***

The winner of every gamble is the casino.

That’s why established casinos are called geese that lay golden eggs.

Always, without fail, all money eventually flows into the casino.

Despite knowing this, people rush toward casinos like moths drawn to flame, chasing the extremely slim possibility of a life-changing win, and the casino, acting like a generous god, bestows a handful of miracles.

That was the golden rule governing Red House.

Until Belinda Blanche completely trampled that law.

After checking the money Belinda had taken over the past few weeks, Sybel nervously lit a cigar.

‘Does she really think she can ruin this massive business with mere gambling?’

For the first few days, he mocked Belinda’s foolishness.

Throughout the casino, “hyenas” personally selected by Sybel were disguised as ordinary guests.

Their mission was to observe unusually “lucky” guests by rolling chips beside them and discover how they summoned their “luck.”

Most used pathetic tricks or sleight of hand.

Sybel’s hyenas were competent and never missed a guest who smelled rotten.

Except for Belinda.

“We couldn’t detect any tricks.”

“She seems skilled with cards, but not enough to use sleight of hand.”

“It seems to be purely good luck…”

“Otherwise, she must be hiding incredible skills that even we couldn’t notice.”

Recalling the hyenas’ reports, Sybel exhaled cigar smoke and picked up a stray chip.

The chip, elaborate enough to be used as a national coin, had Adelia Blanche’s silhouette embossed like a queen’s in the center.

Rolling it in his hand, he muttered savagely.

“That insect of a woman keeps buzzing around my ears.”

In truth, the money Belinda won was insignificant compared to the massive flow of funds—like hitting a rock with an egg.

Nevertheless, it was irritating enough that he conducted body searches despite risking damage to the casino’s reputation, but no suspicious circumstances were found.

The escort she brought along was equally clean.

She must be using some trick. Otherwise, it made no sense.

“There must be some deception…”

He was once again absorbed in the thought that had dominated his mind for weeks.

Knock knock.

Someone urgently knocked on Sybel’s door, located on the top floor of the casino.

Usually, visitors would only enter after Sybel’s permission, but the person was in such a hurry that they burst through the door before Sybel could speak.

“Master Sybel!”

Sybel frowned as he turned to face the casino’s general manager.

The man, usually impeccably dressed, was unusually disheveled and panting.

“Th-there’s big trouble! The ch-chips…!”

“I hope the guests didn’t all see you running like that?”

“W-well, that, but…”

Unable to watch him stammer like a fool any longer, Sybel nodded.

“Speak.”

“Counterfeit chips have been discovered!”

At the manager’s words, Sybel jumped up and shouted, not even noticing the cigar ash burning his clothes.

***

“Full house.”

At Belinda’s words, cheers erupted from one corner of the casino.

After cleanly finishing the round, Belinda flicked her index finger, and Terry swiftly gathered all the chips on the table.

While Terry organized the colored chips with almost dealer-like precision, Belinda tilted her head and frowned.

She couldn’t entirely smile since she had spent quite a lot of money to buy the luck needed to combine a full house with a 0.1% probability.

‘Poker players must all be crazy.’

Some might play with skill, but to Belinda, it was just a game of luck.

Soon after Belinda’s hands left the table, spectators who had been watching rushed toward her.

“Lady Blanche, may I ask for a chip exchange?”

“I only exchange golden chips.”

“That’s fine! Please!”

When Belinda nodded, Terry exchanged the nobleman’s chip with Belinda’s.

Several similar requests followed, and each time, Belinda gladly accepted.

This strange scene had emerged just one day after her visit to the casino.

“Noble young lady, this is my entire fortune. Please exchange chips and share your luck with this old man.”

A shabby-looking old man approached Belinda, who had just finished a game, and pleaded desperately. In his trembling hands lay a shining golden chip.

Everyone who frequented the casino had witnessed how the old man had squandered his fortune over the past few days.

The destination of such people was obvious.

As surrounding nobles clicked their tongues and were about to call casino security, something surprising happened.

Belinda willingly exchanged her chip with the old man’s.

“May luck be with you.”

Belinda Blanche showing kindness!

But what followed was even more astonishing.

“Thank you, Red Queen!”

