Rain walked down the stairs leading to a balcony that oversaw the atrium. The open space grand hall was filled with tables playing all sorts of games, with sunlight shining directly through the ceiling. Arthur could feel some energy restraining his mana as soon as he sat foot in this casino, and he realized it was to ensure safety and no cheating.
“If there is anyone who knows where Gray is, they will be here,” said Rain as she walked down the stairs, and Arthur followed after her. “Most of those here are the underworld’s gang leaders, who visit this place regularly to conduct business. It can be drugs, weapons, or humans. As long as it brings them profits, then it will be exploited.”
“And why do you think these mobs know where Gray is?”
“There is not a single criminal in this city that these gangs don’t know about. However, be careful; criminal organizations back most gangs.”
Arthur couldn’t say he had a lot of interactions with those organizations since they were the source of all evil in this world. These were awakeners who escaped the clutches of the law and sought wealth through unethical means.
“The best method to get close without raising suspicions is acting like a passing gambler who wants to make quick money in town. These gangs always have a job or two for unknown faces.”
“How about we kidnap one of them instead?” asked Arthur with bewilderment. Rain turned toward him with a smile that said he was being silly.
“First of all, we can’t use any mana here. Second of all, these gangs aren’t just for show. Each gang leader is no weaker than a peak-deme ranker.”
“Fair enough. We will use the roundabout method to find the medal maker. However, is this necessary? I can walk around without a medal, and no one will see me.”
“Lyle wants you to join the Holy Knights so that you can get access into the palace. For that, we need Gray to create an authentic medal for you that proves you are a real citizen of the empire.”
“How am I going to find him without any mana?” asked Arthur as he raised his hand to use a rune, but no mana can fuel its activation. His frown deepened. “This is more than just an array.”
“This place is made from a mana-less material that has been stolen from the Origin Pillars. So don’t waste your energy trying anything against the rules since it will only cost us time. Instead, do as I said, and try your luck with one of the tables.”
Rain threw a pouch filled with coins at him, and Arthur realized it had twenty Sun Golds. These were the currency Ilios, and each gold was worth a thousand Yalveran Dollars, give or take.
Rain made her way down the stairs and entered the casino, throwing her cloak away and letting her figure dance as she slithered between the tables.
Arthur watched her flirt with the gangs, each clapping as they saw her, and even the leaders acknowledged her. He had to imagine what things she did to be so popular with this underworld.
Customers passed him and went down the stairs, each holding a woman. Thankfully, the illusion he cast on himself had already been set, and his face was still disguised. Arthur pocketed the
The atrium was filled with music, laughs, and the sounds of machines and dealers announcing wins or losses. However, Arthur could tell the gambling was secondary even at a glance.
“One, two, three,” Arthur counted the leaders he could spot. All of them had an aura that commanded respect: a handsome man wearing a suit with a large scar on his nose, a middle-aged man wearing robes and smoking a cigar, and a beautiful woman holding a fan that covered her face.
Arthur walked down the stairs and made his way through the tables. His pouch jiggled on his belt, making a clinking sound that drew attention to him. His cloak did not make him any less eye-catching and served his purpose well.
All three leaders glanced at him before resuming their chats with their companions. Arthur then stood in the middle of the casino and turned toward one of the tables.
It was a poker table where the fanning woman sat. However, she did not play and chose to sit on the side instead beside a younger-looking woman who had a childish face.
“May I join?” asked Arthur while placing his hand on the empty chair, and everyone at the table turned toward the fanning woman. She looked at Arthur for a moment before nodding slightly.
Arthur sat in the empty chair, one out of eight. The rest of the table resumed their chatter, and Arthur felt as if everyone was examining him. He examined back.
The group had all sorts of people: a merchant, a scholar, a noblewoman, an older man, a knight, and even a masked person. It seems all of them were well-acquainted with one another, and they all tried to humor the fanning woman who remained silent.
“The other day, I had quite the unfortunate tragedy,” said the merchant as if he was weeping. “A group of monsters attacked us, and my brave men tried to defend the goods. Unfortunately, however, we were unlucky and suffered a great loss.”
“That is unfortunate,” said a shrewd man sitting beside the childish woman. “Next time, give us a word of your dealings, and we will take care of you so that something like that doesn’t happen.”
“I wouldn’t want to burden you!” said the merchant with surprise, but the shrewd man waved his hand as if he wouldn’t have it.
“You are our guest from afar, and I’m sure we will have many dealings from now on. So let us drink for this occasion!” said the man before he raised a glass, which the merchant answered with one of his own.
“Next hand,” said the fanning woman, and the dealer nodded and started dealing cards to the crowd. Arthur ended up with a terrible hand, 7 of Swords and 2 of Shields. The rest either started answering the starting bid or folding on the spot with regret.
In the end, six of them entered, and the merchant was out. Arthur’s turn was to either meet the bid or leave, one Sun Gold. He took one out of his pouch and threw it to the dealer, who placed it in the central pile.
“New in town?” asked the fanning woman, and Arthur realized that she was talking to him, even though they stood opposite each other. Arthur nodded. “Not a fan of talking, huh?”
“My sister asked you a question!” said the teenage girl beside her, barring her teeth at Arthur. Then, however, her older sister raised her hand, and she quietened like a mute. In the meanwhile, the dealer revealed three cards on the table.
“I don’t dislike men with tight lips. The less they speak, the less they lie,” said the gang leader before placing her fan down. “Are you confident?”
“I never lose,” answered Arthur, and the rest of them raised their brows at him. Then, after another round of betting, none of them raised the bet, but Arthur pushed two more Sun Golds from his pouch. “I raise.”
“A bold and confident man is such a rare sight in these times,” said the gang leader with a smile. “What are you going to do, Little Yin?” she addressed her younger sister, who glared at Arthur and met his bid.
The rest followed suit, and the central pile suddenly tripped in value. Arthur watched the dealer burn a card before revealing the one after, and none of the players had any change in expression.
“Are you confident again?” asked the woman with gray eyeshadow, which made them look bigger. Arthur watched them pass the turn without raising or folding.
“I advise all of you to fold,” said Arthur as he threw three more Sun Golds into the pile, and the rest were confused. None of them could tell whether Arthur was bluffing or not.
The first person to fold was the merchant, who seemed flustered. The second was the noblewoman, followed by the rest of them. The last one to fold was Little Yin, whose hand was slightly shaking.
As for the leader, she stared with interest as everyone folded, even the shrewd man. Then, finally, the gold was given to Arthur, who didn’t attempt to take it and leave and remained seated.
“Your confidence is admirable, young man,” the gang leader smiled as she eyed his card. “I wonder what you have that makes you so bold.”
It was usually unnecessary for someone to reveal their cards after everyone else folded, but Arthur threw the two cards face up toward the dealer. As everyone saw how terrible they were, they groaned and cursed Arthur under their breath.
“I never lose, even with a losing hand.”
