The cab stopped in front of a grand structure—a lavish building glowing with gold and crimson light. The sign above the entrance shimmered in bold cursive letters: The Imperial Den.
From the outside, it looked like an upscale casino for the elite. But beneath it lay the Tang family's underground casino, hidden behind the illusion of opulence.
Su Ning paid the driver and stepped out, her heels clicking softly against the steps. She turned into a quiet corner where the security cameras didn't reach. The air was cooler there, and the faint hum of the city faded into the distance.
She looked around, making sure there was no one looking, she had entered her space.
Inside the large warehouse, a soft golden glow spilling across the sleek furnishings. Her suitcase lay open on the bed. She walked toward it, fingers brushing against silken fabrics and polished leather.
From the suitcase, she pulled out a short, designer dress—a deep sapphire shade that shimmered under light with subtle undertones of crimson and silver. Its fabric clung to her curves, elegant yet dangerously alluring. She paired it with thin diamond-strapped heels that wrapped delicately around her ankles, and a matching clutch adorned with faintly glowing gemstones.
She sat before the mirror, brushing her hair until it cascaded down like waves of midnight silk. She added faint curls, giving it a touch of effortless glamour. She put on heavy makeup to alter her look, she couldn't afford anyone recognizing her. Her makeup was bolder—wine-colored lips, long lashes, and a soft gleam on her skin.
To anyone else, she would look like a socialite—a woman who belonged to the Capital's glittering elite.
A faint scent of perfume—amber and jasmine—filled the air.
When she emerged from her space, she looked every inch a mystery dressed in wealth.
The guards at the entrance didn't hesitate. "Good evening, miss. Welcome to The Imperial Den."
Su Ning offered a faint smile and walked in.
The underground casino was alive with chaos and color. Music pulsed in the air, the scent of wine and smoke mingling with laughter and the crisp sound of cards shuffling. Crystal chandeliers hung low, scattering fractured light across velvet tables. Men in tailored suits and women in dazzling dresses moved between tables, their faces painted with greed and thrill.
Su Ning walked through the crowd, her presence immediately drawing eyes. Conversations paused as she passed; heads turned, some whispering. She didn't seem to notice—or care. Her steps were graceful, her expression serene.
She went straight to the nearest counter, where a cashier was and exchanged ten million chips, after which she had the system erase the trace of her transaction.
She stopped by a gambling table where a group of men were playing cards. "May I join?" she asked lightly.
The dealer, momentarily stunned by her beauty, quickly nodded. "Of course, miss."
She put her bag of chips on the table. "Ten million in chips."
A murmur went through the table as the dealer handed her glossy chips stacked neatly. The men grinned, some eager, some wary.
The first few rounds were simple. Su Ning played casually, as if merely observing. Then she began to win—once, twice, then three times in a row. Her moves were effortless, her gaze steady. Every flip of the card was precise. Her winnings stacked higher and higher until even the dealer's hands trembled slightly.
By the fourth table, she was the center of the room. Men began to gather, fascinated by the mysterious woman whose luck—or skill—seemed supernatural. Some whispered bets on her name, others tried to strike conversation, but she remained quiet, focused. Her hands moved with fluid grace, each game ending with her quiet smile and another pile of chips sliding her way.
In less than two hours, she had won over five hundred million in chips.
She had to thank the system for her photographic memory, she had been quick to notice how every game was played, controlled and rigged, she simply controlled the game secretly.
Around her, the atmosphere had changed.
Men in black suits, stationed around were now glaring at her. Dealers exchanged uneasy glances. The guards at the corners subtly touched their earpieces. No casino tolerated someone taking that much money without consequence—especially not this one.
Su Ning noticed, of course. Her eyes flickered toward the shadows, taking in their movement. Calmly, she played three more rounds, then stood, gathering her chips.
"Cashing out," she said softly.
At the counter, the cashier looked stunned when she handed over her chips. Minutes later, she walked away with a sleek black bag filled with crisp bills—over eight hundred million yuan in total.
The dangerous looking guards watching her stiffened. One whispered into his earpiece. Another began moving toward her, followed by several more, surrounding her path from all sides.
Su Ning's lips curved faintly.
