He could go to the entrance and exit to take a look, but it would be pointless. The test of the fourth hall had already begun. Although it was related to gambling, Ling Yun still didn't know what the test was. Was it just to hone his gambling skills and luck? It didn't seem that simple. If that were all, Jack should be the final boss. But Jack just seemed like an ordinary person, at least in Ling Yun's eyes.
However, the trials of the fourth hall seemed significantly different from those of the first three. At least in the casino, Ling Yun didn't find any objects or clocks representing time limits, meaning he didn't have to worry about the passage of time. Perhaps it was simply that the time hadn't come yet, and the time limit hadn't been triggered, but based on experience, this possibility was relatively small.
He wondered how Xiaorou was doing... Was she also in a strange situation like him, with no immediate solution? Ling Yun suddenly thought of his girlfriend, and his heart ached. The bright and beautiful girl seemed to come alive in his mind, looking at him affectionately and making funny faces at him with a charming smile... Ling Yun's heart softened instantly.
"Number 736, please enter the eighth gambling area, number 736, please enter the eighth gambling area..." The merciless electronic voice broke Ling Yun's reverie. He glanced at the serial number in his hand and finally confirmed that it was his turn. Now, it was time for him to make his grand entrance.
Ling Yun straightened his clothes and strode forward. Two staff members verified the serial number in his hand and then smiled as they guided him to the eighth gambling area.
Chapter 349 Roulette
"Sir, what would you like to play?" A staff member wearing a purple vest quickly came over and asked Ling Yun politely. Judging from his well-trained manners, if Ling Yun hadn't known that this was a casino where lives were at stake, he probably would have thought he was in a high-class and elegant Western restaurant.
"Could you give me a brief introduction first? For example, how many gambling areas does the casino have, what are the gambling methods in each area, what are the main gambling options in the eighth gambling area... and what are the gambling rules?" Ling Yun asked after thinking for a moment. He knew almost nothing about gambling and usually didn't care about it, but now that he was planning to overcome all obstacles, he needed to at least understand the gambling methods and rules.
The staff member was secretly taken aback. It was the first time he had ever seen a gambler in a casino who was completely unaware of the gambling methods and rules. This was almost unbelievable. What was even more unbelievable was that this layman had become his boss.
Despite his surprise, the staff member displayed his well-trained service style, respectfully explaining, "Sir, each gambling area offers one or more types of gambling, such as roulette, blackjack, dice, stud poker, poker, mahjong, slot machines... You can choose the gambling method according to your needs and interests. Most games are played between two people; for games with more than three people, there's an elimination system where only the last person wins. The losers must commit suicide. The rules are quite simple; you'll understand after hearing it once... As for the eighth gambling area, the main game is roulette, which is very exciting." At this point, a mysterious yet enthusiastic smile appeared on the staff member's face; clearly, he himself was quite interested in this brutal form of gambling.
Because Ling Yun had changed the casino's basic rules, staff members could also participate in life-or-death gambles. In fact, influenced by what they saw and heard, most staff members were also interested in this kind of life-or-death gambling, or rather, the staff members themselves were also avid gamblers. If it weren't for the need to guide and explain the rules to gamblers, this well-trained staff member would probably have already gone to gamble with his life. However, the casino was already short-staffed. If more staff members went to gamble and died one after another, there would be no one to maintain the basic casino rules. Even so, the big man appointed by Ling Yun as the casino manager was still running around, shouting loudly, and extremely busy.
"Roulette?" Hearing this familiar term, Ling Yun couldn't help but repeat it. Although he knew nothing about gambling, he was familiar with this cruel, life-or-death gamble originating in Russia. Any industry, once it reaches a certain level of fame, will eventually become known to the public. Just as even people outside the internet industry know Microsoft, and people who can't dance know Michael Jackson's moonwalk, roulette, a simple and exciting game, is also known to the public, though few dare to try it.
