Return of the Fallen Vol1 Ch32
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Author: Blue_Rat
ch32
With a game as simple as odd-even, high and low, Kazuki quickly began to rake in the money. Very quickly though a few people became suspicious. A few large men patrolling the gambling den eyed Kazuki and one even stood directly behind him, staring over his shoulder. They knew he wasn’t using magic so he wasn’t cheating that way but the amount of money Kazuki won in the short amount of time he played, well… no one was that lucky.
Kazuki had to change his strategy a few times. He would never allow himself to win more than a few times in a row and when he did, he would never bet a huge amount. When his money began to climb he would bet a large amount of it and purposefully lose to lower the guard of those watching. In this way, his money would fluctuate in volatile ways. What at first had seemed to be cheating now just seemed to be dumb luck. Who could win and lose in such a pitiful way?
Still, after an hour or so, Kazuki had accumulated several hundred gold Zeni and those around whether they be security or just the regular customers in his vicinity all came to notice. Now a few people would follow Kazuki’s bets seeing him on a hot streak. There winning’s, of course, went up as well.
Because of this, the man who shook the dice and was in charge of the table was made to be switched out several times with other dealers. By this time they had gone through 3 or 4 dealers now but Kazuki and those that followed his wager’s only continued to amass wealth.
Kazuki could see he was pushing his luck as every few minutes he could feel magical energy from security weigh down on his shoulders and a few even tried to invade his body with magic to see if there was some trick up his sleeve.
To use your energy to peer inside someone was considered very rude in this world and would only be done by a teacher or a doctor but since it was the security of the gambling den doing it, you could only grit your teeth and bear it. Those were just part of the rules here. In this way they could prevent cheating at nearly every turn but how could they know that Kazuki could use his Ki to flip the dice in any which way he chooses.
After making almost 5000 Zeni Kazuki decided it was time.
(I guess I’ll go on a massive losing streak to try and throw them off and then walk away with my tail between my legs.)
If Kazuki were to lose a little bit of money, the gambling den might not be satisfied and take it up with him if he were to try and leave scot-free but if he were to suffer a huge setback they may just see it as karma or something along those lines. They would see it as him winning some but in the end, they get the biggest slice.
Kazuki placed a large bet but this time instead of interfering with the dealer flipping his switches to change the number on the dice, Kazuki simply let it unfold.
The dealer lifted his cup and was himself surprised to see the outcome.
Everyone as well looked at the numbers on the table and there was a shriek from a few people.
“Lost, I lost, I thought this guy was lucky, what the hell happened?”
Another person almost fainted.
“How can this be?”
Kazuki himself wore a fake shocked expression as he watched nearly 1000 Zeni gold get scraped up by the dealer. The dealer couldn’t help but chuckle under his breath as he said.
“Better luck next time, right?”
A few security guards sighed in relief as they witnessed the huge loss and one even gave the dealer a thumb’s up in approval. After the bets were all paid out or collected the dealer, now in a good mood, shouted.
“Odd-Even, High or Low, place your bets now!”
Kazuki once more put a thousand Zeni down and gulped hard. With a shaky voice, he said.
“This time, this time for sure.”
A few still confident in him copied his bet but this time they placed slightly smaller bets. A few with a keen eye though saw the fear in his eyes and bet with their own will.
Once more the dealer flipped a switch under the table before lifting the cup and revealing…another loss.
As another 1000 Zeni was taken away from Kazuki, Kazuki used his ki to raise the temperature of his body by a few degrees, causing beads of sweat to pour down his face. The onlookers shook there head in disappointment.
(This kid is through.)
People began to walk away in droves but Kazuki kept betting.
Another 1000 Zeni was gone and down the drain, and then another. 700 more gold gone, then 800. Kazuki forced his blood to pool away from his face causing his skin to turn pale white. Finally, when he only had about 700 or so Zeni left, the dealer said, “Place your bets,” but Kazuki stood up and walked away.
Those still around couldn’t blame him. To go on such a hot streak and gain over 5000 Zeni and then go on a massive losing spree and end up with only 700, was that not the worst.
A few of the people still at the table commented.
“At least he’s walking away with something.”
“Hmph, If my wife knew I had won a fortune and then nearly lost it all, she’d have me 6 feet under in a flat minute, I tell ya, and not a second later.”
“Hahaha, you’ve been in here for nearly four days straight, you’re crazy if you still think you’ve got a wife to go back to.”
“What was that? I have a wife back home but you, when was the last time you even got laid?”
An argument ensued as Kazuki left, but he could care less.
Exiting back out into the alley, Kazuki placed his hood back over his head.
(Should I sneak into the crowd like this or…)
As he was pondering on what to do, Kazuki noticed how loud the streets in front of him were.
