On Astral Tides: From Humble Freelancer To Astral Emperor

One Hundred And Four

As the doors of the MGM Grand shut behind me with an audible hiss, I suddenly staggered, the high tension that I had been feeling leaving me all in one go. Hell, that was intense. Going from a rigged gambling tournament to a confrontation with another Astral Emperor-candidate and then a battle with security, some armed with pistols… It’s been a series of nerve-wracking events, one after another. And in addition… being poisoned wasn’t the most fun thing either. Still, my body was now capable of processing harmful substances rapidly and repairing any minor damage near instantly (which made me sad when it came to alcohol, of course) but that didn’t change that it really wasn’t a good feeling to be drugged.

It wasn’t the first time I’ve been involved in fights with other humans, I did beat those thugs down who were harassing Ichika-san, but this was taking it to the next level. Sure, in terms of abilities I could easily handle several trained security or soldiers in hand-to-hand combat, my reaction speeds and strength went far beyond what they could hope to achieve, but… guns is taking it too far! I’m Japanese, we don’t have to worry about such things! One thing I was sure of was that even with my stronger body, bullets would still blow holes in me, and while I was technically superhuman now, I wasn’t Superman, and I certainly wasn’t faster than a speeding bullet. Still, when a fight started and I concentrated my superior Alacrity kicked in, and time almost seemed to slow a little, giving me more time to think and move. Realising I had no way out of the situation but to fight, I relied on the fact that while I couldn’t dodge bullets, I could move faster than the guards could aim, and once I was close… well, that combat training hadn’t been in vain. Still… Yeah, I’m still stressed out over it, I feel sick…

The feeling of bone crunching under my blows was very different to that of when I defeated monsters in the Boundary with my spear and elemental attacks. It wasn’t so much the sensation, as the mental feeling… Again, it’s hypocrisy, those gnolls for example, they were just as alive and sentient as the security guards, and I didn’t even kill the guards… these unproductive thoughts were getting me nowhere, so I started heading towards the elevator, pushing the disquieting feelings into a corner of my mind, to think about later.

Seriously though, that girl, Aliyah… she was a total badass. She had the owner captured with ease, before I had even noticed. She was a real stunner too, big … big everywhere… Hopefully she won’t have done anything stupid like finish strangling the guy though. After all, it wasn’t like eighty or so people didn’t not only know we were there, but have our names too. To say nothing of the load of cameras that would no doubt be all over the VIP room. It was a casino after all.

My self-defence was going to be caught on camera for sure. Luckily they made the first move, and I had the good sense to start recording before things went south… I patted my pocket, feeling the comforting weight of my phone inside. She did say something strange though. ‘I’m a professional, like you’. Did she mistake me for some sort of secret agent or something? And surely that meant she was one too. CIA or FBI? Surely she’d have shown some sort of government ID and have had more backup if that was the case… maybe some off-the-books black ops team like in Hollywood blockbusters? Shaking my head I dismissed that line of thought. I had no way of knowing for sure. Still, it did seem she was on alert the whole time she was playing poker, particularly keen on observing the owner and me. If that meant what I thought it meant… yeah, no secret stays hidden forever, especially not one with some many holders of it… Still, I’ve got carried away and been too visible. I need to be more cautious, draw less attention…

As I approached the lift, heavily laden, a concierge came over and asked if he could help carry my bags up to my room. I didn’t need to, as the weight was manageable for me, but I figured I wouldn’t deprive him of his job. As he took the first bag from me, staggering, he made a joke about there being gold bars in it or something. He isn’t too far off. With a smile I watched as he retrieved a luggage trolley, and with that we took the lift up to our suite.

At the door I took back my bags and tipped the guy a hundred, which he accepted gratefully. He insisted he could carry the bags in, but I declined as the girls were probably back now, it being quite late. As he departed I opened the door, stepping inside and letting the heavy bags fall to the floor with a meaty thud.

“I’m home.” I called softly, and Shaeula and Aiko looked up from where they were sitting on the comfortable sofas.

“Oh hi big bro, welcome back. You are pretty late. By the way… those look like heavy bags. Been buying us more gifts?” she giggled.

“Not exactly, no. Though tomorrow we should go shopping. We have to take back souvenirs anyway, so I don’t mind treating you girls to something nice.” I tossed aside my suit jacket, took off my tie and loosened my shirt, undoing a few of the buttons, happy to relax at last.

Shaeula rose from the sofa, a little unsteady, and she tottered over to me. I could smell the booze from here. “Hey, Shaeula, just how much did you drink? You look wasted.”

“I admit to having partaken in rather a large amount of fine alcohol-alcohol.” She let out a small belch. “Still, as we were the… VIP’s, as they called it, I would have been rude indeed-indeed not to make the most of their hospitality.”

“Yeah, it sure was fun, big bro.” my sis agreed. “I wish I was old enough to drink though, Shaeula looked like she was having an awesome time.”

“I guess you’ve forgotten your experience with hangovers, then?” I chuckled, as Shaeula passed me by and unzipped one of the heavy bags I had dumped on the floor.

“I assume you were triumphant, Akio?” Shaeula asked.

“Sadly not. Second, as it happens. Still, quite a lot went on. I’ll fill you in later, okay?”