Roulette is a gambling game where two or more players load one or more bullets into the six chambers of a revolver, spin the cylinder, and then close it. They then take turns pointing the gun at their own heads and pulling the trigger. Whoever is shot first loses. The loser doesn't need to commit suicide; they are instantly killed. The lucky one who survives to the end wins.
This bloody form of gambling was once popular in Soviet soldiers' camps during World War II, and gradually spread throughout the world, evolving into a professional form of gambling. However, due to the numerous tragic deaths, roulette has been strictly banned in most countries, and this ancient game of life and death has become a legend passed down through generations. Nevertheless, roulette gambling continues unabated in private, though mostly limited to thrill-seeking young people or rivals. Ling Yun was surprised to see it here, but thinking about it, it made sense. Since it was a place where lives were at stake, how could it lack the classic game of roulette?
The rules of roulette didn't need further explanation from the staff; any adult with a certain level of comprehension could understand them after hearing them once. Ling Yun couldn't help but show a hint of anticipation on his face at the prospect of experiencing the legendary game of roulette.
Seeing that Ling Yun seemed quite interested, the staff member couldn't help but become more enthusiastic. Being able to serve his boss made him even more proud, and he quickly said, "Yes, sir, it seems you know a lot about roulette. This kind of gambling is the simplest, most exciting, and very suitable for gamblers who are new to casinos. In particular, our casino has also set up a new way to play roulette!" As he said this, his tone softened, and he even started to keep everyone in suspense, revealing a mysterious smile.
"A new way?" Ling Yun was taken aback. He had to admit, the staff member had done a great job, successfully piquing his interest. What kind of trickery could be added to such a simple gamble as roulette? He smiled expectantly, "Will it be more exciting?"
“Of course, sir!” the staff member said with beaming eyes. “The new way of playing roulette is unparalleled. We haven’t changed the basic rules of roulette, but just made a small change to the firing procedure. This change can make gamblers’ mood go from heaven to hell in an instant, enduring those few agonizing seconds.”
"What changes? Tell me quickly," Ling Yun urged impatiently. This guy was quite eloquent, but he was rambling on and on, and even kept her in suspense. If Ling Yun didn't want to continue listening, she really wanted to punch him so badly that he couldn't take care of himself.
"Sir, we've delayed the firing rate," the staff member explained vividly. "That means when gamblers pick up a revolver, point it at their head, and pull the trigger, they won't immediately know if there's a bullet. The bullet will be fired after a delay of one to three seconds. This period will greatly increase the psychological pressure on each gambler and give them a near-extreme thrill of death."
"Oh!" Ling Yun exclaimed in surprise. He hadn't expected roulette to be played like this. Indeed, the delayed firing of the bullet significantly increased the psychological pressure, because you didn't know if there would be any more bullets after pulling the trigger. So, the psychological feeling of waiting was extremely exciting. Just when you thought there were no more bullets and breathed a sigh of relief, the bullet would suddenly shoot out of the muzzle and blow your relaxed head apart. The bloody and exciting scene that was brought at that moment would directly give the audience and the opponent an infinite sense of excitement. This was the true charm of roulette.
"How about it, sir? Would you like to experience it now, or watch for a while? The feeling... tsk tsk, it's truly indescribable," the staff member said with a smile, knowing that he had successfully piqued the young man's interest.
"Hmm, very good, you did a good job. I'll take a look first, and then I'll try betting myself," Ling Yun said with a slight smile.
"Good luck, sir. I'm sorry, I have other guests to attend to. Please feel free to look around and try it whenever you'd like." The attentive staff member bowed deeply and then retreated step by step with a humble smile. His demeanor and smile were impeccable, which made Ling Yun take a deep look at him.
Unexpectedly, even in a virtual casino, there was such dedicated service. Seeing the service from these staff members, the gamblers even felt that dying would be worthwhile. Ling Yun suddenly recalled the various service establishments he had encountered in China, where he had always been met with cold and indifferent attitudes. He had never experienced such courteous service before. In China, he had felt that the service was worse than death.
