Marriage Toxin (マリッジトキシン)

Those who ceaselessly hone their killing arts are known as "Masters."

After many generations, they have gained lethal abilities

called "Modified Bloodlines."

This is the story of one such Master, the Poison Master, Hikaru Gero,

and his attempts to get married.

The Bug Master, Toshiki Hanamaki.

He's a longtime colleague, as well as my friend.

W-Wow. So it's this guy's wedding, huh?

He's just what I picture when I hear "Master."

W-Well, have fun.

Hey, Kinosaki.

There's a butterfly for you, too.

"Dear Mei Kinosaki,"

"How do you do? I hope you aren't sweltering in this early summer heat."

"Mr. Gero has informed me of your arrangement."

"I cannot thank you enough for taking the time to help him find a partner."

"Nothing would please me more than you accompanying him to my humble wedding."

"Please allow me to express my gratitude in person."

"Yours truly, Toshiki Hanamaki, Bug Master."

How's he such a great guy?

This is a first for me, so I don't have the right clothes.

Still, I want to get things right for his wedding, you know?

That's the spirit.

And there's always a chance you'll meet someone new at a wedding.

I think I'll pick up a new outfit, too.

Your treat, okay?

And here we are at the Bug Master's wedding.

It's ten times more "fairy tale" than I was expecting.

Gero!

Gero, you—

You came back to life?!

You're wicked worn out, boss man.

Been leanin' too hard on your Modified Bloodline.

That was a pick-me-up, but it's only so effective.

Uh...

Kinosaki, let me introduce you. This guy...

is Tsunagi, the Needle Master. Like the Bug Master, he's a friend of mine.

Always happy to help.

Hey, boys. We've got money to burn.

Who's up for Undeadsney Land this weekend?

Will we get to meet Undeadsney, Pa?

You bet.

And the optimal route for the attractions?

You can plan it.

He's a good dad.

He has three boys.

Oh, so you're the boss man's marriage advisor, huh?

Must be rough. I feel for you.

You can tell?

Honored guests,

we cannot thank you enough for taking the time to join us today.

We will now celebrate the union between Toshiki Hanamaki and Anna Kawakita.

If the sun... is ever going to rise on the criminal underworld,

the organ trafficking networks... and the drug cartels...

must link hands in unity.

I aspire to end... the criminal underworld's long period of forced isolation...

I'm glad to see you.

I only came to warn you in person.

Listen up. You can try to curry favor with me all you like,

but it won't get Grandma to treat your clan any better than—

Oh, sorry if I gave you the wrong impression.

I just wanted to have a drink together.

With you, Hikaru Gero.

Won't you join me?

You're underage, so it's not alcoholic.

Gero, did you hear that?

Huh? What?

How they met.

The bride, Anna, got into trouble while mountain-climbing, and...

That's so like him.

Kinosaki.

Do you think I can pull off a marriage this perfect?

Of course. You've got me in your corner.

Congratulations, Toshiki.

You've got plenty of happiness and plenty of love. Don't you, Bug Master?

How is that fair?

They met in the mountains and now spend their days camping.

They hike, of course, but they also enjoy chatting around a campfire.

I'll take another chateaubriand!

And at night, beneath a starry sky, they make their own secret constellations.

Wait, Gero!

You're supposed to give a speech after this!

Kinosaki, take over for me.

Huh? What's with the spider?

They say they'd like to leave Japan and try camping abroad, too.

You said it, Julia Jr.

You're his partners. You want to keep his wedding unmarred even more than I do.

I mean, this is the best day of Toshiki's life. Right?

In exactly five minutes, all of you rush your assigned entrances,

and kill whoever you want. The more corpses, the bigger your bonus.

You can leave when the Bug Master and his Master friends start fighting back.

While they're distracted, I'll stick a "firework" on the bride.

I bet she'll make a real pretty color when she goes off.

One he'll never be able to forget, even if he wants to.

Guess that's what I get for hiring mercs on the Dark Nav.

Well, in that case...

Change of plans.

Firestorm Labyrinth!

Firestorm Labyrinth

Aw, what a waste.

I set those to give the fleeing guests a real-life escape game.

Aw, man. Well, it's his own fault for getting in my way.

All that matters right now is paying back the Bug Master,

the man who stole the only spark of passion in my life.

Yeah. Back then, nothing mattered to me.

School, jobs, marriage. It all made me go, "So what?"

Amount: 50,000,000

Borrower

Name:

Hiroshi Takanashi

Masahide Yamada

Name:

Joint Surety

Even when I ended up buried in debt,

I just went, "Yeah, so?"

And when my "payment" meant someone calling himself the Puppet Master

"customizing" me into a hitman for some gang,

I just went, "Oh, yeah?"

Yamada.

I've planted miniature bombs in your wrists, ankles, and head.

Press the switch in your back tooth at the moment of impact,

and your enemy will explode along with your own flesh and bone.

An Explosion Roulette.

Explosion Roulette

Trash exists only to die with grace.

If worse came to worst, I could just take my opponent down with me.

The Explosion Roulette sparked my passion for the first time ever.

Until I met him.

I've got him!

If I set off my ace in the hole, the bomb in my head,

I can trade my life for...

I disarmed it.

You don't need to live in fear of death anymore.

And that's how he took my passion from me, just so he could feel good about himself!

So don't I have the right to break something that means a lot to him?

I got new limbs as an advance from the Puppet Master,

made out like a bandit doing dirty jobs, and waited for this day to come.

Anyone who gets in my way is—

Oh, hey. He's already dead.

Yeah, go with that, Kinosaki.

I need you to fill in for me.

Sushi? Sure thing.

Did you say something?

Oh well. I don't know what your deal is,

but nobody nice holds a grudge against the Bug Master.