Ling Yun spread his hands helplessly: "Sir, what are you trying to prove by saying all this? You only give me the feeling that you lack self-confidence and need to wait for others' approval to increase your confidence. In fact, this will not help you in the gambling process at all. On the contrary, it will create a misconception and increase your chances of losing. Oh no, I misspoke. You will definitely lose, so it doesn't matter what you do."
Upon hearing Ling Yun's words, the middle-aged man's expression changed involuntarily, and his usual elegant demeanor vanished. His eyes narrowed, and he said coldly, "Sir, I must admit that your tongue is much sharper than I imagined. To be honest, I chose to gamble with you not because I wanted to bully the weak, but because you have harmed the interests of our VIP group, so I must eliminate you on behalf of the VIPs."
Ling Yun said indifferently, "Then why not send a higher-level VIP, like Jack, instead of sending a low-level VIP like you to your death?"
"Going to your death?" The middle-aged man's expression changed again, and his tone became sharp: "Who are you calling going to their death? How could I possibly lose to you? You're just a newbie. You have a little confidence, but you don't know your own limitations? You really think you can beat me?"
“I told you, you’re going to die.” A cold smile appeared on Ling Yun’s lips. “And those high-level VIPs who sent you also knew you were going to die. You were just a sacrifice they used to test me, or cannon fodder! The pitiful thing is that you don’t even have that much awareness, or even any self-awareness.”
"You!" The middle-aged man pointed at Ling Yun, nearly slamming his fist on the table in uncontrollable rage. However, when he saw Ling Yun's smiling expression, he forced himself to sit back down, a growing unease creeping into his heart. It was true that a higher-level VIP had sent him to probe Ling Yun's true strength, but this young man didn't recognize him and couldn't possibly be paying attention to him. How could he know someone had sent him? Could this young man truly be a hidden master, a wolf in sheep's clothing?
He looked at Ling Yun with some suspicion and uncertainty, his previously peaceful state of mind suddenly becoming somewhat uneasy.
"Did I really make the wrong choice this time? No, how could I possibly lose to a novice who doesn't even know the rules of gambling?" the middle-aged man thought guiltily. Then, he composed himself and said, "Sir, words alone cannot determine the outcome of gambling. If you really believe I am destined to lose, then why don't we begin right away?"
Ling Yun curled his lip, thinking to himself, "I wanted to start a long time ago. You were the one who kept dawdling and making a fool of yourself." Too lazy to waste words with the middle-aged man, he grabbed the revolver on the table, loaded a bullet into the cylinder, spun it a few times, then snapped it shut and slammed it on the table, lazily saying, "I've wanted to start for a while now, sir. Would you like to go first, or should I?"
The middle-aged man watched Ling Yun's gun handling intently. It was clear that this was not the first time the young man had handled a gun; his technique was quite skilled, but that was all. There were countless people in the casino with the same skill as the young man.
He felt a weight lifted from his heart and finally gained some confidence. His complexion regained its refined ruddy color: "Sir, before we begin, I have a few words to say. I wonder if you could grant me another minute?"
"Go ahead and say it." Ling Yun rolled his eyes. Why does this guy talk so much? Does he know he's going to die and want to give some last words?
The middle-aged man smiled slightly, then suddenly stood up and bowed to Ling Yun and the others: "Ladies and gentlemen, my life-or-death gamble with this gentleman is about to begin. Before we begin, I have a few words to say. You may think I am bullying the weak, because I am a level 5 VIP, while this gentleman is the lowest-level gambler who has just entered the casino. Although gamblers can freely choose their partner's status, I should not, under any circumstances, use my VIP status to suppress a new gambler."
Ling Yun and the others listened quietly, wondering what the middle-aged man meant by his sudden words. Everyone had witnessed the bullying of the weak by the strong, and the middle-aged man's frankness could somehow change the fact that it wasn't bullying.
The middle-aged man surveyed the crowd: "So, I want to give this gentleman a fair gambling environment. Although I'm a VIP, I won't take turns shooting at him; that's unfair to him. What I want to do is first shoot myself in the forehead with a revolver, five times in a row. If I'm lucky enough to survive, then this gentleman loses. If not, then naturally he wins the bet. He only needs to bear one-sixth of the risk, while I need to bear five-sixths. Isn't this rule fair?"
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd, followed by a flurry of excited whispers. They couldn't believe this middle-aged VIP had such audacity, firing five shots at himself before leaving Ling Yun with the final one. This rule not only restored the disparity between VIPs and ordinary gamblers but also seemed to go too far, even unfair to the middle-aged man.
Although skill plays a mysterious role in roulette, probability and luck are equally important. There are instances where VIPs and regular gamblers take turns firing, with the VIP getting a headshot. The middle-aged man's words and actions have actually put him in a desperate situation, because the probability of a headshot with the final shot is very small; most of the time, it's an accidental discharge between the second and fifth shots.
Even if the middle-aged man is a VIP, his chances of losing are over 90% if he does this.
