Minutes before Surata’s encounter…
Koroki finally managed to get Yorui off the gambling table. He impatiently yanked Yorui by the arm, hurrying toward the table the man had gestured to.
As they moved, Yorui could not wipe the smug off her face. “Ugh, why did you stop me, Koroki?!”
“We didn’t come here to have fun. Did you forget we are on a mission? I want to finish this stupid mission as fast as possible.”
“Oh, come on! Actually, maybe I can play whatever that game is called with Tiger. Pokey? Po… P-Pucky!”
“Poker?” Koroki replied, disinterested.
“Yeah, that. I mean, look…” Yorui quickly reached into her pocket. “Look how many chips I have.”
Her hand was filled with black coins, while more coins fell from her overflowing pocket.
She could pay rent on a 5-star suite for about 6 months with the amount of money she held. Talk about beginner’s luck.
Koroki smacked his teeth eternally, aggravated, “I didn’t come here to act as a babysitter! Come on, let’s go.”
The table the patron earlier pointed to was isolated in the corner of the building.
The pair strolled past more rowdy tables full of greedy patrons. The walk felt endless as Yorui ranted about her gambling session to the annoyed Koroki.
One minute later, they arrived near the table. While approaching the table in the corner, the couple stopped their movements and ranting.
“W-What’s this feeling?” Yorui asked, nervous glands leaking from her forehead.
They suddenly felt a heavy shift in the atmosphere. The pressure grew heavier on their bodies, tensing their skin.
The table felt like it had an invisible barrier around it that concealed the immense aura.
Ordinary people were too weak to feel it… but Noye users could.
Koroki raised his guard. “He’s definitely here.”
___
Koroki and Yorui carefully stepped closer to the table.
A silky wine-red booth curved around the table along with its standard stools for guests.
Patrons filled the stools as they gambled away their money, enjoying themselves.
Beyond them, sitting by the booth, an exotically dressed man cockily sat with one knee up, watching the gambling unfold.
The man's hands, covered in large rings and a dazzling diamond watch, complemented the scar across the bridge of his nose. Despite his slouched, delinquent pose, his handsome features and confident demeanor gave the impression of an upper-class mafia leader.
Koroki gazed at the slouched man laughing at the table.
“Hahaha. Another win. C’mon, at least make this a little entertaining.” The man suggested to the other patrons at the table with a deep voice.
A patron conceded, “You’re just too good, Tiger.”
Koroki and Yorui stood paralyzed, their eyes widening in disbelief as Tiger appeared before them. The air thickened with tension, and the couple's nervousness grew as they felt the intensity of Tiger's powerful presence.
They successfully located the man known as “Tiger,” but they had to figure out his plans.
Tiger chuckled, “Ha, seems like Lady’s Luck’s on my side today.”
The women around Tiger cheer seductively.
“I think we should call this a day, right?” Tiger asked, ready to leave the table.
Koroki clenched his fist, watching Tiger pack up. “Oh crap, he’s about to leave! We need to think of something. If we fail this mission, I don’t even wanna know how Ishio’s gonna react.”
Koroki had no choice but to make his presence known, so he cautiously opened his mouth and was about to say something. “Tig-”
But, before Koroki could interrupt Tiger, Yorui barged into the conversation, digging her hand into her pocket.
“Hey, Tiger. I heard you’re pretty good.” The table turned to Yorui.
Although her body shivered in fear at Tiger's presence, her determination to complete the mission overshadowed that fear.
The patrons’ eyes widened, surprised by her hand overflowing with black coins.
Yorui focused her gaze on the calmed Tiger. “Want to play some rounds with me?” she asked, portraying false confidence.
The men curiously looked at Tiger, awaiting his response.
Tiger momentarily did not respond, taking in Yorui’s words. After a couple of seconds, Tiger sat comfortably in the booth.
“That’s some confidence you got, girl,” he smirked. “Come on, join us!”
It was rare to see people challenge Tiger, knowing his impressive gambling reputation. Tiger loved a good challenge. That’s because beating someone confident made the whole more entertaining.
