Chapter 703: Uninvited Guest (4)

Lennok held the chip and slowly walked around Peshia.

His steps were leisurely, his gaze naturally sweeping past her.

Ignoring her completely, after she’d hit the jackpot in the middle of a gambling den, would be unnatural. Reacting too strongly would also be unnatural.

If he showed even the slightest strange behavior, Peshia would immediately sense something amiss.

But Lennok was confident he could perfectly control that subtle difference in reaction, consciously.

‘She’s not letting down her guard… rather, her senses are incredibly acute.’

Lennok fell into thought, watching Peshia’s expressionless face.

Even though she seemed to be enjoying gambling, there wasn’t the slightest opening in the will-thought emanating from her.

It wasn’t just a matter of normally not letting her guard down; it seemed she was actively keeping her senses highly sharpened in this very place.

If he were to make a move with intent, he could seize the first strike, but she would immediately counter-attack. Either way, it was highly likely to become a drawn-out affair.

Considering Lennok’s current condition, the fact that he was concealing the Phoenix Hall, and the combined forces of the executives he had already secured, along with the location itself.

Carefully weighing the pros and cons, Lennok soon reached a conclusion.

‘If I fight here, it’ll be difficult to capture her alive.’

The port in this Sector 47 was a transportation hub where various goods, containers, and personnel came and went.

It was a complex area where the interests and conflicts of various organizations and factions were intricately intertwined.

If he were to suddenly launch a pre-emptive strike, intending to capture Peshia alive in such a place, powerful individuals from various organizations would surely rush out.

He might achieve his goal if he committed to overwhelming force, but it would be hard to prevent unwanted rumors from spreading.

It wasn’t just about capturing Peshia; it was a complicated matter that also needed to lead to the establishment of a Magic Tower and the transfer of authority.

He had gone to the trouble of getting Olivera’s help and even borrowing the executives’ forces.

For now, it would be enough to simply confirm which games Peshia was playing and when she frequented the casino.

Thinking so, Lennok’s gaze shifted towards the slot machine Peshia had moved to.

“…A game?”

Lennok realized that the machine Peshia was operating was not a regular slot machine.

Two machines were attached back-to-back, with two people sitting opposite each other, fiercely operating the devices.

It looked more like an arcade game than a slot machine or a gambling table.

However, it was the place where the most chips were exchanged, more than any other game or machine in the casino.

Peshia, too, was throwing all the chips she had won from other gambling into that machine.

It seemed that the very act of winning chips in this gambling den was, from the start, to acquire the stakes needed to operate this machine.

While Lennok intently watched the machine, Davi seemed to have searched her database and explained.

[It’s a gambling game machine popular in Torquepaz, and it seems to be extremely popular among magic users. There’s even related information available in Vulcan!]

“Popular in Torquepaz, huh…”

Lennok muttered, subtly approaching the back of a machine where someone else was playing.

On the screen, two characters exchanged punches and kicks.

What was unique was that every time a character moved, a slot spun, calculating probabilities.

Each time they attacked or defended, the probabilities were calculated to gauge the success rate, and if successful, damage was dealt.

After winning, the spent points were converted back into chips.

The problem was that each spin of the slot required consuming one chip worth at least 100,000 cells.

‘This thing was thoroughly designed to consume chips.’

Lennok watched the machine silently from behind, a wry smile playing on his lips.

Even if a character’s attack landed, it would take at least ten solid hits to defeat an opponent.

This meant that once a game started, you wouldn’t even break even without sinking at least 1,000,000 cells worth of chips into it.

The same applied to the opponent, so the number of chips siphoned from both players must have been enormous.

But the claim of its popularity was no lie; people were packed around the machines lining the casino walls, leaving no gaps.

Lennok looked around at them, then sat down at a spot far from Peshia and inserted the chips a server had given him.

Ding!

A character appeared on the screen, with a number displayed above its head.

[20]

Having inserted 2,000,000 cells worth of chips, it must mean he had 20 attack opportunities.

As soon as he pressed the match acceptance button, an opponent was found.

[NEW CHALLENGER!!]

Boom!

Two characters stood facing each other in an empty virtual space.

Lennok’s lips curved into a wry smile as he checked the number above the opponent’s character’s head.

