Chapter 170: Forty-Sixth Floor, The World of the Virtuous (3)

[Collect a minimum of three thousand gold. Time remaining: 157 hours 8 minutes.]

I secured a room at a nearby inn once I finished my selling spree. After spending some time sharing a meal with Doppy, I waited until evening before quietly slipping out.

Given that I was likely the only climber in Paloran who had earned over one hundred gold, heading straight to the casino would have been far too conspicuous. It would hinder my ability to make money unnoticed.

Instead, my destination lay beyond the city walls. I left Ryun behind at the inn, ensuring all of my movements would be concealed by Shadow Veil.

This should be far enough.

Once I reached a spot outside the guards’ line of sight, I began changing outfits. Shedding my gauntlets and armor, I retrieved a spare set of dark-brown leather gear from the mimic. After fastening a simple longsword to my waist, I completed my transformation with one last item.

[Disguise Mask]

- Single-use.

- Uses mana to transform the wearer’s appearance for six hours.

- Warning: The disguise can be ineffective if an individual is significantly stronger than the wearer.

The mask, which had cost 1,000 achievement points, was something I had purchased on a whim during one of my training sessions. As I put it on, I visualized the features of a deceased climber I had met once.

Though I felt a pang of guilt about borrowing someone’s face after their death, it would be far too risky to use the likeness of a living climber.

Did it work?

As I didn’t have a mirror to confirm the result, I turned to Doppy. Judging by the fascination reflected in his wide eyes, the transformation had been effective.

Still, just to be certain, I asked, “How do I look? Different enough?”

“It’s perfect! Completely unrecognizable!” Doppy’s awe-filled response, paired with its enthusiastic nod, reassured me.

I summoned a faint spark of lightning to illuminate my face for one final inspection. “Any noticeable flaws?”

“Not at all! It’s flawless!”

With Doppy’s thumbs-up sealing my confidence, I nodded in satisfaction. If someone as observant as Doppy couldn’t detect the disguise, I was ready.

“Good. Let’s head back in.”

Dispelling Shadow Veil, I turned and began walking toward the city gates.

The guards stationed there greeted me with warm smiles, identical to earlier. “Welcome to Paloran!”

“Hello.”

“You’re familiar with the rules, correct? Each individual must pay a five-gold entrance fee.”

“Of course. Here you go.” I handed over the required amount without hesitation, earning another wide grin in return.

“Here’s your entry permit. Just make sure you don’t cause any trouble inside.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Whether it was because I no longer wore bloodstained gauntlets or simply due to the guards’ fatigue after dealing with countless climbers throughout the day, they hadn’t asked any probing questions this time. While I had mentally prepared responses in advance, part of me felt slightly let down that I hadn’t needed them.

Grasping my new permit, I crossed into the city. The process of renting a room, changing appearances, and obtaining a second permit had been tedious, but this preparation would ensure my plan would proceed smoothly.

***

The casino was situated near the city’s center. Since I still wasn’t familiar with the city’s layout, I stopped several times to ask directions from passing angels, ultimately taking about twenty minutes to arrive there.

Along the way, I noticed clusters of climbers bargaining with angels, asking for lower prices or scouting for affordable accommodations. None of it concerned me. My focus remained fixed on the towering structure ahead.

The massive six-story building radiated extravagance, glowing far brighter than the surrounding structures.

No mistaking it. That is quite the casino.

Hovering above the roof, a giant, golden halo shone like a beacon. Strangely, none of the angels I had seen had worn halos, leaving me to wonder about the halo’s significance.

I brushed aside my curiosity and stepped inside. No sooner had I crossed the threshold than three angels approached—two burly guards and an impeccably dressed attendant.

The attendant greeted me with practiced enthusiasm, “Welcome to the seventeenth branch of the Angel Land Casino!”

“

Ah

, hello.”

Their cheerful tone continued as they explained the rules, “To enter, you’ll need to pay an admission fee of ten gold, submit your entry permit, and surrender any weapons. Rest assured, your belongings will be returned when you leave, provided no trouble arises!”

Ha Hee-Jeong had already briefed me on the casino’s rules. The angels treated the entry permit as an insurance against climbers attempting to cheat or flee without settling their debts.

If someone made a run for it, the gates would immediately close, and angels would comb the city with the permit data in hand—precisely why I had gone through the trouble of acquiring a second permit.

I handed over the new permit, ten gold, and my longsword. Unbeknownst to them, however, I had concealed a dagger with Shadow Veil in case of emergency, along with something else.

“Here you go.”

This transaction left me with ninety-seven gold, which would be more than enough for my plans.

One of the guards accepted my items with a brief nod before retreating to secure them.

With that settled, the attendant smiled widely at me again. “Thank you. Is this your first visit to Angel Land?”

“Yes, it is.”

“In that case, I’d recommend starting with a tutorial on the rules of our games. You’ll find explanations for newcomers at the tables over there. Do you see them?” The angel gestured to an area where several climbers were gathered around tables, attentively listening to the dealers.

Of course, the casino here featured games that were different from those in Earth’s casinos. Since my own gambling experience barely extended beyond poker, additional information would be extremely welcome.

I nodded. “Yes, I see them.”

“If you need drinks or refreshments, just flag down one of our servers. Enjoy your visit!”

“Thank you.”

