Casino Wizard

[Tl Note :- Happy Chapter 100 :3]

To survive in the gambling world, managing official relations isn’t optional—it’s essential.

In my previous life, I mainly focused on the police and customs.

If it was just small-time cash pubs, I wouldn’t have cared, but once you get into private casinos, you need to be aware of things like the movements of the local police’s white-collar crime division.

To support clients operating in Southeast Asia, I even had to work with customs and diplomatic missions. Thanks to my father’s connections, I could manage it, so I had plenty of clients seeking me out.

Even then, it wasn’t easy.

Sometimes, even active-duty detectives came around, and the poker pub I frequented would suddenly be labeled a social evil and get hammered by the police.

There were also times when a client I’d cut ties with would bring a former prosecutor to make my life difficult.

The social network was tightly woven…

Bribing a few people didn’t cut it.

Even winning over a powerful figure didn’t mean much—those figures could disappear within a year.

Compared to that world, this one was relatively simple.

A nation where power was concentrated in the hands of a few with real strength and honor.

The woman in front of me, Beatrice Emanuele, stood at the top of that pyramid.

A royal closest to the throne.

Her foundation was still weak for a successor, but she was steadily building it up. If I could just persuade the princess, I could achieve my goal.

But I couldn’t let my guard down.

“I want you to speak honestly about slot machines.”

Despite speaking to me, Princess Beatrice didn’t dismiss the people around her.

When I’d operated on her brother or sent Hilde, she had always granted me a private audience…

But now, her attendants stood nearby, and nobles who had been enjoying the tea party watched us from a distance.

She had no intention of settling this through a backroom deal.

It also meant she wasn’t going to blindly accommodate me.

“Is the crowd making you uncomfortable?”

“I’m fine.”

I truly was.

Now that there were witnesses, the princess would have to keep any promises made here. And because of her reputation, she’d be reluctant to use her most powerful weapons.

“Slot machines are relatively simple devices.”

“I’ve heard they’re similar to vending machines.”

“Yes. Not much different from a cigarette vending machine in a pub.”

Though that wasn’t exactly true.

Anyone could make a crude replica with enough money, but creating a machine that actual customers could enjoy was far more difficult.

Even I went through a lot of trial and error. The kicker mechanism that aligned the reels took dozens of failed attempts to perfect.

Most parts like the case and drum were outsourced to the smithing guild, but a few critical components were crafted separately by artisans I hired.

But at a glance, yes—they seemed simple.

“Easy, yet addictive… Just what have you created, Sir?”

The words slipped out from between the princess’s red lips like a breath of unease.

She was probably envisioning what would happen if my words came true.

Lines of people standing for hours, endlessly pulling levers…

If such a phenomenon spread across the kingdom, it wouldn’t be a small issue. She was likely sensing an impending crisis—imagining a nation overrun with the clicking of levers.

“If we banned slot machines, would you accept that?”

Ban them?

“I’m willing to compensate for the capital you’ve already invested.”

She offered compensation, but it was the moment I realized she was still somewhat naive. Understandably so—this was a kind of gambling that hadn’t existed before.

“You may ban them. I have no wish to oppose the royal family.”

“Truly?”

“Yes. But imitators will soon appear. As I said, the machines aren’t hard to reproduce. Some artisans were already building slot machines on commission from me. Someone will inevitably take my place.”

“…”

“Can you stop them all?”

I made it clear—it was already too late to eliminate them.

The basic principles were out, and people enjoyed using them. Even the princess could acknowledge that much.

“Sure, we could crack down… but then it would go underground.”

“It would.”

“We might see machines pop up in the middle of residential areas. People who’d never touched gambling might approach them as mere amusement.”

Underground distribution.

“And if we truly want to ban them, we’d need to punish the manufacturers as well—for creating gambling devices not approved by the state.”

“That would be extremely difficult.”

“Yes. After all, they only worked on commission.”

The very act of enforcement would be a nightmare.

The princess touched her forehead with her fingertips as if feeling a headache coming on.

She was probably resenting me by now.

Why did he have to invent and spread something so dangerous? Didn’t he make enough money without it? And now it’s too late to eliminate him. Maybe she regretted granting me a title in the first place…

But she didn’t voice that resentment.

Not because she was worried I’d end up like her brother in the monastery.

She just understood the reality.

“So what do you suggest we do?”

She knew I was the only one who could control the slot machines now that they had spread. At least for the time being.

So I proposed a form of regulation possible only now.

“Your Highness. What if you introduced a licensing system?”

“Like a license for legalized gambling establishments?”

“Yes. A slot machine license… What if we required anyone wanting to operate gambling machines without dealers to obtain a license?”

It was a way to block latecomers under the guise of licensing.

