Casino Wizard

A woman was essential for a swift operation.

Especially if this was a proper surgery rather than a political purge, like the ones I had done before.

It was the same in my past life. A decently attractive female worker in a Jamie Choo Blossom perfume, an H-line mini skirt, and sheer black stockings—if she timed it right, even just distracting the target for a moment during a withdrawal errand rather than an ashtray run could be a huge help.

And it wasn’t just about distraction.

A woman with the courage to sit on the game board and the looks to match could take on even more active roles.

“Miss Malena. Listen to me carefully from now on. If you want to make money.”

“Yes!”

Two beauties stood before me.

Maria Bonucci.

Malena Muti.

Their identities were similar.

Bonucci had once been the concubine and left-hand woman of the Second Prince before transitioning into a madam. Malena was a woman looking for a sponsor, hoping to follow in Bonucci’s footsteps.

Bonucci was a veteran, while Malena was a promising rookie.

But they had plenty of differences, too.

One had a stunning chest; the other, gorgeous legs.

One was already famous; the other, a newcomer with little recognition in the capital.

A useful combination.

Of course, a delicate plan was necessary—that was my job.

I set the target first.

“Tantonia’s Dice, Koboli Casino.”

“Gambling houses? And quite sizable ones at that.”

Both establishments had managed to maintain decent sales even after my casino took off, thanks to their favorable locations.

Barring any major disruptions, they could continue to survive.

Perhaps influenced by my casino, they had been making changes to stay competitive.

They were reducing the focus on Rummy and 31, shifting to Baccarat and Blackjack. They had even pressured the craftsmen I had commissioned for Big Wheel and Roulette to make the same games for them.

Honestly, their gaming quality wasn’t great, but each had its own strengths.

“Tantonia’s Dice also operates as a tavern.”

“And the owner is…”

“A former Gold-ranked adventurer.”

Tantonia’s Dice.

It was known for good game variety and side bet payouts, but also for its thuggish staff—almost like a gang.

Even some of my own patrons had bad experiences there.

And as for Koboli Casino…

“That one has lodging.”

It doubled as a large inn.

Koboli Casino catered primarily to travelers visiting the capital.

The idea was to give visitors a place to stay while offering them gambling and entertainment like chess to pass the time.

Though its gaming space was relatively small, it was quite profitable.

However, since most of its patrons were outsiders, there were frequent complaints about the female employees’ sticky fingers.

Either way, these were valuable businesses.

I planned to deal with them both. If the opportunity arose, I would take them over.

And in that process, Bonucci and Malena would play key “roles” as actresses.

“Me?”

Malena looked stunned, while Bonucci gently patted the back of her hand to calm her down.

Even Bonucci didn’t seem entirely convinced.

They were both wondering how two women could possibly take down two gambling houses.

Of course, it wasn’t going to be easy.

But with money and a plan, it was possible.

First, I provided the money.

Then, I explained the plan.

Not that it was anything complicated.

“Just go there and lose. Start with Tantonia’s Dice and lose money there.”

All they had to do was look like easy marks.

The kind of gullible pigeons that unscrupulous gambling house operators wouldn’t be able to resist.

“Malena, your job is to lose money. Bonucci, just play along and enjoy yourself normally.”

“Malena loses, and I play normally. That’s not all there is to it, is it?”

“Of course not. Now, let me explain your roles.”

Their mission was to lure in the gambling house owners.

And the key was making it seem like I had nothing to do with it.

****

Trattori District Casino.

A gambling house with over 20 years of history. The home of “Tantonia’s Dice.”

“Fuck.”

Its owner, Mario, cursed under his breath as he looked around the empty game hall.

It was just past noon.

The place was both a bar and a casino. If it were already crowded at this hour, that wouldn’t be good for the country’s economy, would it?

By early evening, the tables would start filling up… and the casino would get busy. It always did.

But that didn’t mean Mario was simply being paranoid.

“Hyden Casino must be packed right now, huh?”

“Yes, boss. As always.”

“Those idiots. Lining up in the morning just to gamble? They’re insane.”

“But… you’re jealous, aren’t you?”

Damn right, he was. He was insanely jealous.

Still, Mario had had his golden days when Hyden Casino was closed.

His revenue had skyrocketed without him having to lift a finger.

Especially the wealthy patrons who used to frequent the casino—the nobles with estates in Trattori District, the merchants with deep pockets—they had all come flocking to his establishment, Tantonia’s Dice.

The money had rolled in. Just like in the old days.

Mario had thought the world was finally turning in his favor.

That things should stay this way forever.

He had prayed—again and again—that Hyden Casino would never reopen.

But Mario’s desperate prayers had gone unanswered. Hyden Casino had reopened, and its owner had even been granted a noble title.

As soon as that happened, the high-rollers left without a second thought.

“Ungrateful bastards.”

No loyalty. No hesitation. Just gone.

Mario couldn’t shake the feeling that he’d been used and discarded.

And now, more trouble.

“My money! Give me my damn money, you bastards…!”

An old man was struggling against the doorman.

