Chapter 92

Yesterday, after visiting the gambling den, I had one question lingering in my mind.

“The atmosphere of the gambling den was different from what I had imagined.”

As someone who has met the lowest of the low, I know this: real bottom-feeders don’t act like that.

There’s a common misconception people have from watching movies or media.

They think everyone who comes to a gambling den is there simply because they want to gamble, but that’s not the real reason.

The first thing the operators of the gambling den do to new guests isn’t to squeeze money out of them—it’s to figure out what they truly desire deep down.

You might ask, “What kind of nonsense is this?” But think about it: what kind of people actually go to gambling dens?

“People who have nothing left to lose… those who turn away from their true selves, desperate for recognition, wanting to escape.”

The operators of gambling dens are really good at figuring out what these people want.

Whether it’s recognition, validation, accommodation, women, or alcohol—they pinpoint exactly what these people can’t get in real life but desperately crave.

“And then they give them a taste of it.”

Usually, the suckers who come to gambling dens are called “checks.” And the people who bring them in are referred to as “swallows” (Jeobi).

Once a swallow brings in a check, the routine is set in motion.

They give them a taste of what they desire. They hand out dream-like sweetness to those who are neglected in reality.

When I tell this to others, nine out of ten people say the same thing:

“How can those guests not realize that the gambling den is deliberately doing this?”

“They don’t notice, or even if they do, what can they do? People who have nowhere to go and no recognition outside will cling to the gambling den where they’re treated like kings for a year. Can they easily deny that?”

No, even if they know it’s a lie, they won’t deny it.

Because they have nowhere else to go.

Even if they did have a place to return to, no one would welcome them there.

If reality were sweet, they wouldn’t have come to such a bottom-feeder gambling den in the first place.

Think about it: the gambling den pretends to listen to whatever they say, even if it’s delusional nonsense, and keeps up the act of believing them.

Wouldn’t it be strange if they didn’t fall for it?

Even if the sweetness is fake, when reality is miserable, people will escape to that false place.

Anyway, that’s how they make people dependent on the gambling den, and usually, they get the guests to buy chips.

Chips that hold monetary value within the gambling den.

Of course, the guests aren’t complete idiots, so they don’t immediately buy chips when first asked.

That’s why they’re usually lured into buying chips.

“They force the value of the chips onto them. For example, they let them exchange chips for cash, or buy alcohol or women.”

Of course, the women available for purchase are also thoroughly prepared. They’re called “servers.” Literally, it means “providers.”

These women are often called “leeches.” Anyway, they usually have husbands elsewhere and scam the guests.

They’re prepared for exactly that purpose.

They exchange chips, buy alcohol and women, and before they know it, they’re regulars who have no choice but to keep buying chips.

…After that, it’s a straight path to ruin.

The gambling den shuts down the chip exchange. Then the value of the chips plummets, and the existing chip holders are forced to buy chips at a fraction of their original value from another gambling den that’s essentially the same place.

“And most importantly… those bottom-feeder gambling dens usually don’t have mirrors. But the one I went to yesterday had a mirror.”

The reason gambling dens don’t have mirrors is to prevent the people inside from realizing their miserable reality.

To keep them from recognizing their pitiful state and to keep them intoxicated by the gambling den.

Also, the chairs are really comfortable but have no backrest.

Or if they do, it only goes up to the waist. There’s no reclining function.

“The reason is that if they could recline, they’d get sleepy.”

The gambling den makes sure the guests stay focused on the game.

The reason casinos on Earth are so flashy is to keep guests from getting sleepy. Even if they do, the dazzling interior quickly wakes them up.

A gambling den is an ant hell meticulously crafted by experts to suck people’s money dry.

“Since this isn’t Earth, it might be different… but places where people live are all pretty much the same.”

Nothing in a gambling den is there by accident. They have to squeeze every last penny out of the guests.

Everything is calculated, and whether it’s the exterior or the functionality, the entire design is aimed at making customers spend their money recklessly.

That’s why building or designing a casino on Earth is extremely difficult and demanding, and not just anyone can take on the task of constructing one.

Anyway, knowing all this, it’s only natural that I’d have questions about the gambling den I visited yesterday.

“The gambling den didn’t feel like a gambling den at all. It was more like a teaser.”

It might just be my imagination, but I started to think there might be a real gambling den somewhere else.

“Mr. Lee Yun-seong. What are you planning to do today…?”

“Hmm… Ms. Wi Ho-yeon, how was your experience yesterday?”

“My experience…?”

“At the gambling den. What kind of impression did you get?”

Wi Ho-yeon looked completely clueless about why I was asking this.

Truthfully, there was no particular intention behind the question.

“Well… it just felt like a regular gambling den. Did you notice something strange, Mr. Lee?”

“I’m not entirely sure, but there was something slightly off. Maybe… just a guess, but I feel like there might be a real gambling den somewhere else.”

