Last chapter, the sextet managed to sneak their way into Fixed Reality Casino past security by using multiple forms of teleportation.

Afterwards, Metallic accidentally bumped into a woman in the main entrance, and caused her drink to be spilled on her dress. That small event almost turned into a disaster, until Seric and Elio defused the situation.

With the situation being solved, the group waited in a new line inside to scan their tickets- which led to Quilline crushing Elio's hopes of escaping his debt to her by getting himself killed...

Seric's P.O.V.

Quilline laughs, "Ha- so I was right about your escape plan. You should be grateful that I want you to work for me really, such an idiot to not think of why it wouldn't work. You're the one who brought me to your family's home as wel-"

"Shut up already, we're next in line." Amandeath shoves past Quilline which makes my heart drop- damn it Elio's screwed but I don't want Amandeath to be too!

"Ah. Well- I'll accept the diss this time since I did maybe sound a bit too intense there for the other guests behind us. If they heard that at least, I did try to be quiet... anywho, onwards!" Quilline says as she points to the knee-height ticket scanning machine ahead of us. Just behind and to the side of the machine is a tall shiny golden door that seems to open automatically after you scan your ticket, which leads into some secret event related room that's blocked off by a large wall.

And so, one by one each member of our crew scans their paper tickets and enters in the "codenames" they want to use for the events games. The only surprise with this process is that the scanner also takes photos of us to go along with our codenames. Nothing to do with ID though again (thankfully)- even if Quilline apparently does supposedly have some cheap fakes we can use worst comes to worst. But she seemed really unconfident about using them at all so, not even sure if she was lying about having the fakes in the first place... anyways.

I scan my ticket last after taking it out of my pocket, enter a random funny codename "Serd", then lastly get my photo taken with a fake smile. The golden door in front of me opens up after that, and so I walk through it and look at my surroundings...

"Not bad..." I think to myself with a small whistle, this crowded and rowdy place seems to be the main lobby for the contestants. The carpeted floor has the same general appearance as the main entrance did- being black and spotted with glow in the dark patterns, but this time they're snowflakes instead of fireworks.

On top of the floor are a bunch of couches near the poster covered walls, with the posters being of random celebrities and... movies I think? Weird choice for a place like this but anyways- away from the walls there's also some pool tables (which are all being used), tables for robot-run card games, and also in the center of the room is a circular wooden bar that seems to serve both fancy drinks and food with stools circling around it.

Huh- just noticed there's also a bunch of doors engraved into this lobby's walls as well... wonder what they're fo-

"Pretty cool huh?" I hear Karia's voice say which snaps me out of my daze, and I look to my right to see her.

"Ah- yeah. Where's everyone else?"

"Booking a room for us to use apparently while we wait between games." Karia says,

"Ohhh- so that's what all the doors are for. Neat." I say as me and Karia step away from the entrance, after the door opens for someone else to come inside.

I continue to glance around at all the people and- wait... is that... oh shit, it is! Popshot! Neck length orange hair, around my normal height- and also he's practicing throwing punches on a grounded red punching bag that I didn't notice was here before. Looks like he has his fancier clothes lying next to him on the floor, and is doing his training in a tanktop shirt and shorts for now.

"Man it's been a while! Right he wanted to save his Dad from here I think, since his Dad lost some fighting tournament a while back which made him have to stay here. Right, yeah- losing that tournament made his Dad have to "give up" his soul to the Casino, as well as Popshot's soul. Until he got saved by Adesia at least." I think to myself, huh- not sure why he's going for the ticket to Dalkan though if he just wants to free his Dad... maybe winning the ticket also let's you get someone freed? Or that's a second place prize maybe? Not sure...

Guess I'll ask! I start to speedwalk towards him with a smile- but... I stop. Stupid idiot.

"Where you going? See something you want to check out?" Karia asks as she catches up with me.

"Pretty sure I can see Popshot. Was gonna say hi to him but... yeah he probably doesn't see me as a friend anymore." I say quietly with a sigh as I keep watching him throwing his punches- with each hit reminding me of just how hard he hit me during our fight before.

"No way... oh shit! You're right, that is him. Yeah, sorry but even in these "clothes" it would probably be a bad idea for you to talk to him. Since yeah, he may still remember our voices- even if we sound a bit different now. Oh wait- you could probably get Amelia or Emilis to talk with him for you though. If you still wanted to get an update on how he's doing." Karia whispers back to me... hm.

"Not a bad idea. Thanks Katelyn, think I might do that." I ask as I look up at her- she winks with her new green eyes which makes me blush. She laughs at that,

"Just screwing with you, I know- I look hot right? These "clothes" are even making me feel things and I'm straighter than a pencil. Probably doesn't help that I barely ever have the time to put on makeup or anything anymore when I wear my normal "clothes"." Karia says as she plays with her red pony-tail.

"Eh. I think you look fine either way at least." I reply with some honesty. She does look better like this- but still her old appearance is very far from unattractive, even without makeup and all.

