Chapter 488

Chapter 495: You gotta call me dear first～ (Please subscribe!)

Blending into the crowd of people on the street dressed in gold and silver, flaunting their luxury, the two had already changed their outfits.

Izay’s golden tousled hair was slightly loosened, and under appropriate circumstances, he styled it to resemble a noble aura. His attire also changed into a tailored suit with matching white gloves.

A simple change in clothing couldn’t quite conceal the sharp demeanor characteristic of adventurers.

Even in this bustling area filled with prominent dignitaries, he stood out like a crane among chickens, causing the surrounding noblewomen to lose themselves in admiration.

By his side was a beautiful elf with her light green long hair styled into soft curls.

The specially tailored emerald-green dress hugged her porcelain-like figure, her slim waist elegantly cinched by a silk ribbon leaving a small bow at the front.

Her delicate collarbone was subtly revealed, adorned by a fur necklace around her snow-white neck, adding an alluring charm.

The dress’s skirt barely covered her thighs from the front while the lacy back train dragged along for a considerable length.

Due to Ryu’s conservative nature as an elf, her otherwise uncovered legs were now clad in approximately 60D sheer stockings, showing just the right amount of flesh tone.

Here “D” refers to the denier unit of fineness for hosiery fibers, usually indicating the thickness and transparency of the stockings. The lower the D number, the thinner and more transparent the stockings; conversely, the higher the D number.

60D falls perfectly between concealing the skin yet still allowing a hint of visibility, creating a tantalizing allure!

Coupled with the lace thigh-high Ryu wore on her left leg…

To be honest, Izay felt his DNA stirring again!

“Of course, evening gowns suit you too, Ryu. You should try wearing casual clothes more often.”

“N-no… stop teasing me, Izay… let’s just enter the grand casino quickly. It makes me uncomfortable being looked at like this.”

Ryu nervously clutched her hem at Izay’s jesting.

This kind of outfit was… really too much for her…!

“Alright, alright, then we’ll go find someone. But I should tell you beforehand, the surname on the invitation can’t be altered. To avoid suspicion, we’ll have to pretend to be married when we enter.”

“T-this… I know…”

It was a prearranged plan; entering without disguise would easily reveal Izay, possibly exposing them both.

The wanted notice for [Gale] still hung at the Guild Headquarters… they couldn’t allow anything negative to affect Izay.

Izay smirked seeing Ryu’s bashful response.

“As a married couple, we should at least try changing our terms of address, right?”

“…Terms?”

“Like ‘dear’ or something?”

“!”

D-d-dear!?

Ryu’s cheeks flushed faintly, her azure eyes glistening with moisture.

Her heart pounded loudly, her ears burning.

For a pure-hearted elf, this was way over her limit!

Taking deep breaths repeatedly, Ryu reminded herself to stay calm.

This was just practice! All part of the plan! She couldn’t back down now for the sake of saving someone!

“Hmph…” A mosquito-like sound escaped Ryu’s cherry lips.

Izay tilted his head: “Hmph?”

“De…ar…”

Though barely audible, Izay’s exceptional hearing caught the whisper.

Immediately, Izay suppressed the corners of his mouth threatening to curve upward.

Everything must be done in moderation.

Reaching this point, Ryu was probably nearing her limit. He’d better rein himself in.

If she became too flustered, there was a chance she might faint.

After all, Izay had seen such precedents before.

“Cough cough, try maintaining this later. If things get tough inside, Ryu, you don’t need to talk; I’ll handle everything.”

“…Okay.”

After readjusting, Izay took Ryu’s hand towards the arched entrance.

“Could you show your pass, please?”

“Sure.”

When the uniformed staff at the arch inspected the tickets, Izay presented the invitation.

After checking the invitation, the staff immediately smiled.

“Welcome, Mr. Elwood. Are you bringing this lady in with you? May I ask about your relationship?”

Since the invitation only bore the name “Elwood,” the staff naturally asked.

“This is my wife. We recently got married, and I’ve brought her along to enjoy the district.”

“I see, understood. Wishing you a pleasant evening.”

After bowing, the staff let Izay and Ryu smoothly enter the facility.

Once inside the grand casino, the guard beside the staff soon approached, looking at their retreating figures with a peculiar expression.

“Isn’t that Mr. Elwood? Could it be the one known as [Silver Star]?”

Apparently familiar with Izay’s reputation, the guard posed this question.

“It shouldn’t be him, right? As far as I know, [Silver Star] doesn’t gamble. The invitation sent to him was issued over a year ago, but he hasn’t visited once since. Besides, he doesn’t seem to have a wife.”

“Uh… yeah, you’re right. If he did, it would likely be with the [Sword Maiden] from his faction… Guess I overthought it.”

“Stop gossiping and focus! Another guest is here, or we’ll get docked pay!”

……

Inside the dazzling grand casino, Izay could vaguely hear parts of the discussion between the two staff members at the entrance and promptly shared this good news with Ryu.

“Our plan seems to be working. They didn’t overly scrutinize our identities～”

Ryu tightened her grip on his sleeve slightly.

Having gone through so much trouble, if they still harbored doubts, Ryu wouldn’t accept it, perhaps even considering killing them to cover up their tracks.

Understanding Ryu’s feelings somewhat, Izay decided not to delve further into the topic, instead focusing on locating their target for the night.

—Gold City Paradise.

The largest casino in Santorou Beija, the entertainment city, and also the biggest casino in Orario. That was their target location.

Following various exotic facilities, a particularly conspicuous building soon came into view.

Its golden exterior was luxurious and eye-catching. At the entrance stood statues symbolizing wealth and success, male and female deities, while a signboard illuminated by magic stones displayed the words “Gold City” in Common Tongue.

“Truly extravagant territory.”

Upon entering the building through the entrance foyer, Ryu couldn’t help but marvel at the sight before her.

The enormous crystal chandelier overhead emitted splendid light, followed by large plush carpets with rich colors and patterns. The indescribably magnificent hall housed various dazzling gambling tables.

Although Ryu had infiltrated casino facilities multiple times before, encountering such grandeur was a first.

“Being a place mainly serving the gods, it’s naturally the more opulent the better, though overall, it feels closer to ostentation.”

Observing the surroundings, Izay had anticipated this scene.

Weaving through crowds of wealthy demi-humans, the two leisurely gathered internal information.

The layout of the casino, the number of guards, and the position of the VIP rooms.

Their current goal was to enter Gold City Paradise’s inner VIP room, accessing exclusive spaces where people placed higher-stakes bets.

Without a doubt, the despicable big buyer they sought was likely hiding within.

Ryu’s Evening Gown.jpg