“To get Tiger to talk to me, I need you, Mr. Luck, to be by my side again.” Yorui calmly sat on an empty stool across from Tiger, concealing her nervousness.
As she sat down, she immediately felt out of her league. This table felt different from the one she had played at earlier. It felt highly competitive as if she were in the finals of a world tournament.
“Why does this table feel so intense? It feels like I’m in a battle of life or death right now.” Her nerves spiked, but she managed to keep a cool head. “Calm down Yorui, this is the same as the other table. It’s just pu-poker, I can do this!”
She carefully examined the wine-red gambling table. “Huh?! This isn’t poker! What is this?!”
The dealer stood ready, but there were no cards—only a massive wheel on the table with a number chart and corresponding betting options beside it.
A shiny gold pillar rested at its center. The wheel was marked with random numbers and alternating red and black patterns, with a single green space.
Noticing Yorui’s confusion, Tiger’s deep voice broke through her thoughts as he asked curiously, “Ever played roulette before?”
Yorui tried to mask her inexperience. “Not really. I’ve only played poker.”
“I see.” Tiger swiftly picked up his cosmopolitan and took a sip. “…Roulette’s simple. Just bet where you think the ball will land.”
Yorui reassured herself, “Oh, that’s it? It sounds a lot easier to learn than poker. All I did was just copy what the other people were doing in poker, and it worked… Maybe this rou…roulette game will be easier!”
She regained some of her confidence, hoping her luck continued.
The dealer loudly declared, “Place your bets!”
She eagerly put down five black coins on black.
Tiger casually put down twenty black coins on red 18.
With what little money they have left, the other competitors join in.
After everyone placed their bets on what they thought would win, the dealer exclaimed, gesturing over the table, “All bets are closed.”
The dealer then pressed a button on the table to begin the round. The wheel spun in a blur of red and black.
Shortly after, the golden pillar in the center coughed out a small white ball. The white ball clattered with a rhythmic sound.
Tension rose between the gamblers as they gazed at the moving ball. Eventually, the wheel lost its speed.
Tiger calmly sat in his seat, awaiting his victory.
Yorui slightly leaned into the table, firmly gripping its edge. “C’mon! C’mon! Land on black!”
Koroki looked on, standing behind the focused Yorui, slightly intrigued by the game.
Bounce. Bounce. Bounce. After a couple of seconds, the white ball finally stopped moving.
As it came to a halt, the tension vanished, and silence enveloped the table. The silence was so great that Yorui could hear her heartbeat.
All the patrons leaned into the wheel, their curiosity overtaking them.
Before Yorui or Tiger could see where the ball landed, the dealer pointed to the ball and announced, “Black 22!”
The ball landed on… a black space.
Yorui could not suppress her grin as the ball landed on black. Her heart raced with the joy of winning. “Woah, I won? I won! I thought I was going to lose that! This is so fun!”
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Tiger quickly gave his congratulations to Yorui. “Mhmm… that’s some beginner’s luck you have.”
“Let’s go again.” His voice turned serious.
___
They continued their game for several more rounds. Yorui’s luck shined again, and she won every round.
“Winner!”
Showing off her luck, the other patrons left the table. They could not bear the thought of losing more money. However, they still occupied the seats, stargazing at the upcoming rivalry between the newcomer Yorui and the great Tiger.
Despite losing every round, Tiger refused to leave the table, remaining cool and calm.
“Again.”
“Again!” Someone who loves money was somehow not annoyed by losing money. Tiger’s luck disappeared, almost like Yorui stole lady luck from him.
They played another round.
Seeing how Yorui cheerfully won almost every round, Tiger commented, “Let’s make this round our last round.”
Yorui complied, “Alright.”
Tiger gathered all his 248 black coins and pushed the pile toward betting on the green 0.
The crowd of patrons gasped in surprise at Tiger’s bet. The green space has not been landed on today.
One of the women surrounding Tiger questioned his play while caressing his body, “Tiger, are you sure you want to do that?”
