After leaving the girls sleeping in the van, their group changed to mundane clothes and went on foot.
The place Tina said was the last place she ever received news; The Oustra Casino. Edric never knew such a casino existed, but apparently, it was quite popular. It was located deeper into the north of the city. This area wasn't as high class as the center, people here were mostly mundane. But they still were rich though.
Edric followed Tina that led the group. Soon enough, he saw an enormous building. Its lights pale in comparison to the Perola's, yet, because of the way it was painted, it almost seemed like looking at a rainbow.
Edric knew a thing or two about psychology. Bright colors and light attracted more people, giving the building an air of fun and joy. A pretty foxy trick.
Different from the Perola, in the Oustra one wouldn't need to dress formally. People wore mostly mundane clothes, more old people than new ones again.
'Seems the gambling addiction is decreasing around the youngesters…'
Perhaps it was fear of going homeless, or just a more occupied generation. In anycase, Edric was glad that he himself also wasn't addicted.
Tina looked around for a second before turning to Edric.
"Ok, now, do your thing."
Edric raised an eyebrow,
"My thing?"
"We need to see a higher up, so go do your magic." She handed him a card.
Edric looked between Tina and the card, with a deadpammed expression. Before she had been angry that he was gambling, and now she wanted him to do it…that was philosophical. Not that he was complaining though, he quickly took the card before she could change her mind and went towards the front desk.
There he once again ordered the minimum, that in this casino was a thousand Reais.
"Let's see…"
The layout was similar to the Perola's…actually, if you looked from an angle, it was exactly the same as the first floor. Only that here, the walls were from concrete, the ceiling was only painted, and there were no slot machines.
Looking around the tables, he looked for a good 3:2 table, but he couldn't find it, even after searching the entire place. The only thing they had was the monstrosity Free Bet 6:5. There was no way in hell that he would play that.
Without a choice, he went towards his second best game: Poker.
The poker tables were on the sides, exactly as the Perola, separated only by a red curtain. It was hard to find a game, every table was full. But eventually, Edric heard a loud noise and angry footsteps leaving right ahead.
The man passed him, cursing like there was no tomorrow.
"That cursed woman!"
Edric raised an eyebrow to that comment, yet he went in the opposite direction, soon finding a free seat. As soon as he stepped inside, all of their gaze fell on him.
Poker was different from Blackjack, where people weren't friendly competitors that were challenging the house. Here he would be playing against other people, taking their money…though Edric loved Blackjack, the trill of Poker was intoxicating.
The dealer waited for him to slowly cross till his chair, Tina and Galleon posing themselves behind him as soon as he sat. Assuming their serious mode.
"Good evening, Sir." The dealer said as he dealt the cards.
Edric placed the chip in before looking at his cards. Two aces.
'Damn, I am really on fire today.' He didn't know what was happening. '"Fate is not your friend." What a fool.'
With his best poker face he turned towards the dealer.
"Alexander Kyhi." He said the first thing that came to head.
"Hm…a noble is it?" A man at his side said.
The man had greasy white hair, tired dark eye, and pale skin. In his face a deep scar rubbed across his left cheek, blinding his eye.
"I wouldn't say I am a noble, really. It's just the name of my family." Edric responded.
"Commoners don't have subnames."
"I am aware of that." His focus switched to the community cards.
A king, a seven, and a queen, none of them suit as his aces.
"Stop bullying the kid, Roger. Who cares if he is a noble or not, just play the game in silence." A woman said.
"Yeah," another voice at his left, "Olivia will get angry with you."
'Olivia?' He knew that name.
Edric gave a good look at the other people.
While most of them didn't have anything special to remember, a woman in his diagonal was different. Edric knew her. He remembered her silk red hair and piercing purple eyes, the Wicked Woman.
She was dressed in a red gown, bright ruby jewelry decorated her body.
"Me? Why would I get angry?" She said that with a smile.
Instantly the table went silent for some reason, but Edric barely registered. His mind was split between his triple winning aces and the woman.
'This damn monster…what is she doing here?' It seemed she had come into the world.
From a simple dealer in the Perola to a seemingly successful Poker player.
'As if.'
Edric didn't even need Tina's sign at his back to say; This woman was the boss around here.
Seeing the way everyone shut up when she spoke, the layout of the place, and her clothes, Edric could guess that if there was a gang leader here, it was surely her.
He noticed how the guards here had looked at him, it wasn't friendly, or indifferent like normally, but intimidating together with annoyance. Together with their mission here, he deduced that this entire place was being used to money laundry. A common practice here in Spiel.
'That was quite the jump.'
The dealer button went around, falling on her hands.
"Tell me Alexander…have we met before? You don't seem weird to me, but I can't quite put the finger where it was…" Her purple eyes were slightly glowing.
"No," He quickly responded, "You must be confusing me with my twin brother, Brutus. We are almost the same, only that his hair isn't the same as mine."
Edric looked at his card; Seven and two. He folded.
"Really?" She said, a sweet, sly smile on her face. "If you say so…"