Chapter 45: Bill

Selene slowly walked up the stairs and saw more than twenty large wooden tables on the second floor. Since it was noon, there weren’t many gamblers, only a few dozen, sitting around the tables, throwing coins and cards, their brains occupied by the thrill of gambling. Selene slowly walked through the crowd, casually pulling out a few silver coins and some copper coins, strolling among the gambling tables, looking for a tall, thin man.

To avoid attracting attention, Selene also threw a few coins onto the gambling tables, but the silver coins she lost were quickly returned. After a few rounds, she hadn’t won or lost any money—she hated gambling and wouldn’t use it to make money. She was just pretending.

After about half an hour, she found nothing.

Occasionally, members of the club would pass through the gambling den, but they were all scantily clad women and burly men, much taller than her. The target never appeared.

Selene sat at a table, resting her chin on her hand, pretending to study the bets. She was wondering if she should leave and go downstairs to find Richter, when she suddenly heard a group of gamblers leave their table, angrily walking to a corner and settling down.

“Damn it—That idiot must have cheated—”

“Ah, it’s not much.”

“Damn it, damn it, damn it—”

This friend’s temper seems a bit strong.

Selene muttered to herself, unconcerned. This kind of thing was common in such places. In her previous life, she’d even seen relatives who had gambled away their entire fortunes, and she’d never had a good impression of them—garbage who brought it upon themselves, pure idiots who harmed others and themselves. They were a waste of air and food.

She waited a few more minutes and finally decided to go back to the club on the first floor to continue her search. Then she saw that the gamblers who had lost everything had new activity.

“No, I have to get my money back!”

“How are you going to do that?”

“I… I have a friend in the business, called Bill…”

Selene stopped. The person she was looking for was also called Bill. Several thoughts flashed through her mind. She walked over to a waitress, took a glass of pale ale, and went back to the gambling tables, listening quietly.

“… I heard Bill had his legs broken a few days ago.”

The gambler was stunned for a few seconds, then, somewhat frantically, he grabbed a member of the gambling den staff who was passing by and aggressively asked about Bill’s whereabouts, receiving confirmation that he was recovering from his injuries. Then came the explosion of anger and fear from the gambler who had lost everything, venting his emotions at his “friend” Bill, then trembling all over—

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Finally, he was carried out by two strong men and thrown out. He was banned from the gambling den.

But judging from his behavior, he’d probably try to get his money back using other methods.

“Tsk, tsk, what a sad life,” Selene silently watched the show and raised her glass to him. “But you’re better than those drunks in the alley. At least you helped me.”

During his argument with the staff member, the staff member had impatiently mentioned that Bill was recovering on the third floor.

Otherwise, Selene really wouldn’t have known where to find him. After all, the lives of ordinary people in this era were very routine. They were usually on the streets, at home, in taverns, or at work. But someone who was injured might also be in a church, an underground clinic, or seeing a witch doctor… It would take a long time to find him.

Selene didn’t wait for Richter. After all, working together in this situation wasn’t very convenient. She intended to use a simpler, faster method.

She left the second floor and went to the bathroom, then looked out the window, confirming that no one was watching. She touched the window pane.

Selene whispered,

“Object of shadows, object containing transformations, I order you to 【Expand】.”

Ripples, like those created by something falling into water, appeared on the surface of the closed window. Selene immediately reached out her hand, passing straight through them.

She nimbly flipped herself out the window, grabbing onto a protruding part of the outer wall, and climbed up. After observing the third-floor bathroom from outside the window for a few seconds, she repeated the same trick and entered.

—The club’s third floor wasn’t open to the public. Only invited guests and club staff could enter. She could have tried to get permission, but… there was no need.

Rubbing her slightly sore muscles from all the walking and recent strenuous movements, Selene took out a red potion from her hip. But after hesitating for a moment, she didn’t drink it.

Though the potion could effectively relieve muscle fatigue, it was somewhat addictive. She didn’t need to be in peak condition right now, so it was better not to use it.

After putting the potion away, Selene observed the area outside the bathroom and confidently walked forward, showing no hesitation at all.

A few passersby noticed her, but after a brief glance, they ignored her. After all, the stairs leading to the second floor were guarded. Anyone who could come up here had been vetted. Someone with an unfamiliar face was probably brought here by an acquaintance.

Selene moved around the third floor unhindered, and quickly located Bill’s room, because a distinct smell of blood was coming from it, along with occasional groans of pain.

Standing at the door, which wasn’t very soundproof, Selene jiggled the doorknob slightly, then took out a piece of wire and picked the lock, casually committing a B&E. She entered the room under Bill's surprised, terrified gaze.

He was, just as the gambler had said, bedridden, his legs broken. He could only watch helplessly as the somewhat familiar face picked the lock, then walked towards him. He wanted to scream for help, but an invisible force was constricting his throat, sealing his mouth shut.

“Shhh…” Selene locked the door again, moved a chair over, and sat at the edge of the bed. “I’m just here to ask you a few questions. Answer truthfully, and I won’t hurt you.”

A superhuman!

Bill’s pupils dilated and constricted in fear. Various thoughts flashed through his mind, all telling him to cooperate. At the same time, he also tried to remember what he had done, who he’d offended, but he had no impression of this superhuman… Wait, could it be that incident…? The more he thought about it, the more certain he became. He immediately decided to confess everything.

Five silver coins a month? What was he risking his life for?

Bill nodded silently.

Selene snapped her fingers, releasing the Binding Spell. But before she could ask any questions, Bill blurted out,

“The boss made me do it! There’s an outsider with him. Maybe a superhuman!”

Selene was startled, then slowly nodded.

“Tell me everything. All the details.”