Chapter 263.1 |
After she got separated from the group while boarding the train, we finally found Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae at this casino station.
We could have been happy that the search had succeeded.
If she hadn’t been working as a dealer in a casino ghost story with one eye missing.
“Assistant Ma—”
“Shh.”
Agent Choi grabbed my shoulder tightly. I reflexively shut my mouth.
“……”
“Yes, Ms. Dealer. Please guide us~”
“Yesyes!”
Agent Choi whispered in a low voice.
“Rather than causing a scene asking if she recognizes us, we need to find the perfect timing and snap her back to her senses, even if only briefly. Got it?”
I nodded.
The dealer guided us inward, passing through the run-down casino entrance area.
We entered while quietly observing our surroundings.
…If this were the <Dark Exploration Records>, the environment that appeared would surely have been recorded like this…
Upon passing through the casino entrance area under the dealer’s guidance, a space appears in which three iron doors are aligned side by side, resembling a repurposed subway maintenance facility.
The areas accessible through each door are described below in order.
1. Left – Red door
“This is the slot machine zone!”
When the door opened, a square space appeared, filled with fast-tempo, low-quality instrumental music, old brass decorations, and endlessly lined rows of slot machines.
Compared to the decorative machines at the entrance, this place felt more systematic and persistent.
“You can enjoy a simple game by pulling the lever, and you can challenge the jackpot with just one coin, so it’s very popularr.”
Most of the slot machines were already broken, but there were countless visitors blankly pulling the levers of the shabby machines that were still operating.
If they had no hands, they used their feet. If they had no feet, they used their mouths.
I even saw someone who had just won desperately grabbing whatever came out of a winning slot machine and fleeing to a corner.
And addicts chasing that winner like mad.
It was a hair-raising sight.
“Then I’ll guide you to the next areaa.”
2. Right – Blue door
“The dealer zone. This is where various table games are played. Only parties holding 50 coins or more may enterr.”
Compared to the slot machine zone, a somewhat cleaner casino space was revealed.
However, more than half of the game tables were broken or shattered.
At the few tables that were still intact, ‘dealers’ dressed similarly to Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae stood motionless or were running games.
But their numbers were noticeably small, and there were hardly any seated visitors…
[It feels isolated. Oh, like a run-down casino at a tourist destination no one visits anymore.]
[Look at those people. Such shabby appearances!]
The visitors sitting in front of the dealers either had no legs, or were missing more than half of their facial features, or had their entire bodies covered in worn-out hoodies or padded jackets.
“……”
“How would you like to proceedd?”
“Ah, it seems like today’s a rather quiet day.”
“People usually visit more on weekends than weekdayss!”
It clearly wasn’t that kind of issue, but it was only natural that realistic conversation was difficult with contaminated people.
I gently changed the subject.
“Actually, I was a bit surprised to meet a dealer. I thought this was an unmanned facility.”
“Ah. I understandd. I heard that since subway ridership has been declining recently, ■■ City Royal Casino has also been changing its management policy in a new and more innovative directionn.”
It was a loaded statement.
The dealer wearing Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae’s face smiled faintly and guided us to the next room.
“But there’s also a special game you can only enjoy heree!”
The final room.
3. Center – Gold door
A rusted iron door with its gold paint completely peeled away.
Above it hung a velvet nameplate that had not yet frayed.
VIP ACCESS
“Only visitors holding 999 coins or more may enter this roomm!”
Just as she said, the iron door was firmly shut.
As if we were not allowed inside.
“This is a zone I’d strongly recommend, where you can witness the true form of Royal Casino.”
“What kind of game is played there?”
“That is something I can only tell visitors who meet the entry requirements.”
“How many people are inside right now?”
“That is something I can only tell visitors who meet the entry requirements.”
In other words, if we wanted to know anything at all about the VIP room behind that door, we needed 999 coins.
“What I can say for sure is that it’s possible to earn an enormous amount of coins!”
“…I see.”
[Hmm. Are you curious, Friend?]
Of course, it felt ominous, but of course, that wasn’t what mattered right now.
“……Thank you for explaining.”
“You’re welcome, dear guestt!”
The dealer wearing Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae’s appearance smiled brightly as she bowed.
I responded with a slight bow, but I couldn’t shake a certain thought.
One question kept circling in my head.
Was Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae…
…originally that tall?
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