Chapter 1454 SS:Bonus Chapter 1: Casino, the Ice Creams and..
Chapter 1454 SS:Bonus Chapter 1: Casino, the Ice Creams and..
A/N: This scene happened during one of Alex's dates back in Avalon.
°°°
Alex licked his lips, looking at the casino next to the auction house in the commercial district.
"Huh? Big brother, are you planning to go to the casino? You can't do that!"
Gracier, who'd been drooling while reading the catalog, shook her head fiercely.
"Why not?"
"That place is full of gambling professionals! It's an infamous place where even the empire's best gamblers lose all their money! We aren't going to have any money left to eat afterward if we go in there. Big sister Maria and the others said I must never let you in such a dangerous place.''
"Ah, I see, you're right but that's okay."
Alex tapped his sister's shoulder when she tried stopping him.
'Because it was my bank in my previous life when I went to Vegas.'
〖You should listen to your sister.〗Silveria barged in, trying to dissuade Alex from walking into the casino but he would not do that.
Alex snickered as he thought of a certain somebody who just talked.
'I also have a secret weapon this time.'
A few moments later they arrived at their destination, the casino. It was a magnificent building shining with multiple colors just like in any casino in Las Vegas.
'Now then.'
Alex looked around the gambling house along with the terrified Gracier. Noticing a familiar game, he went to the table on the right side.
A slender young woman and an old man wearing a clean suit were sitting at the table. The men that were standing behind them looked like bodyguards.
'This looks good.'
Alex silently watched the gamble until the game finished ten times before joining the round. The gamble was about guessing the number on the dice inside a shaking metallic cup.
"Heh! This is why I should've gone downstairs. I guess the casino isn't managing the clients properly anymore." Alex started with a provocation.
The woman wearing a black dress and fox mask frowned after taking a glance at him.
"Gender and age don't matter when it comes to gambling, and kings and beggars are treated the same way. Welcome."
On the other hand, the old gentleman smiled widely and nodded his head slightly.
Alex only greeted the old gentleman, then looked at the round. He could hear the woman clicking her tongue, but he didn't mind it.
"Hmm…"
However, the dealer shuddered at the woman's reaction. It looked like the woman wearing the fox mask was from a rather prestigious house.
"Ugh, this atmosphere…"
''We will be starting, then."
The dealer showed the metallic cup and dice to the three people, then put the dice inside the cup and started shaking it. His hand was so fast, his wrist and shoulder moving at the same time, which made it difficult to even see the cup properly.
He elegantly spun the cup as if he were performing a sword dance before putting it down on the floor. He took his hand off, signaling for them to make their bet.
"Two."
"I'll go with four."
The woman and old man pushed the chips in front of them after observing the cup.
"…Three."
Alex called the number three and bet half of the chips he had.
"I'll go with five."
The dealer slowly raised the cup after confirming everyone's numbers.
"The number on the dice is three. Congratulations."
The dealer smiled widely and returned twice the amount of chips he had bet.
"Tsk, he's just lucky."
The woman glared at him while clicking her tongue.
"I lost twenty gold coins today, yet you are starting with great luck."
The old gentleman nodded his head to congratulate him.
"The next round is about to start."
The dealer put the dice back in the cup and started shaking it. After spinning it even faster and more cheerfully than before, he put it back on the table with a pleasant snapping sound.
"Three."
"Five should be it this time."
"One."
The moment Alex said one, the dealer's fingers trembled slightly.
"I'll go with four."
The dealer slowly lifted the cup. There was only one spot on the die.
"It's one. Congratulations."
The dealer returned double the amount of chips he bet.
"What's that?"
"Wow, you're doing great!"
The woman had turned her head to blatantly glare at him, and the old gentleman's eyes were wide.
"Woah! Two wins in a row?"
Gracier jolted in surprise and came up next to her big brother.
"Big brother, you have to run. I'm a hundred percent sure they've gone easy because you are a novice. They are professionals, the real deal! If you continue like this, they will take everything from you, including your undergarments!" She sent this message to him through their telepathic connection.
"I know, I know. But let me try a little bit more."
Alex smiled and bet all the chips he had just won.
"Oh, no."
