Aboard the Espoir, Kaiji finds himself with hundreds of people who also have debts. "Restricted Rock Paper Scissors" is announced as the gambling event that will be played by Kaiji and the other debtors on board the ship.
After being tricked by Funai, Kaiji meets the former co-worker who got him into debt, Furuhata Takeshi. Kaiji teams up with him and finds another person to join their team, named Ando Mamoru. Kaiji comes up with another plan to win.
With only ¥14 million and no cards, Kaiji begins to think strategically. He comes up with a plan to monopolize the game by first acquiring 30 Rock cards. But another group thought of the same strategy. Kaiji then challenges their leader.
Kaiji challenges Kitami to a Rock Paper Scissors death match. Kaiji successfully guesses which card he has and beats him, winning 3 stars. He then hatches a plan of buying out all 30 Paper cards held by the Kitami group.
Kaiji buys out the Kitami group's Paper cards. Funai offers Kaiji a deal to trade his star for a few cards, but Kaiji refuses. With everyone's hand is being leaked, Funai proposes that they should reshuffle the cards, ruining Kaiji's plan.
The Rock Paper Scissors gambling event is nearing its end and Kaiji's group is forced to join Funai's idea of reshuffling. However Funai cheats to lower Kaiji's chances. Kaiji now prepares to challenge Funai, who is holding 9 stars.
Kaiji challenges Funai to a final match. Funai is reluctantly accepts the unfair wager. After winning, Kaiji gives the 5 new stars and the money to his team, trusting that they will get him out from the dark room in the buy-sell period.
Ando betrays Kaiji by selling his extra star and it doesn't take long for Furuhata to desert him as well. After Kaiji finding his way out, he confronts his former allies. With his new wealth, Kaiji buys the freedom of another man, Ishida.