Walking through the streets of Clancy Islet with a sports bottle in his hand, Cristopher’s currently looking around, seeing the buildings fancy buildings that fill the place.

“It wasn’t an understatement that this place was like Vegas, but in Europe.” He muttered while looking around.

Buildings filled with light, places for entertainment, bars, dancing clubs, and even some kind of red district adorned this enormous floating island. There was also a park, but it wasn’t something that big, maybe merely for some kind of green decoration in this place filled with lights, tall buildings, and a few other things that screamed debauchery, sex, alcohol, and drugs.

{Mm… Amazingly, this place is only for the rich and powerful. No matter how advanced this world may be, exclusivity keeps being an important part of society, huh.}

With that in mind, he keeps walking through the streets, while drinking the beer that’s inside his expanded sports bottle.

“Oh well, let’s go check what the others are doing.” With a mutter, he turned back to walk towards the main casino, where the rest of the cadets should be right now.

He’s been walking for a bit, and that’s when from the other end of the street, a giant guy appears, walking in his direction.

{I forgot this dumbass was coming here too…} He thought for a moment, not giving it any more thought.

Seconds later, they both cross each other.

“Oi.” The giant suddenly spoke after passing beside him. But Cristopher didn’t answer and merely walked past.

That’s when the Giant appeared behind him, putting a hand on his shoulder, making him stop.

“I’m talking to you.” He spoke.

“Mm?” Cristopher turned to look at him. “What the hell you want?” He asked, frowning at the giant.

“Do I know you?” The giant asked.

“I’ve never seen you. What the fuck are you talking about?”

“*tch* Yes, I know you. You’re that cadet from Cube. The one to beat Shin Jonghak.”

“I don’t sign autographs. So, can you take your hand off?”

“Hehe~ What if I don’t want to?” The giant asked with an ugly smirk.

“Fuck, why the hell are you so ugly while smirking? I guess smiling doesn’t take you that far with girls.”

“You!” While frowning, the giant tried to press him harder on the shoulder. “Urgh!” But had to let go of him when an electric shock took him by surprise.

“Well, I’ll be leaving then.” Cristopher turned around, walking away.

“As if!” The giant tried to catch him once again, but he wasn’t there anymore. “What…?”

He stood there for a moment. Looking at the spot that the cadet was before.

“Ha… Haha… Hahahaha! This is great!” His laugh shocked his surroundings with how strenuous it was. “I’ll let you go for the moments. Kid.” He smirked, thinking back at the small encounter he had.

[Cheok Jungyeon! Where are you!?] Suddenly, from his ear, the voice of Jain sounded. It sounded as if she was whispering.

“I’m here already.”

[Huh, okay. Good. Stay put. We don’t want any incident happening before tonight.] She said again in a whisper.

“Sure, sure~ Whatever you say.” He smirked. “But I might have founded something great!”

[Argh! I can’t do this! I’m telling Boss that you’re going to make a mess!]

“*tch.* Fine. I’ll stay quiet. I’m going to some bar.” The giant, Cheok Jungyeong, said while walking towards one of the many bars in Clancy Islet.

***

Walking inside the casino, Kim Hajin looked around, the place was filled with machines all around, the sound of roulettes spinning, slot machines from both winners and losers, people speaking in multiples languages all around the place while playing poker, blackjack, and other gambling games.

{Where should I go first?} Kim Hajin thought with excitement for a moment while looking all around. {Oh right, I first have to look for chips.}

With that, he went to the currency exchange, where he took 10 million won in cash to exchange for some chips.

“Can I get your ID?” The cashier asked with a smile in perfect Korean.

Kim Hajin took out his ID and showed it to her, all the while looking at her directly. The cashier was Jain, probably in a disguise.

While the cashier, Jain, exchanged the cash for the chips as if she’s been doing this work for years, Hajin suddenly spoke.

“How long have you been working here?”

“It’s been six years.” Jain answered with a smile.

“So, it’s been a while.” Hajin nodded while taking the chips.

“Yes.” Jain smiled professionally.

Hajin then walked away towards the multiple betting places. While Jain just looked at his back.

After a little while, when no other client from the casino comes close, Jain suddenly whispered to herself.

