The Underground Labor Camp (地下王国) is a mine owned by the Teiai Corporation. They send debtors who can't afford their loan here and pay them in perica for their hard work. In turn, debtors who seek freedom must earn enough perica to pay their debt back. Given the low conversion rate, this often takes years and many of the debtors develop Silicosis or are severely injured before they can pay it back in full.
It is alluded that the labor camp is under Yoshihiro Kurosaki's management as he is depicted watching the events via camera feed during Tobaku Hakairoku Kaiji.
It is explained by Kazutaka Hyōdō to Seiya Ichijō during his dinner that it is actually a bunker to be used in case a war breaks out in the future. He would prefer to be the master of his own fate instead of letting the government decide his fate should a war break out.
Kazutaka describes it more akin to a massive vault, or an underground empire which would have stores, hospitals, golf courses, and casinos available only to those who are wealthy and loyal to the Teiai Corporation when it is completed.
Gallery
Live Action
Trivia
- In the live action film adaptation, the underground labor camp is located directly beneath the city.
- The meals provided to the workers are intentionally to be made scarce so the workers would spend most of their earnings to buy foods and drinks, effectively making them unable to pay off their debts.