The first drag of the cigarette stung Adrian's lungs, but the burning sensation was somehow calming-a temporary escape from the bitterness that always clung to his life.
From the window of the moving taxi, his sharp eyes swept over the view of "Samsara" Arcology, the magnificent enclosed city that was a prison for his own colonized people.
In the distance, the silhouettes of 15-meter-tall Mecha Sentinels belonging to the Faralan Guardian Force patrolled arrogantly, their massive metal feet trampling the faded old national emblem on the asphalt.
Their masters' guard dogs
His taxi passed the high boundary wall separating Samsara's Elite Sector from the Slum District.
From the taxi's faint speaker, the news anchor's voice was choppy with signal interference.
"...L-latest report on the Red Faction attack on the Aetherium supply line in Sector 7. The Faralan Guardian Force is increasing vigilance..." Adrian tilted his head,listening briefly.
...Red Faction. The same idiots who bombed the Aetherium pipeline yesterday, only for it to be replaced overnight. How long will they keep trying? he thought cynically.
It's been almost two years since they first appeared, but there's been no progress at all, they're just a naive group operating without a grand plan.
Adrian took another drag of his cigarette. Then he looked back at the cityscape that felt disgusting to him.
To the left, glass towers soared with holograms flaunting luxury. To the right,stretched a large, cave-like opening leading underground-It was the mine for the energy source called Aetherium.
A corporate transport Mecha passed overhead, spewing dust and polluting smoke.
Besides, they're too strong… The R1 Mecha Sentinel, V4 Knightmares, and the latest, the Juggernaut 01, they innovate every year, while the Red Faction is still using V2 Knightmares.
Resources are truly crucial.
And… the Faralan Arcology knows it, lately mines are everywhere, they seem to plan on taking all the Aetherium. They're using subtle ways to eliminate rebels.
Adrian took the last drag of his cigarette, finished it, and flicked the butt out the window, disregarding their regulations.
He sighed. You were right, Leo, cigarettes do calm you down a bit.
His destination now was the exclusive club 'The Gilded Cage'. A place where the local elites gathered and gambled.
After five minutes, he finally arrived.
He got out of the taxi, his face instantly putting on its everyday mask – that of a friendly person.
He glanced at his briefcase. Behind the steel lining, hidden was a data chip containing credits and weapon data-a habit of caution in a city like Samsara. In fact, just in case, he had modified it to avoid trackers.
The guards-smartly dressed in uniforms from a foreign security company-nodded respectfully. From the way they looked at his elegant suit, Adrian knew they thought he was one of them.
However, the most important thing was still the identity check process. The Gilded Cage was the largest gambling den in Samsara; not just anyone could enter without an invitation or an identity registered in their system.
Calmly, Adrian took a card from his pocket and swiped it. The identity data began to read.
What appeared on the screen was not his name, but the identity of a man named Volcots—a card he had managed to steal months ago.
One of the guards suddenly stopped him. They asked to check the photo on the ID card, because if it didn't match, Adrian could be branded a thief.
With a relaxed demeanor, Adrian handed over his card. His photo was clearly displayed there. In truth, the system only needed the chip for entry access, not a photo match. Adrian had pried the chip from Volcots' original card, then created a fake card with his own photo. Nevertheless, the thin aluminum connection on the card was still slightly visible.
This time, a slight doubt nagged at Adrian. The guard at the door was different from usual.
The guard frowned while examining the card.
Adrian cleared his throat, trying to ease the tension.
"Seventeen years old? You're still very young, huh?" said the guard.
Adrian breathed a sigh of relief, then immediately put on a smile. "Yes," he answered briefly.
Once satisfied, the guard returned his card. Adrian accepted it and responded with a subtle nod.
Of course, he thought to himself. What matters is the card, not how old you are.
The stated age of seventeen was chosen deliberately-not without reason. It was his real age. Not out of naivety, but as a subtle insult to their system. A small statement that even a seventeen-year-old could easily mess with and scramble their security.
He then descended the deep, branching staircase, like roots spreading into the belly of the earth. Each branch led him to different rooms and experiences, as if an entire world was hidden beneath this ground.
