With Good Aura and Reputation, Everything Gets a Positive Spin [4]

Back in my past life's beginner days. More precisely, right after I'd changed jobs and was preparing to leave the beginner village.

I got duped by Habak. The bastard lured me to the gambling den and gradually drew me into the addiction. Before long, he set me up against a crooked gambler who'd let me win at first, only to bleed me dry. Their sleight-of-hand was masterful, and just like that, I became a gambling addict.

I lost every coin I'd scraped together. Not just money—I sold off my weapons and armor too, even dipping into real-world cash. If I tallied up the losses from back then... around 20 million won, give or take?

Out of my mind with rage, I confronted Habak, but the prick just shrugged it off shamelessly. He claimed the scams ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠had nothing to do with him, that I'd thrown myself into the pit. It clawed at my guts. I wanted to throttle him right there, but attacking an NPC in the beginner village was impossible. Even if it weren't, I'd have lost anyway. He might look like a two-bit villain, but as a guard, he was over level 60.

Anyway, while I was wallowing in despair, having pissed away my entire fortune like an idiot, it was Maxian—the boss of the back alleys, including the gambling den—who reached out to me.

To be exact, he didn't do it out of mercy. It was more like hiring me out of necessity.

'I'll return the items you put up as collateral, so take on a job for me.'

At the time, Maxian was dealing with a massive headache. He ruled the back alleys, sure, but he hadn't fully consolidated power. His second-in-command, a guy named Hebamur, kept sabotaging him and building his own faction within the organization. Maxian was convinced the bastard was embezzling funds, but he was too swamped to gather proof.

That's why he recruited me. I was the highest-level player still hanging around the beginner village. Plus, freshly broke and desperate, I was easy to pull into the underworld.

I tried to refuse at first.

"Fuck off. Aren't you lot in cahoots with the scammers who fleeced me?"

Having been stripped bare by those cheats, I couldn't help seeing the whole den as complicit.

But Maxian laid it out logically.

"If word got out about scam games, the den's reputation would tank. Why the hell would we sabotage ourselves?"

He couldn't allow that crap—not him, anyway. But his meddling number two? Different story.

"Hebamur probably knew about the scammers and let them in anyway. The prick's priority is dragging my name through the mud."

So taking down Hebamur would be revenge too. It made sense. Hell, even if it didn't, I was already sold—first things first, get my gear back, allies be damned.

That's how my tie with Maxian began. He'd hand out quests daily; I'd clear them. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I'd hunt hidden clues in monster-infested spots no NPCs or players dared approach, or take on suicide missions only players could survive.

Weeks later, Maxian ousted his second-in-command, seized full control of the back alleys, and our bond grew ironclad.

'That's when the organization behind him started eyeing me too.'

This life, I'd solidify ties with them too. But no more grinding step-by-step like before.

That's why, right now, I'd scooped up all the clues and evidence it'd taken weeks to gather in my past life—in one go.

'Knew the spots already.'

I figured I'd need level 30 for safe collection, buying a bit more time. But thanks to Egelina, I fast-tracked it.

With this, Maxian could purge his second-in-command and claim ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the alleys in days, tops.

"How did you... get this..."

"Maxian. Keep it simple."

I poured him another drink. His face, like he'd been possessed, gulped it down.

"You need this, right?"

"...Yes. I do."

"I need something from you too."

"A... deal, then?"

"Yeah. Win-win. No need for complications, right?"

I wasn't spilling how I knew this, or assuring no ulterior motives. From his shoes, it'd sound hella suspicious.

But Maxian's eyes gleamed with entranced trust.

(This guy's... worth trusting...)

Damn. Him thinking that? Maxian wasn't the type to buy into gut feelings without proof.

Yet here he was. Benevolent Aura was the real deal.

"What do you want?"

"Habak. You know him?"

"Yes. I do."

"Put eyes and ears on him."

"Tail him with your guys?"

"Come on, you get it. Gambling den staff, bar servers, brothel girls. Mobilize them. Discreetly, no red flags."

Going through back-alley boss Maxian meant a network of informants on tap.

'Way more effective.'

Habak boozed daily, gambled, whored. Booze loosened his tongue; gambling puffed his ego; whores got both flowing.

"Future intel matters, but I need the backlog too."

"...How long?"

"Till I get what I want."

"No deadline's tricky."

"If it drags, I'll make it worth your while."

"...Understood."

He pondered, then nodded. Those clues were too juicy to pass up.

