Chapter 197

“Hmm…♪”

The small-sized finger foods piled high on the table filled my mouth with delightful textures and flavors. I savored every bite before swallowing. The creamy texture of the caramel flowed down my throat, accompanied by the rich aroma of butterscotch.

In this moment, I could set aside all my worries and feel momentarily liberated from the stresses of life, allowing myself to enjoy the chaotic atmosphere of this gambling den.

Why? Because the legal establishment’s credit copying was divine… and I was invincible…!

Well, claiming invincibility with a mere 20 million in earnings might be an exaggeration. Nevertheless, I wanted to express how much exhilaration I felt.

Moreover, this was only the first step; if I didn’t take it lightly… I could remind them that their wallets might pay the price.

– Certainly… my previous small wins now felt underwhelming. Receiving the full jackpot reward without those wins would have likely yielded better profits. –

“Well, if those had really hit back-to-back, wouldn’t that have eliminated this as well?”

While there were indeed points of disappointment, I thought the output from this trial run of the slot machine was respectable for what it was.

And any lingering thirst or regret could be gradually resolved by finding a suitable gaming venue from now on. I decided to take my time, considering various conditions.

Firstly, I buried my entire body in the soft cushion before slowly scanning the solo gambling arenas filled with wild gamblers intent on sweeping up not just their own bets but also others’ at the community game stage.

The attention that had momentarily drifted my way earlier had vanished. Everyone was busy focusing on the outcome of the games that would determine their own fates, clutching their respective chips.

Huh? Did I catch the casino eyeing me suspiciously?

Initially, I thought it might be wise to be a bit cautious, but little did I know that it would serve as a chance to scrutinize the deep-rooted biases I carried as a cyber engineer and hacker from the moment I opened my eyes.

“…Could you stop staring at me?”

“!! Damn it.”

I smirked at one of the guests on the lower floor who was glancing this way with intentions that seemed anything but pure, causing their gaze to dart away.

Alright, let’s clarify something here.

What would someone who doesn’t know me, Anastasia Valentine, think of me at first glance?

It’s not like they’d heard the swirling rumors about unpleasant colleagues in the same industry or had the insight to piece together scattered clues like an elite working for a corporation.

In a place where citizenship checks were nonexistent, what could they possibly base their judgments on other than appearances? “Ah, that girl is a mercenary skilled in hacking and cyber engineering. I better be careful she doesn’t pull anything,” or “She might be connected to MegaCorp, so I should tread carefully.”

After all, not every group has access to the city DB or other vast databases of personal information.

Likewise, they also don’t always assume that everyone they meet possesses specialized skills.

Given the setting, they probably viewed each other as individuals of some standing or those with unique backgrounds, treating one another with at least the minimum amount of respect.

Ultimately, despite the background noise, that was my point. If I merely acted suitably for the venue, even with my unusual and uniquely complex background, I’d just be another innocent civilian A, an ordinary guest A, nothing more, nothing less.

In a similar vein, it wasn’t problematic to engage in natural joining games that were formed through this understanding.

Perhaps I should be thankful for Neo Haven, where individual ability gaps are so pronounced and the population disproportionately high?

…Ahem! Of course, I couldn’t just randomly pick any table and dive right in.

“…Hey, how about that one? Is the pot a bit bigger?”

– The total number of chips observable from this angle amounts to 657,000 credits. Judging by the indifferent reactions of the surrounding spectators, the probability of high-value chips being hidden in obscured spots is only about 0.02%. –

“C’mon…! This is ridiculous. Why is everyone playing so modestly…?”

Even though I confirmed that every poker table below was operating beneath my threshold, for some reason, I couldn’t help but let out a disappointed sigh.

After all, it doesn’t require vast stakes and a wealthy clientele to conduct a lucky experiment. True. However, it seems reasonable to start from a tipped scale if I wanted to enjoy a game or something with a similar balance…

“Tsk.”

I quietly returned my head to its original position after peeking over the railing.

One might label my thought as harsh, possibly even a judgment steeped in a sense of superiority. But please don’t misunderstand; I simply didn’t have high expectations since most of the guests on the lower floor looked incredibly relaxed from the get-go.

I wasn’t belittling them, but when you see everyone pouring their heart and soul into each round, whether it’s for tonight’s dinner or this month’s rent, it’s hard not to feel a certain way.

And if the variable controls aren’t reliable, how would I know whether I won out of pure luck or sheer skill? If we’re going to test, let’s do it right!

– You seem unusually confident. –

“Of course! They say money in gambling translates to actual firepower. If I’ve got 20 million, I should be able to take down at least one or two, right?”

…The story of how many thousands were spent shooting down a plane during World War I or II briefly flickered in my mind, but nevertheless.

The reason I chose to look back at the low floor again was that keeping pace with the rowdy high floor customers felt overwhelming.

Plus, it was challenging to figure out how to strike up a conversation with the busy players engrossed in their own brilliance.

“Ahaha! Alfred is truly ruthless, isn’t he? It’s blatantly obvious he’s bluffing, yet he insists on pressing with his chips??”

“If he had put something like the deed to a house on the line, I would’ve thought about conceding… However, why all of a sudden are you acting friendly?”

“Who cares! The newcomer hardly speaks, so the regulars might as well chat.”

“…”

I set my sights on the only active community poker table on the high floor.

Aside from distant spectators stealing glances, the dealer, and a few unrelated onlookers, there were a quirkily balanced quartet of players: a loud-mouthed woman with heavy makeup, a cheerful old man in a mask, and an expressionless, quiet man.

It seemed a round had just ended, as snippets of chatter and applause echoed, and I could hear the sound of chips being organized before their new owner. This might just be the perfect time for a newcomer like me to slip in.

Well, if only there hadn’t been a crying young lady leaving in tears.

“Damn it… Ugh, damn!!”

“Hmm…”

The reason I only outlined three of the quartet when referring to them as a team is that the girl, who was kicking up dust with her filthy shoes, had already been escorted out after being caught by staff.

No matter how much gambling is a personal choice with inevitable consequences, watching someone get dragged away like that under such humiliation made even millions worth of chips at the table feel trivial when it came to signaling my intention to participate.

Did I really have to squeeze every last cent out of someone like her?

I pictured wealthy folks spending money on leisure activities more generously, but maybe that’s just how hard they fought to become rich.

However, whether by chance or misfortune, my internal conflict and hesitation were settled quickly.

“…Ack! Of all the times for our eyes to meet.”

As I looked up while sending the unfortunate woman out, I inadvertently locked eyes with the expressionless man.

Naturally, the other person sitting next to him, who was gazing off in some direction, and even the attention of the makeup lady and mask-wearing old man were bound to shift this way soon.

However, although it was sudden, their interest didn’t exude the tense atmosphere of hunter and hunted at all.

Even though they were examining chips on my table and Zero, I felt a warmer reception as if they were welcoming a pleasant intruder. The subsequent invitation was lighthearted, and to my surprise, it made it easier for me to respond.

“Hey there, miss, want to join a few games of poker? The main guest just got eliminated, so there’s an open seat.”

“Of course! I’d love to try!”