I trudged through the smoggy Atlantic City streets with my hands in my pocket and head hunched between my shoulders. The few people I walked past gave me plenty of room, and a lost tourist who was considering asking me for directions only got two words in before shutting his mouth and turning around after looking at the contorted scowl on my face.

I was fucking pissed. No surprise after everything that had happened to me, what with two back-to-back interviews straight from the pits of hell. But that last one…

I knew this world had issues, but that was just over the line. Kidnapping people, sexually assaulting them, and having the police laugh them out? Even if the victims were cheaters and grifters, they didn’t deserve what happened to them. Nobody did. It was beyond fucked up and I had to do what I did since nobody else would.

My face began to droop like a witch melting in the rain, and I let out a frustrated scream. A few people on the street gave me a strange look, but most went back to whatever they were doing beforehand. Atlantic City was just that kind of place.

Didn’t I tell myself that I would stop caring about this world? That the way the people here lived their lives wasn’t my problem, that it wasn’t worth my time? I was angry at Petrovich and his goons, but… I was more angry at myself. Should I not have cared? What kind of a person would I have been if I didn’t?!

As the sickly chill air cooled my head, I was able to think a little more clearly. I could have just politely declined the job, added Petrovich to my shit list just under the mob, and taken him on after I was strong enough. I berated myself for not thinking this up beforehand, but not that hard. Burning that bridge with a nuclear bombardment was still the right thing to do… I hoped.

But there was no reason to not put that plan into action now. With Petrovich now being number two on my shit list, I only needed to grow strong enough to topple him, and to do that, I needed a job.

It wasn’t hard to find Goldshanks’ casino. Most of the people on the street knew where it was, and I even passed by the man I saw in Petrovich’s office. He was easy to recognize from his shakes, I knew it as a telltale sign of an addict in withdrawal. A bondage sex addict, apparently. Could people even get withdrawal symptoms from a lack of sex? Only in this world.

I silently followed him the rest of the way to our destination.

The building I found myself in front of was as large as the other casinos, but its neon signage was comparatively humble. A consisted of a dollar sign with three vertical lines going through it instead of one, with a yellow coin flying above it in an animated arc, and the name “Goldshanks” written underneath it.

It was basic, to the point, and not trying to show off. I had a different feeling about this place.

I made my way inside and took a deep breath. The smell of chemically cleaned carpets and plastic wallpaper hit my nostrils like a runaway truck…

I lost focus for a second before snapping back.

The smell of the building wasn’t terribly harsh, and I even felt somewhat nostalgic. The fuzzy red floors and yellow-diamond wallpaper added to that, doing well to add to the cozy, retro atmosphere. Rows of slot machines lined the walls, and a dozen card tables were arranged throughout the main casino floor, hosting games of blackjack and poker.

I saw the man from the Bear’s Den stumble over to one of the tables and start playing. I remembered what he said about this place, how there was “no real punishment or anything fun.” Codewords I hoped meant no secret sex dungeons or mandatory employee penis inspection day. The bar was pretty low, but the last two places I interviewed at were elephants in that limbo contest. No wait, wouldn’t that place the metaphorical bar high instead?

Detect Cheating (lv 3)

Target

Donald Svenge

The man from The Bear’s Den was sitting at a poker table with a piece of cardboard poking out of his sleeve that nobody else seemed to notice. I didn’t even need to activate my Skill, I had everything I needed to get hired.

I approached the front desk, a fancy wooden counter manned by a lone woman wearing a nice, green dress and a black vest on top with the casino’s logo embroidered on the left breast.

“Hello sir, welcome to Goldshanks’ Casino, where everyday shines bright! How can I help you?” she asked with a wide, synthetic smile.

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“Yes, hi,” I replied, returning her smile with my best genuine one, despite my exhaustion. It was already well into the night and I’d gotten into a pretty bad fight. Coupled with how my clothes were a mess after said fight and getting tossed out onto the streets, I wasn’t pitching at peak performance. But I still had one advantage.

Raw, magical Charisma flowed into my voice, and I could hear a new level of glibness that wasn’t there before. “I’d like to apply for a job as a security consultant. I’m sure your boss would be very happy with the services I have to offer.”

