer towards where the bathrooms were. He pulled aside the curtain that separated the galley and reached for paper cups. He poured us coffee like he knew exactly where everything was.

James: Herman… I… I have so many questions…

I got where he was coming from, but for people like that, often it was how you phrased your questions. It could not sound like you were asking him for help or tips to make your life easier. You needed to phrase it in a way that would make it sound like it would benefit him to help you.

James: I understand. I won’t ask you for tips or anything, but is there anything I should look out for so I don’t sabotage everyone’s chances of making money and having fun?

My question had Herman’s coffee cup stopped in midair between his chest and lips. I could see he was thinking. He was thinking what he could say that would turn things towards his benefit.

Spencer and I looked at him eagerly and waited with the coffee in hand.

Herman: Know how to act…

Spencer’s face turned a shade of white and he almost dropped his coffee.

Spencer: You mean… you mean my wife… my wife has to sleep with more than one… one man?

Herman chuckled.

Herman: What? You think that they pay you half a million just to fuck one? Dream on…She better be ready to take on at least half a dozen. Hahaha...

Chapter 9

Herman threw away his cup and went into the toilet. Spencer, still trying to come to terms with the news that his wife would be sleeping with multiple men, stumbled back to his seat. I looked towards the toilet and, even though I didn’t need it, decided to go in. Why? Because Herman went into one. Maybe he needed to pee, or shit, but he seemed like a man who would not do things without a reason.

The bathroom looked like any other airplane bathroom. However, when I locked the door, the mirror flashed and there was an animation of a short bar getting longer, like it was loading some information. Then, like the infotainment menu in front of my seat, my profile came up along with the number of gold coins I currently had.

James: Wow…

Instructions started appearing, text flashed past line by line and I devoured it all. The sick games the rich and powerful played were on a different level. There would be two games going on concurrently. One would be the one Yun and other women needed to go through - the one that we all knew about, the one that would pay off our debt. The other was only privy to the men. The moment the women were aware of a secondary game, it would immediately cease, limiting the amount of gold coins I could earn. Tasks would be given and I would always be given a choice whether or not to complete them, or in what manner I wanted to complete them. Should I choose to play, I would increase the number of coins I had. If I choose not to, I could always sit it out. Then came the critical part. Each gold coin was in fact a literal gold coin, 10 grams in weight, which according to current gold prices was about 1,000 dollars each. They could be encashed for money at the end of the two weeks.

James: Holy fuck…

My bank account details, my PayNow details, all the crediting information flashed on the screen. They had practically dug out everything about me. I was given a ‘Y/N’ at the confirmation screen for my details. I clicked the ‘Y’ on the mirror. Of course, I wanted to play the game. Which man wouldn’t? Upon confirmation of my details, I saw a plus one added to my gold coins, taking my total to three. Almost immediately, I saw the next task given to me.

‘Upon reaching hotel with your wife, initiate sex. (2 gold coins)’ ‘Do you wish to play?’ ‘Y / N’

This was crazy. Yun would never agree to have sex. She was already so stressed out by the whole situation, and if I tried to have sex with her, she would surely throw a fit and say how insensitive I was. Which husband in their right mind would initiate sex in this situation? I read the challenge again and suddenly realised that the keyword was ‘initiate’. It didn’t say it must happen. The task was for about 2,000 dollars, and what was the worst that could happen? My wife getting angry with me? I accepted the challenge and thought that was the end, but another one came out immediately. This one was for Simin.

‘Make Simin pee on her seat (3 gold coins)’ ‘Y / N’

James: What the fuck…? How am I going to make her pee on her seat?

I scratched my head and the Singaporean in me decided to take over the thinking. Just accept it first. There were no penalties for failing the challenge anyway, so why not just try? If I needed to massage her stomach and bladder, then so be it. The moment I accepted the challenge, I saw a menu of items that I could buy to aid my challenge.

‘500 ml wash bottle - 1 gold coin’

I was wondering what the hell a wash bottle was when I recalled my days back in the science lab. It was those plastic bottles with a spout that you could squeeze to wash the equipment with. Two litres would definitely do the trick. But what was the point of spending three coins when I was only going to be rewarded with three? I looked around the toilet and opened all the compartments I could. I found some sanitary pads and sanitary bags. Then an idea struck me. I took a sanitary bag and filled it with water. That bag had got to be able to fit at least 200 millilitres. I filled four of them and tied them up like I was packing the soup version of fishball noodles. Then I selected the option for the 500-millilitre bottle and spent one gold coin. This must be what Herman meant when he said the more coins you had, the more of an advantage you would have.

