Sunflower's mouth hung open in shock, her face filled with disbelief.
She turned to look at Kazuki, her wide eyes brimming with doubt.
"This opportunity… just happened to land on the captain?"
"This is way too much of a coincidence!"
"200 times the payout…"
"This guy bet eight thousand ryos…"
"That means… with the principal, he's walking away with 1,608,000 ryos!"
A collective gasp spread across the gambling table. All eyes locked onto Kazuki.
Among them, several gazes carried a different intent—malice, greed. It was clear some of them were already scheming.
"Ahem."
The dice master cleared his throat, still wearing a polite smile as he addressed the crowd.
"Ladies and gentlemen, our casino isn't like the others. I suggest you all stay focused on your own business."
Yet, despite his smile, a slight twitch betrayed his unease.
Then—
With a grin more forced than cheerful, the casino staff handed over a hefty stack of banknotes to Kazuki.
"You two have enough funds to move up to the second floor."
"The environment there is much more refined, and… well, you won't have to worry about anyone eyeing your winnings."
"The service is top-notch, of course… but the minimum bet starts at 10,000 ryos. Consider it carefully."
Kazuki nodded.
"Take us up."
"Understood. Please wait a moment."
Upon hearing Kazuki's decision, the dice master didn't waste any time. He abandoned the gaming table and quickly called for someone to escort them upstairs.
Once the coast was relatively clear, Sunflower leaned in close, whispering,
"Captain… This casino acts like it protects its high-rollers, but it doesn't seem like a shady operation."
"Could it be that Land of Hot Water isn't involved after all?"
Kazuki's expression remained unreadable.
"You're thinking… the real problem might be the tavern owner we got our intel from?"
"It's possible."
Kazuki replied evenly.
"But don't let appearances fool you. This casino isn't as clean as they want us to believe. If Qinghe Island is in league with anyone, this place is a strong contender."
Sunflower's brow furrowed.
"Huh? You mean this casino—"
"Shh. Not here."
Kazuki silenced her with a look as a new staff member arrived.
"These two are heading to the second floor?"
"Yes."
"This way, please."
Kazuki nodded and followed the attendant upstairs with Sunflower.
The moment they stepped onto the second floor—
A wave of opulence washed over them.
The golden hues weren't just on the gaming tables but woven into the very décor. Unlike the rowdy, smoke-filled first floor, the air here carried a subtle, elegant fragrance. The atmosphere was refined, calculated—designed to put high-stakes gamblers at ease.
"Welcome to our VIP floor."
A tall, alluring female attendant greeted them with a practiced smile, her demeanor full of warmth.
"Feel free to choose any table that suits your interest. If you require more funds, we offer loans in exchange for valuables."
"Of course, if you have… other needs, you may also come to me."
Her gaze lingered on Kazuki, filled with suggestion.
"We're good."
Kazuki dismissed her without hesitation and walked past, Sunflower following at his side.
A casino… dice…
People don't run casinos to give money away—they run them to make money.
No gambling house in the world operates with clean hands.
The dice and cups? Specially crafted.
The dealer? Trained to control the roll with precision.
And Kazuki…
He knew all too well how these tricks worked.
Years spent forging weapons had made him an expert in mechanics, design, and subtle craftsmanship.
If they thought they could fool him with rigged dice…
They were in for a surprise.
Although Kazuki was only twelve years old…
The things created by Kazuki were anything but ordinary!
Lightweight shoes… Grass Short Sword… Japanese-style round knife… and even Hyōrinmaru!
These weren't just any tools—they were high-level creations, masterpieces in their own right.
Special dice? Compared to these technological marvels, they were nothing.
Kazuki, having crafted countless ingenious tools, was akin to a master mathematician. For someone like him, manipulating the outcome of dice rolls was as simple as answering "what's 1 plus 1?"—a trivial exercise.
With a few rounds of observation at the gaming tables, Kazuki quickly grasped the structure of the dice cup.
His knowledge of forging was so advanced that he understood the dice cup's mechanics even better than the craftsman who had originally made it!
So,
Kazuki's perfect roll of 666 leopard points was no stroke of luck!
"Let's go. Let's find another gaming table and take a look first."
He wasn't sure if the dice cups on the second floor were the same as those on the first. Before making a move, Kazuki intended to analyze their structure.
"Hey, that person…"
While searching for a table, Kazuki noticed someone.
A woman with blonde hair tied into twin ponytails… and an unmistakable presence.
"Ah, she's…!"
Sunflower, a member of Konoha's Anbu, recognized the woman instantly and couldn't help but exclaim.
Kazuki quickly pulled on her sleeve, signaling her to stay quiet and not act rashly.
"Let's head to that table."
…
"Damn it, I lost again!"
"Shizune, bring more money! I refuse to believe my luck won't turn around!"
The voice of the blonde woman, filled with frustration, rang out as she turned to her black-haired, black-clad companion.
That woman was none other than—
Tsunade-hime!
"L-Lady Tsunade… we're out of money… you've already lost everything…"
"What?"
Tsunade looked shocked.
"No money? That's it?!"
After a brief pause, she reached into her clothes and pulled out a ring adorned with a massive emerald, handing it to Shizune.
"Go pawn this at the counter!"
Shizune's face paled.
"No way, Lady Tsunade!"
"That's the emerald ring passed down to you by Lady Mito!"
"You can't! Absolutely not!"
Seeing Shizune's adamant refusal, Tsunade clicked her tongue in annoyance, stashed the ring away, and rummaged through her belongings again—this time pulling out a bracelet.
"Fine. Pawn this instead."
Shizune's reaction was even more dramatic.
"Lady Tsunade, what are you thinking?!"
"This is even worse!"
"That bracelet was given to you by the Second Hokage himself before he passed away! It's a treasure of the Senju Clan!"
Kazuki, who had just reached the gambling table and overheard the exchange, was utterly speechless.
Tsunade-hime…
Konoha's princess…
And yet, here she was, willing to pawn off priceless heirlooms of immense significance to Konoha…
Truly, she lived up to her reputation as the Legendary Sucker!
"That one's off-limits, and that one's off-limits."
"They're just some old relics those geezers handed down. It's not that deep. You're being such a pain, Shizune!"
"But… but Lady Tsunade…"
"Forget it!" Tsunade suddenly stood up, waving her hand dismissively.
"I'm done! I'm not playing anymore! This place is rigged! I'm never coming back here again!"
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