11.8

After finishing her chocolate cake, Eve pondered what to do. She no longer required sleep, but it was still rather enjoyable. On the other hand, sampling the nightlife in another world was something only possible in fiction until now. Shifting her clothing to a comfortable set of high-class robes lined in silver embroidery depicting Felix, Kudzu, Nota, and the Hut in miniature she took care creating a wonderful witch’s hat with a crooked pointy tip. Dressed in the style she waved her card through for the bill and left the restaurant.

Let’s see what the nightlife is like here in the City of Gold. Eve thought quickly using Spatial Step to leap to the rooftop highway. I’ll be the first to admit, the lights at night are superior to Earth that’s for sure.

Earth’s night lights couldn’t hold a candle to a half-decent illusionist specializing in advertising for their company. Merchants had flashy illusions depicting their wares in every conceivable manner via illusion lit advertising. Mapping out a small route Eve window shopped through the various merchant districts. Territories were clearly marked, North, South, West, East, and Central in order to keep things civil Eve suspected. Shops in the North dealt mostly in luxury jewelry possessing the brilliance that high-level craftsmen could bring to the table. There were quite a few pieces that sparkled with inner fire featuring cuts that would be impossible on Earth. Crystal carvings, orbs, rings, amulets, earrings, bracelets, and more were carefully examined by Eve. Nota created an Eternal Memory for every piece she liked, in essence stealing the fashionable accessories right out from under their unsuspecting merchant noses.

Once her theft of intellectual property started, Eve found herself visiting every possible shop in a mad dash to acquire as many memory patterns as possible. From the lowest slum shops to the most highbrow luxury, nothing was spared in the quest to acquire a complete wardrobe for every situation. Witch’s Dust was a truly versatile tool, it could even improve the original designs by sparkling in every color imaginable. After several hours of intellectual property plundering, Eve was satiated.

Shifting focus she searched for other forms of entertainment to pass the time. From what she could discern the pubs, bars, nightclubs, cabarets, theaters, and cinemas still existed with a magical flavor to them. Pubs had drinks that could read your mood and deliver the perfect cup. Bars had the ever-knowing bartender that could provide services from pouring a drink to informing individuals of the secrets of the universe. Nightclubs seemed to morph into exotic locals where the waitress wasn’t an underpaid student graduate. Instead, a nightclub in the City of Gold could source more exotic species such as bound demons, fallen angels, or elves of every cut and color, she particularly liked the club that had living shadows serving the drinks. Eve also enjoyed the puppet street theater performances as there was no need for visible strings with the right spells. Animated puppet shows demonstrating past heroes, villains, and every mix of gray between could be found easily.

Interestingly enough, the heroes always won, and evil was vanquished.

With a grin after watching a particularly cute puppet show that had all sorts of propaganda messages embedded within Eve headed towards the final treat of the night. Each of the four cardinal directions hosted a monument to greed in the form of a glittering palace that would put any of the Las Vegas elite out of business. Gambling was alive and well in the form of countless mini-games, competitions, and straight-up luck-based entertainment. She toured each of the casinos before selecting the Southside Solar Casino of the Sand under request by all four of her companions.

Kudzu chose the casino due to the massive arrangement of plants draping the entire structure, both inside and out. Elves that Eve identified as Wood type handled everything from transplanting to tending. The quality of greenery brought to mind the lush expanses of the untouched jungle she had once traversed. There were insects visible glowing with shades of green that complemented the overall aesthetics of the casino.

Felix chose the casino based on a deal cut between him and Kudzu. At the same time, the Dungeon Core was able to lure the Hut into agreeing to view the architecture. Eve felt as if she had witnessed a debonair shyster lure a sheltered young lady into a questionable proposition upon watching the entire discussion occur.

Nota simply voted with the majority since it wouldn’t affect her reading either way.

Felix, why would you be so interested in a casino? Eve sent in a quiet mental voice.

