Although Daisy never gambled herself, her cousin back home was a hardcore gambler. Back in the day, he'd always brag about the most formidable figures in the gambling world—those legends who held positions of power in top casinos. And now she found herself up against one of the Thirty-Six Gambling Kings?
She was seriously regretting everything now!
"You still want to bet?" Gai asked with a sneer, eyes locked on Veil.
Veil blinked, looking utterly confused. "Of course. Why wouldn't I?"
"You don't expect me to back out just because you're good at gambling, do you? What kind of man would that make me?
Besides, even if I lose, all I have to do is tell you a secret. I'm not the one getting dragged away, am I?"
So cunning!
Daisy felt like she was going to cough up blood. So in Veil's eyes, this was just a casual game? No pressure at all?
Gai burst into laughter, confident and smug. "Since you're so eager, I won't hold back. Mahjong, Pai Gow, poker, dice, roulette, even high-low—pick your poison. Whatever you know how to play, I'll go along with it!
Play however you like!"
If this were a typical story with a chosen protagonist, there'd be some cocky trash talk first. Then, even when Gai generously offered to let him choose the game, the protagonist would pretend to be even cooler and let Gai pick instead. Then, at the climax, he'd crush Gai at his own game.
But Veil? He wasn't some hero.
He was the villain.
And buying gambling skills with villain points? That stuff wasn't cheap.
Why waste points on Gai when he could win without lifting a finger?
If you could scam your way through, why bother playing fair?
Veil clapped his hands with a smirk. "Now that's generous! In that case, I won't be polite either. Since we're all here today, let's do something a little more exciting."
He paused, then said with a playful gleam in his eyes, "Let's bet on something new—our lives.
Tell me… a minute from now, will you be dead or alive?"
Shhk!
Gai's gaze instantly turned cold, a dangerous glint flashing in his eyes. The look he gave Veil was murderous.
Through clenched teeth, he forced a stiff smile. "I've survived more storms than you've eaten bowls of rice. If I've made it through half a lifetime of danger, you think I can't make it through one measly minute? Of course I'll still be alive!"
Veil clicked his tongue, shook his head, then casually reached behind him.
A cold, dark muzzle was suddenly aimed at Gai's forehead.
Bang!
One shot.
Gai's head burst open like a watermelon.
Smoke curled from the barrel as Veil blew it away and sighed.
"What a shame… A Gambling King… who lost his own bet.
If you'd guessed death, I might've let you take your own life."
The bodyguards standing behind Gai were stunned, staring at Veil in horror.
"You... you killed the boss?!" one of them shouted, pointing a trembling finger at him.
Veil looked up, aimed the gun without a word—
Bang!
Another clean headshot. Another corpse hit the floor.
Veil slowly turned the gun left, now aiming at one of the thugs who'd tried to curse at him downstairs.
"Tell me—who fired the shot? Who killed your boss?"
"I-It was... it was…" The thug's legs were shaking like leaves.
Bang!
Third shot. The thug dropped dead on the spot, falling backward stiff as a board.
Bang!
Bang!
Fourth shot. Fifth shot.
Anyone who hesitated, stammered, or gave the wrong answer took a bullet to the head.
Gone was the polite, mild-mannered Veil from earlier.
What stood in his place now—was a cold-blooded killer.
He turned slightly, gun now leveled at the next person in line.
"Speak. Who fired the shot?"
"I-I did!" Saomi's voice trembled as his knees threatened to buckle.
Even as the leader of the Black Dragon Society, Saomi was scared witless in the face of Veil's terrifying killing intent.
He had known that Gai couldn't match Veil, and that this encounter would likely end with Gai being suppressed.
But he hadn't expected this.
Veil didn't just suppress the man—he executed him. On the spot. And took out five more right after.
Now, judging by the number of shots fired, there was probably only one bullet left in the clip.
Saomi was sweating bullets, terrified that he might be the one to get that last round.
Veil finally snapped out of his killing haze. He calmly handed the gun to a subordinate, then walked up to Saomi with a warm smile.
"Uncle Saomi, what are you saying?
How could it possibly be you who fired the shot? Clearly, it was my bodyguard.
No need to shake. It's all fine.
None of this has anything to do with me. I'm just a bystander here, nothing more.
When the authorities arrive, nothing will happen. After all, it's not a crime when a special operations agent fires on a group of aggressive, non-compliant... powdered milk dealers."
Veil smiled as if he'd just helped an old lady cross the street.
"It's not just legal—it's a good deed. A great one, even. Cleansing society of filth."
"You're right. It is a good thing," Saomi muttered, his eyelids twitching three times.
His peripheral vision swept over the bodies lying in pools of blood, and his heart nearly jumped out of his chest.
Gai's status wasn't any lower than his own—far from it. And yet the man had barely exchanged a few words before he was sent straight to the afterlife.
Veil's methods were ruthless—far too ruthless. This wasn't some spoiled rich kid who only knew how to eat, drink, and play. No, the rumors had been dead wrong.
The air reeked of blood. The atmosphere was heavy, almost suffocating.
Saoirse and Xinly, who'd spent years around Saomi and seen their share of gore, still backed away a few steps, hands covering their noses and mouths. They didn't want to look.
