Infinity, The Arcade Age

After quickly confirming which world he was in, Qin Ming's first priority was to check his current identity and surroundings. After a bit of exploration, he finally made some headway.

First off, he was inside a casino—likely the setting for the first level of The Punisher game. This was the casino owned by Bruno, the crime boss responsible for the death of the Punisher's wife and child, which led to the birth of the vengeful vigilante.

As for Qin Ming's identity here? Simple. He was a gambler.

Well, to be more precise, he was a gambler who had already run out of money.

To stick around and wait for the main character to appear and the mission to kick off, Qin Ming's first order of business was to get some cash—otherwise, he'd be thrown out by the casino's goons.

The irony wasn't lost on him. He had been worrying about money in the real world, and now, upon entering the mission world, he still had to deal with the same issue.

Rubbing his forehead in frustration, Qin Ming mulled over his options.

After a while, he still couldn't think of a good way to make money fast. He didn't know much about gambling—actually, he knew nothing about it—and was unfamiliar with the ins and outs of the games.

Without any better ideas, Qin Ming decided to leave his room and take a walk around the casino, hoping to gather some inspiration.

The casino was bustling with activity. Everywhere he looked, there were well-dressed patrons enjoying themselves, dressed in luxurious clothing.

Walking among them, Qin Ming's old-fashioned outfit—something akin to the mysterious merchant from Resident Evil—blended surprisingly well with the people of The Punisher world. His vintage look seemed perfectly at home in this era.

As he glanced around at the wealthy patrons, his empty pockets reminded him of his dire situation, and an idea quickly formed in his mind.

With his current strength, getting money wasn't really a problem—he had plenty of options.

This time, he chose the simplest and most direct approach: robbery.

Qin Ming zeroed in on a wealthy-looking man and discreetly followed him into the restroom.

Once they were alone, Qin Ming knocked him out with a swift karate chop.

Ignoring the man's wallet stuffed with U.S. dollars, Qin Ming focused on the briefcase the man was carrying. Inside, he found several gold bars, which he quickly pocketed.

The entire process took less than a minute. Qin Ming's movements were quick and efficient, like a seasoned professional.

Returning to his room, Qin Ming locked the door and took out the four gold bars. With a slight smile, he activated his special talent. The bars, which couldn't be taken out of the mission world or exchanged for points, fused together into a single large gold brick.

Weighing the gold brick in his hand and admiring the intricate patterns engraved on its surface, Qin Ming nodded in satisfaction.

He then rang for the service staff and, moments later, a stunning casino hostess entered the room with a tray of food.

Sipping red wine and nibbling on a steak, Qin Ming indulged in the luxuries he had bought with his stolen goods, content with living the life of a wealthy man.

However, his peaceful enjoyment was soon interrupted by a knock at the door.

Frowning at the disturbance, Qin Ming called out, "Come in!"

The door swung open, and several men in suits, looking every bit like the casino's hired muscle, walked in. The leader of the group, a casino manager, stepped forward with a wide smile plastered on his face.

"Sir, it seems your account has run dry, and you've accrued a bit of debt. So, if you wouldn't mind..."

At the mention of an empty account, the blonde woman sitting on Qin Ming's lap immediately stiffened and pulled away. Having seen plenty of men thrown out after spending all their money, she assumed Qin Ming was just another broke loser trying to take advantage of his last few moments of luxury.

Her wary gaze on Qin Ming made her intentions clear.

Unfazed, Qin Ming tossed his knife and fork aside, glaring at the casino manager. "Tch, it's just money. You think I'm going to stiff you? I've got the cash—but not on me. How about some gold?"

As he spoke, Qin Ming reached into his jacket.

The manager, though still smiling, signaled to the four bodyguards, who instantly gripped their guns beneath their jackets, their eyes hardening with suspicion.

They hadn't come just to collect a debt. The wealthy man Qin Ming had knocked out had already been found, and the robbery had naturally drawn the casino's attention.

While security cameras had been mysteriously tampered with, a server had seen Qin Ming in the vicinity. Adding to the fact that he had been splurging on food and drinks despite supposedly being out of money, Qin Ming had quickly become their prime suspect.

Under their watchful gaze, Qin Ming casually pulled out the large gold brick from his jacket and tossed it onto the floor. He waved his hand dismissively. "Take that and convert it into cash. All of it. Come back when it's spent. And unless it's important, don't bother me."

The gold brick hit the floor with a heavy thud. Its intricate patterns gleamed under the light, the object a perfect fusion of art and wealth.

The four bodyguards, who had been ready to draw their guns, froze in place, exchanging confused glances.

Even the casino manager, who had initially been all smiles, was taken aback, staring at the gold brick in disbelief.

Picking up the brick, the manager examined it closely, his expression turning more perplexed by the second.

Something wasn't right here. Weren't there four missing gold bars? So how had they turned into a single, engraved gold brick?

And not just any brick—this one had the intricate craftsmanship of a high-end art piece!

Glancing back at Qin Ming and then at the gold brick again, the manager finally regained his composure and nodded.

"Very well, sir. We'll take care of it right away."

With that, he and the bodyguards quickly exited the room. The blonde woman, now seeing the lavish display of wealth, blushed and eagerly snuggled back into Qin Ming's arms.

As Qin Ming resumed eating his steak, he smirked at the closed door.

Not bad. These casino folks are sharp. He had been cautious, but they had still tracked him down so quickly.

But that didn't matter. In fact, it was better this way.

A few minutes to turn gold bars into a solid gold brick, complete with intricate engravings? That's impossible!

To the casino staff, the gold brick couldn't possibly be the stolen goods. And if it wasn't stolen, it proved that Qin Ming was wealthy. And if he had money, why would he need to rob anyone?

With this, Qin Ming had cleared himself of any suspicion. The case wouldn't be pinned on him.

Now, it was up to his four companions. Hopefully, they wouldn't get thrown out because of this incident.

Grinning from ear to ear, Qin Ming leaned back on the sofa, holding the blonde woman close.

I may not be the smartest guy around, he thought, but I sure am great at playing these little games.

(End of Chapter)