“Reporting. Six Djinns from the Evil Society, three Heroes from the Association, and some random scammer. Oh, and there’s one person from the Vast Expanse. It looks like he’s only here to sightsee.”

Jain reported what she could confirm from her time in this casino. After all, with the scale of the event that’s starting soon, it’s not a surprise the number of flies that are flying around, and this is only those that she has seen, and there would certainly be more lurking around in the shadows.

“Oh, right.” She suddenly smirked. “There’s also Kim Hajin, who Boss likes.”

[Standby for now…] Boss answered. [Also, I do not like Kim Hajin.]

“Really? I didn’t know.” Jain smiled, ignoring the latter part of Boss’ answer. “By the way, Kim Hajin saw my face. Do you think he noticed?”

[He needs to concentrate his Magic Power around his optic nerves to see through your Gift. There’s no reason he would use his Magic Power while looking at an ordinary person.]

“I guess so.” Jain nodded. “I didn’t feel any movement of Magic Power either.”

[Okay. Contact Jungyeong, he should be there already.]

“Okay~!” Jain said, before whispering once again, this time while changing the frequency of her radio. “Cheok Jungyeong! Where are you!?” She whispered to the giant idiot, someone she somehow hated with how of an idiot he could be.

***

“Can I join in…?” Kim Hajin asked.

He was currently sitting down in one of the poker tables, where a group of scammers has been taking Chae Nayun’s money, letting her win a few games just to keep her betting her money, something that sooner or later would leave him without money.

“Of course!” Bert, the head of the scammers, was smiling as he answered him.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

“Hey, are you sure you have the money?” A worried Chae Nayun asked him. “The minimum bet is 100.000 won.”

“I’m fine, just play.” He answered her, not even looking up at her.

The game was reassumed and everyone received their cards, lifting them to check what they got, before picking one to show the rest of the table. Everyone except for Kim Hajin.

“Hm…?” One of the scammers, a bald guy looked at Hajin. “Hey, are you not going to see your hand?”

“No, I’m not.” Hajin answered with a smile. After all, he really didn’t need to flip the cards to see what he had, thanks to his Gift.

“You know the rules, kid?” The bald guy frowned at him.

“What? You think I would be here if I didn’t?” Kim Hajin answered, right before singing ‘Eeny, meeny, miny, moe’ to pick one card to lift.

The card he picked was the three of spades, while the other two were two queens.

The bald man’s veins bulged on his temples.

“What’s your problem…?” The man asked.

“What’s yours?” While Kim Hajin merely answered him with a smirk.

“What!?” The guy asked, slightly angry at the kid.

“Hey.” Before he could do something, Bert intervened. “Haha, can’t you see what he’s wearing? That’s Cube’s cadet uniform. Let’s be respectful to each other, okay?” He said while glancing at the bald man.

No one kept talking, but Hajin smiled. After all, even if the men here were expert scammers, it didn’t matter at all. Technique could only take you so far in gambling, here, luck is king. And Hajin has inhuman luck.

After a few rounds, the bald man once again got frustrated.

“This bastard really won’t look at his hands until the end…” The bald man frowned in anger. “Look at your hands for god’s sake! How can you be so confident!?”

“No.” Hajin calmly answered. “You’ll read my face if I do. I’m not that confident in maintaining my poker face.” He then glared at Bert, more specifically at his bracelet. A good artifact that was currently sealed and that even Bert didn’t know its true power.

He wanted that bracelet. The money wasn’t even important at this point. He only wanted that bracelet.

For the record, they were currently in their twelfth round, and Kim Hajin’s been increasing his money until it got to 60 million won. Chae Nayun, on the other hand, was currently in the reds.

“*tch.*” Bert subtly clicked his tongue, after all, his plans were ruined by this weird kid that came out of nowhere. Winning 50 million out of them and their schemes.

With five cards dealt, only two more to end this round. And for the moments, Bert had the best hand, if he got one more ace, he could complete an ace full high.

“Next hand.” Confident in his win, he asked for the sixth hand. And once the dealer gave him his card, he looked it up, and it was an ace of hearts. While he was now sure of his win, he didn’t show it in his face.