The text on the mirror disappeared and I heard some mechanical clicking from somewhere inside the bathroom. Then the mirror slid sideways, revealing the bottle I just bought. I took it and left the bathroom. When I got back to my seat, I saw Herman already force-feeding the water to his seat partner. He saw that I figured out the bathroom secret and gave me a playful wink. The sight of Simin still sound asleep sent a sick excitement running through my veins. I had never done anything like this before - forcing a girl to drink water in her sleep and making her pee herself. Seeing Simin’s vulnerable state, I could not resist touching her again. I cupped my hands onto her breasts and gave them a gentle squeeze. Then I lowered my face to her love-pillows, rubbing my cheek against the humps before I smelled them. The sensation of Simin’s sleeping body against mine was both thrilling and intimidating. I knew that if I was caught doing something like this, I would undoubtedly be in a lot of trouble. However, I seemed to have been dropped into a fantasy world. A world dreamt up by sick men eager to see how sick they could get others to become.

My heart pounded in my chest when I imagined the consequences of my actions. But still, the intoxicating excitement of the game and the adrenaline surged within me. I pushed the spout of the squeeze bottle into Simin’s lips and squeezed it gently. I could see her frown and groan, water spilled out from her lips, wetting her white singlet, causing it to turn a little transparent. The erection in my pants was throbbing so painfully. I reclined the seat and inserted the curved spout deeper, adjusting the intensity of the squeezing until I found the perfect squeeze rate. I swallowed my saliva as I watched Simin swallowing small mouthfuls of water. Her eyebrows were furrowed and she groaned several times. It was obvious that she was uncomfortable. However, the more uncomfortable she was, the more aroused I became. It was a slow process and it took me close to 30 minutes to empty the bottle. I then refilled it with the tap water from the sanitary bag and continued force-feeding Simin with water. Every couple of minutes, I would rub her breasts and her privates, looking forward to feel that wet warmth of her peeing herself on the airline seat. It was going to be a mess, an intoxicating and arousing mess. I could almost smell the scent of her pee as I rubbed her pussy with my right hand and continued squeezing the bottle with my left.

An hour into the force-feeding, Simin started to fidget more. She groaned, frowned, her legs shifted and adjusted positions. I could see her eyelids fluttering. I had used up all the bags of extra water and, while the last bag of refill was barely finished, it was clear she was at her limit. She groaned as if she was feeling discomfort. She was regaining her movements too. I could see her trying to control her pee, like she was trying to wake from a nightmare to head to the bathroom. I didn’t want to be caught with my pants down and all the tools in hand, so I quickly got up from my seat and went to the galley. I threw everything into the bin, returned to my seat and put on my seatbelt.

Simin: ERNGHHHHH! GASP!

She was touching herself frantically. She fumbled for the seatbelt, but it wouldn’t release.

Simin: ERNGHHH… ERNGHHH! NO… no… ernghh! GASP!

Simin clutched her stomach, bent forward slightly and let out an agonising groan as she wetted the seat she was on, soaking through her underwear and shorts. It was like she had reached the point of no return and there was no other way to hold her bladder but to let it all come out.

Simin: ERNGHHHHHH!

Simin grabbed the blanket and covered her body. I continued to pretend I was sleeping. I could see her looking at me and the look on her face was one of utter embarrassment. Imagine peeing on a plane beside someone you only just met a few hours ago. Simin gasped and caught her breath before trying to unbuckle herself again. She was unable to do so. She hit the button to call for the aircrew and a flight attendant came to our aisle.

Flight attendant: Yes, madam?

I pretend to rouse and stretch, waking up to hear Simin asking for help to go to the bathroom.

Simin: I… I need to go to the bathroom, but my seatbelt is… I can’t unbuckle my seatbelt.

Chapter 10

I could not believe what I was hearing. The attendant delivered that in such a smooth and professional manner that it almost made me believe that all flights should have toilet visits banned.

Flight attendant: We will be landing in another… two and a half hours.

Simin: Wh… what?

Simin wrapped the blanket tighter around the lower half of her body. Her cheeks were flushed a deep shade of pink and she looked too embarrassed to even say anything to me.

Simin: I’m… I’m okay…

Just then, I saw the man up front, who had asked how to unbuckle the seatbelt, figuring out the trick. He too ran to the bathroom, no doubt to relieve himself.

Simin: Wait… why… why he can go to the bathroom?