He strolled through the eighth gambling district and stopped beside a pair of gamblers playing roulette. The game was open to the public; whatever the gamblers bet on, and how they bet, was allowed to be watched by other gamblers. This was intended to stimulate the gamblers' senses, ostensibly to let them experience the profound allure of gambling. Besides Ling Yun, two or three other gamblers were watching from the sidelines, their faces showing a cruel yet intensely interested expression.
Two gamblers sat motionless at a small round table, less than a meter in diameter, staring at each other. The smooth, purple surface was empty except for a gleaming gold-painted revolver, its cylinder partially detached, a bright yellow bullet already half-inserted into the barrel. This was a public demonstration to prevent cheating before the actual roulette game, proving the fairness of the game—after all, life is only once, and mistakes cannot be undone.
The crowd nodded in agreement. Only then did the two gamblers turn their attention to the revolver on the table. Suddenly, they both pointed at each other and said in unison, "You go first?"
"Hehe..." The two men were stunned for a moment, then chuckled simultaneously. The gambler standing to Ling Yun's left was a man around forty years old, a hearty expression on his face. "Brother, you're too kind. I'm a few years older, so of course I won't let you have the first turn." With that, he skillfully grabbed the revolver from the table, firmly inserted a bullet into the chamber, and then gave it a powerful spin. After watching it spin several times, he gave it a sharp jerk, closing the cylinder. At this point, no one could see which chamber the bullet was in. The entire movement was swift, clean, and flawless. Ling Yun couldn't help but narrow his eyes slightly; this man seemed to be a seasoned gambler.
The gambler on the right was a young man in his late teens, his somewhat childish eyes radiating an uncontrollable tension. His face was also tense, and he wiped the sweat from his forehead. Although he seemed quite interested in roulette, there was a lingering fear in his eyes. He stammered, "Brother, please go first. I'll try second."
The man seemed to sense his fear, and as he slowly placed the revolver to his forehead, he comforted him, saying, "Don't be afraid, brother. Even if you die, you'll be a hero again in twenty years!"
Ling Yun smiled, thinking that this gambler had quite a sense of humor. "Twenty years later, I'll be a hero again. Does he think I'm going to the execution ground?" The young man gave a dry, awkward laugh, thinking that he had made a good deal. He was already in his forties, while he was only eighteen. Even if they combined, he might not live as long as the young man.
Several gamblers around Ling Yun grew impatient and began to shout, "Can you hurry up? If you're afraid of dying, don't come to roulette!"
The man said repeatedly, "Don't rush me, everyone. I'll fire right away, right away." As he spoke, his finger gently pulled the trigger. In that instant, Ling Yun clearly saw a look of fear flash across his face. Obviously, this kind of cruel killing method was unbearable for anyone. Even if his gambling instinct overcame his fear of death, the instinctive reaction at the moment of experiencing death still caused the man to have a momentary mental breakdown.
With a snap, the trigger came back. The man simply closed his eyes, his forehead covered in sweat, and kept the gun pointed at his forehead without letting go. He had to wait three seconds because there was a delay in the bullet's firing time. Of course, the bullet might not be delayed, but not being delayed didn't mean that no bullet was fired.
The man's facial muscles twitched incessantly, his face turning bluish-purple in an instant. His lips moved slightly as he mumbled something, like a mentally unstable patient. If there is anything more terrifying than death, it is waiting to die. And the man was experiencing an excruciating torment, comparable to being burned by raging fire, during this extreme process of waiting to die.
Every gambler who saw the man's expression, including Ling Yun, felt a pang of distress. It was an incredibly painful feeling, as if poison had been injected into their hearts. If the observer felt this way, one can only imagine how the man himself must have felt. The intense stimulation accelerated his blood circulation, and the purplish-blue color on his face quickly turned into an unnatural, deathly gray.
The long three seconds finally passed, and the revolver finally stopped emitting its deathly roar. The man slumped into his chair as if all his strength had been drained, throwing the revolver onto the table. After a long while, he finally caught his breath and cursed with a bitter smile, "Damn it, this thing is really not for humans to play with. I'm never playing with it again." Although he didn't know if there would be a next time.
