The gamblers looked at one another. One gambler with bloodshot eyes was shoved forward and stumbled toward the rose monster.
He caught a refreshing floral fragrance, so rich it seemed to frost his nostrils and throat with sweetness. Swallowing his saliva felt like drinking a divine nectar that could induce hallucinations, and he saw the most beautiful sight in the world.
Countless scarlet lips opened and closed, spilling honey-colored juice. The dome-like sky shattered into a glazed vortex, flowing with molten gold, silver, and gemstones. Faint hymns drifted by his ears, declaring that all his sins had been absolved and that he would enjoy bliss and glory for the rest of his life.
As if possessed, the gambler reached toward the rose monster and accepted the enormous, lush rose. Guided by its thorny vine, he placed it over his heart. A voice asked him what he desired. Smiling eagerly, he said, "I want to win money!"
He walked to a slot machine in the corner of the casino, inserted a coin, and won—120 points!
Before he could process what had happened, he mechanically inserted another coin into the slot, pulled the lever, then repeated the process again and again.
The crisp clinking of coins being inserted was pleasing to the ear. The score displayed on the machine rapidly accumulated. He never lost; he kept winning. Soon, his score exceeded ten thousand points—worth over a thousand Federation dollars when exchanged!
The people who had still been watching cast aside their caution and doubts in an instant. Powerful desires rose from the depths of their souls. No one could suppress them in such a situation, nor did anyone want to.
They rushed toward the monster, swarming it like locusts devouring crops. At the same time, they shoved aside the people around them,