"Young Master, I didn't know you could play that," Natty said, her voice full of admiration and a hint of worry. She pointed at the pile of golden chips looming before Lucian, "No, I even sensed you were experienced before. The way you read your opponent, the way you control the game... it's not just luck." She bit her lower lip, her eyes twinkling, mesmerized by Lucian's incredible skill.
Lucian stared at Natty for a while, then chuckled, hiding the excitement behind his casual demeanor. "No-no, it's my first gambling experience," he replied, trying to sound casual, "Well at least in terms of actual gambling. I used to play poker with my college friends in the previous world, well even that was just for fun. Since the area I lived in in the previous world gambling was illegal." He thought,
"No really, I read that in a book." He replied briefly.
"I didn't expect books to have such cunning knowledge," said Natty, still impressed by Lucian's abilities, her voice mixed with admiration and a little fear of the world she had just glimpsed.
Lucian didn't reply to Natty's words, he just stood up from his seat, dusted off his pelvis and walked over to the person who had been the Dealer in the previous game. Natty who saw this hurried to follow Lucian from behind, but she kept herdistance from her young master.
"Hey, Sir. ...." Lucian greeted the dealer, his voice sounding relaxed and clear, a small smile visible behind his face obscured by the hood of the cloak, "Can I ask you something?"
The dealer turned to Lucian, he smiled for a moment, one hand in front of his chest, "Yeah, sir. Do you need anything?"
Lucian rested one hand on the side of a nearby table, he leaned closer to the dealer and looked at him intently.
"I had realized one thing," he said quietly, as if it was just a normal conversation. But the stress on his words could not be ignored. "In the previous game, I accidentally saw your finger... tapping the bottom of that gambling table."
The expression on the dealer's face changed instantly, going from a calm smile to a very serious one at the moment. He raised his eyebrows, his forehead slightly furrowed.
"Would you say I helped the old man you were playing with earlier?" asked the dealer, his voice sounding so casual, he then lowered his hand while putting on a smiling expression again, "Why do you care so much? You even won that game..."
Lucian sighed for a moment, then tapped the table his hand had been on earlier. Before he finally stood up straight and folded his arms in front of his chest.
"Well," he said finally, then twirled his fingers in the air as if making a small circle before continuing, "I won because the old man I fought happened to be so stupid. It's easy to provoke people like that."
He turned his head slightly, his eyes sweeping across the building. The sounds of music, laughter, and the clatter of coins became a backdrop that did not disturb his thoughts at all. The dealer before him looked back at him, this time without the professional smile he had maintained throughout the game. His demeanor changed, his eyes sharpening.
"Are you going to try to pass it on?" he said quietly, as if trying to slip a threat between the words. "That would be stupid. You don't even have any evidence."
Lucian laughed softly, almost silently, before he looked back at the dealer in front of him.
"No," he said lightly, his voice sounding relaxed. "I'm not the kind of person who enjoys being a hero."
He then took a step forward, close enough to make the dealer straighten up. The dealer gritted his teeth, then gulped silently.
"Don't beat around the bush, sir." His voice sounded flat this time, "Just tell me what you really mean."
Lucian smiled with a grin, the corners of his lips lifting with almost contemptuous confidence. This was exactly what he had envisioned.
"This casino," he said as he looked directly into the dealer's eyes, "is actually an information guild, right?"
The dealer did not answer, but his pupils narrowed slightly. Silence could mean recognition in certain contexts. Lucian then placed his hands on his waist before continuing, "Can I see your boss now?"
The dealer stared silently at Lucian, as if considering whether the young man in front of him knew this secret. Then, he sighed softly, and bowed slightly.
"You know too much for someone who came here for the first time, sir..." he said. He then signaled to another employee, a young woman with her hair in a neat ponytail, who quickly disappeared into a back room marked "Staff Only."
The dealer glanced briefly at Lucian, then returned to his calm professional appearance. "Then please wait a moment, I will discuss it with the master." he said, then walked into the room.
Lucian did not answer. He only responded with a small nod, then leaned back against his desk. Natty approached Lucian with caution and a slight limp, her hands still trembling, though she tried hard to hide it.
"Do you think they will fulfill your request, Young Master?" she sobbed softly, low enough for only Lucian to hear. The look in his eyes reflected concern, but also a curiosity he couldn't hide.
Lucian glanced at her briefly, then looked back at the now sealed "Staff Only" room."I'm not really sure, but I don't think they have any other choice at the moment," he replied calmly, then smiled faintly.
