I set it down.
"1 to 12."
The onlookers cast gazes full of curiosity.
Swirl── The roulette spins.
The final stop, 12.
"Ooh!"
Amidst the cheers of spectators and players, 100 million became 300 million. A confident smile spread across my lips.
After that, I moved around various games.
After roulette, blackjack.
"Stay."
Next was Indian Poker,
Baccarat,
Hold'em,
Even Seotda and Go-Stop.
Every time I moved tables, my money multiplied exponentially, like an amoeba.
* * *
Fifty minutes before the event, 6:10 PM. The time for the club members to gather.
The club members, excluding Kim Hajin, were already gathered at the promised location.
"Huh? It's Hajin."
At that moment, Kim Suho pointed into the distance.
"Ah, he's always so late……"
Chae Nayun's words trailed off.
Kim Hajin had changed a lot compared to before.
His shaggy bangs were neatly slicked back, and instead of a cadet uniform, a luxury designer suit hung on his body. Kim Hajin, who had boosted his height by a full 6 centimeters with high-class dress shoes, approached with confident strides.
"……."
"……."
"Oh. Kim Hajin! What the heck."
While Chae Nayun and Yoo Yeonha stood blankly with their mouths half-open, Kim Suho asked with a surprised expression. Kim Hajin broke into a wide smile. His pearly white teeth gleamed in the sunlight.
Chae Nayun asked, as if exasperated.
"What the heck. Did you even get your teeth whitened?"
"Hm? Ah. Just, you know."
It was something that had happened at an antique shop. Kim Hajin had been checking on his laptop whether there were any useful antiques among the wares, and had bought and used a '300-year-old toothbrush' that supposedly increased charm by 0.01. The identity of that 0.01 charm was oral cleanliness, including teeth whitening.
"Your clothes… I see you bought new ones……?"
"Well, yeah."
Yoo Yeonha and Chae Nayun swept their eyes up and down him. Kim Hajin, feeling quite confident, crossed his arms and even put on sunglasses.
'I somehow feel like I look like Ryu Jun-yeol.'
It was then.
Someone's languid yet sweet voice approached slowly.
"Oh, who do we have here."
The whole group looked in the direction the voice came from.
There stood Kim Junwoo, a Hunter belonging to 'Gwangwon'.
"Isn't this Chae Nayun?"
Kim Junwoo smiled brightly and raised his hand at Chae Nayun. Chae Nayun's eyes widened.
"Huh?! What. What brings you here, oppa?!"
"Just. Came to hang out, what else."
Kim Junwoo scratched his head and gave an understated smile. Yoo Yeonha approached him with sparkling eyes.
"Excuse me…… You're Hunter Kim Junwoo of Gwangwon, right?"
"Uh-huh. That's right. Guess I'm not dead yet."
"Nice to meet you."
Yoo Yeonha shook hands with Kim Junwoo. After exchanging greetings with Yoo Yeonha, Kim Junwoo looked toward Kim Hajin. Kim Junwoo's face was one of recognition.
"Ah~ the kid who raked in a crazy amount of money. You were Nayun's friend too? Nice to meet you. I'm jealous, jealous. I only lost."
"He won?"
Chae Nayun, Yoo Yeonha, and Kim Suho tilted their heads simultaneously.
"Yeah. Didn't you win around 2 billion in total?"
"2 billion?!"
The three exclaimed simultaneously. Even to Yoo Yeonha and Chae Nayun, 2 billion was a huge sum.
Kim Junwoo rubbed his chin and continued.
"I think that's right. He got dragged out by some big guys halfway through."
"I wasn't dragged out. I was given a suite room key to rest a bit."
"Ah, is that so?"
At Kim Hajin's words, Kim Junwoo smiled and nodded. Then this time, he glanced at Kim Suho. Kim Junwoo let out a snickering old man's laugh and whispered to Chae Nayun.
"Is he your boyfriend?"
"W-what are you talking about."
Chae Nayun checked Kim Suho's reaction, and then Kim Hajin's reaction.
