C18 The Test

After settling Niu Li's winnings, the dealer activated the dice cup once more. Amidst the rolling sounds, he watched as bets were placed.

This time, the dealer kept a keen eye on Niu Li, trying to discern if his luck was genuine.

Yet, the other gamblers paid little mind to Niu Li. A single win was hardly out of the ordinary.

"What's our wager this round?" Miss Long asked, a hint of intrigue in her gaze as she breathed softly into Niu Li's ear.

Tickled by the sensation, Niu Li stole a glance at the dice cup and declared with a confident grin, "We're going big again. I've always had a preference for the larger stakes."

His suggestive tone elicited a coquettish eye roll from Miss Long, though she snuggled even closer. She wriggled subtly in his embrace, sending shivers down Niu Li's spine.

The dealer's mouth twitched involuntarily upon hearing Niu Li's bold claim. Indeed, the dice revealed another high roll. What baffled him most was that his seasoned eyes could detect no hint of deceit in the young man's behavior. Was this streak of luck for real?

As the gamblers continued to lay down their bets, the table quickly filled with stacks of plastic coins.

Most were repeat bettors, eager for a repeat of the previous miracle.

Before Niu Li's arrival, the gamblers had been hopeful about the outcomes, largely overlooking his stroke of fortune.

With a slight smile, Niu Li pushed his two hundred thousand purple coins onto the 'big' bet, watching the dealer with an amused expression.

"Wow!"

The gasps around the table grew louder.

These were just ordinary gambling tables, with no upper limit on bets, yet most wagers were only in the thousands. Niu Li's antics had now captured the attention of many—was he some sort of gambling deity?

The dealer, who was about to reveal the dice, paused, hesitating.

Two hundred thousand was no trivial sum. The house's usual nightly earnings were just a few hundred thousand, from which the dealer took a mere 5% commission. Niu Li's play could not only mean a night of fruitless labor for the dealer but potentially even graver consequences.

"Keep betting big for him, but switch to small on the next one."

The dealer hesitated, but a more authoritative voice rang in his ears.

Upon hearing it, the dealer promptly lifted the cover without further hesitation.

"Wow! This kid's hit the jackpot."

Excited shouts rose, drawing the attention of numerous bystanders. Two hundred thousand was no trivial sum, especially since most casual gamblers here barely had a few hundred thousand to their names.

"Hehe, big sis, not too shabby with my luck, huh? Looks like I can treat you tonight." Niu Li turned and planted a kiss on Miss Long's cheek, chuckling.

"You little rascal, so full of yourself," Miss Long said with a giggle, her hand covering her mouth, her eyes reflecting increasing astonishment. The young man she had chosen was proving to be more than just an ordinary lad.

Four hundred thousand was placed before Niu Li, who simply smiled serenely. His inscrutable demeanor sparked curious thoughts among the more astute gamblers.

"Sis, what do you think the dealer will do if I go all in next? He's already turning pale," Niu Li murmured to Miss Long.

"Then go for it," Miss Long replied, delighting in the turmoil.

The dealer's gaze shifted nervously to Niu Li.

Now, the crowd at the gambling table had thinned, their attention fixed on Niu Li. Would the fortunate young man continue to bet big?

Niu Li just smiled, saying nothing, his eyes sweeping over the gamblers around him, his heart brimming with glee.

The Elf had finally taken notice of him.

The Elf imparted a small trick to Niu Li.

Beginner-grade control of Mental Energy.

It wasn't like magic; it was a simple technique for manipulating Mental Energy.

Niu Li claimed he could use this energy to move objects through the air or launch attacks from a distance.

Of course, Niu Li's Mental Energy wasn't yet strong enough for such feats, but he could manage to move small objects over short distances. The timely skill provided by the Elf was something Niu Li cherished. The Elf was truly amazing!

"Of course, I'm choosing the high numbers." Niu Li coolly slid all 400,000 in front of him towards the "big points" bet.

Upon witnessing Niu Li's move, the previously patient gamblers eagerly tossed their plastic coins onto the "big points" bet, their faces alight with anticipation as they watched the dice cup intently.

A flicker of disdain passed almost imperceptibly across the dealer's face, his expression momentarily softening. So, Niu Li was just a young man trying to act cool. After keeping him on edge for so long, the dealer felt a twinge of embarrassment.

With a stoic face, the dealer reached out to lift the dice cup.

Holding Miss Long's hand, Niu Li offered a subtle smile. Unseen, he gave a tremor of his Mental Energy, and the dice numbers before the dealer morphed from "2, 3, 5" to "5, 6, and 6." Since he manipulated them with Mental Energy, there was no sound, and the dealer, reliant on machinery, sensed nothing.

"5, 6, 6! Big points! I'm in the money now."

The crowd around the gambling table had swelled, buzzing with excitement. As they caught sight of the dice numbers, exclamations of amazement rippled through them, their gazes turning to Niu Li with fervent admiration. Niu Li was incredible! They could make a fortune thanks to him!

The dealer's complexion drained of color the moment he laid eyes on the dice. In a panic, he pointed at Niu Li and blurted out, "You're cheating."

The accusation sent a ripple of excitement through the crowd, with onlookers turning to the dealer in a mix of shock and curiosity.

Niu Li let out a derisive laugh. "Cheating? How would you know that? Do you have some way of seeing the dice numbers inside the cup?"

The gamblers' curiosity faded, replaced by a cold scrutiny directed at the dealer.

Sweat beaded on the dealer's forehead as he stammered, unable to form a coherent response.

"No! How could I possibly know the dice points? But the sum has been over 9 for three consecutive times, and you've been betting big each time. You must be cheating," the dealer accused, his face flushed with a mix of anger and desperation.

Niu Li was about to respond with a sneer when Miss Long, her expression sour, fixed her gaze on the dealer and said, "I wasn't aware that cheating was possible in this game. But isn't the dice cup right in front of you? Or are you suggesting that everyone here is an idiot, believing my brother could silently alter the dice numbers inside the cup?"

"Exactly! The dice were right in front of the dealer, and Niu Li was seated directly across from him, a whole two meters away. Besides, how could he possibly change the numbers on the dice inside the cup from that distance without making a sound? Are you kidding me? Not even the God of Gambling could pull off such a feat, let alone a monster, right?"

Upon hearing Miss Long's remarks, the other gamblers caught on and cast knowing glances at the dealer. Was it possible that the payout was so high that the dealer was looking for a way to wiggle out of paying the winnings?

Nighty Night has been open for many years, and there had never been an incident like this before.