The Story Of Red Dead Redemption

Chapter 40: The Trial Opening

Arthur wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but as he walked through the streets of Valentine at noon, it seemed like there were fewer people around. Passing by the bar, Arthur couldn't help but glance inside. It wasn't empty, but it was certainly quiet.

It looked like the offer of free drinks had worked well.

With a strange sense of satisfaction, Arthur arrived at the clinic. The clinic, which had also undergone renovations, still looked ordinary from the front. Only the clinic owner, Old Nelly, was at the front desk.

"Mr. Morgan, good afternoon."

Arthur nodded at Old Nelly, noticing the shotgun lying next to him. It made sense. In this environment, even a doctor needed a gun to treat patients. No problem there.

Arthur continued towards the back. As he pushed the door open, the scene inside was completely different from the front—it was bustling with activity. The business was thriving, full of people. There were four Texas Hold'em tables, and other games like Blackjack, High-Low, and Craps. It was a small place but had everything.

Looking at the crowd of gamblers, one couldn't help but marvel at the allure of gambling. Gambling had been discussed a lot throughout history. Arthur remembered someone saying that gambling was a matter of probability, that believing in math and formulas made the odds 50-50, encouraging people to try their luck. But to Arthur, that was nonsense.

The real key was the interplay between capital and mindset.

For casinos, having more money than the gamblers and exploiting their gambling mentality meant that as long as they didn't stop, they would eventually lose to the casino. Most gamblers only bet bigger and bigger, unable to stop once they started. If you lost, you wanted to win back. If you won, you thought it was just luck.

Even if you won big, as long as you didn't exchange your chips for cash, they were just chips. One big loss was enough for the casino to profit. So, Arthur never gambled.

"Mr. Morgan, you're here." Kieran, with sharp eyes, had already spotted Arthur.

Kieran was exceptionally busy today. He was in charge here, having arranged and hired all the staff. Arthur had entrusted all these tasks to him. Despite quick training, the dealers and service staff were making mistakes today, and Kieran had to constantly fix things.

The reason was Arthur's brilliant idea. Unlimited free drinks in the venue.

This attracted a lot of guests, making it busy, but also leading to more trouble. Kieran had to deal with people who had lost but still wanted free drinks and those who drank too much or got upset from losing. In short, he had to handle various unexpected issues.

Approaching Arthur, Kieran thought about how to ask for help, still doubting his ability to manage. He said to Arthur. "I think I might need some help..."

Arthur had been standing there for a while and didn't think Kieran needed his help. Although there was some chaos, the small casino was running smoothly overall. Kieran handled each problem promptly and accurately.

Overall, it was satisfactory. So, Arthur didn't plan to interfere. After encouraging Kieran a bit, Arthur smiled and said, "Listen, Kieran, the only help I can give you is wishing you good luck."

It wasn't that Arthur wanted to shirk responsibility; he genuinely wasn't worried about Kieran's abilities. After spending time together, Arthur had realized something. Kieran was perceptive and insightful. He just needed some opportunities and courage.

"Mr. Morgan... you know, since we opened today, I've almost been beaten up by at least five people?"

"You look fine to me. I remember telling everyone not to bring weapons inside, so you're the only one with a gun. Don't be afraid. There's a saying, you know? God created men, and then?"

Kieran, having heard this before, helplessly continued, "Colt made them equal."

As soon as he finished, Arthur playfully slapped him on the head and waved, leaving through the back door. Kieran didn't have time to be confused. Since Arthur decided to leave, he had to continue his work, fixing issues.

As soon as Arthur stepped outside, he noticed a burly man of Native American descent standing at the back door. The man had a long face and a heavy jaw, clearly the 'security' Kieran had hired for the casino. He wore a sawed-off old shotgun, carefully checking each guest entering. By the wall sat a few drunk gamblers who had run out of money. Arthur thought it was unnecessary to carry guns since the sheriff's office was nearby, but it was better to be cautious.

Overall, Arthur was satisfied with his inspection.

After another round, Arthur finally arrived at the hotel. Going upstairs, the second floor of the hotel looked exactly the same as before from the outside. But inside, it had been transformed into a luxurious suite. If Arthur had to comment, he thought it could rival Cornwall's private train car. After all, he had spent a lot of money on the decoration.

Blake was downstairs, not coming up with Arthur. He said he needed to keep an eye downstairs and told Arthur that the people playing cards upstairs were brought by Trelawny, real wealthy people from the town. Arthur had to take a look.

After arriving on the second floor, Arthur didn't go in directly. He just peeked through the wall. There was a peephole in the room next to the suite, so Arthur could see the inside of the private room from next door. Someone would be watching to prevent any accidents.

In the suite, Old Frank and his daughter were working. Honestly, their attire today was completely different from when they first met. Old Frank, dressed as a gentleman, seemed to have trimmed his hair and shaved, wearing gold-rimmed monocles. He no longer resembled the old rogue from the tavern. And Old Frank's daughter wore an oriental cheongsam. Without looking at her face, her figure was impressive.

Arthur hadn't been watching for long when Strauss pushed the door open. Arthur immediately noticed the eerie smile on his face, similar to when he had lent money.

"So, how much have we earned to make you so happy?"

Strauss, genuinely pleased, jokingly said to Arthur, "Mr. Morgan, I can only tell you it's a huge amount, more than we've ever robbed from any bank."

Arthur almost believed him. Did he really think running a casino was more profitable than robbing banks?

***

If you have enjoyed reading the story, leave some Reviews and Power Stones.

For every 100 Power Stones, you will get a bonus chapter