“So this is Vegas...”
Rin watched in awe as she beheld with her eyes, the sudden and abrupt change in the panorama. What seemed like an average ordinary desert time turned to something entirely different in just a matter of minutes. As the clock ticked seconds by seconds towards the night, More and more Neon signs began lighting up the Las Vegas night. Soon enough, with the final set of the sun, Vegas finished it's transformation. The dull streets that stayed silent just minutes ago were now being filled with amassing crowds and the sky was lit up with multifarious show of light. This was indeed Las Vegas at it's best.
“Incredible...”
Was the first word that came out of Saber's mouth. She'd heard of the glamor and the beauty of this City from countless newspapers and Movies she'd came across. Of course she knew that there'd be lights and casinos but it's a totally different matter when you actually come to witness the real thing.
Both Rin and Saber stood agape, mesmerized by what they were seeing with their own eyes. But even with all the fantastic scenery,Rin managed to regain herself soon after, grabbing Saber and Shirou's attention with a fake cough.
“Anyways, we should know that Vegas is not what we're actually here for. Remember, what Saber said is true, the better we find that God damned agent, the better we can enjoy ourselves here.”
Saber nodded. Shirou though, wasn't as focused as Saber due to all the physical damages he had to take from Rin. Shirou just pointed up his thump as he kept on relieving the stress in his throat under his bent position.
“All right then, Let's book a room in hotel Egypt first.”
Seeing Shirou somewhat recovered from the choke after a while, Rin made no further fuss about getting on with their mission. Saber followed up close as Rin walked her way towards the entrance.
“Hey!! *Cough* Don't leave me here!!!”
Shirou managed to catch up with Rin and Saber. Together, they made their way into the crowded Hotel.
-Apple Street Agency Episode 5: fifty one for the win-Jean Ciel Manson-
The first sensation they felt as they placed their foot inside the Hotel was sheer awe and surprise. What they saw inside the lobby was very...Egypt like. The hall was lavishly decorated with tens of Hand crafted giant Egyptian Statues. Each of those statues were aligned to form two parallel lines of statues and a woolen red carpet in between them, through which guest would help themselves into the main hall of the lobby.
Once they pass through the gate at the end of the carpet they are confronted with the Main Hall Which is separated to two main functional chambers. One meant for, a Casino club and the other meant for casual chill outs including a night club several Cafes. And of course the reception desk. The Whole structure didn't have any roof to at all, just walls diverging towards the point at the top.
The plant life there included tens of pine trees, another thirty or so of coconut trees and another twenty or so of Fake trees and plants
When you look up to the roof. You'll see floors, from the lowest to the highest. Each and every one of them are aligned at the Rim of the pyramid. The higher you go, the smaller the floor will get, imagine a hollow Mayan pyramid, look up to the walls from the inside and you'll get the picture. The way the lightings were arranged gave an extra bling to the already extraordinary structure. In short it was nothing the poor Rin and her subordinates have ever seen before. Even the Magi Association seemed rubbish compared to this.
Rin Shirou and Saber stopped short of the reception desk and took a one last view of the whole place
“Dear God. This place is Huge!!!!!!”
Shirou clamored, unable to suppress his excitement
“For the love of Merlin... This place is even bigger than my palace!”
“Just like every other buildings here in Vegas.”
Rin made a smirk. To which Saber replied with a simple sulk.
“Nah, just a joke. I really like it when you do that by the way, Keeps me going.”
Rin gave a wink and a thumb at Saber and slowly approached the receptionist. Rin's mind was full of glamor at the moment. The entire place eclipsed what every single magus aristocrat's dream mansion. A glass pyramid where a Magus can eat and sleep. Surrounded by Countless Neon lights and shopping malls.
Whoever the agent that Atlas fucker was talking about would be, Rin still was glad that the guy or perhaps the woman had some tastes when it came to choosing the right spot for business talks. What's more, They were going to taste that once in a lifetime experience here, and Now.
“Is there anything you need?...”
The word from the receptions shook Rin back to her senses. The whole glamor thing was something
even Rin was not immune to. A woman was still a woman and Vegas was definitely a spot on place for women to realize their naïve childhood fantasies though that magic could only last temporarily.
“I'd like to order a room please.”
Using her Fluent English Rin managed to communicate with the reception guy. He was wearing a black suit with a blue striped neck tie. He was a white American with hair that was glossing with mousse all over it. Rin didn't find the guy interesting at all. So was the man. All Rin wanted now was a chance to live her fantasies fast and quick, before she wakes up back in her office waiting for customers that are never bound to come; a life that she so desperately wanted to escape from.
“O...kay, we have five rooms available. One pyramid deluxe one pyramid spa suite and three player deluxe. Pyramid deluxe comes at 1230 dollars per room while the pyramid suite comes at 780 dollar and the player deluxe at 420 dollars respectively.”
Rin felt her head being hammered by an axe as she heard those words from the receptions. The figures were exorbitant. Far more than she could have possibly imagined. Rin tried desperately to keep herself composed and asked that one final question that came through her mind
“Tax Involved?”
“No Ma'am, the tax charge is 20 percent including insurances, the net charge for each room then will be...”
