I Don't Know the Original, I'm Too Busy Trying to Make a Living-Chapter 194

‘Terrifying!’

How many people in the world had lost everything to gambling?

The downfall of gamblers was a common theme in popular movies and dramas—stories of people plunging into ruin.

Characters like Penelope often played the role of the “fool,” the easy prey who fell into the clutches of con artists, losing all their money in the process.

Fools never realized their mistakes until it was too late, ending up losing their entire fortune, their homes, and even their families.

‘Oh, there’s another fool right there....’

Penelope cast a sympathetic gaze at one of the tables.

Countess Corindel was steadily losing money. With each hand of cards, her face grew more ashen.

“Ah, unfortunate. Once again, the gentleman wins this round.”

The dealer announced the outcome with a voice that lacked any genuine regret.

The man seated at the same table beamed as he swept up the pot.

Susan chewed her nails anxiously, glancing at her nearly empty purse. Judging by her expression, she was running out of funds.

The dealer turned to her with a pleasant smile.

“Would you like to play another round?”

“......”

Susan hesitated. The dark circles under her eyes and the bloodshot veins surrounding them spoke volumes about her state of mind.

The dealer began shuffling the deck with a practiced hand.

“If you don’t wish to continue, please make room for the next player.”

“I’ll... I’ll keep playing.”

Susan poured out the remainder of her purse, spilling a significant pile of gold coins onto the table. Despite appearances, she still had a considerable amount left.

For a brief moment, a glimmer of greed flickered in the dealer’s eyes, mirrored by the man seated beside Susan.

The dealer deftly shuffled the cards and dealt them to the players.

“......!”

Susan’s face lit up as she looked at her hand. She had been dealt a strong set of cards.

As expected, the dealer checked their hands and announced, “This round goes to the lady.”

Susan eagerly gathered a substantial pot, her eyes now blazing with renewed fervor.

The dealer exchanged a subtle glance with the man seated nearby.

Penelope, who had been watching intently, leaned toward Ahwin and whispered excitedly, “Look! They’re totally rigging the game, aren’t they?”

“I don’t know. Hard to tell,” Ahwin replied, his tone indifferent.

Penelope clung closer, her urgency growing. Ahwin flinched at the proximity.

“Come on, pay attention! They just exchanged some kind of signal—I’m sure of it!”

“......Are you really surprised that con artists are running a gambling table?”

Succumbing to her persistence, Ahwin finally admitted the truth. Penelope’s face lit up triumphantly.

“I knew it! They’re working together, aren’t they?!”

“......”

“......”

Suddenly, the entire gambling hall went silent.

Penelope, oblivious to what had just happened, looked around.

Ahwin sighed heavily and spoke in a resigned tone. “Pepe, you were way too loud just now.”

“Oh... was I?”

Penelope rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly, realizing she had gotten carried away and raised her voice.

And then it happened.

“I knew it! These guys are cheats! Give me back my money!”

“Thieves!”

“My money!”

Shouts erupted from various corners of the gambling den. The cries came from patrons who had clearly lost their fortunes, their voices filled with rage and desperation.

Susan, too, was scrambling to gather her coins, her face flushed with anger, as she stood from her seat.

Penelope froze, a wave of realization washing over her.

‘What have I done? I was supposed to be observing Countess Corindel quietly.’

Instead, she had drawn everyone’s attention.

At that moment, she felt Ahwin’s hand settle on her waist. Startled, she turned to him.

In a low, cold voice, Ahwin asked, “What do you want?”

“Please, there’s no need for hostility. I have no intention of causing harm to you.”

“......!”

Penelope stiffened.

A man she didn’t recognize had approached them without her noticing.

With fiery red hair and striking golden eyes, he was dressed impeccably in a fine suit that clashed with the gambling den’s seedy atmosphere. His delicate features were better suited to a ballroom in the capital than this place.

The man placed a hand over his chest and offered a graceful bow.

“My name is ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) Jack. May I have a word with you?”

Jack?

“Oh, so you’re the Jack they mentioned earlier? The one who provides whatever’s needed in the gambling den?”

That was what the guard had said at the entrance.

Jack smiled, his expression radiant. He exuded a charm that could captivate anyone, regardless of gender.

“Pepe, why are you staring at him like that when I’m right here?”

Ahwin immediately voiced his discontent, even going so far as to place his face directly in front of hers.

Caught off guard by Ahwin’s unmatched beauty suddenly filling her vision, Penelope momentarily froze.

‘He really is stunning.’

How could someone this breathtaking exist in the world?

For a moment, she forgot the situation entirely, overcome with admiration.

Ahwin’s gaze held a flicker of satisfaction.

‘This isn’t the time for this!’

Snapping out of it, Penelope pushed his face away with her hands and scanned the room.

But Susan was nowhere to be found.

Penelope’s expression turned crestfallen.

Ahwin, now visibly offended, asked in disbelief, “Wait... are you saying I just lost out in a beauty contest?”

“No, it’s not that! The Countess is gone! She must have left the gambling hall!”

“......I see.”

Ahwin’s expression shifted back to indifference. Penelope felt an overwhelming urge to pinch his uncooperative cheek.

“Pardon my interruption,” Jack interjected.

This chapt𝙚r is updated by freeωebnovēl.c૦m.

“......Oh.”

Penelope froze, having momentarily forgotten about him.

Turning back, she saw Jack still smiling, though his lips seemed to twitch as if struggling to maintain composure. Surely, it was just her imagination.

“May I speak with you now? And for the record, this is not a request.”

“.......”

“.......”

Wow. When had this many men surrounded them?

Penelope glanced around and realized they were now encircled by rough-looking men with menacing stares. She recognized some of them from the pawnshop near the alley.

Apparently, these enforcers stepped in whenever someone caused trouble in the gambling den.

Ahwin leaned toward her and asked calmly, “What do you want to do?”

“Let’s hear what he has to say first.”

“And the Countess?”

“She’s not likely to cause immediate trouble. She probably went to another gambling den to squander the rest of her gold, right?”

“......That’s true.”

Ahwin nodded in agreement. Susan’s actions were predictable—she would likely keep gambling until she ran out of money.

‘Once she’s broke, she’ll cause a scene to get more funds.’

For now, their focus had to shift.

As the two deliberated, Jack stepped forward, cutting in.

“I assume you’ve reached a conclusion? Please, follow me.”

“Fine, lead the way,” Penelope replied confidently.

Jack studied her intently, though her hood obscured most of her face.

Ahwin stepped between them, shielding her.

“You’d better stop staring. Unless you want to go blind,” Ahwin warned icily.

“...I’ll be cautious,” Jack replied with a forced cough, leading them deeper into the gambling den.

Following him, Penelope thought to herself, ‘That was a bit much.’