“Yeah, I feel like this is my big win.”
Yorui contemplated her bet as if almost being challenged by Tiger’s confidence.
Tiger would probably not be interested enough to stay if she decided to play it safe. That’s because he isn’t winning anything. To be on Tiger’s good side, playing along with his massive bet is what Tiger likes.
With her mind filled with thoughts, Yorui played along with Tiger, going all in. She pushed all her 108 black coins onto red.
This round became an all-or-nothing stake for both gamblers.
The dealer began preparing for the round and spun the wheel once more.
Waiting for the round to start, Tiger decided to rant with Yorui while gazing at the roulette wheel. “By the way, I haven’t seen you or your friend around here before.”
Koroki and Yorui faintly gazed at each other.
Tiger added, his hunter eyes focused on Yorui, “So, who are you?”
Yorui continued to play her role. “Oh, this is our first time here. We’re just tourists from a different country-”
“That’s not what I meant. I can tell by your presence that you guys aren’t ordinary people.” Tiger subtly examined the couple. “Plus, you don’t look like Shikaris.”
He returned his gaze to Yorui, asking again, “So… who are you guys?”
The couple struggled to find an appropriate response to Tiger. Their identity was almost blown, and their silence only added suspicion.
Yorui subtly clenched her fist, “Crap! Crap! He’s caught us. I mean, it was bound to happen. Now, how do we get out of this?”
The women surrounding Tiger seem unbothered by his comment. His stunning looks distracted them from listening to his conversation.
The table slowly became awkward, and the atmosphere grew tense. The sound of the ball bouncing echoed through the bustling casino.
Tiger gestured to the women surrounding him to take a break. The women nodded and removed themselves from him.
Then, Tiger took another sip of his drink while the wheel kept spinning.
“Honestly, I’m surprised you guys didn’t get stopped by anyone… Maybe these people are just too drunk to see… Anyways, you kids did a good job getting in without getting caught.”
Koroki sneakily smacked his lips, realizing Tiger busted them.
The kids made it this far without getting caught. But they didn’t have a backup plan for when their disguise failed.
However, Tiger only noticed Yorui and Koroki. He was not aware of Seto or Surata.
The couple stood cautious, their eyes darting around them as the heavy atmosphere wrapped around them like a thick fog. As the tension escalated, the couple blocked out the background noise, only hearing the white ball gradually bounce and slow down.
Tiger, however, ignored the tension and continued ranting. “You know, I don’t have a problem with the policy. This policy was here before I even owned this place. But… I can always change my mind.”
The wheel almost stopped spinning.
Tiger leaned forward just before the round ended, deepening his voice—almost threatening them. “Would you like me to enforce it?”
As Tiger asked his question, the white ball stopped moving. The dealer observed the white ball and announced, “…Green 0”.
Tiger gazed at the couple, unfazed by winning the round, as if he expected the outcome.
___
Around the same time, on Surata’s side…
Surata stood tall, his eyes beaming at the man grabbing the boy.
The air continued to thicken, and neither man made a face. The tone shifted, causing the air to grow colder.
The patrons stood in awe as they watched the conflict brewing.
The man tightened his grip on the young boy, asking Surata, “Who are you?”
“Surata Aoi…” He reached into his pocket and showed the man his Noye Permit, his voice filled with authority. “… a Shikari.”
“Surata Aoi?” The crowd murmured towards one another.
“Like the Surata Aoi? The son of Ishio Aoi?”
“Why is he here? I thought there was a no children policy?”
Shikari were often seen in the Toihe Casino, including Ishio, so it was not surprising for patrons to see them.
However, they were more confused by Surata’s presence; despite being Ishio’s son, he violated the child policy.
The man's face exposed his nervousness. “Surata? What’s Ishio’s son doing here? Oh crap, did Ishio find out?”
Surata ignored the man’s question and demanded, “Let the kid go!”
Surata surprised the man, but he quickly regained composure and laughed arrogantly.
