aOS v.1.28

Jin stood in silence, watching Alex stroll out of the poker room, a sly grin still playing on his lips. But as the noise of the casino washed over him, something gnawed at Jin's mind.

Alex didn't really wnet to the bathroom earlier—he had placed his bet instead. Jin pieced it together slowly. The sports announcement, Alex's relaxed demeanor... it all clicked. He had bet on Jon McJones long before he sat down at the poker table. That was the real play.

Jin's expression remained unreadable, but internally, he marveled at the audacity of Alex's moves.

As Alex was about to leave, the old man cleared his through, his expression dark. He had watched the poker game and sensed something off. His voice, low and cold, cut through the noise around them.

"You cheated."

Alex froze for a second, his grin faltering. Cheated? His mind raced. Did the old man know about Kofi? The aPhone? Was that why he said Alex had cheated? His heart skipped a beat, and for a brief moment, Alex's calm exterior almost cracked. 

Could he know? he wondered. But how could he? Kofi had been discreet—just a voice in his AeroPods, invisible to everyone else.

He turned slowly to face the old man, raising an eyebrow, forcing a grin to show a cool composure back into place. "Cheated? I played by your rules." His tone was casual, almost playful, masking the uncertainty gnawing at him inside.

The old man's eyes narrowed, scrutinizing Alex with a sharp, calculating gaze. "You think I'm a fool, boy? That trick with the bet? That wasn't part of the game. And you know it."

Alex shrugged, still calm on the surface but now relieved that Kofi and his aPhone hadn't drawn any attention after all. 

"You weren't really clear about the rules, were you? Besides, ending the game early wasn't exactly fair play either. Or were you trying to pull one over on me?" He let the words hang in the air, knowing they'd hit a nerve.

The old man's eyes flashed with anger for a brief moment before he composed himself. His lips curled into a thin, dangerous smile. "Jin, let's go home." He turned on his heel but paused, glancing back at Alex. "And you, boy... I'll see you tomorrow. I'll settle my debt."

With that, the old man and Jin disappeared into the sea of gamblers, leaving Alex standing there, mind whirling. He exhaled slowly, a sense of relief washing over him, though the lingering doubt still clung to his thoughts. Could he know about Kofi? About the aPhone? Alex shook his head, pushing the idea away. It didn't make sense... but still, something about the old man's tone unsettled him.

—---

Back in his hotel room, Alex collapsed onto the bed, his mind still racing from the night's events. He opened his digital screen with a swipe, scrolling through his inbox until he find what he's looking for. That message.

"Proud of you, son! You're doing great. Keep it up."

The message was from his father, a moment that pierced through the whirlwind of his life. It wasn't just any message—it was the message. The last one his dad had sent him, years before he passed away in the future. In this timeline, though, it had only been weeks ago. The familiar words flooded Alex with emotions he thought he had long buried.

That's probably why my future boss at the firm, Professor Taylor, is so worried about my career choices, Alex thought, staring at the message. Professor Taylor had been a mentor, a guiding figure who had seen potential in Alex from the moment they met at university. But now, Alex was in a world far from academia or finance. He was navigating casinos, poker tables, and people like the old man.

He sighed deeply, letting the memories of his father linger for a moment longer before pushing them aside. There was work to be done. Tomorrow, he would face the old man again. And this time, Alex needed to figure out exactly what he knew—and whether he had really noticed Kofi's presence.

"...", Kofi for the first time ever since he met Alex was silent.

—---

The next morning, Alex found himself at the entrance to a towering skyscraper in the heart of the city. He adjusted his jacket, smoothing the fabric before stepping inside, greeted by cold, sleek walls and the scent of polished wood.

A sharp-looking receptionist gestured toward a private elevator. "The Boss is expecting you," she said in a clipped, efficient tone.

Alex stepped into the elevator, his stomach tightening as it ascended. The doors opened to reveal a sprawling office with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city. There, seated behind a massive mahogany desk, was the old man.