Natty bit her lip lightly, an uneasy feeling creeping in underneath her admiration. It wasn't long before the dealer who had previously entered the room marked staff only came out followed by the pigtailed girl behind him, they walked up to Lucian.
"Master allows you," he said. "Follow her." He said while stepping back for a moment to let the pigtailed girl stand beside him.
Lucian smiled, then stepped after the young girl, Natty also hurried to follow him, but when she was in front of the door, the previous dealer suddenly stopped her with his hand.
"Young lady, please wait here. Master only wishes to see the gentleman who came with you," he said in a fairly firm voice, though his face remained flat, showing no emotion.
Natty paused, her eyes clearly showing a look of confusion, but before she could speak, Lucian turned to her with a reassuring look.
"It's okay, Natty, you can wait for me for a while," Lucian said in a low but trusting voice. "I'll be back soon."
Natty couldn't help but feel worried in her heart, but she just gave a small nod. He just needed to listen to the words of his young master. Lucian then whispered into the dealer's ear before continuing his steps.
"I entrust my maid to you," he whispered in a sharp yet cautious tone.
The dealer only nodded slightly, but his expression did not change. "Of course, sir," he replied, though his words sounded more like an obligation than a sincere promise.
Lucian and the young girl resumed their steps and walked through the door. The room was a far cry from the bustling, noisy atmosphere of the casino. It was quiet, cool, and filled with the scent of wood and tobacco. The formal and serious atmosphere emanated from every detail of the room: the large, shiny teak tables, the comfortable but stiff leather chairs, and the walls decorated with war strategy-themed paintings.
In the center of the room, a people with long light blue hair tied up neatly in a black mask was playing chess alone, his fingers moving skillfully over the pieces. She looked so focused, as if she was thinking of a complicated war strategy. The people looked like she was contemplating a complex strategy, the chess pieces lying before her like symbols in an elaborate plan.
"Is it him?" she asked without turning around. Her voice sounded calm and she only focused on the chessboard in front of him, as if the question was just a formality.
"That's right, Master. He's the one," the girl said in a voice that sounded respectful. She bowed slightly, then stood up straight again, awaiting further orders. Her demeanor showed great loyalty and discipline.
"Is that so?" The people finally turned her head, her sharp eyes scanning Lucian from behind her mask. Her gaze was cold and appraising, as if she was analyzing Lucian from head to toe.
"Thank you for bringing him, Zeta." Her voice was calm and even, without a hint of emotion. She did not say thank you sincerely, but rather as an order.
"Then you may return to your duties," the people continued, "it seems this person would like to offer me some business." She gestured towards the chair in front of her , motioning for Lucian to sit. Her movements were measured and calculated, like a chess piece moving according to strategy.
"Alright, then, if you'll excuse me." Zeta bowed once more, then calmly left the room, closing the door behind her gently. Silence fell over the room again, only the sound of Lucian's breathing could be heard. She sat in the designated seat, watching the blue-haired people attentively.
Lucian then stepped slowly closer to the people and sat down opposite her. He watched the masked man closely. The people paid him no attention, she just smiled a little and moved the black chess piece forward two steps and then finally looked at Lucian. She leaned back, then crossed her legs.
"So, what does this young master of the Hale family want?" The person asked, her voice still calm and even, but there was a hint of curiosity behind her words. She was still focused on the chess game, her fingers occasionally touching the pieces as if she was considering a strategy. However, her gaze remained fixed on Lucian, as if analyzing every movement and expression of the young man before her.
Lucian was surprised; he hadn't expected this man to know his identity right away. With quick, measured movements, he pulled back the hood of his cloak, revealing silver hair that glittered in the lamplight. Then, he removed his mask, revealing his face. "Surprising, I was planning not to reveal my identity here," he said, his voice calm yet slightly surprised.
"It's not difficult," the people said, a faint smile appearing behind her mask, though her voice remained flat. "That robe you're wearing, isn't it the Hale family's? The stitching, the fabric... it's the signature of the Hale family's personal tailor." She moved a chess piece, her movements smooth and measured, like a strategist planning her next move.
"I was careless," Lucian admitted, regretting his carelessness. "Though to my eyes this looks like an ordinary robe." He let out a short breath, realizing his mistake. He would have to be more careful in the future.
The blue-haired people seemed to chuckle softly, the sound like the swish of the wind. She was still playing with the chess pawns, her movements calm and skillful. She placed the King pawn in front of the pawn, a move that showed confidence and dominance.
"From what I've heard, the Young Master of that family never removes the mask from his face..." she said, her voice still calm but meaningful. "No, that family has two Young Masters. Are you Julian Hale?"