The casino boss, who introduced himself as Mr. Heng, watched with a thin, forced smile. "Blackjack table. House rules, stand on soft 17. Initial deposit, Mr. Nathan?"
Nathan simply nodded, his eyes already scanning the deck shoe containing eight decks of cards. The Level 1 Gambling God System activated instantly, like a supercomputer booting up. Every card dealt by the dealer to the other players, every card revealed, was instantly recorded and calculated. Probabilities turned into certainties in his mind.
He started cautiously, placing a ten million chip bet. His cards were a hard 16. The dealer showed a 7. Probability of dealer bust: 45%. Probability of dealer reaching 17-21: 55%. Recommendation: Stand. Nathan gestured. "Stand." Another player, a boisterous businessman, hit on 15 and immediately busted.
The dealer flipped his hole card—a 10. Total 17. Dealer stands. Nathan lost. He didn't react. This was a game of probabilities.
He doubled his next bet. Won. Then again. He never split or doubled down based on hunches; every decision was a perfect mathematical calculation. His stack of chips began to grow. One hundred million. Two hundred million.
The sweating Mr. Heng became restless. He gave a subtle code to the dealer, a beautiful woman with nimble hands.
Nathan saw it. His system detected the micro-expression: a too-quick glance from the dealer to Mr. Heng.
The game continued. Nathan got a 20. The dealer showed an Ace. The other players had all stood or busted. Probability of the dealer having blackjack: 31%. If not, the dealer would most likely draw cards to at least 17.
Recommendation: Stand. Nathan stood.
The dealer checked his hole card—not a 10. He didn't have blackjack. The dealer drew cards: a 3, a 5, then a King. Bust. Nathan won big.
His stack was now approaching one billion. Mr. Heng could no longer smile. His face was dark.
"Now, time for some fun," Nathan said in a low voice. He placed half of his chips—five hundred million—on a single hand.
The sounds around the table died down. Laura held her breath. Tina closed her eyes.
Nathan's cards were dealt: the Ace of spades and the King of hearts. Blackjack. He was about to announce it when the dealer, with an almost imperceptible movement, touched the side of the deck shoe.
A card, barely visible, slipped from underneath—a card that shouldn't have been there. Cheating.
But Nathan's system had already detected the anomaly before the card even touched the dealer's hand.
[Ding! Warning: Possible cheating detected. Dealer's hand movement inconsistent with proper shuffling. Card to be dealt is manipulated.]
Nathan didn't hesitate. His hand moved quickly, catching the dealer's wrist just before the card could be dealt.
"A fair game, madam," he said, his voice cold and authoritative, shattering the silence of the room. "I prefer the card that's supposed to be from the top of the deck, not from the bottom."
The dealer gasped, her face paling. Mr. Heng jumped up. "You're accusing me of cheating?!"
"I'm not accusing," Nathan countered, releasing the dealer's wrist and pointing to the deck shoe. "I know. Now, deal the cards properly, or I'll assume this entire operation is a scam and I'll withdraw all my money—and perhaps involve the police."
The bluff worked. Mr. Heng's eyes flashed with anger and fear. He gave a barely perceptible nod to the dealer, who tremblingly dealt the card from the top of the deck.
The dealer's cards were revealed: a 6 of spades and a 10 of hearts. Total 16. She had to draw a card. Everyone held their breath.
The dealer picked up a card. It was the 5 of hearts. Total 21.
But Nathan already had blackjack. He won. Five hundred million turned into seven hundred and fifty million in an instant.
"Enough!" Mr. Heng roared, his face crimson. "Tony's debt is two billion. Take the chips and get out!"
Nathan calmly gathered his chips, which were now worth almost two and a half billion. "Two billion for Laura's freedom. Five hundred million for Tony's freedom. Sounds like a deal."
He exchanged his chips for an electronic transfer and a wad of cash worth 20 million for Tony. After Tony was unceremoniously kicked out and Laura watched with mixed emotions, Nathan approached Laura.
"You're free," he said, but the possessive way he held her arm sent a different message—a subtle but undeniable message of ownership.
Back in his luxurious suite, the pent-up tension began to melt away. Tina, emotionally and physically exhausted, was sound asleep on the large, plush sofa, gently covered by Nathan with a blanket.
Laura stood near the panoramic window, looking at the twinkling city lights. Her body was still trembling from adrenaline and overwhelming relief.
"I... I don't know how to thank you," she whispered, her voice hoarse. "You saved our lives."
Nathan didn't answer with words. He approached her from behind, but didn't touch her. His presence was felt, warm and solid behind her. The +15% Sex Magnetic Aura from his system began to radiate, enveloping Laura in an almost physical attraction.