The only hands that could win him were the straight flush, the royal flush, and a four-of-a-kind, which was even more difficult to get when someone else had a full house. But he still didn’t show his excitement, as he would try to get everything back from that kid.

“Mm…” Meanwhile, Kim Hajin just sat there, not looking at his cards. Though he did know what he had, and he was just one card left from a four-of-a-kind.

“Call.” Bert said, increasing his bet.

“I raise!” The bald man increased the pot, even with his bad hand, as he received Bert's sign.

“Call.” Chae Nayun also called carefully, showing how terrible she was at the game with her bad hand and cero confidence to call a bluff.

“Call.” Kim Hajin also called, going all in, while thinking about how bad Chae Nayun was at this game.

“Here’s the final hidden card.” The dealer said while giving each other their final card.

“…” Kim Hajin received his card. A deuce of spades. His four-of-a-kind was complete.

“Ah, kid. You already went all in, so you can’t bet anymore, huh.” Bert said casually.

And he was right. With another round left of betting, Hajin didn’t have more money to bet. But that’s when Bert proposed something.

“Why don’t you bet that ring on your finger instead?” He asked, noticing that it wasn’t a normal ring.

“What!?” But the one to answer wasn’t Hajin, but Chae Nayun. “Is this guy crazy!? Hey, let’s just leave.” She said, standing up and trying to get Hajin out of there.

“What…?” Hajin looked at her. “The game isn’t over yet. Just stay put.”

“It’s fine, I’ll give you the money you would have lost-”

“Just sit.” Hajin interrupted her, grabbing her wrist and making her sit again before sighing. “Fine. I’ll bet this priceless ring, so you bet that too.” Hajin said while pointing at Bert’s bracelet. He then took out his ring and placed it on the table.

“Deal.” After thinking for a little while, Bert took his bracelet and also placed it on the table, sure he would win.

At that moment, Chae Nayun whispered into Hajin’s ear.

“Hey, are you really okay with that? That’s your family keepsake-”

“I won’t lose.” He interrupted her again, not even listening to what she said. “So, just stay still, I would have folded if I didn’t stand a chance.”

“Now then.” Bert said while looking around. “What will the others bet?” At his words, every teammate of his folded.

“I’ll also fold…” Chae Nayun said with a worried face, staying silent.

“I’ll go first.” Bert said with a smile while showing his hand. Ace-high full house.

“Full house?” Chae Nayun was surprised and immediately stiffened.

“Haha, sorry kid.” Berth chuckled while moving to sweep the coins and artifacts from the table.

“Hold on.” But was interrupted by Hajin. “I haven’t revealed my hand yet.”

“What…?” Hajin grabbed his wrist, stopping him from sweeping the chips.

Then, Hajin slowly revealed his cards with his other hand.

“Four of a kind. It’s my victory.” He smirked.

“Wow! Four of a kind! H-How!?” Chae Nayun shouted in surprise while cusping her hand.

While Bert’s face darkened.

“This must be a scam! How could you win!?” Bert started to make a big scene in the casino, but before the guards could make it there. Chae Nayun subdued him while Hajin took the chips and they both then got away.

[Athenian Citizen’s Obsidian Bracelet]

[A bracelet with magic seals.]

[Magic Artifact.]

[Magic Seals (1/4)

- Shock Absorption and Automatic Recharge: when its wearer receives damage, some of it it’s converted into Magic Power and stored in the bracelet. Slowly charges Magic Power when exposed to air.]

While Hajin walked, while looking at the bracelet’s description, Chae Nayun spoke to him.

“What were you going to do if you lost…?” She asked him.

“Jump off a bridge.” Hajin answered after a little pause, trying to joke with her, but Chae Nayun made a serious face instead.

“Don’t say that.” She looked directly at his eyes, answering in a serious tone. “You have to live your life to the fullest.”

Hajin got surprised by her serious tone, not knowing why would she answer like that from his joke.

“What is it all of a sudden?” He tilted his head with a frown. “What? You want your money back?”

“No, you use it. You won it fair and square, I’ll consider it as a lesson fee.” Chae Nayun shook her head after a second, before walking towards the exit. “I won’t gamble ever again.”

After a few steps, she stopped and turned to look at him.

“By the way, you were pretty cool today.” She abruptly said, before turning to leave again.