"Good. These are yours now."

"...Thank you."

Maxian dove into the evidence pile. The more he saw, the more his lips twitched upward.

"Maxian. I get the glee, but business first?"

"Ah. The backlog intel?"

"Yeah. Set up meets with the staff."

Habak had been a regular forever. Useful scraps might linger in their memories.

"Right away. VIP room's free—I'll gather them there."

The gambling den's largest VIP room sprawled wide. Center stage: three poles. Below, a magic device pumped out sticky, decadent tunes. Bunny girls writhed to the beat.

Not just any bunnies. Reverse bunnies—twisted outfits flipped the script.

"Oppa, like? This bunny catch your eye?"

The golden blonde stuck out her tongue teasingly, hands up like ears, wiggling them. Hips popped side-to-side, white tail bouncing.

"How 'bout me? Like this... this shake?"

Pink-hair gripped a pole, ass grinding. One hand V-sign, the other stroking up-down—like jerking a cock.

Some swayed hips below stage, eyeing me. One beside me poured drinks, tits thrust forward.

'VIP treatment—top-tier.'

Perfect. Satisfied.

But I wasn't here to ogle.

"Uh... you want what Habak said, right?"

To my right: burly dude, Maxian's underling running a nearby bar. Per my request, he wracked his brain for Habak dirt.

"Mostly empty boasts... but he said something weird once."

"Weird how?"

"Yeah. Looked at me and said... 'Guys like you are nothing compared to them. Just muscle meat.'"

"Them?"

"No clue who."

"When was that?"

"Uh... months back. Three? Four? Sorry, not exact."

"Nah. Super helpful."

Egelina pegged the Black Trace discovery at 3-4 months ago. Timelines match.

Maybe he picked it up meeting 'them'?

Gathering scraps like this would shape the picture.

"Thanks for the intel."

I tipped him chips—1 million ron worth.

"Whoa... you sure? Word spreads, you might get fabulists crawling out of the woodwork with fake dirt."

Straight shooter. Coulda pocketed it no questions, but warns me too.

"It's fine. Maxian said he'd send reliable folks. Gotta trust that."

"B-Boss said..."

Burly teared up. Other bunnies looked touched too.

Not a total lie. I'd picked who to meet based on past-life memory—trustworthy ones. Maxian just confirmed 'reliable picks,' so close enough.

Stronger grip on his org meant easier strings for me. Little boost warranted.

"Good work. You're dismissed."

"Yes sir. I'll keep ears open."

Staff filed out, bunnies stayed. No more intel.

Time for other fun?

"Gonna hit roulette. You girls heading out?"

Concerned I'd worn 'em out. They shook heads furiously.

"Oppa, can't we stay longer?"

"This spot's comfy."

"Lemme chill more. Pleeease?"

Fair. Suite was plush. Maxian loaded it with booze, fruits—bunnies loved lounging here.

"Stay then."

"Yay!"

"Thanks, oppa!"

I beelined for roulette. Mindful of future Maxian ties, couldn't clean house too hard. But a nibble? Fine. I'd solved ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠his headache—fair trade.

"Whoa! Hit again!"

"No way... blessed by the goddess?"

"Damn... unreal."

Gamblers' stares differed from yesterday. No envy—claps and cheers.

Benevolent Aura + rep magic. Even my wins looked wholesome. Of course a guy like him cleans up.

Wild effect... but a hitch.

'...No negativity piling up.'

Some still simmered jealous, but not enough for the Mind Reader's Curse orb.

'Pros outweigh it.'

Clappers trickled out.

"Shoot! Not slacking—gotta grind my own luck."

"Outta the way! I'll snag more trash than you!"

They bought my luck secret as good deeds. Passive gauge fill—sweet. No malice downside, but luck > negativity anyway. Net win.

'Late now. One more drink, then home?'

Heading back to VIP—

Gauge auto-drained as a chip rolled into view.

Luck = this chip? Nah.

"F-Found it! You! Stop right there!"

Turning to snag it, someone spotted me from afar, rushing over.

'Mindi?'

Treasure hunter Mindi. Face twisted mad, she glared up at me.

"Rematch! Now!"

Getting Mind Reader's Curse, I'd recalled her. Read her thoughts, crack past life's treasure puzzle.

But figured no rerun. She'd job-change quick, bail village. Or avoid the guy who stripped her.

Yet... she walks right up? Demanding round two?

'Jackpot.'