Chapter 215: Ruji's Dream Comes True (5)
Chapter 215: Ruji's Dream Comes True (5)
There are three things a man must always be wary of.
Alcohol, women, and gambling.
They say the tip of the tongue, the tip of the cock, and the tips of the fingers are what lead a man to ruin if he falls for them.
Me?
Far from ruin, I’m using them to climb higher than ever.
I’ve already launched several businesses related to women, but business is just business; through it, I am currently amassing immense capital and power.
As for sex, I am enjoying a wholesome and healthy sex life.
As for drinking, I only indulge occasionally to maintain the image of Ruji Fermaton.
And gambling? I don’t really do it.
They say a man should be careful, but isn't it enough just to be careful?
That’s usually what addicts say, but I am currently enjoying alcohol, women, and gambling in moderation with extreme self-control.
‘If I reincarnated as an aristocrat in a fantasy world, I should enjoy everything life has to offer!’
If I were truly obsessed with these three, I wouldn't give a damn about the Count’s duties or office hours; I’d be lost in a haze of drunken sex every single day.
I would have invited gamblers over daily, smashing hands with an Ohamma-Sledge Hammer whenever someone cheated, causing total chaos.
But I enjoy them in moderation.
You could call it a healthy hobby. Through alcohol and sex, I am making a robust contribution to the continental economy.
After all, I’m churning out Magic Stones in massive quantities!
Then what about gambling?
I’ve never pursued gambling aggressively.
There wasn't really anywhere nearby to go gambling, and my knowledge of casinos was limited to what I’d seen in movies or dramas.
—Hey. You want to go gamble?
—Isn't that place dangerous?
—We’ll just dip our toes in. Let’s keep it wholesome. Think of it as just opening a bottle of whiskey at a club; we’ll just peek inside. What do you say?
I once went to a certain famous casino back in my old world.
I went because a friend suggested we just "experience" it, saying we’d probably just lose the 500,000 won we brought and leave.
I took 100,000 won and left when it was gone, but my friend actually made a bit of a profit.
What happened to that friend?
Well, maybe because his first stroke of luck was so good, he kept frequenting the casino.
At some point, I lost contact with him. According to the rumors, he ended up walking the same path as those who live in motels near the casino or the owners of the abandoned sedans found nearby.
Anyway.
Gambling is truly dangerous.
The primal stimulation it provides is comparable to the pleasure of sex.
The thrill of victory.
The euphoria of betting money—whether through luck or skill—and winning several times that amount back.
All of that combined makes people go mad.
For example, like pulling a limited character in just 10 draws when others have to hit the ceiling at 200 draws—
‘Ah. Was I a gambling addict after all?’
Now that I think about it.
I was already enjoying gambling long before I reincarnated.
—Isn't gacha just gambling?
Gacha!
Character summoning.
While it’s distinctly different from actual casino gambling or street betting, I had poured massive amounts of money into electronic gambling dens, pulling gacha to my heart's content.
P.A.O. was essentially electronic gambling disguised as character collection, and I knew the addictiveness of gacha better than anyone.
—The odds of hitting a 0.3% gacha pickup are higher than waiting for a Royal Straight Flush, you know.
—Did I get Serica?! I got her, so I’m posting it!!
The thrill of the gamble.
And the pleasure of bragging about the rewards to others.
If I could utilize that properly, I would enjoy even greater power.
Therefore.
I will build a casino in Fermaton.
Of course, it won't be just any ordinary casino.
‘I’ll create a place completely different from existing gambling dens.’
I’ll implement every form of modern gambling I know in the "Entertainment District" outside the outer wall.
First, I’ll formally introduce the types of gambling that already exist in this world on a grand scale.
Then, I’ll recruit professional managers and staff to run the casino.
To do that, I first have to negotiate—or rather, "negotiate"—with the casino already inside Fermaton.
"Nice to meet you. Joker, the manager of the casino."
I spoke to the middle-aged man standing right in front of me.
"I’ll cut to the chase. Come work under Fermaton."
"Is that a threat?"
"A threat? Perish the thought. I simply wish to discuss a wholesome business venture."
"Aren't you asking me to hand over the entire casino to the House of Fermaton?"
Joker, the manager of the casino within the castle, felt his expression stiffen the moment he entered the reception room.
"I cannot accept your proposal, Count."
