[One Month Later]
Corin finally adapted to the changes in his body, but during that time he broke quite a few hotel facilities.
He paid a lot of money.
Through the upgrades, Corin's body instantly rose to an unprecedented level, which seriously affected his daily life.
But the effects were considerable.
He could now easily lift a steel coil weighing about 20 tons with one hand, and he even went to Tony's weapons factory to pick up a brand-new tank to practice with.
A tank weighing over 60 tons Corin could lift without much effort.
He also sneaked to New York Harbor at night and tested himself against various types of cargo ships.
He found he could easily push small cargo ships in the water, and even large cargo ships, if he tried a bit, would move.
Keep in mind, even when floating, a large cargo ship's weight starts at the hundred-thousand-ton level.
This thrilled Corin.
Worth mentioning, while Corin was working hard to adapt to his body, little Spider-Man Peter Parker had come to see him several times.
Peter would come every time in high spirits to invite Corin to team up.
Peter spent his spare time tirelessly helping the New York police fight crime.
Since Captain George Stacy approved of the little Spider, he would unintentionally leak him difficult case information, which gave Peter an unprecedented sense of recognition and mission.
But recently Peter discovered a weirdo.
It was a person wearing green armor and a demon mask riding a flying device.
He only traded a few moves with Peter then left, without doing anything excessive, which made Peter very puzzled.
Spider-sense told Peter this person was very dangerous, so since then that green figure could not be shaken from Peter's mind.
Having refused the little Spider's team-up invitation once again, Corin said that someone like Peter, who selflessly dedicates himself, was something he would never do in this lifetime.
As a bounty hunter, making money was the only proper business.
Corin's refusal left the little Spider with a cold impression, and the ideal lofty image got a little black spot.
———
In the hotel, Corin recalled what he'd just done, "Good thing I was smart and hopped the stairs. Otherwise I might have accidentally broken the elevator, and with the current balance it would be really hard to pay for that."
But that was not a long-term plan; he still had to hurry up and make money.
Looking at the account balance of a few million dollars, Corin wailed, 'I'm broke!'
At that moment, the phone rang.
["Hi~ Mr. Silver Duke."]
It was Tony Stark.
Receiving Tony's call, Corin was very surprised, 'Isn't Tony secluded, researching a new suit? Done already so fast?'
Tony's slightly tsundere voice sounded on the phone, ["Mr. Silver Duke, I suddenly remembered our agreement. It's time to set off…"]
Corin's eyes brightened, recalling Tony had once invited him to a place, "Las Vegas?"
["Let's go~"]
Tony's cheerful voice came through the phone.
———
Tony Stark had been very happy recently.
Since announcing he was Iron Man, he had quickly become a national idol.
'Of course, who can resist the charm of a mech,' Tony thought proudly.
What made Tony even happier was the smooth completion of the new mech.
He had reason to believe that when he took out the new suit, he would drop everyone's jaws.
Too cool isn't even enough to describe that feeling.
Reliving the moment the experiment succeeded, even Tony himself was amazed by his invention.
"Time to relax a little."
As a genius, Tony wasn't naturally industrious; once he achieved short-term results, he had to enjoy himself.
Thinking of the card skills of the Crimson Silver Duke, Tony's eyes glittered with acquisitive light.
'Isn't it just Las Vegas~'
He hadn't only once visited Las Vegas's luxury casinos, and he quickly acquired the reputation of "fat sheep."
A science guy can never stay rational in the face of probability.
Besides, there were tricks and ruthless moves.
Tony sent a car to pick up Corin at the Manhattan hotel, and the two boarded Tony's private plane to the gamblers' paradise of the world, Las Vegas.
———
[Three Days Later]
"Oh! God~ please~ God!"
Tony now regretted bringing Corin to Las Vegas to gamble.
What made him regret it more was his big promise to Corin on the private plane, that they'd split wins, and he'd cover all losses.
Three days!
Only three days!
Tony lost a full 500 million... Dollars!
500 million.
He had thought someone who could take playing cards out as weapons and throw them so deftly must be a gambling saint, but this time Tony misjudged.
Corin looked like an amateur.
With only heroic bravery, he would call any hand and peek at any hand.
This almost made Tony's little heart pop the reactor out of his chest.
At first Tony thought Corin was pretending to be dumb to mess with his mindset, planning to win it all back at the crucial moment.
But, unexpectedly, Corin wasn't just bad, he didn't even know how to play.
"Big bro! If you couldn't play, you should have said so earlier~ Why did you act like you had the game in the bag, I believed you!"
Aside from nearly vomiting blood from frustration, Tony got to actually experience being a father figure.
At first people still gave Tony face and made room for him at the gambling table.
Later, when they realized Tony was going to follow Corin's lead, Corin's treatment shot up.
Bunny girls on both sides; drinks, fruit, cigars proactively offered to his mouth.
Countless envious gazes from the upper class; the dealer's suggestive look.
Truly the gamblers' paradise of the world, Las Vegas had perfected every stimulus, color, staff, temperature, scent, to keep wealthy gamblers playing.
"These people are the experts of applied science."
Realizing this, Corin sighed about the terrifying casino while helplessly answering Tony's question, "Tony, who told you I could gamble?"
Who was Tony Stark?nIf you're having fun, what's a little spending?
Instantly forgetting the unhappiness of losing money, he suggested excitedly what came to mind, "Forget those unhappy things!"
"I heard there's a good racetrack in Morocco! Let's go there and play!"
[T/N: I have started doing another fanfic— "Frieren: A Journey of the Demon King". It is a quite relaxing and humorous read, give it a go. Have a great read~]