Casino Wizard

The casino is a temple, and I am its first servant.

The Marquess of Tripholia, who had been engrossed in a game of baccarat, muttered as if in a trance.

He was the leading contributor to the establishment of a permanent VIP room.

One might scoff, asking what’s the big deal about a gambling venue, but among the nobility of the Kingdom of Albina, it was a tremendous accomplishment.

After all, it was a space where people of equal standing could socialize and indulge.

While it might not be something to boast about for generations, it would certainly serve as a topic of pride in social circles for years.

Even now, those around him were showering the Marquess with praise.

“Your Excellency! If it weren’t for you, Mr. Hyden would never have yielded.”

“Haha, yielded? That’s hardly the case.”

“Hyden must have realized that refusing Your Excellency’s request would lead to no good. Think about it—how much leeway did you grant him back when he was struggling at Pierrot’s party? He was barely acknowledged in the capital then!”

“Let’s not exaggerate too much.”

The Marquess didn’t mind the hero’s treatment.

It wasn’t just compliments he was receiving today.

His luck at the tables was phenomenal—almost to the point of euphoria.

“Of course, my tactics played a role as well.”

The Marquess had his unique strategy, a technique he called the “Reverse One-Line Betting.”

It involved betting the opposite of the results displayed on the board, a method he devised under the belief that two consecutive identical outcomes were rare.

But tonight, it worked so uncannily well that it was hard to believe.

Even his scores landed beautifully.

A Player 9 over a Banker 8 for a win.

A Player 1 against a Banker 0 for another win.

With his heart pounding, the Marquess continued betting.

A game shared only among those whose status and wealth matched his own. And he was winning. To say he felt like he was walking on air would be no exaggeration.

“This is life!”

As the Marquess reveled in the pure joy of the moment, a fellow noble—a Court Baron—who had been losing miserably, approached him with a sheepish expression.

“Um, Your Excellency?”

“Hmm?”

“Haha… The truth is, I didn’t bring much cash with me today. I had no idea the VIP room would open so suddenly. But then Your Excellency stepped in so gallantly… Wow. Anyway, I’m running short on funds. Could you lend me 30 gold coins?”

“Ah, 30 gold?”

That much was no problem. The Marquess reached for his pouch without hesitation.

A luxurious leather pouch embossed with the family crest.

He had brought plenty of coins to enjoy himself lavishly, so lending 30 gold was nothing.

Besides, the borrower wasn’t some petty freeloader but a Court Baron. There was little risk of betrayal.

But just before opening the pouch, the Marquess hesitated, feeling a tinge of unease.

“Wait… Is it okay to lend?”

The thought of Hyden’s warning crossed his mind.

Hyden had clearly stated that financial transactions within the casino would result in a maximum one-month ban.

“Hmm. This is tricky.”

“What do you mean?”

“Hyden explicitly warned us not to engage in money transactions inside the casino. If we’re caught, there could be consequences for both of us.”

“But… it’s just between you and me. What’s the harm in bending the rule a little?”

That… was true.

The Marquess wavered, finding it hard to reject the request of a trusted acquaintance.

Helping and earning goodwill from his peers had always been a hobby of his.

Should he lend the money?

While he fondled the pouch and agonized over the decision, he ultimately chose restraint and shook his head.

“Sorry, but I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“Rules exist to be followed.”

There was no way he’d risk a ban. It would mean spending time at home with his wife.

The Court Baron, flustered and hesitant, finally muttered, “Alright…” and awkwardly stepped away.

The Marquess felt a twinge of guilt.

But ultimately, it was the wise decision.

“Well done, Your Excellency.”

A short while later, Hyden himself approached him.

“Mr. Hyden?”

“I’ve issued a week-long ban to Baron Budich as a warning.”

“Oh. I see.”

“A server reported the matter. Please don’t take offense. On the contrary, I’m here to thank you for adhering to the rules.”

The Marquess nodded, his face mixed with relief and discomfort.

“They were watching all along.”

It made sense.

The dealers running the games, the servers carrying complimentary drinks, the silent security staff—all worked under Hyden.

Naturally, Hyden had real-time awareness of everything happening in the casino.

If the Marquess had lent the money thoughtlessly, he’d likely have faced the same ban. The mere thought was horrifying.

“Thank you for respecting the rules, Your Excellency. Please continue to enjoy yourself.”

“Thank you.”

The Marquess returned to the baccarat table.

His earlier streak of luck seemed to have waned slightly.

Win-lose-win-lose—a break-even game.