“…Huh? A real gambling den?”

“You can just take it as a passing thought. It’s just… the atmosphere was very different from what I expected.”

“Then how should we…?”

“Let’s go back to the gambling den like we did yesterday. Just play the same role as before.”

This is just a guess. If there really is another gambling den, the swallow will bring in the check…



That Jeobi guy must have been at the gambling den he went to yesterday. And I think I know who Jeobi is. ‘The guy who made eye contact with me while leaving the gambling den.’ That guy is Jeobi.

“Master, this time…”

“Don’t worry, don’t worry. I won’t lose money, okay?”

Acting like a young, reckless rich guy just like yesterday, the people I played games with came to greet me.

“Hmm, hmm… Thanks for yesterday. Are you here to play games again today?”

“Well, yeah.”

While giving them a formal response, I glanced at the guy I thought was Jeobi. ‘…Is he still here?’

Yesterday, that guy must have roughly glanced at the gold coins I had. If there’s a real gambling den, he might be considering whether to take me there.

‘If he’s considering it… I should solve that consideration for him.’

Well, the way to solve his consideration is simple. Just stay faithful to the act. Spend money like it’s nothing.

“Hey!”

I immediately called over a female employee passing by.

“Yes, what do you need?”

“That drink, bring it here.”

“Yes, sir, here it is…”

Swish –

“By the way, isn’t it boring just working here, miss?”

While taking the drink from the woman, I subtly touched her body. Right now, I must look like a reckless guy who loves alcohol and women to anyone watching.

Since Wi Ho-yeon was next to me, it was a bit awkward to act like this, but this was the easiest way to get to the real gambling den quickly.

‘Loves alcohol, loves gambling, loves women—this is like a perfect advertisement for wasting money. Who wouldn’t approach me?’

“That customer… I’m working, so…”

Judging by this woman’s reaction, she’s not a server. It seems the employees here are just regular workers.

“Ah, too bad. Got it.”

After sending the woman away, I immediately heard a voice.

“Yoon… I mean, Master.”

Wi Ho-yeon was staring at me with a strange look.

“Hmm, no… It’s not like that…”

“…Really?”

“…No… What do you take me for, Ho-yeon?”

‘Damn… Don’t get the wrong idea.’

Just in case, if Wi Ho-yeon reports my behavior to Yoo Ju, it would be a headache.

Imagining Yoo Ju getting the wrong idea and going crazy made my head hurt.

‘Damn it…’

“That young man, I didn’t know yesterday, but he’s quite the womanizer, huh?”

“I knew it from the escort. Huh? Actually, isn’t that escort not really an escort?”

‘You idiots… Shut up…’

They have no idea who they’re messing with, and their smirking faces are ridiculous.

I wondered what their reaction would be if they knew the woman in front of them was the Sword Monarch, but I couldn’t tell them.

I was a bit worried about Wi Ho-yeon’s reaction. If she got angry because of their words, it would be troublesome for me.

‘…Is she okay?’

There was no change in Wi Ho-yeon’s expression.

She just stayed by my side, faithfully playing her role as an escort.

‘Is she just being faithful to her role… or is she hiding her anger?’

Since she rarely shows any expression, it’s hard to read her emotions.

“Well, is there any man who doesn’t like women? Anyway, let’s enjoy today. I’m telling you in advance, I won’t give the money back today.”

“Ahem… That’s true. We won’t go easy on you either.”

“Well… Suit yourself.”

While enjoying the gambling, occasionally throwing money at passing employees to buy drinks and making subtle touches, the gazes of the people in the gambling den were anything but ordinary.

‘If I spend money like crazy, their eyes will naturally follow, right?’

“Ugh…”

I drank some alcohol and acted deeply immersed in gambling.

“Damn it, today’s luck is terrible.”

“Haha, well, there are days like that. But hey, young master.”

“What is it?”

“That escort lady must be bored. How about letting her join in?”

“Yeah, yeah, she must be bored just standing there. Huh?”

‘Sigh… Are they crazy?’

Just as I was about to say something to them, Wi Ho-yeon spoke first.

“…It’s fine. I’m just the master’s escort, so escorting is enough for me.”

“Wow, such loyalty. You’d do anything your master says, huh?”

‘Damn, these crazy bastards… They don’t know when to stop…’

The guys bothering Wi Ho-yeon was one thing, but there was another problem.

Gambling was something I could control with my abilities, so I was adjusting wins and losses, but the problem was that this wasn’t what I wanted.

‘Is it because it’s only been two days?’

I thought Jeobi would approach me by now, but it seems not yet.

Well, it’s only been two days since I came to the gambling den, and they don’t know what kind of guy I am, so it’s understandable that he’s hesitant.

‘In this case… the options he can choose are limited.’

The best option he can choose is…

‘To talk to me directly and see for himself.’

“…After this round, how about a game with me?”

Sure enough, the guy approached me and started talking.