After betting with the chip exchanged with Belinda, the old man went on a winning streak and hit the jackpot.

From then on, chips won by Belinda began to be regarded as lucky charms.

Nobles would approach Belinda when she finished a game and ask for chip exchanges, and each time, Belinda did not decline.

As a result, since she began frequenting the casino, an enormous amount of golden chips started circulating, which was a tremendous boon not only for Belinda but also for the casino.

Apart from Sybel grinding his teeth, it was natural for casino staff to treat her with the utmost respect.

To the point where they felt it was a shame she only stayed for three hours a day.

Just as Belinda was giving Sugar a hand signal to move to another table after finishing chip exchanges with nobles:

“Lady Blanche.”

The casino’s general manager called her, sweating profusely.

Belinda nodded as she headed toward the roulette table Sugar was pointing to.

“What is it?”

“Master Sybel Blanche requests to see Lady Blanche.”

“Sybel?”

Belinda sat down at the roulette table and thoughtfully flicked her fan.

The sound of the marble rolling on the massive roulette wheel echoed unusually loud.

The general manager held his breath waiting for Belinda’s answer, as if his fate depended on that roulette wheel.

Thud.

After confirming the marble had fallen into the red section of the roulette wheel, Belinda smiled pleasantly and spoke.

“Two hours.”

“Pardon?”

“He can wait about two hours. As you can see, I’m busy enjoying the game. Terry, all-in on red even numbers.”

“Yes.”

Once again, the roulette began to spin.

Despite the importance of the matter, the general manager had neither justification nor authority to force her, so he had no choice but to turn back.

***

Top floor of the casino.

Belinda visited Sybel exactly two hours after the general manager had sought her out.

“Sybel, you were looking for me?”

Smoking a cigar while looking down at the casino scene visible through the window, Sybel turned around.

His expression was no different than usual, but the cigar smoke filling the office revealed his anxiety.

“Won’t you sit down first?”

Sybel gestured toward the couch.

Belinda sat leisurely on the couch, crossing her legs, and tried to anticipate his next move.

‘Is he going to threaten me to stop coming?’

He might even throw something at her. The situation warranted it.

However, the atmosphere wasn’t as hostile as expected.

“Belinda, I’m banning you from entering the casino for a month.”

“Well, there should be a valid reason. I didn’t cheat nor cause any disturbance. Besides, isn’t this business doing exceptionally well lately thanks to me?”

Just as Belinda paused briefly to deliver sharp words:

Sybel immediately approached her.

As she tensed, preparing to summon Kao.

Thud.

He knelt before Belinda.

“If a month is difficult, even just two weeks would be fine. Please.”

He lowered his head, his shoulders trembling on the verge of tears.

“Do you know how my father recovered this business? Your father nearly handed over this casino to swindlers. As soon as my father took the family head position, he had to clean up after the previous generation. He protected this business by cutting back on sleep. Bel, it’s a legacy built by my father.”

“….”

“For my father’s sake, please… I’ll do anything you ask, just give me time.”

Just two weeks.

It wasn’t a bad deal to see Sybel begging like a dog in exchange for not visiting the casino.

“Pfft.”

But only Sybel thought so, which Belinda proved with a light laugh. It was a clear laugh, showing she found the situation utterly amusing.

“…”

Sybel remained kneeling, only clenching his fists.

He could endure this level of humiliation.

Once this matter was resolved, he would definitely repay this woman for the insult…

“Sybel, do you think you can find the counterfeit chips in just two weeks?”

“What…?”

Sybel’s head snapped up.

The fact that counterfeit chips were circulating in the casino was highly confidential information that even Sybel had only received yesterday.

Chips themselves function as cash. Therefore, the casino always checked the amount of exchanged chips against currency.

If someone brought counterfeit chips from outside and asked to exchange them for cash, it would directly result in losses for the casino.

Just yesterday, evidence was discovered that more chips were circulating in the market than the casino had issued.

The situation was clear. Counterfeit chips were circulating in the market.

Due to the influx of customers thanks to Belinda, more chips than usual had been exchanged, delaying the detection of the issue.

Yet Belinda spoke as if she had foreseen this situation.

“You, you don’t mean…”

Before the pale-faced Sybel, Belinda smiled faintly.