Apocalypse Forecast

Chapter 939 - 744: From Bicycle to Motorcycle

Huai Shi lowered his head upon hearing the words, looking at himself.

A comfortable pair of loose grey shorts, a T-shirt printed with "I love Tanbo", and a pair of slippers loved by all sophisticated boys.

Where is the problem?

He was genuinely puzzled: This is what he wore to the Jinling Astronomical Association, why not to the Empire Casino?

"..."

Akasaki Makoto couldn’t help but roll his eyes: "Whatever... get in the car, time is running out. The Empire Casino has ceased operations for today just for this event."

"It’s closed, but not just for me alone."

He dusted off his clothes, stood up, and got in the car: "I can’t understand you people, it’s only a ten-minute walk and you need a car. Burning money for no reason."

Akasaki Makoto rolled his eyes, speechless.

The Empire Hotel Casino is not far away, not even beyond the Tanbo Inner Circle, standing tall in the middle of the most bustling street of Tanbo Inner Circle, towering like clouds, and when countless neon lights light up, the dazzling lights shine in all directions, like a lighthouse for gamblers.

The only source of light in the entire dreary area.

Here you can’t see the common shacks and shabby streets, clean and peaceful as if entering another world, the bright streets filled with passionate smiles.

Those shabby, ugly hybrid homeless people can’t even get within two streets. Under the control of the former five tycoons, this has always been the most shining place within the Tanbo Inner Circle, and a place for huge funds to flow in from outside.

It’s like with a trance, you’re in another world.

Everything is so dazzling, even the air is filled with a rich fragrance.

Beyond the fountain square, at the top of a towering staircase, the gilded doors slowly opened, and hybrid attendants who had been carefully selected for their good appearance respectfully ushered the two into the grand hall.

Huge crystal chandeliers hung from the specially raised ceilings, casting a uniform light over the vast and exquisite paintings around.

Amidst the sound of trickling streams, the sporadic notes of a piano echoed.

Sweet laughter filled the ears.

Huai Shi stood there, bewildered, eyes wide open.

"I told you to change clothes before coming," Akasaki Makoto, dressed in formal attire, couldn’t help but sigh: "Isn’t it embarrassing now?"

In the entire hall, only Huai Shi stood there like an alien, wearing a T-shirt and shorts, feeling countless odd gazes around.

When he turned around to look, he saw the lounge area of the hall filled with those beautiful women, either mature and elegant or sweet and fragrant, each dressed differently.

They scattered on the couches, their curvy figures revealed from the hot or conservative clothing, and seemed to carry a smile as their eyes scanned the room, radiating a captivating charm.

"Hey, don’t act like you’ve never seen the world."

Akasaki Makoto bumped Huai Shi’s shoulder, sternly reminding: "Don’t let me find out you’ve done anything unworthy of Miss Lihua, otherwise I won’t let you off!"

Huai Shi was dumbfounded.

I’d sure love to be worthy of her!

Why not ask if ’she’ can be worthy of me!

Well, now he finally understood why Akasaki Makoto found him so disagreeable, turns out he is a faithful admirer of Miss Lihua, they really should get to know each other more, compare lengths... If only he’d done this earlier, there wouldn’t have been so much trouble!

Huai Shi rolled his eyes, retracting his gaze, merely sighing: "There sure are a lot of wealthy, pretty girls, who says hybrids are all poor?"

"Heh, you really think they’re guests here?" Akasaki Makoto snorted.

Huai Shi’s steps paused, turning back to see some people leaning on others, arms wrapped around each other, heading towards the elevator.

Even knowing the business is legal in Yingzhou, Huai Shi didn’t immediately realize.

They’re not customers... they’re products.

"Ochiai Family’s business?" Huai Shi asked.

Akasaki Makoto glanced back, "The Ochiai Family’s business hasn’t fallen to such a level, they’re all upstairs, these here are freelancers."

The elevator doors closed.

Fast ascent.

After the attending officer swiped a card, they went all the way up, soon arriving before the casino doors, and after verifying their identities, the doors not opened to the public surprisingly opened.

Inside the vast venue, a lively scene, just with a fierce air in everyone passing by, not seeming friendly.

All are of the Extreme Path.

This is the only asset the Chiba Family put forth this time - 9% of Empire Hotel Casino’s shares. Even just this beats the numerous properties the Arakawa Family released.

The Empire Hotel itself doesn’t belong to the Alliance, and the Chiba Family only secured this piece of prime property to gain entry, with substantial investment barely acquiring 9% stake in the casino.

Besides the annual shares, they have no other rights.

Just by looking at it a bit, you can tell how massive the capital behind this really is.

