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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: A Game of Chance
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Kang-jun casually asked the question, leaving Kim Dae-seon rolling on the floor behind him. He exited the supply room and headed back toward the kids' cafe.
“Seol-i, if you eat too much, you might get a stomachache…”
In the distance, he saw Seol-i sitting across from Bong-gu at a cafeteria table, munching on ice cream.
A few bites of the sweet treat seemed to have calmed her down completely. She was lost in savoring the ice cream with a bright, innocent expression.
- I-I apologize, but as it is an organization with very little public information, I do not know much myself…
Kajan, who had trailed off vaguely, paused for a moment before adding a relatively coherent explanation.
- I've heard it is a group formed by key members of criminal organizations like the 'Mafia' and 'Fenose,' as well as secret societies such as the 'Bavarian Illuminati.'
He added again.
- Furthermore, all I've heard is that some 'non-human races' who migrated to Earth from beyond the Gates are also involved…
From the sound of it, they seemed to be a secret society composed solely of villains who wouldn't hesitate to commit any evil act to achieve their goals.
“Does this mean I'm bound to get tangled up with some unsavory characters at this auction?”
After replying, "Yes, that is so," Kajan added with a hint of amusement in his tone.
- As this is a chaotic world where a clear order has yet to be established, there are many with fire in their eyes, seeking to seize power.
“Many?”
- In fact, it would not be an exaggeration to say that an organization similar to the 'Brotherhood' exists in every country…
Kajan then cautiously added.
- Wasn't the 'Anti-Bureau Alliance,' the organization dismantled by the great Immortal, of a similar nature?
Just then, Seol-i spotted Kang-jun and, with a purely innocent smile, began waving her tiny hand wildly from side to side.
- It is quite a laughable situation, is it not? They dare to squabble amongst themselves for supremacy, unaware that the Immortal, who could be called the absolute ruler of all Abyss, is here on Earth…
At that, Kang-jun asked.
“Are you warning me of their existence?”
Startled, Kajan began to ramble in a hurried tone.
- W-w-w-who in all of Abyss would dare be a match for the great Immortal?
“Then?”
- I was merely concerned that if you were to be accompanied by the young lady, a situation might arise that would cause you to frown…
Kang-jun replied calmly.
“How thoughtful of you.”
After replying, "I am honored...," Kajan returned to the main topic.
- In any case, I will make all necessary preparations in time so that there will be no hindrance to your participation in the auction.
“Preparations?”
- I will prepare a forged identity and a corresponding passport to match your departure schedule.
Revealing his wealth at an auction that drew so much attention would surely lead to all sorts of troublesome entanglements, wouldn't it?
‘He's certainly sharp.’
It might cost a bit, but he thought it was naturally better to spend a little money to prevent unwanted public attention beforehand.
- Furthermore, I will arrange for round-trip flights, as well as accommodations for the duration of the auction and appropriate attire.
Kang-jun's gaze remained fixed on Bong-gu, who was looking after Seol-i in the distance, as he spoke.
“Cost is no object. Make sure to prepare everything for two people with the utmost care.”
A few days later.
Inside a custom tailor shop on the outskirts of downtown Las Vegas, Nevada.
“Hmm…”
A white-haired old man in a neat suit was smoking a cigarette, a newspaper spread open in his hands.
*Ting-.*
Just then, the bell on the entrance door rang, and a young woman dressed as a casino dealer walked in.
“I desire the attire of a new world.”
It was the organization's secret password.
“Come in.”
This custom tailor shop had been designated as the hideout for the 'Brotherhood' agents assigned to the operation to steal the auction items.
“The comrades are waiting in the basement.”
With a faint smile, the young woman straightened her back and strode confidently across the shop…
When she lightly pushed the full-length mirror standing in the back of the store, an elevator leading to the basement was revealed.
*Whoosh-/*
Around the circular table in the center of the secret room she arrived in, members of the Brotherhood, all clad in robes, were gathered.
“We've been waiting…”
Nodding once, she took a deck of tarot cards from the briefcase she was holding.
“Thank you all for gathering here despite your busy schedules.”
“The reason…?”
“There has been a prophecy from the god behind me.”
At her words, a low murmur rippled through the room.
“A prophecy…”
She finished speaking and spread the tarot cards on the table in a neat fan shape.
“The one whom all the gods of the Asgard constellation oppose will reveal himself before you…”
A man in a robe asked.
