Chapter 233
Chapter 233
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 233
Chapter Title: 77. Dancing with Summer (2)
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rummaging through the pocket subspace, he grabbed the pocket watch.
Yeoreum's sock got caught. He pushed it aside and pulled out the watch again to check the time. Exactly 17 minutes had passed since Yeoreum went in.
"Where are you?"
― Right there on the 3rd floor earlier. Hehe.
"Having a blast, huh. Forgot a whole month's dorm rent in just minutes."
― Eeng~ Sorry♥
"How the hell did you blow it all so fast?"
― How did it happen? Just, fuck. The guy next to me kept chasing every time I won. Whatever, life's short, right? But turns out life actually has some meaning...
"Never mind. Just stay put. I'm coming now."
After paying for the kids' gifts.
Yoo Ji-tae headed to the casino on the 3rd floor of the building. The moment he stepped in, dazzling lights and spectators in party attire welcomed him. Most were tourists enjoying the sights along the way.
A few had slightly off glints in their eyes. The kind with purposes beyond just having fun.
Up on the 3rd floor, Yeoreum spotted him and came running over with a big grin.
"Welcome!"
"Yeah. Hand over the card."
"Here!"
The Las Vegas member credit card.
He checked the balance. Dollars converted to won. Roughly 8,000 won left.
"You really wiped it clean."
"Yeah. Broke now?"
"Got some."
He'd recently sold dungeon byproducts from a raid at a Swiss auction house. After fees and taxes, he'd netted around 40 million won. Making hundreds of billions overnight wasn't hard if he wanted, but he earned just enough to fit into everyday life.
"What? You have money? Gimme more."
"And then what?"
"Huh?"
"In two hours, you'll come back having lost ten million?"
"No way?"
Yeoreum burst into a bright smile as he scolded her.
"Lemme try once more? I'll turn it into ten times."
"Not going together?"
"Uh-uh. Wanna try solo. I lost it, so I gotta win it back."
Of course it was nonsense. They should go together.
But Yoo Ji-tae paused to think. What did Yeoreum need? What would make her happy?
After two years together, he knew now.
Yeoreum was an incredibly independent dragon.
She didn't rely on others easily. Didn't ask for help. She tried to handle things herself.
Yoo Ji-tae respected her independence. It was a matter of pride for the Red clan.
But kids inevitably needed adult help. Not just in fights, but even for fun like this.
She needed help, but he couldn't just hand it over easily.
In moments like these, how should a guardian approach the child?
The answer came to him.
He loaded 2 million won onto the credit card and handed it to her.
"Ooh."
"Do better this time."
"Got it. Not love, but respect! Be right back~"
(Snapped a pic of the chandelier-filled cafe.)
(Pic arrived soon. Winter's face took up the whole screen, chin tucked in awkwardly like she had a double chin. Her V-sign only showed two knuckles.)
(Bom usually did it for her. Guess Gaeul took care of it today.)
(Misses me already? As Yoo Ji-tae pondered a reply, another message popped up.)
(So he snapped a selfie and sent it.)
That was when his watch buzzed while Yoo Ji-tae was chatting with Winter in the cafe.
A call from Yeoreum. Seemed like about three hours this time.
― Hello?
"Yeah. Win any?"
― Uh. So, here's how it went.
Yeoreum hesitated before speaking up.
― Curious, Master...?
Oh boy.
He called her over to the cafe.
Yeoreum ordered an Americano and awkwardly grinned as she made excuses.
"No, for real, I'm so wronged this time. I almost had it...!"
"What game?"
"Texas Hold'em. Cards laid out in front, match combos with your hole cards."
"I know the gist. So?"
"Yeah. Started cautious at first? But the guy next to me, every time he lost to me, started shoving bigger pots. What else could it be? Challenge to me, right?"
"Can't avoid that stuff. Yeah?"
"Yeah!"
"......"
"Sex......"
"Why the tongue roll?"
"We're in America."
She cackled with laughter. Good thing she saw it as fun—at least she seemed happy despite the loss.
Straight-up normal gambling. Got utterly crushed in the mind games.
If he handed her cash a couple more times and sent her off, frustration would start building the next time she busted.
Timing was right.
"Wanna try once more?"
"For real? Cool?"
"But this time, we go together."
"Why? Wanna try solo... I can do better now."
"No can do. Planning to give you ten million this round."
"Huh? For real?"
The stakes had jumped.
Her allowance was ten or twenty thousand at a time. After torching a million, now it was ten million on the line. Big bucks even for money-blind Yeoreum.
"Pretty hefty capital, huh."
"Uh? Yeah."
"Then maybe I gotta be more careful too."
"Hmm...... Still don't like it. Can't you just tell me if I bust again?"
"You won't win."
"I can."
"Bet on it?"
"Sure. If I recover the full principal, you treat me like your master for a day. Like a slave."
She said it thinking of some shojo manga.
Her metaphors were always kinda crude.
"If you don't."
"I'll treat you like master for a day."
"Deal."
No need for a Red Dragon slave.
But this way, he could protect her pride as an adult while getting a chance to teach her something.
