The casino floor roared with excitement as the "lucky uncle" notched his 12th consecutive win, sending waves of delight through the gamblers whose coffers swelled by millions of Baileys. Debtors dreamed of freedom.
Then, a stunning woman with pink, wavy hair, Baccarat, glided through the crowd, announcing herself as the casino's new senior manager. The gambling-crazed crowd initially ignored her beauty, quickly turning hostile when she suggested the lucky streak end.
Unfazed by their protests, Baccarat smoothly took over as the dealer. The "lucky uncle," merely enjoying the thrill, readily agreed. The frenzied gamblers, blinded by their burgeoning wealth, disregarded his cautious advice of "small gambling for happiness, big gambling for hurt." They blindly followed his next small 50,000 Bailey bet on "odd," recklessly throwing all their accumulated chips into the pot, convinced of an inevitable win.
Rhodes's Audacious Play and Hidden Agenda
Nia felt a prickle of unease as Baccarat's gaze landed on her, an inexplicable premonition that the game's tide might turn. Suddenly, Rhodes materialized beside her, to Nia's utter disbelief, and he shoved all of her chips onto 'even'.
"Asshole, this is all our chips!" Nia shrieked, clutching his neck.
"Don't worry," Rhodes calmly stated, his eyes locked on Baccarat. He recognized her Lucky-Lucky Fruit user, which allowed her to absorb and manipulate luck, a power he considered invaluable. He revealed his true intention to Nia: he wanted to recruit Baccarat. Her ability, he believed, could drastically improve the success rate of Law's ongoing Devil Fruit research, which currently relied on unpredictable probabilities. Nia, bewildered, struggled to grasp his intense focus on the seemingly ordinary yet charming woman.
Tesoro's Calculating Gaze
From his private, one-way glass room overlooking the casino, Gild Tesoro observed the unfolding drama, a glass of red wine in hand. He mused on the pervasive manipulation of money and his power, as a Gold-Gold Fruit user, to wield it and influence even the World Government.
His attention was drawn to the commotion. His large-headed subordinate explained the lucky uncle's streak and the considerable losses incurred, noting that Baccarat was already handling the situation. Tesoro's interest sharpened. Baccarat, a recent hire, had already defeated several of his casino's seasoned gambling masters without revealing her methods. "Interesting!" he murmured, instructing Mr. Tanaka to bring her to him after her shift.
As he prepared to leave, Tesoro paused, his gaze snagging on Nia amidst the gamblers. Her face struck him as remarkably familiar, adding another layer of intrigue to the unfolding events in his casino.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
The arrival of Baccarat, armed with the Lucky-Lucky Fruit, has dramatically shifted the casino's fortunes. Rhodes, recognizing her unique power, makes a strategic move, going all-in against her in an attempt to recruit her for Law's Devil Fruit research. Meanwhile, Tesoro watches from above, intrigued by Baccarat's mysterious abilities and a surprising sense of familiarity with Nia.
What will be the outcome of this high-stakes gamble between Rhodes and Baccarat? How will Baccarat react to Rhodes's bold proposition, and what past connection might Tesoro have with Nia that could further complicate the Rhodes Pirates' time on Lavis Island?