His signature Reverse One-Line Betting wasn’t as effective anymore.

Still, what dominated his thoughts was not disappointment but relief. He could recover his streak later; a ban, however, was irreversible.

Resolved to play calmly, he resumed his bets.

And soon, his luck returned.

Once again, he was elated.

***

The VIP room, introduced thanks to Miriam, was here to stay. If it was to succeed, differentiation was key.

Simply allowing high-stakes betting wasn’t enough.

Hyden issued various instructions to the reception manager, a female archer.

“Have the dealers in the VIP room wear red vests.”

“Why red?”

“Don’t fixate on the color. The point is to distinguish it from the general floor. Even a small change like this can create the impression that VIP guests are receiving exclusive service. Oh, and you’ll personally handle any VIP complaints.”

“Understood, oppa.”

Additionally, I planned to refine the criteria for entry.

Nobles whose names appeared in the nobility directory, high-ranking officials with decision-making power in artisan or merchant guilds, gold badge holders and above in the adventurer’s guild, and second-tier magicians or higher from the magic tower would qualify.

And for those without such titles, holding at least 500 gold in cash would suffice.

The female archer frowned at the thought.

“oppa, you’re not seriously going to demand proof from VIPs, are you?”

“Of course not.”

“Then why set these standards?”

“My job is to set the guidelines, that’s all.”

My plan was as simple as posting an announcement at the entrance of the VIP room.

Checking IDs at the door? That would not only be rude to customers but also technically impossible in this world—there were no national ID cards or instant account verification systems.

The real gatekeeping would be done by the customers themselves.

“I’ll make entry into the VIP room a privilege in itself.”

“Like a social club, you mean? …Kind of like how we used to get invited to noble banquets during our adventures, only to feel out of place in a corner while they looked down on you as a hero.”

“Exactly. People naturally feel discomfort when someone who doesn’t belong intrudes into their world. They’ll try to exclude them by any means necessary.”

“I think I’m starting to get it.”

Subtle differentiation in service and an entry threshold labeled as qualifications—these measures were designed to elevate the satisfaction of VIP customers.

Even this alone would make the big spenders feel a sense of superiority.

Unlike the bustling crowd downstairs, they could indulge in a more refined setting. They might lose some money, but they’d gain invaluable connections with influential figures from the capital.

That satisfaction would likely translate into higher spending.

Upon hearing my plan, the female archer gave me a somewhat exasperated look.

“oppa, sometimes I wonder…”

“I know what you’re thinking. But think about it—if I’m going to open a VIP room and spend 50 gold just to accommodate Miriam, I have to get something out of it too.”

“You’re not getting just ‘something’—this VIP room is already a huge deal.”

“It’s not that much.”

For us, it was merely a modest commission.

But she wasn’t wrong. Unlike customers, who might sometimes win but often lose more, the casino always made a profit.

And fortunately, I owned that casino.

“Anyway, you did well this time. I’ll make sure to reward you later.”

I intended to compensate my teammates for their contributions. A nice bonus for the female archer, more bribes for the shieldbearer, and some pocket money for the hero—even though he hadn’t done much.

It wasn’t a waste. After all, the VIP customers were already driving up revenue.

…

Later that night, as the clock struck midnight, I left the casino feeling refreshed after closing.

I lived nearby, though I didn’t spend much time at home given my status as a “fixture” at the casino.

On my way back, I encountered a woman blocking my path—Miriam, who had fallen to the status of a debtor.

She seemed calmer, as if she had come to terms with her situation. Her attire was plain and modest.

The reason she had waited for me was commendable.

“I’ll repay you.”

“How?”

“I’ve gotten a job at a bar with card tables… It’s not far from here. Aren’t you going to ask why I changed my mind?”

“I only care about getting my money back.”

“Of course you do.”

Miriam muttered bitterly and then looked towards the casino.

The place she could no longer enter.

Despite it being the ruin of her life, her expression was more wistful than angry.

“I’ll pay it back. …And once I do, you promised to consider lifting the permanent ban, right? Keep that promise.”

She tossed me a single gold coin—a token of her intent to repay, supposedly from selling off the accessories she had bought during her prime.

The determination to clear her debt just to lift the ban didn’t warrant mockery.

“Fine. A promise is a promise.”

“That’s all I needed to hear.”

If she managed to survive and repay her debt, it would be my gain. Down the line, I might even have a use for her as an errand runner.

After lingering for a moment to gaze longingly at the casino, Miriam finally left.

Her resolute stride reassured me that I didn’t have to worry about her defaulting.