Secret World: I Became a God Through Lies
Chapter 7: Lord of the Golden Country
Chapter 7: Lord of the Golden Country
"On the surface, he's vulgar and greedy, but behind the scenes, he's cold and ruthless... You think you see through him, but in reality, he's hiding in the fog."
"Of course, you too."
"This world is so mysterious, everyone is acting.
The difference is—some people know what they’re acting, and some people don’t.”
"What about you? Your Excellency, Thousand Faces Sima, you don't think you've read the entire script of fate, do you?"
"Someone important wants to talk to me? Who is interested in my 'good luck' again?"
Siming hangs out in the casino day and night, just like always. He hasn't had enough of the game yet.
He sat at the card table with ease, tapping the table with his index finger, staring at the cards turned over on the table.
The corners of his mouth rose slightly, with a lazy smile.
"and."
"Raise."
"Oh? You're folding? You really are someone who cherishes your life, brother."
He chuckled, pushing his chips into the pool and collecting his winnings, twirling a playing card absentmindedly between his fingers.
For him, this is just a routine. The casino is where he gets his "salary" and he "works" here every day.
——Unfortunately, today’s entertainment time is not long.
From the moment he sat down at the gambling table, he had noticed something strange around him.
Two men in black stood on either side of him, arms folded across their chests, without saying a word.
The eyes behind the sunglasses revealed a sense of oppression, as if they were openly monitoring him.
Siming chuckled, his gaze slightly lowered to the slightly bulging lining of their suits.
gun.
What a warm hospitality.
He lowered his head and continued to play with the chips in his hand, saying casually:
"Can this game be finished? Or are you two here to give me a 'lucky bonus'?"
The man in black on the left sneered, his voice low and cold: "Sir, don't waste time, come with us."
Siming shrugged, as if to say, "I guessed it a long time ago."
He pushed the chair away skillfully, stood up, and raised his hands casually.
He said half-jokingly:
"Well, I'm a law-abiding person. Which big shot is interested in this little card of mine?"
He followed the man in black out of the casino and into the night.
——The next moment, he knew where he was going.
"Newbie? Small-time gambler? Don't act like that in front of me, Siming."
Familiar roads, familiar lights, familiar luxurious gates.
——Golden Land.
Siming was taken to the third floor. When he pushed open the heavy golden door, he saw the man in the center of the room at a glance.
Fatty Hake, the gangster boss who is rumored to control half of the Angel's Tears underground world.
He sat on a richly carved gold chair, and wore a crimson velvet robe.
There was an exaggerated gold chain hanging around her neck, a gold watch on her wrist inlaid with a circle of small diamonds, and a huge ring twirled between her fingers.
These glittering golden decorations alone are enough to take your breath away.
His face was a little deformed due to fatness, and his facial features were squeezed together.
When he smiled, the wrinkles on his face piled up layer upon layer, like a toad lying on gold.
However, what really makes people uncomfortable is not his appearance——
It's his eyes.
There was a dangerous light hidden in those cloudy and slightly narrowed eyes, as if it could see through everyone's heart.
——This is not an ordinary vulgar businessman.
Siming immediately stopped joking and started to feel alarmed.
But the smile on his face was still kept just right.
Fatty Hake shook the red wine glass in his hand and glanced at Siming.
His tone was lazy and casual: "Oh? Isn't this the 'lucky guy' from yesterday?"
Siming was slightly startled, then revealed an innocent smile:
"Lucky? Mr. Harker, you flatter me. I'm just a lucky gambler."
The fat man smiled, shook his wine glass, and said lazily, "Forget it, Siming."
He raised his eyes, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly, and his eyes were filled with unconcealed sarcasm:
"A professional gambler who hangs out in various casinos and is good at observing people's minds.
You can even use some tricks to guide others to place bets... This is your ability, isn't it?"
Siming's smile froze slightly.
"Oh?" He raised his eyebrows and said in surprise.
"Mr. Huck, I'm just a gambler who comes here occasionally to play. You think too highly of me."
Fatty Hake tapped the table lightly, his eyes deep, but his tone was filled with a hint of playful indifference:
"Do you think anyone can enter the Golden Country?"