The surrounding gamblers also breathed a sigh of relief. The thrill they had just experienced during the man's shooting was unparalleled, and now, another round of excitement was about to begin. Everyone couldn't help but turn their attention to the young man.
A trembling hand groped its way to the table, as if it took a tremendous effort, to slowly pick up the revolver. It took the young man almost a minute to move the violently shaking muzzle to his forehead. Seeing how terrified he was, one couldn't help but worry for him. If he continued to shake like that, the chance of the gun going off was probably greater than the one-sixth chance of being shot in the head.
Chapter 350 Ling Yun's Choice
"Brother, it's my turn..." the young man said in a trembling voice. Although he forced himself to calm down, his instinctive fear still made him tremble. Fortunately, his hand holding the gun was steady enough that he didn't accidentally fire the gun and managed to keep the muzzle pressed against his forehead.
"Well, brother, good luck." The man seemed to have recovered some of his strength, and his complexion was gradually returning to normal, though he still looked somewhat weak. He spoke to the young man, whether as a word of comfort or sarcasm, it was unclear. The relationship between the two seemed to have become incredibly strange; what should have been a life-or-death struggle under certain rules was instead one of mutual politeness, almost like that of friends.
The young man took a deep breath and pulled the trigger. In the instant he pulled the trigger, he suddenly closed his eyes. This seems to be one of the instinctive reactions of a human being. Weakness and fear are not necessarily derogatory terms. There are people who can truly face bloody scenes, but that does not mean that robots are cold-blooded and ruthless.
*Click!* The trigger inexplicably pulled back again, and the shot seemed to have missed once more. Except for Ling Yun, the surrounding gamblers couldn't help but gasp, unsure whether they were celebrating the young man's escape or lamenting the missed shot. The tension was palpable, as if the air itself was on fire. Now, as they relaxed, everyone exchanged wry smiles, realizing how thrilling the ordeal had been; less than two minutes felt like an eternity.
"Bang!" Just as the young man's eyes lit up with joy, thinking he had escaped, a bullet shot out without warning from the revolver he hadn't pulled off his forehead. It instantly pierced his entire skull, and the enormous explosive force even ripped his skull off. Half of his skull and a clump of brains splattered onto a gambler behind him, startling him so much that he jumped up, his face turning deathly pale.
Silence, utter silence. Everyone, including the man, was motionless as if trapped in a terrible nightmare. Their faces were pale, and they held their breath, staring at the young man's body, which had been shot in the head. Just moments ago, he was a vibrant person, and in the blink of an eye, he had become a bloody and gruesome corpse. The sudden and enormous change gave them a feeling of extreme tension, like bungee jumping, as if something huge was about to burst out of their heads, sending chills down their spines.
The man's mouth gaped open, and it took him a long time to close it. He smiled bitterly and said, "This is only the second round..." He clicked his tongue, seemingly feeling immense regret that the young man had been headshot so quickly. In the man's mind, the real thrill should have come with the fifth shot, because by then the probability of a headshot had increased to fifty percent. That would have been the peak of the thrill.
Ling Yun silently walked to the side. He had to admit, the roulette game he'd just played had left a deep impression on him, but unlike the other gamblers, he wasn't particularly moved. He wasn't focused on the thrill of gambling. He'd seen plenty of bloodshed; roulette was child's play compared to that. Ling Yun was more interested in something else Jack had mentioned, but whether it was true or not, he needed to verify.
He walked to another small roulette table. Two fat men sat opposite each other, almost identical in weight, appearance, and clothing—they looked exactly like twin brothers. Ling Yun was taken aback. Twin brothers playing roulette? This was truly the first time he'd encountered such a thing. Did the brothers not get along well, and did one of them have to be the only one left? However, Ling Yun observed that the two fat men didn't seem to have any animosity. They even chatted and laughed when they raised their guns, like close comrades.