“Wow, I wish you wouldn’t talk about stuff I don’t understand in front of me.” Aiko pouted, getting up as well. She was in her pyjamas, and was looking quite adorable. Though she should be more modest. I know I’m her brother, but I am still a man, it’s a bad precedent. She sauntered over and let out a shocked gasp at the sight. “Wowowowowowowowow. Is that … money?” she asked, jumping to the second bag and unzipping it. Her eyes widened at the rolls of bills within. Taking out a stack, she gasped. “These… these are all hundred dollar bills… that’s like a ten thousand yen note, right? How… how much is there here? Did you rob a bank or something? Wow, is my bro going to be a wanted criminal?” She was grinning, obviously knowing I wouldn’t do something like that, so I ruffled her hair gently, smiling. I guess I can explain it…

“After I finished up business I was invited to a poker tournament. Since we won big earlier, I thought it’d be okay, even if I lost, but your big bro had some decent luck, and I came second. And so I won… well, how to say this. A bit over five million dollars.”

“Five… million? Uh… really?” Aiko staggered over to a chair and flopped down, stunned. “So, let me get this straight. Shaeula won two point seven, and you won five… that’s… Uhh, a bit under eight million dollars. We’re… we’re rich now, right bro? I’m not asleep, am I? Wow, if this is a dream don’t wake me up…”

“Quite impressive indeed, though I am surprised you did not triumph.” Shaeula observed, losing interest in the money.

“He was a tough opponent.” I conceded. “and it was his home Territory, so… he had the advantage.”

“Oho, I see-see.” Shaeula nodded.

“You are ignoring me again, and I don’t like it!” my sis pouted. “Just because you are super-rich now, you can’t forget about me.”

“Don’t worry, how could I forget my simply adorable sister?” I grinned. “Oh, by the way, where is Eri? Has she gone to bed? It is quite late.”

“I don’t think so.” Aiko answered. “She said she had some things to think about, so I guess she’s lost in thought in our room. Want me to call her out to celebrate your big win?”

“No, if she’s got things to think about, we can leave her to it. Anyway… it was damn stressful, let me tell you. I need a drink.” We still had some champagne left from room service earlier today, as I had seriously overspent, so I popped the cork and poured out a glass.

“Hey, some for me, too?” Aiko looked at me, fluttering her eyelashes in what she likely assumed was a seductive manner.

“Sure, why not, we are celebrating, I guess. But only a glass, I don’t want you hungover tomorrow. If you ruin the last day of the trip you’ll regret it.”

“I know, I get it.” She agreed, taking the glass I poured her. Shaeula had also come over, hand out, and I gave her a glass too.

“Seriously, you are a lush, Shaeula. I don’t know where you put it all, you are pretty small.”

“Hey, that’s harassment, big bro!”

As we laughed and drank, I regaled them of a somewhat edited tale of my poker heroics, one that would be safe for my sister to hear about. It was then that the door to Aiko and Eri’s bedroom opened, and Eri pattered out slowly. I turned to greet her, only to pause, open-mouthed, face going red. Uhh… just what… is she wearing?

“Welcome back, Akio.” Eri said shyly, wearing a nearly transparent nightgown over her body, through which I could see her underwear, a pair of white panties and… shit, she isn’t wearing a bra. I can see her chest… her surprisingly-decent assets were fully on show to us, and her skin through the transparent fabric was flushed red, perhaps with embarrassment, or…

“Eri, what are you doing?” I choked, averting my eyes. Shaeula was snickering away drunkenly, and Aiko was blushing too, letting out a dull whistle.

“You’ve got so bold, Eri-chan.” Aiko said, once she had recovered her wits. “But… you know that big bro can see your… well, wow, your tits, your tits!”

Stop saying tits, a young girl shouldn’t be so vulgar… uh, so, did she not think I was back? But we haven’t been that quiet. So if she does know I’m here, then… my thoughts were racing uselessly, but my eyes had gone back to Eri despite my best efforts, and I was seemingly helpless to look away. Eri and Aiko both blushed all the harder at my stare. I get why Eri is embarrassed, but why Aiko…

Looking me in the eyes despite her shame, Eri walked over to me and grabbed my hand, pulling my arm up to her chest. As I sank into her soft flesh, I could faintly feel her body heat through the thin fabric we both wore. I could feel my own brain heating up, especially as Eri let out a long sigh that sounded extremely alluring.

“Akio is … is my boyfriend, so this is nothing strange.” Eri responded, voice faltering a little. It seemed she was forcing herself to act boldly, and I opened my mouth to say something, but Shaeula beat me to it.

“So, you have made up your mind, have you, Eri? Your resolve is indeed quite splendid to see-see.”

“Uh, hey, so what resolve? What’s going on? Eri can’t be drunk as we weren’t allowed to drink alcohol in the Bellagio…”

Ignoring the two girls beside us, Eri looked into my eyes, faint tears glimmering in hers. “I need to talk to you, Akio. Please come with me…” and with that she led me into the bedroom she shared with Aiko, with me seemingly unable to resist, my thoughts racing pointlessly. As she shut the door behind her, the conversation from outside fading to mere background noise, I had one lucid thought. Who would have thought that Eri would be so warm?

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