"If you refuse, you’ll find yourself in direct conflict with me."
"If that is your choice, we have no other option. We will have to struggle to survive."
This guy has no business ethics.
Though he was phrasing it politely, I was currently picking a fight with the established casino.
"Whether it’s a price war using our existing capital or something else, we will survive somehow."
"And then you’ll be pushed out of the competition and become obsolete?"
"Count. A casino is different from a brothel."
As expected of a 3-Star Assassin.
"If you send soldiers claiming something illegal is happening, we will have no choice but to mobilize the security forces of the various shareholders who invest in the casino."
"How cold. And here I thought you were once part of Fermaton."
"A casino is a place built on capital. We are a joint-stock company, a business entity. Since Fermaton’s shares do not represent a majority of the voting rights, my masters are the shareholders. If you try to crush us with your power, you will be making enemies of them."
He already knew exactly how I had cleared out the brothels in Fermaton.
"Of course, I will also do my best to prevent the casino’s collapse."
"What if I told you I’m going to build Fermaton’s own gambling den in the Entertainment District?"
"If you seek fair competition, we shall compete accordingly. To survive. But surely, you will use methods we cannot match. For instance..."
Joker pointed to Laura, who was seated beside me.
"If there is a field where we cannot compete, wouldn't it be 'sex'?"
"You know our strengths well. In that case, would it really be profitable to compete with me?"
"Unless we are foolish enough to drive our own customers away, we will survive even if a new gambling den opens."
"But it will be very dangerous, won't it?"
"We’ll only know that when the time comes."
He’s being quite firm.
I couldn't judge this man lightly; he was a highly trained assassin.
‘He’s a dangerous person to have as an enemy.’
Even if he couldn't kill me right now—even if the Curse of Fermaton's Blood prevented him from taking my life directly—assassination contracts could be placed on those around me.
But now, I had the massive capital required to recruit this man.
I had an enormous hoard of gold coins secured from selling Breast-Shaped Magic Stones, Penisilin, and Adult Videos.
"Fine. Since making the existing casino mine is complicated, I’ll simply hire you instead."
"...What?"
"I will hire you, along with your 'team'."
"......."
Joker’s expression shifted.
Until now, he had shown the resentment and hostility of a casino manager, but now he was looking at me through the lens of his 'true profession.'
A powerful assassin.
An assassin who might even be a match for Serica and Yoanna was staring intently at me.
"Why? Did you think there was something the Count of Fermaton didn't know?"
"I don't quite understand what you mean, but if you intend to hire our team, it still means there will be conflict with the casino's shareholders."
"I’ve already braced myself for that level of conflict. To sweep up massive amounts of money, one must crush the stones already embedded in the path."
I wasn't going to just pull them out.
I planned to use an Ohamma-Sledge Hammer to shatter the existing stones into pieces and take their place.
And the venomous snake living among those stones? I’d bring him over to my side.
"Joker. I am hiring you strictly as a professional manager for the casino operations. I have no intention of commissioning you for that kind of work."
"......."
Currently.
This man was in the middle of a 'sabbatical' of sorts.
A top-tier assassin who was famous across the continent had taken a fake identity as a casino manager simply because he wanted to rest; he was someone who no longer wished to get blood on his hands.
"You can continue your work in the casino. Of course, you’ll have to adapt to the environment of the Fermaton Casino, but that’s just part of the operation. I’ve simply added a bit of sex to the traditional casino model."
"...Hoo."
"I’ll pay you whatever it takes."
"I am aware the Count is raking in money, but my team and I are quite expensive."
"A weekly salary of one million gold."
Joker’s eyes instantly went wide.
"...Are you serious?"
"I’m poaching a professional from another company; I should at least offer that much."
How much was one million gold a week?
In terms of Ruji Coins, it was 10,000.
In terms of the cash value from my old world, it was roughly 100 million won.
That’s an annual salary of about 5 billion won.
"Did I lowball it?"
"...Who are you trying to have us take out?"
"I told you. I’m hiring you as a 'Professional Casino Manager'."
Joker’s pupils began to tremble.
"If you need time to think or consult with your team, you may return to the casino for a moment. I’ll give you one day."
I leaned back leisurely against the sofa and pointed toward the door.
‘I’m the one getting the better deal.’
Five billion a year to hire the Neymar of the assassination world and his colleagues?
"What do you say?"