Chapter 352 Sir, You Should Die
"Everyone, please be quiet." The middle-aged man smiled and raised his hand to signal the crowd to quiet down. After the crowd quieted down, he looked at Ling Yun with a smile and said, "Sir, do you think my suggestion is reasonable? I wonder if you agree with it."
He had expected Ling Yun to at least show surprise and agree readily. Where else could one find such a good deal? He only needed to take one-sixth of the risk to win the bet. There was nothing more worthwhile in the world. In fact, barring any major unforeseen circumstances, Ling Yun was practically guaranteed to control the securities market. Why would anyone refuse such a cheap opportunity?
Ling Yun shrugged and said slowly, "Sir, I don't think it's unfair for me to gamble against you as a VIP, nor do I feel that you are forcing a newcomer like me. Regardless of your status, I think the bet is fair and I have no complaints. However, since you insist on changing the rules of the bet and want to die faster, then I have no right to stop you from self-harming. Do as you please, I will comply."
Everyone burst into laughter; this little guy was just too funny.
The middle-aged man barely managed to suppress his intense urge to grab the revolver on the table and shoot the despicable fellow. Ling Yun's words nearly made him faint; a dark cloud of embarrassment had formed on his forehead. He had voluntarily changed the rules of roulette to make things fairer for this guy, and the man was completely ungrateful, even sarcastically saying he was harming himself. His supposedly magnanimous act had become a joke, a foolish joke. Perhaps at this moment, in everyone's eyes, he already looked like a fool, a fool who would rather abandon the rules of fairness.
"Fine, kid, you're acting all innocent after getting the benefit. You've got guts." The middle-aged man lost his composure once again, staring intently at Ling Yun like a venomous snake, his expression ferocious and his teeth clenched: "You dare to play me? Watch how I'll kill you."
"Calm down, sir, this is unbecoming of you." Ling Yun shrugged. "By the way, if you're going to fire five shots at yourself, could you let me fire the first one? That way you won't have to fire five shots in a row, you can just die."
Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent. This guy was truly a master of kicking someone when they're down, taking despicable and shameless behavior to the extreme. Anyone familiar with roulette knows that while the first person to fire also faces a one-sixth chance of being shot in the head, the risk is usually the smallest because the probability of the bullet hitting the first position is extremely low. By making this request, he had essentially pushed the poor guy on the other side toward his doom.
The middle-aged man suddenly felt that all the refinement and elegance he had cultivated over decades had vanished. Even when facing anyone, in the harsh environment of a gambling match, even against a VIP several levels above him, he had never lost his composure. Even when death had loomed close to his forehead several times, he had maintained an elegant smile. He was certain that his nerves were more resilient than steel, and that no situation or person could possibly provoke them.
But today, the middle-aged man repeatedly lost his composure and even flew into a rage in front of Ling Yun, making himself feel like a joke. No matter how hard he tried to suppress his anger, Ling Yun only needed to say a few words to make his blood pressure rise instantly, as if this young man was his nemesis. Accompanying this was a huge shadow of deep unease in his heart.
"Sir, don't you think your demands are a bit too much?" the middle-aged man said coldly. "I have already made huge concessions, please don't push your luck any further."
"It doesn't matter who goes first... What's so unreasonable?" Ling Yun muttered in dissatisfaction, then sighed, "Fine, fine, then I'll take the loss, you shoot first."
"You fucking got the short end of the stick? Damn it." The middle-aged man couldn't help but curse under his breath again. He pretended to be calm and sat back down in his chair. Just as he was about to pick up his revolver, Ling Yun's words made him jump up again: "Hey buddy, you fired five shots in a row. Don't press the trigger too fast. I heard that roulette has changed its rules. There's a few seconds' delay between the bullet and the trigger. If you press it too fast, the bullet might not fire for another ten seconds after you finish shooting. Wouldn't I be in trouble then? You can't cheat. My life may not be worth much, but I only have one. I can't die a stupid death."
“I’ve known this rule for two hundred years.” The middle-aged man’s face turned pale. “After each shot, I wait three seconds before firing the next one. This is a basic rule. How could it be cheating? I understand it better than you. Do you have any more questions?”
"Oh, I forgot you're a VIP, you should know more than me." Ling Yun raised his hands, feigning helplessness. "Then please get started quickly, I don't want it to drag on too long..."
The middle-aged man took a deep breath, forcibly clearing away the agitation Ling Yun had instilled in him. He closed his eyes, then opened them again after a moment, his expression returning to its original calm and solemnity. As he slowly raised the gun to his forehead, his expression remained unchanged, a strong will screaming in his heart: I will win, I will win, I will…
Ling Yun nodded to himself. VIP gamblers were indeed different from other gamblers. In the moment when they might die, their expression did not change much from usual. They were much better than those gamblers who turned pale as soon as they pointed a gun at their heads. Just by this belief, they were much stronger than ordinary gamblers.
Bang! The middle-aged man pulled the trigger, and everyone held their breath, watching him intently. No bullet was fired. One second, two seconds, three seconds... the muzzle remained silent. The first shot was empty.
