[Silver Ash] - Become The Strongest In Another World
CHAPTER 289: Identity (2)

...****************...

After visiting the Red Hood headquarters, Noelle immediately went to visit the casino that was already open during the day. The process of creating an identity document takes quite a while, so it's not a problem if he wanders around a bit.

After all, despite living for a few weeks in Fencen, Noelle had not had time to visit some places that interested her. One of them is the casino and library.

(I am banned in some royal casinos, but supposedly this new identity will have no problem.)

At least that's what he expected.

Noelle walks into the casino. It is still quite early in the morning, but many people are already in the casino. Most of them are gathered at the poker and roulette tables.

Noelle's transformation of appearance did not use magic at all in the process, but instead made use of Dominance's authority. That was why, the anti-magic barrier that was at the entrance did not dismantle his disguise.

Knowing that, Noelle happily walked up to the cashier to exchange her money for some chips.

Each casino is different, but most of them only use chips for each game. Once the game is over, people can exchange their chips for real money at the exchange cashier.

Noelle had no intention of spending a long time in this place, so she would finish the game quickly without taking much advantage.

The total money he exchanged for chips was 100 Lunar, or the equivalent of 10 royal gold coins. As a result, Noelle was given 10 black chips.

That is a fairly large amount, but it is relatively normal among gamblers. The amount offered is also important to control the game, as this can have an effect on the psychological of the opponent.

There are tables that haven't started the game yet, and it looks like there's still enough space for an extra person or two.

Noelle sat in one of the chairs, and was immediately approached by the dealer who was preparing cards.

"Can I check your gloves? "

The city pointed at the red glove attached to Noelle's hand. It was a glove that Noelle created with her own blood; not for appearance, but to train her focus while maintaining the shape of the glove. Quite effective as well if Noelle wanted to use her abilities in quick time.

"Sure," Noelle said as she took off her gloves and casually gave it to the city for inspection.

As long as Noelle kept her focus on maintaining her form, the glove would not melt into blood. But of course, magic was used to do just that, so it was likely that he would be banned from using those gloves while playing.

"Thank you, here it is."

(Hmm? )

Noelle froze as she watched the city return her gloves and leisurely walk to the center of the table.

It's not what he thought it was. At first, Noelle thought that the gloves would be banned, but it didn't seem so.

(What are the rules different? )

Noelle didn't think that using magic was allowed in the game. So they should have banned everything that involves magic here.

With confusion engulfing his mind, the cards were finally dealt.

The first game Noelle chose was poker, with the bet given being half of his entire chip.

As a result, Noelle earns a profit of a quarter of the total that everyone is betting on.

Poker is not difficult. It only relies on strategy and cunning of the player in carrying out his plan.

Of course, there are other driving factors such as fraud committed by one or two parties. However, the more cheating done, the better for Noelle.

The game continued, until Noelle finally got consecutive wins. His chip count is now several times more than his previous chips.

A few rounds later, it was finally Noelle's turn again. Noelle checked the card in her hand, and without any expression pushed the black chip stacked on her right side. The number of chips is about sixty, which is the largest amount in this bet.

"You're really going to make a raise? "

A player in the sequence afterwards raised one eyebrow while glancing at Noelle. Noelle, however, only responded by snorting her breath.

"For the size of a new kid, you're overconfident. Call's."

"Based on the troublesome boy," said another player while putting all his cards on the table face down.

"Folds."

For the record, Noelle in the form of Grei Noctis is the youngest of all players. Most of them were middle-aged men who were around forty years old, humans with a lot of life experience. That's why they underestimate young players who don't look very good at tactics and cunning.

Casually, they committed some invisible fraud.

Finally it was Noelle's turn. Noelle made her last bet, saying, "Call."

The player after that is the player with the last turn.

The man issues a bet of the same amount, and chooses to stick with his current cards.

The round has been completed, now the player with the first turn is free to determine whether to check or open. And the choice this time is open.

All players who survive end up putting their cards on the table, and each opens them up to show the dealer.

Noelle did not escape that rule either. He placed his cards on the table, and turned them over until the combination of cards was visible to everyone.

