Chapter 151

Chapter 151

A brief silence fell on the other end of the line, only the faint sound of breathing traveling through the connection.

"Captain..." Viper's voice came through again.

"It's been a while since we've seen each other. When I get to Imperial City, could we grab dinner together?"

Jack nodded with a smile. "Of course."

After that, the two chatted about other things for a while.

After hanging up, Jack stared at his phone and let out a helpless sigh.

He seemed to have racked up way too many romantic debts.

The days passed, one after another.

In the blink of an eye, five days had gone by.

The time Jack had arranged with Kirk had arrived.

This time, Jack didn't bring Sherry along. Instead, he took Freya and Seraphina with him.

He was certain he'd see Karina this time, and there might be danger. Jack didn't want Sherry caught up in it because of him, so he left her behind.

Still, Sherry told him to notify her immediately if anything went wrong—she'd bring backup right away.

The same casino. The same opulent splendor.

But unlike last time, when Jack arrived, he found the casino completely empty of customers. It was eerily quiet.

Jack stopped in his tracks, his gaze sweeping across the deserted hall.

The crystal chandeliers still gleamed brilliantly, but their light couldn't warm the deathly silence. No clatter of chips, no hum of spinning roulette wheels, not even the sound of waiters' footsteps. The entire casino felt like a meticulously arranged mausoleum—gorgeous, yet chilling to the bone.

Jack's expression remained unchanged. He walked straight ahead.

Just then, Kirk appeared with a group of attendants.

"Mr. Carter, welcome." Jack glanced at Kirk and the people behind him. He didn't see the woman who called herself God.

"The five days are up, Mr. Graham. I wonder if your casino is ready today? Can we continue gambling?"

Jack asked with a smile.

Kirk's smile was flawless. He bowed slightly, making an impeccably polite gesture of invitation.

"Mr. Carter, you jest. Since you've personally honored your appointment, the casino is naturally open for you." Kirk's voice was gentle, but in the empty hall, it sounded particularly eerie. "However, there's something I should advise you about."

Jack raised an eyebrow, his gaze deeply scrutinizing this fox-like, cunning man. "Oh? I'm all ears."

"Over three billion dollars is already quite a lot."

"Whatever you're planning to do, I'd advise you to quit while you're ahead. Otherwise... you might end up with nothing."

Though Kirk's tone remained gentle, his eyes flashed with an unmistakable warning.

Far from getting angry, Jack actually laughed.

"Thanks for the advice."

"But I'm the type who likes to press my advantage."

"My luck was pretty good last time—won over three billion dollars. I think my luck should be just as good today. Maybe even better."

Kirk's expression darkened slightly, a sinister glint appearing in his eyes.

"Then I wish you the best of luck!"

"Bring up Mr. Carter's chips!"

With a casual wave of his hand, several attendants began bringing in the chips. It took multiple people to carry over three billion dollars' worth.

Kirk led Jack to a private room.

"Mr. Graham, what's this?" Jack raised an eyebrow at the room before him.

Kirk bowed slightly. "Mr. Carter, because you have such a large amount of chips, we've specially arranged a private room for you. Someone inside will attend to you."

"Please."

He gestured for Jack to enter.

Jack stepped forward.

When Seraphina and Freya tried to follow, Kirk blocked them. "I'm sorry, only you may enter."

Jack turned to look at Kirk. "The casino has rules like that?"

Kirk's expression didn't change. "It's a newly established rule."

"You're free to decline, but in turn, the casino is also free to refuse service."

At those words, Jack's eyes narrowed slightly.

Then he looked at Seraphina and Freya. "Wait outside."

"Yes, sir."

Both women nodded coolly and took positions outside the room like statues.

Jack followed Kirk into the private room.

Inside, there was an enormous card table.

After Kirk had the attendants place all of Jack's chips on the table, he withdrew with everyone else.

Instantly, the entire room became empty.

Only the mountain of chips on the table reflected cold light.

Jack didn't look at the chips. Instead, he walked straight to the head of the table and sat down, his gaze sweeping the empty surroundings.

"Come out." Jack interlaced his fingers on the table, his tone as casual as if discussing the weather.

The moment he spoke, a previously sealed hidden door at the back of the room creaked open slowly.

The sound of high heels on carpet was so soft it was almost inaudible, yet each step pierced the frozen air like needles.

A woman in a long dress slowly emerged from the shadows.

She appeared to be in her fifties. Time seemed to have been exceptionally kind to her, leaving few marks of age, instead settling into a dignified elegance that commanded respect.

She wore a dark purple velvet gown, its collar and cuffs embroidered with intricate dark gold patterns that gleamed with understated luxury in the room's amber light.

Her hair was pulled back in a flawless updo, revealing a smooth, full forehead. From her earlobes hung a pair of large jade earrings that swayed gently with each step, complementing her graceful neck.

Her features were striking and refined—prominent brow bones, a straight nose, lips curved in a faint, enigmatic smile. Her deep brown eyes were as still as an ancient well, revealing no emotion yet seeming to see into the most hidden corners of one's soul.

She walked to the opposite side of the table and sat down directly across from Jack.

This was Karina.

After sitting, Karina rested her chin on one hand, looking at Jack with a warm smile.

"It really is you, Jack."

"I remember the last time I saw you, you were only about this tall."

As she spoke, she raised her right hand and gestured at shoulder height in the air.

"Back then, Sophia always loved following you around, playing with you. You two were like a knight and his princess—inseparable."

"I never imagined that after all these years, you'd grow up to be so handsome. Sophia's a lucky girl." Karina's voice was calm, as if she were simply catching up with an old friend she hadn't seen in years.