“Does that mean…”
She nodded once and replied.
“Immortal.”
Then she added quietly in a triumphant tone.
“My patrons, 「The Three Sisters Who Govern the Fate of Yggdrasil」, have personally prophesied that he will appear here.”
Then, the man seated at the head of the table cautiously asked.
“What do you plan to do?”
The Brotherhood agent, 'Amanda,' who was working undercover as a dealer at the casino where the auction would be held, shrugged and answered.
“On the day Immortal appears, I plan to approach him while concealing my identity and read his 'fortune.'”
At her words, the man at the head of the table narrowed his eyes.
“It would be best to refrain from acting alone, as it could lead to an unnecessary loss of strength…”
She then chose three cards from the fan on the table, revealing them one by one as she continued to speak.
“The first card is Strength.”
Courage.
“The second card is The Tower.”
Destruction.
“The third card is Judgment.”
Improvement.
“There is no variable of death in my reading.”
Behind her stood the three goddesses who governed the past, present, and future, so there was no room for doubt.
“Wouldn't it be far more efficient to first confirm the fortune of the one the gods are wary of, and then adjust our plans accordingly?”
At that, the man who had been silently gazing at the third card she had chosen spoke again.
“The third card, Judgment, is usually interpreted as improvement, but depending on the perspective, it can also be interpreted as 'resurrection.' Of course, you would know better than I.”
Amanda gathered the fanned-out cards on the table and replied.
“Even if I were to gather my courage and attempt to destroy Immortal myself, and even if I, the agent of the three goddesses, were to unavoidably lose my life in the process…”
“It must be a revelation that 「The Three Sisters Who Govern the Fate of Yggdrasil」 would recognize my contribution and resurrect me.”
After finishing, she scanned the robed men sitting around the table and added.
“I trust that everyone here has experienced the power of the gods, so you all know that 'resurrection' is nothing special.”
The man at the head of the table swallowed his words. A sense of unease was rising like smoke in a corner of his mind, but…
‘No need to throw a wet blanket on things.’
Amanda's readings and interpretations had never once been wrong, so he judged there was no need to cause anxiety with unnecessary words.
At that moment.
It was only a few days later that Kang-jun and Bong-gu boarded a plane for Las Vegas, USA.
“Whoa…”
Boarding the ultra-luxurious Gulfstream jet provided by the "Secret Society of the Wealthy," Bong-gu couldn't stop exclaiming in awe.
“This really brings home the reality of your immense wealth. I never thought I, Kim Bong-gu, would ever see the day I'd ride a luxurious private jet…”
"You're making a fuss," Kang-jun dismissed him, calmly flipping through the pages of the catalog he had received from Kajan beforehand.
It was a catalog for the upcoming Las Vegas auction, with the schedule and listed items neatly organized by category.
“Sir, why do you look so down?”
Kang-jun replied in a serious tone.
“Seol-i is mad at me.”
“Why?”
“For taking a plane without her.”
At that, Bong-gu muttered, "Ah..."
“You told your family you were just accompanying me to assist with a business trip, right?”
"Yeah," Kang-jun replied, pressing his large hand against his throbbing forehead.
“I should probably buy her a gift to cheer her up.”
“Do you have a specific gift in mind?”
“She's upset about the plane, so how about a private jet like this one…”
He added.
“My sister said Seol-i is turning four this year, so they're planning to send her to daycare soon. The timing is perfect.”
“How so?”
“I can kill two birds with one stone with a private jet, right? It can be a gift to soothe her feelings and an enrollment present…”
Bong-gu let out a stunned, "Huh..."
The sheer scale of it was simply unfathomable.
After arriving at the airport.
The two immediately boarded a large sedan waiting right outside the airport and headed to the hotel where the auction would be held to check in.
It was a penthouse on the top floor.
Bong-gu, perhaps struggling with jet lag, passed out completely as soon as he put his luggage down, without even changing his clothes.
Kang-jun, who had been sprawled on the sofa watching TV, couldn't stand the boredom and soon got up.
“Maybe I'll go out for a bit…”
Kang-jun recalled the casino in the hotel lobby that had caught his eye during check-in.
‘I arrived a few days before the auction starts, so it might be good to find a hobby…’
Having obtained information that a criminal organization called the Brotherhood was aiming to steal the auction items, he intended to stop them beforehand.
It would be very troublesome if they caused a delay in the auction schedule or, worse, got the event canceled altogether.