“No...please, DON'T.”
Rin knew the best course of action in these kinds of situations, close your eyes. Hand em the card and forget everything. But the money that she had to forsake was too great. Nonetheless Rin knew they had no choice. 900,000 dollar for a couple of hundred dollar bills. Sounds like a deal non? Rin pulled out a wallet from her jeans and gave her debit card. She chose the cheapest room a available and just shut her eyes. The sound of the credit card swapping at the card reader almost evoked a sense of paranoia, the fear of losing money*
“Alright then the key...”
ignoring the sweat on her cheek, Rin extended her arms towards the reception. But all that she got on her hand was her debit card. Rin waited a little longer but the key was still not there on her palms. What's this? She thought
“This debit card has expired Miss Tohsaka. It can't access your account”
“Expired? You've got to be kidding me!!!!”
Rin immediately took a good look at her card. And indeed the card has indeed passed expiration date last month, when he was out at the desert retrieving EA. Credit card? With all the debts Rin had to deal with, she decided to cancel the card a year ago. Credit cards inevitably lead to overspending and they tend to overspend on things, Especially on food bills.
Rin's hands were trembling, if only that Atlas girl didn't give them that fucking ticket, if only she had the decency to at least give them some time to sort themselves out then she'd have at least been able to make another new card...it all just seemed so...wrong.
The Debit card was crushed to dust as Rin folded her palm to make a big fist. Bits and pieces of the card, splintered out of her fist and down to the carpet. Again it was all about that girl. That purple...twin tailed girl called SION.
“Ma'am, if you'll excuse us, there are customers waiting behind you.”
That was the final trigger. Rin went into a sudden outburst of rage and began grabbing at the receptionist's hair and swung his hair with seeming abandon, just like a Rag doll. The receptionist's pain was painfully evident in his stunned expression and screams. But her act soon came into a grinding halt as three men in suits pulled her out of the hall
“You M******ing bitches!!! let me go!!!!”
Shirou and Saber watched helplessly from afar as three security personnels began dragging Rin out of the hotel. The scene was nothing short of embarrassing. Even to her husband
“uh...shouldn't we go and help her?”
Saber gave Shirou a poke on his back while watching the whole commotion unfold. Rin was still struggling despite all that and the guards were having a hard time keeping her at bay
“I...think we should leave her to their hands for a while.”
Said Shirou as he felt his face flushing in embarrassment
\
“Good point, well then. Let's greet her at the main door.”
“Yeah, we should...”
***
“Uggh!!!”
Rin was brusquely thrown out of the hotel as they reached the main entrance of the hotel. The guards' suits were in disarray and their skins were visible with various scratch marks and bruises all over them. A big surprise considering that they thought they were just out handling a weak, feeble looking Asian chick.
“Ma'am, we'll have to ban you from our hotel.”
Said one of the men as he gasped his breath for air. Two other guards were seemingly exhausted as well, as they kept on inhaling their breaths as much as they could. Contrary to their hope though, Rin was not yet ready to give herself up. Rin was about to jump off from the ground and land several Tohsaka style Kung-Fu punches on their faces when suddenly Shirou and Saber came up from behind and grabbed Rin by her arms. Seeing this as a chance to flee, the body guards made no qualms about swiftly making their way back to the hotel. Shirou and Saber kept dragging Rin up to the Convenience store with all their might as She kept struggling to release their grip
“Let... me... go!!! I'm going to kill them!! fucking kill them!!!”
Rin's Legs kept on kicking the air.
“Rin!! Please Relax! It's not like we can do anything about it!”
“What your husband said there is right Rin! Even if you keep up the argument, it won't work out.”
“Not if I use this!”
Rin broke free from Shirou and Saber as their grip loosened. Springing away from her captivation. Rin released the holster strap on her waist and pulled up the Jewelled sword from it
“I'm Tohsaka Rin!! The rightful heir of the Tohsaka House and the sole apprentice of the third magician Zelretch! I won't let you get away with this Insult!!!! You imbeciles!!!!”
Zelretch started glowing with Prana as her hands swung behind her back.
“Oh Shit!! Saber!! Do something about it!!”
Shirou grabbed his hair and clamored in terror as he witnessed the terror unfold before them.
“Do what???!!! she's your Wife! You do something about it.”
Depite her seemingly panicked outlook, she was already equipping herself with Excalibur...But it seemed all too late.
“Jewelled Sword!!!!!!!!”
The multitude of crowds assembled around the trio, the light emanating from the jewel like sword looked nothing like the Neon lights that were so prevalent around the town of Vegas. The show would have seemed like your average ordinary street performances, only brighter and aesthetically much more advanced.
The crowds watched with enthusiasm as the light from the crystal sword kept getting brighter and brighter until the stars on the skies faded away to the incredible outburst of light. The Crowds, not knowing the true terror they were about to face, gave them a big applause. Shirou and Saber though weren't really agreeing with them by any means. By now Rin was about done with her incantation...which was Not a very good sign at all.
