Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 702

Lenox strolled slowly around Peisha, chip in hand.

His pace was leisurely, his gaze naturally sweeping over Peisha.

To completely ignore her, who had just hit the jackpot in the middle of the casino, or to pay too much attention, would be unnatural.

If he showed even the slightest unusual behavior, Peisha would immediately notice the discomfort.

However, Lenox was confident that he could consciously and perfectly control the subtle differences in reactions.

‘She’s not letting her guard down… Rather, her senses are very keenly maintained.’

Lenox pondered, gazing at Peisha’s expressionless face.

Even though she appeared to be here to enjoy gambling, there was not a single gap in the intent emanating from her.

It wasn’t just that she wasn’t being careless; it was more like she was deliberately sharpening her senses here.

If he were to make a move, he could take the initiative, but she would immediately counterattack. Either way, it was likely to drag on.

Lenox considered his current condition, the fact that he was hiding the Phoenix Battle [a powerful technique or ability], and the power and location of the executive team he had prepared.

After carefully weighing the pros and cons, Lenox soon came to a conclusion.

‘It would be difficult to capture her alive in this place.’

The port in this District 47 was a hub of transportation where various goods, containers, and personnel came and went.

It was an area where the interests and conflicts of various organizations and forces were intricately intertwined.

If he were to suddenly launch an attack to capture Peisha alive in such a place, powerful figures from various organizations would rush in.

He might be able to achieve his goal if he were to suppress them with all his might, but it would be difficult to prevent unnecessary rumors from spreading.

It was a complex matter that would not end with simply capturing Peisha, but would also lead to the establishment of the Magic Tower and the transfer of authority.

He had gone to the trouble of getting help from Oliviera and even borrowing the power of the executive team.

Here, it would be enough to just observe what kind of gambling Peisha was engaging in and when she visited the casino.

Thinking that, Lenox turned his gaze towards the slot machine where Peisha had moved.

“…A game?”

Lenox realized that the machine Peisha was operating was different from an ordinary slot machine.

Two machines were attached back-to-back, and two people sitting opposite each other were fiercely manipulating the devices.

It looked more like a game console than a slot machine or a gambling table.

However, it was the place where the most chips were exchanged, more than any other game board or machine in the casino.

Peisha was also throwing all the chips she had earned from other gambling into that machine.

It seemed that the very act of winning chips in this casino was to get the funds to operate that machine.

As Lenox was carefully observing the machine, Davi, as if having searched the database, explained.

[It’s a gambling game machine that’s popular in Tokerphuz, and it seems to be very popular among magic users. There’s even information about it in Vulcan?]

“Popular in Tokerphuz…”

Lenox muttered, then subtly approached the back of a machine where another person was playing.

On the screen, two characters were exchanging punches and kicks.

The unique thing was that every time a character moved, a slot would spin, calculating the probability.

Each time they attacked or defended, the probability was calculated to gauge the success rate, and if successful, damage was inflicted.

After winning, the points consumed were converted into chips.

The problem was that each time the slot was spun, a chip worth at least 100,000 cells [a unit of currency] had to be consumed.

‘It’s an item made to thoroughly consume chips.’

Lenox, who had been silently watching the machine from behind, smiled wryly to himself.

Even if a character’s attack succeeded, they would have to land at least ten direct hits to take down the opponent.

This meant that once a game started, one could not even break even without throwing in at least 1 million cells worth of chips.

The same was true for the opponent, so the number of chips sucked in by both players would be enormous.

However, the claim that it was popular was not a lie, as people were crowded around the machines lined up along the casino wall.

Lenox looked around at these people, then sat down in a spot far away from Peisha and inserted the chips given to him by the server.

*Ding!*

A character appeared on the screen, and a number was displayed above its head.

[20]

Since he had inserted a chip worth 2 million cells, it meant he had 20 attack opportunities.

As soon as he pressed the match acceptance button, an opponent was found.

[NEW CHALLENGER!!]

*Bang!*

Two characters stood facing each other in an empty virtual space.

Lenox smiled wryly as he checked the number above his opponent’s character’s head.

[192]

As much as attack opportunities could be bought with money, the more opportunities there were, the higher the probability of successfully landing a direct hit by spinning the slot more.