Gracier covered her eyes and sighed.
"Hmph, what an idiot."
"Hmm."
The woman wearing a dress sneered, and the old gentleman slowly nodded his head.
All of them believed the dealer had been going easy on Alex and that it was about time for him to reveal his true abilities.
However…
Third round, fourth round, and after the fifth round had passed, there were enough chips in front of Alex to reach his chest.
"Wh-what is that?! What have you done?"
"Wow, how did this…?"
The woman wearing a dress and the old gentleman stared at Alex's chips in shock.
"Big brother!''
Gracier was foaming from her mouth as she tapped Alex's shoulder to urge him to run away.
"I'm pretty lucky today."
Alex swept the chips with his finger and smiled.
〖H-how did you do that? What method did you use?〗Silveria couldn't keep her curiosity in check anymore so she asked.
〖The sound.〗She was confused.
Alex went on and elaborated.
Sound?
'Each vertex of the dice is worn out to a different extent, which makes a different sound upon hitting the cup. I'm anticipating the number on the dice by noticing the difference between them.'
It was a gambling technique consisting of finding out the number on the dice by using the colliding sound between the dice and the cup.
Most people couldn't use it even if they knew about it, but Alex was easily able to do it thanks to his advanced perception.
〖Are you telling me you guessed the number on the dice with something crazy like that?〗
Silveria gasped. The fact that he could notice the difference between those sounds and remember them was amazing enough.
〖Ah, then the reason that you kept spectating the gamble was...〗
'Yes, it was to learn the sounds.' Alex replied with a smile.
〖I knew you were a swindler after all! A shameless man.〗
'I'm not a swindler since I'm winning with my abilities. Besides a bit of luck is also at work '
Alex snickered and gathered the chips.
"I'm done for now. Have fun."
He waved his hand at the old gentleman and the woman before standing up.
〖Are you leaving already?〗Silveria was surprised by Alex's action, she thought he would have stayed to earn more money before leaving.
'It's because they might start picking a fight if I stay in one place for too long.'
Silveria who was about to say Alex does have some conscience left and was not completely shameless stopped because of Alex's following action.
After looking around the gambling tables, he sat at the poker table, Gracier followed obediently behind and just observed, she was thinking about what she would buy with the money earned here, this would be the price to pay for her to keep her lips shut. Unaware of his sister's inner thoughts, Alex was ready for some action, it was then.
〖Poker? Are you going to scam them again?〗
Silveria's voice was slightly raised as she said those words.
'Tch! No, I never scam them.'
Alex's eyes shone as he watched the cards being distributed.
〖What?〗Silveria doubted her ears and just as she was about to ask something Alex struck.
'It's your turn now. Go over there and check their cards for me.'
There was a moment of silence before she understood his intentions.
〖What a crazy bastard〗
Silveria half materialized and only Alex could see her, she then started spreading terrifying pressure.
〖I'm the Nemesis of the magic, a powerful goddess! How dare you to give me orders! And you dare to ask me to peek at their cards.〗
Silveria seemed completely furious to be used like this, Alex's order irked her and she was restraining herself from giving him a good beating.
'You are mistaken.'
Alex remained peaceful amid the coldness filling the space. He nonchalantly shook his head as if he had anticipated this to happen and indeed he had.
'It's a trade.'
〖Trade?〗
'Yes. I'll eat everything you desire here if you help me.'
〖You are a crazy bastard! Even though I'm a well-known gourmet, did you truly believe such a suggestion would…〗
'I saw a bead ice cream vendor earlier. There was a new product, too.' Alex nonchalantly declared.
Silveria hesitated for a moment.
〖It's pointless! Missing some bead ice cream isn't a big deal…〗
'Two bead ice creams.' Alex counterattacked.
〖S-Shut up! Do you truly believe the nemesis of magic would…〗
She didn't finish her sentence before Alex said with a smile.
'Three.'
There was a moment of silence.
'Four, and another food you want to eat.' He added.
Silveria stopped speaking. Alex understood it was time to put an end to it.
〖Where shall I check?〗
Four bead ice creams and one food of choice.
It was a cheap price to pay to utilize the mighty silver goddess.