I Became a Black Market Tycoon with an Inventory - Chapter 217

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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217 – Crockfords Premier
217.
Resorts World Sentosa.
Crockfords Premier.
An exclusive VIP casino.
The atmosphere differed vastly from the common casino floor.
No raucous cheers, no cacophony of voices, no wandering tourists cluttering the space.
Quiet. Composed.
The dealer’s gestures.
The soft clink of chips—that was all.
We entered silently.
Separately.
As though we were strangers to one another.
Mateo was easy to spot.
I’d already confirmed his face through Victor.
Mateo sat at the roulette table.
Dressed in a tailored suit.
Chips stacked carelessly before him.
Hundreds of thousands of dollars in total.
Mateo sipped his whiskey leisurely, his focus entirely on the game.
He seemed oblivious to everything else.
Lucky bastard.
Here he was, simply gambling away.
The dealer spun the ball.
It rolled within the wheel, then bounced with a sharp click before settling into a numbered slot.
Mateo had won his bet—the dealer slid chips toward him, and he grinned.
I naturally moved to the seat beside him and sat down.
A soft sound.
I set down a transparent chip tray.
The tray was filled with brown chips, each worth five thousand dollars—seven and a half million won.
I had stacked multiple trays like this before me.
Those around us stirred at the sight.
Mateo was no exception.
The moment to place bets had arrived.
I pushed one of my stacked chip trays directly forward.
One hundred five-thousand-dollar chips—twenty per row, five rows.
One hundred chips in total.
Seven hundred and fifty million won.
Everyone except me was stunned.
Seven hundred and fifty million on a single hand.
While it wasn’t uncommon for players to bet a few chips at a time,
it was rare to see someone wager an entire chip tray itself.
And filled entirely with the highest denomination—five-thousand-dollar chips at that.
The dealer was the most flustered.
“I apologize, but that bet exceeds the maximum limit.”
“It’s not even that much. You won’t accept this?”
“I’m sorry. It’s the house rules.”
“You’re awfully strict, aren’t you? I’m trying to spend money here, and you’re blocking me?”
“My apologies.”
The dealer bowed his head.
It wasn’t the dealer’s fault.
It was just protocol.
“Never mind. Get me a manager.”
Rules could be changed if needed.
While the dealer contacted the manager, Mateo beside me casually struck up a conversation.
“You’re betting quite heavily.”
His expression brimmed with curiosity.
Did I reek of a wealthy fool? Perhaps he’d take interest.
“To win big, you have to bet big, don’t you?”
I spoke like a gambling addict consumed by the vice.
Shortly after, the manager arrived.
“That’s absolutely possible. We’ll arrange for this table to operate without betting limits.”
“Good. Now we can play a real game.”
Roulette offered an astonishing variety of betting options.
Wagering directly on the thirty-eight numbers was just the baseline,
but one could also bet on colors, columns, rows, odd or even, high or low in countless combinations.
You weren’t restricted to a single bet either.
Multiple bets in one round were entirely possible.
You could bet on color, on odd or even, on numbers—all simultaneously.
Overlapping bets were allowed.
Mateo placed his bets first.
Red, odd, third column.
I placed my chips in the exact opposite positions.
Black, even, second column.
The dealer spun the ball.
The wheel rotated as the ball bounced and rolled across its surface.
“All bets are in. No further bets are accepted.”
The dealer called out.
And then.
With a sharp click, the ball bounced into a numbered slot.
Black twenty.
“Woooow~~~”
I let out a genuinely delighted cry.
The serene VIP Casino filled with my exultation.
The three chip trays I’d wagered had returned as seven.
I’d bet 2.25 billion, and it came back as 5.25 billion.
“Kahahaha. I knew it would happen. I said double down, and look—kahahaha.”
The more I laughed, the more Mateo’s expression rotted away.
“Keep it down and just play the game, would you?”
Gone was that curious face from moments before.
Did he think I was the reason things weren’t working out?
If he thought that, he’d be right.
I’d simply positioned myself opposite Mateo.
What I wanted wasn’t to win money—it was to get under his skin.
I own a Casino myself, but I’ve never found a single person who actually made money from one.
You’re supposed to approach a Casino expecting to lose modestly, betting only small amounts.
Scientific analysis, probability—you can never beat a Casino.