But Daisy? The usually brash and bold young miss? She was the worst off.
Curled up on the floor, she was vomiting uncontrollably. Everything she drank earlier in the booth was now splattered across the ground—more effective than any hangover cure.
And mixed in with it… were pieces of Gai's skull.
When that bullet hit him, Gai hadn't opened his mouth. The imbalance in air pressure meant his head didn't just pop—it exploded like a watermelon. Blood and brain matter everywhere. Red and white fragments, fine and scattered.
Forget the girls—even a grown man would have trouble stomaching a scene like this.
Wee-oo, wee-oo—
Outside, sirens wailed in the distance. The police were coming.
Kai stepped forward and spoke calmly, "Young Master, you all should leave first. This isn't anything major, but someone's got to stay behind and handle it. You've got more important business tonight. Leave the rest to me."
As he spoke, he pulled out a red credential from his jacket and coldly swept his gaze over Gai's frightened subordinates. "Later, you all know exactly what to say—and what not to say. Be honest about the criminal activity, and maybe you'll just get a few years. But if anyone decides to open their mouth and say the wrong thing… even if you're a witness with immunity, you won't live past three days. Got it?"
The bodyguards exchanged terrified glances and nodded like crazy. Veil's ruthlessness had already broken their will. Any thoughts of revenge had long since been scared out of them.
Veil, as if none of this had anything to do with him, turned and smiled at Saomi and his family. "Uncle Saomi, let's get out of here. If we wait for the cops to arrive, we'll have to explain everything again, and that'd just waste time. Didn't you and Auntie want to have a chat with me tonight?"
"Yes, of course. Whatever Young Master Lancaster says," Saomi nodded quickly.
The three of them followed Veil through the rear exit of Queen's Bar.
Originally, Veil had intended to bring Daisy along too, but the girl was frozen in place, collapsed into a duck-like sitting position with her legs spread out, too scared to move. No matter how many times they called out, she refused to budge.
Veil didn't bother any further. At most, she'd be taken to the station for a quick statement. As long as Kai kept an eye on her, nothing would happen. No need to rush.
…
A few hours later, the private meeting ended.
Saomi and Xinly—both tipsy—left one of their family's hotels and got into the car.
Xinly shot him a glare. "Weren't you going to teach Veil a lesson? You drank with him after just a few words! And not only that, you were trying to swear brotherhood with the guy by the end of the night! Are you out of your mind? That's your daughter's boyfriend! What kind of father acts like that?"
After the scolding, she turned away, muttering under her breath. But as the car drove off, Saomi, who'd been slumped in his seat with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them. His face was flushed, but his gaze was stone-cold sober.
"Don't even bring it up… I thought I was going to die back there!"
Xinly frowned. "What nonsense are you— You're alive and well. Gai's dead, and he was your biggest threat."
Saomi still looked shaken. "Veil pointed that last bullet right at my head. I'm telling you—he really was going to shoot me!
Didn't you see? Even his bodyguard was an agent with clearance from the special operations department. Five bodies? Add mine in, and it'd still be nothing to them!
Fuck, he's terrifying…
Who the hell said Veil was just some pampered playboy? That guy's no heir with a silver spoon—he's a goddamn demon!"
He had planned to put on a little show of dominance. After all, he was the girl's father. A little pressure was expected, right?
But the moment they met, before he even got a word out, Veil unleashed a bloodbath right in front of him.
He nearly pissed himself.
If it were just Veil shooting Gai on a whim, that'd be one thing. Saomi had seen brutal things before. He wouldn't be so shaken.
But this was all planned.
Veil killed Gai without leaving a single flaw behind. And with his subordinate's special status, this might even earn him merit with the higher-ups.
What's dangerous isn't a reckless second-generation heir. What's terrifying is a second-generation heir with terrifying power and brains.
Going up against someone like that? Even ten lives wouldn't be enough.
"…So what now?" Xinly asked anxiously. "Are we being targeted? What about Saoirse? She's still at the hotel! That's your daughter!"
Saomi let out a sigh. "If it weren't for Saoirse, I think that last bullet would've been for me.
Sigh… I don't even know what kind of relationship she really has with Veil. Are they serious, or is it just a fling?
But whatever it is, she's handling it herself. We've got no say in this anymore. I just hope she knows how to balance things."
Xinly exploded. "Saomi, are you serious?! You're not even going to protect your daughter now? What kind of man are you? I should've never come back with you. I should've stayed with Saoirse. I won't let her face that monster alone!"
Saomi held his head, silent. There was nothing he could say.
…
Meanwhile, in a luxurious suite on the other side of town, Veil was gently helping Saoirse onto the bed.
Her cheeks were flushed red, and Veil looked genuinely concerned.
"Saoirse, your face is burning up. You're not running a fever, are you? Lie down for a bit. I'll take your temperature. Don't move, okay?
You've got to be careful when checking temperature. If you mess up even a little, it won't be accurate…"
Time crawled by at a glacial pace.
Ding! Congratulations, host has earned Villain Points +1000.
Ding! Congratulations, host has earned Villain Points +1000 x2.
Ding! Congratulations, host has earned Villain Points +1000 x3.
Saoirse glared at him, teary-eyed and furious. "Veil! There's a limit to bullying people, you know?!"