2025-08-15 04:41:03
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Chapter Thirty-Eight: A Black Card
The rooftop was quiet again, save for the muted hum of distant turbines and the occasional gust of wind tugging at Michael's coat. His silver-white hair moved gently with the breeze as he kept the two women in his line of sight. The one behind him, Lea, still had his corrupted left hand just inches from her neck, while the other watched him carefully from a few feet away, her posture as calm as it was deliberate."Why?" Michael asked, his voice low but unflinching. "Why were you watching me? And what do you mean you want to recruit me? For what?"From the girl's reaction, she had completely expected this as she took a small step forward, then raised both hands in a measured, non-threatening gesture. "I'll tell you, but first... let her go."Michael raised a single brow, the dark glow of his Yin Eye intensifying for a brief moment. "You think I’m stupid enough to leave myself without leverage? Two strangers track me for days, corner me after I just killed a noble, and you want me to p
Chapter Thirty-Seven: Confrontation
The moment the pulse of Threat Sense flickered across his mind, Michael's eyes snapped toward the roofline of The Mirage Vault. Against the violet-tinted night sky, a shadowed figure stood just beyond the casino's eastern tower. Their posture was calm, but Michael knew from the prickling tension in his chest that they had been watching him for longer than he was comfortable with. Their presence triggered his skill for only a fleeting moment, and as soon as the figure noticed they'd been seen, they vanished.With barely a whisper of sound, he pivoted and sprinted down the narrow alley adjacent to the casino. The surrounding air still held the scent of city grime and ozone, and the wind from the nearby ocean curled through the buildings like grasping fingers. He grabbed onto the iron rungs of a rusted fire escape and began to climb, each step taken with preternatural ease thanks to his elevated Agility stat. His boots barely made contact with the rungs as he ascended the metal frame lik
Chapter Thirty-Six: Stillness After the Storm
The Mirage Vault was silent for the first time tonight.Michael stood alone in the heart of the casino, the gentle hum of idle slot machines and the low ambient lights casting long, stretched shadows across the velvet carpeting. The scent of alcohol, sweat, and expensive perfume lingered faintly in the air, ghosts of the chaos that had erupted just minutes ago. Now, it was all his. Every shimmering crystal panel, every fiber-optic chandelier, every coded keycard, and access channel.He took a slow breath and turned in a slow circle, absorbing the grand architecture. The Mirage Vault was opulence incarnate. A sprawling monument to the arrogance of the upper elite, all built to entertain and conceal their decadence. Marble floors, floating staircases, and holographic light shows that ran through the ceiling in quiet waves. Cassian Farrell had spared no expense to make this his playground.And now he was dead.Michael walked toward the center of the lounge, boots echoing against the pris
Chapter Thirty-Five: I Win
The hush that fell over The Mirage Vault as the final round began was heavy enough to crush breath. For a moment, even the flickering lights and mechanical chimes of the digital slot reels seemed quieter, the casino's pulse dimmed to a low, waiting throb.All eyes in the private lounge were on the two men at the center of the storm. Michael sat still, his white hair catching the subtle shimmer of the overhead lights, face unreadable as he watched the holo-dealer shuffle the projected cards into a radiant spin. Across from him, Cassian Farrell lounged lazily in his chair, eyes gleaming with a dangerous mirth. The heir radiated confidence, but Michael could see the tension behind the casual smile and the slight flex of his fingers on the table's edge.Cassian turned to the gathering crowd. "One last round," he announced, voice smooth as velvet. "Winner takes everything."The gathered elites murmured with anticipation. The dealer dealt the opening hands. The game might have been based on
Chapter Thirty-Four: The House Doesn't Always Win
The lights above the lounge dimmed slightly as a new tension settled into the casino air. It was no longer the kind of buzz that came from money changing hands or the occasional shriek of digital roulette victories. This was the slow, deliberate quiet of people realizing something rare was about to unfold.Cassian Farrell, heir to one of the most powerful families in the city, leaned lazily in his seat, one leg crossed over the other, a half-drained glass of bluefire liqueur glinting in his hand. The grin on his face was easy and relaxed but his eyes were already calculating. Across from him sat Michael, dressed sharply, silver hair catching the ambient light. A circular digital table hovered between them, projecting the holographic interface of the blackjack variant known as Neural-21. The dealer was an elegant, vaguely androgynous AI projection with crystalline features that stood quietly between them, processing data with zero emotion.Cassian exhaled slowly and motioned to the ta
Chapter Thirty-Three: Let's Play
Michael remained seated in the plush booth, his posture easy and casual despite the ring of muscle and weapons now surrounding the table. His gaze didn’t waver as he met Cassian’s eyes."Alright, then," Michael said in a voice that was quiet but edged with steel. "You've gone through all this effort to corner me. What exactly do you intend to do now?"Cassian chuckled and leaned back into the velvet of his seat, the low light casting smooth shadows over his sharp, too-handsome features. "That depends, Michael. The real question is what you came here to do. You think I don't notice when someone starts upsetting the balance of things?"He twirled the stem of his drink between two fingers, eyes still locked on Michael's."You embarrassed Victor Grey, a feat I admittedly found impressive, then you turn around and buy out a piece of the harbor out of nowhere. Now I hear rumors you're backing a gang. You think a Farrell wouldn't catch wind of that?"As Cassian spoke, Michael's vision flicke
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