The Gamble

The clash between the two was merely a brief interlude before the match.

But the surrounding audience, a mix of humans and Anomalies, watched with rapt interest, their clamor rising in waves.

Ren Yi even suspected that the entertainment city might be intentionally permitting all of this to stoke the atmosphere to a fever pitch and maximize the spectacle.

The noise gradually subsided.

The eyes of the entire venue, like searchlights, focused simultaneously on the massive gambling table in the center.

The final gamble officially began.

According to the entertainment city's challenge rules, the challenged party shakes the dice and bets first.

The God of Gamblers slowly raised his hand, his fingertips gripping the cold dice cup.

He made no unnecessary movements, used no fancy shaking techniques, and didn't try to build hype. He simply lifted his wrist and gave it a casual couple of shakes.

The crisp clatter of the dice was short and sharp, sounding exceptionally clear in the deathly silent venue.

A second later, with a dull thud, the dice cup slammed onto the table, causing the surface to tremble slightly.

He never once looked at the dice cup, his tone nonchalant as he spoke.

"Triple."

Ren Yi immediately released his perception.

The special perception the waiter had enabled for him was already fully active, allowing him to "see" inside the dice cup with perfect clarity.

The three dice inside the cup all had sixes facing upward.

A perfect Triple, the ultimate hand among ultimate hands, produced with a casual flick of the God of Gamblers' wrist.

The Luck talent truly lived up to its reputation.

Everyone's gaze fixed on the Battle-Damaged Guy, waiting to see how he would respond.

When the God of Gamblers bets on a Triple, the opponent can only choose Big or Small. Regardless of the choice, it should be a guaranteed loss.

The Battle-Damaged Guy seemed to have suppressed the turmoil in his heart, concealing the trace of hostility he felt toward the God of Gamblers and donning his calm, composed facade once more.

He did not hesitate, his tone flat. "Small."

The moment the word left his lips, he leaned back against his chair, arms folded across his chest. He closed his eyes gently and remained motionless, like a statue in deep meditation.

To an observer, it looked as though he had completely given up resistance, leaving himself to be slaughtered by fate.

Of course, Ren Yi knew he was likely just concealing the activation of his talent.

Time ticked by, and the countdown to the reveal was nearing its end.

Soon, a strange phenomenon occurred once more.

There was no sound of dice rolling, no fluctuation in the air, yet Ren Yi felt as if the surrounding atmosphere had frozen for an instant.

In Ren Yi's perception, the three sixes inside the dice cup transformed instantly.

One, two, three—totaling six, which qualified as Small.

In a hidden time slice, the Battle-Damaged Guy had once again swapped the dice within the cup.

Whether it was because he was exceptionally focused this time or simply a psychological effect, Ren Yi vaguely felt that he had... truly captured that moment of stagnation.

Ren Yi subtly tilted his head up.

Above the entertainment city's ceiling, the massive crystal chandelier glowed with brilliant, flowing light. It was mounted securely and firmly, showing no signs of looseness.

Surely... a cliché plot point like the chandelier suddenly falling and precisely crushing a contestant to death wouldn't happen here, right?

"Reveal!"

With the waiter's loud shout, the gamble reached its final moment.

The God of Gamblers remained calm as he lifted his hand and gently uncovered the dice cup.

When the three small numbers appeared before everyone's eyes, the casino fell into a momentary, deathly silence before erupting into earth-shattering cheers.

So, did Luck fail to take effect in the end?

Or was the failure of the God of Gamblers—no, the former God of Gamblers—the outcome that Luck had intentionally guided him toward?

The God of Gamblers looked at the small numbers on the table. Instead of disappointment, a smile spread across his face.

In that smile, there was relief, ease, and a nearly imperceptible trace of mockery.

The waiter held the microphone and announced loudly, "The gamble is over! The challenger wins! As of today, the former God of Gamblers steps down. Let us welcome the entertainment city's new God of Gamblers!"

The words triggered a massive celebration within the entertainment city. Cheers and applause intertwined, echoing throughout the entire casino.

But Ren Yi's attention never left the God of Gamblers and the Battle-Damaged Guy.

The former God of Gamblers slowly stood up, meticulously smoothing his tailored suit. He walked step by step to the Battle-Damaged Guy, his tone incredibly gentle, yet tinged with a complex sense of gratitude.

"Thank you."

Though his tone was mild, Ren Yi could still hear the faint mockery within it.

It was unclear whether it was directed at the Battle-Damaged Guy or at himself.

"However, there is one more thing I feel I should tell you."

"You haven't been in the entertainment city long, and you haven't met other Gods of Gamblers, so you probably don't know."

"The entertainment city's promise ensures that all participants who have served as the God of Gamblers will live a life of happiness within its walls forever."

The God of Gamblers smiled, the exhaustion in his eyes completely vanishing. "I'm tired. Thank you for giving me a reason to stop."

He paused, his tone light yet almost sincere.

"But I'm sorry. I cannot receive the punishment you hoped for."

"Furthermore, I will be waiting for you in the place where we will live in the future."

His smile became slightly distorted.

"I look forward to the day you arrive."

The Battle-Damaged Guy slowly raised his head. His face was even paler than before, his lips nearly bloodless, and the wounds on his body were beginning to seep blood again.

The Battle-Damaged Guy opened his mouth, but in the end, he only managed to say, "You really do trust your talent."

"Of course," the former God of Gamblers nodded with a smile.

"Not long after I first began to feel weary, it delivered you right to me."

"I actually realized it back at the restaurant."

"I just decided to be a little self-indulgent for a bit."

"But you see, fate still made everything turn out like this."

He casually pushed the stack of invitations on the table toward the Battle-Damaged Guy. "These all belong to you now."

After saying this, the former God of Gamblers turned and walked away without a hint of lingering attachment.

The Battle-Damaged Guy sat in his seat with his head down for a long time.

From behind, he looked somewhat hunched and frail.

But Ren Yi's perception could see more than just his back; it could also see the slight curl of the lips beneath that lowered head.

He seemed very happy.

After a while, the Battle-Damaged Guy seemed to recover. He picked up the invitations and counted them; there were three in total.

Without hesitation, he pulled out two of them, gathered all the chips he had won along the way, and gave a light wave toward the edge of the crowd.

Two slightly nervous figures hurried over from not far away—the companions who had entered the entertainment city with him.

The Battle-Damaged Guy handed them the invitations and a portion of the chips, his tone flat. "Take these and leave the Instance immediately. Don't come back."

The two were stunned for a moment, their eyes reddening as they nodded. Without another word, they took the items and quickly disappeared into the crowd.

Only after handling all of this did the Battle-Damaged Guy slowly turn around and walk toward Ren Yi.

His steps were somewhat unsteady and his face remained pale, yet he wore a relaxed smile.

Reaching Ren Yi, he bowed slightly and spoke sincerely, "Sir, thank you for your help earlier."

"Now that I have become the new God of Gamblers, I will be staying in the entertainment city."

"As per our agreement, I will help you earn enough chips. I certainly won't let you down."

On Ren Yi's shoulder, Wang Zhixin suddenly flapped his wings.

Ren Yi glanced at the cockatoo and couldn't help but smile.

Still being dishonest?

The moment he spoke, it was another blatant lie.