A troublesome customer who had been causing scenes for months.

He had hit a Perfect Pair bet with 40-to-1 odds but had only been paid half. Now, he was demanding the rest.

Mario had indeed only paid half. Business had been slow that day, and he had taken the liberty of “adjusting” the payout.

But the old man refused to back down.

Relentless. Persistent.

Wouldn’t it be better to spend that energy working instead of throwing tantrums?

“Again?”

“Yes, boss. We tried to calm him down, but he won’t listen.”

“Shit! Shouldn’t have gone easy on him.”

Mario ordered his men to throw the old man out.

A smart gambler knew when to cut their losses. But there were always those who refused to let go.

Of course, running a casino meant dealing with these kinds of people… but this one was really getting on his nerves.

Damn that casino.

The thought of Hyden Casino, packed with gamblers, filled him with nothing but bitterness.

As Mario brooded over his empty tables,

“Whoa.”

One of his men gasped.

Mario didn’t even need to ask why.

He had already seen them.

Two stunning women walking gracefully into the casino.

It was impossible to look away.

“Bonucci?”

One of them was someone even Mario recognized—Maria Bonucci.

A well-known socialite with a famously voluptuous figure.

The other woman was younger. Quite a bit younger than Bonucci. Tall, slender legs that caught the eye.

Beautiful women were a rarity in Mario’s casino, where 90% of the customers were men.

At least there’s something nice to look at.

Mario’s dull eyes sharpened.

Breasts. Legs. Breasts. Legs. Breasts…

Both were spectacular.

And it wasn’t just Mario who was delighted.

The customers playing rummy over their midday drinks, the ones avoiding the casino queues and settling for baccarat here—all of them were mesmerized.

These women could shake a man’s soul, if not an entire nation.

…

But the two women didn’t just brighten the atmosphere.

They spent money.

“Your bet, madam?”

“10 silver on Player. 2 silver on Player Pair.”

“Banker wins.”

“Oh dear.”

“It’s fine, Marlena. Winning on the first bet is actually bad luck.”

The younger woman—Marlena—seemed like a total beginner.

She listened to Bonucci’s advice, learning the game as she played.

Her inexperience was obvious.

She blushed shyly when peeking at her cards, glanced at Bonucci for reassurance, and sighed with an adorable pout when she lost four rounds in a row…

If she was Bonucci’s companion, she was likely someone’s mistress.

But she seemed too innocent for that.

Who was she? Mario couldn’t help but be intrigued.

“This casino allows Twin Pair bets? If I bet here, I win no matter who gets the pair, right?”

“No. The odds of neither side getting a pair are higher.”

“Ohh.”

“Marlena, don’t get greedy with side bets. Take it slow, alright?”

“Yes, sis. 50 silver on Banker.”

But one thing was clear—Marlena had money.

Who was this woman, learning to gamble from Bonucci?

Bonucci was known to have connections with the newly titled Baron Hyden… so why bring Marlena here instead of to Hyden Casino?

So many questions.

And the smell of money was strong.

Mario loved money. And this situation was making him anxious with curiosity.

“Mario, sir?”

A familiar, voluptuous presence loomed before him.

Mario looked up. Bonucci stood there.

Had she come for drinks? She could’ve just sent a waitress.

Instead, she smiled softly and made an unusual request.

“Could you have your staff bring us two glasses of honey wine? But for my companion… add a splash of brandy. She may look delicate, but she holds her liquor well. A little extra kick will help her loosen up, don’t you think?”

A special request just for Marlena.

Mixing strong alcohol into a sweet drink like honey wine?

That sounded like an attempt to get her drunk without her realizing it.

Mario had no reason to refuse.

Drunk players made bolder bets.

But something about this felt off.

Why was Bonucci doing this to her own companion?

Was she trying to ruin her? But why?

Mario studied Bonucci with suspicion.

She responded with a subtle, knowing smile.

That smile made something click in Mario’s mind.

Ah. She’s setting her up.

Bonucci was grooming Marlena to be scammed.

Marlena was probably some rich old man’s mistress.

That explained everything.

Why Bonucci had brought her here instead of Hyden Casino.

Why she was getting her hooked on gambling.

She was leading her into a trap, slowly but surely.

She’d get Marlena addicted, then clean her out at the poker table.

If she tried this at Hyden Casino and got caught, she’d lose a hand. So she came here instead.

Mario had no authority to interfere with Bonucci’s scam.

But…

Could I get a piece of this?

Mario was not the kind of man to ignore the scent of money.

Nor did he feel guilty about stealing from another thief.

“Wow! I won!”

“Congrats, Marlena! You’ve got a good feeling for this. Maybe you have a knack for gambling?”

An innocent, wealthy fool.

Too good to pass up.

And if Bonucci herself was setting this up, then it was bound to be profitable.

“Baroness Bonucci. Let’s talk business.”

“Business? I’m just here to have fun with my little sister.”

“Come on, let’s share the wealth. What do you say?”

Happiness grows when shared.

Mario was determined to get a cut of Bonucci’s scam.