Siming's heart trembled.
——The first layer of disguise has been broken.
But it is not important.
The essence of a thousand faces is not to disguise perfectly,
But the point is - when one layer of disguise is exposed, he still has countless "roles" to switch.
"You want to play tricks on people, but don't forget, a con man is just a beginner in front of a seasoned veteran."
Fat Huck put down his glass and crossed his hands on his stomach.
He leaned back, his eyes revealing a hint of amusement.
"Si Ming, you are very smart." He said slowly, "So smart that I am a little 'interested'."
"But because of this, do you think your little tricks can fool my eyes?"
He grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellowed teeth, his smile carrying a distinct sense of oppression:
"Don't act so pretentiously in front of me. You're not naive enough to think I'll believe you're just a simple 'small gambler', are you?"
Sima Ming sneered in his heart.
——Fatty Huck never regarded him as an ordinary gambler from the beginning.
This "meeting" was more than a test, and now, the test is over.
Siming was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly sighed.
He shrugged and put on a helpless and frivolous smile:
"Mr. Hake, you really put a lot of pressure on me." He shrugged.
"Since you've seen through me, there's no need for me to continue pretending."
He put away his previously feigned innocent expression and replaced it with an attitude more in line with that of a "veteran"—
Frivolous, slick, sophisticated, with a touch of cunning and a touch of self-deprecating "knowing the current situation".
A con man, a con man, a gambler.
He smoothly stepped into his new role, as if the previous "simple little gambler" had just disappeared as a joke.
"Then, Mr. Harker..." Siming said with a smile,
"What should I call you? King of the Casino? Ruler of the Golden Country?"
Fatty Hake didn't respond immediately, but just stared at Siming with his slightly narrowed eyes.
It was as if he was taking a second look at this guy who changed his face so quickly.
He suddenly laughed, patted the table with his thick palms, and said slowly and meaningfully:
"……interesting."
“I love dealing with smart people.”
"Then, Siming—" He paused, his eyes deep,
"Guess why I came to you today?"
Sima Ming smiled slightly, with a sharp gleam in his eyes.
"That's what I was wondering, Mr. Harker."
Their game has just begun.
"You think you're observing your prey, but your prey is also observing you."
"In games between smart people, victory or defeat often takes only a moment."
Siming stared at Fatty Huck's hand.
The hand was thick, but incredibly flexible. A black card spun rapidly between his fingertips.
Like a coin that could fall at any moment, it flashes an ambiguous light.
The front of the card was covered by fog, and the specific content could not be seen clearly, but the pattern on the back made Siming's heart shrink slightly.
——Two faces wailing in pain, each with a bullet hole in the forehead.
—A dead man lying on the ground with a dagger stuck in his heart.
Aren’t these… the three card hunters who died last night?
Damn.
Siming's nerves tensed instantly.
If this card is related to the death of those card hunters,
This means that Fat Hake is not just an ordinary mystic,
He may have some ability to "transform" people into cards.
Then the problem is coming.
Did he ask me to come here today to discuss a deal?
Or... let yourself become the next "prey"?
Siming still had a faint smile on his face, but he had already started frantically calculating possible escape routes in his mind.
There were only Huck and him in the room. The black-clad bodyguard at the door did not come in, but he was definitely guarding outside.
Where's his weapon? No, but he has cards.
As for Sima Ming's card...if he is really pushed to that point, his "reflection of fate" may be able to deceive for a while,
But whether this fat man can be fooled remains unknown.
Leng Ji and Natasha Wa had given Siming a certain sense of oppression, but this fat man was different. The threat he posed was even greater than the previous two combined.
This fat guy is far more dangerous than he lets on.
Hake played with the black card in his hand, his eyes casually glancing at Siming, as if he was just chatting casually:
"You know what, Siming? I really like smart people."
He smiled, revealing his yellowed teeth:
"Smart people can solve a lot of problems for me, but if they're too smart, they can make me feel... a bit troublesome."