Kang-jun took out a neat custom-tailored suit from the penthouse closet and dressed sharply.
After finishing his preparations to head to the casino, Kang-jun glanced around for a moment before finally making his way toward the casino in the lobby.
‘Peaceful…’
At least for now, not even the slightest movement seemed detectable.
The security guard at the casino entrance checked Kang-jun's key card and responded.
“After you enter, you can enjoy the games at the 'VVIP Private Table' located in the innermost part of the casino.”
After expressing his thanks using a simple translation spell, Kang-jun strode directly toward the private room inside the casino…
‘No one's here?’
But upon stepping into the spacious VVIP private room, he found it completely empty, without so much as an ant in sight.
“I apologize.”
A young female dealer hurriedly followed him in and asked in a calm, soft voice.
“There are currently no games in progress at the VVIP table.”
“That's fine. I'll just play at a regular table.”
“If you could wait just a moment, I will prepare a new game right away.”
After a moment's hesitation, Kang-jun reluctantly nodded, took a seat at the baccarat table, and replied softly.
“I'll wait.”
He then stared for a moment at the solid gold name tag pinned to her chest.
“Is your name 'Amanda'?”
“Yes.”
“Let's have a good game.”
She nodded once and replied.
“Shouldn't you be asking 'fate' instead of me?”
“Do you believe in gods?”
“Of course. I am a devout follower of a certain god.”
As if he had expected it, Kang-jun immediately replied.
“I thought so.”
It was because he could feel a very faint 'divine power' emanating from her, though he couldn't be sure if he was mistaken.
It was a high-quality power, on a completely different level from the divine power Aldebaran had possessed.
‘When was it…’
It had a similar texture to the divine power he had felt from 'Hrimthurs the Frost Giant,' whom he had encountered inside the disaster-grade Gate.
“You don't believe in gods?”
Kang-jun chuckled at her question and replied.
“I'm just like everyone else. I only look for them when I need them.”
“I see…”
“But if one ever gets in my face, I'm prepared to kill it.”
At his words, the dealer's hands paused mid-shuffle for a moment. Forcing a smile, she cautiously asked.
“Blasphemy at a baccarat table, of all places. The goddess of luck might be disgusted and leave you.”
“I'll just drag her back by the hair.”
“Hmm, you seem to be a guest with considerable nerve. The preparations are almost complete. Shall we begin the game?”
Kang-jun cut in, saying, "Wait."
“I'd like to propose an interesting wager first.”
“What kind of…”
“If you can make me lose my chips, I will give you a prize.”
"A prize? That sounds exciting," Amanda replied, adding softly with a grin.
“In that case, would you mind if I read your fortune to predict the outcome of our wager?”
“My fortune?”
“I've actually learned a bit of 'tarot' for fun. If you don't mind, I'd like to give you a reading.”
Kang-jun nodded once and replied.
“Sounds interesting.”
At that, Amanda immediately pulled a deck of tarot cards from under the table, fanned them out across the betting table, and continued her explanation.
“Would you please choose three cards?”
Without hesitation, Kang-jun picked three cards…
“The first card is The Chariot, signifying progress and victory…”
Amanda immediately flipped over the second card to check it.
“The second card is The Tower, signifying destruction and ruin…”
Finally, after checking the third card, she tilted her head in confusion.
“The third card is The Emperor…”
It was the card depicting an emperor.
“What does the third card mean?”
Amanda licked her lower lip once and continued in a cautious tone.
“I'm not sure why this reading came up, but it's a card that signifies a father's heart, or 'paternity.'”
Kang-jun's tone turned icy as he asked.
“You speak as if you know something about me.”
“Of course not…”
“I've decided what prize I'll give you if you make me lose my money.”
Amanda, trying her best to look composed, asked.
“How about treating me to a glass of whiskey?”
“I think you're underestimating my generosity.”
Kang-jun finished and immediately added.
“If you make me lose my money, I'll let you leave here alive.”
At the same time, a vast amount of mana erupted from Kang-jun, forming a barrier.
“No one will be able to come or go until the game is over. It's a high-stakes game, so it's better to proceed discreetly.”
Just as Amanda, overwhelmed by his aura, began to break out in a cold sweat…
“I'm quite curious if that god you believe in has any connection to the 'Asgard' constellation.”
Kang-jun asked the question while fiddling with his chips, not even glancing at her, and Amanda's eyes began to tremble violently.
