Scam Gambling (1)
Dark elves were a race that slept at night like humans, so it took some effort to sync our rhythms.
"Come to think of it, you guys don't seem fazed by sunlight at all?"
"Hm...? Yeah?"
"I mean, werewolves and vampires are weak to it."
From what I'd seen last time, she devoured garlic-laden meat without issue. Guess they didn't have any real weaknesses.
"We can't last long under direct sunlight. About 10 hours or so...?"
"I'd drop dead by then too."
So no major weaknesses after all.
"My favorite is stew, though. The kind loaded with salt."
"Considering holy water is basically saltwater, yeah, it checks out as ineffective."
"Right? But we are weak to sunlight. It's because I'm a true ancestor. Regular vampires get allergic reactions after about an hour, from what I hear."
That explained the nocturnal lifestyle. Werewolves just had rhythms tuned to night anyway. I didn't mind wandering at night myself.
"Oh, and both of us are vulnerable to silver. Even touching it burns."
"Ah."
"That's the line dividing higher and lower races, apparently."
This city had blatant racial hierarchies.
Lower races—like vampires or werewolves—got treated as inferior due to their inherent weaknesses.
Higher races lacked those flaws, giving them physical superiority.
What a horrific discrimination. Treating people this way was wrong.
So I'd have to change this city myself.
Before a dick, all are equal...
"Anyway, didn't you own a casino?"
"Ah, I went big on a hotel investment. It has a casino, but the aphrodisiac business is booming so much I haven't paid it attention."
"Stick Noxbell in there."
Investigations showed Noxbell was a hardcore gambling addict. Deep into debt from it.
Perfect bait. Ideal for a trap.
"But I heard she quit gambling after that... Completely kicked the habit?"
"God himself couldn't stop a gambling addict."
"God...?"
"Eh, just roll with it."
That's why gambling addiction is so terrifying. Worse than drugs, they say.
Noxbell couldn't gamble only because of her debts. Give her a little leeway, and she'd dive right back in.
"How's the aphrodisiac selling?"
"Can't keep up with demand. Word is, it's trading under the table even among higher races."
Massive cash flow incoming. Nothing beats drugs for business.
"Buy out the whole casino with that money."
"Hm... It'll cost a bit."
"Doesn't matter. Think of it as an investment. I've got the confidence to make it back tenfold."
Higher races had brains and dopamine rushes just like anyone. Gambling would hook them the same.
The key was crushing her not just in dreams, but in reality too. Miserably.
"I'll snag her quick."
A beauty drowning in gambling debt? Her universal asset was her body.
Trapped in the daily commute hell once more, Noxbell dragged her exhausted body into the car.
'Fuck, I'm wiped...'
For some reason, she kept waking and falling asleep repeatedly. The result? Crushing fatigue.
'Soon as I hit the office, lock the door and crash. It'll run fine without me anyway.'
At police chief level, subordinates handled everything. Sweet perks for Noxbell's rest.
"Chief?"
"...Bother me with trivial shit, and you're done."
"Good thing it's huge then. Really big news."
Daring to interrupt a great Dark Elf's nap? Had to be massive.
"The casino's owner just changed."
"To who?"
"Uh... From what I know, it's the vampire mafia boss—Morgana Bloodveil."
"Bootleggers buying a whole casino? Thought they just had minor shares."
"Nah, full 100% acquisition."
Even more absurd. Where the hell did that money come from?
'Something's up.'
Something she couldn't grasp lurking behind it all. What could it be?
"Stinks of corruption. Definitely a puppet master pulling strings."
Problem was, she had no clue what.
'If they had that cash, they'd bribe me more.'
Noxbell was still miles from paying off her debts. Her imp bank's backer was an angelic prosecutor—a higher race.
'Of all people, those assholes snag my debt!'
Prosecutors bought it to leash the police. Left her, the mayor's virtual left arm, muzzled like a dead rat.
'If I could seize some illegal funds now and pocket 'em...!'
Ehehehe... Noxbell grinned wickedly.
"What're you waiting for? Drive! I'm doing a personal inspection."
"But it's a legit business—no warrant..."
"What? I'm the chief!"
Why was a chief so damn restless? Her subordinate was baffled.
'Gotta go myself. Can't let others snatch it.'
Brimming with excitement, Noxbell headed to the casino.
"Ah! Chief, you're here? We just reopened—if you'd called, I'd have picked you up personally."
But as if expecting her, Morgana greeted her.
'Sharp instincts. Spies in the force?'
If it weren't Morgana—her massive briber—Noxbell could've nitpicked her way to a legal warrant.
But with her sugar mama welcoming her, she had to save face. Noxbell clicked her tongue in regret, eyeing her.
"Perfect timing. We've got a spot ready for you, Noxbell. Come with me."
"Hm?"
Showed up unannounced, yet no irritation? A warm welcome?
'Definitely something fishy.'
Otherwise, they'd send her packing. She narrowed her eyes at the cheeky vampire.
"Fine, lead on."
No one in Terranium could touch a police exec. Public authority was too strong.
Gangs that messed with a single beat cop got uprooted entirely.
So she followed Morgana's lead without fuss.
"Chief Noxbell's here. Everyone, stand."
"Hm! Chief? We've been waiting. No need to trouble yourself coming personally... We're honored."
Asmodeus—the puppet master—beamed at her.
"Not sure if you'll enjoy it, Chief, but we're debuting a new game from our casino."
"Hm? What's that?"
"Poker. Simple rules..."
Asmodeus explained poker's rules step by step. New to Terranium, and pretty complex.
"So the stronger hand wins?"
"Exactly."
"Hmph... Fine. Deal me in."
Expecting boredom, Noxbell started anyway. Leaving now would embarrass Morgana.
"Hm, how's this hand?"
"Ugh... Fold."
"Nngh... Die."
"Fold here too."
But once it began, her mind flipped.
"Call."
"Hmph... Ace three-of-a-kind."
"How the hell did you get that?!"
"Luck."
"Tch! Too lucky—10 straight wins already?!"
Openly rigged hospitality. But Noxbell's brain ignored it.
Old gambling memories bubbled up, reviving that era's her.
"This poker... fun, huh? All about mind games. Bluff weak hands with expressions and gestures to win."
Why hadn't she discovered it sooner? She berated her past self.
'Dumb bitch.'
Of course, it was all a scam.