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*****
"Clover Kingdom, Heart Kingdom, Spade Kingdom, Diamond Kingdom... why does this sound so much like a deck of playing cards?"
Late at night, George lay half-propped up on his hotel bed, flipping through a book detailing the various great nations. A look of mild surprise crossed his face. He couldn't help but think that the creator of this world must have been a hardcore card game enthusiast.
According to the text, magic in this realm was generally categorized into four primary elements: Fire, Wind, Water, and Earth. Beyond these fundamentals, there existed a plethora of derivative and rare magic types—ranging from recovery magic and dark magic to spatial, mirror, trap, and even poison magic.
Since these books were mass-produced for commoners, they only provided a surface-level overview without diving into technical specifics. Magic attributes were hereditary; children typically inherited an attribute from one of their parents or a composite of both. However, possessing two distinct attributes was an exceedingly rare phenomenon.
In addition to the legends of the defeated Demon God, the world was rife with myths regarding "Devils," though most were dismissed as mere folklore.
"I'll likely need to find a way into the inner city's castle to learn more. Or perhaps the Magic Knights' headquarters—they should have a proper archive," George mused, walking over to the window. He stared out at the towering walls that demarcated the boundary between the inner and outer districts.
He suspected that the Magic Knights functioned similarly to the guilds in Fairy Tail, likely housing their own private libraries. The royal castle, however, was bound to hold the truly classified intelligence.
Slap, slap, slap, slap...
As George was lost in thought, a rhythmic sound of colliding flesh suddenly echoed from the adjacent room.
"The soundproofing here is terrible. I really need to buy a house," he sighed.
The wooden walls offered little privacy, and it seemed hotels in a magical world served the same primary purpose as those in the modern world. Prostitution—or "calling a cluck-cluck" as the locals phrased it—was perfectly legal here, making such disturbances a common occurrence.
Young men entering the Royal Capital for the first time were often overwhelmed by its opulence. A little temptation was usually all it took for them to lose their self-control. These weren't just ordinary workers, either; they were magic-using workers. They could give a client a literal experience of "Ice and Fire."
"I don't have enough cash on me. Looks like I need to make a move."
Buying a decent property in the capital, even in the outer ring, was exorbitantly expensive. Even though George had secured a fair amount of currency by selling the gold and jewelry he'd scavenged earlier, it likely wouldn't be enough for a real estate investment.
Of course, for him, lack of funds was a temporary problem.
---
George left his room and headed downstairs to the lobby, approaching the hotel owner. "Excuse me, where is the nearest casino?"
The owner immediately adopted a look of earnest concern. "A casino? That's a gold-swallowing pit! I really wouldn't recommend it for a young lad like you, coming to the capital with big dreams for the exams."
He reached under the counter and fanned out several small business cards on the table. "If you've got money to burn, why not try one of these? For a small fee, you can transition from a boy to a real man!"
George glanced at the cards, which featured enchanted, moving images of "mature young ladies." His lip twitched. "Thanks, boss. You're a real saint."
Apparently, the man was the type of "good person" who taught youths that gambling was the root of all evil while pushing other vices instead.
Ignoring the owner's enthusiastic sales pitch, George stepped out of the hotel and cast a *Luck BUFF* on himself. It didn't matter if he didn't know the way; with a high enough luck stat, he could stumble into his destination just by wandering aimlessly.
Sure enough, after thirty minutes of strolling through the night market, he spotted a boisterous, crowded casino tucked away in a street corner.
What was the fastest way to make money? The casino, obviously. Even without knowing a lick of strategy, a powerful enough luck modifier could turn anyone into a God of Gamblers.
---
"Welcome!"
As George approached the entrance clutching a bag of coins, two shapely hostesses greeted him with radiant smiles. Wealthy young men were the casino's favorite demographic—arrogant, unskilled, obsessed with "face," and possessed of deep pockets. They were the ultimate "fat sheep" ready for shearing.
"First time here. Give me the rundown," George said, casually tucking a few coins into the cleavage of both hostesses as he walked in.
The women beamed, their service becoming instantly more attentive. They walked him through the floor, explaining the variations of roulette, dice, and card games.
"Huh?"
George's eyes swept across the hall until they landed on a specific table in the far corner. A flicker of surprise crossed his face. "Who's that guy over there?"
He pointed toward a burly, black-haired man sitting at the innermost table. George had noticed him because he could sense a remarkably powerful mana signature emanating from him—at least, powerful compared to everyone else he had encountered in the capital so far.
"Oh, that's Lord Yami. He's the Captain of the Black Bulls, and a bit of a regular here."
"The Black Bulls..." George rubbed his chin.
He had spent the day gathering intel on the Wizard King and the Magic Knight squads. The current Wizard King was Julius Novachrono, the 28th to hold the title. While his specific magic was a mystery to the public, he was formerly the Captain of the "Grey Deer." He had been chosen as the successor due to his overwhelming strength and immense popularity among the common folk.
The Clover Kingdom maintained nine Magic Knight squads: the Golden Dawn, Crimson Lion Kings, Silver Eagles, Blue Rose Knights, Green Mantises, Azure Orcas, Aqua Deer, Coral Peacocks, and the Black Bulls.
The Golden Dawn, Crimson Lions, and Silver Eagles were the undisputed powerhouses, constantly rotating for the top spot. The Black Bulls, however, were widely considered the weakest—reputedly because everyone from the Captain down to the members was lazy, rarely completed missions, and the squad had the fewest members.
"Lazy, few missions... this squad sounds perfect for me," George thought.
He walked over to the table where Yami Sukehiro, Captain of the Black Bulls, was seated. He didn't jump in immediately, choosing instead to observe from the sidelines.
Mediocre skills, but he's a good sport, George noted after a few rounds. Clutching his bag of money, he pulled up a chair directly opposite the Captain.
Yami looked up, seeing a somewhat thin teenager sitting across from him. He lit a cigarette and exhaled a plume of smoke, his tone lazy and dismissive. "I don't gamble with kids. Come back in two years, kid."
"Is it because I'm a kid, or are you just scared?" George retorted. Using a technique from the Red Priest pathway, he layered a subtle *Provocation* into his voice. "I watched you play a few rounds. Honestly? Your technique is trash."
George grinned. "People call me the 'God of Gamblers.' I've never lost a hand in my life. You brave enough to go a round?"
"Hmph. You can question my character, kid, but you do not question my gambling skills." Yami snapped upright, the provocation hitting home. He gestured to the dealer. "Sit down, brat. Today, I'm gonna show you what real gambling looks like!"
(End of Chapter)