By the time Kael reached the city, the streets were glowing beneath countless lanterns. Even though the Grand Traders' Festival had ended days ago, the city's casinos and taverns were still packed with people celebrating their fortunes.
Kael pushed open the heavy doors of the largest casino.
The familiar scent of polished wood, expensive liquor, and old playing cards filled the air.
The moment he stepped inside...
Several voices called out at once.
"Look who's finally here!"
Four men stood up from a nearby table and walked toward him with wide smiles.
The first, Rowan, threw an arm over Kael's shoulder.
"Do you still remember us?"
"It's been three or four months."
Kael laughed.
"What can I say?"
"The Kryzheon Organization handed me a huge responsibility."
The second friend, Daren, raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"What kind of responsibility?"
"I'm training someone."
The third friend, Felix, burst into laughter.
"You?"
"A teacher?"
"Sounds like someone's career is going downhill."
Kael shook his head with a smile.
"It isn't that bad."
The fourth friend, Nolan, clapped his hands.
"Enough talking."
"It's been months."
"Let's enjoy ourselves."
He signaled a waiter, who quickly arrived with drinks for everyone.
Kael took a seat.
"So..."
"Are we just going to talk all night?"
Nolan grinned before tossing a deck of cards onto the table.
"Now that's the Kael I know."
"Twenty thousand per round."
Kael smirked.
"Deal."
The game began.
Cards slid across the polished table.
Coins changed hands.
Laughter echoed through the casino.
Hours passed without anyone noticing.
When the final round ended...
Kael leaned back in his chair and sighed.
"I came here hoping to make money..."
"...and somehow lost one hundred thousand."
Felix laughed so hard he nearly spilled his drink.
"Don't worry."
"Rich people don't cry over money."
Daren glanced toward the large clock hanging above the entrance.
"It's already ten at night."
"Aren't you heading back?"
"If your sister shows up here..."
"We're all finished."
Everyone laughed.
Kael smiled.
"I took a week's leave."
"So I have time."
Rowan nodded approvingly.
"Good."
"Ever since you started training someone..."
"You've become way too serious."
Nolan leaned forward with curiosity.
"So..."
"Who are you training?"
Kael took a sip of his drink.
"My master's daughter."
"Grace."
Silence fell over the table for a brief moment.
Felix blinked.
"Seriously?"
"Is she getting stronger..."
"...or is she still hopeless?"
Kael chuckled.
"She's become incredibly strong."
"After all..."
"She inherited the same power Isabella-sensei possessed."
Daren's expression immediately changed.
"Isabella's power..."
"So that means..."
"She's the next leader."
Kael nodded.
"That's why I'm the one training her."
"No one understands Isabella-sensei's fighting style better than I do."
"I was her student."
Rowan looked at Kael with a teasing grin.
"So..."
"Are you planning to betray Larissa for Grace?"
Kael's smile disappeared.
"Don't joke about that."
"Grace is nothing like Larissa."
"I don't know why..."
"But every time I look at her..."
"I feel something dark hiding inside."
"She isn't like Isabella-sensei."
Feliz frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Kael rested his elbows on the table.
"She's rude."
"Cold."
"And sometimes..."
"She gives me the feeling she's always calculating something."
"I honestly don't think she should become the organization's next leader."
Daren shrugged.
"Whether you like it or not..."
"She's still the heir."
Kael sighed.
"...I know."
Before anyone could continue...
A hand landed heavily on Kael's shoulder.
The laughter around the table faded.
Kael slowly turned around.
Standing behind him was a tall man with a smug smile.
Joa.
Kael's eyes narrowed instantly.
"It's been a long time."
Joa smiled.
"How about another game?"
Kael clenched his fist beneath the table.
"I have no interest in playing with you."
Joa laughed quietly.
"What happened?"
"Still scared after losing to me last time?"
Kael stood up.
"Scared?"
"Of you?"
"That thought never even crossed my mind."
Joa stepped back and gestured toward a nearby card table.
"Then prove it."
"One game."
The entire casino gradually fell silent.
Even Kael's friends exchanged uneasy glances.
Rowan leaned closer and whispered,
"Kael..."
"Teach this guy a lesson."
Kael's gaze never left Joa.
A faint smile slowly appeared on his face.
"...Fine."
"Let's play.
The casino grew unusually quiet.
At the center of the grand hall, two luxurious leather sofas faced each other across a polished gambling table.
Kael sat on one side.
Across from him sat Joa.
