Chapter 44

Chapter 44

In the depths of a marginalized zone, where the government had no jurisdiction, at the intersection between Altair and two neighboring star systems.

There stood a resplendent edifice, drawing countless hovering vehicles like moths to a flame.

"Are you really prepared for this?" Elaine asked anxiously, his nerves on edge. He knew he was overly tense, but he couldn't seem to calm down.

Despite having begged and pleaded, even leveraging connections through his maternal father, to secure this invitation, he still wished that the male drone wouldn't risk himself unnecessarily.

Squeak—

The hovercar arrived precisely at its destination, smoothly parking in a secluded corner of the underground garage. Dazzling lights pierced the dim interior, outlining the serene silhouette in the backseat.

"Yes," Yale replied, silently opening his eyes, a faint smile playing on his lips at Elaine's words.

Extreme light and shadows fragmented across his eyes, like a frozen black-and-white masterpiece, where every stroke conveyed a heart-stopping intensity.

"After all, there's no other choice, is there?"

He cleared his throat, though he was the one who should have been most apprehensive, yet he was the one reassuring Elaine, "I have some confidence. You don't need to be too nervous."

Before Elaine could pose her question again, a waiting attendant promptly approached and opened the car door, politely inviting them to alight.

Well, since he's already here, there's no point in chickening out now. Elaine took a deep breath and steeled himself before stepping out of the vehicle as well.

The underground parking lot was directly connected to a private passage. The attendant led them through several turns before guiding them down a long corridor lined with plush red carpet, eventually arriving at a designated lounge.

"Please follow this way... S101, this is your chamber."

The attendant bowed slightly, "The evening gala will commence precisely at eleven o'clock. Kindly be punctual for the event."

Yale, who had been silent throughout the journey, nodded in response and reached out to push open the opulent and sturdy door of the lounge.

"I understand. You may leave now."

The lounge was almost on par with a presidential suite, exuding grandeur and opulence within its spacious confines.

The room was bathed in a hazy, intoxicating glow, akin to a sliver of the glitzy, hedonistic world of fame and fortune spilling into this space, almost bewitching any who entered.

"Alright, the first step has been accomplished smoothly," Elaine said, now much calmer. "Let me repeat the auction rules just in case you forget."

"This auction differs from the conventional model. It doesn't rely on bidding wars but operates through gambling instead."

"Participants convert their funds into chips. According to the auction house's rule, your capital doubles after a win compared to your initial capital. The higher this ratio, the higher your priority in selecting the items up for auction."

"This is only the second time such an auction format is being held. In the first one, the winner managed to multiply their capital by five hundred times to secure the highlight item. Many others, however, lost everything they had."

Elaine handed Yale a prepared nanocomputer.

"We've previously agreed to set our initial capital at two million star coins, which should be quite low compared to other bidders."

"If it's not enough, just call me. But we've allocated only ten million star coins for contingencies. If things don't go well, please... remember to cut your losses promptly."

Though he said that, he was still uncertain. Casinos were like bottomless pits; once one entered, it was hard to escape until they had wagered everything and crashed in ruins.

"Alright, I understand."

Yale took the optical brain and replied briefly. Elaine had repeated these words to him countless times, and he could practically recite them by heart now.

Scanning the room, he finally opened the wardrobe standing by the side.

Inside, there were several exquisite evening gowns of great value. Elaine glanced at them and estimated that even a single tie would cost over a million star coins.

They had brought only a miserable sum of over ten million star coins, which was all they could scrape together... Elaine sighed with a bitter heart.

Was this how the Sky Dragon Worm played its game? They, as working worms, truly couldn't comprehend it.

Yale flipped through the dresses but eventually picked only a white fox mask hanging on a hook. He checked for any punctures before placing the mask on the coffee table.

Sinking into the extremely soft sofa, he suddenly remembered something and took out his optical brain to open a food delivery app.

It was an unfamiliar concept in the worm clan. He spent some effort communicating with the vendor before quickly placing an order. After closing the optical brain, he closed his eyes to rest.

Time trickled away, grain by grain.

10:37... 10:45... 10:59...

Click. It was precisely 11:00.

Yale's eyelashes fluttered slightly as he opened his eyes soundlessly.

At the same time, there came a knock on the door.

"Sir, the hour has come. Are you prepared?"

Yale's fingertips brushed against the exquisite white fox mask, lifting it gently to cover his face.

The intricate clasps clicked into place automatically, fitting snugly against the contours of his face.

The golden threads on the mask shimmered brilliantly, with intricate patterns sprawling wildly, almost like a vast, blazing sunset, exuding a breathtaking beauty that left one breathless.

However, the carefully crafted beauty of the mask seemed to pale in comparison to the small patch of creamy skin visible beneath it. In the dim light, it could instantly captivate all gazes.