"Welcome, Mr. Han," the old man said, his voice as cold and controlled as the night before. He motioned for Alex to sit.

"So... we doing this here? Where's Jin?" Alex asked, looking around the room for the familiar figure of the bodyguard.

The old man leaned back in his chair, his hands steepled in front of him. "This isn't just about the game, boy. There's more at stake here than you realize."

"What do you want from me?" Alex asked, narrowing his eyes, still cautious about revealing too much.

The old man smiled. "Allow me to introduce myself properly. My name is Kenjiro Yoshi. I run this city's gambling empire.. I've seen countless men like you—bold, cunning, willing to risk everything for the right payoff. But what I haven't seen in years is someone with your potential."

Alex tilted his head, not sure where this was going. "Potential?"

The old man's gaze sharpened. "I can offer you protection from the gambling world, Mr. Han. But more than that, I want to train you—to mold you as my successor. In my empire... and in my discipline."

Alex blinked, caught off guard by the offer. "Successor? You mean... you want me to take over?"

He nodded slowly. "I see a fire in you. You're different from the others. The skills you've displayed, both in the casino and outside of it, are rare. But raw. Under my guidance, you could become more than just a gambler—you could become a leader. A master. This is not an offer I make lightly."

Alex sat there in silence, trying to wrap his mind around what the old man was proposing. A part of him felt a thrill at the idea—the chance to control an empire, to be trained by a man as powerful and respected as Kenjiro Yoshi. But another part of him couldn't ignore the risks, the dangers that came with stepping deeper into this world.

"What's the catch?" Alex finally asked, his voice steady.

The old man's smile widened, but his eyes remained hard. "The catch is simple. You'll owe me your loyalty. Your dedication. In return, I'll make you a king. Reject my offer, and you'll find out just how dangerous this world can be without me."

Alex exhaled, leaning back in his chair. The room felt colder now, the weight of the decision heavy on his shoulders. Does he know? he wondered again. Was this part of some test?

The old man stood up, extending a hand. "Think about it, Alex. I'll give you time. But not much. The gambling world is watching you now, and so am I."

Alex shook his hand, his mind racing. As he left the office, one thought kept circling back to him: What have I gotten myself into?

The old man stood there, his hand still outstretched, waiting for Alex's answer. The air in the office felt thick with tension, as if the entire city outside those glass windows held its breath, waiting for Alex to speak.

Alex finally rose from his seat and met Master Kenjiro's eyes. "I'll do it. I'll agree to your terms." His voice was steady, but there was a sharp edge in his tone. "But..." He paused, locking eyes with the old master. "I want the $10 million you got from yesterday."

The old man's eyebrows lifted slightly, a mix of curiosity and amusement playing across his face. "What do you need the money for? I'm offering you an empire. You won't need cash when you're running everything."

A wide grin spread across Alex's face, his eyes gleaming with confidence. "I don't need the money, master. But I want it. Consider it a reminder that I beat you."

For the first time, the old man seemed genuinely surprised. His lips curled into a small, grudging smile as he nodded in acknowledgment. "You've got guts, I'll give you that." He chuckled softly. "Fine, the $10 million is yours. But don't think that makes us even."

Before Alex could respond, Kofi's voice suddenly crackled in his AeroPods, dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, look at you, big shot. Gonna frame that check and hang it on the wall? Maybe get a neon sign—'I beat the old man!'"

Alex's grin widened, though he didn't let the old man see the humor Kofi injected into the moment. Alex gave a respectful nod and walked out of the room, feeling the weight of both opportunity and risk pressing down on his shoulders.

As he stepped into the elevator, Kofi chimed in again. "An empire, huh? Guess we're moving up in the world, buddy. Just don't forget who got you here. And maybe… don't piss off the martial arts master too much, yeah?"

Alex chuckled under his breath, the grin never leaving his face as the elevator descended. He had secured his $10 million, agreed to the old master's offer, and more importantly, stayed one step ahead. But in the back of his mind, he knew this was only the beginning. The real game was about to begin, and this time, the stakes were higher than ever.