The Gambler’s Game

“So, Reyn Rheinhebo has been distributing a lot of money to the swine in the Lower City?”

“Yes, Lord Wayne. Should we intervene? If those swine are content with the money they’ve received, our business here will…”

“Foolish!”

Wayne Michelle uttered the two words icily, a hint of mocking disdain flickering in his eyes.

Where did Reyn Rheinhebo acquire such a vast sum? Naturally, it came from his dear sister. No, it originated from the Greed Witch. Over the years, countless nobles had been plundered by her; even the entire Michelle family could not rival her wealth.

Wayne did not dwell on the matter, remarking coolly, “There’s no need to worry. Money is merely a number. No matter how much he distributes, swine will never transform into humans.”

Karl Rogers, who was kneeling on the ground, raised his head with a puzzled expression. “But, if the residents of the Lower City have a large sum of money, why would they still come to our casino?”

Wayne chuckled softly. “Karl, our casino doesn’t wager on mere money.”

Karl’s eyes widened slightly in disbelief. “Lord Wayne, are you suggesting those swine can also gamble with time?”

Wayne scoffed. “Reyn Rheinhebo has made a grave error. He naively believes that by providing those swine with enough money, he can prevent them from leaving the Lower City. However, the greed in the human heart can never be satisfied. Give them a sum of money, and they will only yearn for a larger one. Even if Reyn Rheinhebo continuously appeases their monetary desires, it will only make them crave things that money cannot buy. For instance, time.”

Karl gazed at Wayne with profound reverence. “So, Lord Wayne has been in an unassailable position from the very beginning?”

Wayne nodded slightly, then inquired, “What has become of the first group of swine who left the Lower City?”

“As per your plan, Lord, the vast majority of them, after squandering all the money they received, began to realize how severely their bodies had aged.”

“Have they started causing trouble?”

“Only minor disturbances, which I have already handled.”

“No need. Allow them to gamble their money for time.”

A bewildered look reappeared on Karl’s face. “But Lord Wayne, where would they get the money?”

Wayne’s lips curled into a faint, mocking smile. “Isn’t Reyn Rheinhebo distributing money on his side?”

“But their original houses were long ago reclaimed by the Rheinhebo family. All procedures fully complied with laws and regulations; in fact, the Rheinhebo family offered a fair price at the time.”

The mocking smile on Wayne’s face deepened. “Karl, do you truly believe those swine will listen to reason?”

Understanding dawned on Karl. “I see. I will attend to it immediately.”

A hesitant expression suddenly crossed his face. “Lord Wayne, there is one more matter. The Holy Knights who arrived here recently made an appearance in the Lower City today, publicly announcing their victory over the Greed Witch.”

Wayne suddenly burst into laughter, his contempt palpable. “They? Defeating the Greed Witch? Ludicrous!”

Days earlier, the magnificent blue flames that engulfed the entire Lower City possessed a might that a mere handful of Holy Knights could never have withstood. The Holy Church’s rating of the Greed Witch as an SS-rank heretic was incorrect. That Greed Witch was undoubtedly SSS-rank.

Yet, in the very next instant, Wayne sensed something amiss. His brows furrowed instantly, an uneasy premonition stirring within him. Why would the Holy Knights of the Holy Church do such a thing? Was it to uphold the Holy Church’s reputation? But by doing so, they were also helping Reyn Rheinhebo maintain order in the Lower City. After all, the branch church here had been driven away by Reyn Rheinhebo.

Just then, the panicked voice of a servant echoed from outside the door. “Master, the Holy Knights are at the casino! They claim this casino is a heretic’s lair and intend to purge it!”

Karl’s expression drastically changed upon hearing this, while Wayne, seated above, narrowed his eyes slightly before letting out a cold sneer. “So, they’re siding with Reyn Rheinhebo after all?”

He strode out of the room, with Karl following closely behind, accompanying him to the casino’s first-floor hall. By then, the entire casino was under control. All gamblers, including the casino staff, had been forced into a corner by the Holy Knights.

Arthur Haim sensed Wayne’s presence and turned his sightless gaze towards Wayne, who was still on the stairs. He spoke calmly, “Wayne Michelle, you should not have become a host for heresy.”

Wayne stared at the composed Arthur, then let out a light laugh. “Arthur Haim, is your action today at the behest of His Holiness the Pope?”

Arthur responded indifferently, “Where the Holy Light shines, no heresy shall be tolerated.”

Far from showing any alarm, Wayne’s smile grew even brighter. “Are you implying that I am a heretic? Can you bear the responsibility for such a statement?”

The four Grand Dukes currently existing in the Empire all belonged to families that had endured for millennia. The entire Empire, one could say, was supported by these four great families. Should one of these four pillars, the Michelle family, be found to harbor a heretic, no amount of upheaval would be surprising.

The last time a Grand Ducal family was found to have a heretic dated back to the Dark Ages, thousands of years ago. Neither the Imperial Family, nor the Magic Tower, nor even the Holy Church, wished to see the Dark Ages descend once more.