“Zelretch!!!!!-”
But then when all hope seemed lost, With a sudden loud clang The light emanating From Zelretch instantaneously Faded. From there,Rin emerged from the instant black out, her face facing the ground straight and her body flat on the ground. Behind, Saber doing a kendo stance with her invisible Excalibur. Her face, laden with sweats and gasping for air. Her expression wore that of a massive shock. As in, Fuck.
“...Rin is going to kill me...”
Saber stood there stunned, as was Shirou. But what they were soon about to behold caught them by surprise
“Bravvvooo!!!!!!!”
Another big wave of applause came from the excited crowd. Saber and Shirou wiped their sweat of their forehead and turned to see hundreds of crowds cheering them on and throwing nickels and dimes at them. Shirou and Saber watched in confusion as the ground was slowly filled with waves after waves of money.
“Uh...Thank you?”
Saber scratched her hair while flushing her face red, unsure of what action to take. Shirou though was busy frantically grabbing at all the dimes and nickels he can find.
“Quick!!!! Saber!!!! Help me with these!!!”
hearing Shirou's clamor saber quickly returned to her senses and decided to go for the most prudent choice to make.
“Oh!! right! The money!”
Saber starting helped shirou out with collecting all the money she could find. Rin meanwhile was still lying flat on the ground. Snoring herself out. It wasn't until thirty minutes later when Rin was finally escorted to the nearest bench by some stranger, even then Shirou and Saber were busy collecting the money they could find; It was The first of many a jackpots they'll get to score in the city of Vegas.
***
“Nggg....where...where...Am I?”
Rin woke up to find herself in some bench besides a convenient store. It was still a nighttime in Vegas and the City was still the stereotype Vegas she always knew. Rin tried remembering the chain of events that led her to this bench. At first there was hotel Egypt. And then there was that bitchy reception then the guards. Then...Zelretch.
“Oh...My...God”
Shocked, Rin immediately turned her head to find hotel Egypt... or at least. It's Ruins, or so she thought. What Rin found was the hotel, still fully intact,still shooting a beams of light towards the sky. There weren't any visible damages there.
“Was it a dream?”
Rin murmured to herself when a sudden sting ensued from her skull. She traced her hand to the contours of her head slowly from the front down to the back, and found a slight protrusion on the back. Rin tried poking it with her finger.
As expected it sent a jolt of pain to her, she was definitely hit by something. She pictured the whole scene on her head, While Zelretch was charging up somebody must have hit her hard behind. The last she remembered was a clang, A clang that felt so familiar, just like that sound she heard from the Ruins of EA. Where Saber used Excalibur to immobilize That...Who?...
Rin shook her head, no matter how she tried to picture it, the word never surfaced on her mind. The memory was so strong but yet she couldn't help but feel something was missing.
“Feeling better now Rin?”
Rin turned her head to see Shirou, offering an ice cream cup. Behind, Saber was hiding behind Shirou's shoulder, somewhat frightened to face her.
“Yeah...It feels as if I was hit by something big.”
Said Rin as she gladly accepted the ice cream cup from Shirou. Saber kept herself behind Shirou. Rin leaned her back behind the bench as she opened the lid from the ice cream cup. Then she stared at Saber straight in the eye with a hint of mischief.
“Something like Excalibur.”
Saber cringed behind Shirou and closed her eyes. As if expecting something bad was coming from her.
“Thanks Saber. I don't know what's gotten into me.”
When Saber opened her eyes, Rin was standing before Saber. Her hands stretched to her; Much to her surprise.
“Oh...umm...yeah, just did what needed to be done”
Saber emerged behind Shirou and took Rin's hand. Saber made a big sigh of relief, seeing Rin's back to her normal self.
“Anyway, what happened after I fainted?”
“Well, Supposedly the crowds around us were thinking that it was some kind of street performance. They gave us a lot of tips.”
Shirou pulled out his wallet and showed it to Rin. Inside, were two hundred dollar sheets and a couple of tens. Rin couldn't help from laughing herself out at the revelation.
“Oh man, so they thought we were just staging that?”
Saber and Shirou nodded. How ironic they thought, an act that could've sent their mission to jeopardy, instead gave them what they needed in the nick of time. After finishing with her laughter Rin wiped the tears off her eyes and leaned herself on the bench again. Despite their supposed gains at the street. The money was still far from being adequate for their stay.
They somehow needed to get some more fill for their pockets. She could indeed use suggestions to obtain the key to the hotel but that would mean targeting every single security personnels of the hotel, and her eyes aren't very far fetched enough to accomplish that without error. A single leak in the suggestion could naturally result in catastrophe beyond what they could handle so that can't really be an option
“Let me guess, we need more money for this right?”
Shirou folded his arms across his chest and made a small sigh as he saw Rin going into deep thoughts of her own. He knew that the money they had in their pocket was barely enough for them. They needed food, shelter and enough money to cover their travel expenses to find that Agent. All in all they'd need at least a thousand dollar at the least. And they were sorely low on money. But as always, Rin will always come up with a plan to get through all this.
“We'll take on Vegas.”
Both Saber and Shirou's eyes widened in surprise. They knew Rin would come up with something to compensate for their money but they never thought it'd be this simple.
