Ardyn watched, a cocktail of professional horror and deeply personal fascination churning within her, as Noctar Ville, the enigmatic S class, systematically dismantled the concept of chance. His shamelessness was not that of a common cheat; it was the serene, unshakeable confidence of a god walking among mortals and casually rewriting their laws of gambling.
He didn't just hit one jackpot. He moved through the casino like a benevolent plague, a one-man economic stimulus package for himself. He'd feed a few silvers into a machine, tap a sequence that made its internal lights flicker in distress, and collect a handful of gold. He'd "help" a confused elderly man by suggesting a "lucky" button press that resulted in a massive payout, then graciously accept a ten percent "finder's fee" with a solemn nod.
The security had already begun to take notice and that's when Noctar brilliantly thought of ripping off these people because they had the audacity to think of him as some moneyless cheat. Even though it's tru only he, S.A.R.A and maybe Ardyn are allowed to think of him like that.
When he strolled over to the high-stakes poker tables, Ardyn knew the true demolition was about to begin. He sat among seasoned pros whose faces were maps of bluff and tells. Noctar's face was a blank screen.
He didn't react to his cards when they were placed before him having been thoroughly shuffled. He just played the hand he had, looking each of these professional players in the eye as he laid his cards. Perfectly. Every. Single. Time.
Within an hour, the mountain of chips in front of him was obscene, and the pros were left broke and bewildered. They were supposed to siphon money from him and yet it felt like they were children before Noctar's terrifying game play.
"How?" Ardyn whispered, falling into step beside him as he finally rose, looking as relaxed as if he'd just taken a stroll.
"Basic math," Noctar replied, his tone suggesting she'd asked why the sky was blue. "Probability, statistical analysis of their betting patterns, and calculating the remaining cards in the deck. It's not complicated."
It was, of course, infinitely complicated. But for his mind, augmented by S.A.R.A.'s real-time processing, it was basic. By the end of the day, he was cashing out. One hundred platinum coins. A mayor's ransom, earned in an afternoon from a single silver. A hundred platinum wasn't enough to make him a millionaire but it was enough to make him live comfortably for a few months.
That's when the real owner of the casino arrived. He wasn't a thug by any means; he was a sleek, dangerous-looking man in an impeccably tailored suit, flanked by two guards whose auras screamed "high-level disablers." The air around them grew still.
"Mr. Ville," the owner said, his voice smooth as oil. "A remarkable run. My office, please. Bring your... companion."
Noctar looked at the suave tattoo filled man and smirked. Ardyn meanwhile was troubled because she hadn't planned on getting involved. The walk wasn't far and they took a private elevator to the top floor of the casino. In the plush, soundproofed office, the owner didn't threaten. He simply activated a skill. A soft, pulsing aura filled the room.
[SKILL_IDENTIFIED: ZONE OF VERITAS - A-RANK]
// EFFECT: COMPELS TRUTHFUL SPEECH. RESISTANCE POSSIBLE WITH MENTAL FORTITUDE OR COUNTER-SKILLS.
"Did you use any illicit skills or devices to influence the outcomes of the games today?" the owner asked, his eyes locked on Noctar.
Ardyn held her breath. This was it. The truth would come out.
Noctar looked the man dead in the eye, his expression one of mild boredom.
"No."
The Zone of Veritas pulsed. It did not flare with the tell-tale light of a lie. It remained calm and steady.
The owner stared, confused. He asked several more variations of the question. The result was the same. According to one of the most powerful truth-detecting skill money could buy, Noctar Ville was being completely, utterly honest.
Ardyn's mind reeled. How? She had watched him cheat! She knew it with every fiber of her being. Yet the magic said otherwise. It was the most perfect, undetectable hack she had ever witnessed.
The casino owner in disbelief reviewed all the footage of the past few hours with Noctar simply stating what he did. The owner did not bother questioning the Rose Knight for she is famous for her integrity. After confirming that Noctar truly didn't get caught cheating, the owner gave up. Muttering apologies, the owner let them go, utterly baffled.
Outside, the cool night air hit them. Noctar stood on the pavement, holding a bag containing a fortune, but with nowhere in the world to go.
"You have no place to sleep," Ardyn stated, not asked.
"No," he admitted.
She let out a long, slow breath, the sound a surrender to the sheer, gravitational absurdity this man represented. "You can use my guest room. For one night." The words felt foreign in her mouth. "The Hunter's Authority can't have its newest S-Rank sleeping on a park bench. It's bad for morale."
It was a flimsy excuse, and they both knew it. The truth, which the Zone of Veritas would have had a field day with, was far more complex. It was a mixture of professional responsibility, burning curiosity, and that treacherous, fluttering feeling his "exception" comment had planted in her chest.
Noctar looked at her, the city lights reflecting in his ice-blue eyes. "Thank you, Ardyn."
Hearing her name on his lips felt more intimate than it should have. Without another word, she turned and started walking, knowing with a thrilling, terrifying certainty that he would follow.