Those are rules that apply when things are fair, but Casinos manipulate the odds once you start losing money.
So moderation is best.
“Why are you being so uptight? We’re not here to make money from the Casino—we’re here to have fun. Can’t I even enjoy myself? If I’m happy, I can cheer, can’t I? Are you a monk? Do you need silent meditation? You’re really being a killjoy.”
“You should keep it moderate. You’ve crossed the line.”
“Crossed the line? Who crossed the line? Sir. If losing money is eating at you, go outside and buy yourself some snacks. Don’t take it out on other people here.”
“What?”
“Looking at your chips, you don’t even seem to have much money. Don’t embarrass yourself here—go out and work. Why is a young person like you even thinking about making money at a Casino? Clearly you can’t even play the game.”
I could see Mateo grinding his teeth.
He glared at me.
“Watch your words.”
“You watch where you’re looking. Keep it up and your eyes might get plucked out.”
At my words, Mateo tried to rise in fury, but someone behind him pressed him down.
It was Scott.
“Play quietly, would you? Don’t make a scene—just play the game.”
Scott spoke in a threatening tone directly into Mateo’s ear.
“You’re making a mistake.”
Mateo growled.
“The mistake was already made by some foolish bastard. Keke.”
The dealer resumed the game to dispel the murderous atmosphere.
“Placing bets.”
Mateo began betting again.
I placed my bet directly opposite his once more.
When Mateo chose red, I chose black.
If Mateo chose the first row, I selected the second.
If Mateo bet on odd numbers, I wagered on even.
I could feel Mateo’s frustration mounting with each passing moment.
Consumed by rage, he shoved all his remaining chips into the pot.
The dealer spun the ball once more.
It rolled along the wheel in a graceful arc.
Click.
It settled on black 8.
“Wow!!”
I cried out.
I deliberately made a grand show of celebration.
Mateo, seething with fury, kicked back his chair and stood abruptly.
Scott and Allen quietly followed him out.
Once I confirmed their departure, I gestured leisurely toward my chips.
“Convert this to cash for me.”
“The amount is substantial. We can arrange a check or wire transfer instead.”
“A check will do.”
With that, I left the Casino.
Scott and Allen had already subdued Mateo outside.
We had been waiting for this moment.
The moment Mateo would be alone.
Somewhere with no one around.
I approached Mateo and spoke quietly.
“You’ve warmed up nicely. Shall we begin the real game?”
.
.
.
.
Gaerang Underground Warehouse.
The heavy iron door slammed shut with a resounding clang.
Bound to the chair, Mateo still hadn’t grasped the situation and bellowed loudly.
“Listen here. This is a huge mistake. Do you know who I am? If I just make one call···”
Crunch!!
Before he could finish, I crushed his face with my fist.
It had been ages since I’d thrown a punch, yet it still felt remarkably effective.
Mateo’s head snapped back, and he spat out a couple of blood-stained teeth.
Yet my rage remained unquenched.
Thud! Thud! Crunch!
Without thought, I unleashed blow after blow upon him.
Bound to the chair, Mateo’s head whipped back and forth with each impact.
It was Scott, surprisingly, who stopped me when reason had abandoned me.
“At this rate, this bastard dies. Let’s extract whatever information we need before we kill him.”
Looking at Mateo’s face, it was already a complete mess.
I breathed heavily and stepped back.
I had specifically told Scott not to hit his face when we met,
to leave him able to speak. And I had failed to do that.
I regret it.
But I couldn’t help myself.
Every time I looked at that bastard’s face, a sickening revulsion welled up inside me.
Seeing his face covered in blood made me feel somewhat better.
Mateo managed to speak through his ruined face.
“Do you know who I am? You made a mistake.”
“The mistake wasn’t mine—it was yours. Already. At Marina Bay Sands.”
When I mentioned Marina Bay Sands, Mateo’s eyes changed.
He seemed to understand then.
That this wasn’t coincidence.
That Mateo had been the target from the beginning.
In that moment, Mateo fell silent.
“···..”
“I know. I know your name is Mateo, and that you’re Parallax. You came from headquarters, didn’t you? You’re the director.”
With his identity exposed, Mateo actually became more composed.
He didn’t hide it.
“Heh, heh. Some loose-mouthed bastard must have talked. This is why we need stricter discipline.”
