Chapter 206

“Hmm…! It seems I’ve taken quite a hit this time. Well, since I’ve won this much, it’s hard to play again, isn’t it…?”

“…Thanks to a stroke of luck and the generous introduction from Alfred, I’ve had a rather fortunate opportunity. I should probably get up before my bad luck comes crashing down.”

The atmosphere at the table was already deflated.

There was no reason to sit back down for someone who had just won nearly 400 million chips playing a game; both Alfred and Sasha surprisingly agreed and sent me off, which left me even more flustered.

“……”

I narrowed my eyes and scanned various aspects of this John fellow.

Has everyone really completely ruled out the possibility of cheating? I didn’t think such a naïve individual could exist… Perhaps it’s more accurate to say they trust the casino security. If it’s not that, then it may even be a lenient view that considers failed catches as part of the skill when it comes to deception.

As I gazed down at my chips, which had dwindled to nearly nothing compared to earlier, I remembered Sasha’s actions and asked a staff member for additional currency exchange.

Of course, I didn’t use my own account… No! I promptly handed over the debit card I had brought.

“…Could you please exchange all the credits I have here into chips?”

“Are you saying all of them…? The house generally recommends setting an exact amount to play with, but…”

Since I didn’t know the exact amount because it was given to me by a friend, I added the remaining chips as a sign of urgency and only then did the staff member understand and quickly leave.

Now, all I had to do was expose that scoundrel’s tricks before he finished organizing his chips and got up.

Hmm? Didn’t I think his first impression was decent? …I could understand desperate gamblers or cornered liars, but should I really be expected to tolerate this arrogant attempt to cheat me? If nothing else, I should break at least one of his arms to ensure he never does this again.

“Ugh, what a headache…”

Let’s try to sort my thoughts.

What kind of deceptions can one employ in a situation like this with a good eye—although it hasn’t been confirmed to be a prosthetic yet? What means could I use to ensure victory?

Card peeking…? Not quite. The technique of peeping could hardly be an omnipotent skill that allows one to rifle through someone else’s underwear or jacket pockets without any warning. If he’d shot out radiation or ultrasound for visualization, Zero would have surely grabbed him by the collar and slammed him to the ground.

For signal confirmation? It’s possible that someone nearby is stealing glances at our hand and somehow informing him.

However, that would be far too blatant, and due to the low partition walls set up around the table, it seemed difficult. Especially since I have a hunk of metal slightly taller than most men attached to my back—how could I secretly observe any subtle movements?

Ugh… Wasn’t it possible to cheat through something that couldn’t be seen by the naked eye?

I didn’t want to shout accusations without evidence as it would seem too pathetic, but rather than meticulously piecing together other possibilities, maybe it’s better to just grab him and watch.

No, it’s clear that something like a sudden surge of strength during the battle indicates he’s based his bold move on information that could not be acquired through normal play—what, then, could the secret be?

…If it’s a hint regarding the gambling scam, it would naturally have to be held by the scammer himself.

“Hey, was there any specific area where John’s gaze moved erratically or where he was observing the faces of others during the game?”

– Alfred noted that he scanned the mask as a whole, and when observing the other three, followed their eye movements obsessively. –

“Hmmm….”

I felt as if I’d glanced at John often, yet I didn’t recall any direct eye contact. That likely means he only glanced over when I wasn’t watching him.

If he was merely watching the pupils and not confirming the muscles around the eyes… it would certainly reek of deception.

A lifeless man’s eyes, suspicious glances, obsession, relief, cold sweat—a gambler strangely adept at psychological warfare.

Separated, these arbitrary terms cluttered my mind only to dissolve and reform into a single logical assumption. It felt a little like solving a puzzle… Honestly, though I’m no detective, with this many clues…

“……Ah.”

Someone once said that ‘the eyes are the window to the soul.’

Was I too immersed in the old board games? I nearly forgot that such manipulations were even possible in reality.

Even I, back at the previous social gathering, had been able to deduce the situation from the faint reflections in Kasane’s pupils or on the cyberware screens from a distance.

So if someone had extraordinarily good vision, couldn’t they ensure victory just by checking the eyes of a poker player habitual in confirming their hand?

The players at the table, more than anyone, are undoubtedly the ones who provide the clearest hints towards victory.

If the most dangerous opponent is oneself, it makes sense that strategies would be exposed the instant the hand is seen. Alfred, with his smooth mask, was likely a more tempting target due to the reflected glare.

It’s also understandable why John was hit particularly hard or stepped in so quickly to join such a big table.

He must have had some trust in his own abilities, hence stepping into this fight.

“Zero? Can you perhaps identify the image reflected in the eyes of someone seated at another place?”

– …I’m sorry. The resolution of the universal scanner embedded in the Carebot cannot analyze anything without approaching it closer than this. –

Ugh. If it’s going to be a matter of distance or the use of expensive components, then that means cheating could very well be possible?