"He's not."
Seeing Chae Nayun's gaze, Kim Junwoo smiled suggestively.
"Could it be, two rabbits?"
"B-bullshit, out of nowhere!"
"No. If it's you, Nayun, polygyny would be— ugh!"
"Ah, come on!"
Chae Nayun struck Kim Junwoo's solar plexus with her elbow. Kim Junwoo clutched his stomach exaggeratedly and cried surrender, surrender.
……Meanwhile, a man had been hiding and watching them as they noisily chattered.
"Hunter Kim Junwoo of Gwangwon. Confirmed."
'Vermund', belonging to the Evil Society.
He was a man who served roughly as a middleman in today's plan.
"It seems Kim Junwoo doesn't know the details either. Yes. Understood. I'll join soon."
Having finished his report, he turned around.
"…….!"
However, before his eyes stood a pitch-black woman. For an instant, Vermund's breath stopped.
Long black hair, deep and dark eyes. Those pupils, like mud, looked as though they would swallow him whole at any moment.
She stared straight at Vermund and called for someone.
"Jane."
"Yeah. I'm here."
Another woman appeared beside her.
At that moment, Vermund sensed his own death.
* * *
At the same time.
A limousine stopped in front of the Thames River Bridge heading to Clancy Islet.
While numerous reporters and cameras focused on that limousine, the door opened.
From within, long, gracefully slender pale legs appeared.
Soon, the woman who revealed her full figure was Rachel, wearing a silver dress.
Princess of England, and England's pride.
As she appeared, the reporters' flashes burst busily.
"A word about today's event……"
"There are many rumors that you missed first place in theory in this Cube. Regarding that……"
Rachel, who replaced answers with a smile, continued walking. Though she wasn't yet used to high heels, her gait was more perfect and beautiful than any model's.
Soon, Rachel arrived before the portal and met a businessman.
"Thank you so much for coming directly like this today, Princess."
He was Zelen, CEO of the multinational corporation 'Roton Corporation'.
Today, Roton would personally unveil a method to maximize the utilization of the [White Crystal], in which hundreds of thousands of mana were condensed, at 'Clancy Hall' on Clancy Islet.
Furthermore, to elevate the formality of the presentation, Roton had requested the attendance of the British royal family. As Roton was the greatest sponsor of the British Royal Guild, Rachel could not refuse.
"Are the defenses certain?"
Rachel asked Zelen.
"Haha. Of course."
The threat of Mines and bandit gangs always loomed. Therefore, events like this were rarely held these days. However, Roton did not want to give up the astronomical profits, including stock price increases, that could be gained through this major announcement.
Of course, the countermeasures were solid as well. They had chosen 'Clancy Islet', which could be called the safest place in Europe, and not only hired countless mercenaries but also lobbied the Hero Association to dispatch even high-grade heroes.
"You may look forward to it, Princess."
Zelen's gaze brushed past.
Rachel did not like that snake-like, sinister gaze of his.
"As Roton, the greatest sponsor of the Royal Guild, I promise the elevation of the Guild's prestige."
* * *
The largest luxury hall on Clancy Islet, 'Clancy Hall'.
Even though there were still thirty minutes until the event, there were quite a lot of people. They were all upper-class individuals draped in luxury clothes.
But.
I wasn't about to be outdone either.
A 300-million suit—expensive because of the 'Chairman' feature—and a partial-artifact jacket.
I looked enough like an Eastern tycoon.
"Hmm."
Sitting alone, I struck a pose and observed the interior.
Yoo Yeonha was busy seeking out her connections right now, and Chae Nayun had gone to the bathroom saying she needed to take a dump.
"You came here too, I see."
Then, someone's voice reached me from behind. I turned to look.
The Leader of the Wisecheondan, currently under the identity 'Li Xiaopeng', was standing there.
"Ah, you came here too, Xiaopeng."
"That's right. As a security hero…… what bullshit."
But in the middle of speaking, the Leader suddenly became furious.
