In the middle of the Eurubian continent, within the United States of Sahelta, in a casino in a small town, the atmosphere was electric.
"Seven o'clock, stud!"
The quiet casino felt like it had exploded, a rumbling noise filling the air.
"I stud too!"
"Whoever squeezes me, get out of my way, and I'll do it too!"
While the surrounding gamblers wore excited and flushed faces, Ronnie remained calm as he observed the dice Gu on the table. For others, this was a matter of probability, but for Ronnie, the outcome was already decided.
The dealer, wearing a nervous smile, held the dice Gu tightly in her hands. The small dice seemed unusually heavy at that moment, making it impossible for her to open it. As all kinds of chips began piling up on the table, symbolizing the "seven o'clock" bet, they formed a small hill.
The croupier could feel it—her career was over.
Or perhaps it was worse. After all, the casino where she worked was tied to a gang, and such a massive loss meant that her life might be in serious jeopardy.
Staring at Ronnie, whose demeanor remained indifferent, her eyes gradually filled with red-hot frustration. She couldn't understand what had just happened. This handsome young man had won eight games in a row, and every win was based on guessing the dice roll, not the size of the numbers.
She couldn't calculate the odds, only knowing that someone of her level couldn't figure out if Ronnie was cheating.
Ronnie didn't seem to care much as he waited for the dealer to make her move. But others weren't as patient.
"What's going on?! Open it already! I'm waiting to get my money!"
Seeing the croupier hesitate, the gamblers around her started cursing and demanding the result. Some even rolled up their sleeves, as if ready to use force.
At that moment, a voice echoed from behind the crowd. "The casino is here today to see off guests!"
The crowd parted, revealing a middle-aged man with a big belly, flanked by several strong men in suits. He looked like Capone Becky from One Piece—an intimidating figure.
This was Pies, the notorious gang boss in town.
When the gang boss arrived, a few gamblers decided to cut their losses and leave, but most were too greedy to back down. They saw this as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and weren't willing to give it up so easily—until they saw the guards draw their pistols.
The gamblers, who had looked like hungry wolves a moment ago, quickly became docile sheep. No one dared to utter a word as they left in silence.
The casino, once crowded with people, was now deserted, with only the croupier and Ronnie remaining at the table.
The croupier, breathing a sigh of relief at the appearance of the boss, hesitated before she slowly opened the dice Gu.
One, three, three—seven o'clock!
At the same time, Pies approached Ronnie, flanked by his guards, and clenched his fists, making a cracking sound. He sneered.
"You're brave, kid, coming to cause trouble in my casino!"
With a wave, he signaled the croupier to step back.
Ronnie raised an eyebrow, his tone cool. "So you're not going to give me the money today?"
Pies laughed maniacally. "Hahaha, you still want money? Not only will you not get the money, but you'll lose your head too!"
As he spoke, his guards closed in, aiming their pistols directly at Ronnie.
However, Pies didn't see the panic he expected on Ronnie's face.
"You kid! What are you laughing at?"
Ronnie smirked, his face hard as stone. "Me? I'm laughing at you. You're just a small-time millionaire. You can't even handle this?"
Without warning, Ronnie spoke a single word: "Gardevoir."
Gardevoir? Pies blinked, confused, not understanding what Ronnie meant. But before he could react, a series of invisible pink waves shot from Ronnie, striking at the guards surrounding him.
The next moment, the guards, once lively and threatening, collapsed to the ground. Blood oozed from their mouths, noses, and ears, their bodies falling with a heavy thud. It was as if their very life force had been drained away.
The few burly bodies, once brimming with power, now lay lifeless on the floor. Their sudden collapse made the ground tremble, kicking up dust and debris.
"Ah! A monster!" Pies screamed, his face contorting with terror.
He stumbled backward, muttering "monster" under his breath as his balance failed him, causing him to crash to the floor. His layers of fat wobbled with the impact, and for a moment, it looked like he might suffocate from sheer shock.
Pies, now fully aware of the situation, started to realize that he had met someone far more dangerous than he had ever anticipated. He recognized this feeling—rumors of a power like this had circulated before.
Ronnie's voice cut through the silence, his tone mocking. "Now, can I still take my money?"
Pies, trembling, looked at Ronnie, his face pale as a sheet. "Y-yes… you can take whatever you want... just… please, spare me."
Pies knelt on the ground, his face twisted in fear, tears and snot dripping down. "Please, let me go. I don't want to die yet. I haven't even enjoyed life enough."
The richer the man, the more he feared death.
"Oh~ you can take whatever I want?" Ronnie repeated, his grin widening. "Then give me all the money you have here."
Pies froze, his mind racing. That was more than he could afford to lose. But he had no choice now.
"By the way, if you're still alive by the time I get my identity proof, don't ever question my ability to distinguish people."
The last sentence hung in the air like a cold warning.
After a few tense minutes, Pies returned, dragging two large boxes filled with money, his face dark with resignation. His posture was broken, as though he had lost everything. He looked like a man who had just buried his parents.
Ronnie raised an eyebrow and grinned again. "One more thing, how long will it take to get me an identity certificate?"
In this world of Hunter, identity verification was a necessary tool for those who didn't want to be discovered.
Pies, drenched in cold sweat, looked at Ronnie, his voice barely above a whisper. "A… about a week or so."
Ronnie stared at him for a long time, his smile unyielding.
"Okay, I'll give you this week. I'll be at the hotel next door. Let me know when it's ready."
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