The middle-aged man smiled and pulled the trigger again without hesitation. Bang! It was still the sound of the trigger snapping back empty. One second, two seconds, three seconds... the muzzle remained motionless. Everyone's hearts were in their throats, and they didn't even dare to breathe. But this shot still went blank.
Two shots in a row, both missing. It has to be said, the middle-aged man was quite lucky. But the next three shots would be the biggest test. Statistically, the third, fourth, and fifth shots have the highest probability of hitting a bullet. It's very possible that the middle-aged man will get a headshot on the third shot, even if he's a VIP.
The middle-aged man gave Ling Yun a deep look, trying to observe his expression. Logically, his opponent should be even more nervous than him at this point, because every missed shot increased Ling Yun's risk by a certain percentage, until the final shot reached 100%. Watching his opponent gradually shift from initial joy to tension, then from tension to resentment and anger, and finally to despair was the most enjoyable and exhilarating part of the experience. Even though he was the one bearing the risk, it was his opponent who was experiencing the most dramatic emotional shifts. This feeling was strange and unsettling, yet incredibly thrilling.
But the middle-aged man was disappointed. Ling Yun's face was expressionless, and his empty eyes shone with a look that was neither sad nor happy. He seemed to be looking at him, or perhaps looking over him into the far distance. It was as if whether the middle-aged man shot or not had nothing to do with him. He not only had no gambler's demeanor, but also no gambler's awareness.
What kind of person is this guy? The middle-aged man was completely baffled by this strange young man. If he was unfathomable, Ling Yun acted like a complete novice at the casino, lacking the demeanor of a high-class gambler and instead taking pride in petty gains, displaying a shameless and smug attitude. If he weren't a casino novice, and occasionally displayed an unfathomable aura and nonchalant attitude, even the most thick-skinned person would be incredibly focused on a life-or-death gamble, but this young man didn't seem to care at all.
"Could he really be so confident of victory?" the middle-aged man pondered, pulling the trigger for the third shot. Under the almost silent gaze, the trigger snapped back without a doubt. Then came a long three seconds, feeling like three centuries, but the middle-aged man's expression remained unchanged. Three seconds passed, and the muzzle remained silent. The facts told everyone that the bullet was not in the third hole.
"Oh..." The onlookers couldn't help but let out a collective low gasp. This bet was simply too special. Every shot seemed to be connected to the nerves of countless people. Every time the trigger was pulled, it gave the onlookers an unparalleled thrill, even more thrilling than other more intense bets. This was not only due to the special identity of the gambler, but also stemmed from the middle-aged man's strong confidence.
He had fired five shots, leaving only one for the opponent. This was essentially a two-shot kill situation; if he missed, the opponent would be dead. The middle-aged man slowed down the process several times, allowing the audience to fully experience the feeling of each death building. As the number of shots increased, the experience became more and more intense, culminating in the final moment when the climax reached its peak.
Ling Yun raised an eyebrow. He could strongly sense the middle-aged man's conviction, far stronger than that of ordinary gamblers. And he hadn't used any special abilities. This revealed the difference between VIPs and ordinary gamblers: VIPs often possessed a confidence and cohesion far exceeding their peers. This confidence stemmed from repeated life-or-death experiences, requiring a bit of luck in the early stages, as not everyone initially possessed such strong conviction; most were roughly equal. However, the differences became very pronounced later on, which was precisely the result Ling Yun needed to constantly verify.
Bang! The fourth shot was fired. One second, two seconds, three seconds—still no bullet was fired. The middle-aged man smiled and took the revolver down. Some obedient staff member served the two important figures two cups of fragrant Denier coffee. The middle-aged man seemed to want to rest, so he picked up the coffee, took a sip, and his eyes lit up. He praised it as if it were a fine wine, saying, "So fragrant! To be able to taste such delicious coffee, even dying would be worth it."
The crowd immediately began whispering amongst themselves. They couldn't believe the middle-aged man's luck; he had missed with four consecutive shots. Even for VIPs, this was unusual. The crowd's excitement suddenly surged because at this point, the middle-aged man was very likely to win. Good luck could accumulate, and the fifth shot might also miss, while the sixth shot might hit Ling Yun, meaning Ling Yun would be doomed. Thinking of this, the crowd couldn't help but cast pitying glances at Ling Yun.
Ling Yun also picked up his coffee and took a small sip. Smelling the aroma, he suddenly sighed softly. A beautiful image vaguely flashed through his mind: the cold and alluring female assassin, one of the four most beautiful girls at Jinghua University, and the coffee shop owner. It seemed like he hadn't seen her for a long time. He wondered how Su Bingyan was doing now. Ling Yun couldn't help but feel a little uneasy thinking about it. The beautiful girl seemed to be deeply in love with him too, but the beauty was willing while the boy was not. He could only disappoint her unrequited love.
Thinking of Su Bingyan, Ling Yun suddenly thought of Xiao Rou. He didn't know where his girlfriend was now. Was the other gate behind the light also a world full of mysteries and trials, just like this casino? Could Xiao Rou pass the trials smoothly? Ling Yun didn't know. If there was one person in this world who could make him lose his composure, it was undoubtedly Gu Xiao Rou.