"Speaking of which, Ayanokoji, don't you have two casinos? Why are you only using one?"
Togakushi Yukimi looked around the Cooking Room and asked with great curiosity.
This Cooking Room and the Chemistry Preparation Room opposite it were both Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's casinos. Although this casino was just as large as the one next door and could accommodate more guests, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka had only opened one for now.
"That question is simple," Meari replied to Togakushi Yukimi.
"Currently, we don't charge any service fees and even have to pay money to the guests who come here, so the fewer seats, the better. Even if we opened this casino as well, it would only benefit those who come here to gamble, and it wouldn't do us any good."
Meari paused, "Moreover, we don't have enough staff to operate it right now."
Togakushi Yukimi's original library was still idle, and they were still too short-staffed. Otherwise, even if they continued to play Three-Color Dice, they could earn a lot of money.
This was Meari's guess; she hadn't asked Ayanokoji yet.
"That is indeed part of the reason." Ayanokoji nodded, rubbed his forehead, and said, "Actually, I'm still thinking about how to decorate this casino..."
"Decorate the casino?" Hanatemari lowered her head and saw that there was indeed a book on interior design in front of Ayanokoji Kiyotaka. "What's there to decorate in this room?"
During the time the casino had been open, he had been reading this book.
"The decor of a casino is directly proportional to the gamblers' stakes. When you're in the casino city of Las Vegas, you naturally want to throw money around, but if you're in a street-side pachinko parlor, you'd feel like ten thousand yen a day is too much."
Ayanokoji smiled and said, "The Chemistry Preparation Room opposite is too simple. If you were gambling in a place like that, would you be willing to bet your fortune there?"
Togakushi Yukimi nodded in agreement, "Indeed, when it opened today, I found that the largest single bet was only fifty thousand yen, and the smallest was a thousand per game."
"Birds of a feather flock together; people of a kind associate with each other. People gambling next door won't spend too much money, and even if we charged a one percent service fee, we might not even earn fifty thousand yen a day.
Therefore, what we need to do is to make them spend lavishly in this Cooking Room so that we can get generous service fees."
Ayanokoji pointed downwards, "The room next door is just to attract popularity; this room is where we make money, so redecorating it is necessary."
"I understand what you mean, but how do we get people to gamble big money here?" Togakushi Yukimi raised this crucial question.
Even with luxurious decor, people might not necessarily gamble here; it might all be for nothing.
Ayanokoji smiled mysteriously, "Of course, we have to offer them noble privileges, making them believe that only by placing high stakes here can they be worthy of the service."
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka only said that much. As for what method he would use, even when Meari and the others asked him curiously, he was evasive and wouldn't say.
"Meari, you said we're short-staffed at the casino, right?" Ayanokoji smiled and said, "Perfect, I have a helper to introduce to you all. She's on her way here now, and by my calculations, she should be arriving soon."
New staff? Who?
Meari's curiosity was piqued again. Before she could ask, a girl in a short skirt opened the door and greeted everyone energetically, "Yo, hello everyone! We meet again!"
The three girls' gazes instantly focused on the newcomer, and they were all startled.
"Kurume!? Why is it you?" Saotome frowned.
Saotome didn't have a good impression of Kurume.
A few days ago, she had finally mustered the courage to go to the hotel where Ayanokoji was staying, wanting to plead with Ayanokoji to let Hanatemari go.
But then this person suddenly appeared and disrupted things, causing her to blurt out that she wanted to play strip Mahjong in a moment of desperation, which led to Ayanokoji turning the tables on her and leaving her in last place.
Although the final outcome was good—Ayanokoji not only gently let her off but also thoughtfully gave her a lucky gift, making her heart flutter and almost causing her to confess.
Up to this point, it was fine. The important part was the latter half of the night: this person actually took her place and slept in the same room as Ayanokoji Kiyotaka for a night!
That was originally her bed, but this person stole it! Who knew what happened between her and Ayanokoji that night!
But after all, it was Meari herself who had voluntarily given up the spot. Although she was very unwilling, she consoled herself that it was just a one-night affair with Ayanokoji, and it would be fine as long as there was no further entanglement.
Who knew this person would appear again now...
"What are you doing here? You're not welcome here." Meari crossed her arms, looking at her with a displeased expression.
"I'm here to help."
Kurume could, of course, see Meari's hostility, but she didn't care at all. Instead, she came over with a smile, hugged Ayanokoji's shoulder, and deliberately said, "Well, I sold my body to the boss, so I have to work to pay him back..."
"Ayanokoji, what does she mean by that!?" Meari glared at Ayanokoji, wanting him to give her a satisfactory explanation.
Hanatemari Kazura, who was beside them, didn't speak, but she also showed a hint of displeasure.
Although he was in a Shura field, Ayanokoji calmly said, "It's simple. Not only you, but Kurume also wants to redeem her first night, so I had her work for me to pay off her debt."
Ayanokoji's words were half-true, half-false. Kurume did indeed have to work to exchange for her first night, but she was actually already Ayanokoji's person.
Ayanokoji's words, however, subtly hinted that he was "not close" to her and had only recently met her.
Kurume could also tell that Ayanokoji was "distancing himself" from her. She gave Meari a meaningful look, then nodded and smiled cooperatively, "That's right, that's exactly it!"
Is that so...? Meari's expression softened.
Working to pay off a debt to redeem one's first night, her idea was really similar to her own.
As a girl, and someone with a similar experience, Meari quickly understood her.
On the other hand, Meari also inadvertently glanced at Ayanokoji, a slight smile curving her lips.
Sure enough, Ayanokoji was a true gentleman. Even if a girl lost her body to him, he was willing to magnanimously give her a chance...
Meari's impression of Ayanokoji improved even further. Of course, what she didn't know was that her best friend beside her had already been completely consumed.
Since Ayanokoji had already agreed to let Kurume work, Meari had no reason to refuse.
"It's fine if you want to work here. We're short-staffed and welcome you, but..."
Meari stopped mid-sentence and suddenly scolded, "First, let go of your hand! Ayanokoji is the boss of the casino; as an employee, don't be so hands-on with the boss!"
Kurume was still smiling sweetly and holding Ayanokoji's arm, which made Meari very displeased.
Kurume didn't let go of Ayanokoji. Instead, she tilted her head and smiled, provoking Meari, "Why not? We're both employees, why should I listen to you?"
"Because I came here first, and I'm the casino manager! You have to listen to me when you come here! Ayanokoji set this rule!" Meari puffed out her chest.
Kurume also smiled, not to be outdone, "What a coincidence, the boss also promised to let me manage a casino, so I'm also a manager, just like you. We're on the same level, so you can't control me."
Meari gritted her teeth.
This person is too hateful! She's new and already wants to be above me!
"...Ayanokoji?" Meari looked at Ayanokoji with a "gentle" smile, "Whose side are you on?"
Kurume deliberately leaned against Ayanokoji, her tone ambiguous: "The boss must be on my side. After all, this is the position he promised me in bed..."
"In bed?"
This word was simply too sensitive.
Meari raised an eyebrow, Hanatemari let out a gasp, and Togakushi Yukimi drew a sharp breath.
Their thoughts varied, and they all silently turned their gaze to Ayanokoji, awaiting his explanation.
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