“Ha. Hey kid, this casino has a no-child policy. So, that means this boy here is not allowed in here. That also includes you, too.”
The young boy's desperation faded as he stared at Surata, perplexed. “This kid… is he trying to save me? And he’s a shikari?” the young boy surprisingly sighed.
“This is pointless. You win, just take me back, " he said to the suspicious man.
“Huh?” Surata was stunned. “Where are you going!? Hold on!”
“Go away, Shikari! Leave me alone!” the young boy shouted, his voice trembling as his shoulders sagged. Darkness welled in his eyes, reflecting the weight of his despair.
“Huh? Hey, wait!” Surata eagerly shouted, reaching his hand out. But his resolve wavered as he met the boy’s defeated eyes.
For a moment, Surata felt doubt creeping in. Was the boy not in danger? Was he making things worse?
His mind became overwhelmed, unsure of what course of action he should take. However, he could not erase the boy’s soulless eyes he had seen earlier.
That alone cleared his mind and strengthened his resolve, as he believed the boy still needed help.
Surata reassured the boy, “Don’t worry, I’m here to help you.”
“No, you’re not!” The boy yelled at Surata, his face beaming with anger.
___
The boy's screams drew the attention of people at nearby tables.
Tiger overheard the ruckus and stopped interrogating Koroki and Yorui.
“Hey, what’s going on over there!?” Tiger asked, asserting his authority and keeping his cool.
Tiger’s voice sent chills down the man’s spine. “Oh, nothing, sir! Everything’s fine.”
The longer the man lingered with Surata, the harder it would be to leave. He needed to resolve the current situation without making it worse.
The man nervously gritted his teeth, gazing at the young boy. “I can’t hurt the kid. He already isn’t in the best condition, so I can’t let his price go down further.”
Tiger half-heartedly believed his subordinate’s words. Tiger’s request was simple, so he thought the commotion would end soon. With that in mind, Tiger returned his attention to Yorui and Koroki.
Yorui and Koroki oversaw the man’s suspicious activity. They looked towards the commotion and discovered an injured boy caught by the subordinate. Across from the man and the boy, they spotted Surata with a determined face.
Surata tried to converse with the defeated boy again. “Listen, I’m here to help.”
To prevent the boy from speaking more, the man swiftly chopped the boy’s neck, knocking him unconscious. The boy quickly fainted, falling onto the man’s arm.
The man scooped the kid up without hesitation and hurried away from the scene.
“Hey, wait!” Surata shouted. “Crap! I can’t let this man out of my sight!” Surata controlled his anger, releasing his grip on his clenched fist. “Something is going on here, and I need to find out what!”
Surata swiftly chased after the man, hoping to get some answers.
Before leaving the scene, Surata felt a strange, yet familiar stare aimed at him. He shifted his head to the weird sensation and locked eyes with Yorui and Koroki.
Without a single word, Surata lifted his thumb as a sign to show them that everything was fine.
Confirming that Surata could handle what was to come, Yorui and Koroki secretly nodded at Surata, acknowledging him to continue the mission.
Feeling more determined and motivated with his team’s approval, Surata full-heartedly chased the suspicious subordinate.
___
Back at Tiger’s table, the children recomposed themselves, realizing Tiger overlooked Surata.
After winning his all-or-nothing bet, Tiger confidently collected all the money from the table, and the sound of the black coins clicked together as he slid them towards him.
“Playtime’s over.” Tiger asserted. “I think it’s time for you kids to head back home. Don’t you think?”
“Yeah. Thanks for the game. It was really fun.” Yorui cheerfully exclaimed as she packed up her belongings, still playing an innocent role.
Koroki remained quiet behind Yorui, staring at Tiger with his dead fish eyes. Yorui stood up from the table and headed towards the exit. Koroki shortly followed, reverting to his slouched, disinterested posture.
The children strolled out before security arrived to kick them out, putting their trust in their other team members.
As the team walked away from the table, Tiger cautiously stalked the children, specifically at one of them.