"Let's go."

*

They proceeded down a long, narrow corridor until they reached an extravagantly grand door.

A grotesque beast's head grinned with a bloody smirk, its two dark, empty eyes seemingly shimmering with a faint glow.

Yale lifted his head slightly, gazing at the door before him, his expression concealed beneath the mask indiscernible.

"Should he truly acquire it, he will regain his freedom and no longer belong to you," Elaine suddenly spoke up.

"Is it truly worth it?"

"Certainly, I...,"

Yale chuckled softly, but his words were drowned out by the muffled sound of the door swinging open.

In the haste, Elaine could only catch a glimpse of the pale, thin lips beneath the mask, curving into a gentle smile.

The door swung open.

Sparkling crystal chandeliers hung high above the towering hall, casting shimmering light that illuminated every corner, leaving almost no space for shadows to hide.

Yale narrowed his eyes slightly, stepping into the serene yet bustling scene first.

This was indeed a place where fortunes were squandered, a seesaw of fame and fortune.

Elaine had accompanied his alpha father to a few noble balls before, so he wasn't entirely out of place due to nervousness or awkwardness.

What surprised him the most, however, was Yale. Despite wearing an unremarkable black wool coat with no signs of status or upscale accessories, he seemed to blend seamlessly into this environment.

Tall and slender, his figure was accentuated by the thin coat, as he made a beeline for the fiery gambling den.

Well, not quite.

Elaine had already heard more than a few insults about "some country bumpkin."

This was the lower tier of the auction house, a motley mix of characters that reeked of disorder. Bullying and exclusion occurred naturally within this chaotic atmosphere.

"Sir... Wait for me!"

Two million credits could only buy a paltry handful of chips. The dealer, an insectoid worker, tsked as it poured them out, likely unused to such a frugal gambler.

"Well, no need for a chip tray here," Yale chuckled, picking one up to examine before gesturing for Elaine to hold onto the chips securely.

"Hurry and let's begin."

Suddenly, he released his grip, allowing the chip to fall into Elaine's pocket with a crisp clink against the others.

...

Yale started small, playing at the least significant tables. He remained silent and composed, even his card handling appearing awkward, thus drawing little attention.

But as game after game unfolded, his actions became smoother, from clumsiness to expertise, from losses to wins. It all seemed to happen in the blink of an eye.

Despite not appearing extraordinary, nor relying on sheer luck or dramatic comebacks, he consistently won at a steady pace, gradually accumulating more chips.

Before the other insects could react, the chips before him were silently whisked away, landing in a hand as clean as alabaster.

Two million.

In the blink of an eye, it doubled to eight million, ten million, forty million... Or in just one round, he could be left with only half a million, or even reduced to a single chip.

But when he rose again, all his losses were recouped, gradually increasing along the initial trajectory. From a small fish, he transformed into a shark that devoured all the chips in the pot.

Then, he moved on to the next table, reliving the heart-pounding advanced game.

Elaine followed behind him, her expression transitioning from immense tension to astonishment, and finally, numbness. She even managed to feign composure when other insects approached to probe her, deceiving them with ease.

"Sir... Have you... Have you played this before?"

During another transition between tables, Elaine hastened her steps to catch up with Yale and asked, barely containing her excitement.

"Not really."

Unpleasant images flashed before his eyes, causing Yale's brows to furrow slightly, though it was concealed by his mask. He merely said nonchalantly, "I despise gambling."

These two words had haunted his childhood, symbolizing an alcoholic gambler with reddened eyes, endless hunger and pain, bringing countless sufferings and even despair.

Yet, despite that, he had memorized those despised gambling rules and even used them to his advantage... How ironic the world could be.

Elaine was taken aback, somewhat at a loss, "Uh? So... Do we continue?"

"Of course, we haven't gotten that item yet."

Yale scanned the area for their next game, "Dislike it as I might, I'll just have to endure it temporarily."

Suddenly, he recalled the takeout he had ordered earlier. He wondered how the food was coming along, if it had been delivered, and if Xi Ze had already tasted it.

There was no time to check the surveillance tonight; he hoped the female insect hadn't stayed up late...

However, before his thoughts could wander too far, he was drawn into the next round of betting, leaving no leisure for further musings.

"Let's proceed. Hopefully, we can finish without having to pull an all-nighter."

...

Yale placed his hands gently interlocked on the gambling table, his spine straight yet exuding an air of nonchalance.

Beneath the sleeve of that black overcoat, a slender and fair wrist was revealed, exceptionally clean and handsome.

Amidst the throng of gamblers with reddened eyes from losses, patrons pretentiously strategizing against each other, and dealers with shrewd, narrowed fox-like eyes after gaining profits, there was someone who effortlessly captured the attention of both overt and covert gazes.