The game started without him even having time to learn how to operate it.

However, the moment Lenox grabbed the console, he realized that this was not a game that relied solely on luck.

*Thwack!*

Lenox’s character was hit and its health was greatly reduced.

‘I have to directly control the character and input the choices.’

If he failed to press the defense button when the opponent chose to attack, the slot would not spin, and he would take a direct hit.

The only choices he could make when attacking or defending were which of the three parts to aim for: head, chest, or legs.

There was no evasion command. This was probably to prevent the game from dragging on unnecessarily.

Lenox’s eyes sank deeply as he made that judgment.

‘There’s more to it than I thought, with the psychological warfare and judgment involved. It’s not a rule that relies entirely on luck.’

Although it took the form of a slot machine or a game console, the feeling was surprisingly close to a card game.

He had intended to just waste time and chips next to Peisha, but there were a few elements that Lenox found interesting.

[Kyahahaha!!]

The opponent’s character taunted Lenox, whose health had already been reduced by almost half.

It had a confident attitude, as if it was half-certain of victory.

However, Lenox ignored the opponent’s taunt and immediately moved the console, pressing the attack command first.

[19]

[18]

[17]

……

[11]

*Click!*

The slot spun, and the attack and defense judgments alternated, and the number of attack opportunities above Lenox’s head quickly disappeared.

However, each time the slot spun, it was not Lenox’s character that lost health, but the opponent’s.

As if he was hitting jackpots at will, every time Lenox attacked, he was continuously getting high-probability judgments.

*Thud! Thud!*

Only then did the opponent seem to try to spin the slot carefully, but the health of the two characters was already similar.

[……!!]

The character, flustered, hesitated and then attacked again.

Since it had an overwhelming number of attack opportunities, it was probably planning to push through with numbers to gain an attack opportunity.

[8]

[7]

[6]

Lenox’s coins were also rapidly decreasing as they exchanged attacks, but even so, he was reducing the opponent’s health at a similar rate.

Lenox, who was holding the console, nodded.

“I think I understand the rules now.”

He understood that if a direct hit was allowed on the head, chest, or legs, the health would be reduced significantly, and that if an attack command was countered with an attack, there was a low probability that both would take damage.

He also understood that the probability adjustment was somewhat dependent on each other’s command choices.

However, the most important thing was that Lenox could directly choose where to spin the slot.

At that moment, this game transformed from a simple luck measuring device into a game mixed with psychological warfare.

It was not about simply choosing the most logical option with the best probability.

If he could set up a choice that would guarantee victory and drive the opponent towards it.

[1]

The last attack opportunity left for Lenox. The health of both was dangerously low.

However, instead of pressing the command, Lenox simply let go of the console.

*Click!*

The slot spun for judgment the moment the opponent’s direct hit landed on Lenox’s character, who had taken no action.

[Lower judgment. Damage minimized.]

While Lenox’s character’s health stopped at a precarious half-bar, Lenox pressed the command again.

[Mid-range judgment. Damage command activated.]

The opponent’s character, defenseless, was hit directly in the chest, and the remaining health was quickly depleted, ending the game in an instant.

[1P WIN!]

Lenox’s character stood there with a concise message.

At that moment, the number [162] written above the opponent’s character’s head quickly decreased, and Lenox’s number increased.

*Beep beep beep!*

[162] -> [130]

[0] -> [32]

It seemed that after winning, the number of attack opportunities used was taken into account and new opportunities were given.

It was probably adjusted based on the point difference with the opponent, but even considering that, the reward was quite stingy.

Lenox thought that far and then turned his gaze, stopping for a moment when he saw the people standing behind him.

The people holding dozens of chips were all looking at Lenox with sparkling eyes.

“You’re good at this game.”

“Let’s have a match. Let’s see your skills!”

It seemed they had been watching from behind, and now people were lined up, holding coins in turn.

The server who had given Lenox the chips was waving his hand with a proud smile.

However, Lenox ignored the onlookers and glanced in another direction.

“…”

Peisha’s gaze, now clearly aware of Lenox’s presence, was openly directed at him.