When I pretended to feign ignorance, Simin asked me to try my seatbelt. I unbuckled myself easily, having released it earlier.

James: Oh… what’s wrong with yours?

I tried to reach over, but Simin pressed the blanket down tighter, too ashamed to let me help her.

Simin: No… no, it’s okay… it’s okay…

I adjusted myself in the seat and realised that her heavy pee not only soaked through her seat, it also wet the side of my pants. I stared at the wet patch, and that was when Simin broke down in tears.

Simin: I’m sorry, James… I’m sorry… I… I don’t know what is wrong with me…I… I just…

James: Are there spare clothes in your carry-on?

Simin nodded.

Simin: I… I have…

I reached for the overhead compartment and took out her carry-on luggage. It was too big to be handled on her lap and, between covering herself and unlocking her suitcase, she chose to protect her own legs and lap.

Simin: Can you… help me unlock. It’s 221.

I opened the suitcase and Simin directed me to the zipped compartment. I was thankful for the suitcase to be covering my groin, because there was no way Simin could miss the bulge in my pants. It was hard to explain why taking clothes for her gave me such a hardon. The unfamiliarity of the situation added to the intensity. This was something entirely new, an experience I had never encountered before. And yet, it was undeniably arousing. The simple act of taking a woman’s underwear and shorts from someone I had just met sent a wave of excitement through my body. I could hardly believe that such a seemingly mundane task could evoke such a strong response within me. It was as if every touch and movement held a deeper meaning, a hidden desire waiting to be unleashed. My senses were heightened, my heart racing with anticipation. This moment, this interaction, felt like uncharted territory full of

James: Here…

I picked out a seamless pair of panties, white in colour, and I pulled out a pair of denim shorts.

Simin: Tha… thank you…

I shut the suitcase and returned it to the overhead compartment. When I returned to my seat, I realised Simin was trying to figure out what to do. She had seen Herman staring at her with a leery look, so how could she change out of her wet underwear and shorts. And even if she did manage to, she was going to be sitting back down on the wet patch on her seat for the rest of the flight. That was when I saw the opportunity for me to step up.

James: Come, I’ll cover for you.

I took my blanket, opened it up and created a screen.

Simin: I…

Simin looked so troubled and embarrassed, but considering the situation she was in, it was hard to blame her. She was being forced to do something she didn’t want to - as were most of us on this flight. My penis throbbed excitedly when an even more sinister idea came to my mind.

James: Just change, but before you sit back down, let me put the two pillows under you… If not, your new clothes will be wet again.

Simin wanted to say no, but then she realised what I said made sense.

Simin: I… erm… okay…

The seatbelt, while it could not be unbuckled, still could be loosened. Simin loosened it to the maximum, and it allowed her enough wriggle room to put her feet down and lift her butt up. She knew what she was about to do was both necessary and scandalous, but her embarrassment and fear were eased slightly by my offer to keep her hidden. As she stood up, her legs trembled slightly, her soaked shorts and panties clinging to her skin. I could see the goosebumps on her thighs and the flush of embarrassment in her cheeks. The sight sent a jolt of electricity through my body, intensifying my arousal. Simin slipped the wet garments off, her hands shaking as she reached for the replacement clothing. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat matching the rhythm of her hands as they delicately pulled on the new panties and slid the denim shorts over her hips.

James: Okay, wait… wait…

Simin did not even dare to make eye contact with me. She remained in that awkward position, back against seat, feet on the ground, with her hips thrust up. I placed both pillows onto the soaked seat cushion, then folded my blanket and covered the pillows. During that process, I could see Simin’s body straining. If she dipped a little, her butt would touch my hand. I took my time to adjust the pillows, but not to the point that it appeared deliberate.

James: Okay… sit down…

I gestured to her original blanket which had several wet spots.

James: Give it to me. I’ll see if I can find a new one. That one is wet already, don’t use it any more.

I brought the blanket to the galley and threw it in a corner. Then I began looking around for things that could help me score points with Simin, not that I needed to, but somehow, making her feel dependent on me felt good. I liked the feeling of her looking to me as her knight in shining armour. Maybe it was also due to the fact that I knew my wife was going to be fucked and used by other men, that I found the need to find and start pleasing a fresh new woman. Simin would probably suffer the same fate, but until that happened, I would do whatever I could to make her feel special and safe with me. I found a compartment with pillows and blankets and I grabbed a blanket. Not only that, I poured a cup of coffee for Simin using the last paper cup available.