He casually swept his gaze over the cards in front of him, not bothering to open them.

This was already their fifth consecutive loss. If they lost again, they would lose the majority of the winnings they had just acquired. Even Elaine, who was almost desensitized to the situation, couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat.

"How does it fare, milord?"

A graceful gambler nearby, with an alluring figure, propped his chin in his hand, his gaze wandering over the scarce exposed skin with barely concealed lustful longing.

He clearly understood that Yale was currently in a difficult situation, but not yet at the point of no return.

Thus, there's no need to rush in and compete where the fray is thickest; the one who laughs last is often the one who remains the calmest amidst the chaos.

"It should be quite decent, I suppose."

Yale, however, curved his lips. Without even glancing at the cards, he flipped them over and casually flicked them away.

The air on the gambling table froze for an instant, followed by a cascade of clinking sounds. The colorful chips poured down like a stream, piling into a small mountain of wealth before him.

The allure of instant riches heated countless insect-like eyes, but he still didn't spare them a second look.

It wasn't an act of composure or disdain, nor was there even a hint of smugness. His jet-black eyes didn't hold any regard for victory or defeat, not even for the diverse gamblers before him.

In this very scene of intoxicating fame and wealth, a mismatched, innocent white flower had somehow squeezed its way in.

Yet, he wasn't an actual innocent lamb; rather, he was a carnivorous flower that wouldn't bat an eye while devouring insects.

The gambler who had been bitten fiercely was almost dumbfounded, yet surprisingly, he didn't feel any anger. After exchanging glances, they could even sense their emotions lifting from the quagmire.

"How peculiar..."

After that, Yale spent another two hours circulating among the middle-class gamblers.

Round after round of winnings eventually caught the attention of some lofty gazes.

"Milord."

A servant parted the throng of onlookers, approaching Yale with great respect, and bowed to convey the message from the upper echelons.

"Moments ago, you have earned the privilege to ascend. Would you like to proceed immediately?"

By now, his fortune had swollen to a staggering two billion.

Yale exchanged a furtive glance with Elaine across the swarm, both detecting a spark of understanding in each other's eyes.

"Let's go."

He curved his lips, casually tossing the weight he had been toying with onto the table, then stood up.

*

It was eerily quiet.

This was Yale's first impression as he stepped in. Rather than a casino, it felt more like an elegant and lavish ballroom.

The creatures inside either whispered to their companions or quietly leaned against the gambling tables, watching countless weights shift back and forth with wins and losses, occasionally revealing enigmatic smiles.

It was as if he was deliberately competing, trying to appear more like an authentic noble, rather than one of those uncouth upstarts from the lower and middle classes...

A tedious scene that could be seen through at a glance.

Yale glanced over it disinterestedly before lowering his gaze and flipping through the catalog presented by the attendant.

The beginning showcased rare jewels, followed by scarce resources that seldom circulated in the market, and were often priceless if they did. Among them was even a vial of high-concentration pheromones from an aristocratic male insectoid.

He flipped through each page at a steady pace until he finally found what he was looking for in the section labeled 'Unusual Functions.'

The item in the picture resembled a small chip, with its purpose described below.

Yale swiftly scanned it without revealing any emotion, confirming that he had identified it correctly before turning the page.

It wasn't until he reached the climax of the auction that his gaze sharpened slightly—

"The Laimir War, the Heart of the Mech found on the battlefield after General Monte's sacrifice."

In the center of the black sponge in the picture hung a rusty necklace.

The toughest chains had been shattered into pieces, a testament to the brutality of that war.

At the center lay a structure resembling an ice crystal, shimmering with a profound blue luster under the lights, as if it were a fragment of a fallen meteorite, through which one could almost glimpse the entire universe.

Yale found himself momentarily entranced.

Glancing at the footnote below, he finally understood why this object was up for auction in a remote galaxy rather than displayed in a museum on the home planet.

"The authentication center has been unable to verify its authenticity. All attempts to activate it have failed, leaving both its identity and value uncertain."

It was still a gamble.

A wager that this was indeed a relic of General Monte, or... just a more visually appealing piece of scrap metal.

After a moment's contemplation, he closed the catalog and passed it to Elaine, who stood by his side.

"Let's go."

His objective on this trip wasn't the highlight item; there was no need to get entangled in the overt and covert struggles that would only make his exit more difficult.

Ding-ding.

A delicate yet crisp bell rang out, seemingly imbued with a trace of mental energy that instantly captured everyone's attention in the room.

Yale glanced at Elaine and received a subtle nod in return.

Confirming his assumption, the gaze behind his mask grew more solemn.

The biggest gamble had just begun.

Tap, tap, tap.

The distinct sound of boots hitting the cold floor echoed slowly and deliberately as they drew closer.

