Chapter 604: The Casino’s Red Storm
Ethan just shook his head. Could the stories really be that incredible?
It had to be some gimmick cooked up by the tourism companies. A hundred-thousand-dollar ticket, and then you had to bid for the privilege of being sprinkled with so-called "sacred blood." It sounded like a scam for gullible rich people.
His curiosity began to fade. Still, that woman had claimed she’d been inside, that she’d heard a dragon’s roar. He couldn’t help but wonder if she was telling the truth.
Ethan’s gaze drifted back to her, a flicker of blue light passing through his eyes.
"Ah!"
The woman, who’d been propping her chin on one hand while idly spearing a piece of fruit with her fork, suddenly shrieked. The fork slipped from her fingers and clattered onto the table.
"Mila, what’s wrong?" her friend asked, startled.
"The dragon’s roar... did you hear it? I heard it just now, but it sounded... different from before. Not like the one inside that place." Her voice trembled as she scanned the room, panic flashing in her eyes.
"Mila, are you sure you’re getting enough rest? We didn’t hear anything," another friend said gently, trying to calm her down.
"You didn’t?" She blinked, her confusion giving way to unease. Slowly, she settled back in her seat, though a trace of fear still lingered in her expression.
Ethan frowned slightly. Why would a dragon’s roar frighten her that much?
He’d only released a faint pulse of his Blue Dragon’s Might, just enough to let her hear an echo of the roar. He wanted to see her reaction. Now he knew—she really had heard a dragon before, and it had been at that mysterious location she’d mentioned.
If it was a real dragon, then he had to find it. Could there truly be one hidden somewhere on Earth? The existence of the Dragon Child had already convinced him that legends held some truth. And the "Sacred Blood" she spoke of... what kind of blood could that be?
A deep horn blast rolled through the air.
Bwooooomp...
The cruise ship’s horn.
"Whoa, we’re in international waters! Let’s hit the casino!" Mila suddenly shouted, springing to her feet. Just like that, her fear vanished, replaced by giddy excitement. Her friends cheered and hurried after her toward the exit.
"A casino?" Ethan murmured, raising an eyebrow. Perfect. A place full of noise, money, and loose tongues—ideal for picking up information unnoticed. He stood and followed them out.
He didn’t realize that, on the deck above, someone was watching him.
A woman stood by the railing, her posture composed, her outfit a blend of elegance and power—every piece of it expensive enough to make a statement. Her eyes wandered idly across the crowd until they landed on Ethan. Then her entire demeanor shifted.
’It’s him. What is he doing here?’
Ethan’s senses prickled. He felt her gaze and looked up. Their eyes met across the open space. For a brief second, neither moved. Then Ethan looked away, uninterested. The woman, too, turned aside, but her expression hardened, the faint smile on her lips cooling into something sharp and cold.
"Ethan..." she murmured under her breath, and then she walked away, her heels clicking with quiet precision.
Ethan didn’t recognize her. He should have. He didn’t just know her—he’d once been her boss.
Her name was Quinn.
He couldn’t even remember her last name. She had worked at his gym back in the day, on the same shift as Jade Taylor. When Jade quit after his revenge scheme, Ethan, half out of boredom, appointed someone else to manage the place. That someone had been Quinn.
But in his memory, she’d been a quiet, plain-faced girl, polite to everyone, patient to a fault. Nothing about her stood out. Yet she’d overstepped once—badly.
A "client" had wanted to rent the entire gym for a week, and Quinn, without asking him, agreed. The man’s antics drew complaints and even the police once. Ethan decided she wasn’t suited for management, put her on paid leave, and handed the job to Celia.
Ethan hadn’t thought much about Quinn after that. Celia had mentioned her resignation once, but he’d brushed it aside. He trusted Celia’s management completely, so he rarely bothered to read the detailed reports and financial summaries she sent him. His inbox was still flooded with unread emails—daily gym earnings, membership updates, even encrypted briefings from Renegade Alliance—all untouched.
After being replaced, Quinn had stormed off in anger. What became of her afterward, Ethan had no idea. But she hadn’t forgotten him. The resentment she carried had only deepened with time.
...
Following the crowd, Ethan made his way to the casino. The timing was perfect—just as the guards were swinging open the grand doors. So that was why his Soul Sense had only detected a handful of staff inside earlier. The casino only opened once the ship entered international waters.
He strolled to the cashier’s counter and slid his ID card across with casual confidence.
"A million dollars in chips, please," he said, leaning slightly on the counter.
"Of course, sir. Please enter your PIN," the attendant replied with a professional smile.
Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.
Ethan entered the numbers, already noticing the curious looks from nearby players. A few eyebrows lifted. A few murmurs passed. He couldn’t help the small surge of pride that came with the attention.
Then the mechanical voice cut through the air.
[INSUFFICIENT FUNDS. CURRENT BALANCE: TWO HUNDRED FIFTY-ONE DOLLARS. TRANSACTION DENIED.]
Ethan froze. The smile on his face faltered. For a long second, he stood there, feeling his pride evaporate like mist.
"I’m sorry, sir," the attendant began, "but our minimum chip value is—"
"Er..." Ethan yanked his card back, face burning. He turned and pushed through the crowd, trying to ignore the muffled laughter and whispered snickers trailing behind him.
He had almost made it to the exit when a familiar voice called out.
"What are you doing here?"
Ethan turned. "Amber?"
Amber Zane stepped out from the main hall, dressed sharply as ever, her tone halfway between amusement and surprise.
"The Zane family owns this casino," she said with a smirk.
"Oh, perfect. Then spot me a hundred million in chips to start," Ethan said, throwing up a hand like he was joking—but also not really joking.
Amber arched an eyebrow. "A hundred million? Why not make it a billion while you’re at it?" She turned to leave. "If you want to play, use your own money."
"Hey, I have money! It’s just... not in my account right now," Ethan said quickly, trailing after her.
"Right," she said dryly, not even slowing down.
He followed her through the corridors until they reached their Honeymoon Presidential Suite. Amber unlocked the door and walked inside, ignoring his attempts to explain himself. He kept talking anyway, trying to charm his way into a small loan.
She tossed her handbag onto the sofa and finally turned to face him. "You say your money’s not in the bank? Then show me. Let’s see how much cash you actually have. You couldn’t even afford a single five-hundred-dollar chip. I despise gamblers, Ethan—but what I hate even more are broke guys pretending to be rich."
She was about to sit down when the air suddenly shifted.
Fwoosh...
Out of nowhere, a storm of green filled the room.
Hundred-dollar bills—thousands of them—spun through the air like a blizzard, swirling around them in a dazzling cascade.
Amber froze, staring wide-eyed as the bills fluttered down over the marble floor, the sofa, her hair. The entire suite glittered in green.
Ethan just stood there, hands in his pockets, a faint, knowing smile tugging at his lips.