[192]

Since attack opportunities could be bought with money, the more opportunities one had, the more spins one could make, increasing the chance of landing a solid hit.

The game began before he even had time to learn the controls.

But the moment Lennok gripped the console, he realized this wasn’t just a game relying on luck.

Thwack!

Lennok’s character took a hit, its health significantly depleted.

‘I have to control the character directly and input my choices.’

If you failed to press defense when your opponent chose to attack, the slot wouldn’t spin, and you’d take a direct hit.

When attacking or defending, the only choices were which body part to target: head, chest, or legs.

There was no evade command. Probably to prevent the game from dragging on unnecessarily.

Lennok’s eyes deepened as he processed this.

‘There’s more psychology and judgment involved than I thought. So it’s not a game that relies entirely on luck.’

While it took the form of a slot machine or an arcade game, surprisingly, it felt more like a card game in play.

He had intended to just waste time next to Peshia, but Lennok found a few interesting elements in it.

[Kyagyagya!!]

The opponent’s character taunted him, with Lennok’s health already cut by half.

It was a confident attitude, as if certain of victory.

But Lennok ignored the opponent’s taunt, immediately moved the console, and pressed the attack command first.

[19]

[18]

[17]

…

[11]

Click-click!

The slot spun, and attack and defense judgments intertwined rapidly, the number of attack opportunities above Lennok’s head quickly disappearing.

But each time the slot spun, it wasn’t Lennok’s health that was depleting, but the opponent’s character.

Just like hitting a jackpot at will, Lennok was consistently landing high-probability judgments every time he attacked.

Thwack! Thwack!

Only then did the opponent seem to carefully try to spin the slot, but the two characters’ health bars were already similar.

[…!!]

The character, faltering with a panicked expression, attacked again.

Given the overwhelmingly high number of attack opportunities, they must be planning to overwhelm him with sheer volume to gain attack chances.

[8]

[7]

[6]

As they exchanged blows, Lennok’s coins rapidly dwindled, but even then, he managed to deplete their health at a similar rate.

Lennok, holding the console, nodded.

“I generally understand the rules.”

Things like taking more damage when hit squarely on the head, then chest, then legs, or both players taking damage with low probability if an attack command was met with an attack.

Even the fact that probability adjustments were made to some extent based on their command choices.

But the most crucial thing was that Lennok could choose exactly when to spin the slot himself.

At that moment, the game transformed from a simple luck-meter into one infused with psychological warfare.

It wasn’t just about choosing the most advantageous options based on common sense.

If he could decide on a choice that would inevitably lead to victory and corner his opponent into that path.

[1]

Lennok’s last remaining attack opportunity. Both characters’ health was dangerously low.

But instead of pressing a command, Lennok simply let go of the console.

Click-click-click!

As the opponent’s direct hit landed on Lennok’s character, who had taken no action, the slot spun for judgment.

[Lower body judgment. Damage minimized.]

While Lennok’s character’s health precariously dropped to about half a bar and stopped.

Lennok pressed a command again.

[Mid-body judgment. Damage command activated.]

Striking the chest of the opponent’s character, who had unprotectedly reached out a hand, instantly drained the remaining health, and the game ended.

[1P WIN!]

Lennok’s character stood, accompanied by a concise message.

At that moment, the [162] displayed above the opponent’s character’s head rapidly decreased, and Lennok’s number increased.

Beep-beep-beep!

[162] -> [130]

[0] -> [32]

So, after winning, they replenish the number of opportunities based on the attacks used so far.

While it might be adjusted considering the point difference with the opponent, the reward was quite stingy even then.

Lennok thought that far, then turned his gaze and paused, seeing the people standing behind him.

Dozens of people holding chips were all looking at Lennok with sparkling eyes.

“You know how to play this game.”

“Let’s play a round! Let’s see your skills!”

People had gathered behind him, queuing up with their coins, unnoticed.

The server who had given Lennok the chips earlier waved with a proud smile.

But Lennok ignored the onlookers and casually cast his gaze elsewhere.

“…”

Peshia’s gaze was now clearly fixed on him, overtly acknowledging his presence.