"N-can't be! How'd you! "

One of the players frantically stood up and opened his cards. What was displayed there was not a combination as he expected, but rather a combination of weak cards that should not be.

"Royal Flush's. The winner is Mr. Noctis."

The announcement made the players at the table look at Noelle with all sorts of feelings; some were envy, anger, confusion, and more.

However, most of them had angry expressions mixed with obvious confusion.

The combination in Grei Noctis's current hand is a Royal Flush. It would not be too surprising if he was lucky. However, luck is not enough.

Those who work together during the game are very sure, that they have got rid of all the cards that allowed Grei to get the best combination. Therefore, Grei should never have obtained a Royal Flush.

Some began to protest at the bookie, imposing their opinion that Grei had cheated. However, Grei replied with a smile full of reproach accompanied by a cold look.

"cheating? Too bad, I'm not a loser like you guys who just rely on cheating to play."

"Whatchu mean? "

"Gambling by relying on cheating does not bring any fun at all. But yahh, I'm not forcing you guys to play honest. It's just .. before you start cheating, you better learn the techniques needed first. Ohh, all these chips are now mine, right? "

"Sure," the city replied casually. It seems that this has happened often in casinos, so he is not too surprised.

Noelle gathered all the chips that were in the middle of the table, and once again gave a rough grunt. "The "cheating you guys did was so obvious, that I could make use of it easily. The last raise I made was just to increase the number of chips I would get. I've actually won since the second round."

Faced with that reality, they could not argue. It's free to report to the city that Grei cheated. Instead, the report would only turn against themselves.

Finally, all players who had previously protested could only return to their seats, and with regret had to give up all those precious chips.

"That makes sense. Now go, I don't want to see you right now."

At least, they are rational players, and not easily provoked emotions. Noelle silently thanked him, and went towards the exchange cashier with a bag full of precious chips.

Noelle walked out of the casino with a feeling that somehow did not change much. It was a big win, Noelle knows that. He originally only issued 100 Lunar, but ended up receiving 3,400 Lunar, which clearly exceeded the income of the lower class people for one year.

"Getting money in this day and age is too easy."

After sighing in resignation, Noelle walked towards the library, as she had planned before.

...****************...

It was still not afternoon, but Noelle was tired of waiting for her identity documents to be completed.

To kill boredom, Noelle chose to find out some things in the city library. It was possible that there was information he was looking for here; information regarding travel to another world.

Although it was difficult, Noelle did not give up on her wishes. Noir also did not ban him, so it could be concluded that he was allowed to find out some things related to travel to another world.

Now he was wondering, what was the purpose of doing that? At first, Noelle wanted to go to another world because she was aware of the many dangers that enveloped this world. However, he was dealing with a small portion of that danger right now.

Moreover, a trip to another world would not provide a hundred percent guarantee of success. It could be that he would just be sent to a different place but still in the same world. In fact, if he was sent to a different world, there was a high chance that he would arrive in an even more dangerous world.

Already this far, Noelle would not naively think that there were only two worlds; this world and the earth she knew.

Noelle picked up a lot of books, and chose to sit in a corner far from everyone's attention.

The books he took mostly involved the theory of magic put forward by certain people, and some books containing information about the magic.

It was free if he looked for a way to go to another world in the book, because such information would be unlikely to be allowed to circulate freely. For this reason, Noelle chose to examine the theories of magic that the researchers put forward. If he discovered the theory in question, then he could try it himself.

Noelle wasn't so stupid as to not be able to practice the theory she saw. But of course, it all depended on the theory he read.

Noelle picked up one of the books among the stacks, and opened her pages one by one. The book contains a list of researchers who could have influenced the development of magic in the Republic. However, Noelle herself deeply regrets that no one knew that magic was freely created by the user. It seems that the statement of 'magic has strong limits' it has taken root in the hearts and minds of everyone.

Basically, there are only two limits to magic. It is the imagination of the user, and the power to achieve it. Everyone is too fixated on the elements that already exist, so do not realize this.

But Noelle was so at first. Now, he only made the elements that already existed as the basis for further development.

If he wanted to travel between worlds, then the basis used was spatial magic. His speculation was also in line with the theory he had just discovered, put forward by a lecturer at a university in the Republic's capital, Alten.