“I guess I really was…” He said while smirking after a little while.

It was then that the sound of the slot machines and other games from the casino took his attention.

He looked around and could see all these games around. Here in the casino, where luck decided the fate of fortune. Kim Hajin was king.

***

After making a few turnarounds, looking through a few antique stores, and refilling his drink a few times, Cristopher finally made it towards the Casino, from where he could see Chae Nayun getting out with a saddened face.

“‘Supp?” He smirked at her, looking at her face.

“Huh? Oh, it’s you.” She said with a face. “Why are you smirking for?”

“Mm? No reason. Just looking at this girl that surely lost a lot of money gambling.”

Which was true. From the 300 million won Kim Hajin got while playing poker, at least 100 million came from Chae Nayun.

“Grr… You!” She glared at him while clenching her fists. “Why do you always pick a fight with me!?”

“Just because it’s funny.” He shrugged at her.

“What…? Why!?” She looked at him.

“How you react at the teasing. It’s always fun.” He said, walking past her until she grabbed his arm. “Mm? What?”

“Stop picking fights with me.” She said with a frown.

“Mm?” He made a thinking gesture while rubbing his chin. “I’ll think about it.” Until he just shrugged and pulled his arm from her, walking into the casino.

“Urgh! I don’t get that guy! He’s such a prick…” The already grumbling Chae Nayun grumbled even more as she made her way back to the hotel.

Once inside the casino, Cristopher looked around. He could see Jain on the currency exchange’s box, but he chose to ignore her. He then went to look for Kim Hajin, being led by the shouts of amazement that were resounding around every few minutes.

“Mm? Ho, would you look at that?” He muttered while walking to the slot machines, where Kim Hajin just finished winning a lot of money with a really lucky pull.

“Yes!” Hajin shouted, picking his chips and standing up to go somewhere else, at least until he saw Cristopher. “Oh? Hey, man. I thought you wouldn’t come to the casino.”

“Mm? I didn’t find anything else to do. Apart from a few antique stores and bars, there’s nothing much to do here, at least for me. What about you? Have you made money yet?”

“I sure did.” Hajin smirked. “My luck is at an all-time high!”

“You and your cheat luck… Well, did you pick my money?”

“Mm? Oh, those 3 million won? Yeah, I exchanged them.”

“How much did you exchange?” Cristopher tilted his head.

“10 million won.” Hajin said with a lifted eyebrow. “Why?”

“Oh well, that means that 30% of your wins is for me.” He smirked.

“What!? Are you crazy? I’m the one doing everything!”

“No. Your luck is the one doing everything. You barely do this and that.” Cristopher shrugged.

“Still, that’s not fair. You can’t just take 30% off everything I win here.” Hajin frowned.

“Oh, come on! You know I don’t have the luck to win anything here. Can you just give me a favor?”

“Argh… Fine. I’ll give you 30%. But nothing more!” Hajin said. “And that’s only because you’ve helped me get a lot of money while hunting!”

“Great!” Cristopher smirked. “I’m glad that you have a conscience and I didn’t have to put that shitty card.”

“What shitty card?”

“Reminding you of everything I’ve done for you.” Cristopher smirked.

“Like what-” He was about to answer, but stopped. “That’s bullshit from you… You don’t give things just to rub them off in other people’s faces.” Hajin frowned.

“Mm? But I didn’t. I was just talking about that shitty card I could use.” Cristopher shrugged.

“*sigh…* Whatever. I’ll keep going.” Hajin said while going to the next machine.

“Sure! I’ll wait for you outside, there’s this antique shop I haven’t looked into.”

“Mm? Have you actually found anything useful in those?”

“Mm… Nothing useful.” He shrugged. “But you never know. I might find a treasure next.”

“Sure. Whatever.” Hajin shook his head. “I’ll see you then. After I take everything I can from here.”

Hajin smirked while Cristopher nodded, but before finally turned to leave, he stopped.

“Oh, right! We have to go to that important event, when you’re done, don’t forget to transfer me my part, I’ll go see what I can buy to wear there.”

“That’s true.” Hajin nodded. “I’ll text you later, then.”

“Sure.” With that, they both parted ways, one leaving the casino, and the other going further in to win more money.