I could tell the reason.
Because I too had heard Jane's voice whispering in her ear. Thanks to my 'Observation and Perusal' talent.
—Leader, you finally met your unrequited love. Congratulations.
"Ahem. Ahem."
A cough rose from my throat.
"Ah. S-sorry. My colleague was saying weird things through the earpiece……"
The Leader tapped the earphones in her ears while making that excuse.
End.
6:40 PM. Clancy Hall.
The Leader was still sitting in the seat next to me.
Munch munch—
She was diligently chewing the chocolate the waiter had just brought. Her eyes sparkled, perhaps because it was very delicious.
I glanced at her side profile and thought once more about how I should respond from here on.
The 'White Crystal' that would soon be revealed.
It was an item that must not fall into the hands of the Mine. However, preventing the theft operation itself was not only impossible with my abilities, but also something I shouldn't do.
Roton Corporation was one of the worst corrupt companies I had established. Though there were no Mines in the executive ranks, it was filled with such villains that one might prefer the Mines.
No matter how much I thought about it, today, it was right for the Wisecheondan to take the crystal according to the original storyline.
"Waiter."
Suddenly the Leader called a waiter. What was she trying to do now? I strained my attention on her words and actions, pretending otherwise.
The waiter approached her and spoke politely.
"Yes, madam."
"The chocolates you gave me just now, do you have more?"
The Leader asked while smacking her lips.
"Yes. Here you are."
"No, not one. I think I could be satisfied with about three."
"……Pardon?"
While she was eyeing the chocolates, Chae Nayun and Kim Suho returned. The two looked around for their seats, found me, and tilted their heads.
Chae Nayun and Kim Suho approached me.
"Hajin, who is this next to you?"
"Who……?"
Kim Suho and Chae Nayun didn't yet know the Leader of the Wisecheondan.
"Ah~ my connection, Li Xiaopeng. A mid-high-grade hero. We ran into each other."
I feigned familiarity and put my hand on the Leader's shoulder.
The Leader was munching away at the chocolate.
"Nom. Ah, mm. That's right. It's Li Xiaopeng."
"Ah, yes. Hello."
Chae Nayun greeted slightly awkwardly, and Kim Suho bowed energetically.
"The girl here is Chae Nayun, and the guy is Kim Suho—"
"I already know them. They're famous cadets."
As the Leader said, they were cadets so famous it would be strange not to know them.
Kim Suho and Chae Nayun, having finished greeting, sat side by side.
"You guys came here too~?"
A gentle voice flowed like a warm breeze.
It was Kim Junwoo. He smiled, making his small eyes even smaller.
His squinting eyes brushed past the Leader.
In that instant, the Leader's gaze also lingered on Kim Junwoo for a moment.
They seemed to recognize each other's strength at a glance.
"……Who is this?"
Kim Junwoo's voice, pointing at the Leader, had calmed somewhat. The Leader only looked at him without answering. So Chae Nayun stepped in instead.
"Senior Li Xiaopeng. They say he's a mid-high-grade hero. Kim Hajin's connection. But what kind of connection? You're so pretty, how are you with Kim Hajin?"
"Indeed. A beauty. ……May I ask your age?"
Kim Junwoo asked.
The Leader was surprisingly young. Twenty-four. She was only seven years apart from the current Kim Suho, and even younger than my original age. However, the Leader subtly held a complex about her young age.
"No."
"……Mm. Yes. Then I'll head to the back, kids. Call me if anything happens."
"Yeah. Go on, oppa. Let's grab a meal together when this is over."
"Sure. I have to go do my security duty too, so I'll be off."
Not long after, the Leader stood up as well. As if switching places with the Leader, Yoo Yeonha and Yun Hanhyeon approached.
"But aren't our other Hero Club members coming?"
"Probably not. Since they'll be third-years soon. The second semester of second year is extremely busy. They'll be swamped preparing for that."
I let their conversation flow over me and thought about today's key Mines.
First, Nade. He was today's crystal courier.
