Having verified the potency of his Luck, Charlie didn't simply leave everything to fate. He played his public persona with calculated precision, letting the observers believe he was nothing more than a nouveau riche upstart riding a delirious winning streak.
At tis, he would throw out a ridiculous bluff or play a poor hand of poker just to bait his opponents into raising the stakes. At others, his keen eyes would catch the subtle flick of a cheat's wrist, and he would turn their own trickery against them. Bolstered by a near-superhuman mory, Charlie managed his chips with the cold precision of an accountant, systematically dismantling ga after ga.
In a den filled with entertainnt-starved gods, arrogant plutocrats, and nobles hungry for validation, Charlie's relentless victories began to send ripples through the hall. It didn't take long for the entire casino to start whispering about the mysterious stranger.
"Excuse , sir."
Just as Charlie beca the undisputed gravitational center of the room, an elderly man in formal attire approached. His tone was soft, yet it carried the undeniable weight of authority.
"The owner of the El Dorado Resort, Mr. Cervantes, would like a private audience with you."
(Finally. The big fish is taking the bait,) Charlie cheered inwardly.
He offered a thin, practiced smile and accepted the invitation with feigned delight.
"It is a great honor for the owner himself to take notice of a novice like . Where shall we go?"
"Please, this way."
The manager led Charlie through the throngs of people toward a stout dwarf who was circling the casino floor, greeting high-profile guests with a flamboyant air.
"I am Terry Cervantes! A pleasure to et the 'Little Rookie' who has beco a living legend in my casino in a single night!" the dwarf bood, his voice pitched with a forced, theatrical friendliness.
Terry fit the dwarven mold perfectly; the top of his head barely reached Charlie's chest. His beard was grood to perfection, his brown hair slicked back, and his high-quality black suit strained slightly against his broad shoulders and thick limbs. As expected of a man involved in such unsavory trades, a phalanx of bodyguards hovered nearby.
Terry looked Charlie up and down, his gaze sharp and calculating, as if he were appraising the market value of a commodity.
Suppressing a violent urge to end the man right then and there, Charlie leaned into his acting, projecting the image of soone utterly harmless to man or beast.
"My na is Avalon, a businessman from Altena. I believe I am simply favored by fortune tonight. It's an honor to be in the most luxurious casino in all of Orario, Mr. Cervantes."
Because of the restrictions placed upon Saviors—where using a false na could mark them for "purging" by the Will of the World—Charlie opted for his surna, which few people knew.
"Oh, Altena, is it?" Terry murmured, looking impressed. "A land fad for its magical prowess. They are considered a global power, ho to many high-level individuals. To succeed in such a competitive environnt, Mr. Avalon, you must be a man of extraordinary caliber."
Sure enough, the na didn't ring any bells for Terry.
Though his full na was Charlie Avalon, the public knew him only by his given na or his alias, Solo Leveling. To Terry, the man standing before him was rely a "golden goose" from abroad, ripe for the plucking.
"Anyway, Mr. Avalon, I hear the Goddess of Luck has been whispering in your ear tonight. With fortune like that, don't you find these tables a bit... small? How about we move to the VIP lounge upstairs?"
Terry's smile transford instantly; the warmth of a host vanished, replaced by the predatory glint of a master salesman who had just locked onto his target. He gestured subtly toward the massive doors at the end of the hall, guarded by n with no insignia.
Charlie followed the dwarf's gaze, then purposefully put on an expression of hesitation, as if weighing the financial risk.
"Ah, do not worry, Mr. Avalon. It is simply a place where special guests like yourself can enjoy more... spirited wagers." Terry coaxed in a low, persuasive hum. "You will find n of equal wealth there, along with top-tier service and exclusive gas you won't find on the common floor. Plus, the connections one makes among peers are invaluable."
Terry leaned in, adding a note of certainty to his voice. "As you know, the El Dorado Resort is fully backed by the Entertainnt District. Everything here has official clearance and the full protection of Orario."
"..."
(Just as I thought. He naturally funnels guests with deep pockets into the VIP room. The higher the stakes, the faster the money flows.)
Pretending to be lost in thought for a mont, Charlie finally gave a slow nod, giving the impression he had been swayed by the promises of luxury.
"Very well. If you're vouching for it... I suppose I'll give it a try. To be honest, I was starting to find the gas down here a bit tedious."
"Gah ha ha ha! A brilliant decision, Mr. Avalon! Excellent!" Terry roared, his belly shaking with laughter. "Co, let us waste no more ti—golden opportunities do not wait for the indecisive!"
With a spring in his step, Terry led Charlie through the crowd of starstruck onlookers toward the restricted entrance that Charlie had been monitoring through his Senrigan.
The great doors creaked open slowly, like a maw ready to swallow its newest prey into a darkness draped in velvet and gold.
◆━??????????━◆
The clamor of the main hall faded into a heavy, pressurized silence as the thick doors thudded shut behind them.
A room bathed in the dim, amber glow of magic stone lamps greeted Charlie. Though nearly as large as the main hall, the number of tables and people was far fewer, creating an atmosphere that was uniquely exclusive and grand.
Waiters in stiff black suits and beautiful won in shimring gowns moved with ethereal grace, pouring expensive vintage spirits for the clientele.
Under Terry's escort, Charlie began to sweep his eyes across every corner of the room.
As he suspected, the soundproofing was phenonal; not a single peep from the outside world penetrated the oak doors. Only the low murmur of conversation echoed in the vast space, punctuated by the crisp clink of tokens against high-quality, heavy wood tables. The guests here were clearly in a different league; mountains of high-value chips were stacked neatly before them.
Among the patrons, handso valets moved with absolute precision, accompanied by young won in dresses that left little to the imagination. However, Charlie imdiately sensed sothing wrong. The won pouring the drinks, though breathtakingly beautiful, had a haunting emptiness in their eyes—a hollow stare that made them look more like porcelain dolls than living, breathing beings.
"We have arrived."
Terry stopped at a large round table and introduced Charlie to a group deeply imrsed in a ga of cards.
Four Demi-humans sat there; they appeared to be old acquaintances of Terry's, judging by their casual, blunt manner of speech.
"A fine evening as always, Owner. By the way, who is this you've brought us?" one of them asked, tidying his stack of tokens.
"Allow
to introduce him. This is Mr. Avalon of Altena." Terry slapping Charlie on the shoulder with his signature laugh. "His luck tonight is so monstrous, I suspect he might be the secret love-child of the Goddess of Fortune herself! Ga ha ha ha...!"
Charlie put on his most convincing polite smile. "A pleasure to et you all. It is thanks to the Owner's kindness that I've found my way to such an august establishnt. Please, go easy on ."
A servant deftly pulled out a chair for Terry. As the dwarf sat down, a stunningly beautiful Elf girl erged from the shadows. With movents that were almost painfully cautious, she set a cocktail down in front of him.
"...!"
For a fleeting second, Charlie couldn't hide his shock.
The innate pride of the Elves was a universal truth in this world; they were a race that held their dignity and sanctity above all else. To find an Elf working in what was essentially a glorified brothel, behaving like a mindless doll, was a chilling anomaly.
(What on earth have they done to these girls?)
??Keep reading and support this story on Ko-fi:
??Ko-fi: ko-fi/lovefanfiction or bit.ly/4sbFiOM
??More early access chapters from WebNovel
??5 translated fanfic chapters & 1-2 new original fanfic chapters every day (Monday-Saturday), exclusive on Ko-fi.
Thank you so much for your incredible support!
Reviews
All reviews (0)