“Are you serious Rin? I mean come on. People lose 300 dollars on average in their stay in Las Vegas. And that's 300 for each. We are a three man team we'll definitely lose more than we can swallow.”
“So? Are you suggesting that we go out at the streets and wave Zelretch around like that? Or dress saber in her armor and simulate a sword fight with your trace magic? Sure, that'd definitely get us the money but then we won't be safe from the MA's censorship moreover they don't know the true identity of Saber yet. If we get into any of those acts again we won't be safe from the MA's keen eyes. Then our money goes 'Poof' and we end up losing everybody important to us Saber gets the sealing order and our friends and families are killed. It's as simple as that”
Shirou swallowed her spit and nodded. Indeed, whatever act they could pull, it'd still fall within the realm of magic otherwise their profit won't be enough to cover their expenses. If they use magic for show like they did before again. Their life will be screwed for good. There was really nothing else they could do besides testing their luck in the gambling table. They were in deep shit.
“But not to worry, we're more than capable of handling our luck. Ain't that right Saber?”
Saber shook her head and stretched her arms on the air. The notion of gambling wasn't really appealing to Saber. But if her master wills for it, then so be it she decided to abandon her pledge long ago, in that climatic battle between Archer and Shirou. All she wanted to do now, was help her Shirou and Rin get through this.
“Well, I guess there isn't much we can do about it. What do you say Shirou?”
Shirou contemplated this for a moment but it wasn't long before he decided to give a shot at it.
“Why not? We don't have anything to lose now don't we?”
Making a small nod of satisfaction. Rin rose up from the bench and walked her way up to the street. Rin and Shirou followed. Soon enough, Rin caught a vacant Taxi and made the gang made their way inside the vehicle.
“Where to miss?”
“To Caesar's palace.”
Rin replied albeit with a hint of excitement in her tone
***
Casesar's Palace -Bringing Down The House-
“Well, here we are. One of the three biggest casinos and hotels in the Vegas; The Caesars palace!”
Rin Exclaimed with an exaggeration as she held both her arms at the giant hotel. Shirou's Jaws widened as the magnificent structure opened up before them.
“I...can't believe it.”
Of course, it was legitimate for Shirou to show such expressions. The Main entrance had the statue of Caesar overlooking the visitors to this grand luxurious hotel. Beyond the giant gate which is big enough for two giantrs tank to pass through is a magnificent line of water fountains and water. Beyond the hundred meter stretch of magnificent water fountains is the gate to the main lobby. Which houses space big enough to accommodate tens of thousands of visitors simultaneously.
Beyond the Hellenistic dome like structures of the main lobby are doors that lead to five different destinations. The casinos, the spa resort, hotels, ceremonial halls and shopping districts. Each of these chambers is big enough to cover football fields. Some of them, big enough to cover an entire football stadium. Not to mention the main hotel complex that soars up to the 46th floor, or around a hundred meters up to the skies.
Each and every structures of this hotel is reminiscent of ancient western structures. From the Victorian designs of the grand hall to the Greek Hellenistic designs of the man lobby, it was truly a place worthy of it's title as one of the world's greatest hotels that exists until now. Rin and her gang made their way up to the Casino complex, they lost their words at the sheer scene that they encountered before them. The casino hall they saw was even more grandeur than they'd imagined. Shirou and Saber froze as they were saw the giant casino opening up before them. It was simply brilliant and magnificent. Enough to get them into the mood to gamble at least.
“How much do you have in your wallet right now?”
Rin's inquiry dragged shirou to back to this world. Seeing all the eye candy is fine but then, without the money then they're just eye candies right?
“Um...yeah, I have around two hundred and thirty dollars in my wallet right now.”
“Good, now give me two hundred bucks.”
“Pardon?”
“Two hundred bucks.”
Shirou saw Rin's palm before him. Her eyes were firing with determination and he could see some evil engraved within them. Rin was dead serious, and Shirou wasn't audacious enough to cross a determined Rin. Shirou sighed and handed Rin the money
“Are you sure about this dear?”
To this Rin gave a small smile and simply nodded.
“Alright, we'll be catching up with you after me and Saber get something to eat. Okay?”
Shirou squeezed his wallet back to his jeans and rolled his eyes back to Rin. But she was nowhere in sight by the time he's done putting it back to his pocket. Shrugging, Shirou decided to let it be and shook Saber's from her own sets of delusions.
“Come on Saber, Let's get something to eat.”
Saber's expression turned cold. They were ready for some eats.
***
An hour later at WC Donalds outside Caesars
Shirou blankly stared as he saw Saber gobbling up dishes after dishes of hamburgers and whatnots.
Though this was the cheapest place he could find around here, even cheap held no meaning before her. If the restaurant was cheap then she'd eat until they run out or until they end up having to wash the dishes at the said places. Today seemed no different, without Rin there was no way to stop Saber from overeating and depleting their money. Shirou watched in horror as dishes after dishes quickly disappeared before Saber's insatiable appetite.
“MMM!!! Shweeewo!!!! These foods are tastee!!”
Shirou's face was laden with darkness. He was counting the net costs of the dishes Saber gobbled up and it almost reached that point where even his money wasn't going to cut it.
“God, I'm full.”
