“Here you go. The maximum personal loan amount of $15,000. I hope you know what your doing kid. You don't want to get killed just because you wanted some games and a new z-box.” The man across the table from Michael, said with grim implications, as he handed over a bag of cash.
“Don't worry about it.” Michael said with a playful smile. “Oh, would you know where the nearest casino is?”
Michael watched as the loan shark gave him an intimidating glare and laughed. “Easy friend, I’m just joking. Anyways, expect the money back soon. Unfortunately I don't have time to wait 9 months, but don't worry, you'll get your penalty fees.” Michael said as he grabbed the money.
“Hey, if you really don’t value your life, we can just skip the loan and you can sign a slavery contract right now.” The loan shark said with an ominous smile.
“Slavery contract, eh? Is there such a thing?” Michael asked in curiosity but received no response. “Well, whatever. I'll be leaving.”
Funny enough, Michael's next destination was actually the nearest casino.
He had other options when it came to using this money, but this would be the quickest, and Michael wanted to pay off the loan sooner rather than later.
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“A higher stakes game, eh?” The floor manager of the casino responded. “That would have to depend on your timing. Let me check first.” He said as he went on to make some calls. This wasn’t an unusual question for him, as these sorts of get-togethers were ways for people with money to get to know other people with money. Or a place for gambling addicts, which was also acceptable.
Michael looked around as he waited. Michael had already noticed when he entered the casino, but there were basic spell sensors somewhere within the building. They would do nothing to stop mages from casting spells, but they would at least let people know that a mage was in the building. Michael considered purposely setting the sensors off, simply to get more insight on the state of the hidden world of magic, but decided against it. It was an unnecessary risk, and there were probably other ways of getting information.
Michael asked to join a higher stakes game of poker to win more money, but also to see if he could get any clues from the people in the game. As they were people with money to throw away, it wasn't too much to think that the world of magic would interact with these people. All cultivators need resources.
“Tonight? What are the details? ‘Kay, hold on a second. Hey kid!” The manager yelled, getting Michael’s attention. “There’s a small game tonight. $5000 minimum buy-in, stakes are $100 and $200 for small and big blind. You in?”
“Yeah.” Michael responded, with a thumbs up.
The manager nodded and continued to speak into the phone. “The kid’s in. Yeah. Okay. See ya.” After hanging up, he turned back to Michael. “The game’s on the second floor of the casino in 2 hours. Just be here 2 hours later and I’ll lead you up there.”
“Got it.” Michael said. “I’m just going to wander around the casino for 2 hours then.”
Michael went to find some games to kill some time. The first thing he did was go to the roulette table because he wanted to practice his divination skills. Although he had just started his cultivation, Michael was still capable of divining the immediate future for a brief moment. And there were many methods of divination that didn’t necessarily have to involve element particles, so it shouldn’t set off the sensors.
Although Michael could manipulate the roulette table, there was no fun in that.
Michael approached a roulette table and checked out the sign. It was $150 dollar max inside bet and $2500 for outside bet, so Michael bought $2500 worth of chips.
Michael first tested the waters with red or black. He took $2500 of his chips and focused his mind on his intent. He then hovered his chips over to red side, then to the black side, as the power of his soul rippled. Michael went back and forth several times before leaving his chips on black when the feeling was right.
The ball started to roll and eventually stopped on 17, black,winning Michael $2500.
Feeling good about his win, Michael continued, starting with one of the three columns. Michael did his chip hovering motions once more before stopping at the first column.
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The ball rolled and was about to stop at 4 in the first column, but unfortunately stopped on number 5, which was in the second column. And just like that, Michael lost $2500.
“Damn.” Michael said. I'm a little rusty.
Michael restarted his ritual before putting his chips on the third dozen, 25 through 36.
The ball stopped on 30 and Michael won $5000!
Nice, Michael thought with a grin. After getting the hang of it, Michael started making all kinds of bets. He would sometimes win and sometimes lose, sometimes betting on a single number or a combination of other bets, but oddly enough he was only gaining money.
After an hour, Michael had won the amount of his loan, $15000.
Michael than moved on to blackjack. Michael would do a simple divination every time, simply asking, win or lose? And after getting his answer, Michael would adjust his bet.
Man, this is tiring. I should just learn to count cards. That would be easier.
Michael only played for half an hour as he knew that casinos are extra touchy when it comes to blackjack. If they think you’re counting cards, that's an easy ban right there.
