It wasn't until evening until they arrived at the casino.
The traffic had been terrible, so terrible that Tina even considered just getting out and putting the entire van in the bag and going walking. Yet she didn't, a shame. Edric was really curious to see the insides of her bag.
It always had been one of the great mysteries that surrounded her.
For all that Edric knew, Tina always had that enchanted item. Where she got it or when, he didn't know, perhaps it had been in one of her many jobs as a bounty hunter in the past. Who knows, she might have taken it from a corpse.
In any case, since they were going to a casino, they had to dress accordingly. Edric himself had to change into a tailored suit, made only for him.
His internal shirt was just as black as the night sky, a yellow tie was hung loose around his neck. The jacket draped cleanly over his shoulders, matching the color of his shirt. Its buttons were made of gold and a yellow cloth was partially visible in the front pocket near his heart. With trousers that matched his outfit, he looked good.
The blackness was, of course, because of the Farben's tradition and the few yellow decorations were from his mother's side.
'It had been a while since I last dressed this.'
This suit was supposed to be dressed in official events, balls, social meetings, and some more that he would never attend.
Yet he only used it thrice in his life; The first time it had been when it was tailored, the second was a few years ago when he first came to this very casino, and the last time was at his mother's funeral. Since then he hadn't even seen it.
Why Tina would put it in his suitcase, he couldn't even begin to guess, but he was glad that she did since he would need it to see the King.
It was crazy to think he hadn't grown up in this time and it still suited him like a glove. Perhaps it had been enchanted without him even knowing.
Unfortunately for Galleon he didn't bring any formal attire and a butler's uniform wouldn't be accepted, no matter how neatly it was.
Edric felt the van slowing down before it came to a full stop, hearing footsteps, the back door and Tina helped him step out.
The Grand Perola was right in front of him.
Going up a grand staircase that was adorned with a red carpet and many elegant people, the Perola was just like he remembered; grand, majestic, fabulous, and bright.
Seriously, why did that thing have to have so many lights? It was so bright that Edric could barely see the beautiful architecture behind it.
Yet he knew that it was the only building in the entire city that was made of marble.
It had once been a fortress, which explained its robust and thick walls. Destroyed a long time ago in the civil war between the Farbens and the Farblos and reconstructed into what it is today. In a way, one could say it was the Fortress of Gambling, a nickname Edric himself had invented, though he never made it public.
"So," he began, "You still haven't explained what we are doing here. Surely you don't want to gamble."
Tina adjusted the girls' dresses that were a bit messy from the travel and, ignoring his bad joke, she said:
"We are here to alert the Rivenditoris, of course."
"...Are you serious? You know I could just send a letter, right?"
"And do you know where your seal is?"
Edric thought for a second.
"In my room…"
"Exactly," Tina nodded. "Since you don't have your seal it would be labeled as a common letter and probably wouldn't even be read."
Although she was right, Edric failed to see the point of coming all the way here to warn them.
"You know, they probably won't even thank us, besides, isn't our travel supposed to be a secret?" His life was in danger after all.
Tina froze. She opened and closed her mouth many times before saying:
"It doesn't matter, isn't it your duty as a Farben to take care of things like this?"
He shrugged.
Technically she was right. It was his duty as the son of the ruler of this region to care about 'his' people.
Not only that but a heist happening in the greatest casino in the West would surely impact the prestigious reputation of the Farben. But honestly, he couldn't care less.
If there wasn't any personal gain to him, why would he care? If anything, the grace of saving the casino from a potential robbery would fall over Lynce, not him.
But Tina seemed to care.
Perhaps she was trying to teach him some kind of lesson about nobility. She may have some kind of hope that he one day assumed the leadership of the region, or maybe she was simply driven by a sense of justice.
'Probably the latter.'
With a sign, he nodded.
"Fine, though I don't really get your point, I will do as you say. But I won't reveal myself, I hope you understand that."
"Then, how do you plan to get a meeting with the Rivenditoris?" she eyed him with suspicion.
Edric grinned.
"How else? Whipping the casino, of course."
Tina left a deep and defeated breath. Although she hated gambling, the situation was special. Indeed they couldn't afford to reveal themselves, yet they needed to contact a higher up and winning much was bound to attract attention.
"That's enough, I guess."
Galleon, who was observing their conversation quietly from inside the van, said:
"Send me a text when you are finished. I will eat something in a restaurant nearby."
Tina threw him the keys and soon enough, Edric watched as the black van drove away.
Only now he realized how weird they looked. Although their attire was nothing less than striking, people came here in luxurious cars and limousines, not a black, suspicious van.
Thankfully they didn't seem to have attracted attention, at least Edric though they didn't.