In the central region of the continent of Eulubia, within the borders of the Saheltah Federation, inside a gambling den in a small town...
"Seven points. All in."
The moment those words dropped, the previously quiet casino erupted like a bomb going off.
"I'm all in too!"
"Don't push me, let me in! I'm going all in as well!"
While the gamblers around him flushed with excitement, Link remained calm, eyes focused on the dice cup in front of him.
For everyone else, this was a game of probability. But to him, the outcome had already been decided.
The dealer, a woman with delicate features, held the dice cup tightly. Though the cup was light, it now felt like it weighed a thousand pounds. She couldn't lift it.
Chips stacked higher and higher on the spot labeled "Seven," forming a small mountain.
The dealer knew her career was over.
No, perhaps it was worse than that. After all, this casino was run by the local mafia. With losses this massive, her life might not be spared...
That thought made her glare at Link, eyes turning bloodshot. She couldn't understand. Why was this happening?
This handsome young man had already won eight consecutive rounds, and not by guessing high or low, he'd guessed the exact number each time.
She couldn't even begin to calculate the odds. All she knew was that with her skills, she couldn't tell if Link was cheating.
But Link didn't care. He let the dealer delay as long as she liked.
Someone else, however, had run out of patience.
"What are you doing? Hurry up and open it! I'm waiting to cash in!"
As the dealer kept stalling, angry shouts rang out. Gamblers started cursing, pressuring her to reveal the result.
Several had already rolled up their sleeves, looking ready to use force.
That was when a voice came from the back of the crowd.
"Casino's closed for the day. Show them out."
Everyone turned to see a pot-bellied middle-aged man standing at the center, flanked by several burly men in black suits.
The man, with a stubbled face and a cigar in his mouth, looked like Capone Bege from One Piece.
This was Piers, the notorious mafia boss who ran the town.
Seeing the boss emerge, some gamblers decided to cut their losses and leave. But many were too blinded by greed to walk away.
To them, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. They refused to give up until they saw the bodyguards draw their pistols.
The fierce gamblers turned into meek sheep in seconds, slinking away without even a word.
Soon, only the dealer and Link remained in the now-silent casino.
With the boss present, the dealer finally let out a breath of relief. Her expression still uneasy, she swallowed hard and slowly lifted the dice cup.
One, three, three. Seven points.
At that moment, Piers walked over with his men. Cracking his knuckles, he grinned maliciously and said,
"You've got guts, kid. Causing trouble in my casino?"
As he spoke, he motioned for the dealer on the other side of the table to back off.
"So, you're saying you're not giving me the payout?" Link raised an eyebrow and pointed at the mountain of chips on the table.
"Hahaha, you still want your winnings? Not only are you leaving the money, you're leaving your head behind too!"
With that, the bodyguards raised their guns and surrounded Link.
Black muzzles pointed his way, but Piers didn't see the fear he was expecting on Link's face.
"You little punk, what are you smiling at?"
Link looked at Piers, his sharp features relaxed into a mocking smile.
"Me? I'm laughing at how small your vision is. It's just a measly million Jennies, and you're already losing it?"
"If you're not going to follow the rules, then I won't hold back either. Right, Gardevoir?"
Gardevoir?
Piers blinked in confusion, his beady eyes barely visible beneath layers of fat.
In the next instant, waves of pink psychic energy burst out from Link, undetectable to the average eye, slamming into the bodyguards around him.
One moment they were standing tall, the next they collapsed to the ground.
Not a single breath left in them. Blood trickled from their eyes, ears, mouth, and nose. Their jaws hung open, pupils rolled back.
The heavy thuds of their bodies hitting the floor shook the ground and stirred a cloud of dust.
"A-a monster!"
Piers stumbled backward in terror, mumbling incoherently.
But his weight threw him off balance, and he fell hard. His layered fat rippled with the impact.
That fall knocked some sense into him.
He was a man of the underworld. He'd heard rumors, and now he knew he'd messed with someone he should never have crossed.
"Now then... am I allowed to take my winnings?" Link's playful tone sounded like a devil's whisper in Piers's ears.
"Yes, yes of course...!"
"Take however much you want, just please, spare me!" Piers dropped to his knees, tears and snot streaming down his face as he begged.
He didn't want to die. Not yet. He hadn't enjoyed enough of life.
The richer a man is, the more afraid he is of death.
"Oh? As much as I want? Then give me everything you've got in this place."
At that, Piers's face froze. Internally, he began calculating.
"By the way, if I find even one Jenny missing, don't expect to survive. And don't even think about questioning my ability to tell."
Link gave him a sly look, watching as terror overtook the mafia boss's face.
This kind of role reversal, predator becoming prey, was incredibly satisfying. No wonder people loved playing the part of the underdog who turns the tables.
A few minutes later, Piers returned with two large cases full of cash, his face utterly lifeless, like a man who had lost everything.
"One more thing. Get me a personal ID card. How fast can you get it done?"
In the world of Hunter x Hunter, identification documents were important. You needed one to board airships or register for the Hunter Exam.
This was the perfect time to make use of Piers as a tool.
"A-a week. About a week."
Link stared at the trembling, sweat-drenched Piers for a while, then finally gave a slight smile.
"All right. You've got one week. I'll be staying at the hotel next door. Let me know when it's done."
*********
Hey everyone! I'll be dropping an extra 1 chapter once we hit 200, 400 power stones! If you're enjoying the story, don't forget to spend some power stones. I'd really appreciate the support. Thanks a bunch!