Machines would need to pass tests on payout rates, operators would have to secure venues of a certain size, and they’d need to have their operating capital verified.

Anyone could pass those requirements on paper—but only I could realistically meet them. Because I designed them that way.

“There wouldn’t be anyone opposing such regulation, I assume?”

“No. I’m the only slot machine operator.”

The business had just begun.

There was no one else who could even complain about regulation.

Future entrants would see it as an insurmountable wall. Which was why now was the time to implement it.

“Hah.”

The princess let out a weary laugh, realizing my intention to kick away the ladder.

If I stopped here, it would just sound like I was asking for a monopoly under the guise of regulation.

To truly convince her, I had to do one more thing.

Show that I had the will to restrain my own greed.

“Your Highness. In fact, I’ve been considering time restrictions on usage recently.”

“What?”

“Unfortunately, due to limited casino capacity, many guests leave without getting to use the machines. It’s regrettable, but I’m thinking of restricting usage based on day or time.”

The princess looked doubtful. Was that even possible?

“It’s simple. All we need are bracelets.”

Daytime bracelets. Evening bracelets.

Customers wanting full-day access could choose a specific day of the week.

They’d show the bracelet upon entry.

This would guide people to enjoy the machines during their leisure hours, according to their own routines.

“So no more lining up from the morning?”

“Yes.”

“No more people abandoning their livelihoods to cling to the machines… I see.”

At the very least, the kingdom wouldn’t fall because of slot machines.

And it wasn’t bad for me either. Fewer disappointed customers waiting outside for hours only to leave empty-handed.

Those allowed in would gamble more passionately in their allotted time.

Some might be dissatisfied, but the promise of a defined time would make it acceptable.

“I plan to apply the same system to future branches as well.”

Instead of replying, the princess gazed at me in silence.

I didn’t push. I simply waited politely for her answer.

Accepting this would mean officially granting me monopoly status. She was probably already imagining how rich I’d become in one or two years.

‘Should I reassure her? Promise I’ll stop at a reasonable point?’

But I couldn’t make that promise.

I had planned to be content with just one casino. Slot machines, too, were only meant to be in the main branch.

I could lie, but my opponent was a living embodiment of political desire.

So I waited calmly. Finally, the princess opened her mouth.

“I will help you. But on one condition.”

“What is it?”

“I’ll tell you later.”

She was putting it down as a debt. A reasonable arrangement—favors should be returned.

“Understood.”

“Good. I’ll petition His Majesty today to implement the licensing system. A royal decree… no, let’s make it a nationwide policy that anyone wishing to operate ‘dealer-less gambling devices’ must obtain a license. And I’ll base the licensing requirements on your suggestions.”

“…”

“Getting His Majesty’s approval shouldn’t be difficult. As you said, no one will resist this new regulation.”

Everything was going smoother than expected.

“But understand this. I won’t hide the truth from my father.”

“What truth, Your Highness?”

“That this arrangement gives you a considerable advantage. I’ll be honest with him about that.”

She wasn’t going to lie or fight for me—not when she was about to be formally named crown princess. Fair enough.

This was more than I could ask for, so I bowed respectfully.

“Yes, Your Highness. I understand.”

“Very well.”

With that, the princess returned to the tea party, saying, “I’ll seek an audience with His Majesty today.”

Now all that remained was the king’s final decision.

Once that hurdle was passed, my ladder-kicking strategy would be complete.

****

Two days later, a royal messenger arrived.

“Baron Hyden. A royal decree has been issued to legalize the ‘gambling machine license.’ Along with it comes an order to fully incorporate your input during the drafting of the legal document. Please lend your expertise generously.”

“Yes, I will gladly comply.”

“This matter will be overseen directly by the Minister of Finance.”

The introduction of a slot machine license that only I could receive within the kingdom…

As long as I could set the licensing conditions to suit my preferences, I could easily block out any latecomers. It had gone more smoothly than expected.

“But Baron Hyden…”

It didn’t end there.

“As I understand it, you’re still unmarried and have no fiancée. Is that correct?”

“Why do you ask?”

He wasn’t asking out of personal curiosity.

This was clearly the king’s intention.

“Please don’t mind me. I forgot my place for a moment. I’ll take my leave now.”

The intention was painfully obvious.

In return for paving the way for me to take over the kingdom’s gambling market with slot machines…

I was expected to pay a political price—in the noble way.

“A marriage proposal will be coming soon, no doubt.”

Not long ago, I would’ve calmly weighed the pros and cons. If it looked beneficial to my business, I might have carefully considered and even accepted it.

But now, this wasn’t something I could decide on based on profit and loss alone.

Because there was a woman waiting for my answer.