Chapter 266.3 |
‘Huu.’
There’s a reason I suddenly moved to this table.
– Braun, could you ask Section Chief Lizard to… stand leaning against the wall behind Assistant Manager Dolphin’s table?
Yes.
It was a table with the wall that Section Chief Lee Jaheon would naturally lean against directly behind it.
And the reason I needed Section Chief Lee Jaheon was simple.
‘Because he looks like a lizard to me.’
And the eyes set in a lizard’s head the size of a human’s were larger than a human’s, with thicker lenses.
Which meant.
‘The card the dealer is holding is reflected.’
Just the color and a very faint silhouette were enough.
‘…And it worked.’
I succeeded in the bet by looking at the front of the card reflected in Section Chief Lee Jaheon’s eyes.
[Excellent quick thinking, Mr. Roe Deer.]
Thanks.
…And the best part was.
‘No one knows what method I used.’
Because to everyone else, Section Chief Lee Jaheon appears to have a human appearance.
That had been true in every ghost story we’d encountered so far, so if you judged based on Section Chief Lee Jaheon having a human head…
‘There’s no way the card would be reflected in his eyes.’
In the end, this became a signal only I could perceive.
Perhaps even without his own awareness.
[Oh, that was quite thrilling.]
[Of course, a broadcaster can’t be involved in casino fraud, but this much could be considered a pleasant little supernatural ability.]
[If a man who guesses which piece of music is recorded by looking at the grooves of a record can be treated as a psychic, then what my friend did isn’t so different, is it? Haha!]
I don’t know.
Even if only I could verify it, if you look purely at the mechanism…
‘It’s undeniably fraud.’
But in a casino, the only reliable ways to make money were outright cheating or the earlier trick, and since that trick had already been blocked by someone who used it before, there was no other choice.
I used it impulsively, and in such a roundabout way, but just in case…
“……”
Did she notice?
I sat at the table as calmly as possible, laughing and exchanging congratulations with Agent Choi, but the dealer said nothing.
I couldn’t even bring myself to look at her.
And then…
After a brief pause.
“Congratulations. You’ve surpassed 999 coins.”
“…!!”
“You may now enter the VIP area. Shall I guide you right now?”
“……Yes.”
That did it.
I clenched my fist tightly and carefully stood up from the table.
* * *“Only parties in possession of 999 coins or more may enter the VIP room. At that time, the party may include the holder plus up to two additional people.”
The lively-voiced dealer explained as the six of us walked through the casino’s public area.
Soon, our footsteps came to a halt.
VIP ACCESS
“Then, I’ll open it.”
The dealer grasped the golden iron door and pulled it to the side…
The VIP room opened.
“…!!”
Inside was, unexpectedly…
A maze.
[Oh, it hasn’t fallen into disrepair.]
It looked as though luxurious spaces meant for secret conversations stretched endlessly beyond layered curtains. Areas connected as if mirrors faced one another.
It was as if the space existed to show that it was fundamentally different from the worn and decayed Casino of Corporeity outside.
There was only one discordant element.
~■■ CITY ROYAL CASINO~
A subway advertisement board was mounted inside a wall frame instead of a painting. It gave off an eerie feeling.
Trying not to listen to the whispers drifting from beyond the curtains, we came to a stop in front of one.
“Would you like to go inside? Please make yourselves comfortable. You can enjoy private betting in a separated space.”
The group entered quietly. Baek Saheon tried to slip away at the very back, but Agent Bronze grabbed him, and he was pulled inside as well.
But I felt a dangerous premonition boiling up.
“This way.”
The dealer drew the curtain aside and stepped in.
What appeared beyond was similar each time. Velvet sofas, a table, refreshments, and…
A silver revolver.
“Today’s prepared game is…”
Step, step.
The dealer walked over, picked up the revolver resting on a refined wooden table, and cocked it to load.
“Russian roulette.”
Fuck.
“It’s so famous you probably know it already, but to explain. One bullet is loaded into a six-shot revolver, and two people take turns pulling the trigger!”
Click, click, click.
The dealer’s hand pulled the trigger without hesitation.
As people instinctively tensed and drew back, the dealer smiled and held up the revolver, which still hadn’t fired.
“The one who gives up loses.”
Ha.
“But. If firing scares you, there’s another optionn.”
The dealer swept her gaze over us.
“You can give up one body partt.”
“…!”
“Then you can skip your turn and hand the revolver to your opponent.”
“Wait a moment.”
I hurriedly asked.
“Who are we competing against?”
“Another guest, of coursee?”
“…!”
“You play Russian roulette against each other, and the winner takes all the coins bet. But right now, in this VIP room…”
The dealer smiled faintly.
“There aren’t any other guests besides you, it seems?”
“……”
“If we wait, will other guests come?”
“Well. I can’t say for suree.”
“When was the last time a guest visited the VIP room?”
“Hmm. That’s something I’m not allowed to tell you.”
“…Have you personally seen it happen?”
“No.”
“……”
This is so fucked up.
“Wait. Then the ‘special-purpose’ body parts in the pawnshop…”
“Oh, so you already know about that too.”
Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae’s lips curled up into a smile as she spoke.
“If a guest pulls the trigger three times in a row, they can receive one body part as winnings.”
“…!”
“Isn’t it wonderful? A prize that suits such a thrilling game.”
The subway advertisement panel slid down, revealing what lay behind it.
A freight elevator.
No, not an elevator… rails.
‘Body parts.’
Various limbs and organs from different people were hanging neatly along the rails…
Among them would be Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae’s.
“……”
If we were to rescue Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae, there was no choice but to participate in this game and win body parts.
“Well then…”
The dealer smiled as she looked at us.
“Who will be playing?”
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