Beyond her blurry face, which revealed no expression, only a cool gaze shone faintly.

After staring at Lenox for a moment, Peisha turned her gaze back to the game machine, as if a match had been found.

Instead of paying attention to Peisha, Lenox pretended not to notice and began to manipulate the console again.

* * *

“S-strong.”

“Why are you so good at this game!!”

“I know this game hasn’t been in this city for long!!”

The twentieth player to be defeated left the spot as if fleeing.

Lenox ignored the opponent and silently checked the number above his character’s head.

[542]

At this point, it would be enough to stand out in the casino.

Peisha, who had been silently playing the game in the corner, also seemed to have defeated all the opponents who had challenged her.

“…”

Was she also aware of Lenox?

Peisha, who had moved without hesitation, slumped down in the game machine opposite Lenox.

“Insert the chips.”

Peisha abruptly said that to Lenox and started a match, and a game was immediately found.

Lenox closed his mouth when he saw the number above Peisha’s character’s head.

[3091]

Points that were different from the other players he had faced, starting with the number of digits.

It wasn’t just something she had obtained by throwing in money, but something she had taken by personally crushing her opponents.

Peisha, who had been staring blankly at the screen, asked.

“You’ve been doing pretty well since earlier. Have you played this game before?”

Was she saying that she had been watching Lenox’s play even while she was playing the game indifferently?

“Maybe.”

Lenox casually lied.

A vague answer that was neither affirmative nor negative.

However, Peisha didn’t seem to care much about Lenox’s answer and said with a nonchalant air.

“There aren’t many things to enjoy on the battlefield.”

While Lenox was choosing his answer, the woman grabbed the console.

“It’s just boring to compete with fools who buy luck with money… In that respect, this game isn’t bad.”

“…”

“It’s the most useful thing to maintain my senses.”

Freya called Peisha a gambler, but what she was saying was somewhat different from someone who was fanatically fond of gambling.

To be precise, it was an attitude that seemed to have a different purpose rather than enjoying entertainment itself.

However, instead of focusing on her words, Lenox put down the console and quietly fiddled with something in his pocket.

In the meantime, the two characters were caught on the screen, and Peisha nodded.

“Start.”

She started the game right away, as if she didn’t care about Lenox’s reaction.

She probably thought of him as just a passing opponent, regardless of his skill. Lenox knew that too.

At first glance, she was a player who had enjoyed this game for a long time, and her experience and skill had reached the peak of perfection.

It was impossible for Lenox, who had only played about twenty games, to catch up in a short time.

However, the reason why Lenox had decided to play at this time and catch Peisha’s attention was because this game itself was a concept that required both skill and luck.

And Lenox also had something he could do to control ‘luck’ itself.

*Kiriirik…!!*

From Lenox’s pocket, a black cube, the Pentarect [a mysterious artifact], vibrated violently and changed its shape into a die.

At the same time as rolling the die, with all six sides showing a 6, Lenox grabbed the console.

The moment the character threw a punch, a jackpot hit.

*Paang!!*

“…What?”

Peisha’s health was greatly reduced from the first attack, but it didn’t stop there.

The slot, which had spun miraculously, hit the jackpot again in the second attack.

*Puhbuhbuhng!!*

In the third, fourth, and fifth attacks, only Lenox’s slot hit the jackpot without fail, continuing the attack relentlessly.

Regardless of Peisha’s character control, overwhelming luck was being hammered down.

A series of judgments that poured out attacks unilaterally without any manipulation or calculation.

*Bang! Bang! Bang!!*

Even though he was just tapping the buttons without any skill or technique, jackpots were popping, and the character’s health was completely depleted.

And just like that, the game ended in an instant.

“W-what the f…”

“What did I just see?”

Even the people watching from around were staring at Lenox with dumbfounded expressions.

Lenox, who had slowly risen from his seat, casually threw out a word.

“Easy.”

“…!!”

Flames flickered in Peisha’s eyes, who had been staring blankly at the screen.

In front of Lenox, who was about to leave without a care, a brown chip was embedded.

*Thwack!!*

The clear magic power mixed in the chip that had pierced the hard marble floor.

Peisha, looking at Lenox with an expressionless face, said.