Sometimes it is fun to make the Numbers dance. Felix sent back before continuing. Since we are no longer weak, and no longer alone without support, do you mind letting me play a few games of so-called chance?

Eve grinned as she walked into the casino before she replied. Sure, just remember, we have to be back to the training field to pick up the minions in the morning.

It won’t be an issue. Felix sent. On a separate note, we have already decided to split the minions among ourselves. I will take White, Kudzu wanted Purple, and Nota has shown interest in Glitter.

No one wanted Red, huh? Eve sent.

My dear beloved Hut is willing to take the blockheaded ingrate, but that’s only because she’s too kind, caring, and generous. Felix sent with smug overtone.

Truth. Eve sent, refusing to be suckered into a conversation where Felix would drone endlessly about the Hut to a captive audience.

After entering the Southside Solar Casino of the Sand, Eve checked the time, there were only six more hours before meeting back up with the minions at dawn’s light. Unlike the singular casino she had been inside during the exciting Monte Carlo Hostage Incident on Earth, there were clocks of all shapes, sizes, language, and magical affinity in discrete locations available to view. Many of them were placed at convenient positions allowing players unobstructed access. At first, Eve was confused, since on Earth it was well known the lack of clocks in a casino was to keep players at the tables. The house-made more the longer someone played the games, so removing the ability to tell time, along with windows, allowed for a monumental increase in revenue.

Ah, but the System can give time at a glance. Eve thoughtfully remembered. Therefore the classic trick is fruitlessly countered by a powerful entity of precision. I’m sure public transportation networks, among others are thrilled at the System’s existence. How horrifying that being late isn’t a decent excuse for malingering anymore.

With the System, there was never any question in a casino about unfair play, either. Instead, dealers and gamblers were assured that there was true equality at work as long as the appropriate steps were taken. A look at the pit below where she was in line to purchase chips revealed a multi-tier monstrosity that descended a dizzying amount of floors down. Eve was dead certain there was spatial magic at work, and not just because of her own personal affinity.

No, the plethora of bricks of all shapes and sizes dressed in three-piece tuxedo cut suits while looking like impeccable magic maintenance staff gave the game away.

Demons handling spatial shenanigans makes sense. Mortal minds are ill-equipped even with the System to handle true Numbers. Felix sent in reply to her mental image of countless bricks building a spatial version of a building. Permanent spatial effects require extreme calculations, as well as the ability to act at a moment’s notice to prevent disaster.

Do you think our illustrious stalker is nearby? Eve sent.

There is no trace of the shorty’s mana signal. Felix sent.

Eve shrugged as she stepped up to the chip counter before smiling at the attendant and pulling out her card to say, “Take a zero off please, dear. Also, can you direct me to the high-stakes table?” The shocked expression on the attendant’s face was rather fun, she privately admitted.

Is this what it feels like to be wealthy? Eve thought as the casino quickly sprang into motion at the knowledge a whale had arrived. No wonder so many people like to wave obscene sums around. Money is just a number true, but it’s a number that makes even demons grind the millstone after all.

It wasn’t surprising the speed at which service arrived when you had more money than the casino made in a century on hand. Faster than a Spatial Step the casino staff had acquired a personal elven servant and allocated them to Eve. Touring the high-stakes gaming rooms was accomplished with exquisite servility by the staff. Felix watched the games collecting information while she plied the staff with expensive treats and a wonderful variation on expresso that Kudzu was already attempting to mimic in his lab. Eventually, after observing about twenty different high-stakes card games, Felix selected one that brought a flash of amusement to Eve.

Dragon Poker? Eve sent.

It has the highest payout, the most rules, and the best synchronization with both our abilities. Felix sent.

Eve rolled her eyes. Anything I need to do on my end?

No, just pretend to be a bubbling, cheerful, ruthless card savant. I’ll handle the actual playing. Felix sent.