In the shareholder committee, aside from the vests from several capital groups of Huangquan Slope, the world-renowned Ancient Company takes the lead, responsible for operations and management.

As a tycoon in the tourism industry, besides its various travel routes, the Ancient Company also manages numerous luxury hotels and special travel facilities. It’s not surprising that any business related to tourism involves them in some capacity.

Even the Group Star was managed by them back then, and compared to such grand gestures, this is merely an inconspicuous subordinate branch.

In America, Rome, Egypt, and the Russian Federation, there are more than a dozen similar hotel and casino joint operations of the Ancient Company...

And such a massive enterprise, the major shareholder behind it is the even more famous financial juggernaut - Forever Investment. The annual profits from these hotels combined might not even surpass a few random trades by operators on various border futures markets.

Yet, the seemingly immense Forever Group is just a subordinate institution for the Existence Institute to raise funds externally, and it’s not even on the Astronomical Society’s organizational list...

Behind the Existence Institute lies the Astronomical Society, which encompasses all borders in the Current Circumstances, even penetrating into Hell...

When Huai Shi’s thoughts layer upwards, then return to the present from the Astronomical Society’s perspective, the dazzling scene before him dulls immediately, no longer worth noticing in its insignificance.

However, surrounding this ten percent share, the Extreme Path members of Tanbo Inner Circle seem to boil over, rubbing their hands excitedly, even though they themselves are aware that they might not even get a seat at the gambling table...

"See that, Akasaki."

Huai Shi couldn’t help but remark, "We’re like ants."

Akasaki turned back in confusion, looking at him, only to find Huai Shi wasn’t looking at him, his gaze drifting across the bustling casino, unable to pinpoint where his focus lay.

Countless tiny ants gather here, one called Mr. Huaizhi, another called Akasaki, along with countless others with various names.

But no one pays attention.

They recklessly vie for the small pieces of candy falling from the sky, as if owning them could make them esteemed kings.

Even though they live in walnuts ignited into silence.

"Too ridiculous."

Huai Shi laughed self-deprecatingly, heading towards the bar, "White water, thanks."

"Oh dear, isn’t this Mr. Huaizhi? And Akasaki! You two used to fight so fiercely, and now you can sit quietly together? How rare."

Chiba Ryouni emerged from the crowd, arms around two beauties with contrasting complexions, looking both suave and wanton. He seemed entirely unperturbed about using such a sizable industry as stake, playing more joyfully than anyone else.

"Are you here to challenge our family’s Izumi too?"

He asked curiously.

"Not daring, I’m just here to watch the commotion." Akasaki Makoto answered respectfully.

"Hahaha, don’t be so restrained. There aren’t that many rules in the casino." Chiba shook his head, laughing, "Since I’ve put it as a bet, I haven’t thought of taking it back, but you better be careful, our family’s Izumi is pretty impressive, hahahahaha."

After speaking, he laughed heartily, warmly inviting, "Come on, we still have space over there. The gambling starts at eight, we can play a couple hands first."

"No, no."

The two hurriedly declined, and Chiba didn’t persist, merely snapped his fingers, telling the attendant behind the table, "Get them two hundred thousand worth of chips, their losses tonight are on me..."

"Yes." The attendant swiftly turned around to report.

Huai Shi was about to refuse, but saw Chiba nonchalantly wave it off, "Don’t stand on ceremony, just a bit of money. Didn’t you help me quite a bit? Consider it a thank you."

After speaking, he hummed a tune and left with the girls in his arms.

Before long, two stacks of shiny chips were delivered in front of them.

In silence, the two exchanged glances.

Akasaki asked, "By the way, are you good at gambling?"

Huai Shi thought for a while, seriously asking, "Does cheating in a game of Landlord count?"

"Of course not!" Akasaki exasperatedly replied, "What’s in your head? Here, if you’re caught cheating, you’ll lose a hand! I thought you had a lot of confidence; in the end, you made no preparations and just targeted this casino?"

"Maybe I’ll be lucky?"

Huai Shi answered decisively, grabbing the chips, "I’m the third place in the eighth Wang Ba Championship in our village, why can’t I be considered a gamble god? Tonight, I’ll show you what it means to risk it all, turning a bike into a motorcycle..."

Without waiting for Akasaki’s reaction, he headed toward the card table.

.

Twenty minutes later.

"Sir? Mr. Huaizhi?" The croupier glanced down, looking at the young man with a defeated look behind the table, "Are you alright? It’s your turn to show your cards..."

"..."

Huai Shi looked down at the last golden chip on the table, then raised his head, forcing out a difficult smile, "Um, let me ask first."

He hopefully asked, "Do we have a ’surrender half and lose’ rule here?"