She carried the bag with ease, her expression calm as she walked toward the restroom. The moment she disappeared inside, the men followed.
Inside the women's restroom, the sound of faint music filtered through the walls. Su Ning entered one of the stalls and locked the door. A ripple of energy shimmered in the air as she stepped into her space once again.
She placed the bag of cash neatly on a shelf. A low laugh escaped her lips, quiet and dangerous. "Tang Mei, you dared cross me" she murmured. "Your family will pay for it."
She moved to the bathroom inside her space, letting cool water wash away the traces of smoke and perfume. Minutes later, she emerged and changed again—this time into a different outfit. A sleek, emerald-green dress with a slit that revealed her long legs; paired with golden earrings and a soft champagne-colored clutch. Her hair was styled differently, swept to one side, elegant and mature.
She looked at herself in the mirror. No trace of the woman in blue remained.
When she reappeared in the real world, she was a different person entirely.
She stepped out of the restroom.
The men waiting outside glanced at her briefly and turned away, their attention still fixed on the door. They were expecting a woman carrying a heavy black bag of cash. None of them recognized her.
Su Ning walked past them silently and exited the casino.
Moments later, the men grew impatient.
"She's taking too long," one muttered.
"Go check," another snapped at a waitress nearby.
The waitress went inside and returned a moment later, confused. "There's no one in there."
"What?"
The gangsters rushed inside. Empty. Every stall open, every corner checked. Nothing. The woman who has taken nearly a billion yuan from their casino had vanished into thin air.
They scoured the casino, searching through every exit, but found nothing. Panic began to spread among the guards and dealers.
Meanwhile, in one of the private rooms upstairs, Tang Mei was laughing with her boyfriend and a few of their rich friends. Champagne glasses clinked; music played low. She lounged lazily on a velvet sofa, draped in a glittering red dress, looking like a queen in her own den of arrogance.
The door burst open.
One of the casino gangsters, the same ones responsible for handling underground deals, stood at the doorway, his expression grim. "Miss Tang," he said, his tone heavy. "We need to talk."
Her brows furrowed in annoyance. "Can't it wait? I'm busy."
"It's urgent," he said quietly. "Outside."
Something in his tone made her frown. She stood, irritated, and followed him into the hallway. "What is it?"
He leaned closer, lowering his voice. "A woman just took eight hundred million yuan from the tables. She's gone."
Tang Mei froze. "What?"
"She vanished. CCTV caught her playing but not leaving. We can't identify her face clearly—it's too blurry."
Tang Mei's pupils dilated in fury. "What do you mean she's gone?!"
"Security is already searching," the man said quickly. "But we think she's still nearby—"
"Then FIND HER!" Tang Mei screamed. Her voice echoed through the corridor, shrill and furious. "If she dares take my family's money, I'll tear her apart!"
Security guards rushed to check every angle, every hallway. Cameras were rewound, faces zoomed but the woman's features remained indistinct, blurred like mist.
Outside, the gangsters spread across the streets, searching every passing face, every car but there was nothing. The mysterious gambler had vanished into the night as though she never existed.
Back inside the lounge, Tang Mei's boyfriend tried to calm her. "Meimei, enough. You'll just draw attention. It's not the end of the world—"
"Shut up!" Tang Mei snapped, her voice cracking with fury. "Do you even know what that money means?!"
She shoved him aside and stormed out, her heels echoing sharply against the floor. Her chest heaved with rage as she pulled out her phone and dialed.
Her father's voice answered.
"Father!" she nearly screamed. "Someone took eight hundred million from the casino!"
"What?!" Tang Hong's voice thundered through the line. "How?!"
"We don't know! They escaped somehow!" she cried.
Tang Hong cursed. "Stay where you are! I'm coming!"
The call ended with a harsh click.
Tang Mei clenched her fists until her nails dug into her palm. Her beautiful face twisted in fury. "Whoever you are," she hissed, "you won't live long."
Miles away from the casino, under the faint silver light of the moon, a blurry figure darted through the streets and appeared atop a deserted rooftop. Su Ning stood there, the wind tugging lightly at her hair.
Her lips curved into a cold sneer as she gazed toward the distant glow of the casino.