Hero of Darkness

Chapter 1229: The Gambling Den

20 Years Later...

In a city called Lumveil, the bustling population with plenty of multicolored lighting shone brightly like a beacon in the dark as the settlements within the large 50-meter-tall walls, which separated it from the slums and the rest of the struggling netizens of the country, reached their peak business window.

Nighttime was the prime hours of the day when the city became truly alive as people returned from their work and gathered together to enjoy food, drinks, and various kinds of entertainment among the adults who could afford to pay good money to any of these establishments.

Thus, the city favored such places and catered to their needs so the tax could be increased and also make people keep spending more money every day.

In one of such establishments called the 8th Haven, a tall, burly, bald man with a dark blue jacket and black jeans entered, as he wore multiple golden chains around his neck.

Anyone could tell that this man was here to spend a lot of money for a good time, a preferred type of customer in this establishment.

This man soon entered the first floor, where the rich customers partook in the gambling while enjoying booze.

He took a seat at a table and soon started playing the game for the next 20 minutes.

But soon, out of nowhere...

Bang!

He banged his large fist on the table, breaking it in half as he shouted...

”The games are rigged! Call the manager!”

His bellowing shout rang through the entire establishment, alarming everyone as their eyes focused on the first floor.

”What happened, sir? You weren’t even losing the game,” spoke the dealer at the table.

But instead of clarifying...

Slap!

This tall bald man slapped the dealer and spoke in a grim and threatening tone...

”I said bring me the fucking manager!” he said.

Step!

Step!

Hearing all this commotion, a man in a tuxedo rushed in and addressed the customer, who just slapped the employee out of nowhere.

”How may I help you, sir?” asked the manager politely, trying to ease up the tension.

”My game was rigged,” spoke the tall bald man as he flexed his muscles.

”No, sir. We are a trusted and verified establishment. We don’t rig the game in any way.

Otherwise, there wouldn’t be so many people coming to our club so regularly.” spoke the manager with a respectful tone.

Some of the customers sitting on other tables slightly nodded, as they had been coming here for a long time as well.

However, this person didn’t seem in the mood to listen.

”I don’t believe you. I’m gonna report this to the authorities.

See you in court.” he spoke with a firm tone.

The manager quickly acted and responded kindly...

”How about I offer you a new table and give you 1 million won as a starting amount for the game?” asked the manager while maintaining a benign smile.

This wasn’t the first problematic customer. So he knew how to diffuse the situation without letting things escalate too far.

”Instead of all that... How about you give me information on the man named Black Hawk?” responded the tall bald man with a sly grin.

”B-Black Hawk?... I apologize, but I don’t know any man with that name.” said the manager.

Bang!

But instead of listening, the man punched the manager in the face as a red hue emanated from his body.

”Fuck! That’s a hunter!” exclaimed one of the customers.

Soon, everyone had their minds on high alert because they thought this was some kind of raid by the hunter association.

”Argghhhh!”

The manager, on the other hand, groaned in pain, his nose and teeth bleeding from the punch.

”Tell me where he is!” shouted the hunter.

Rumble!

His aura rose higher, and soon, he started throwing other tables around and beating up the employees who tried to stop him.

The manager understood quickly that there was no problem with the game. This man came here to cause trouble in the first place.

Five minutes went by as the hunter kept beating people up and tried to extract information.

Step!

Step!

It was then, a man in a black long coat, wearing a brown fedora, walked from the stairs of the top floor.

This man was fairly younger than the bald hunter, and his countenance was cold.

The youthful man with a battle-hardened appearance was none other than... Morpheus.

******************

After escaping the hell he was held captive in and, fortunately, landing inside the city that night... Morpheus lived a life of struggle every single day.

In the early years, he begged for food in the populated areas, but it became hard to continue since the police were adamant about hiding the poverty within the society from the public eye.

So couple of years later, he had to resort to stealing.

Fortunately, Morpheus was far more insightful and trained enough to jump over rooftops and had the presence of mind to avoid being caught.

He did not steal money or belongings. Only food and clothes whenever he was starving or needed new clothes, based on the season of the year.

While there were often cameras and security, his small frame helped him hide as well as go through narrow routes compared to adults.

Meanwhile, his days were spent on pretending to be a student and entering schools by stealing uniforms and IDs of some students.

Even there, he spent most time in libraries to learn how to read and write.

But just 5 years later... he stopped it and focused more on trying to make a living on his own.

It was during this time... he joined a Jopoke (basically South Korean mafia).

It took him some time as he rose from the ranks of an underling to a fearsome team leader, since these crime syndicates often recruited young teenagers who later became the core members of their gangs.

Then, he specialized in running gambling dens and was recently given charge of a casino bar by his bosses.

It was thriving enough to get big-shot customers, but people with connections who wanted to set their feet in money-making businesses often preyed on small-time places like these to solidify their own enterprise, since the city itself was filled with the wealthy population of the country.

And here, hunters were dime a dozen since it was also where the association and all business organizations were located due to the security it provided, based on how many hunters resided in cities like these.

******************

Back to the present moment...

Morpheus faced the bald man with no fear in his eyes. The rest of the spectators watched with bated breath as this was a faceoff...

Between a common man against an awakened hunter.