Whatever. $5000 more isn’t bad.
Michael spent the rest of the time drinking and munching on nachos until the floor manager found him, and lead him to the poker game.
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Michael was the first one there, so he continued to drink next to the bar, shamelessly flirting with the pretty bartender.
“Bartender, bartender, your body oh so slender. Rest assured, young lady, I’m a pretty girl defender. So don't be shy and surrender. How was that? I’m sure you’re charmed now.” Michael said with an ironic confidence.
“Instead of pretty girl defender, it’s probably more accurate to say level 3 sex offender.” The bartender said ruthlessly.
“Ooh, destroyed. Hahaha, I’m tipping the bartender extra tonight.” A young man said with a laugh after entering the room.
Michael also laughed. “Hahaha, I like you, bartender. What's your name?”
Although the bartender didn’t have a good impression of Michael, he was still a guest of the casino, so she replied, “Lisa.”
Her attractiveness wasn't the only reason Michael approached her. Michael could feel a type of power rippling outwards from her body. She was a mage apprentice. She was probably placed inconspicuously as the bartender to look out for mages. Michael was slightly curious, but nothing more.
“Smooth, smooth. That's the way it should be done. Never back down.” The young man applauded. “Name's Nicholas.” He said as he held out a hand to Michael.
Michael told Nicholas his name and shook his hand.
It didn't take long for the rest of the players to arrive. One was a middle-aged business man named Ralph who gambled as an excuse to get drunk and relieve stress. Who knew if it was effective. Another was an old, retired lady who gambled as a way to enjoy her retirement. And the last was an aspiring professional poker player, named John. Including Michael and Nicholas, a second-generation rich person, there were five of them.
Michael didn’t plan to use any mystical tricks during this game. He was simply using his exceptional perception to catch his opponents micro expressions. As the game went on, Michael could easily read everyone except the old lady.
Damn. If there was ever an award for the best poker face, this lady would win.
Michael assumed that she was probably the richest person here, and didn’t care whether she won or lost. Michael had already lost a couple hands to her as he couldn’t even read her through the bets she was making. Not only that, but this lady was also a powerful mage. Although she wasn’t cheating with any spells, Michael's dulled senses could just barely pick up on her power.
“Motherfucker, I'm out. I'm never playing against this kid again.” The middle-aged man exclaimed and went to drown his sorrows by the bar.
“Fuck, I'm out too.” Nicholas said, but stayed to watch the rest of the game.
Only Michael, John and the old lady were left.
“I’m out too.” Michael said, giving up. He had already won a large amount and didn’t want to risk it against the old lady. “You guys might think I’m a shark but the real predator is this old lady. None of us here can match her.”
“Oho, interesting. What's makes you say that young man?” The lady asked.
Michael smiled. “Instinct.” He said.
“Instinct, eh?” The lady said, mulling over Michael's answer. The old lady's name was Sheona, a sort of wandering mage, and she had only come here to observe a disciple candidate, but it seems she had found another interesting person.
Every once in a while, Sheona would spread tidbits of knowledge in the mortal world, and then after many years she would pick a few disciples out of these people. This was the practice of many people in her organization, and was a method of increasing one's influence.
During the game she had already tested the senses of the girl and was now planning to have a private chat with her. But now she was considering whether she should test out the young man as well.
But Michael didn't give her a chance. He picked up his chips and announced that he was leaving.
“Hey, wait up, man. The night isn't over yet. Let's go get something to eat. Ha, and we should invite the bartender too.” Nicholas said with a sly grin. Nicholas didn't want to give up the chance to befriend another rich young person, especially since Nicholas thought he wasn’t a douche, which is usually the case in Nicholas's experience.
“Ha, I think she'll be busy. But I’ll go if you’re paying. I need to calm my stomach from all that alcohol.” Michael replied.
He was about to leave, before he wrote something on a piece of paper and gave it to the bartender. He held up his hand to ear, and said with a cocky attitude, “Call me. You won’t regret it.”
Then, he left with Nicholas, who couldn’t stop laughing.
The old lady couldn’t help but give Nicholas a curious look as he left the room.
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After paying back the loan and the penalty fees, Michael had about $20,000 left.
After that, Michael's schedule consisted of gathering element particles and gambling at casinos.
Unfortunately, there weren't too many casinos in the city, so after a while he could only participate in the private poker games, or it would become suspicious. But he eventually had to stop that also, or people would start getting angry.
In the end, he had about $150,000.