James: Here… I found coffee too…

Simin set the coffee down on the holder and she gladly accepted the new blanket. She unfolded it and covered her legs with it. I saw her feet placed at an awkward angle to avoid the soiled panties and shorts on the floor.

James: Come, let me take those.

Despite her refusal, I reached for her soiled shorts and panties. If she wasn’t embarrassed enough by then, I bet she wished for a hole to crawl into when I held onto her pee-soaked shorts and underwear.

James: I’ll be right back…

I went into the bathroom and the moment I locked the door, the mirror turned into a screen again. I found myself smiling as I looked at Simin’s clothes in my hand. What the fuck had gotten into me? The sickest things I had done in my life was to watch porn, perhaps look at some downblouse or upskirts, but this? I didn’t even realise I was smiling while I wetted Simin’s soiled clothes and put some soap on them. As I washed them in the basin, the display in the mirror indicated that my gold coins from making Simin pee herself had been credited, taking my tally up to a total of four coins. Then to my surprise, I was given an extra coin. It was indicated as a bonus, bringing my total to five coins. I began to understand how the game was being played. It was all about entertainment. I made Simin pee herself and it was entertainment for the sick men watching. Making her change out of her soiled clothes, putting pillows under her, taking her clothes and washing them, all those were extras. They had not been called for, but nevertheless, it was entertainment and I was being rewarded for it.

I washed and wrung out the clothes, then I used a few paper towels and dried them as much as I could before I wrapped them up. I returned to my seat and found Simin sipping on her coffee.

James: Here… I put them back into the luggage for you?

She asked if I wanted to share her coffee, and while I didn’t need another hit of caffeine, the idea of drinking from the same cup appealed to me. I took a sip and, since we are both awake, we started talking. Simin and Harry, like us, were in debt. However, theirs was due to Harry’s gambling habit.

Simin: It was the first time he stepped inside the casino since it opened. It was also my first. We were having a staycation in Sentosa and I thought, since it had been more than a decade since the casino opened, and we had never been inside. I thought we could just go in for a look.

They ended up winning close to 30,000 dollars from the jackpot machines.

Simin: That was when the nightmare started. Harry kept going back behind my back. He ended up emptying our savings and started borrowing from loan sharks and financial institutions. We owed almost 200,000 and someone came to us with a proposal. Or rather, he went to Harry. The debt was consolidated, the harassment stopped almost immediately, and suddenly, our debt was paid off in full to the lenders. Then the next thing we knew, the Japanese men came to our house, saying that Harry agreed to an arrangement to clear our debt and we needed to fulfil it… sobzz…

Simin had broken into tears while she related her story.

Simin: Sorry. I… I shouldn’t be pouring this out on you… What… what about Yun and you? What happened?

I gave her a rundown of what had happened - the properties, the tax evasion and the fine.

James: It was Yun who accepted the deal, but she regretted it later. It was too late by then; they were already at the door…

Simin spoke in a bitter manner. I nodded and leaned against the headrest, staring at the ceiling.

Simin: Do you hate your wife for doing this?

Simin hesitated for a second before admitting that she resented him, but she blamed herself.

James: It’s not your fault…

It was Simin’s turn to nod. She turned and looked out the window into the sky that was starting to light up.

Simin: I guess, we just have to stick to the person we chose and live with our decisions.

Chapter 11

One after another, the other passengers began to rouse. Some asked for water, some asked about the seatbelts, but all were ignored by the flight attendants. The announcement to land was made a while later, and the captain hoped that everyone had enjoyed their flight. I certainly did, but perhaps Simin did not enjoy it as much as me. The disembarking process was not as straightforward as your usual flight. Unlike the typical flight, where everyone stood up and tried to reach for their overhead luggage, the front of the aircraft was made to disembark first. It took a long time, almost an hour before it got to Simin and me at the back of the cabin.

Simin: James…

Simin did not need to elaborate and I knew the reason for that. It was obvious. The embarrassment, the shame of peeing and losing control of your bladder beside another person you barely knew. The more I thought about it, the more amazed I was with the show runners. They understood human nature, they knew how everyone ticked, they knew how we thought. All the spouses were separated, and if everything went to plan, none of them would want to reveal who they sat next to. Especially not the girls. As for the men, if they were smart enough to keep their mouths shut, they could continue having fun while earning gold coins.

We took the stairs down onto the tarmac and saw that we were being split into groups. Most of the single girls went to the buses, but couples were sorted into private cars. I saw Takuya waiting for me beside a black Toyota Sienta. I quickly went over.

