Chapter 487

Chapter 494: A Baseless Sense of Impending Doom (Please Subscribe!)

At this very moment, faced with the seemingly insurmountable situation akin to a “dead end,” Ryu began to ponder deeply.

There was no thought of giving up halfway due to the current difficulties.

In fact, it was quite the opposite.

She was now brimming with enthusiasm in her efforts to save the unfamiliar girl.

“According to the patrons at the tavern, Ganesha Familia has recently struck a deal with the grand casino. Attempting to force our way through the backdoor might not be feasible anymore and could expose Izay’s identity… What about sneaking in? With Space Magic, the success rate would definitely be high…”

Though Ryu was fully aware that she didn’t possess the crucial ticket necessary for entry into the grand casino.

But upon second thought, she was no longer acting alone.

As a close friend, borrowing a bit of their strength wouldn’t raise any eyebrows, even if Astraea herself found out…

And afterward, to thank Izay for his help, she could always take her time figuring out how to repay him.

Walking along the dimly lit path under the night sky, Ryu continuously simulated various infiltration plans in her mind.

Izay, upon witnessing this spectacle, couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Ryu… actually entering the grand casino doesn’t have to be so troublesome.”

“Why do you say that, Izay? Do you know of some method that won’t get us noticed?”

The young girl appeared rather perplexed at the moment.

In response to her confusion, Izay reached into his pocket and pulled out an opulent white envelope adorned with lavish gold foil.

Judging by its appearance, there was no doubt that it was a letter.

If one had to describe it, in Ryu’s eyes, it resembled more of an invitation.

“It’s not much of a method; I just happen to have an invitation to that grand casino~”

Izay flashed a faint smile as he waved the envelope in front of her.

“An invitation? Isn’t that something the grand casino sends only after someone reaches a certain level of wealth? How did you come by it, Izay?”

Upon seeing the gilded envelope, Ryu instinctively blurted out the information she knew, but stopped mid-sentence.

Because she realized she had said the wrong thing.

“Ryu, you’re wondering how I came to have the grand casino’s invitation? They simply approached me and gave it to me~ I dislike gambling, so I’ve just left it tucked away in a corner of my room. We should be thankful that Cat hasn’t torn this envelope while playing around in there~”

Izay presented a corner of the envelope to Ryu, allowing her a closer look. It was clear to see the signs of wear, likely caused by improper storage.

And as Izay had mentioned,

It wasn’t a question of how he came by such an item.

Rather, it was natural for him to possess such an item.

The production of enchanted weapons has almost elevated the basic combat capabilities of Orario’s adventurers by several levels. Even for advanced adventurers, they are highly beneficial. Rumors suggest that even Freya Familia, Loki Familia’s sworn enemy, is pursuing the perfect quality of enchantments.

In this city-wide pursuit of better weapons,

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Izay might be one of the wealthiest individuals in this city.

For casinos aiming to make money, it would be strange if they didn’t send Izay an invitation.

Perhaps because Izay usually comes across as too amiable, Ryu unconsciously overlooks the label of him being a super-rich individual.

“It’s truly hard to believe…” Ryu stared at the invitation for a long while before finally averting her gaze.

She referred to the matter of rescuing Miss Anna.

The toughest part, gaining entry, had been effortlessly resolved.

With this invitation serving as a pass, it meant that both of them wouldn’t need to sneak in but could walk into the grand casino facilities with heads held high.

All that remained was to enter and find the person.

Additionally, negotiations were required. Whether or not the buyer who used despicable means to kidnap the girl would agree to release her was another issue, but relatively speaking, this problem wasn’t as thorny since there are countless ways to make someone talk.

“There’s nothing unbelievable about it. Let’s think about how we’ll enter that grand casino later.”

“Enter? Doesn’t having an invitation mean we can go straight in? Is there some hidden condition?”

Upon hearing Izay’s words, Ryu couldn’t help but cast a puzzled glance.

“There aren’t any hidden conditions, but Ryu, do you really intend to enter the grand casino dressed like this?”

Izay subtly scanned the entirety of the young girl’s figure.

From the glimpse of her slender calves peeking out from beneath her knee-length dress, to her rounded shoulders draped in a hooded cloak, and the small flower-shaped hairpin nestled amidst her tresses.

“!?”

Following his gaze, Ryu examined herself.

After the first glance, she hadn’t noticed anything unusual, but upon taking a second look, she immediately grasped Izay’s meaning and blushed furiously.

As previously mentioned, the prerequisite for entering the grand casino is reaching a certain level of wealth.

In other words, all the patrons inside are either rich or noble, and their attire speaks volumes.

To enter dressed in this plain country-girl outfit…

Without exception, she’d become the center of attention tonight.

Imagining such a bizarre scene, Ryu couldn’t help but feel flustered. If Izay hadn’t pointed it out, she might not have noticed this detail.

“Understood? So, we need to go get you changed first, then head to the grand casino to find the person.”

As he spoke, Izay couldn’t help but feel a little excited.

Ryu’s usual outfit never changes — just her standard waitress attire. She never bothers to dress up, and aside from the light adventurer gear, it’s rare to even see her in casual clothing privately.

This was a great opportunity to see Ryu in an evening gown!

Seeing the sudden surge of energy in someone, Ryu hesitantly took a step back.

For some reason, she inexplicably felt a sense of impending doom.

…

The location was on the southern main street of Orario.

This was the bustling district, nearly maintaining its lively atmosphere twenty-four hours a day.

A multitude of magic stone lamps, rivaling the brilliance of starry seas, illuminated the entire area. One could see barmaids soliciting customers on the streets, and the songs of wandering minstrels mingling with the melodies of string instruments filled every alleyway.

High-end lodging facilities, grand theaters, and upscale bars were scattered throughout the streets, and one could encounter all sorts of extravagantly dressed, jewelry-laden individuals striding confidently down the road.

Almost everyone had burly beastmen or dwarves as bodyguards accompanying them.

Furthermore, the central square leading from the south gate to the city center and the major facilities along the southern main street were manned by guild staff and members of the [Ganesha Familia] for security purposes.

The most conspicuous feature was undoubtedly the massive arch facing the street.

Apparently flaunting wealth, the arch was exquisitely crafted. Within view, one could see a plaza adorned with a colossal fountain and numerous luxurious buildings highlighted by various colored magic stone lights.

Among these was Izay and Ryu’s target for the evening — the “Grand Casino”!