Chapter 123

Up to 15 future chapters at pa.treon.com/FFAddict

Vote power stones for faster release!

On the training ground, Abel, holding [Onimaru], combined with the breathing technique, was focusing intensely on sensing the power of darkness.

Suddenly, at a certain moment, he opened his eyes.

"Breath of Darkness: First Form - Shadow Strike"

Whoosh!

The cross-shaped wooden pile placed ten meters in front of him, suddenly split bizarrely in the middle, as if cleaved into two by a sharp weapon.

Yet, from start to finish, Abel just stood there, motionless.

No!

The Abel standing at the original spot suddenly disappeared, like some illusion or afterimage.

Looking behind the wooden pile, the vanished Abel mysteriously 'teleported' there?!

If someone witnessed this scene, they would definitely be amazed and curious about how he accomplished this.

In fact, the principle behind this Shadow Strike move is quite simple.

First, he uses the power of darkness to leave an illusory double with his own aura at the original spot, specifically to deceive and confuse the enemy. Simultaneously, the real body conceals its own aura, immediately submerges into the darkness, and moves to the target's back swiftly and stealthily, finally landing a lethal strike.

In theory, the process seems simple, but in practice, it's extremely challenging. Abel had to make several attempts before he could finally execute the move effectively. However, the success of this technique heavily depends on the environmental conditions. It works best in dimly lit places abundant with shadows, and it can even deceive Conqueror's Haki!

Abel's experience in the world of giants allowed him to gain a deeper understanding of the power of darkness. He managed to complete the creation of the following two techniques:

Second Form: Dark Cut!

And

Third Form: Shadow Sword Dance!

With these, the evolution of the first three forms of Dark Breathing was complete. The ease of this process perhaps demonstrates the value of the red exclusive skill.

However, he felt a bit disappointed as he didn't have anyone to test these moves on immediately. Abel understood that as his understanding of Dark Breathing deepened, the evolved techniques he would create in the future would only become stronger. For now, these three techniques were sufficient.

Just as he was packing up to return, he received an urgent call from Gabi the journalist. Gabi reported that he finally had leads on the 'Greedy One'. Abel perked up; it was about time some good news came through. If Gabi failed at this, Abel would never entrust him with anything again.

The problem wasn't entirely Gabi's fault, the term 'greedy' was just too vague and wide-ranging, making it difficult to pinpoint anyone. After all, Gabi couldn't just randomly list hundreds or thousands of names and present them. That would be suicidal.

But fortune favors the diligent. After all this time, Gabi finally identified the most likely suspect, proving he was worthy of Abel's trust. Upon reviewing the full report, Abel prepared to set off immediately. Of course, before he left, he notified Donquixote Doflamingo and took Baby-5 with him.

...

Days later, Abel and Baby-5 arrived at an island known as Las Vegas. It boasted the most famous gambling city in the North Sea! Its opulence and extravagance could only be partially described by terms such as 'splendid' or 'luxurious'.

The island was illuminated 24/7 by artificial sunlight. It hosted grand musical fountain shows performed by the most famous singers in the North Sea. Here, one could taste any delicacy one could name, but only those known in the North Sea.

Of course, if you have a vast amount of Berries at your disposal, even the specialties of the East, South, or West Sea could be delivered promptly, as long as you desire it. Besides, the city offers the most diverse range of beautiful hostesses. Should a customer with deep pockets catch their eye, they would not hesitate to engage in a brief but thrilling romantic encounter.

As a result, countless people flock to this city every day, allowing its beauty to empty their wallets down to the last Berry. And the person Abel was looking for was in this city.

Speaking of greed, the red-eyed gamblers seem to fit the description quite aptly. However, no matter how greedy the gamblers, they would never outdo the greed of the casino owner behind the scenes!

Moreover, the more wealth one possesses, the more unsatisfied they become, which leads to increasing greed until the end of their lives. Therefore, the owner of the largest casino in the North Sea was the greediest person Gabi could think of!

While Abel wasn't sure if this line of thought was correct, it certainly offered a new direction. So, he brought Baby-5 to this place, intending to meet the owner.

It's worth mentioning that the Donquixote family owns a twenty percent share of this casino. Although they don't interfere with the management, the dividends provide a substantial annual cash flow for Donquixote Doflamingo.

But here's the question, knowing Doflamingo as Abel does, it seemed improbable that he would be content with just a bite of such a lucrative venture rather than swallowing it whole. What does this imply?

It suggests that the waters run deep here!

The casino owner either has a formidable background or possesses a power or influence that isn't afraid of any disturbances. Only under such circumstances would someone like Doflamingo remain content with merely receiving dividends.

So, before coming, Abel actively sought Doflamingo to gather some information. To his surprise, the real mastermind behind the casino was indeed a person of significant stature - one of the recognized rulers of the underworld, the King of Usury, Du Feld!

Many people overlook one thing - besides being incredibly wealthy, how did the King of Usury build his fortune?

Is there a more suitable place to practice usury than a casino?!