Shirou sensed his tenseness washed away by that single sentence Saber uttered. All in all he spent nearly all of the money he had left. Not even enough to play a round of Slots.
“So...you're done right Saber?”
Saber nodded, much to Shirou's relief.
“I think that's Rin we're Seeing there Shirou.”
Shirou turned to see the place Saber pointed her fingers. Of course, Rin was there, being dragged out of the Casinos by two macho guards yet again.
“Jesus! Not again!!”
Shirou grabbed his head in frustration. He could have guessed this happening with all the commotions they encountered. He cursed himself for leaving Rin to do as she wanted.
“Let's go before things get ugly...”
***
“uggh!!!”
Rin felt a big sting on her butt as she was brusquely thrown out of the main door. Precisely at the same spot where she got one back at Egypt Hotel.
“I'm sorry Ma'am but we'll have to ban you from our Casinos”
The words struck Rin's ear like magnet. A surge of Anger started boiling inside of her but she managed to remain cool. Rin just stood up and brushed away the debris on her pants. She was surprisingly composed. Instead she gave the middle finger at their back as they stepped their way to the casinos. Behind, Shirou and Saber quickly caught up to her.
“Rin! What happened back there?”
Rin wiped the sweat off her face and covered her mouth before replying back to shirou.
“some big fight broke up inside when some drunk kids forced me out for a date.”
Shirou leaned his back by the wall and let out a deep breath. Feeling his tensions wash away by Rin's seeming composure.
“So these kids you were talking about, who are they?”
Rin's frown turned to a smirk as she turned her gaze back at the hotel. Where six Kids in MIT sweatshirts were being dragged out of the Casinos. The congregation seemed to enjoy being thrown out of the casinos. Especially the eccentric looking Asian who looked as if he was thoroughly living through the moment
“MIT? Why them? They're supposed to be wiz kids right? Why would they be here in Vegas?”
Rin chuckled to Shirou's Remark. Before beginning her speech.
“There is a legend in this ground. Six MIT wiz kids took over Vegas in what's called the biggest Win of all the history of Las Vegas Combined. They won over 1.5 million dollars By legitimate gambling alone. They're supposedly here to mock them.”
Rin's gaze was laden with seriousness, as if she'd just encountered a formidable opponent.
“...We saw that movie five years ago Rin...”
Rin felt a slight sting on her back. And Her face began flushing in embarrassment
“Well, yeah. I was just giving you a memory test. Let's go, we don't have anything else to do right here we're officially banned.”
“By the way, How much did you earn there Rin?”
Rin made a big smile and gladly gave her wallet to Saber. Both Shirou and Rin looked inside the wallet, to find eight hundred buck inside it. Both Shirou and Saber's lips turned crescent, they were absolutely delighted by what they were seeing.
“This is awesome!! from two hundred bucks to seven hundred in the matter of an hour!”
“Right?”
Now Shirou finally found reason behind Rin's choice to gamble things out. For the first time since they arrived here in Vegas. Shirou finally found a newfound respect towards gambling; and he desperately wanted to try It out.
“From now, on we'll have to search for a casino that can take the heat. We have enough money to make a substantial amount of gain on each games we play.”
Rin pulled out a book from her backpack and started skimming through it's content. The people on the cover seemed oddly familiar to him. Then it struck him.
“That's a novel about the boys over there right?”
“Exactly. Now, let's move our asses to Riviera, It's fight night and I heard they're having a very special competition opening up over there. We'll play them for thousands”
Then Suddenly and abruptly, the whole city of Vegas plunged into total darkness. Much to the Gang and the crowd's Surprise
“What's happening??? Rin?!”
Saber armed herself with Excalibur and readied her stance. Shirou meanwhile summoned K&B on his palms and did the same
“I think the city's power plant just failed.”
Rin slowly pulled up her sleeves, getting herself ready for any unexpected assault. The city's black out occurred just when their meeting with the agent was about to take place. This was too far fetched to seem like a mere coincidence.
“I heard something.”
Shirou slowly turned his body towards the source of the voice. Then within a split second Shirou pointed his edge towards the voice. Suddenly in a moment's notice, the city's entire power returned along with their vision. Turns out, What Shirou thought he'd pointed at was nothing more than a dirty Stray Dog. Rin and Saber bit their lips trying to hold their laughter but of course, they failed miserably. Shirou hit his head with his fist and laughed along with them. Nothing bad happened and that was all there was to it.
From afar, they saw a single swat convoy making their way into hotel Bellagio. Whatever was happening down there, it shouldn't have anything to do with them. Ignoring the convoy, Shirou, Rin and Saber began their journey towards their next destination: The Riviera
***
Riviera-Jean Ciel Manson-
Riviera's distinct difference from the other typical grandeur hotels and Casinos out there comes in it's style of management. Unlike most other Casinos in Las Vegas, Riviera was never famous for it's hotel which isn't as impressive as most of the other grand casinos around the venue. It's interior and accommodations are no different to your average five star hotels. Despite these drawbacks Riviera has always, and is still a place where people who visit Vegas never forgets.