“I see. He usually interviews candidates personally, so I’m sure you already have an appointment.”

“Oh, no I do not. But the skills I have to offer are exceptional and I have no doubt your boss’ time would not be wasted with an interview with me,” I replied, letting the System guide my words. “I’m sure it won’t be much of a problem, though your pretty little head wouldn’t und-” I cut myself short.

“What was that?” she asked with a sharp look.

“Nothing, nothing!” I quickly backtracked. “I’m sure I’ll be able to get rid of all sorts of problems for him by catching cheaters!”

What the hell was that just now? What kind of shit System considers negging as “above average” rhetoric? Oh yeah, one made just to get laid.

“Mmh,” she sounded sarcastic, her expression beginning to strain. “Well I’m sorry, but Mr. Goldshanks is very busy, and he doesn’t have time to meet without an appointment. You could make one with me if you’d like. How does next month sound?”

My eyebrows shot up before I could do anything to control the surprise. I sighed as I rested my forehead in my right palm.

“I guess that doesn’t work for you?” she asked with a smug grin. “I mean, unless you can catch one of them, then I don’t think you’ll be getting your appointment any time soon.”

I saw the woman point to the far wall behind her, and my final chance rested squarely at its center.

“Well, the meeting actually concerns the man over there,” I said, pointing towards a row of unflattering mugshots with the word “Banned” slapped over them. Even though he looked quite different from the man I’d followed here, his name was the exact same. Donald Svenge.

“What about him?” asked the attendant, slightly disinterested.

“He’s here right now,” I replied, pointing my thumb behind me. “I’m good at catching cheating, and he’s doing it right now at the poker table. That guy right there.”

“…yeah, that does kind of look like him. Shit.” The lady groaned and pressed a button by her side. She spoke into what must’ve been a microphone hidden in the counter. “Security, we have an ‘unwanted guest’ at the poker table. Please confirm that he’s one “Donald Svenge” on the banned list and escort him out.”

A trio of muscle-bound men in cheap suits and dark shades exited the back door beside the counter. They weren’t as big as the ones from the Bear’s Den, but the way they handled themselves made me feel nervous about getting into any trouble here. After getting the details from the attendant, and having me point out the cheater, they made their way towards the wayward cardshark.

The cheater immediately jumped in surprise as the freight train of muscle made their way towards him, and dropped his cards while trying to run. He didn’t get far, as the three broke off and grabbed him before he could even get close to the exit.

“He’s got some cards up his sleeve!” shouted one of the security guards, holding the man in place with relative ease. “Well well well, Donald. Fancy seeing you here again!”

“Uh, I think you have me mistaken for someone else,” he sheepishly replied.

“Oh come on, how could I forget you after you almost scammed us out of twenty grand? Whatever. We’re going to confiscate your chips now, and if you comply, we might even go easy on the police report.”

Donald pleaded. “The police are nothing compared to what I’m going to get back at-” He stopped mid-sentence.

“Back where?” asked another security guard.

“At The Bear’s Den,” I said out loud. “Petrovich sent him to start trouble.”

“Damn, again? Just find somewhere else to get your kicks, man. Now come on.” The bouncer pulled Donald towards the entrance of the casino, simultaneously calling out to the attendant to notify the police.

[Skill Level Up! Detect Cheating lv 3 -> 4]

After the attendant got off the phone with the police, she turned back to me with a strained smile. “You’ve definitely done us a service, thank you.”

“No problem! I’d like to offer even more of these services to your boss, I think he could make really good use of my talents.”

“I’ll pencil you in for next year then.”

“But you said-”

“That was just an exaggeration,” the attendant interrupted. “But Mr. Goldshanks is still a very busy man, so you’ll have to come back next m-”

The frown forming on my face froze as her words did.

The attendant looked away from me and put a hand to her earpiece. “Yes sir, we caught Svenge. Yes, some man here pointed him out, but it was probably a fluke.”

Fluke?! Well yeah, finding the cards in Donald’s sleeve sure felt like one.

“No, he’s still here. But are you sure, sir? He’s… but… alright, sir.”

“I hope that’s what I think it is,” I said with a hopeful smile.

“Regrettably so,” she replied coldly. “Mr. Goldshanks would like to speak to you.”