The angel offered a parting smile before disappearing into the crowd.

It was time to win.

***

I had devised a rather straightforward strategy. Doppy had entered the casino alongside me, albeit concealed by Shadow Veil, making him invisible to everyone else.

The angels here lacked the strength to pierce through my concealment. While a few could possess sharper senses, Doppy had plenty of experience remaining stealthy. In fact, our very first encounter showed his skill at hiding in the shadows.

Besides, in a crowded casino like this, picking up Doppy’s presence would be nearly impossible.

With Doppy’s vantage point, I could see every opponent’s hand, guaranteeing me a flawless victory.

Naturally, playing optimally every round outright would only arouse suspicion. The key was to win just enough to avoid raising eyebrows.

Given the rules of this world and the dealers present, trying to cheat “normally” would be out of the question. However, that did play to my advantage, as the casino staff couldn’t freely accuse someone without evidence.

To maintain appearances, I simply had to take modest wins while occasionally losing a few rounds. If suspicions did arise, I had prepared contingency plans.

“

Phew

. Do you think you’ve got the hang of it now?” The angel seated across from me had spoken politely, but a trace of irritation leaked through his expression.

“Yeah, I think so. Thanks for explaining.”

I couldn’t really blame him.

Not only did I have to understand the rules, but Doppy needed to grasp them just as thoroughly. Therefore, I repeatedly asked the dealer to explain the games, perhaps a dozen times or more.

While I would have liked to toss him a tip as a token of appreciation, squandering my precious funds was out of the question. Flashing him a brief smile, I rose from my seat and turned my attention to the rest of the casino.

The hall bustled with the activity of angels and climbers. Angels moved between tables, while climbers sat in clusters, their eyes fixed on cards and dice.

It wasn’t surprising in the least.

The promise of additional rewards for collecting over three thousand gold made this floor especially enticing. While hunting diligently could potentially net the required amount, those in search of faster riches inevitably flocked to the casino.

Now then, which game should I start with?

Since Doppy and I still needed to test our coordination, heading immediately toward a crowded table wouldn't be ideal.

As I wandered between tables, a heavy sigh drew my attention.

“Haaah...”

I turned toward the sound and spotted a middle-aged climber slouched at a table. He held five cards in his hand, but the look on his face suggested his luck was abysmal.

“Damn it. My hand’s trash. I may as well fold.”

No sooner had the words left his mouth than he began to disintegrate, starting from his head. Thin, dust-like particles scattered into the air, vanishing completely.

Although I had heard about this happening, witnessing it firsthand was something else entirely.

The cards he had been holding fluttered down to the table. Surprisingly, it was a decent hand. If this were poker, it would count as a flush[1].

So it is true. Plenty of people slip up here.

Old habits were hard to break. While angels in this world were raised never to lie, climbers came from an entirely different environment. Many spoke without thinking, blurting out phrases or exaggerations without realizing the implications.

An example that came to mind was responding to someone’s minor complaint about being tired with casual agreement, regardless of whether or not both parties were truly tired.

The unfortunate climber likely had gambling experience back on Earth. His reaction had been genuine, but the words he spoke out of habit sealed his fate.

An angel who had been gambling alongside him clicked his tongue in disapproval. “Ah, poor guy. Should’ve been more careful.”

Meanwhile, the dealer swept the fallen gold into a neat pile. According to the rules, any gold left behind by deceased climbers became the casino’s property.

Note to self. Stay vigilant.

I had to watch my words and actions more carefully.

A quick glance at Doppy revealed that he, too, looked tense. Though he probably wouldn’t need to speak here, I shot him a cautionary look. Seeing his firm nod in response, I refocused on the room and spotted a dealer handling Angel Numbers.

I should start with something simple.

Doppy could only relay information through hand gestures, so we needed a game with straightforward rules.

Angel Numbers fit the bill perfectly. The game involved receiving four cards, one at a time, and each card had a fixed position. Players could bet or fold after each card, and special cards—called Reverse cards—could flip the order of the numbers.

In essence, the player with the highest combined four-digit total won, an ideal choice to test our teamwork.

“Excuse me,” I greeted the dealer before taking a seat at the table.

Meanwhile, Doppy slipped into position behind the dealer without drawing attention.

“Welcome! Will you be playing solo, or would you like to wait for additional participants?”

“I’ll start on my own.”

Additional players would likely join soon enough, but for now, I wanted to keep things simple. Too many opponents could overwhelm Doppy as it practiced the system.

As soon as I sat, the dealer began shuffling the cards. With nothing else to do, I observed his hands carefully.

Wow. He is talented; no wonder he is a dealer.

His deft movements were almost too quick to follow, even with my enhanced senses.

Once the deck was ready, the dealer rested it on the table and met my gaze. Suddenly, a strange sense of

déjà vu

prickled at the back of my mind as he drew the first card.

I immediately activated Flash Strike. In the slowed time, I caught sight of the card being pulled, not from the top of the deck, but from the bottom.

You have got to be kidding me.

Not only were they overcharging climbers, but the casino also rigged the games.

𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

I deactivated the skill and shot out my hand, grabbing the dealer’s wrist in one swift motion.

“Hold it right there. Were you just bottom-dealing?”

1. In poker, a flush is a hand consisting of five cards of the same suit, regardless of their numerical order. ☜