Even after losing all chips, some still stood by the table, watching expectantly.
Some felt immense regret, thinking they were just a step away from success, if only their luck held.
Others appeared faded and lifeless, seeming like zombies, ignoring the casino’s luxurious free services, sitting dumbly on the sofa, their gaze losing focus.
Just like zombies.
Huai Shi paused for a moment, then suddenly turned back by the window, only to see a drifting figure silently cutting through the night outside, the pale face reflecting the night and neon lights.
Soon, it vanished.
Only the rapidly washed away bloodstains remained on the street.
On the street, neither the smiling shoppers, hurried passersby, nor the enthusiastically smiling vendors paid any attention to the bloodstains beneath their feet, going about their business as if nothing was there.
It had long become second nature.
The deaths of a few people didn’t even stir up a ripple before being swallowed by the dazzling neon lights, overlaying into darkness.
It was almost like stepping into a modern meat processing factory, disappearing in bloodless slaughter, with even the sensation of pain lasting only a moment...
And then, everything was over.
When Huai Shi turned back again, he saw the scene in the corner.
In a noisy and bustling atmosphere, a waiter approached a forsaken loser and handed him a piece of paper. The man trembled as he held the paper, nodding with difficulty after a long while.
After returning the piece of paper, he raised his hand, ordered a glass of whiskey, and after draining it in one go, numbly got up and walked towards the rooftop...
Before long, a falling shadow once again passed by the window.
A muffled sound erupted on the distant ground.
"Mr. Huaizhi."
At some unknown time, Izumoto Renge appeared in front of him, her smile alluring like a peony, "Mr. Huaizhi, Lord Chiba requests your presence."
After a long pause, Huai Shi withdrew his gaze from the window, "Lead the way."
"Please follow me."
Izumoto Renge glanced at him with a half-smile, turning to walk ahead.
They passed through the bustling casino, heading towards a secluded viewing box upstairs,
Underneath the shrouding flow of secretive Source Substance, the casino’s frenzied atmosphere remained unchanged, and the Ship of Greed sailed on through the Abyss.
Throughout it all, Chiba Ryouni wore a captivated smile, leaning amidst the gentle fragrance and soft jade, quietly watching it all.
His eyes, immersed in alcohol and beauty, showed no sign of disturbance.
Even if among those people were once his loyal subordinates...
After a long while, a hunched butler leaning on a cane bent over and quietly reported in his ear, "Master, all the people on the General List have been handled."
Chiba Ryouni turned to glance at him, after a long pause, and nodded slightly, "When it’s time to bury our people, go and lay a wreath on my behalf. Though they ate away from within, they were once my followers, and deserve some dignity."
"And the gamble..." the butler asked.
"Isn’t everyone enjoying themselves?" Chiba Ryouni waved casually, "Continue."
"Yes." The butler leaned on his cane and withdrew silently.
"Also, everyone else should step out." He rose, putting on his pants, then patted the girl beside him on the bottom with a smile, "We’ll continue playing later."
Watching the giggling girls leave the room, he walked towards the liquor cabinet and asked, "Would you like something to drink?"
"Please give me the Yamazaki from the innermost, the most expensive one."
Izumoto Renge, who had just pushed the door open and entered, glanced towards the innermost part of the cabinet, "I saw it."
"And Huaizhi-kun?"
"I’m casual," Huai Shi replied.
"What does casual mean?" Chiba Ryouni scratched his head somewhat troubled, "You always give me headaches, Huaizhi-kun... you should also have Yamazaki. It’s a fifty-year-old fine sake."
Picking up the wine bottle, he walked over, sat across from them, gesturing for them to be at ease, while he added ice cubes and poured half a cup.
Chiba Ryouni looked at Huai Shi’s expression, unable to suppress a sigh, "Aren’t you goddamn incapable of playing cards... I should have found a way to get rid of you earlier, Huaizhi-kun, you almost ruined the Alliance’s affair."
"I must say, I had no idea about it."
Huai Shi raised his head and looked beyond the one-way glass, at the fevered casino and those despondent faces.
"Nothing more than a bunch of traitors not worth minding," Chiba Ryouni remarked indifferently, "Old Man Tobio has a way of ordering people around, always giving me troublesome jobs.
Though saying this might sadden you, Huaizhi-kun, the purpose of tonight’s gamble isn’t as straightforward as you might suspect."
By now, Huai Shi had realized that this gamble was merely a method of purging the Alliance’s roots from within.
"In such a crucial joint, methods cannot be too crude, nor shake the Alliance’s foundation, yet there’re quite a few treacherous Second Fifths,"
Chiba Ryouni sighed softly, "This is the only resort left."
Tonight, the Empire Casino is no different from the Guillotine for traitors.
Using the casino’s stock to lure everyone to partake, then employing strategies to guide the list of traitors to hang themselves, reclaiming the Alliance’s assets through gambling in a legitimate way.
When they have lost everything, those in bottomless debt and without a way out only have one destination left.
The rooftop.
"Let me reintroduce,"
Chiba Ryouni looked towards Izumi beside him, "This is Mrs. Izumoto from the Homeless Cemetery’s ’Ship of Greed’, tonight’s gamble was her handiwork, and she deserves much credit for its success."
"It’s Chiba-kun giving undue compliments."
Izumoto Renge smiled slightly, saying only, "What a pity, I originally hoped to see Huaizhi-kun streaking."
Even she hadn’t anticipated that a steady plan would nearly capsize.
Everything had developed fully as forecasted, the only exception being the bewildered Huai Zhisu in front of her.
"You all had me fooled?!" Huai Shi finally reacted.
"This wasn’t how it was meant to be."
Chiba Ryouni offered him a half-smile, "I tested you first, even specially asking Izumi to inspect, only to find that you know nothing... who could have imagined you were deep in disguise?"
"I’m sorry, Huaizhi-kun, I’m afraid I cannot let you continue, can’t have you taking all the credit alone."
Chiba Ryouni transparently disclosed, "I’ve earmarked the casino shares for the Ochiai Family, and this gamble’s outcome had long been prearranged."
Huai Shi was rendered speechless.
So the gamble hadn’t even started, but the winner had already been rigged?
"So I’ve come for nothing!"