Dilo felt even more intrigued by Adam after their interaction, but he decided to leave the bar and head to the casino to test his luck.
The moment he stepped inside, the outside world the ocean, time, consequences ceased to exist. The air was thick with the scent of expensive cigars, aged whiskey, and the subtle fragrance of wealth. Warm, golden lights shimmered off polished marble floors and velvet-lined walls, while crystal chandeliers hung like frozen fireworks, their brilliance reflecting off gilded surfaces.
At the heart of the casino, a massive roulette wheel spun endlessly, the rhythmic sound of the ball bouncing echoing like the heartbeat of the room. Surrounding it, poker tables draped in emerald-green felt served as battlefields where fortunes were won and lost with the flick of a wrist, a slight raise of an eyebrow, or the calculated silence of a player holding an unbeatable hand.
The guests, adorned in diamonds, leaned over blackjack tables, their laughter a mix of genuine delight and concealed desperation. Dealers, dressed immaculately in white gloves, moved with mechanical precision, their faces unreadable masks of quiet authority. On one side of the room, flashing slot machines emitted a cascade of bright lights and electronic chimes, a stark contrast to the hushed, dangerous energy of the VIP lounge a hidden space where the true players sat in the shadows, exchanging much more than mere chips.
Along the back wall stretched an elegant bar, manned by bartenders who knew how to mix the perfect cocktail just as well as they knew when to keep a secret. Crystal decanters held liquors older than some of the patrons, and champagne flowed like water for those who wouldn't blink at a six-figure bet.
Everything in the casino was designed to seduce, to enchant, to strip a man down to his essence. Because beneath the golden sheen and polished allure, only two things truly mattered: luck and power. And in the end, the house always won.
Dilo made his way to the center of the casino, where the roulette table stood. He decided to test his luck, but just as he sat down, he noticed someone else approaching the table.
The man moved through the casino like someone who didn't belong, yet somehow fit in perfectly. His outfit seemed carelessly chosen, as if thrown together in a rush, yet there was an undeniable sense of style in the way he wore it. Olive-green cargo pants hung low, impractical for someone of his stature, but tailored in a way that defied convention. Beneath a lightweight jacket, a casually unbuttoned white shirt revealed a glimpse of his collarbone, and a loosely knotted tie draped around his neck, as if he had only bothered to wear it out of necessity.
His movements were relaxed almost lazy as he strolled toward the roulette table, a faint smirk playing on his lips.
To the untrained eye, he might have appeared as an enigma a man who lived purely for his own desires, guided by the philosophy that nothing beyond himself truly mattered. Yet in his eyes, there was something genuine a flicker of pure, unfiltered essence.
As he reached the table, he seemed completely indifferent to the flashing lights and the tension in the air. He was in his element. For him, it was all about the moment, the thrill of chance, the excitement of doing exactly what he wanted, when he wanted. Every action he took no matter how random or reckless was a manifestation of his unwavering belief that his desires were the only thing that truly mattered.
Dilo watched as the man sat down, his peculiar aura almost magnetic. For a brief moment, everything else seemed to fade away. It was almost like meeting Adam again but this time, the presence was different. This man lacked the icy aura that Adam carried. Dilo could read him as someone who lived solely for himself, and in a way… there was something honest about that.
The roulette ball spun endlessly, producing a soothing, rhythmic sound, almost like the heartbeat of the casino. The dazzling lights reflected off the glossy surface of the table, but Dilo sensed something else in the air something unspoken, something emanating from the man sitting across from him.
"So, you've been looking into Olaf too."
The stranger's voice was calm, but carried the weight of knowledge. It wasn't a question it was a statement. As if he already knew the answer.
Dilo maintained a composed expression, but inside, doubt gnawed at him. How did this man know? It was as if he could read his mind, like some kind of prophet… or something else entirely. But instead of showing uncertainty, Dilo decided to play along.
"If you mean that lunatic Olaf, then you could say that," he replied casually, watching for a reaction. "But I suppose you've done some digging too. Otherwise, you wouldn't be on this ship, mentioning his name. But what interests me more… how did you assume that I even knew who Olaf was?"
The stranger smirked slightly but didn't answer immediately. Instead, he raised his hand and revealed a symbol a floral-like mark, etched onto his skin like a scar… or perhaps, a birthmark.
Dilo didn't understand its meaning at first, until he heard the next words:
"Look at your right hand."
Dilo glanced down. The mark was there. Faint, barely noticeable, but it existed.
"Yours isn't as pronounced as mine yet it's only just beginning to take shape," the man continued. "The only thing I know about this mark is that it appeared after I started reading Olaf's books. Since then… strange things have been happening. Almost like I've gained a power."
Dilo's focus sharpened.
"I noticed you the moment you entered the casino," the stranger went on, absentmindedly playing with the poker chips in front of him. "I saw that mark on your hand, and that's why I came straight here. I assumed you knew something about it."
Dilo remained silent for a moment. He was cautious, but something about this story resonated with him. Finally, he spoke.
"Now that you mention this mark… yeah, I started noticing it after I began investigating Olaf. I solved the riddle he left behind in his books, but now you've given me a new one to figure out."
The stranger finally set his chips down and leaned back, looking at Dilo with something akin to recognition.
"So, you're headed to Gekkajima too?"
Dilo nodded. "Yeah… but when you mentioned powers, what exactly did you mean?" He hesitated briefly before finally saying, "My name is Dilo. Nice to meet you."
The stranger smiled, this time with a hint of warmth. "Ace," he replied. "I'm Ace."
Then, with a voice laced with both caution and excitement, he added:
"When I said powers… the moment this mark appeared, I gained the ability to control sand. But not in the way you'd expect. For now, I can only tell you this I can cause metal to corrode. Or, if I want… I can apply that effect to the human body. The process isn't quick, but it's irreversible."
Ace glanced down at his hand, then back at Dilo.
"That's why I'm going to Gekkajima. To uncover the truth behind this. And if you have the same mark… it's very likely that you have a power too."
Dilo's heartbeat quickened slightly. "I haven't noticed any abilities yet. Can you describe how you discovered yours?"
Ace looked thoughtful for a moment. "I've always wanted to control sand… or time. And like I said… after I started researching Olaf, this mark began to grow on my hand. One day, without realizing it, I touched metal and it started rusting right before my eyes. Since then, I've begun to understand my ability better."
He met Dilo's gaze.
"I think the power you gain… has something to do with your personality. Or maybe, your deepest desires."
Dilo opened his mouth to respond but he never got the chance.
A gunshot echoed through the casino.
It happened in an instant. The bullet was aimed directly at him.
The lights continued to glow. The roulette ball kept spinning. But in that moment… everything stopped.