The Reason? While Most Casinos around L.V are mostly run by the Hotel that presides over it, In Riviera it is the Casinos that presides over the hotel itself. While the Hotel itself is not very impressive it's massive Gambling Complex is one of the must-see tourist destinations of all. Decorated with multitude of colorful neon lights and the All famous Riviera Sign.
The grandeur Casino structure boasts one of the biggest set of Slot machines and various game tables available in Las Vegas. It is both a grand tourist attraction, a place where the world's greatest Gamblers gather to earn the spoils of victory. And what's more; They never kick you out so long as you play the house fair and square.
Rin and her gang set foot on the floor with a lot of cash in mind, they've tasted the lucrative value that Las Vegas can generate and they were eager to have better taste of it. And what more is a better place than Vegas's most generous Casino? Today was especially better as fight night was opening up and celebrities were filling up the high stakes corners all over the corner.
Shirou looked up to the roof to see a big red poster on the roof. It seemed that the event Rin mentioned beforehand had to do with the poker tournament that was opening up in this venue. The lobby was so crowded that it was hard to find a space to set his foot into. Almost the entire slot machines were already occupied and almost every low stakes poker and Black jack seats were taken by swarms of tourists that roamed about the casino floor.
Everything was reminiscent of the gambling movies of the late nineties. The glamor, the fun, the tension everything was right there in this hallowed hall of gambling. Shirou was very enthusiastic at the prospect of winning big. However, Saber seemed turned off instantly by the congregation of crowds. She wasn't enjoying the scene at all.
“Alright, I'll give you two hundred bucks, share it evenly with Saber okay? I'll be going off to the high stakes corner over there at the edge of the floor. Be sure to change exchange your money for chips.”
Rin immediately took off to the said destination. But just before Rin faded from Shirou's sight. She turned and made a one last shout at them.
“Don't you dare play Slots Shirou!!! don't I say!!!!”
Despite her best efforts though Rin's voice was overlapped by the voice of the amassing crowds and never managed to reach Shirou and Saber. And Just like that their fight night began.
Poker phase I: Jean Ciel Manson
twenty, five dollar chips and ten, ten dollar chips. They were the number of chips they managed to scratch from the chip traders off of this trade. Shirou and Saber felt the texture of the sleek glossy chips with their hands, both out of curiosity and a sense of duty. The latter though never applied to Saber. With the trade done and their hands full of chips.
Shirou and Saber Decided to start off with the Slots. He knew the fact that most casino guides stipulate that the slots are a game for losers. That the chance of the player actually winning is exorbitantly low compared to most table games available on the casinos. But Shirou decided to play around with them for a while, Saber was still a newb at gambling and it wasn't too fair on Saber to go have one at the table just yet. Just before they set foot on the slots corner though Shirou was reminded of the poker tournament going on at Riviera.
“Say, Saber you don't mind watching the poker competition around here don't you?”
Saber simply nodded , there weren't a single bit of enthusiasm in those eyes of hers. But Shirou, as dense as he was, didn't seem to get the message.
“Alright then, off to the gambling table.”
***
The said poker competition was held at an open hall on the third floor of the casino. The entire floor was swarming with tourist trying to get a pieces of the action themselves. But Shirou pushed himself through nonetheless. The crowds though never seemed to take notice of him. They were all seriously engrossed with the monitor installed above them. The enthusiasm of the crowd said the rest. This was definitely a competition among the greatest names of poker. Betting for millions upon millions per cycle and expert bluffing that add to the tension of the game.
Forcing his way up to the final line of spectators and off to the screens blocking the way to the poker table what Shirou saw there were six players, all of them were faces shirou knew all too well. He was a massive fan of the high stakes poker reality TV show and almost all of them featured at least once in that famous TV show...Except for one very peculiar looking beauty sitting on the corner of the gambling table.
The woman had a long sleek azure hair that reached down to her shoulder. Her front hair were balanced with two white hair clips which looked pretty decent for a world famous poker player to make. Her subtle cheeks bones and nicely curved face was flawless in it's aesthetic values. She had that typical European look about her.
Her light emerald eyes that seemed to emanate a sense of nonchalance in them, the kind that most poker players would die to have. She was wearing a shoulderless pink one piece Gown which Shirou determined as made of Silk material. Overall, her appearance was fit to the general profile of professional gamblers. Luxurious in their outlook yet eyes and expressions that told of nonchalance and nothing more.
But to Shirou that nonchalance seemed to originate from something not akin to that of Gambling. As a top class magic user from the Magi Association he'd come across quite a few of his peers that had their human side deliberately erased from themselves. Their eyes were cold, and lifeless full of sorrow and guilt. They were apathetic in every way he saw it. This Woman's eyes seemed to resemble that side of apathy. Eyes that are devoid of emotions, humanity sealed deep down within them, the difference lying only in that the whole thing seemed more extreme and evident inside her. All in all, she seemed...out of place to him, she just didn't seem to fit the whole picture.
“Hey? That's Jean Ciel Manson over there right?”
Shirou tilted his head as he heard the words from one of the patrons beside him. He was a white Australian with a short blonde hair and a nicely shaped cheek bones. He was wearing Hawaiian casual and a pair of dark, cheesy shades; A typical Las Vegas Poser.