Second, Shirassen. A Mine who appeared in the previous Paris incident, today acting as a combat agent.
And finally, Kim Hakpyo, leader of the Evil Society's 'Artifact Retrieval Team'.
Before I could organize my thoughts, all the lights in the hall went out.
The commotion inside slowly died down, and before long, complete silence settled in.
The curtain concealing the stage was drawn away.
Click, clack. The small, distinct sound of dress shoes rang out.
At the center of the stage appeared Roton’s CEO, Jelen.
* * *
“It is an honor.”
When Rachel arrived at the VIP balcony seats of Clancy Hall, the bodyguard Hero bowed with refinement.
Rachel answered with a faint smile and took her seat. The bodyguard Heroes surrounded her completely.
She looked down at the VIP seats on the first floor. There were many people. Wondering if there was anyone she knew, Rachel scanned their faces. Since she was looking down from above, she could not make them out in detail. However, among them was one face that particularly caught her eye.
‘······Kim Hajin?’
His attire was vastly different from what he wore at Cube. He was dressed in a full set of top-tier designer formalwear.
However, the jacket-cum-coat he was wearing over it was unmistakably the “partial artifact” she had given him as a gift.
Beside him, in order, were Kim Suho, Chae Nayun, and Yoo Yeonha.
“Ladies and gentlemen, it is a pleasure to meet you. I am Jelen, CEO of Roton Corporation, a company leading the way in innovation.”
While Rachel was distracted by the classmates she had encountered in an unexpected place, Roton’s CEO, Jelen, appeared on the stage.
Jelen gave a brief introduction, then said something along the lines of, “Before we begin in earnest, allow me to honor the British royal family who have graced us with their presence—” and gestured toward the balcony on the second floor.
At that moment, a spotlight fell over Rachel’s head. It was so bright that she could not even open her eyes. Even so, Rachel rose from her seat and gave a gentle smile. Applause rang out from the VIP seats. Afterward, the light disappeared, and Rachel sat back down.
“Everyone. What is the power that forms the origin of all things?”
Jelen’s presentation began in earnest. Rachel felt slightly displeased. A presentation being held on British soil was being conducted in Korean. Though it was being translated into English in real time.
“That is correct. It is mana. And somewhere in this world, there exist natural treasures born from mana naturally condensing on its own. Among those natural treasures, the White Crystal in particular is so rare that it may be called a ‘blessing bestowed upon mankind.’”
A beautiful crystal appeared on the large screen behind the stage.
That was the White Crystal. The essence of magical power created through the natural condensation and accumulation of mana in its natural state, and a treasure of Mother Nature filled with nature’s pure energy.
The White Crystal, which thickened the mana concentration of a space simply by existing, was indeed a treasure that could not be purchased even for billions.
“A total of 480 crystals have been discovered thus far. However, I can state with certainty that no proper method of utilizing these precious crystals has existed.”
Jelen stopped speaking and gave a meaningful smile.
“From this point onward, we at Roton Corporation will show you the true method of utilizing this White Crystal.”
Then an employee wheeled in a mysterious cart. There seemed to be something on top of it, but the whole thing was covered with a cloth, making it impossible to tell what it was.
Without dragging things out, Jelen lifted the cloth away.
Inside a cube-shaped glass tube, a White Crystal was floating.
At the pure sight of the White Crystal, the audience let out an unrestrained cheer of awe. However, Jelen focused not on the crystal, but on the cube-shaped glass tube surrounding it.
“This vacuum cube—ah, please do not misunderstand. It is not that Cube in the East Sea off the Korean Peninsula.”
Laughter burst from the audience at the simple joke.
“The origins of this cube can be traced all the way back to the Persian Empire. Originally, this cube was ‘earthenware.’ However, we at Roton Corporation are pioneers in the ‘partial artifact’ industry, which dismantles and reassembles artifacts. We broke this earthenware down into soil and sand, then used cutting-edge mana engineering technology to rebirth it as a glass tube.”
At that moment, the audience began to stir.
However, that