The two left the cafe and headed back to the table rooms. Gaudy multicolored lights everywhere. Below, a carpet with weird patterns that mysteriously made you wanna spend money stretched into the distance. Packed to the gills with people, faint sighs and muffled groans leaked from the otherwise quiet spots.
Among them, Yoo Ji-tae and Yeoreum made for a Texas Hold'em table.
He'd loaded another ten million onto the credit card. Yeoreum waved it around and asked,
"Just dive in?"
"First, explain your plan to me."
"What plan? Grab the card, bet money. Fight if challenged. Might die or whatever."
That'd lead to losses every time.
Yeoreum wasn't dumb. She felt uneasy and quietly asked,
"Hey. Don't tell me too much. Just one tip."
"Bet's on, and you want a tip?"
"C'mon, just one. Something small. Wanna lose ten mil?"
"Ten mil's fine for a dragon slave."
"Ugh, fuck it then. Go away."
But he couldn't let her actually lose. She'd get emotionally hurt. Anger born of desire—the fast track to getting hooked deeper.
As she walked off, Yoo Ji-tae approached from behind and gripped her shoulders with both hands. She froze. "Huh? What?" He lowered his stance to meet her eye level. Perfect example right there.
"Explaining once."
"Huh? Oh, yeah."
"Look over there."
"Yeah, got it."
Yeoreum obediently followed his guidance.
At the 5-player table, three had folded.
The remaining man and woman were trading bets.
"Who do you think wins?"
"Mm, the lucky bastard?"
"Sure, for human poker. But you're a dragon. Look closer."
"Hmm......"
Yeoreum squinted at them.
"What am I supposed to see......"
"Can't control skill or luck right now. Can't peek cards either."
"Yeah."
"To get an edge for fun, use what you've got. You've got sharp eyes, right?"
"Duh, better than humans."
"Share your vision with me."
"Okay."
His hands rested on her shoulders. Yoo Ji-tae accepted the faint flow of draconic mana. The link used minimal mana—too tiny for the bracelet to pick up.
"Focus and watch."
He spoke from over her shoulder. Yeoreum concentrated. His gaze alternated between the man raising and the woman. Eyes first, then faces. Finally, full-body scans.
"......?"
Yoo Ji-tae's gaze on humans was like staring at logs. Yeoreum got faint goosebumps and rubbed her arms.
Regardless.
He spoke.
"Focus."
"Ah, yeah."
They looked again. Then he said,
"See it now?"
Yeoreum thought she got it a little.
His gaze locked on tiny details. Specifically, when the man revealed the turn card, it lingered on the subtle twitch at the corner of his eye.
Not deliberate. Barely visible. Maybe some electrical signal tick causing it.
Even a dragon wouldn't notice without focusing.
Right after. The man's expression turned faintly fearful. Sensitive humans could pick up this change.
"Looks fucked."
"Right? But big pot."
"Yeah. Gonna fold? Sucks, but he's fucked."
"Nah."
Passing eyes and face. Next, his full body held his gaze.
Posture and demeanor.
Fearful face, hunched shoulders. But legs subtly spread, knees starting to tremble faintly. A bit scattered vibe.
"Oho. Not folding, chasing more. Good hand?"
"Think so?"
Final bet done.
Showdown. Cards revealed.
The man's hand was a flush—a strong one.
"Ah, shit...!"
His female opponent frowned. She'd drawn confidence from the scared look, unaware it was a trap.
"Ooh...... I get it. Had a good hand but played scared? Super natural."
"That's the basics. Hold'em's a fight. Gotta bait the weakness. Almost no human hides expressions or psyche completely. Not none, but rare."
"Hmm......"
"Desire showed in his eyes. Bluff intent on his face. But true feelings leak through posture and attitude—hardest to hide."
Yeoreum nodded blankly, turning to him.
"Desire from the eyes. Intent from the face. Inner thoughts from posture and attitude... right?"
"Got it?"
"Yeah. Whew, suddenly tense."
"Play careful. Don't get swept up."
"Not my money anyway."
"Hey."
Yeoreum giggled.
"Gonna go. Watch from there."
And she jumped into the game.
In the end, gambling's a luck battle. You can't win forever. Even dominating mind games, hard to push win rate over 55%.
"Ooh, pretty miss back again. That curious about my pockets?"
"Yup. Gonna give more of my money, so open up."
But a 55% win rate is massive. As hands pile up, that steady 5% edge shines clearer and clearer.
Plus, once you trace the tells to read psyches, you gather intel on opponents. Gestures. Footwork. Expressions. Eye handling. Habits. Understanding deepens accordingly.
Win rates climb naturally.
"Raise 30."
"Call. Raise 50."
"Call again. Raise 70."
Pot swells.
But Yeoreum stayed cool.
"Call."
"Well now? Not folding this? Got something, Red?"
"Nah? Two pair?"
Five hours later.
Around 2 a.m. Yeoreum leaned back in her chair, laughing heartily.
She'd recovered the 3 million she'd lost.
"But you look like one pair."
"Goddamn it......"
Five times over.
"......"
Yeoreum turned back with a beaming smile. But he couldn't watch calmly. Thinking it over, he realized—the bet was on.
"Returning your principal first. Wait till game's done."
After cashing chips. She flashed the card with a wink.
"Ji-tae-ya."