Behind Kael stood his four friends—Rowan, Nolan, Daren, and Felix.
Behind Joa stood his own team, all wearing confident smiles.
Around them, gamblers slowly stopped playing to watch.
Music from the stage still drifted through the hall as dancers performed beneath crystal chandeliers. Waiters moved between tables carrying expensive wine while roulette wheels spun endlessly in the background.
But the attention of the entire casino had shifted toward one table.
Joa leaned back with a grin.
"So..."
"How much are we betting?"
Kael met his gaze without hesitation.
"One hundred thousand."
Rowan immediately frowned.
"Kael..."
"Think again."
"One hundred thousand per round is too much."
Joa laughed.
"Are you sure?"
Kael calmly nodded.
"...Deal."
Joa snapped his fingers.
"Before we begin..."
"What's a game without a drink?"
A waiter hurried over carrying several bottles of expensive wine.
Joa filled two crystal glasses and slid one across the table.
Kael didn't even look at it.
"Play the game."
"Stop wasting time."
Joa chuckled.
"As you wish."
The cards were shuffled.
One after another...
They slid across the polished table.
The first round began.
At first, Kael remained completely focused.
Then...
He reached for the glass.
One sip.
Then another.
Minutes passed.
The casino's lights seemed brighter than before.
The music became louder.
The laughter around him echoed strangely.
Kael blinked.
The cards in his hand suddenly doubled.
No...
Quadrupled.
One card became four.
The edges of the table seemed to sway as though the entire room were floating.
A dull headache spread through his mind.
Joa quietly smiled.
Exactly as planned.
He played his cards.
A few seconds later...
"I win."
Joa pushed the chips toward himself.
He looked at Kael with a mocking smile.
"You talk big..."
"But you can't even play."
His teammates erupted into cheers.
"Joa!"
"Joa!"
"Joa!"
Behind Kael, Nolan folded his arms.
"What happened?"
"You've never been this bad."
Kael rubbed his forehead.
The dizziness only grew worse.
Nolan lowered his voice.
"Forget this."
"He's an old gambler."
"You won't beat him."
"Drop your pride and walk away."
Kael let out a drunken laugh.
"Maybe I'll become bankrupt..."
"...but I'm not losing to this idiot."
The next round began.
Then another.
Then another.
Time slipped away unnoticed.
Kael continued drinking.
The cards blurred together.
Round after round...
Defeat.
By the tenth round...
A mountain of chips sat before Joa.
Daren sighed heavily.
"Enough."
"If your sister finds out..."
"You're finished."
"And somehow..."
"We'll suffer with you."
Nolan laughed.
"You're still terrified of his sister?"
Daren looked at him as if he were insane.
"You weren't there last time."
"If you had seen what she did to us..."
"You'd understand."
"Ask Felix."
Felix simply shivered and looked away.
Joa stood from his seat, collecting the chips with obvious satisfaction.
"Looks like we're done."
"I always enjoy making easy money."
He turned to leave.
"Hold it."
Kael's calm voice stopped him.
Joa looked back.
"I said..."
"The game isn't over."
Joa sighed.
"I've had enough."
Kael's eyes slowly dropped toward Joa's right hand.
He quietly observed it for several seconds.
Then...
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"One last round."
Joa laughed.
"You've said that for the last ten rounds."
Kael leaned forward.
"This time..."
"I'll bet everything."
"Ten million."
The entire casino fell silent.
Even Joa froze.
"You don't even have that much money."
Kael shrugged.
"Whether I have it or not..."
"That's my problem."
"Not yours."
"So..."
"Sit down."
Joa stared into Kael's eyes.
For the first time that night...
Something felt different.
The drunken expression was still there.
But the confidence behind it...
Was unsettling.
After a long pause...
Joa slowly sat back down.
"Fine."
"Let's finish this."
He was certain victory was already his.
After all...
The tiny cheating device hidden beneath his sleeve had worked perfectly for ten straight rounds.
What he didn't realize...
Was that Kael had already noticed it.
While Joa shuffled the cards again...
Kael leaned slightly toward Nolan.
He whispered something into his ear.
Nolan gave a subtle nod.
Then he glanced toward Rowan.
Without saying a word...
Rowan quietly disappeared into the crowd.
Joa noticed the movement.
A faint crease formed on his forehead.
What are they planning...?
He pushed the thought aside.
With complete confidence...
He dealt the cards.
Kael calmly lifted his glass...
Finished the remaining wine...
Then picked up his cards with an unreadable smile.