“Jean Ciel Manson? That woman?”
Said Shirou as he kept his gaze at the said player.
“Yeah, Jean Ciel Manson, three consecutive world poker tournament champion. Ciel, surely you must've heard of em' mate. She's a legend in this ground.”
Shirou's confusion only deepened if that was true, then he must've as least heard the mention of her name somewhere. It was their agency's common routine to catch up to the news and well, in any news article he's seen, Shirou's never heard of any mention of her name heck,he never knew such a player could exist in this world.
Shirou ignored the Australian as the game went on, but for now he wasn't interested in the table. Who was this girl? What's her real identity? Such questions started flashing through his mind when His gaze was suddenly met by that of Jean's. Her gaze were directed straight at her eyes, the emerald eyes that were impeccable in it's beauty and yet as hollow as the deep abyss of the Sea. In a moment notice, Shirou felt his mind lapse into a standstill; a brief yet an everlasting moment that seemed to last all eternity.
He saw a faint smile appearing on Jean Ciel Manson's lips, the glossy lips that seemed to attract the very deepest desires Shirou held inside. Then, suddenly the word flashed up within his mind like a Speeding bullet. Jean Ciel Manson, she saw this girl a year ago in His office, from a live poker tournament show that was broadcast live all over the planet. She was Jean Ciel Manson, one of the the greatest poker player that has ever lived. When Shirou came back from his halt, Jean was back on the poker table, betting money on the gambling circle for the final round that ensued.
“Sure, She won that British poker tournament a year ago”
The Australian wrapped his arm around Shirou's Neck, an evident trace of alcohol was looming out of His mouth, He was drunk.
“Ain't that a Smart ass guy?! You ain't half bad yerself mate. Now watch the show, the final rounds about to begin. I'll bet my money on that kicker, she already screwed up half the player there.”
Shirou was disgusted by the smell of alcohol that seemed to stick to his clothes like glue but the crowds amassing all around him stopped Shirou from breaking free of this man. For now, he had no choice but to comply and witness the final round of the tournament unfold before him.
-Jean Ciel Manson-
There were five players in total on the table, each of them touted as one of the greatest poker players alive to date. Shirou watched as one by one players called their chips on the pot. In the first wave of the pot almost fifty thousand dollar worth of chips were stacked inside. Every single player made a call for their bet without a single fold. The cycle continued until it all came back to Jean, the first starter of this round.
Shirou watched as the battle kept intensified, every single player had five cards on their hands. Meaning that there were bigger variation to the possible winning combinations they possibly had. The pressure was intense yet nobody seemed to show any emotion. The pressure that a high stakes poker player has to take is said to be somewhere on the highest meter that a normal human being can barely take. They were playing with up to hundreds of thousands at stake in each round; all of them and now this was the final climax; from now on, the biggest bluffer will win the round regardless of the combinations they had on their hand.
“Call.”
After rubbing her cheek a few times, Jean Ciel Manson picked up five purple ten grand chips from her stack of chips and tossed it down at the pot. Doubling the amount of bets on the table.
Still under the grip of the foul smelling Australian, Shirou carefully observed the number of chips on each of the players that participated in the game. There were three players with the highest number of chips stacked before them; the one who sat just on the opposite side of the table was a seventy year old white veteran wearing a white formal suit and a cowboy hat that added a very classic western look to him.
The other was a young Arabic kid donned in black casual and equipped complete with a pair of luxurious Emporio Armani shades that added to his oil-tycoonish look. The only drawback being in his short hair that was glossy with apparent traces of mousse that gave a rather outdated impression to his style. And of course, there was Jean Ciel Manson. Even without seeing the replays of the game Shirou rightly guessed that the table was already on the hands of these three players. The rest were virtually out of this game.
The tension on the table was evident on the faces of the players on the table, and already, one of the players on the circle declared a fold. Signaling the end of his participation in this game. One of the losing players, after a long contemplation, decided to call and pushed half of his chips on the betting table. The spectators held their breath at the apparent audacity of the player but the rest of the players didn't even make a single sweat out of this.
Usually Near the end of a round of poker, players, especially those that are losing big money tend to resort to the tactic called “Bluff” meaning they try to fool the participants into thinking that the actual hands on his hands are high. They do this by betting a substantial amount of money on the betting table, hoping that the table turns to his favor. But this also poses a serious risk on the bluffer himself. As the tactic could indeed cause the player to lose yet more of the bets they made to a substantial amount. Whether the act was an act of bluff was a fact that they'd have to wait and see.
Immediately the air of the table turned towards the bettor's favor. With this single maneuver, two players, the Arabian and the other losing player folded their card. It was a rather acceptable reaction Even if the chance that the act was indeed a bluff was high, a chance was still a chance, and in truth Bluffs were very hard to predict, players who like to be on the safe side tend to avoid betting on luck itself, but of course. Not all Poker players are conservative about loosing their gains.
