RURO Chapter 29

Russian Roulette /̵͇̿̿/’̿’̿ ̿ ̿̿ ̿̿ ̿̿

CHAPTER 29

 

Tessa headed to the bank first. Even in Saint Leroi, a city known for its decadence, basic financial institutions existed. In the end, this was still a city where people lived.

She knew she had saved up a decent amount over the years—money set aside for the day she would finally meet her Guide. It wasn’t a huge sum, but little by little, steadily, the total had grown.

But now, what was the point?

She had met the Guide she had wished and waited for… and yet there was no way she would ever use this money for him. Years of effort had turned to waste.

I really thought I’d meet someone kind.

Who could have imagined that her Guide would be the most dangerous man in the country?

Tessa decided to spend the now-useless money.

She had never understood people who blew through their savings recklessly. But maybe they all felt like this.

The certainty that she wouldn’t escape this pit of misery unless she did something—anything—washed over her.

Tessa wanted to free herself from this suffocating feeling. No matter the cost.

As she approached the counter, a bank clerk who had been filling out a form by hand looked up. Their eyes met for just a second. The woman quickly adopted a professional tone.

“How can I help you?”

“I’d like to withdraw some cash.”

“Please fill this out and hand it to me with your ID.”

Tessa picked up the pen provided for customers and wrote down the amount. Then she slid the withdrawal slip and her ID under the divider.

The clerk, who had initially glanced over the paperwork with a disinterested expression, suddenly looked up at Tessa in surprise. Once she confirmed there was no mistake, she quickly disappeared into the back.

A few minutes later, she returned holding a stack of bills. Only after verifying that Tessa was indeed a customer with such an amount in her account did the clerk’s face soften noticeably.

“Would you like to count it yourself to confirm the amount?”

Tessa nodded and took the money from her. Thirty bills of ten Ferz. It was exactly what she had requested.

She tucked the cash deep inside her bag and turned without hesitation.

When she stepped outside, the sun was beginning to set. The sky was glowing red, as if a massive fire had broken out across the city.

And once night truly fell, that was when Saint Leroi would awaken. It would become more vibrant, more dazzling than ever—but also more dangerous.

Tessa made her way toward the city’s most bustling district.

The heart of Saint Leroi—the place where seekers of pleasure gathered. Whenever Tessa walked down Circus Avenue, she could always catch the thick scent of corruption in the air.

Geographically it was within the Empire, but no one would truly call it part of it. This district wasn’t under imperial control—it belonged to Vicente. A different world within the Empire, ruled by a different sovereign.

Garish lights and flickering neon signs pulled at the eyes, muddling one’s thoughts. Even the stars in the night sky seemed dimmed by the overwhelming glow of the pleasure district.
Familiar with the sights of Circus Avenue, Tessa moved through the Art Deco-style buildings.

Before long, she reached a building she knew well—the very same casino she had once visited with Vicente. The grand casino was the centerpiece of the district. The bars and nightclubs around it survived off the money dropped by casino-goers.

Naturally, the casino boasted more splendor and scale than any other building. It only revealed its full grandeur after dark, glowing with brilliance. From within, the soft strains of jazz drifted out.

The guards at the entrance seemed to recognize her and allowed her inside. Tessa stepped into the casino for the second time, taking in the interior properly for the first.

Her first visit had been rushed and overwhelming, with Vicente right beside her. She had kept her head down the whole time. Now, seeing it clearly, she wondered how that had even been possible—the place was striking.

A golden chandelier hanging from the high ceiling cast light over everyone’s heads. A large stage stood at the center front; when the velvet curtains drew back, dancers with long legs would appear, dancing in lively unison.

Men smoked by the tables near the stage. Some played simple games, though the true gambling zones were located elsewhere.

Looking up, the second and third floors wrapped around the main hall in tiers. People sat behind golden railings, playing card games and more. There were elegantly dressed gentlemen and ladies—but also plenty of ordinary-looking people.

And that was when Tessa realized—she hadn’t come to the casino just to waste her money.

She simply didn’t want to sit alone, sinking into darkness and silence.

The noisy conversations, bursts of laughter, and jazz playing like background music—it hit her then.
At least here, she could forget her misery for a little while. This place may have been looked down upon by society, but it still existed for joy.

If she couldn’t laugh herself, perhaps hearing others laugh was enough.

Rather than gamble, Tessa found a seat near the stage, tucked away at one of the quieter tables. Soon, a staff member in a vest approached and asked if she’d like a drink.

“Just a whiskey, please.”

The server brought over a sealed bottle from a nearby trolley and poured it into her glass himself—an assurance that it was safe to drink.

Of course, as a Sentinel, drugs didn’t affect her much. It didn’t matter what was in the glass.
She sipped the whiskey and closed her eyes, tuning in to the sounds around her.

If she focused, she could hear every voice with crystal clarity.

Up on the second floor, a man was celebrating a big win. He said he was about to get married—and now he could finally buy an engagement ring for his fiancée.

What’s her name? someone asked.

Emboldened by alcohol, the man spilled out words like a leaking dam—things that didn’t need to be said.

Tessa, not wanting to hear more, redirected her focus elsewhere. Someone was approaching—she sensed it, and opened her eyes.

A stranger stepped near her table, bent slightly, and smiled politely.

“Waiting for someone?”

Tessa scanned his face discreetly. She was sure she hadn’t seen him before.

“You’ve been sitting here a while. Whoever you’re waiting for… he’s a jerk, keeping a lady waiting like this.”

“The man you just called a jerk,” Tessa said coolly, lips tightening.

“What kind of person do you think he is, to speak that way about him?”

The man hesitated momentarily, then forced a confident expression.

“Just saying, it’s not right to leave a woman alone like this.”

“If you’ve said your piece, you can go now.”

“Aw, don’t be like that. How about joining us? We know a really fun game.”

She should’ve expected pests like this. Tessa had no intention of going with him. Especially after catching the subtle glance he gave her chest.

Clearly, he thought she was easy—someone he could lure and toy with.

A woman alone is always an easy target.
But Tessa was not an ordinary woman.

It was because she was far from ordinary that she could even step into a place this dangerous.

And now, already burdened with her sunken mood, her irritation began to boil.

There was only one man allowed to leash her and drag her wherever he pleased—and that was Vicente.
And it wasn’t just her—anyone who crossed Vicente ended up ruined.

He was the ruler here.

The man who held the underworld in the palm of his hand.

But that didn’t mean she would let herself be toyed with by some insignificant nobody. She wasn’t just anyone’s plaything. Thinking so would be a grave mistake.

She couldn’t stand up to Vicente.

But if this man tried anything foolish… she was more than ready to return the favor.