The dealer, he's not just some regular casino staff... Lucian murmured as he approached the dealer from before. He remembered there was a small pin on the dealer's collar, a symbol he recognized. "Hey, you. Can I get an extra chip?" This was the code to enter the real guild hidden from this casino, not many knew about it.
The dealer was taken aback, his expression changing instantly from flat to a bit tense. His sharp eyes scanned the room, making sure no one was paying attention to this secret conversation. He gave a small nod, a signal that was invisible to anyone else but Lucian. "Alright, then please wait a moment." He signaled to another employee, a young woman with neatly tied hair, who quickly disappeared into the back room marked "Staff Only."
The dealer glanced briefly at Lucian, then returned to his calm professional demeanor. He knew what the request for extra chips meant; it wasn't just about money, but about access to information and guild resources.
Lucian gave a slight smile, a smile full of meaning. He looked around, making sure no one was paying attention to this secret conversation. He glanced at Natty standing next to him, his face still reflecting awe and a bit of fear.
"Young Master, I didn't know you could play that," Natty said, his voice full of admiration and a little worry. He pointed at the towering stack of gold chips in front of Lucian, "No, I even feel like you have experience before. The way you read your opponents, the way you control the game... it's not just luck." He bit his lower lip, his eyes sparkling, amazed by Lucian's incredible skills.
Lucian chuckled softly, hiding his excitement behind his casual demeanor. "No, no, that was my first gambling experience," he replied, trying to sound relaxed, "Well, at least in actual gambling. I used to play poker with my college friends in my previous world, though it was just for fun. Because where I lived in the previous world, gambling was illegal." He thought, "No, I read that in a book." He answered briefly.
"I didn't expect books to have such sneaky knowledge," Natty said, still impressed by Lucian's abilities, her voice a mix of awe and a bit of fear about the world she had just glimpsed.
"Sir, the chip you asked for has already been prepared. Please follow me." The young woman, who had disappeared behind the maroon curtain, now reappeared. His neatly tied hair seemed to sparkle under the dim light of the casino lights. He pointed towards a door hidden behind a curtain that was thicker and darker than the former, as if it was deliberately hidden from the eyes of ordinary eyes. The atmosphere around the door felt different, colder and quieter.
"I didn't expect to be accepted so quickly?!" Lucian muttered, his eyebrows raised slightly, a surprised expression mixed with great curiosity. He followed the young woman, her steps calm but alert.
In the middle of the journey to the hidden door, the young woman paused for a moment. "Sorry to ask, but does this lady also want an extra chip?" she asked, her voice soft yet firm, her eyes sharply observing Natty. Her question wasn't just small talk; it was a test, a way to ensure Natty wasn't involved in this secret transaction.
"Ah I..." Natty started to speak, but hesitated. She glanced at Lucian, looking for a cue. Her face was pale, her lips slightly trembling. She clearly wasn't comfortable with the situation.
"No, it's just me asking for an extra chip," Lucian quickly cut in, his voice calm yet firm. He didn't want Natty to get more involved in this.
"Alright." The young lady nodded, "Miss, please wait here. Only those who request additional chips are allowed in." He pointed towards an empty chair near the entrance of the casino, away from the hidden door. His voice was flat, without emotion, but there was a subtle pressure in his words.
"Then I also asked—" Natty tried to protest again, but Lucian cut her off immediately.
"It's okay, you can wait for me for a while" said Lucian, his voice soft but firm, his voice containing subtle commands. I'll be back soon," Lucian said, giving a soothing smile, "Trust me." He motioned for the young woman to continue, then glanced again at Natty, giving a more reassuring smile.
"Yes, Young Master." Natty nodded obediently, although she still looked worried. He walked towards the place that Lucian had pointed to, his eyes still glancing towards the hidden door with curiosity and a hint of fear.
"Natty can definitely take care of herself, even though it's a bit clumsy she has decent stats," Lucian muttered to himself. He recalled the information he read on the game forum The Luminous Hero of Avandor. There, Natty's profile is full of her statistics, although she never imagined that information would be useful in the real world. He smiled slightly, feeling a little relieved that he had considered Natty's safety.
Lucian and the young woman had entered the room behind the hidden door. This room was completely different from the noisy and crowded casino atmosphere. It was quiet, felt cold, and was filled with the scent of wood and tobacco. A formal and serious vibe radiated from every detail of the room: a large, shiny teak table, comfortable yet stiff leather chairs, and walls adorned with paintings themed around war strategy.
In the middle of the room, a people dressling like a man with long light blue hair tied neatly and wearing a black mask was engrossed in playing chess alone, his fingers skillfully moving over the chess pieces. He looked so focused, as if he was contemplating a war strategy, with the chess pieces laid out in front of him like symbols in a complex plan.
"So, are you the customer who asked for extra chips?" The guy asked without looking. His voice was calm and flat, without a hint of emotion. He kept his focus on the chess game, as if the question was just a formality. He didn't see Lucian and the young woman as guests, but rather as pawns in a bigger game.
"Yeah, Master. This man asked for extra chips," the young woman—who Lucian now knew was named Zeta—said in a soft and respectful voice. She bowed slightly, then stood up straight again, waiting for the next command. Her demeanor showed high loyalty and discipline.
"Is that so?" The person finally turned, his sharp eyes observing Lucian from behind the mask. He gaze was cold and assessing, as if analyzing Lucian from head to toe. "Thanks for bringing him, Zeta." Their voice was calm and flat, without a hint of emotion. They didn't say thank you sincerely, but rather as a command.
"Then you can go back to your duties," the person continued, "it seems this man wants to offer me a business." He pointed to the chair in front of him, signaling Lucian to sit. He movements were measured and calculated, like a chess piece moving according to strategy.
"Okay, then I'll excuse you." Zeta bowed once more, then calmly left the room, closing the door behind him gently. Silence again enveloped the room, only the sound of Lucian's breathing could be heard. He sat down in the chair he had been assigned to, observing the blue-haired man attentively.
Lucian walked up to the person then sat down on the chair in front of him.
"So, what does this Young Master of the Hale family want?" The person asked, his voice still calm and flat, but there was a hint of curiosity implied behind his words. He was still focused on the game of chess, his fingers occasionally touching the chess pieces as if he was considering a strategy. However, his gaze remained fixed on Lucian, as if analyzing every movement and expression of the young man before him.