“That kid. That look in his eyes. I feel like I’ve seen that look before.” Tiger spoke while being deep in thought. “Mhmm, I have a feeling this won’t be the last time I see them.”
___
Following the intense chase, the subordinate sprinted across the bustling casino floor, weaving between rows of slot machines and tables filled with players. His heart raced as he spotted a white double door labelled, “Staff Only!”.
He pushed through the crowd, pressure driving him forward. With a forceful shove, he busted the door open, the hinges creaking, and entered the back rooms.
Surata managed to stay on the man’s trail. The subordinate charged through every door in his path as Surata followed closely behind, keeping his eyes fixed on the man.
They charged into the casino’s kitchen, where they stored their beverages and appetizers. The man tiredly pushed his way past the chefs, scattering pots, utensils, and food.
The mess slowed Surata down as he tried to follow the man, maneuvering past the obstacles.
Surata dashes through the narrow corridors, weaving past startled chefs and dodging stacks of crates. Before entering the next door, an employee accidentally walked by the entrance, blocking it. Surata had no time to slow down as they crashed into each other, falling to the ground.
“Sorry!” Surata hastily gestured to the employee.
“Ugh, it’s alright, Surata,” the employee responded, causing Surata to pause in confusion. Surata took a glance and inspected the employee. “…Mr. Seto?!”
Seto wore a chef’s uniform to blend in as an employee. Surata revealed Seto’s identity but kept the thought to himself.
Seto quickly lowered his voice until only Surata could hear his words, “Keep going.”
Without saying a word, Surata nodded and raced forward, adrenaline surging through his veins.
He lost an enormous amount of distance, but his remarkable stamina allowed him to catch up quickly.
Carrying a limp boy while full sprinting took its toll on the subordinate. He checked behind him and noticed Surata on his trail. “This kid is fast!”
As the man charged through the last of the doors, he paused, taking in the sight before him—a massive metal vault door appeared at the far end of the room.
The door's heavy frame and intricate mechanisms differed from the wooden doors he had just passed, creating an uncanny sense of unease. Shadows danced around it, hinting at secrets hidden beyond, while the air grew thick with anticipation.
The man struggled to turn the centered wheel on the door, using one arm to open the heavy door. As the subordinate entered the mysterious room, he descended from Surata’s vision.
Surata ignored his sense of unease and entered through the vault door. Upon entering, he saw a long, dark staircase stretching endlessly into the shadow.
The dim light cast eerie shapes on the walls, creating a sense of vastness and mystery as if it were a hidden passage to another world. Each step echoed softly, swallowed by the heavy air, drawing him deeper into the unknown.
“Where am I?” Surata questioned his whereabouts. He shouted at the running man, “Get back here!”
Eventually, the man’s footsteps stopped echoing as he arrived at the bottom. As Surata descended, he heard the sound of chains clanking and men's bickering nearby.
Shortly behind, Surata arrived at the bottom step and paused, surprised by the cold, dark, humongous room he stumbled into. “What is this place? And why is this under the casino?”
But before he could get a good look around…
Pfft.
His back received a piercing sensation. “Ouch. What just hit me?”
The scorching pain felt like he got shot by a bullet. He carefully pulled his arm behind his back, yanking something out. “…A tranquilizing dart?”
Surata quickly checked his surroundings to find the shooter, but the darkness took over his eyesight.
Realizing what impaled him, Surata started to lose himself. His breathing felt heavier, and his body grew numb. His mind slowly felt at ease, as if he were relaxing at a beach with a clear mind. His eyes started to droop and became hard to open. He was about to lose consciousness. “Oh… no, I’m… l-losing… con…scious…ness.”
With all the willpower he had left, he dragged his numb body forward before the effect completely took over.
In a last effort, Surata reached his hand out. “Crap! I… hav... save... th… boy!”
But it was futile. Without anyone to save him, Surata collapsed on the solid cold ground.
“I’m… sorry, Se…to, Yor…ui, Ko…roki, Fa…ther.”
___