Time to act

Inside the Silver Deer Inn, Perly was insisting on joining that night's operation.

The half-elf leaned against the wall, pretending not to care, but the curve of her lips gave her away.

"Renato, if I don't wear my robes, no one will know I'm a mage."

"Being a mage isn't the issue, Perly. It's a casino. You don't know the layout, so there's no point in going inside. Besides, there are all sorts of unsavory people there..."

Renato pinched the bridge of his nose and said helplessly:

"Anyway, I can't really take you along."

"Then I won't go inside. I can wait outside to help you, can't I?" Perly said, her cheeks puffed out in anger. "Right outside the casino. I won't hold you back. And if something really happens, I can support you with spells."

"Perly..."

"Let her join us, Renato." Lailas walked over. "You have to give young people a chance to gain experience. You can't keep her under your protection forever."

"Girl, your name is Perly, isn't it?"

"It's Mage Perly, half-elf maid."

Ignoring her icy tone, Lailas asked:

"Can you stay outside the Gilded Dice without anyone noticing you? If so, you're welcome to join us."

"I'm discussing this with Renato. I don't need your permission." Perly bit her lip and looked at Renato.

Faced with that pitiful little look, Renato sighed.

"You can join us. But Perly, you have to promise me that your own safety comes first, no matter what. If you sense danger, protect yourself with a spell immediately, then return to the inn. Leave the rest to me."

Once she had permission, the little mage darted out, saying she needed to buy spellcasting materials for that night's operation.

Seeing how delighted she was, Renato had no energy left to comment. They were sneaking into a Gangs casino to steal documents, not heading to a park for a picnic.

"Renato, you really are an oddity in this city."

"Maybe, but hearing that word from Detective Lailas somehow makes me feel even more pathetic."

"I wasn't mocking you. I meant it as a compliment." The half-elf sat down beside him. "Perhaps, from this city's perspective, we're both oddities."

"What's that supposed to mean? Some sort of philosophical speculation?" Renato shrugged. "Enough riddles. Tell me the plan for tonight first."

Lailas nodded and said:

"I've already found out exactly where one of the casino's waitresses lives. Her shift starts after dinner, and I'll take her place, so I won't be going with you..."

"Wait, wait, stop there. Don't skip the important part. Give me the details," Renato interrupted. "What happens to the waitress you're replacing?"

"She'll disappear for a while..." Lailas sounded uncertain. "About a month?"

"Don't tell me you've already killed her."

"No, no, no. Believe me, I don't kill innocent people indiscriminately." Under Renato's suspicious gaze, the half-elf drew a breath. "At least, not lightly. All right, I know that sounds suspicious, but please trust me for now. We haven't reached the point where there's no other choice. I won't casually decide whether someone lives or dies."

Although the easiest way to make someone disappear was to silence them for good, the half-elf's explanation was so clumsy that it actually seemed less like a lie.

After spending a week with Lailas, Renato was fairly certain she had an organization behind her. Otherwise, there was no explaining the contradiction of her being both poor and wealthy.

And judging by what she had just said, that organization could probably abduct a citizen for months without anyone finding out.

Renato made a mental note of it, then continued:

"I'll trust you for now. Tell me the rest of the plan. What do I need to do?"

"I won't betray your trust." Lailas took out a sheet of parchment. "Renato, I need you to reach the casino before midnight. Have a few drinks, but don't actually get drunk..."

There was no true night inside the Gilded Dice.

Crystal chandeliers on the second floor bathed the hall in golden light. Heavy perfume mingled with smoke and the metallic stink of money, making people's heads swim.

As planned, Renato first played seven or eight rounds of Gold and Silver Dice on the first floor. His luck was good, and he made a little money, though he still hadn't figured out how Lailas had known what numbers the dice would show.

At a second-floor table, as the second round was dealt, he pretended to be tipsy, squeezed a waitress's broad hip, and deliberately gave her a lecherous grin as he took a drink from her tray.