(TN: usury is the act of the lending of money at exorbitant interest rates)

Hence, besides being the Loan Shark King, Du Feld controls countless casinos and gambling cities! Wherever he opens a casino or a gambling city, he expands his usury business.

He lends money won from gamblers back to them, only to win it all back again, and then lends again. This repeated cycle allows him to accumulate such vast wealth.

Currently, Doflamingo's wings are not fully spread, so he would, of course, avoid direct conflict with the King of Usury.

But Abel?

He doesn't care at all!

After sorting out the relationships involved, Abel's arrival here with Baby-5 served as proof that he had no intention of giving up. His only concern was whether the visible owner of this casino possessed the "Soul of a Human Engulfed in Greed."

If not, wouldn't this trip be in vain?

"It would be great if we could eliminate that King of Usury. His soul must meet the requirements," Abel murmured with a hint of hope, as he walked into the establishment.

"Buffalo would love this place," Abel mused. He didn't flaunt his executive status immediately upon arrival, as doing so would grant him an immediate audience with the owner but could complicate his actions.

Instead, he wandered around like an ordinary tourist, fascinated by everything he saw. Then, he noticed a place crowded with people, appearing to be quite lively.

"Sir, what's happening in there? Why are there so many people?" he asked a bystander.

"Get out of here, don't call me 'sir'! I'm just 21, in the prime of my youth," the man retorted.

Abel instinctively glanced at the man's balding hair and hesitated before asking, "What do you do for a living?"

"I'm a writer!" the man replied proudly.

That made sense.

"I see, my apologies for the disturbance," Abel responded quickly, deciding not to provoke the man further.

Abel then moved on to ask someone else. This time he avoided encountering another man with a balding head, and the person he approached gladly answered his queries.

"It seems a master gambler has arrived. He has bet on 'big' eleven times in a row, and won each time!"

"It's simply unbelievable, they've even changed the dealer twice."

"But guess what, it was futile!"

"Look, the twelfth round, wow! Still 'big'!"

"Now, those who placed the same bet have made a fortune."

Having understood the situation, Abel curiously asked, "Since he's doing so well, why don't you bet the same way?"

"How do you know I didn't?"

"You did?"

"Yes."

"How much did you bet?"

"All my savings!"

"So, you must've made a fortune too?"

"I lost it all."

"What? Why?"

"Because I bet on 'small' the last round."

"..."

The two fell into simultaneous silence.

Abel was flabbergasted, unsure what to say.

The other man could only offer a bitter smile, wishing he could slap himself for his foolishness.

"May I ask, what were you thinking?" Abel finally managed to ask.

"I was thinking, after ten consecutive 'big' wins, a 'small' result was overdue. You wouldn't understand, given the situation at the time, I didn't dare to follow and bet the same way."

Well, if you insist, poverty suits you just fine! This kind of person could drive the God of Wealth away with their intelligence. They deserved to be poor for a lifetime!

Having witnessed the spectacle, Abel was preparing to leave. However, as he turned around, he got a glimpse of the master gambler through the crowd. The man had short black hair, wore a light purple kimono, and his eyes were tightly shut, suggesting blindness. The most striking feature was the 'X'-shaped scar on his forehead extending down to his eyes.

"Considering all these traits... could it really be this coincidental?" Abel stopped in his tracks, looking for a better vantage point to observe the scene.

"Sir, please place your bet," called out the newly replaced dealer. Although she appeared calm, she was internally panicked, her voice trembling slightly.

"Ten thousand beli on 'big'," responded the master gambler as he placed the smallest value chip on the 'big' side. As if losing their sanity, the crowd promptly piled all their chips on the same side.

Seeing this, the dealer began to sweat. Despite the blind master gambler's twelve consecutive wins on 'big', the casino hadn't lost much because he only placed bets of ten thousand beli each time. However, as his winning streak continued, the crowd grew, and the number of people and amount of chips riding on his bets soared. Thus, the casino's losses began to increase exponentially.

"We must end his winning streak. Otherwise, I might end up being thrown into the sea as fish food tonight. I have no other choice," she thought to herself.

Seeing the dealer's solemn face and her hesitation to reveal the dice, the crowd began to grow restless.

"Roll the dice! Hurry!"

"What are you waiting for?"

"Scared of losing, can't afford to play?"

"Roll! Roll! Roll!"

Finally, amidst the frantic shouts, the dealer lifted the dice cup, revealing the dice inside.

"Three fives, the house wins everything."

Upon hearing this, the blind master gambler slightly furrowed his brow, but quickly relaxed. After all, this wasn't the first time he'd encountered such a situation. Ten out of eleven casinos he'd visited had ways to cheat, they just didn't use them often.

And now, the crowd exploded in uproar.

"What? How could this happen?"

"My money, all my money is gone!"

"Give me my money back. I'm done playing, give me my money."

"I knew it, it's impossible to keep winning 'big' indefinitely," one man grumbled.

"Did you all conspire against us? Huh?"

