Third Casino "The Flowing Water Casino"

Yes. Thanks to everyone's efforts, we now have enough QP to ante in, so to speak.

With this much of a war chest, we shouldn't have to worry about going bankrupt.

The bad news is, Lambda only gave us two couple's tickets...

...which means that only four of us can go there...

Indeed. Not only that, it seems that no pets or other small animals are allowed inside...

Fooou...

Please don't be sad, Fou. We'll be counting on you to hold down the fort while we're gone.

Master and Mash will get one couple's ticket, since they are both essential to the big picture mission, and Hokusai and I will get the other, since we're both Sabers.

However, to be honest, I still have some misgivings about going into enemy territory with only four people. Ideally, I would like to bring along at least two more.

Umu! Then I will get my hands on another couple's ticket!

Worry not, I will find a way. Imperial Privilege has its perks, after all!

Naturally, I will be one of the two using this ticket. As for the other, I will let you decide that amongst yourselves.

Pass. Not only is Lambda a Lancer, I just know she'd torment me mercilessly if I went along.

No, I'm just gonna lay low in my room like the shut-in I truly am☆

I'll sit this one out too. Suiten Palace has a poolside view by a lazy river.

Vampires and water don't mix, so I refuse to risk tripping at the wrong spot and falling to my death. I'll spend the day here at the hotel.

Then it looks like I'll be the one going with you, Emperor Nero. Thank you for your generosity.

Although, what about Lip? She wanted to come along too, right? Shouldn't we let her know about this?

Oh, do not worry about her. I am sure she will come along whether we invite her or not.

Besides, it is not like we have any good way of fighting alongside a one-Servant army like her. Better to have her act on her own accord.

Understood. Then I'll text Lip and let her know what our game plan is.

Umu! Then we are off to defeat an Alter Ego! Fou, Batty, Carmilla, we will return with news of our victory soon!

Fooou!

Welcome to Casino Suiten Palace.

Please be aware that we conduct thorough baggage checks to ensure the safety of all our guests.

Thank you for your patience.

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(Yes. We pretty much have to hold hands to make sure we don't get separated.)

(Good idea. Where are you, Hokusai? Is this you?)

(...What is this? It's smooth and supple, and my fingers seem to sink in the more I grab...)

(It's very soft, too... Wait. Don't tell me this is your, um...chest area...?)

(No, you fool, that's Toto-sama! Get your hand off 'em before he inks ya and grab onto my obi!)

Confirmed: two premium couple's tickets, and one platinum couple's ticket.

Mr. Fujimaru, Ms. Mash, please go through gate number one.

Ms. Hokusai, Mr. Siegfried, please go through gate number one.

Ms. Nero, Mr. Kotarou, please go through gate number four.

(Hmm... I guess it was to be expected that we would be separated from the others.)

(I'm sure it will be fine. This casino doesn't seem to be very big, so we should be able to find them again soon.)

Please note that filming, recording, and house credit is strictly prohibited.

And finally, please note that when your QP run out, that means your luck has too. Thank you.

(I wonder what they mean by "house credit.")

Oh, that's a kinda loan they do at gamblin' houses.

If a customer runs outta money but either wants or has ta keep playin'...

...they can borrow temporary credit from the house to stay in the game.

Usually, the bookies love givin' out credit, since they always end up gettin' paid back and then some. I wonder why they don't letcha do it here?

Please wait while we convert your money and EXP into tokens.

(Huh?)

？！

Sorry for the wait. Here are your Casino Suiten Palace tokens.

Your tokens will be converted back into their original QP and EXP amounts when you leave.

Now, without further ado...

In the morning, we invite you to go for a dip in our luxurious wave pool, and to try your hand at our high-speed slots.

In the afternoon, don't miss the tantalizing figure skating performance by our very own Lambdaryllis.

Once again, we welcome you to Suiten Palace Invidia Serpens, where excitement and pleasure melt together.

Please...enjoy your stay.

It's...

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Heartily seconded. Most casinos are very much indoor affairs, but not this one.

I doubt there is a more beautiful, more spacious open-air casino to be found anywhere in the world.

If the Dragon Palace of Eastern myth were real, I would not be at all surprised if it looked a lot like this.

...

By the way, Master, did you notice that we were given two kinds of tokens?

The golden ones are marked with a Q, and the purple ones with an E.

Do you suppose

Yes, they stand for QP, or money, and Experience, respectively. I take it this is your first time at Suiten Palace?

Y-yes, it is. I'm sorry to impose, but do you think you might be able to give us some pointers?

Of course, of course! How could I refuse after gazing upon such beautiful hidden eyes?

Suiten Palace only has slot machines. That is, there are no games where customers play against a dealer.

