The streets of Prague had an electric hum, and at the center of it all stood one of the most exclusive casinos in the world. Towering like a palace, its neon lights beckoned to high rollers and underground players alike. The city may have been steeped in history, but inside these walls, fortunes were won and lost in a matter of minutes.
Alex and Jin arrived, blending in with the crowd. Tonight's mission was simple: gather intel, and if possible, take home more than just pocket change.
"Let's start with the usual," Alex muttered as they approached the casino floor.
Jin shot him a sidelong glance, his smirk unmistakable. "Slot machines? Roulette before the real game kicks off?"
Alex gave him a half-shrug. "We need to blend in."
The two made their way to the slot machines, where Alex nonchalantly slid into a seat. The clinking of coins and the flashing lights created a perfect cover for him to focus, using his newly enhanced skills. It didn't take long before he started winning. Time after time, the screen blinked "JACKPOT," and the pile of chips in front of him grew.
Meanwhile, Jin casually surveyed the casino, his sharp eyes scanning for potential threats. It wasn't long before he noticed something troubling. A group of five large men in tailored suits was approaching, their eyes locked on Alex. Jin moved quickly, intercepting them with a calm but commanding presence.
"We have a situation," Jin said under his breath as he rejoined Alex.
Alex paused, his fingers just about to pull the slot lever again. "What is it?"
Jin leaned closer. "The whole casino is bugged. Cameras everywhere, mics hidden in plain sight. We're being watched closely."
Alex's brow furrowed. "Guess we're drawing more attention than I thought."
"We need to regroup," Jin advised. "Let's pull back and come back later tonight, when the place cools down."
—--
Back at their hotel room, Jin laid out a map of the casino floor on the small desk. With a pen, he meticulously marked the locations of every camera and microphone he had spotted during their reconnaissance.
"This is where they're positioned," he said, pointing to the corners of the casino floor, near the high-roller tables, slot machines, and even the entrance. "We can't make a move without them seeing us."
Kofi's voice crackled to life in Alex's ear through the AeroPods. "Alex, this means no talking or pulling any funny moves. And that panorama mode of yours? Yeah, some of those gamblers have that tech with all the cameras and bugs. You're not the only one with tricks up your sleeve."
Alex leaned back, absorbing the information. "I know. But we've come too far to back down now."
He thought for a moment, then asked Kofi, "Can you read human text?"
Kofi snorted in indignation. "What, you think an advanced lifeform like me can't read your primitive scribbles? Of course, I can."
"Good," Alex replied with a grin. "I have an idea. We'll communicate through text messages on my digital window. Since you can read what I type, it'll keep things quiet, and solve our 'Jin problem.'"
There was a pause, and Kofi's voice oozed amusement. "Sneaky. I like it."
—---
Later that night, they returned to the casino. This time, Alex went straight to the high-rollers' section, where the stakes were at their highest, and the eyes on him were the sharpest.
Alex slid into a plush leather chair at the poker table. The atmosphere was thick with tension as seasoned players from all over the world eyed each other across the green felt. The flickering candlelight from the chandelier above cast long shadows over the table.
Alex tapped his fingers nervously on the table, drawing a few curious glances. But his fidgeting wasn't nerves—it was deliberate. He was typing commands to Iris on the digital window only he could see.
"Alright, Iris," he whispered in his mind, "activate burst mode, and keep my cards open in another window." His mind raced, thinking through every possibility. The casino's cameras might be watching the cards, but he wouldn't give them the satisfaction of seeing his hand.
A small digital screen appeared in front of him, hidden from the other players and cameras. It displayed his cards, a constant stream of live information. But from the outside, it just looked like Alex was anxiously tapping away, trying to steady his nerves like a rookie.
"I'll show them," he muttered under his breath. "I'll make sure they see only what I want them to."
—---
The game began, and chips were placed on the table with calculated precision. But Alex wasn't just playing cards—he was outwitting the surveillance. Every tap on the table was another instruction to Iris, every nervous twitch another command to shift his strategy.
Jin kept a watchful eye on the room, moving around to intercept anyone who might catch on to their plan. Meanwhile, Alex was fully immersed in the game, typing rapid messages to Kofi as he played.
"I'm starting to think this might be too easy," Alex typed to Kofi.
Kofi's reply appeared instantly on his digital screen: "Don't get cocky, kid. They've got more eyes on you than a politician at a scandal party. Keep your cards close."
Alex smirked, typing back, "That's exactly what I'm doing."
He kept playing, his mind sharp, while the casino's cameras and tech tried—and failed—to penetrate his digital shield. The stakes rose higher with every hand, and the tension in the room grew thicker.
It was only a matter of time before the real test began.
The game was in full swing when the doors to the high-rollers' room swung open. The murmur of conversation hushed, and even the click of chips stopped for a beat. A man in an impeccably tailored suit, his presence commanding yet sinister, strode in like he owned the place.
Alex's fingers froze mid-tap, the last message to Kofi hovering incomplete on his hidden screen. He didn't need to turn around to know who had just walked in.
It was Victor Devereux.