The old man in cowboy hat declared call and added the exact same amount of chips on the pot Now the total sum in the post exceeded two hundred and fifty thousand in cash. Now there was no turning back. Both the player and the old man swallowed their parched throat as they anxiously waited for jean to make a bet. Shirou weighted the available options in his head, If jean bets here she runs the risk of losing a substantial amount of her money, even if the player was on the losing side, he still had enough chips on his side to at least make another three equal number of good bets. On the contrary, if jean backs down she'll end up with enough money in her purse to buy a new apartment in New York. Sure, she won't win the million dollar grand prize but then again, she doesn't run the risk of losing what she already won.
“She'll fold.”
Shirou quietly murmured as he saw jean going into a pause, every single spectators held their breath as they waited to behold the defining moment in this game. The Australian though kept his chuckle.
“Nah, She's definitely going to call.”
Shirou felt the arms around his shoulders loosen a bit, seeing this as a chance Shirou quickly moved away from his grip. The Australian though didn't seem to mind it at all.
“Why? I mean she already won enough right? I wouldn't risk my money for that, it's too risky”
“No, you got it all wrong. You think that Arabian folded because he was afraid of that poser?”
Said the Australian as he pointed his fingers at the tense player. To Shirou's surprise, his face wasn't anywhere as confident as he looked just moments before. It was faint but Shirou caught the slight movement in his finger, he was trembling, definitely trembling, but not enough so to be caught by the naked eyes. That slight movement determined his fate. Shirou wagered,Jean Ciel Manson had definitely caught sight of it
“He IS Bluffing!!!”
Shirou clasped his hands in surprise. And at the same time the Call sign was Made, she held ten of her purple ten grand chips and tossed it at the pot. She made a silent smirk and gave a wink at the devastated player. Making one deep breath, the player slowly put his hands on the table and folded it. Now there were only two players on the game. Jean Ciel Manson and the White cowboy. The pot was now officially filled with a big three hundred and fifty grand check.
“That Arabian was a pussy backing out of the fight... Frigging Arabians, they don't have no pride to compensate. cowards!!! Give Australia your money back You fucking oil eaters!!!”
The Australian held up his middle finger on the air, much to the crowd's chagrin. Shirou couldn't help but flush himself out as well. But what the Australian said was definitely true, when poker players are pitted on a one on one free for all game. It is all down to the pride between the players. Regardless of the hand they have, it will be an exciting match to behold.
“Call.”
The Man in white raised the bet to a hundred and fifty, raising the bet to a total of five hundred grand.
“Call.”
Another call was made, this time Jean raised the bet a hundred and seventyfive grand. The white man in turn did the same, ading more and more to the pot. As time passed the amount of money in the pot rised dramatically until the chips covered the entire pot. Now the net amount of chips inside the pot was equivalent to one point five million dollar in total yet they didn't call it quits. Before eventually it all came to this.
“All In.”
Jean Ciel Manson pushed every single chips she had into the betting circle. The white old English guy was caught by surprise, but he made no qualms about adding the A word
“All in.”
Shirou held his breath as the game aggravated beyond any hope of alleviation. The dealer called for the end of the poker match and started flopping the cards on the table. The crowd froze on their toes as they saw the climax unfold before them. Everyone held their breath. Then, the call from the words from the dealer rang the entire hall. One that sent a jolt to Shirou's spine
“DRAW.”
Shirou and the crowd stared in disbelief as the hands on each player was revealed.
“No way???? Not even a single combination!!!?”
There it was, not even a single combination was seen on Jean and the white cowboy's hand. They were bluffing their way all along. And in the end, pride determined the outcome of this game. The bets on the table was to be evenly divided to both players and the prize money, divided to two as well. In total that made for nearly two million dollar each, all of which was to be sent into their bank account. Shirou hit his head hard, still unable to believe that the result ended up as a draw. It was truly one of the greatest shows he has seen in his life.
-Jean Ciel Manson-
“Shirou... Shirou?”
A shake to his shoulder woke Shirou up from his trance. He turned to see a short blonde, petite woman in a casual Black T-shirt and a pair of blue Levi jeans behind him. It was Saber.
“oh...You were behind me all those time Saber?”
Saber folded her arms across her chest and made a sulk. Saber was not very much in the mood right now.
“Yeah, the entire thirty minutes, clogged in between two fat women.”
Shirou scratched his head and replied with a bit of apology. Which Saber accepted with a sigh
“Anyway let's get to the slots now Saber. You're ready for a piece of the fight night don't you?”
Saber shrugged and replied with a hint of indifference.
“Whatever you say Shirou.”
“Anyways did you see that Ciel girl over there. She was a real...killer?”
Shirou rolled his head to the gambling table, only to see that the girl was nowhere to be found. Only the white cowboy was there to receive the check. The scattering congregation of spectators started disseminating down to the gambling grounds below. Shirou tilted his head in confusion. Just a moment ago this girl was there. Receiving the reward.
“Oh, that Jean Ciel Manson Girl you mean? She left around ten minutes ago I think.”
said Saber.
“Ten minutes ago? But she was just there a second ago...”
Shirou felt a bit of confusion looming inside him but he decided to let things be. For now they had to win some cash at the slots. Shirou shook his head right and left as he escorted Saber down to the lobby.
“Was I dreaming?”
End apple street Agency Part 2 of episode 5: Jean Ciel Manson