Professor Claude van Dirkenbum states that inter-world travel is not impossible, provided the caster has enough power to realize his shadow. In order to do that, it takes a certain amount of material that may be very valuable, and it is not known how much fuel is needed to realize it.

In addition to that theory, the same person also states that the caster must break through spatial barriers that will be encountered. The problem is, it is not known what these obstacles mean.

Noelle examined the biography of the person who wrote the theory, and found that the theory was put forward about 27 years ago. Which means it's possible that Professor Claude van Dirkenbum is still alive somewhere.

(Only he talks about traveling across the world. But ... is trying to meet him a good thing? I'm not sure.)

Because it could be, this person named Claude van Dirkenbum has a relationship with the Hermit Cult organization.

Noelle didn't know much about the organization, but Mona once said that it was an organization that was completely obsessed with magic. It could be that the professor who issued this theory is actually a member of them.

(It's too risky.)

Noelle frowned, and opened another book.

There are still many books to check. However, all in vain when a lot of time has gone.

It was now afternoon, and Noelle had unknowingly read through some thick books containing theories about magic.

This is a habit that has been around for a long time. Noelle was always swept away in a sea of words in a book, so she had unknowingly spent a lot of time just filling her head with new information.

Presence approached, and Noelle immediately turned to face the figure.

The one who came to him was a man, wearing a striking red hooded robe, yet possessing a fairly thin air of existence. He may have deliberately thinned it out to avoid being seen by anyone.

"Did Kino send you? "

Noelle remembers him. This man was one of the Red Hood members that he turned into a vampire.

The man nodded. "Boss says he's finished your request, you can meet him at the base."

How disrespectful, Noelle thought. However, he did not mind it because the manners here would only make him stiff-necked. After all, manners didn't seem to match Grei Noctis' persona very well.

...****************...

Noelle returned to Red Hood's headquarters, and without making small talk went straight to Kino in the special room that was underground.

During the renovation, a special room was added for the personal benefit of the leader. So there you have it, only Kino and the people allowed to enter it.

The room also served as a bedroom for Kino, so Noelle was not so surprised to see the one-man bed that was in the restroom connected to this room.

Noelle did not say anything, and casually sat down on the chair while watching Kino finish her work.

There, Kino looks a bit nervous as she picks up the brown envelope and hands it to Noelle.

"Please check. If there's a mistake, please say it," he said as the envelope slipped out of his hand.

Noelle opened the envelope, and pulled out two pieces of hard paper that were inside.

On the paper, Grei Noctis' name was displayed, along with other identifying details.

Grei Noctis, age 22, was born on February 18, 719. Born in the border town of Altmark of the Republic of Waldenholt, and some other details.

Noelle carefully examined all of the contents, and quickly memorized them so that she would have no problems when asked directly about identity.

Meanwhile, Kino nervously asked her, "W-how? "

"Well, this is good. I won't protest." Noelle fell out of her chair, and threw a cloth bag that seemed to be full of something at Kino.

"Ahh—! " Kino stuttered to catch him, and looked at the contents of the pouch. Instantly, he was surprised.

"Wait around! What's with this amount?! "

The bag Noelle had just thrown contained dozens of shiny white coins known as Lunar. Each coin was heavy enough that Kino had to use both hands to keep the bag full of coins from falling to the floor.

"What's? Isn't that much less than the total payment you received first? "

In fact, it was only a fraction of the money Noelle had earned at gambling last afternoon. He still had more, but he had no interest in handing it over to Kino.

"From the beginning I wouldn't charge money from this job. We didn't make a deal for this" Kino said as he looked firmly at Noelle.

Noelle likes this attitude. But at the same time, he was also worried.

If Kino is too focused on the direct deal done before the job or transaction, then tricking it will be easy. But of course, it would not have happened if Kino had been really careful when making a contract with someone.

Noelle gave a rude snort and continued walking to the exit. "Take it as capital to grow your business. Red Hood is also mine now, so I want to invest a little. Of course, you're free to charge me if I have any future requests."

Step out of the door, Noelle turned around and smiled cynically at Kino who was still standing still with a bag full of money.

"Because I might just make you work really hard later."

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