Even with the most lenient perspective, that isn’t an acceptable universal feature. Even today, capturing someone else’s hand using a phone or compact mirror would not be tolerated.

Alright. Good. Then what I need to do is simple.

First, I should test whether that transparent eye is indeed a prosthetic. Just try to get caught once, and I’ll inquire in detail how on earth it passed the security check.

Zap!

Feigning discomfort, I shifted my position, crossed my legs, and sent a pulse of current flickering across the table surface.

But specific commands were necessary, so I maintained skin contact while attempting to confirm which mechanical components were adjacent…

“!!”

“Ow… that stings!! What was that just now?”

“Ah!? I’m so sorry, sir! It seems the panel has been around for a while and the voltage is spiking. I sincerely apologize…!”

“……What the hell.”

Only those irrelevant bystanders who were leaning on the table or resting their hands recoiled in shock from the static. John, on the other hand, seemed entirely unaffected, pulling back his arm just a moment too late.

No, he had his arm leaned on the edge, right?! Is he wearing a prosthetic arm made of insulating material on top of it?

While wearing a mechanical arm isn’t a reason for scorn, could it be he was also messing around? If mere map hacks are a serious crime, doing even that on top of would really have him turned inside out.

In any case, I managed to gather information about the implant equipment present among Sasha, the dealer, and the others, among which Sugar’s was quite impressive.

The first detection was some kind of satellite serial communication transmitter. Along with that, unlike me, he had a real electric shocker at his fingertips.

It wasn’t just that; he had a drug analyzer and detoxifier in his internal organs, a metabolic activator, and even an implantable defibrillator—wait, while I could let slide the air filter near his neck, what on earth is a voice modulator and an artificial skin regenerator?

“Damn…?”

Just glancing at the sum, it’s expected to amount to hundreds of millions. At this rate, he wouldn’t just be an individual; he’d be treated as a walking piece of real estate.

Knowing I was hanging out next to a real millionaire sent shivers down my spine.

“Just to confirm, you’re not affiliated with a petty thief, are you? I mean, even if I remain silent, it seems just a few words of protest from this quiet monster could end the situation quickly…”

Clank, clank.

“Um… sir…?? Anastasia?? I’ve brought the chips you requested for exchange, and I’m genuinely sorry, but…”

“……Oh, perfect timing.”

Ugh… I don’t care anymore.

While I was lost in thought, it appeared the staff member had completed the exchange procedure I requested and returned, so I’d urgently need to execute my planned move—expose that scoundrel John’s mask in front of everyone and reclaim the stolen chips.

How would such a convenient solution come to be? The principle is simpler than you’d think.

If it’s my hand being discovered that’s the issue, then if I place my chips without looking (Blind Bet), the odds would still be at least fifty-fifty. Moreover, this time I’d gain a chance to catch cheating as well—it’s a two-for-one deal, isn’t it?

The only issue remains whether I can mobilize enough capital to tempt that human who’s become a sudden millionaire. At this point, I can only hope the card holds ample credits.

“Hey there, Mr. John? If you’re alright with it, how about staying a bit longer for a few more rounds? I had initially planned to use up all my chips today, but I’ve got a bit left over that’s a little tricky.”

“……Gulp. You say you have some left?”

“……”

With a particularly awkward tone, John repeated my proposal while the others suddenly fell silent.

What’s going on? Why does it feel like eyes are oddly focused on me from various directions even before I’ve fully explained my intentions? Especially from behind me.

Did Zero cause some incident? No way, that’s impossible. The kid who was just deeply analyzing the deception wouldn’t have the time for that. If a mistake was made, the chief culprit would likely be…

– …Ahsa, have you perhaps checked the balance on the card received from Mr. Drayfuscus? –

What could be the intention behind that question? I hadn’t ordered food, so why did I hear the sound of a hand cart? Turning my head would let me look directly at the answer, yet everyone’s monster-like stares froze my muscle movement.

“I beg your pardon, sir. Unfortunately, the daily withdrawal limit for devices at our Rendezvous Casino is capped at 5 billion credits, so I couldn’t clear the balance! The manager said that if the VIP desired, we could hand over the chips first and settle up later…”

“Uh… no. Let’s just use this up first… yes. Thank you.”

Seeing the staff bow profusely in apology, and the guards who weren’t even called bowing their heads as well, I was left feeling incredibly awkward. I barely managed to decline their offer.

I was wondering why they didn’t place the exchanged chip case neatly on the table, and surprisingly, the answer was simple.

Damn, if I were to convert just the most expensive black chips, a cart would fill completely, and it would be piled so precariously that I would worry about it toppling over.

I’d have to reach out and grab it in handfuls.

Ha… Aaron, you crazy bastard…!! Who in the world charges up a debit card with enough credits to be worth several houses and just hands it over without a care!?

Was this what it meant to have enough to enjoy for an entire night?