NOVEL NEXT Chapter 66: Chapter 60
"Is it right? You only need to verify it," Shota Shimoda said aggressively.
At that moment, a middle-aged man approached from a distance. He wore sunglasses, a thick gold chain around his neck, and an expensive watch on his wrist.
The man glanced at Akira and Shimoda and asked, "What's going on here?"
Shimoda seemed to recognize him immediately and greeted him with a smile. "Manager Takagi, I suspect this guy is cheating." He pointed directly at Akira.
Manager Takagi's sharp gaze locked onto Akira. "Is what he's saying true?"
Nearby gamblers paused their games, gathering around the commotion. Accusations of cheating in an underground casino were no trivial matter.
Akira knew that the underground *Heroes Casino* and the *Heroes Arena* were operated by entirely different groups, with separate bosses and minimal connections. As long as this casino wasn't linked to the *Three Emperors and Seven Saints,* Akira wasn't worried.
"He's talking nonsense. Where's the evidence?" Akira replied, calm and unshaken. "This is still a lawful society, right? Even if shady things happen in the dark, I'm safe here."
Manager Takagi frowned, thinking for a moment before demanding, "Take off your cloak and let me inspect it."
Akira's tone grew sharper. "Why? Just because of his baseless accusations? Is this how the great *Heroes Casino* treats its guests?"
The weight of Akira's words wasn't lost on Takagi. Though he had taken money from Shimoda to assist him earlier, it was clear Akira wouldn't back down easily. Akira's confident demeanor suggested he wasn't someone to be trifled with.
Takagi glanced at the dealer and instructed, "Pull up the surveillance footage for this table. Let's take a proper look."
"Right away, Manager Takagi," the dealer replied, quickly retrieving the video files. After a few minutes, the footage was displayed for everyone to see. It showed that Akira had won fairly, relying purely on luck and skill.
Takagi immediately adopted a more amicable demeanor, approaching Akira with a smile. "I apologize, sir. I was wrong to suspect you. We'll even offer you a small compensation for the trouble." He then turned to Shimoda, his tone icy. "You, come with me."
Akira watched as the two left, knowing full well that Takagi wouldn't take any serious action against Shimoda. Still, Akira didn't interfere.
With the matter resolved, the other gamblers returned to their games, and Akira shifted his attention to the intermediate tables. The beginner tables were no longer worth his time.
In a private room, Takagi glared at Shimoda.
"Manager Takagi, are you really going to let him off like this?" Shimoda asked, visibly frustrated.
Takagi glanced at the monitor, which displayed Akira now playing at an intermediate table. "I just wanted him to part with some of his winnings. But now, I've changed my mind."
Shimoda's eyes lit up. "What do you have in mind, Manager?"
With a sly grin, Takagi gestured for Shimoda to come closer. Shimoda immediately handed over a bank card. Takagi pocketed it without even checking the amount. "Leave this matter to me. Half of what he wins today is yours and mine, and he won't be coming back here."
"Understood," Shimoda said eagerly.
The *Heroes Casino* had its unspoken rules. Winners often handed over a portion of their earnings as a form of protection fee. Those who refused—especially outsiders—usually didn't leave unscathed. Powerful individuals were treated more carefully, but anyone lacking strength or connections who acted tough was swiftly dealt with.
Two hours later, Akira moved to the high-stakes tables. He had already won over 8 million yen at the intermediate tables, bringing his total winnings to more than 10 million yen—around 700,000 Chinese yuan.
Unsatisfied, Akira decided to keep playing, aiming to earn enough to upgrade his living situation. Renting a five-bedroom apartment now seemed within reach.
The high-stakes tables were different. Akira could sense the presence of skilled individuals all around him. His heightened intuition allowed him to detect the latent energy of those nearby, and it was clear these players weren't amateurs.
Taking a seat at one of the tables, Akira calmly pushed 1 million yen in chips forward as the dealer distributed the cards.
The other players barely reacted; to them, 1 million yen was pocket change.
The game progressed, and soon, nearly 10 million yen was in the pot. When the cards were revealed, Akira's victory was absolute. He couldn't help but marvel at how quickly winnings accumulated at the high-stakes tables.
Unlike Shimoda, the other players didn't throw tantrums after losing. Instead, they observed Akira closely. Some of them, regulars at the casino, realized he was a newcomer. Winning so much money on his first visit was rare and drew their attention.
An hour later, Akira stood up, satisfied. He had won 30 million yen in total—equivalent to about 1.8 million Chinese yuan.
It was enough for now. Greed, Akira knew, could lead to trouble. It was time to leave.
As he prepared to depart, a man across the table stood and addressed him. "My name is Daichi Hino. May I ask for your name, friend?"
Akira, wrapped in his cloak, glanced at the man. Though Hino seemed harmless, Akira knew better than to trust strangers.