Siming still maintained a calm smile: "I am flattered by what you said, but, Boss Hake,
I have a habit of bringing a fixed amount of money into the casino every day.
Three hundred dollars is the overnight fee for tonight, and the rest is entertainment chips."
Huck nodded slightly, his eyes narrowed slightly, as if examining something.
He kept his right hand hidden in his pocket, deliberately preventing Siming from seeing the life lines on his wrist.
What is this covering up?
Is it just a habit? Or... he doesn't want Siming to know,
Is his fate pattern different from that of ordinary mystics?
Siming raised his eyebrows slightly, pondering the significance of this detail, while pretending to say casually:
"Mr. Hake, with your status, shouldn't you just chat with anyone?
After all, the master of the Golden Country wouldn't waste his time on an ordinary gambler."
"Oh?" Huck smiled. "Then why do you think I should look for you?"
"Obviously." Siming smiled even more brightly.
"You have a 'game' and I might be one of the 'players' you want to pick."
He deliberately used the word "game" instead of "deal" or "collaboration."
Because he knew very well that the other party's purpose would not be so simple.
Huck's eyes flickered slightly, and then he burst into laughter and patted his belly.
His voice was low and cheerful: "Hahaha! You are better at guessing than I thought."
He stretched out his finger and tapped the table lightly:
"But you know what? Some people think they're smart, but in reality, they just can't compete with the higher-level games."
He shook the black card in his hand, and said in a slightly suggestive tone:
"Do you think you can afford it?"
Siming's eyes fell on the black card. The smile on his lips remained unchanged, but his tone became more frivolous:
"Mr. Harker, what do you think? But there are always times in life when you see the amount of the lottery double and double and double again, and you can't control yourself, you know.
——As long as the pot is big enough, all bottom lines are negotiable."
Fatty Huck narrowed his eyes, seeming satisfied with the answer.
He swirled the wine glass, and the wine-red liquid swirled in an arc on the wall of the glass, and said lazily:
"So... you don't mind breaking your own bottom line?"
Siming shrugged, his tone carrying a hint of helpless mockery:
"If the price offered is high enough, I'm certainly willing to be more flexible."
Huck stared at him and said with a half-smile:
"Then you should be well aware that some gambles are 'one-way losers'."
"Of course." Siming blew gently on the playing cards in his hand and said with a smile:
"But that's the beauty of gambling, isn't it?"
He paused, his eyes slightly lowered, and fell on the black card again.
"What's more..." he said meaningfully.
"If you want me to be your 'player', at least let me see if this game is worth my bet."
Huck's smile deepened.
"Interesting, interesting." He laughed softly twice, staring at Siming with deep eyes.
"It seems that you are indeed qualified to listen to the rules."
As he spoke, he slowly put down the black card in his hand, his voice low and magnetic:
"Then, Sima Ming."
"Have you heard of the 'Eternal Night Blood Alliance'?"
"Can you accept an unknown gamble? Before you know the rules, the chips are already on the table."
“A wise person knows when to place a bet and when to hold back.”
Fat Huck shook his wine glass. The red liquid swirled in the glass, reflecting his smiling face.
"Si Ming, there have been some distinguished guests in the Golden Country recently." He spoke casually, as if he was just chatting.
"They are generous, elegant, and well-mannered. Their every move exudes a certain...aristocratic grace."
Sima Ming raised his eyebrows, listened quietly, and did not respond.
"They spent a lot of money in my casino."
Huck smiled, but there was no joy in his eyes.
"But the problem is, they also 'took away' some things."
When he said this, his eyes darkened slightly and he tapped his fingers on the table lightly: "Four ordinary dealers are dead."
"Several Mystic dealers have disappeared."
Sima Ming narrowed his eyes.
"……Then what?"
"And?" Fatty Huck smiled even more brightly, revealing his yellowed teeth.
"They left with satisfied smiles, even leaving behind a message: 'The Eternal Night Blood Alliance salutes you, the world of the Mystics.'"
The room fell silent for a moment, with only the sound of wine sloshing.
Siming chewed on this unfamiliar name gently, Eternal Night Blood Alliance...
