Boom!
When the two dice cups landed on the table, a large crowd gathered around, scrambling to place their bets.
Small, Large, Medium, Points.
Each option had different odds. Points offered the highest odds but were the hardest to guess, so few people bet on them.
When the dice cups were opened, the room filled with mixed sounds of elation, frustration, and stomping feet.
After watching a few rounds, Ronnel had a clear grasp of the game. Observing the faces of those around him, he approached a gambler who looked particularly downtrodden, with the fewest chips in front of him. The man had lost several bets already.
This man was dressed in a fine suit, gold-rimmed glasses on his face, and a diamond-encrusted watch on his wrist—clearly someone with wealth.
As the croupier once again shook the dice cups in the air, the rich man and everyone else stared at the movement without blinking.
But Ronnel remained still, slightly tilting his head to listen to the subtle clatter of dice.
Shizuku, who stood silently beside him from the beginning, showed no reaction either.
Finally, as the dice cups landed on the table again, the crowd, unfamiliar with the nuances of the game, made their random bets as if chasing luck.
The rich man hesitated, his fingers gripping a few chips. After a brief pause, he placed his bet on "small."
However, just as he was about to drop the chips, a soft voice reached his ear.
"The left cup is five, five, six. The right is six, three, five. Bet on 'large.'"
Startled, the rich man turned to see a young man, plainly dressed, standing calmly beside him. Ronnel gazed at him with quiet confidence.
Though the man initially frowned, noting Ronnel's simple attire, he hesitated briefly and, as if under a spell, moved his chips to "large."
"Open: five, five, six on the left, six, three, five on the right. Large."
The croupier's calm announcement hit the rich man like thunder. Shocked, he turned to Ronnel, who merely smiled back.
Gulp.
The rich man swallowed, his excitement growing. He realized he had encountered an expert.
In a world where Nen powers were well known, stories of people with strange abilities weren't uncommon. Although the rich man wasn't well-versed in such things, he knew enough to realize that he was in the presence of someone extraordinary.
Gathering his winnings quickly, the rich man kept his eyes on Ronnel as the croupier began shaking the dice cups once more.
But this time, Ronnel's expression remained unchanged, and a flicker of disappointment crossed the man's face.
Just as he thought the earlier success might have been a fluke, the soft voice returned.
"Left cup: four, five, four. Right cup: six, six, two. Total: twenty-seven. You can bet on 'large' or the exact number, twenty-seven."
The rich man froze, then looked at Ronnel again. After a moment's hesitation, he placed most of his chips on 'large' and cautiously placed one chip on the number twenty-seven.
His bold move attracted the attention of others around the table.
"Open: left, four, five, four. Right, six, six, two. Total: twenty-seven. Large."
The croupier's gaze flickered as he saw the dice. While he'd anticipated a "large" result, guessing the exact number was something else entirely.
He glanced at the now-excited rich man, unsure if it had been a coincidence.
But as the croupier prepared for the next round, the rich man was now fully invested. He watched Ronnel intently.
When the dice cups landed once more, the familiar soft voice whispered in his ear, but this time with a twist.
"I can help you guess for five more rounds, but you'll need to do us a favor. Don't worry, it's just a small thing."
For someone as addicted to gambling as this man, logic was long forgotten. Without hesitation, he nodded.
Seeing this, Ronnel's lips curled into a faint smile as he whispered the next set of numbers and outcomes.
In the streets of Meteor City, life was stable for some, but many sought after-dinner entertainment.
Gambling—ah, the perfect pastime. It filled the emptiness in people's hearts and allowed them to wager food and resources for what they desired.
Meteor City lacked many necessities, so its gambling culture was simple, just like its residents.