Alex made his way toward the elevators, his plan forming with every step. He exhaled, feeling the solid weight of the brick phone in his pocket. Ever since fusing with his aPhone, the device remained, a reminder that he was still human, even if the aPhone had become part of his mind. Its interface, visible only to him, floated in front of his eyes like a ghost—a secret advantage no one else could see.
As he stepped into the elevator, he summoned the digital interface with a thought. It flickered to life, displaying a familiar array of icons. "Okay, Iris," he said quietly, keeping his voice low in the confined space. "Let's check out the apps list."
Iris responded, her voice calm and professional. "What can I assist you with today, Alex?"
"I need a quick rundown of the apps I can use," he said, eyes scanning the icons. "What's at my disposal?"
"Certainly," Iris replied smoothly. "Here are the apps available to you and their capabilities: Stocks App: View stock prices and trends a few hours into the future."
Kofi's voice cut in, dripping with sarcasm. "Just what you need—more ways to lose money while you're gambling."
Alex rolled his eyes. "Thanks for the vote of confidence. What's next?"
"2. Calendar App: See a couple of days ahead in your personal schedule. Useful for avoiding minor mistakes."
"Sure, like when you mistakenly bet your life savings on a bad hand. Can't let that slip by," Kofi added with a snicker.
Alex shook his head, suppressing a grin. "Let's keep moving."
"3. Weather App: Provides forecasts for the next day or two. Not particularly relevant in a casino, but you never know when a storm might roll in."
"Great, so I can be prepared for the rainy day I'll need after losing all my cash," Kofi shot back, the sarcasm palpable.
Alex sighed, feeling the weight of Kofi's constant commentary. "Next."
"4. Camera App: You can take photos and videos. Here are some useful modes:
Slow-Motion: Capture fast-paced action in detail. Could be useful for analyzing roulette wheels.
Time-Lapse: Record a series of moments and condense them into a shorter video. Perfect for documenting table patterns over time.
Panorama: Capture wide-angle shots. Great for getting the whole table in view.
Burst Mode: Take a rapid series of photos.
This could help capture any suspicious dealer behavior in a flash." Kofi perked up.
"Now we're talking! If you can spot any dealer tells or table patterns, you might just have a fighting chance."
Alex nodded. "Exactly. What else?"
"5. Health App: Displays basic health stats like heart rate and steps. It may function like a lie detector; elevated heart rates could indicate stress or deceit."
Kofi chuckled. "If you can read the dealer's heart rate, you might catch them sweating over a bad hand. Just don't freak them out by staring too hard."
"Good point," Alex muttered. "What about—"
"6. Reminders App: Set reminders for short-term tasks. You can use it to track key moments during gameplay, like when to pay attention to certain patterns or behaviors."
"That's actually useful," Alex said, feeling his confidence grow. "It'll keep me organized—though I'm not sure how much help it'll be when I'm losing my cool."
Kofi laughed. "Yeah, don't get too cocky. But hey, you're thinking like a winner now! Just remember—don't lose your shirt while trying to gather intel."
"Thanks for the reminder, Kofi," Alex replied dryly. As the elevator doors opened, he stepped out into the casino, bracing himself for what lay ahead.
---
The bright lights of the casino flooded his vision as soon as he stepped out. The clinking of coins, the hum of slot machines, and the distant cheers of winners filled the air, a constant buzz that only heightened the tension. The smell of stale cigarette smoke lingered, mixing with the faint aroma of overpriced cocktails being passed around by waitresses in glittering dresses.
He adjusted his jacket, making his way toward the exit. His mind was spinning with possibilities, the apps on his aPhone offering more than just convenience—they could give him an edge. Kofi's sarcastic remarks still echoed in his ears, but beneath the humor, there was truth. There was real potential here. The key was figuring out how to use it.
"Hey, there he is," a familiar voice called out. Alex turned to see Jin standing near the entrance, his large frame relaxed as ever, arms casually crossed.
"How was your nap?" Jin asked, a smirk tugging at his lips.
Alex shrugged, putting on his best poker face. "Refreshed," he lied. In truth, he hadn't slept at all—his mind had been too busy analyzing, strategizing.
Jin's eyes narrowed slightly, though his expression remained friendly. "So, what's the plan?"
"None yet," Alex said, keeping his tone light. "Figured we'd start with the slot machines."
Jin raised an eyebrow. "Slot machines, huh?"
Alex flashed a nonchalant smile, but his thoughts were already racing. The Camera app's slow-motion mode together with Kofi's control had helped him win ten jackpots in a row. But that was just the beginning. What if he combined the Health app's ability to read stress signals with the slow-motion footage? He could track when opponents were bluffing or dealers were uneasy. And the Reminders app? It would be perfect for timing key moments. Timing was everything in a casino.
Kofi's voice buzzed in his ear, barely concealing a grin. "Nice poker face. You gonna run that 'slot machine' plan by Jin or keep him in the dark?"
Alex didn't answer Kofi out loud, just gave Jin a nod. "Let's see what we can pull off."
They headed toward the rows of machines, the glittering lights reflecting off the polished floor. Jin glanced around, unimpressed by the rows of flashing lights and spinning reels. "So… slots, huh?"
Alex let out a soft laugh. "What, not flashy enough for you?"
Jin shrugged. "Just feels like a slow way to make a quick buck, that's all."
Kofi chimed in, voice low and amused. "He's not wrong. But hey, we've been here before. Just don't push your luck like last time. Start scanning those dealers for heart rates—see who's sweating bullets."
As they reached the slot machines, Alex made a show of picking one at random, knowing full well that this wasn't his real target tonight. He slid a bill into the machine and activated the slow-motion mode in his mind's eye, carefully observing every little detail of the spinning reels.
But slots weren't going to be the main event. Not anymore.
"I'll take the first spin," Alex said, his tone casual. "You just sit back and enjoy the show."
Jin gave him a doubtful look but leaned against the machine next to him, arms crossed, as if ready to watch the inevitable.
Alex pulled the lever, the whir of spinning icons filling the air. This was just the beginning.