Leonar remained silent for several seconds after Barret's words, trying to process what had just happened.

He couldn't deny the appeal of the offer. One year without gambling, and his debt would be forgiven. Yet, anger consumed him—not so much because of the contract itself but because of what it represented. Barret didn’t trust him, that much was clear.

But wasn’t that logical?

He’d failed so many times that even he had lost count of how often he’d broken promises.

“I need time to think,” Leonar finally said, trying to mask the tremor in his voice.

Barret watched him silently, his expression unchanging.

Then he nodded slowly and added in a serious tone:

“You have a week, Leonar. After that, I expect your decision. But remember... until then, you’re not allowed to gamble. If I catch you near a table, forget about this deal.”

The words hit him like a bucket of cold water.

Leonar clenched his fists, feeling the anger bubbling inside, but he said nothing. He simply took the contract and the money left on the table, turning to leave the room.

He didn’t bother to say goodbye. Barret watched him go, a mixture of concern and resignation in his eyes.

Leonar walked quickly down the hallway, his footsteps echoing like hammer blows in his ears. Then he opened the door to the small room where he’d been staying before heading out on this mission.

Without a second thought, Leonar began throwing his belongings into an old bag resting beside the bed.

His movements were quick but clumsy.

“Who was that man?”

Eleonora’s voice echoed in his mind, calm in stark contrast to his agitation.

“I don’t want to talk about it right now,” Leonar replied under his breath, his teeth clenched as he kept packing.

“And what are you planning to do?” Eleonora pressed, ignoring his evident irritation.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“We’re leaving. We’ll find another place to keep playing,” Leonar declared firmly, zipping the bag shut with a harsh yank.

Eleonora remained silent for a moment before responding in a cold tone:

“Do you not remember the warning from the humans at the other casino?”

Leonar let out a sigh.

“Since when do you care about what humans think?” he asked, his tone nearly defiant.

Before Eleonora could reply, the sound of a door opening behind him cut her off.

Leonar turned quickly, hearing a soft, nervous voice call his name:

“Leonar…”

Standing before him was Mary. The young woman’s blonde hair fell in soft waves to her shoulders, framing her delicate face.

Her usually bright blue eyes now seemed dull, reflecting a mix of uncertainty and worry. She wore a simple yet elegant black uniform with gold accents, giving her a formal air.

The fitted jacket highlighted her slender figure, while a straight skirt fell just above her knees.

Leonar stared at her silently, feeling a knot form in his throat.

“What are you doing?” Mary asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Her eyes focused on his hands, noticing the bag he was holding.

“Are you… leaving?” Mary added, stammering slightly.

“You should focus on your job,” Leonar replied, averting his gaze as he continued shoving things into the bag.

“My job?” Mary repeated, her tone rising slightly. “How can you say that when you haven’t even sent a message this whole time?”

“I’ve been busy,” Leonar said, pulling a wad of cash from his pocket and extending it to her. “Here. Part of what I owe you.”

Mary stared at him, blinking as if she couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

Her lips trembled before she finally responded:

“Do you really think I came here because I need your money?”

Leonar shrugged, trying to stay calm.

“Well... since you’re here, I might as well pay off some of my debt.”

Mary’s reaction was immediate. Her face contorted, and her voice, already beginning to break, rose with indignation:

“Are you out of your mind?! I don’t need your money right now, Leonar. I know you owe my uncle and plenty of others... What you owe me can wait! It’s the last thing you should be worried about!”

“I just want to start paying back for all the time I’ve made you wait,” Leonar insisted, his tone quieter, almost apologetic.

But Mary couldn’t hold back her tears any longer.

They began streaming down her cheeks as her shoulders shook.

“Is that all that matters to you? The money? Is this how you want to slowly destroy what we had? By cutting off any connection with me?”

Leonar froze.

Mary’s words hit him like a hammer.

His expression changed, revealing a hint of surprise and guilt.

“It’s not like that, Mary. I’ve just been trying to handle my debts…”

“I don’t care about that!” she interrupted, her voice filled with pain but also a frustration that seemed to have been building for a long time.

Amid it all, Eleonora spoke in his mind, her tone dripping with indifference:

“Who is this loud human?”

‘Wait,’ Leonar replied mentally, trying to keep his composure. ‘Let me think of what to say… I’ll explain later.’

Mary took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, but the tears kept flowing.

“I don’t understand how you can be like this... Do you really care about nothing we had anymore?”

Leonar looked at her intently, watching as her face crumbled before him.