(It seems rather busy or not.)
The noise on the streets didn’t sound normal to Kazuki. It wasn’t one of hawking wares and pleasantries, instead, it sounded like people were either in a panic or a rush.
(I suppose they still haven’t given up looking for me. Guess it’s time to make myself known.)
Kazuki headed for the street but before he could step out he heard the sound of heavy footsteps rushing up behind him.
*Swoosh*
With a sidestep, a blade aimed at Kazuki’s back was just dodged. Kazuki grabbed the arm that followed and flexed his hips. Even without using his superior strength, he threw the man over his shoulder and flipped him face down on the ground. With the man’s arms still in his grasp, he gave a slight twist, causing the man to let out a howl of pain, making him drop the blade in his hand.
Before the blade landed on the ground below, Kazuki caught it midair and flipped it in his hand and placed it at his assailant’s throat.
Two more men came from behind Kazuki but seeing their friend pinned down they drew their blades and yelled.
“Let him go and hand over your money, or we’ll kill ya.”
Kazuki brows furrowed.
“Are you serious? Why would I let him go after he just attacked me.”
“Shut up! Give us your money now, we saw you walk away with all that gold. You think you can just carry all that Zeni around without someone eyeing it, hehehe. Give it to me now.”
Kazuki was not usually one to show mercy and had not killed the man who attacked him only because he was curious to see who was following him and why, but for them to so easily admit it. Now knowing the situation, what reason was there for Kazuki to allow them to live?
One of the thugs was still saying something but Kazuki was no longer listening. With the knife still against the pinned man’s throat, Kazuki pulled back.
*Shcik*
Kazuki cleanly sliced through the man’s jugular and blood began to gush out like a fountain. The man’s eyes widened in panic as he tried to struggle and grasp his throat with his free hand. The other two thugs as well were left stunned. Kazuki stood up with the now blood-drenched dagger in hand and took a step forward.
One of the thugs panicked and said something almost inaudible. The hilt of his blade glowed with a green light and suddenly his entire sword shot forth aiming for Kazuki’s head.
With Kazuki’s enhanced body from the blood orb as well as continuous ki energy circulating within, his speed, strength, and perception were beyond that of this lowly thug. The blade aimed at his head seemed to be moving slowly in Kazuki’s eyes. With a small tilt of his head, the dagger slipped past his head, missing him completely.
Kazuki smiled fiendishly and threw the dagger he had just used to cut the other’s throat with, directly at the one who had just shot his blade at him. The thug had wanted to dodge just as Kazuki did but the dagger Kazuki threw was more than twice as fast.
*Thunk*
The blade sank into the man’s chest and continued forward until it exploded out his back and flew into a brick wall.
*Thud*
The force of the blade did not leave a small wound. A huge hole had opened up inside the man and tore through anything in its path, bone, muscle fibers, and the heart that had previously been there was now nothing more than meat paste.
The thug looked down at the hole in his chest as though he couldn’t believe it. He fell backward and before his body touched the ground, he was already dead.
The last thug seeing his friends laying in puddles of their own blood was beyond terrified. His blood ran cold and every hair rose on the back of his neck. Looking into the eyes of Kazuki, the only thought that crossed the thug’s mind was.
(Death, instant death.)
The thug turned tail and ran at his fullest speed.
(Must get away, must get far far awa…)
*Crshuk*
The man felt a slight pressure on the back of his neck for no more than a second and then nothing. His vision instantly turned black and his life was no more. Kazuki held the thug by his now broken neck and tossed his limp body to the ground.
(Fools. To want to steal my money is the same as wanting to steal my future and to threaten my life as well, there was no way I would allow any of you to live. Hmph.)
Kazuki grabbed the bodies and stacked them in a pile. Pointing at the bodies, a small blue flame appeared at the tip of Kazuki’s finger. Just before he was about to burn them, the man with a slit throat was painfully gurgling blood trying to beg for mercy. Everything had happened in only a few seconds so the man was still alive. Barely alive but still alive.
Kazuki stared the dying man in the eyes and said nothing. The blue flame floated above Kazuki’s finger for but a moment before it flew onto the pile of bodies and engulfed them all in a bluish flame. A single tear began to fall down the gurgling man’s face before it vaporized into steam in an instant.
Kazuki walked into the streets with his hood off without a care in the world. The deed before him left no feelings of guilt or remorse on his psyche. Instead, a sense of tension and pressure was released from upon his shoulders.
*Haaaa*
A few minutes later a small inconspicuous cloud of smoke rose into the sky. A few concerned citizens found the location of the smoke which led into an alleyway. What they found was just a large pile of ash and as a bit of wind kicked up, the ash drifted away with the wind.
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