He drained the glass and staggered a little, as though he could barely stay upright, but his eyes remained clear as he glanced into the distance.

A scantily dressed waitress stood in a corner with a tray of food. A red berry-shaped earring hung from the tip of her ear, swaying gently.

It was time to act. Having received the signal, Renato deliberately slurred:

"Double!"

He hurled several chips forward, intending to cause a commotion.

The dealer was a stern-faced man. He caught the chips with steady fingers, then dealt the cards in an orderly fashion.

Renato didn't even look at the cards when they arrived. Only when the dealer gestured for him to reveal them did he slowly lift a corner.

Gasps rose around him, and Renato burst out laughing. He grabbed two silver chips, stuffed them down the drinks waitress's cleavage, and gave her another squeeze.

"A tip for you, sweetheart!" He patted his thigh. "Tired of standing? Come sit on my lap for a while."

"Sir, this isn't the place." The waitress stuck out her tongue and licked her lips, reluctantly taking the chips out of her cleavage. "Please finish this round first. Then get a private room, and I promise you'll be satisfied..."

Renato ignored her hints. He was here to cause trouble.

He forcibly pulled the waitress into his arms and pinned her to his lap despite her struggles.

At last, his behavior caught the guards' attention.

Two burly gang enforcers approached, but Renato's armor and longsword instinctively made them keep their distance.

The casino guards exchanged a glance. One stepped closer and said in a low voice:

"Sir, do you need assistance? Perhaps you should sober up in the lounge."

The guard at the third-floor stairs hadn't moved. Renato needed to turn up the heat.

"Assistance?" Renato pushed the waitress off him and stood.

"How exactly are you going to assist me?" He deliberately breathed alcohol fumes into the man's face. "What the fuck is it to you if I fool around with a woman?"

More eyes turned toward them, and the guard on the third-floor stairs looked down as well.

Renato bumped into the guard, and their movements soon escalated into shoving.

Using the other man's force, he "lost his footing," and his elbow "accidentally" knocked over a cocktail glass on the gaming table.

Liquid spilled over the felt, drawing curses from the gamblers. Renato put on an exaggeratedly apologetic expression and fumbled to wipe it up, only to overturn the chip tray on the table.

Clatter, clatter! Multicolored round chips scattered like bursting fireworks and rolled all over the floor.

"My chips!"

"Hey! Watch it!"

"This guy's drunk!"

Complaints and startled cries rose one after another.

In an instant, chaos spread outward from Renato. Gamblers at neighboring tables stood up too, hoping to get a closer look.

The guards shouted for order. Even the guard stationed at the third-floor stairs came down two steps to see what was happening.

Seizing the opportunity, a slender figure in the same uniform as the other waitresses moved lightly up the edge of the staircase. Her movements were smooth and natural, as though she were simply delivering something upstairs.

Without the slightest pause, and without attracting anyone's attention, Lailas slipped around the turn in the stairs and vanished into the shadows.

It worked.

Renato felt reassured, but he still had to finish his performance.

"I'm terribly sorry. I... I think I've had too much to drink. I'll pay for everything. Everything!"

As though the chaos had suddenly "startled" him sober, Renato apologized with a mixture of embarrassment and regret on his face.

The guards' eyes showed their displeasure, but he was a customer, after all, and hadn't caused any real damage. They could only give Renato a couple of brief warnings before dispersing.

The surrounding chaos gradually subsided.

Renato breathed a sigh of relief and played two more rounds for appearances, losing a little. Then he claimed the alcohol was going to his head and cashed in his remaining chips.

Pushing away the waitress who had come over to offer her services again, Renato staggered out through the doors of the Gilded Dice under a guard's "polite" gaze.

After rounding the street corner, he beckoned the furtive Perly over from a distance, and they left the slum's streets together.

Now all that remained was to wait. Hopefully, the half-elf would find the information she wanted.