The previously bustling hall gradually fell silent, all eyes instinctively focusing on the central spiral staircase.

A pale, slender hand rested on the bannister, followed by intricately designed cuffs.

Gleaming golden tresses were clasped by an ivory ring, cascading down the back and swaying gently with each step taken.

"Good heavens!"

"What brings Viscount Enix here? This is merely one of his unremarkable properties, after all..."

After a moment of profound silence, a more fervent whispering broke out among the attendees.

All the families with some reputation were eagerly calculating their chances to make an impression before this first-rate noble.

Yale followed the crowd's gaze for a moment but quickly redirected his attention to the enormous gambling table rising in the center of the hall.

"Let's begin," the viscount said tersely, seated at the head of the table, and didn't add another word.

"The rules for the final auction gambling round will be a round-robin battle. Any bettor with sufficient capital can step up for a free-for-all match."

"No substitutions are allowed mid-round, and no fighting for positions. You can only replace a player once they've been eliminated and an empty spot is available."

"You may leave the game either when you've lost all your capital or voluntarily choose to cut your losses. Once you step down, you won't have another chance to re-enter. Rankings will be determined by the ratio of your final capital to your initial capital."

"There's only one game and one pool, and that's the one in the center of the hall. Make sure you don't wander off course."

The insect hosting the auction cracked a joke, eliciting a chorus of laughter from the crowd.

"Cheating at the gambling tables is strictly prohibited, a rule we've emphasized repeatedly, but let me reiterate it once more."

"Should anyone be caught, not only will you be blacklisted for life, but so will your entire family."

After reciting the new rules and standard prohibitions, the auctioneer made no further delay and signaled the guards nearby to open the pool.

Amidst the flowing insect throng, Yale suddenly lifted his head, casting a glance at the Viscount seated above the pool. He swiftly averted his gaze before being noticed.

...

High above the gambling floor, there was a luxurious box offering an impeccable view of the scene below.

Aniks gazed boredom, suddenly turning his head to signal the shadow beside him. "Has there been any news from the royal family?"

"Not yet, sir."

"What about my alpha parent?"

"They want you to stay here for a while longer, to avoid any trouble."

"..."

Innix took a deep breath, barely maintaining his noble composure. He refrained from making any scandalous remarks about the foolish and troublemaking drones who were as dense as pigs.

He had initially intended to pass the time at the auction, since there were no skilled gamblers on the Edge Star; only transparent schemes and stupidity.

After casually exposing and expelling a few cheaters in front of everyone, the gambling scene became even more tedious and uninteresting.

However, as he watched, Innix's gaze gradually sharpened. He lowered his hand from his chin and leaned forward slightly, engrossed.

"—Who is that?"

Following his mutter and gaze, a hidden bodyguard glimpsed into the casino and noticed an extremely low-profile figure in dark colors.

...

Each round of the game proceeded swiftly, with seats vacating almost every few minutes only to be swiftly filled by new gamblers, and the cycle repeated.

Yale didn't occupy one of those seats initially, nor did he entertain any thoughts of opportunistic luck.

After observing nearly five rounds, he chose an empty seat to join in.

The algorithm was somewhat intricate but not entirely inscrutable. Yale fell silent, his fingertip unconsciously rubbing against the smooth surface of the card.

When Elaine had introduced the background of the auction earlier, she mentioned that it belonged to a noble on the main planet. Given the situation, it seemed likely to be connected to the viscount who had just appeared.

Moreover, due to this noble's extraordinary obsession with rules, the casino that emerged from the auction was surprisingly fair. The parameters of the machines and numbers hadn't been tampered with, which would have made calculations more complicated.

At first, Yale's presence didn't attract much attention.

The dynamics of the game were unpredictable and rapid; a single misstep could lead to disastrous defeat, even total collapse with all investments lost.

Gamblers changed almost every minute.

After eliminating the least notable players, it was time for the somewhat famous noble offspring to take their turns. They had prepared for this auction for a long time and believed themselves to possess some luck.

Yet after an hour, this batch also largely fell by the wayside, reluctantly retreating behind the cordon with disbelief as they reviewed the reasons for their failure.

The third batch consisted of seasoned gamblers who were well-versed in the casino's rules and had spent many years in such establishments. At this point, the rate of elimination had slowed down significantly.

Only about two dozen gamblers remained in the pool, mostly familiar faces, some even with connections to each other. They coordinated their moves, attempting to eliminate the other insects.

"Step back!"

The guards extended the cordon, pushing back the eager gamblers trying to sneak through the crowd, clearing a vast open space in the process.

It was then that the unfamiliar white fox mask finally came under the scrutiny of countless eyes.

Author's Note:

Time to start showing off (??)

As for why Yeye knows these rules, his high intelligence plays a role, and additional explanations will be provided later on.