Beyond her indistinct, unreadable face, only a chilling gaze faintly shone.

After staring at Lennok for a moment, Peshia’s gaze returned to her game machine, seemingly having found a match.

Instead of focusing on Peshia, Lennok deliberately began to operate the console again, feigning indifference.

“S-strong.”

“How can you be so good at this game?!”

“I heard this game just came to this city recently!!”

The twentieth defeated player fled their seat.

Lennok ignored his opponent and silently checked the number above his character’s head.

[542]

This should be enough to stand out in the gambling den.

Meanwhile, Peshia, who had been silently playing in a corner, also seemed to have defeated all her challengers.

“…”

Was she also conscious of Lennok’s presence?

Peshia unhesitatingly moved and plopped down into the game machine opposite Lennok.

“Insert your chips.”

Peshia, without preamble, told Lennok this, then initiated a match, and a game was immediately found.

Lennok’s mouth fell shut as he saw the number above Peshia’s character’s head.

[3091]

A point total in a different league entirely from all the other players he had faced so far.

She hadn’t just poured money into it; she must have earned it by crushing her opponents.

Peshia gazed at the screen and asked.

“You’ve been pretty good since earlier. Have you played this game before?”

Was she observing Lennok’s play even while nonchalantly playing her own game?

“Perhaps.”

Lennok calmly lied.

An ambiguous answer, neither affirming nor denying.

But Peshia didn’t seem to care about Lennok’s reply, saying with an unconcerned air,

“There aren’t many entertainments to enjoy on the battlefield.”

While Lennok chose his reply, the woman gripped the console.

“Competing with fools who buy luck with money is just tiresome… In that regard, this game isn’t bad.”

“…”

“It’s about the only thing useful for maintaining one’s senses.”

Freya had called Peshia a gambler, but what she said was somewhat distant from a fanatical love of gambling.

If anything, her tone suggested a purpose other than simply enjoying the entertainment itself.

But instead of focusing on her words, Lennok put down the console and quietly fumbled inside his pocket.

Meanwhile, the two characters appeared on the screen, and Peshia nodded.

“Start.”

She started the game immediately, as if Lennok’s reaction held no interest for her.

Regardless of his skill, she probably just thought of him as a passing opponent. Lennok knew this.

At a glance, she had clearly been playing this game for a long time, and her experience and skill must have reached a peak of maturity.

It would be difficult for Lennok, who had only played about twenty rounds, to catch up in such a short time.

But Lennok had decided to play and catch Peshia’s eye at this moment, despite knowing this, for a reason.

It was because the game itself required a combination of skill and luck.

And when it came to adjusting ‘luck’ itself, Lennok also had something he could do.

Ki-ri-ri-rik…!!

Inside Lennok’s pocket, the black cube, Penteract, vibrated violently, changing its form into a die.

As he rolled the die, with six ’6’s engraved on all its faces, Lennok grabbed the console.

The moment his character threw a punch, a jackpot hit.

Paaang!!

“…What?”

Peshia’s health was dramatically cut from the very first attack, but it didn’t stop there.

In the second attack that followed, the slot spun incredibly and hit another jackpot.

Pu-bu-bu-bung!!

In the third, fourth, and fifth attacks, only Lennok’s slot consistently hit jackpots, relentlessly continuing the assault.

As if overwhelming luck was being forcibly instilled, regardless of Peshia’s character controls.

A continuous series of judgments where attacks poured down unilaterally, without any control or calculation.

Crash! Crash! Crash!!

He just tapped the buttons without any technique or trick, yet jackpots exploded, completely draining the character’s health.

And just like that, the game ended in an instant.

“W-what the f*ck…?”

“What did I just see?”

Even the onlookers were dumbfounded, staring at Lennok.

Lennok slowly stood up and nonchalantly uttered a single phrase.

“Easy.”

“…!!”

Flames erupted in Peshia’s eyes as she stared blankly at the screen.

A brown-glowing chip plunged itself into Lennok’s path as he nonchalantly tried to leave.

CRACK!

Clear magical energy was mixed into the chip, which had dug into the hard marble floor.

Peshia looked at Lennok with an expressionless face and said,

“Hey, let’s play one more round.”

Lennok smiled.

“No.”