Eve nodded internally as she was seated by the casino servant in one of the empty seats reserved for the high-rolling elite. To her left was a floating crystal in purple hues, while to her right was a suspicious-looking ooze in a bowl. Looking at the rest of the table there were three other players. A miniature dragon in bright colors took the far left, while the far right was commanded by an old man smoking a cigar. Eve wouldn’t have thought him out of place in any decent old Earth movie, except for the glowing red horns like a molten spiked crown on his head.

While the non-humans were interesting it was the man directly across from Eve that raised the hackles on her neck.

It wasn’t anything he said, or anything he did, exactly. Instead, it was the complete and utter normality the man across from her displayed. The opponent across from Eve was so normal she actually had to create an Eternal Memory to even remember he was there. However, since Felix was playing, it didn’t matter what tricks of reality were being played. In front of the cold calculating mind of crystal, the extraordinary man would have no choice except to bow down to fate.

The others are interesting, but the one across from us. Eve sent.

Petty tricks cannot disguise the soul. Felix sent with a smug overtone. Disguise yourself further and let us begin.

Eve shifted into a heavy cowl with a mask that blocked all visibility of her face with Witch’s Dust before looking at the circular table. In the background, she could hear the crackle of new decks being shuffled as the air elemental dealing the cards started the first round. Mana glowed within the table’s core to her Sight creating a variety of effects from preventing clairvoyance, to locking down time and space. There were warning for a variety of effects embedded in the table itself which would no doubt bring any game to a screeching halt. She was fairly confident it was possible to get around the table without detection if she had a spare century to work with. For games that lasted less than the aforementioned century though, cheating would require divine intervention. Gloves covered her hands, and the air around her took on a silent quality of heaviness as if the molecules were struggling to move.

Only once her precautions which would give the best card sharks from back home were finished did Eve pick up her first two cards. In a stroke of benevolent luck, the first two cards she received were the Emperor and Empress of the Black. With these two cards, the entire Evil side of the deck could be turned into valuable hands. If she wasn’t focusing on keeping her body language blank, a vicious cackle would have escaped her mouth.

Discard them, buy a new hand. Felix sent.

D-Discard?! Eve sent numb with shock.

Oh, did you want to lose a few hands before taking my advice? Felix sent with a questioning voice.

Nope. Eve said promptly discarding the cards and signaling for a new hand to be dealt. As part of the requirement, fifty percent of her chips immediately entered the pot. Her senses immediately tingled as she saw each player make subtle motions indicating shock. It was rare for a player to purchase a new hand because doing so came at a steep penalty. Eve wanted to explain it wasn’t her fault, it was all the fault of a demonic stone sending a voice into her mind.

On second thought, that probably wouldn’t be a wise choice.

When the two new cards arrived Eve’s eyes flashed with shock.

Could this occurrence truly be described with the word lucky?

In her hand were two the two polar opposites of the previous, the Emperor and Empress of White. Eve wasn’t a master card player by far, but she was aware it was possible to rob the graveyard of discarded cards in exchange for a hefty portion of her chips. Before the thought coalescing in her mind could form a round of betting passed through the table like the North Wind. The lure of fifty percent of her stake pulled every player into the action like blood in a room full of sharks.

Eve watched on in pity, as her suspicions were confirmed when the first community card that everyone could use was turned over.

Evil. Eve sent.

If they offer their necks to the knife due to greed, I will demonstrate the kindness of my species. Felix sent as they both looked down through Eve’s eyes at the Rainbow Dragon that had appeared.

We are totally being investigated for this, I can already see it. Eve sent while a small smile curled under her concealed hood.

Pure skill cannot be defeated by mere hopes and dreams. Felix sent as he directed her to send a quarter of her chips into the pot to purchase her discarded hand. While it would stop her from getting new cards for two more rounds, that meant little when she was holding the Emperor’s Alliance one of the three rarest hands to grace Dragon Poker, as they were excluded from the vagaries of fate.

This is cold-blooded murder. Eve thought as she watched the pot increasing with sinister eyes. I love it.