It has been five days since his last gamble, and on Noir’s instruction went to attend gambling lecture. They weren’t compulsory to pass, but for a newbie like himself, Peter needed every piece of gambling knowledge he could get to survive.Peter slumped into a chair near the back of the lecture hall, trying not to look like he had just dragged himself out of the depths of hell. Losing to Dante had drained him of every ounce of confidence. His head still buzzed with frustration, and every time he blinked, he saw those damn Aces—mocking him, reminding him of how brutally he had been crushed.Now, he was sitting in a classroom, waiting for some professor to talk about gambling like it was a science.Like there were rules to something so cruelly unpredictable.The lecture hall itself looked like it belonged in a billionaire’s mansion. Gold-trimmed pillars, velvet seats, and a massive LED screen stretching across the front like a casino scoreboard. The students around him exuded quiet

Peter’s fingers dug into the cold steel railing, knuckles turning white as he watched Grant shove his five million euros forward.“Deal.”The word rang through the air like a death sentence.A wild cheer erupted from the crowd, their excitement feeding off the growing tension in the room. They didn’t care about Grant. They didn’t care that he was about to walk into the biggest mistake of his life.They just wanted blood.And Viktor?He sat there, lazily swirling his drink, his golden eyes gleaming with something dark, something predatory.Peter swallowed the lump in his throat.This is wrong.This is so wrong.He should have stepped in. Should have yelled, warned, done something.But it was too late.The game had begun.The dealer shuffled with calm precision, her face unreadable as she flicked out the first two cards.Grant’s Hand:Eight of Diamonds (8)Five of Clubs (5)Total: 13A weak start. Too low to stand on.Viktor’s Hand:Jack of Hearts (10)Nine of Spade

Hours had passed, but Grant remained seated at the table, frozen in place. The game was long over. The crowd had dispersed. The lights above the stage had dimmed. But he hadn’t moved.He had lost.Not just money. Not just pride.He had lost everything.His brain felt empty—no, dead. His limbs refused to move, his mind unable to process reality. Even as the security guards and dealers ordered him to leave, their voices felt distant, like echoes in a void.“Sir, you need to vacate the hall.”No response.“Sir, if you do not move, we will have to escort you out.”Still, nothing.They moved to forcefully remove him, but before they could, a familiar voice cut through the thick fog of his mind.“Grant, we need to leave.”The name pulled Grant from his trance like a beam of sunlight breaking through a storm-clouded sky.Slowly, his vacant eyes lifted to see Peter standing in front of him.“P…e…t…e…r,” he croaked, his voice barely holding together.“Yeah, it’s me.” Peter forced

The dealer’s voice remained calm, unwavering.“The bet options will appear on your tab and the main screen before you. You have twenty minutes to place your bets before the game commences.”Peter inhaled sharply as his betting console lit up, the massive holographic interface spreading across his screen. Dozens of betting markets, odds, and payouts flooded his vision, each one offering a different path—victory or ruin.This was it.This was where gamblers were made.🏀 Betting Markets for Frostfangs vs. HurricanesBasic Betting MarketsMoneyline (Winner of the Game)Frostfangs to Win → 80x payoutHurricanes to Win → 00x payoutPoint Spread (Handicap Betting) (A way to balance the game by giving an advantage/disadvantage in points.)Frostfangs -5.5 (Must win by 6 or more) → 90x payoutHurricanes +5.5 (Can lose by 5 or less OR win outright) → 90x payoutOver/Under (Total Points in the Game)Over 5 Total Points → 1.85x payoutUnder 5 Total Points → 1.85x payoutOver 5 Total Points → 2.00

The buzzer-beater still lingered in Peter’s mind.Brendan Irving’s deep three had tied the game at 27-27, but it had done more than just even the score—it had shifted the momentum. The Hurricanes fed off the moment, walking to their bench with their heads high, their energy contagious.Momentum was a dangerous thing.And Peter knew it better than anyone.Sitting in the Viewing Center, he let out a slow, controlled breath, his fingers drumming anxiously against the smooth leather of his chair. His bets were still alive, but this second quarter would be crucial. Across from him, Logan Fisher remained maddeningly composed, his posture relaxed, a faint smirk on his lips as he casually flicked a casino chip between his fingers.He wasn’t watching the game.He was watching Peter.Peter clenched his jaw and looked away. Logan could play mind games all he wanted—Peter had bigger things to worry about.On the massive 3D screen, the teams stepped back onto the court. The Hurricanes looked confi