“Don’t worry too much. Your mouth will loosen up too.”
“Mine won’t. I’m not the type to betray, even if I die.”
“We’ll see if you can keep that conviction.”
Behind Mateo’s defiant chin, Scott began snapping on silicone gloves with sharp, deliberate clicks.
“Shall we begin?”
Scott asked.
I nodded.
“What should we start with?”
Scott spoke, looking at Mateo.
“Let’s start with his eyes. I didn’t like the look in those eyes anyway.”
“For once we agree. What are you waiting for? Do it.”
“Yes.”
I settled comfortably into a chair.
Scott picked up a tool and approached Mateo.
Click. Click.
The sound of metal tools striking together sent chills down my spine.
“That stings.”
Scott spoke to Mateo with practiced ease.
His tone was colorless and odorless, like a nurse administering an injection at a hospital.
Mateo erupted at Scott’s words.
He thrashed his entire body and screamed.
“Hey. What the hell is this? Ask me something at least. You’re just going to rip my eyes out without reason?”
Mateo’s eyes were filled with fear and terror.
It would be less frightening if he simply said he’d kill me.
But when it was limited to a specific body part and would result in permanent disability in the future, the fear hit far harder than expected.
“You said you wouldn’t betray even if you died, right? Even if you died. I respect your resolve. So think of this as a good opportunity to test yourself.”
I encouraged Mateo.
I wanted to preserve his convictions.
“I don’t know anything. I just received orders to bring you to the hotel. That’s all there was.”
Mateo spoke through ragged breaths.
“Who gave that order?”
“···..”
Mateo’s mouth clamped shut.
Whether it was his last shred of loyalty,
or fear of knowing he’d die the moment he spoke—I couldn’t tell.
I shrugged.
“That’s fine. We have plenty of time. Let’s take this slowly. Scott. Begin.”
“Yes.”
Scott picked up the tool again.
The tool gleamed under the light.
Mateo began to panic once more.
“Wait. Wait. I really didn’t know anything. I didn’t know who Dennis was, and I didn’t know where Zamboanga is. I just heard the order to bring you. Really.”
Mateo screamed.
I stared at Mateo intently.
“So… who told you that? Just say that—is it so difficult?”
“···. The c···..”
Mateo was trying to say something,
when my phone rang.
I frowned.
An unknown number.
I usually don’t answer unknown numbers,
but something felt off.
I felt I should answer it.
“Is that you?”
As soon as I answered, a gravelly voice of an elderly man came through.
He spoke in informal speech from the start.
He didn’t even ask who I was,
He didn’t even reveal who he was.
“Who are you?”
“The person you’re looking for.”
The Elderly Man chuckled softly.
That laugh grated on me terribly.
“What?”
“You’ve been quite busy lately, I hear. Poking around trying to find me? And you’ve got Mateo with you too?”
What?
He knows?
He knows I have Mateo with me?
I found myself instinctively looking toward Mateo.
He was watching me from where he sat bound to the chair.
Is this what makes him Parallax?
Is this the extent of the black market’s top dog’s reach?
Or is there something I’m missing?
I’d checked his phone and GPS receiver thoroughly before bringing him here.
There were no tracking devices.
Yet this man knows everything.
I’d think about it later.
For now, I needed to focus on the call.
“So you want to find me? Sounds like affection.”
I spoke with as much sarcasm as I could muster.
I wanted to land a blow on this old bastard.
But my mockery didn’t faze him in the slightest.
The Elderly Man laughed as if amused.
“Hehehehe. It would be nice, but it doesn’t matter either way. You’ll handle it yourself.”
“Amusing.”
I let out a bitter laugh.
“But here’s the thing. You’ve caused us some damage. So we’ll need compensation. Once you deal with Mateo, we’ll settle that cost all at once.”
“What did you just say?”
The Elderly Man spoke casually.
“I said I need to receive some compensation.”
“You didn’t age gracefully, old man. Seems you’ve lost your judgment.”
I let out a hollow laugh as I spoke.
“If I lacked that much judgment, I wouldn’t be here in the first place. Let’s see each other’s faces soon.”
With those words, the call ended.
In that moment, the atmosphere inside the warehouse shifted subtly.
I slowly lowered the phone and stared at it.
And I thought.
This old man is no joke.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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