"You don't need to thank me," he finally said, his voice low and resonant in the quiet room. "You just need to feel safe."
Laura turned to face him. Her eyes, still wet with tears, now radiated something else: desire, a burning gratitude, and a need to be reassured that she was still wanted, not as an object, but as a woman.
"Make me feel safe, Nathan," she breathed, a plea that was both honest and vulnerable. "Make me forget everything. Tonight."
It was an invitation that Nathan couldn't and didn't want to refuse. He reached out his hand, touching her cheek. His touch was not hurried, not greedy. It was a touch of recognition, a reverence. Laura leaned into his touch, her eyes closing, a soft moan escaping her lips.
Nathan bent down and kissed her.
This wasn't a hurried or wildly passionate kiss. It was deep, slow, and probing. A kiss that promised endless pleasure, an escape from all the pain.
Laura responded with fervor, her hands reaching for Nathan's broad shoulders, pulling him closer, as if afraid this was all a dream.
As they broke apart for breath, Nathan wasted no time. His skillful hands—guided by the system's intimate knowledge of erogenous zones—began to explore. He didn't rip her clothes off. Instead, he unbuttoned her blouse one button at a time, each touch of exposed skin a reverence.
"You're so beautiful," he murmured, and this time, there was a note of authenticity in his voice, because Laura was beautiful—beautiful in her vulnerability and her newfound strength.
The blouse fell to the floor. Her bra followed soon after, unclasped with a smooth, one-handed motion. Nathan looked at her, and his gaze was full of genuine admiration that made Laura not feel ashamed, but empowered.
He led her to the large bed, laying her down gently. He didn't immediately climb on top of her. Instead, he knelt beside her, his eyes sweeping over her entire body as if studying a masterpiece.
"Close your eyes," he whispered. "Feel."
Laura obeyed. And Nathan began.
His foreplay wasn't a prelude; it was a ritual. His mouth rediscovered every inch of her body, but with new knowledge. He knew exactly where the sensitive back of her knees were, where the curve of her spine that would make her writhe, where the pulse point in her neck that would throb when caressed with his tongue.
He used not just his mouth, but his breath—warm puffs alternating with wet touches, creating a contrast that drove Laura wild. His hands weren't idle; they massaged, caressed, and explored simultaneously, as if he had eight hands.
"Nathan... please..." Laura moaned, her body arching, her hands gripping the sheets. "I need... I need more."
"Tell me what you want," Nathan breathed, his mouth just inches from hers.
"I want you. Inside. Now."
It was a command he gladly obeyed. He shed his own clothes with mesmerizing efficiency, revealing his muscular body and the mighty shaft that made Laura gasp—not in fear, but in anticipation.
He entered her with one smooth but certain motion, filling a void that wasn't just physical, but emotional. Laura screamed, a scream that was full of relief, fullness, and a new beginning.
And then, the symphony began.
Nathan's movements were not hurried or selfish. It was a mindful exploration. Every thrust was calculated, every angle designed to find and stimulate every sensitive point that his system had mapped out. He changed speed, depth, and position with ease, keeping Laura constantly on the edge of the precipice, but never letting her fall—until she wanted to.
His hands reached for her breasts, massaging and twisting her already hard nipples. His mouth found hers in deep kisses, swallowing her moans. He whispered in her ear, compliments and dirty words perfectly crafted to trigger her responses.
"You're mine tonight, Laura," he growled, his voice full of undeniable possession. "Only mine."
"Yours!" she replied, without hesitation, surrendering herself completely to the sensations and to the man who was giving them to her. "Only yours!"
Her climax, when it finally came, shook not just her body, but her soul. It was a release—from fear, from betrayal, from the past. Her scream was long and echoed throughout the suite, a sound of freedom and complete surrender.
Nathan, who had been holding himself back with iron discipline, finally allowed himself to let go. With a deep, primal groan, he reached his peak, filling her with heat, marking the end of his mission and the beginning of something else.
They lay side by side for a long time, their breaths slowly returning to normal, their bodies united in moisture and satisfaction. Laura looked at him, her eyes full of emotions that couldn't be expressed with words—gratitude, admiration, and something approaching loving surrender.
Nathan looked back at her, and for the first time that night, his smile wasn't cold or triumphant. It was a smile that was almost... content.
[Ding! Mission completed. 1,000,000,000 Rupiah reward has been transferred. Current balance: 1,800,000,000 Rupiah. Target satisfaction level: 98%. Bonus: Gambling God System upgraded to Level 2.]
Nathan heard the voice, but this time, it wasn't about the money or the systems. It was about the woman beside him and her daughter sleeping in the next room. He had saved them, yes. But he had also claimed them. And somehow, for the first time since the system had appeared, it felt... right.