Regardless- that lie seems to have been for nothing, as Karia just rolls her eyes and smirks at me.

"I know you're just trying to be nice, but still- thanks. Let's go meet up with the others now, hm? They should have the room booked by now." I nod in response, then we start to cautiously move past the people who are crowded in the event's lobby here as Karia leads the way.

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"Sheesh. Surprised they went all out with rooms like this... didn't you say that the ticket to Dalkan event doesn't have any team games Emilis? Seems weird that they'd make the rooms this big if no one's meant to work together." I ask after I close the door behind us, and take in the view of our decently sized room.

It's illuminated by a screen that's meant to be a fake window, which is playing a really realistic video of the night sky and a full moon. And as for the smaller details, there's also a long shiny blue metal desk at the back of the room- with pencils and a notebook being set on it already. A big couch is also at the left side of the room against the wall, a small counter with a sink is to the right side of the room- and a few chairs are scattered across the room too.

Elio doesn't feel like replying to me I guess though, so Amandeath starts talking instead, "Ya, Emilis did say that. No official team games in this event, but I guess the Casino expects groups of friends to participate "individually"- but with every group's plan being to just take their friends with them if they win the ticket. AKA what we're planning on, you only need one member of your group to get to Dalkan. Technically." Amandeath says and I open my mouth to talk- but I just nod instead as she sits down on the couch next to Metallic, who still looks shaken up.

"Hey, Emilis. Bend down for us please?" Quilline asks after picking up the notepad on the desk- hm?

"What? Oh. ...Fine." He replies with a long groan as he goes down on his knees, touches the floor, then whispers something... ohhhhh. Checking for any hidden cameras I bet using "I'm the Controller". Or just checking for any tech that may be listening in on us from another room I guess actually.

...

"All clear." He replies as he stands back up which makes Quilline immediately drops
the notepad, spin around- then clap her hands.

"Awesome. Well done by the way everyone, minus Matteo's hiccup-"

"I SAID I'm sorry... Ah, curses- sorry for interrupting, I said I'd stop that. Stupid!-" Metallic replies and punches his leg- and I start to walk over to him to stop him from hurting himself anymore, but thankfully Amandeath handles it instead by grabbing his arm.

"Ow... pain is one thing I don't miss." He says with a small empty smile as he rubs his leg with his other free hand that Amandeath isn't holding.

"Ahem. Anyways- so Matteo, you owe me one. Probably gonna ask you to do something during our big battle we have planned." Quilline says... oh no. I think I can imagine what she'll want him to do.

"If it'll put my pals in danger, I'll be forced to refuse it." He replies in a stern tone as he looks down at her while she's walking across the room aimlessly.

"It won't put any of us in danger, promise. The opposite actually. In fact I'll tell you right now- all I want is for you to lower your restrictions on what would make you use your Emperor form. BEFORE you complain, just listen- it's not that bad, just want a little wittle modification." Quilline says as she makes the "tiny" gesture with her index finger and thumb.

"You said before that you'd only use the Emperor form if Amelia or Serreno were faced with a danger that couldn't be solved without the Emperor. Well, I want you to extend that usage to if me, Emilis, or Katelyn are in that same amount of danger. See? Not that bad." Quilline says... huh. She wasn't lying about it not being bad.

"I cannot promise that I'd have the willpower to risk MY life to save someone I hate as much as Katelyn. But you and Emilis... fine. However. Only if you promise to call the best technicians you know I.F. I end up having to use the form to save any of you four-"

"Five. I don't care much about Katelyn either, but she's our best attacker aside from you and me- we need her for our plans to work. Think of it this way- she wants to protect Serreno, isn't that good enough for you to want to keep her around? It's just logical. And yes, I'd call in my technician friends to help repair you in that case." Quilline says with a slightly nervous look on her face, even I'm a bit nervous to hear his answer here... I hope he says yes.

"...Fine." Quilline smirks at that, and I smile and walk up to Metallic.

"Thank-"

Metallic raises his hand up to stop me, "Please don't. Sorry pal. I know I'll change my mind and get angry if you try to make it seem like prioritizing that snake was the 'right' thing to do. Even if this makes you happy."

Not sure if he wanted me to stop walking towards him, or to just not thank him... so I play it safe and back off entirely.

"Will do." Is all I say back to him with a nod.

"Okie dokey- that's done. Now with all of our planning already being complete... I guess we wait until the first game starts? You all do remember the detailed plans we made, right?" Quilline asks, and we all nod.

"Right. 5 completely different games- and only the top-players of each game moves onto the next one. Whoever gets the most total points from all the game's rounds wins the ticket to Dalkan, but the 19 people behind them get consolation prizes. We have pretty good plans for each of them... and we only need one of us to make it to first place. Plus we have some cheats ready to help us win some rounds. ...Damn. Really hope I won't end up having to fight Popshot though in the fighting tournament round. He'd kick my ass in a fight where he was actually trying." I think to myself- which reminds me... right, I wanted to ask Amandeath if she'd talk to Popshot for me in the meantime.