Is this some kind of mysterious organization? Or is it the name of some kind of gated world?
"They just left like that?" Siming asked.
"Yes, that's it." Fatty Huck smacked his lips and gave a dangerous smile.
"Run wild in my place, kill a few people, take away a few of my 'people',
Then he just walked away, leaving a message behind. What should I do?"
Siming pondered for a moment, then chuckled:
"If it were me, I would probably be patient for now, wait until I know their background, and then try to 'extort some interest'."
Huck stared at him, narrowing his eyes. "Do you think I can bear it?"
"..." Siming shrugged, "It seems that you can't help it."
"Smart." Fatty Hake laughed and stared at Siming with fiery eyes.
"So, I'm going to form an exploration team and seek justice from these 'distinguished guests'."
"The Eternal Night Blood Alliance is obviously the name of a gate world."
Huck's tone was a little impatient, "But the problem is,
I don't have enough mystics, and not many who can be used."
"So you thought of me?" Siming asked with a chuckle.
"Yeah, aren't you a smart guy?" Fatty Huck tilted his head.
"A smart person wouldn't miss a good opportunity, right?"
He narrowed his eyes and stared at Siming's expression, as if waiting for his reaction.
"Let me guess..." Siming said thoughtfully, "This mission is quite risky, right?"
"Risk?" Fatty Huck shrugged.
"If you want, you can even think of it as a 'trip'—
After all, the world of 'Eternal Night Blood Alliance' seems to be a beautiful and mysterious place."
"Beautiful and mysterious?" Siming raised the corner of his mouth slightly. "Are you kidding again?"
Huck laughed.
"Okay, I admit, that place might be... a little dangerous, but isn't that what the world of the Mystic is like?"
He said, tapping the table lightly:
"This is a gamble, Siming—guess? Which is more important, your chips or your life?"
"In fact, every chip you have is given by me."
Huck tapped the tabletop lightly, with an irresistible rhythm.
Sima Ming did not answer immediately.
He just looked at Fat Huck quietly, his mind quickly weighing various possibilities.
Huck obviously didn't tell all the information.
He must know more about the Eternal Night Blood Alliance.
But he did not choose to tell Sima Ming directly. Instead, he extended the olive branch of "cooperation" to see Sima Ming's reaction.
So, what should Sima Ming do?
Reject? No way.
Agree? No way.
If he refused, Huck would never let it go, but if he agreed rashly, it would make him seem too "easy to manipulate".
He had to make Huck feel that he was a "smart gambler," a "smart guy" who was worth winning over but not easily fooled.
Then, Siming blew gently on the playing cards in his hand and said with a smile:
“You know, Mr. Harker, gamblers are the most cautious people.
Sometimes, though, I admire those who dare to go all-in—unfortunately, I often can’t help but follow suit.”
He put down the cards in his hand, leaned back slightly, and looked at the fat man calmly:
"If you want me to leave, you have to show me how much you are willing to bet."
"After all, a smart person wouldn't do a business that loses money, right?"
Huck narrowed his eyes, then smiled broadly.
"That's a good answer, you know? Siming, this world and you are more interesting than I thought."
"Okay then, Siming."
He chuckled softly and said, "Since you want to negotiate the price, let's talk about your 'worth'."
(End of this chapter)
You'll Also Like
-
Start cultivating immortality by slacking off and posting ads
Chapter 132 2 hours ago -
Douluo: Purple Brilliance Shines, Sun, Moon, Mountains and Rivers Are Forever
Chapter 110 2 hours ago -
Whale Falls and Becomes a God
Chapter 169 2 hours ago -
Dawn Spider
Chapter 72 2 hours ago -
You are not monster girls!
Chapter 83 2 hours ago -
Wanjie Hotel: Iron Man is not allowed to charge
Chapter 120 2 hours ago -
I am Emperor Shizu of Song
Chapter 105 2 hours ago -
If I let you become a druid, would you join the Demon Sect?
Chapter 125 2 hours ago -
Douluo: My Spirit Pidgeot
Chapter 89 2 hours ago -
Secret World: I Became a God Through Lies
Chapter 194 2 hours ago