Chapter 7: The Poker Game

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Wearing swim trunks, Link's muscular physique caught the eyes of numerous women, including many wealthy older ones who approached him. He turned them all down. He wasn't fond of the local women, knowing exactly what kind of people they were, and had no desire to be anyone's plaything.

Swimming was secondary; Link was really there to bask in the sun. The Las Vegas sunshine was fantastic, making him feel alive and energized.

It wasn't until dinnertime that he returned to his room for a shower. After enjoying a lavish meal, he made his way to the casino. Gradually accumulating his winnings, he didn't spend all his time gambling. Every night, the hotel offered grand performances, and once Link hit $100,000 in winnings, he would quit for the night and go watch the shows.

He had a two-week vacation, so there was no need to rush. Though he wasn't winning huge sums, he had attracted the casino's attention. They assigned staff to analyze his play and found that during blackjack, he often observed the other players' expressions.

It didn't take long for the casino to pull up Link's background. The shareholders, all powerful figures, quickly dug into his history.

A bachelor's degree in psychology, essentially a college graduate, then he became a cop. After excelling during his probation period with the NYPD, he made a name for himself by doing something significant.

This guy was a force to be reckoned with.

He came to Las Vegas due to protection arrangements from the NYPD. The casino marked him as someone to watch, but they found no signs of cheating—just a keen use of psychology, relying on reading others' expressions to predict their hands.

Link was unaware of all this, and even if he knew, he wouldn't have cared. After all, no one could detect his superpowers.

The performances were always top-notch, with regular changes in the lineup to keep things fresh. But everything here reeked of money.

Link spent his days sunbathing by the pool and his nights winning money at the casino, then watching shows. Occasionally, he took in some famous comedy acts. The casino continued to keep an eye on him, concluding that he was just a guy on vacation with a solid grasp of psychology.

By now, Link had shifted to playing Texas Hold'em. Blackjack required too much luck, whereas poker was more about strategy.

Feeling quite satisfied, he applied his knowledge of psychology, honed by the previous owner of his body, while his superhuman brain ensured every detail stuck. Unlike others with such powers, Link actually used his super intelligence. Psychology proved to be incredibly useful, and he embraced it fully. His X-ray vision served as a hidden ace in the hole.

As a result, Link managed to win $5 million. Finally, the casino made its move—not to kick him out, but to invite him to an even bigger poker game.

The casino organized high-stakes games for VIP clients or upon request from some of its wealthiest patrons.

Intrigued, Link accepted the invitation. The game was set for 8 PM the following night, lasting until midnight—four hours in total.

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After dinner the next day, Link arrived at the VIP suite around 7:30 PM. He was the first to arrive, which didn't bother him. It fit his current status. Rather than wait idly, he took an interest in the high-end liquor and cigars prepared for the guests.

He asked the bunny girl in the room detailed questions about the Cuban cigars on offer. While they weren't the most expensive, the hotel had clearly spared no expense. There were dozens of top-shelf liquors available.

Link learned about the proper technique—how to toast the cigar to release the aroma, take a puff, savor it, and then exhale without inhaling. Of course, some people did inhale, but it was rare. The substances in the cigars had no effect on Linck, so he was only after the scent.

He then selected a plum-flavored bourbon to pair with the cigar, pleasantly surprised by how much he enjoyed the combination. Link made a mental note of the brand, grabbed a bottle, and settled onto a nearby sofa to enjoy himself.

Everything was free, and Link couldn't get drunk anyway. If Captain America couldn't get drunk, then neither could he.

Time passed slowly, but Link wasn't bored. Finally, at 7:50 PM, the door to the suite opened again.

Several people entered, led by none other than Tony Stark, who was engaged in a heated argument.

"Hammer, you're going down tonight," Stark said to the man next to him, Justin Hammer, chairman of Hammer Industries.

Following them were two white individuals, a man and a woman. The man was exceptionally tall and muscular, standing over 6'3" and holding a cane. He was also completely bald. The woman appeared to be at least in her fifties or sixties but exuded a commanding presence.

The group took their seats, with the man and woman sitting on the left side of the table, while Hammer and Stark occupied the right, leaving the middle seat open.

"Hey, where's the last guy?" Stark asked impatiently. "You said there was a pro coming."

"Mr. Stark, Mr. Lin has been here for a while," the manager said, gesturing toward Linck. Stark finally noticed him, lounging with a bottle of bourbon in hand and a half-smoked cigar dangling from his lips.

Cigars burn slowly, and Link was taking his time, savoring the flavor. He calmly stood and moved to the center seat, a bunny girl placing an ashtray in front of him.

Link spoke, "Mr. Tony Stark, Mr. Justin Hammer, I may not know the other two, but judging by their presence, I can tell they aren't short on wealth. Looks like I'm the poorest one here."

"Five million dollars is a small sum to them. It hardly seems fair," he added with a smirk.

The manager chuckled and introduced the others. "This is Mr. Link, who turned $300 into $5 million in just a few days. He's a psychology expert."

"Mr. Link, allow me to introduce you to Wilson Fisk and Madame Alexandra Reid."

"The game will last four hours. Each of you has $5 million in chips. Shall we begin?"

Stark nodded eagerly. "Let's get started. If there's an expert here, I want to see what he's made of."

Stark had a fierce competitive streak, but Link remained silent. He understood the casino's tactics—they wanted to exploit his relatively isolated position but had also given him an opportunity.

Seeing Wilson Fisk here, however, was a surprise. Fisk would later become the notorious Kingpin, and the woman... After a moment, Link recalled that she was Alexandra Reid, leader of the Hand, an ancient and dangerous group.

This woman had lived for who knows how long—she was an ancient monster. Link's psychology skills might not be much help against her.

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(Chapter End)