The slot machines cost one token per pull, no more and no less. There's no limit, so you can play them all you want until your tokens run out.

？！

Not to worry. These slot machines are completely on the up-and-up. I confirmed that for myself just yesterday.

Most of the casinos in Dazzling Las Vegas are arranged so that the house always wins, but not this one.

These slots are completely fair, and there are no dealers lurking to prey on amateur players.

You won't find a more wholesome casino anywhere. See for yourself. There's not a single intimidating security guard anywhere.

It's a veritable paradise for beginner gamblers...

...but it's also great for more well-off guests who just want a little thrill more than they want to hit it big.

People of all ages can enjoy themselves immensely here and go home with a smile.

That's wonderful!

That sounds like it's the perfect place for those who want to enjoy a Las Vegas casino for the first time...

...but are afraid to try their hand at real gambling!

Indeed. But the catch is, a single token is worth one million QP.

？！

Indeed. That's the price you pay for completely fair gambling. But the possible payout is just as large.

The smallest amount you can win at the slot machines is still ten tokens.

If you hit it big, you can win a thousand. Do you know what this means?

If one token's worth a million QP, then a thousand'd be... a billion!?

No, not that! It means we can lose a million QP in the time it takes to pull a lever!

？！

Now I see. So this casino is for very high rollers.

Well, it's not the only one. The Pharaoh Casino was for high rollers too.

We didn't get to see the VIP room there, but I'm sure it had people gambling away far more than that on a single bet.

I'm more curious about the fact that this casino has two kinds of tokens. Here, look at this, Master.

After the conversion, we got back one golden token and ten purple tokens.

The golden one must be the million QP we saved up to bring to this casino.

So the purple ones must be

Yes. All the EXP Master has accumulated to date.

That's right. They're a token, no pun intended, of your very existence. Once you spend them, you can't easily get them back.

You may not be able to borrow house credit at Suiten Palace, but you can literally put your life on the line.

Anyone who gets lured into the classic gambling traps, such as "I've got a good feeling about this next one" or "I'm on a roll right now"...

...would be lucky if they only end up spending all of their gold tokens.

A couple of foolish black and white-bearded acquaintances of mine fell to those traps here just yesterday...

So whatever you do, make sure you don't get carried away and use the purple tokens. You could easily end up gambling away your very life.

And just like that, he's gone... What was that all about?

I think he meant that spending the purple tokens will cause Master to go down in level.

It sounds like it's a timed Energy Drain... Or perhaps an Energy Drain that reacts to desire.

I can see how it would be easy to fall into a gambler's mindset that ends with you spending them.

"I'm all out of money, but I still want to play the slots. It's okay, I can handle going down a few levels."

"I just need to win once to get it all back and then some. And even if I don't, I can always grind for more EXP..."

Yes, I can see that sort of scenario playing out all too easily. What a dreadful system.

Damn, that's just evil... I mean, there's always at least a few gamblers at a gamblin' hall who're willin' ta risk it all for one more round...

I agree, Master. Since I possess Golden Rule, I can tell that one cannot allow oneself to give in to desire here.

To do so would inevitably lead to one's ruin, and a transformation into the evil dragon.

？！

...Good point. I was looking forward to trying the slots, but I have to agree that it's too dangerous.

We could use our one golden token to play a single round without risking our EXP, but that's still much too risky.

Well said. As long as there is no reason for us to venture near that trap, we can stay far away.

What's this? Ye ain't gonna use yer token? Then give it ta us!

I already used all my golden ones, and I'm thiiis close ta hittin' it big!

Correct. At the current odds, you are certain to strike it rich in two to six pulls. Seven to ten, tops.

Do not give up now. You must hang in there.

The hell? They're tryin' to rob us! Whatever happened ta this casino bein' safe for all ages!?

Dammit, they're too strong! All right! If we gotta blow ourselves up ta get those tokens, then that's what we'll do!

One more try, and the universe will... Will... Huh? Danger, danger. Enormous entity coming in overhea

Roooaaarrr! I'm gonna eaaat yooou uuup!

Your attention, please. Two rowdy guests have been safely taken into custody. We apologize for the disturbance.

We hope you continue to enjoy your thrilling time at the elegant Suiten Palace Casino.

Am I so tired I'm seeing things, or was there an enormous shadow behind that wave just now...?

...There was. There may not be any security guards here, but it would seem there is some sort of mysterious guardian.

Those two probably won't be the last such ruffians we encounter here, so we need to be ready for anything.

In the meantime, let's look for Kotarou and Nero. It shouldn't be too hard to find them in a casino this small.

Sounds good ta me. In that case, why don't we split up and meet back here 'round lunchtime?

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Of course, Master. After all, we need to conserve all our strength for the main event later.