After nearly five minutes walking down the stairs, he finally reached his destination. As soon as he crossed the threshold, a cacophony of sound greeted him.
The grandeur of "The Gilded Cage" fully assaulted him. The room was exactly like its name-a gilded cage, with intricately carved pillars like magnificent bars made of fine marble. They soared in every corner, seemingly sheltering its inhabitants who were blissfully lost in the illusion of luxury. Blood-red marble walls created a false sense of warmth, while a giant crystal chandelier hung overhead, reflecting light that made everything seem excessively glittering.
The atmosphere inside the room was dense and deafening. A melancholic song sung by an entertainer on a small stage was almost drowned out by the relentless pounding of slot machines, interspersed with the noisy cheers of gamblers lost in the tension.
Amidst the crowd, hoarse voices and forced laughter could be heard-drunks trying to escape the trap of reality.
His sharp eyes then landed on a man standing rigidly in front of one of the slot machines. His face was pale, his gaze empty, following the spin of the unpredictable reels of symbols.
A familiar disgust washed over Adrian. How foolish, he inwardly mocked. Shouldn't they know that machines like that are rigged?
He continued his steps. His eyes scanned every corner of the room, searching for the table designated for him.
Finally, after a moment, his gaze landed on a table with his name card neatly placed on it. In the center of the table, a chessboard was perfectly set up, its pieces arranged neatly awaiting the start of the game.
Instantly, his eyes widened. His heart beat fast. Eldric? A smile spread across his lips. Him, my opponent?
"Where is my opponent?" grumbled a large, elderly man, slamming the table. His tone of annoyance echoed around. Beside him, two bodyguards of equally large stature stood sternly with grim faces.
He knew the man well. He was...
"Grandmaster Eldric," Adrian whispered softly, like a breath laden with the weight of the past.
His competitive spirit ignited instantly. Not just for victory, but for something more personal: Eldric's arrogant nature and his position as a pillar of The Gilded Cage made this match worth more. This was his chance to perform a subtle insult and a small act of defiance against the Arcology's system.
If he couldn't perform grand acts like the Red Faction, at least he could tear down the arrogance of their people, proving that the Arcology was nothing to him.
With calm and confident steps, Adrian approached his table.
He placed his briefcase down and sat down, crossing his legs.
He removed the hat that had been covering his face. Revealing his pale skin, his messy black hair slightly covering his eyebrows, yet utterly failing to dampen the glow of his red eyes-a genetic trait.
There was no expression at all, only the cold face he deliberately put on to see Eldric's expression and first impression.
"Huh? A child? My opponent is just a child?!" Eldric hissed in annoyance. "I've been waiting so long, and this is what I get?"
Adrian did not respond to his rant.
From his briefcase, he took out a stack of money and placed it calmly on the betting plate.
"As agreed,"
Seeing Adrian's cold and confident attitude, Eldric instead burst into loud laughter.
"Don't you know who I am, boy?"
Adrian paused his answer, letting the Grandmaster wait.
"Grandmaster Eldric," Adrian finally answered, "The undefeated champion in the last 50 matches. But that history is useless now, it won't help you. Right now, it's just you and me…"
Hearing that answer, the crowd of spectators that had begun to gather erupted in a low uproar. Some even laughed.
From their cheers and laughter, it seemed they had long been waiting for someone brave enough to challenge Eldric.
In front of him, Adrian could clearly see the Grandmaster's face turning red. A small victory. Well, Eldric… what will you do now?
After a long enough silence, Eldric finally spoke:
"Very well…" He held back the tremor in his own voice, trying to remain calm.
Then his hand moved to take a sum of money and threw it onto the pile of bets.
"I'll double my bet. No... triple it." he said, throwing two more stacks of money.
You make yourself look so weak Eldric... Adrian thought for a moment.
Then he merely nodded, responding with a thin smile.
His slender, long fingers firmly took his chess piece.
"Thank you," he said in a calm voice, without the slightest intimidation. "I won't disappoint you, Grandmaster."