I wasn’t an idiot. I wasn’t going to charge into a mob headquarters and get gunned down like some kind of degenerate. So my only hope was hitting them from the side, in places that mattered, like their wallet.

Of course, I had no way to do that either. But what I did have was the System, and that could give me the tools I needed to put a stop to the mob once and for all. The only thing that was missing was a way to level it up.

The harsh smell of the Atlantic City strip hit my nostrils like a wrecking ball. Smog, piss, and cheap perfume danced around the air, defining the culture of the city’s nightlife. As much as the bright lights of the various casinos and boutiques worked to distract the hundreds of people walking down the sidewalk, they still couldn’t fully cover up the shanty houses and graffiti-covered pawn shops. So just like back home.

I strode down the sidewalk at a quick pace. I took shallow breaths to avoid the worst of the smell, and covered my nose with my shirt when that wasn’t enough. I passed by several smaller casinos, not paying them much mind; if I wanted to level up quickly, I’d need to see some real action.

The System was really weird like that. It was made for having sex, but I didn’t actually need to have sex for it to reward me. Doing anything remotely exciting was enough to get a level up, like getting into a fight, and doing anything even adjacent to sexual would get me a Skill.

But Skills were a different matter. [Tinker] only counted fixing sexual devices as valid experience, but [Detect Cheating] worked with anything that fit the broad definition of “cheating.” It honestly made no sense, but neither did the System, if you thought about it. The entire thing felt half-assed in how it worked, but that just meant it was ripe for abuse! Like how the mob abused Hiroi.

“Hey buddy, do you have any change?” asked a man sitting in front of a sign. He had a scraggly beard of black-gray hair and wore a red beanie and a worn gray sweater with torn blue jeans.

I didn’t hesitate as I reached into my pocket and gave him a fiver I pinched from the mobster.

“Wow, thanks man,” he said in a hoarse voice. He smiled, but ruffled his eyebrows when he looked up at me. “But why the long face? If you have money to give, then you probably didn’t lose everything at the slots.”

“Huh? No, I haven’t been gambling. I’m just… disappointed by this place, I guess.”

“By this shithole? Say it ain’t so!” He let out a raspy laugh. “But it honestly used to be much better. Not by much, but still better, at least before the mob rolled in a few months ago. Those assholes are why I’m out here!”

I looked at the man with wide eyes. I reached into my pocket and handed him another twenty.

“Woah, you don’t need to give little old me all of this!”

“Hey, you’re not their only victim,” I replied. “Take care of yourself, and hopefully the mob won’t be a problem for much longer.”

I turned around and found exactly what I was looking for. There was a sprawling casino covered in blaring lights, with the name “Zane’s” barely visible in the cacophony of light. Everything about it, the din, the throngs of people coming and going, and the absolutely awful taste in the signage. I knew this place would be exciting enough to get some levels.

“Hey man, I have no idea what you’re talking about, but good luck!”

I looked back and nodded, before making my way inside.

----------------------------------------

The signage outside didn’t do the place justice, or rather, warn me hard enough. Bright strobe lights covering the full rainbow bore down on me and everyone inside. Bass-boosted beats from the dozens of subwoofers shook my innards. Rows of slot machines and roulette tables were filled with throngs of men and women, all focused intently on the spinning wheels before them, while wait staff walked between them in revealing outfits.

I took a deep breath. Not that I felt the air coming in and going out with how the music throttled my lungs. But if any place was wild enough to please the System, it was here.

I puffed out my chest and strode over to the front counter.

“Welcome to Zane’s Garden!” mumbled a woman I could barely hear over the din. She was dressed in a leather bunny outfit she didn’t look very comfortable in.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“Hi! I’m looking for a job!” Not to let anything go to waste, I channeled my Charisma Attribute and let its power flow through my voice. “I’m really good at catching cheaters and would be a great security asset.”

“Huh, what was that sir? You’ll have to speak up, please.” She turned her ear towards me and nodded apologetically.

“I’m looking for a job!” I shouted back, cupping my hands around my mouth. “As security!”

“Security, eh?” She looked at me from head to toe, diligent eyes taking in every detail. Whatever the woman saw, she liked, because she flashed me a demure smile. “I think we might have a position available, so please follow me.”

She opened the counter’s divider and led me through the back door into a sterile hallway surrounded by white paneling on all sides. As the door closed, we were left in complete silence.

“That’s better,” the woman sighed. “Let’s get you a form to fill out, and you can start-”

“Who’s that you’ve got there, Anna?” came another voice from around the corner. A woman in an ink blue suit and pencil skirt slowly strutted over to us, sizing me up all the while. Her presence filled the entire room, and even if we were out on the casino floor, I was sure she’d still be the center of everyone’s attention. Still, something about her grabbed me the wrong way.

“Oh! It’s a new employee, Mrs. Fleming,” replied the first woman as she pulled at her outfit. “For an open security position.”

“Please Anna, just call me Ivy. Miss Ivy,” said the formal newcomer in a slow and sensual drawl. “Now, mister…”

“Smith. Mike Smith,” I said, slowly extending a hand.

Ivy took it limply and shook, yet her eyes were locked intently on mine. “I see, Mr. Smith. I’ll just call you Mike, how about that? I’m sure my husband, Zane, would love to have you along, and as his second-in-command, it will be my pleasure to… sign you on. Please follow me to my office.”

I slowly nodded and did as asked. I could’ve sworn I heard Anna let out a snicker right before I was out of earshot.

I entered the small office after Ivy, who promptly closed and locked the door.

“Alright Mike,” she said with a growing smile. “Now I’m going to have you strip.”

“E-excuse me?” I replied, slowly turning around to meet the forceful gaze of the woman. I took a step back when her smile began to show teeth. “Is that necessary for the position?”

“It is if you want to work under me. But don’t worry, I’ll join you.” Ivy began to unbutton the white blouse under her suit.

“I guess this place doesn’t have much of an HR department, then?” I asked with a chuckle.

“I am the HR department,” Ivy replied deadpan.

“Of course you are.”

“So are you going to start stripping or what? Not much of a go-getter if your boss has to do all the work.”

“Hold on. First I have to know if this is a regular thing,” I asked while crossing my arms.

“For all our male employees, yes.”

“And the female employees?”

Ivy sneered at me. “I’m not into women, and Zane knows better than to try anything with other women while I’m around.”

“Alright, but is this a regular occurrence?”

“Of course,” replied Ivy with a wry grin. “We have all sorts of mandatory uniform inspections, and pleasure tests. Don’t worry, you won’t be excluded.”

I let out a long, drawn out sigh. “That’s all I needed to hear.”

“What do you mean?”

“So on top of working casino security, you want me to be your little boy toy?”

“That’s right, aren’t you glad?” She winked.

Ivy had a presence that would make almost any man, or woman, happily kneel before her. But right now, the only thing in my gaze was a baleful determination. I was here to get strong so I could draw blood. I was here out of pure spite.

“Am I at least getting paid extra?” I asked, a single eyebrow cocked.

“You get the opportunity to work at the most famous casino on the Atlantic City strip!” Ivy replied, affronted. “That’s your payment.”

“Oh no, you don’t!” I shouted back. “You’re not selling me on extra work with fucking ‘prestige’. I’m a security guard, not desperate!”

“Well no wonder you’re looking for a job!” Her rage transformed into haughtiness. “You won’t get far in life with a negative attitude like that!”

“Well I’m not interested in going wherever your so-called ‘positive attitude’ will take me.”

I stormed over to the door and let myself out of the woman’s office, making my way back to the main floor and finally outside.

It looked like Zane’s casino was a bust.