Thus, Wayne was utterly confident. Arthur Haim would never dare to lay a hand on him.

At this moment, Arthur suddenly let out a scoff of derision. “Wayne Michelle, all the mistakes you have made stem from your ignorance.”

Wayne’s smile gradually vanished as he fixed his gaze on Arthur, his voice turning chilling. “Are you truly going to do this?”

Arthur slowly drew the longsword from his waist, pointing it at Wayne. “May the Holy Light cleanse your sins.”

As his words faded, the sword instantly glowed with an incredibly dazzling white light. Wayne instinctively squinted, and just as he tried to see clearly, a sharp pain suddenly pierced his chest. He looked down; the longsword, enveloped in Holy Light, had already pierced through his chest. Wayne raised his head in disbelief, staring intently at Arthur, who stood close before him.

Blood began to seep from his mouth, and he gripped the sword blade, ignoring the pain, roaring, “How dare you!”

Arthur watched the distorted anguish on Wayne’s face with a look of pity, stating coldly, “Wayne Michelle, how pathetic. As a heretic, you are utterly unqualified.”

Wayne shrieked in furious shock, “Gambler! What in the world is happening! In this casino, I should be immune to any harm!”

[It is the power of hope… too blinding.]

The Gambler murmured soundlessly. As Wayne collapsed into a pool of blood, gradually losing his life’s breath, Their form slowly materialized before everyone’s eyes.

They seemed to be gazing at Arthur. “The Pope’s position hasn’t changed, has it?”

Arthur stared coldly at the non-human entity with a die for a head. “I am not interested in that position.”

“Your power cannot be faked. If you were not the host of that light, it would be impossible to break the rules of this casino.” As They spoke, They suddenly seemed to perceive something else. After a brief silence, They sighed in a voice only Arthur could hear. “It is a false light.”

Arthur seized Their die-shaped head with one hand, speaking in an icy tone, “Heretic, in the name of the Holy Light, I hereby seal you!”

A blinding white light, like a scorching sun, erupted from his palm, instantly engulfing Them. When the Holy Light dissipated, a small die lay quietly in his palm.

“Captain!”

Arthur slowly turned, looking toward Wilson, who had suddenly shouted at him. “What is it?”

Wilson stared intently at the die in Arthur’s palm, his voice low. “Captain… no, are you truly our captain? Isn’t sealing heretics something only the Holy Light can accomplish?”

Arthur looked at Wilson with a calm expression, stating plainly, “This is the power bestowed upon me by the Holy Light.”

“Impossible!”

Watching Wilson emotionally contradict him, Arthur suddenly chuckled. “Wilson, this is the first time you’ve ever defied me.”

Wilson’s expression stiffened. He suddenly lowered his head, speaking softly, “Captain, I… I am merely curious. His Holiness the Pope has not yet abdicated; how exactly did you come to possess this power?”

Arthur’s gaze at Wilson suddenly held a hint of mockery. “What? Are you panicking because the power I wield is the same as your master’s?”

Wilson’s expression changed drastically as he stared intently at Arthur. “When did you know?”

Arthur said indifferently, “A long time ago, I suppose.”

“Then why wait until now to expose it?”

“I simply felt there was no need before. Besides, keeping you around to let that old dog hear how I insult him… that feeling isn’t so bad. Though I doubt he cares anyway.”

Wilson’s gaze returned to the die in Arthur’s palm. “Then why now? Is it because of this power you’ve obtained?”

“Power?” Arthur suddenly laughed aloud, his expression somewhat complex as he looked at the die in his palm. “You call this power? No, this is merely born from the playfulness of a certain entity. Though I’m displeased, if it’s Them, I can only endure it. At least… this power is indeed remarkable.”

Wilson watched Arthur with a grave expression. “Captain, are you truly willing to become a host for heresy? Just to seek revenge on His Holiness the Pope? But your mother’s death was not caused by His Holiness; he suffered greatly from it!”

“Silence!”

Arthur’s voice suddenly turned utterly cold. He gazed at Wilson with an indifferent expression. “I know Mother acted willingly. Therefore, I never considered seeking revenge for such a thing. Everything I do is to save the world, just as Mother always taught me.”

Wilson looked at Arthur with utter incomprehension. “If that’s the case, then why are you opposing His Holiness the Pope? If not for his support, this world would have long ago been destroyed by heretics!”

“Heretics… Heh heh… Is that so…” Arthur mused softly, looking at Wilson with a comical expression. “What truly threatens this world? Is it the heretics, or is it the distorted humanity they pursue, which never belonged to them?”

“But what does that have to do with His Holiness the Pope?”

“You know yourself.”

“I don’t understand what you’re saying!”

Arthur pointed his sword at his former comrades, his voice chilling. “This game of make-believe ends here. When you return to the embrace of the Holy Light, remember to tell that old dog that someone like him continuing to wield the power of the Holy Light will only result in a disaster that is—barely—insufficient to destroy the world!”