投稿者: たそがれ

A Sense of Wrongness (2) — “Reality Begins to Crack”

From Discomfort to Certainty

The discomfort was no longer just a feeling.
It was becoming certainty.

Then, an email arrived.

“I have already sent the money.”

The amount was enormous—far beyond what anyone would normally transfer.
However, no matter how long I waited, nothing appeared in my bank account.

The Excuse

Then, another message came.

“The transfer failed.”

They said the reason was an issue with international remittance.

The Next Demand

And what they demanded next was—

a “fee” of several million yen, far beyond any normal sense of cost.

At that moment, I finally understood.

The Endless Cycle

Everything up to now had followed the same pattern:

Pay. It doesn’t end. Then, pay again.

The same cycle, repeating endlessly.

And I realized:

“This will never end.”

The Struggle to Stop

If I didn’t stop here, I would truly lose everything.

But even with that realization, I couldn’t move right away.

Because I desperately wanted to get back the money I had already paid.
That feeling wouldn’t disappear.

I couldn’t give up.

Not yet.

End of Episode 6 – Part 2

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A Sense of Wrongness (1) — “Something Is Off”

The Balance Kept Rising

The numbers in the account kept going up.

And yet—

I couldn’t withdraw a single yen.

At first, I thought it was just a procedural issue.
“Verification is required.” “We need to confirm your funds.”

It sounded reasonable enough. So, I accepted it without questioning.

A Growing Sense of Doubt

However, a sense of discomfort slowly began to build.

I had transferred money multiple times. Yet, not once had I been able to withdraw anything.

Each time, a new reason appeared. A new explanation. A new requirement.

The “Tax” Request

Then one day, an email arrived.

“You need to pay taxes.”

The amount was far beyond anything normal. For a moment, I couldn’t understand what I was reading.

Do you pay taxes to a securities company?
Why would taxes be a condition for withdrawal?

The First Real Suspicion

At that moment, a quiet voice inside me started to speak.

“This is strange.”

That was the moment the doubt truly began.

I had no idea how deep this situation would go.

End of Episode 6 – Part 1

← Back to Episode 5(Part 2)

→ Continue to Episode 6 (Part 2)

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The Additional Investment That Became Irreversible

The procedure for adding more funds was the same as before.

I simply followed the instructions sent via LINE and made the transfer. That was all.

But this time, the instructions came directly from someone claiming to be a “representative” of the securities company.

The bank account they sent me was a Japanese bank account— and not under a corporate name, but an individual’s name.

For a moment, something felt off.

“Why is it a personal account if it’s a securities company?”

But I didn’t think any further. The flow of events up to that point had already numbed my sense of danger.

After completing the transfer, I suddenly wondered:

“Can I really withdraw my money?”

To test it, I requested a withdrawal of several hundred thousand yen.

The reply came:

“Large withdrawals take time to process.” “Small amounts can be handled the same day.”

So I requested a small withdrawal.

And indeed— the money arrived in my bank account that same day.

In that moment, almost all of my doubts disappeared.

“I can withdraw properly.”

That single fact made everything feel legitimate.

Looking back now, I realize it was all a performance designed to gain my trust.

Once the deposit was confirmed, trading resumed immediately. I followed the uncle’s instructions, and the results were the same as before:

Profits appeared.

The numbers on the screen kept increasing. That erased any remaining suspicion.

Around that time, she also sent messages:

“I made a profit of 20,000 dollars today.”

I was shocked—and impressed.

Then she asked:

“How was your result today?”

I told her mine, and she replied:

“That’s good.” “It’s going smoothly.”

Before I knew it, this exchange had become part of my daily routine.

Looking back now, I realize:

I was being manipulated—subtly, skillfully.

By comparing my results with hers, I wanted to earn more. I didn’t want to fall behind.

Without noticing, I had been drawn into a competition.

At that point, I was no longer “investing.” I was competing.

“I knew it was safe.” Or maybe I just wanted to believe that.

She also sent reassuring messages:

“That’s great.” “Now you can feel at ease.”

I trusted her completely.

But in reality, I had already stepped into the next stage— a flow I could no longer reverse.

Once I increased my funds, the hurdle for the next step became lower.

“Maybe just one more time…”

That feeling arose naturally.

Once people experience success, they try to repeat it. That dulls their judgment.

And right at that timing, another suggestion arrived:

“Next, we can aim even higher.”

Those words became the decisive push.

At that time, I had no idea where I was heading.

But one thing was certain:

I had already entered a flow I could no longer escape.

End of Episode 5 – Part 2

→ Continues to Episode 6

If You Increase Your Funds a Little More, You Can Earn Even More

When my “uncle” said those words, they sounded like a completely natural suggestion.

Up to that point, every trade had gone smoothly. If I followed their instructions, profits appeared. That track record had already reshaped my judgment.

“Now is the chance.” “The more capital you have, the more advantageous it becomes.”

Hearing that, I felt it made sense.

To be honest, I did feel uneasy. Increasing the investment amount made me nervous. Was it really safe?

But at the same time, another feeling grew stronger:

“It would be a waste to stop now.”

I had already accumulated profits. Maybe I could grow them even further. And above all, I trusted her and the “uncle” who had guided me this far.

She also sent messages:

“Please don’t push yourself.” “But I think this opportunity is a good one.”

Her words didn’t feel forceful. If anything, they felt considerate. That made me feel safe.

So I decided:

“I’ll increase it just a little.”

At the time, I believed I was still making rational decisions. But looking back now, my judgment had already been distorted.

There was a sense of discomfort. But instead of facing it, I chose to follow my expectations.

End of Episode 5 – Part 1

→ Continues to Part 2

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