Chapter 104: Gamble(1)
What could be better than fucking up an entire kingdom in a single night?
Fucking up two kingdoms in one night is the answer.
Luke, Selena, and Liam are currently riding through the wintry streets of Ayleth in a hired carriage. Lina isn't feeling well, and Spencer wants to go home, so the three of them were the only ones left.
They are now on their way to the location that has made Ayleth a popular tourist destination. The spot when you most needed luck.
The carriage finally came to a halt, and Luke and his companions descended. They immediately turned their attention to a magnificent palace-like structure with dazzling lights and golden pillars.
Selena stared at the structure in front of her, her eyes wide.
"The... Casino?"
Luke responded calmly, pulling out a set of suits for both genders and passing one to Selena, who is still trying to understand everything.
"That's right. Now put that on and follow me inside."
"Wait, when you say you needed me for something, do you mean this? Do you require my assistance with gambling? But don't you already have a lot of money?!"
Luke took off his suit and smiled as he glanced at Selena.
"We're not in it for the money. We're playing for sake of children."
Luke's declaration brought the entire gang to a halt. Selena was deafeningly quiet for a little minute before her eyes began to tremble.
"H-hey... Don't tell me there are people in there gambling children?"
"How come you're surprised? Today's world is a terrible mess."
After that, Luke finished putting on his luxurious attire and donned a posh black mask. He then smiled as he passed Selena the golden mask he had made.
"So, do you want to go in or not?"
Selena paused for a while, her gaze falling on the costume and mask in her hands. She had no idea there would come a time when she would have to use her gambling abilities for such things. She then sneered at Luke, who was waiting for her response.
"Is that even a question?"
"All right, let's go."
"Today, I'm going to sweep the entire casino floor."
Luke noticed Selena's smug smirk growing on her lips. He then gave a satisfied nod and followed Selena into the casino.
When Luke, Liam, and Selena walked into the casino, they were greeted by a cacophony of sounds: people enjoying the games, people shouting for multiple reasons, and some even fighting and being escorted by the guards. Selena smirked.
"It's a lot louder than I expected."
"This is the most popular gambling establishment, and people come here 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so what do you expect? But don't worry; this is only the regular visitor's floor. The venue for our performance will be on the upper floor. It's much more silent in there."
"The top floor? Aren't those floors for VIPs? Can we even get in?"
Luke smirked and reached into his pocket for a golden token. There are two golden tokens, one for each of them. Selena stared at Luke's precious token with her mouth agape. She can't believe what she's seeing.
'Those tokens are extremely expensive! It's hard enough to earn one token, but he has two?!'
Luke smiled mischievously as if he sensed what was on her mind.
"It appears you overlooked the fact that I had a crown prince for a brother."
"Ah!"
Selena let out a gasp of surprise. She had almost forgotten about Luke's relationship with Reece's crown prince. It's no surprise Luke was able to obtain those tokens so quickly. Liam sighed and shook his head, which she could hear. She then hears Liam muttering something about how sorry he is.
"However, the money that is taken from the crown prince to buy those tokens nearly cost him his entire salary..."
Selena swallowed and turned to face Luke, who smiled as he handed her the token. She was instantly terrified of touching the token. After that, Luke muttered something to jolt her awake.
"Money is nothing in the face of many children whose lives are in danger."
Selena's face became serious as she grasped the token and dashed forward on what appeared to be an elevator. Luke smirked and trailed behind her, while Liam simply chuckled and looked back at Luke.
'As one would expect from brother, he genuinely cares about those kids.'
Liam then beamed and joined them in the elevator, which took them to the top floor. When they arrived, a large built man stopped them and placed his palms in front of Luke as if he were requesting something. He's requesting the tokens as proof that you're a true VIP.
Luke grinned and displayed his token to the man, and Selena did the same, changing the man's attitude. Luke waved his hands as the man gazed at Liam.
"Don't worry, he's with me."
The guard was first doubtful but shrugged his shoulders because he couldn't offend VIPs too much or he'd lose his job, so he just let it go. Luke smiled as he patted the large guy and walked inside the VIP area.
What greeted them were a group of well-known lords and aristocrats who were having a good time and drinking wine. There's also a cluster of rooms in the corners that serve as VIP playrooms, where most of the aristocrats that visit play discreetly or discuss private topics.
And Luke intends to break into one of those rooms.
Luke keeps walking forward. Some aristocratic and noblewomen attempted to stop him and converse with him, but he simply smiled and continued walking forward. Selena couldn't believe her eyes when she saw Luke's charming smiles directed at the girls. He has the appearance of a playboy, which does not fit him.
Meanwhile, Liam maintained glaring like a watchful knight at the nobles who were looking their way, causing the nobles to back off and continue playing and minding their own business.
Luke has finally arrived at the room where he intends to go. It's the last room on the floor, in the far corner. Luke then carefully raised his hands and pressed what appeared to be a doorbell button.
The door slowly opened, greeting them with a grumpy old man in his 30s who seemed irritated.
"Who is it? Ben?"
Ben, the man in front of them, clenched his teeth and yelled at the man that seems to be in his 30s who was laying pleasantly on the back and surrounded by girls. They appear to be in the midst of a play.
"Don't try to boss me around! I am not your servant!"
"Ho? Do you dare to retaliate after you've been defeated?"
Ben suddenly swallowed his words and turned to face Luke, who was smiling pleasantly at him. He then asked, his tone irritated.
"What the hell do you want, you kids?"
Luke greeted the man with a pleasant grin and presented him the gold card that the crown prince had given him.
"Do you mind if I play a couple of rounds with you guys?"
Ben and the man inside were all enthralled by the golden card in Luke's palm. These cards are only available to royalties, so the brat in front of them must be a big deal.
Ben's demeanor soon shifted, and he greeted Luke and his buddies warmly.
"Please accept my apologies for my obnoxious behavior! Please enter!"
"My, thank you."
Luke then strolled past Ben without making eye contact and sat next to the man surrounded by girls in the available chair. This is the man he's after.
James Oliver is the head of the Minos Merchant Guild, which is now the No. 1 merchant guild. This is the man Luke intends to meet and take down tonight.
No, taking down is an understatement; he intends to demolish this man's entire career.
"How may I assist you, sir?"
Luke smirked at James' sudden shift in attitude. He adjusted his sitting position and sat straight up, rather than sitting comfortably as before. Even the girls behind him began to act appropriately.
Luke smiled at them as he set the golden card down on the table, causing their thirsty eyes to follow it. Then Luke said something.
"I'd want to play a game. I'm going to bet this entire card. It's yours if you win."