Within the small area of the casino, human emotions were in full display. Those who had earlier adored and revered the blind master gambler now spewed hatred and disgust. They felt they had been duped by him, causing them to lose all their money. Conveniently, they chose to forget the previous rounds they had won by following his bets.

Amidst this storm of indignation, the blind master gambler sat unflustered in his chair, indifferent to the surrounding slander and insults, unshaken by honor or disgrace. Soon, the troublemakers were escorted out of the casino.

Meanwhile, someone approached the dealer, whispered a few words into her ear, then addressed the master gambler, "Sir, our master invites you to participate in another game. Are you willing?" Before he could answer, two men in black suits stood behind him, indicating that this was not a request, but a mandate.

"It seems I have no choice but to oblige," the blind man murmured.

Nearby, Abel, observing the blind man being escorted away, felt a stirring in his heart and decided to follow.

"Halt! Ahead lies the VIP private area. Without an invitation, you're not permitted entry."

Blocked, Abel lightly pushed his sunglasses up and revealed his identity, "I am an executive of the Donquixote Family. You have one minute to verify this."

A minute later, Abel and Baby-5 successfully entered the restricted area, accompanied by a stunning blonde woman who introduced herself as the boss's secretary.

"I noticed a blind man who seemed quite formidable earlier. I believe you've brought him over here."

"Could there have been a misunderstanding? Should we release him?"

"No need to worry, I don't know the man. I'm just purely curious."

"I understand. He's currently in VIP room 444, engaged in an exceptional gambling game with others. If you're interested, we can go to the 'VIP stands' to watch."

Abel raised an eyebrow slightly, "I would appreciate that."

He was curious to know if these people had the potential to aggravate 'that person'. Perhaps he could stir the pot, causing chaos throughout the casino. That would make it easier for him to operate under the radar.

Inside VIP room 444, the decor was as extravagant and luxurious as the rest of the casino.

A gambling table was set up in the center, around which five individuals were already seated.

"Hey, hey, hey, you're going too far! Even the blind man isn't spared. How are we supposed to play like this?" A man with a punk-style hairdo instantly couldn't hold back his complaints. At the same time, he was busy fondling his female companion. If the room hadn't been so crowded, he might have been tempted to put on a show.

Next to him, a nerdy-looking man with glasses blushed instantly upon seeing this, shifting backward in his seat to hide his embarrassment. Unbeknownst to him, his actions made the woman in the punk's arms stifle a laugh, casting him a flirtatious look in the process.

Gulp!

The nerdy man swallowed hard, visibly flustered by the unexpected attention.

This earned him a hard glare from the punk, causing him to quickly lower his head in fear.

"Stop it, honey. Don't scare the kid," the woman chided, wrapping her arms around the punk's neck. She then passionately responded to his advances with a kiss, effectively shutting him up and inadvertently rescuing the 'nerdy brother'.

"Damn it, are we going to start or what? If I hadn't heard about the thrilling games here, I wouldn't have bothered," grumbled a muscular man, wearing only a vest that revealed his brawny arms and a vast expanse of muscles. He glanced disdainfully at the punk before slamming his hand on the table.

No sooner had he spoken than the door was pushed open.

"I apologize for the delay, everyone. But before we commence this unique game, I need to ask one last time, does anyone want to withdraw? Once the game starts, there won't be an option to quit midway."

The woman who entered was none other than the attractive secretary who had earlier accompanied Abel. After taking Abel to the 'VIP stands', she had come here, seemingly ready to host this special game.

"Let's get this show on the road! Everyone seated here is waiting to strike it rich overnight!" the punk, pushing his woman aside, spoke dismissively.

Among the five individuals present, only the blind man, who was brought in last, seemed unfamiliar with this unique game

Yet, he didn't show any signs of wanting to leave. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. For a man as addicted to gambling as he was, nothing could be more enticing than a novel and interesting game. Even if they wanted to throw him out now, he wouldn't leave.

The secretary was used to this. Seeing no one opted out, she gently nodded and continued, "Today's gambling game consists of five rounds. The rules stipulate that everyone must participate in at least one round before all the rounds end, and each round must have a participant. Anyone who violates the rules will vanish from this world forever. Trust me, there are no exceptions."

Everyone listened in silence.

The rules were straightforward. Five rounds of gambling for five individuals. The simplest approach would be for each person to participate in one round. However, the gravity with which she emphasized the rules hinted that the upcoming rounds were far from simple.

"Registration for the first round will now commence. Those who wish to participate, please raise your hand."

With the completion of the secretary's sentence, the name of the first round lit up on the screen behind her—Happy Billiards! And underneath, it was noted: Limit 1 person.

Clearly, this was all the information provided.

Based on the game's name and the limit on participants, those present had to decide whether or not to partake in this round.

Given it was the first round, everyone was rather cautious, and for a moment, no one spoke up. Perhaps it was due to a lack of confidence.

At that moment, the punk who had been boisterous from the start stood up and blustered, "A bunch of wimps! Since none of you dare to step up, I, the great one, will take on the first round!"

"My darling, you're so brave~"

His woman threw herself at him like a love-struck fool, covering him with kisses.