James: Is my wife here?

I went into the car. The moment I entered, the first thing that hit me was the pungent smell of pee. Yun’s eyes were red. It suddenly hit me that while I was doing what I did to Simin, someone else was probably doing the same thing to my wife - buttering bread, dipping soba, forced peeing, the whole nine yards. And you know what? I didn’t know who it was that did it to her, just like Harry would not know I did it to Simin.

James: Dear… are… are you okay?

From the way my wife was sobbing, it was obvious that she was still wearing her soiled clothes.

Yun: I… I couldn’t use the bathroom… I…

I pulled her close and hugged her and she sobbed in my arms.

James: Shhhh… shhh… it’s okay… shhh… everything will be okay…

Takuya started the engine and turned on the GPS navigation. From the airport, it was about an hour’s ride into a suburb of Osaka.

James: Is there anything else we need to do today, Takuya? Can we rest? Will we be given food?

Yun leaned against my shoulder as I held onto her. I thought about the other challenge given to me in the bathroom - to initiate sex with her. My heart started beating faster. Surely that would trigger a quarrel. My wife just had a terrible evening; after coming home from work, she was forced to strip, being videoed naked and blackmailed. And before she could even digest what was happening, we were forced onto a plane. Then she woke up after soiling her pants and getting violated by her seat partner, and just when she thought she could rest upon reaching the hotel, I was going to ask her for sex. Surely that would cause her to flip. And for reasons I could not explain, I felt excited. Really excited. Like I couldn’t wait to see her reaction.

Takuya: Please, come with me…

A guard removed our baggage from the car and followed behind us while we were led into the hotel and straight towards a large hall. The space appeared almost like what you would see at the customs and immigration area of an airport. A row of walk-in metal detectors and baggage x-ray machines lined the front. We and all the ‘guests’ on our flight were made to do a clearance procedure of sorts. It was similar to that at any airport, except all communications devices and anything capable of capturing any image or recording anything, video or otherwise, even watches, were taken from us. Those items were separated from our regular baggage, clothes and essentials, then taken into a cubicle of sorts. I saw rows of such cubicles, each about the side of a handicapped toilet, at a corner of the large hall.

Yun: I don’t know what to tell my boss if I’m going to be gone for two weeks…

I turned to Takuya, about to do so, but he answered my question even before the words left my mouth.

Takuya: Don’t worry, James-san, Yun-sama, you will be given time to communicate with your family and loved ones before we proceed to the check-in.

He reassured us that all our belongings would be safely returned to us at the end of our stay. Takuya directed us to the next station, which was a genuine Japanese immigration clearance counter. Our passports were scanned into the system and stamped for entry into Japan. I had totally forgotten about that. We had been ushered into a car the moment we exited the plane. The fact that we had entered a foreign country had slipped my mind. The whole experience thus far was just so surreal.

Takuya: This way, James-san, Yun-sama.

Takuya led us into one of the cubicles. Within were two guards standing beside a table, on which were our phones and laptops. Even the spare phone I had slipped into my laptop bag was there.

Takuya: You may call your loved ones and inform them that you are well. I was also informed that both of you requested to send an email to apply for urgent leave. You may also do that now.

Yun and I stepped towards the table, but Takuya stopped us. He warned us to follow the instructions carefully and not to do anything that was not stated on that piece of paper.

Takuya: Please, do not do anything otherwise. The guards will be watching your every move. You do not want to even imagine the consequences…

James: I am done…

As the guards checked and approved what we wrote, I wondered what we had gotten ourselves into. This was something big, really big, big enough that whoever was organising this had the power to involve the Japanese government. As far as I knew, no single private organisation in the world had the clout to have their own private immigration and customs clearance area, and at a hotel no less! Who was the person or persons behind this whole operation? I shivered, both literally and figuratively, at the power this unknown group had.

Chapter 12

Takuya: It is done, James-san, Yun-sama. Please, follow me. Your baggage is already in your room.

Takuya led us into the hotel reception proper. I saw our names and pictures on an acrylic stand. In front of it were items that were prepared in advance for us. Yun and I were given wristbands similar to those you used in an onsen. Our floor and room number were marked on a metal tag embedded in the band.

Takuya then gave Yun and I a smartwatch each.

Takuya: Messages, announcements, and instructions will be sent through this watch. You need to wear it at all times, even when you sleep. Charging instructions are available in the room. Now listen very carefully. The moment the battery runs out for your watches, it is game over for us. No battery means no more. You will return with nothing. Is that clear?