A week passed in the blink of an eye, and the day to infiltrate the underground casino arrived. Dante had been grinding poker non-stop to prepare, but his results were lackluster. To add some stakes, he bet his pocket money, only to lose it all to the shipgirls. Unconvinced, he even wagered his magic gear, but they stripped him of everything except Rebellion. The shipgirls, however, weren't thrilled with their spoils—magic gear was useless to them, unmanageable and unacknowledged by the artifacts themselves.
Devil May Cry Naval Base, Front Gate
Yamato: "Sorry to keep you waiting."
Dante: "Right on time."
A car from headquarters pulled up, and Yamato stepped out. The shipgirls bidding Dante farewell hadn't been told she'd be joining him, and their eyes turned to him.
Akagi: "Yamato's coming too?"
Yamato: "We're… married, after all. //////"
"…What?"
Yamato's words sparked glares from the shipgirls. It was a fake marriage for the undercover mission, but they were clueless—and not about to stay quiet.
Suzuya: "Hold up! Married? What's that about?!"
Ryūjō: "When did you get hitched?!"
Yūbari: "So you made a move on Yamato, huh?"
Akebono: "The lousy admiral's finally settling down?"
Shiranui: "When's the ceremony?"
Kagerō: "That's not the issue here!"
Jun'yō: "I love weddings! All-you-can-drink booze!"
Kongō: "YAMATO!"
Hiei: "Big sister, calm down!"
Kirishima: "Stay cool! Stay cool!"
As expected, the shipgirls erupted into chaos. Dante knew this would happen, which is why he'd kept quiet. Yamato's careless, half-baked comment had spiraled things out of control. Time to escape.
Dante: "Yamato, get in the car! Driver, floor it!"
Suzuya: "Wait!"
Dante and Yamato dove into the back seat, urging the driver to speed off as the shipgirls hurled objects at the car. Exhausted before the mission even began, they headed for the mansion.
Inside the Car
The car rumbled along a paved mountain road, taking its time.
Yamato: "Oh, I haven't introduced her yet. This is Lieutenant Lady."
Lady: "Nice to meet you."
Dante: "Yeah, likewise. (Why's she here?)"
Yamato introduced the driver—none other than Lady. Since Lady was infiltrating the navy, they couldn't risk blowing her cover, so both she and Dante played strangers. Her role was to sniff out navy insiders, but Dante wasn't thrilled about her being their driver. Probably the Marshal's doing.
Lady handed Dante an envelope while driving. Inside was a single sheet detailing their cover: Dante and Yamato are a married couple. Dante's a wealthy tycoon. They fell madly in love, got married, and have two kids. Still deeply in love, they go on weekend date trips.
Dante: "Who came up with this?"
Lady: "The Marshal."
Yamato: "He actually thought this through for once…"
Apparently, the Marshal had been obsessing over this instead of working.
The car reached the mansion. They parked and made final checks.
Lady: "No weapons allowed inside. Here."
She handed over an invitation, likely acquired through shady means, but Dante didn't care. The mission was what mattered.
Guards at the entrance conducted body checks to prevent trouble among the notorious criminals and shady figures gathered. Dante left Rebellion and Ebony & Ivory in the car.
Lady: "I'll pick you up tomorrow."
The high-stakes VIP poker game would span two days. After dropping them off, Lady drove back to headquarters with Dante's weapons. They weren't needed for poker, and she'd return tomorrow. If things went south, Dante could handle most situations barehanded, and Yamato had her rigging—though shelling regular humans was a last resort.
After passing the body check, they reached the reception desk, staffed by a woman. VIPs could stay overnight, so they needed to check in like at a hotel. As they approached, the last person Dante wanted to see called out.
Doctor: "Well, this place has class, doesn't it?"
Dante: "Why are you here?"
Doctor: "Same as you. Here to play poker. I'm an old friend of the mansion's owner."
Yamato: "(I've seen this guy somewhere…)"
Doctor: "See you later."
The Doctor sauntered off. Dante glared at his back, while Yamato racked her brain, trying to place the familiar face.
They checked in.
Dante: "I'm Dante. Tony Redgrave, here by invitation."
Yamato's jaw dropped. They were supposed to use aliases, but Dante gave his real name, instantly derailing the plan. They got their room key and headed to their assigned suite to drop off their bags.
Dante: "What kind of crimes do you have to pull off to afford a mansion like this?"
Yamato: "…"
Dante's honest question about the lavish estate went unanswered. Yamato seemed… displeased.
Dante: "Hey, what's wrong?"
Yamato: "Why did you use your real name?!"
Her irritation stemmed from Dante's reckless move. This mission couldn't afford mistakes, so her anger was justified. Dante, unfazed, plopped onto the sofa.
Dante: "They already know who I am. They let us in anyway, so they're either confident or fools. I just showed them we're not backing down."
The Doctor clearly saw Dante as a threat but hadn't interfered yet. Whether it was arrogance, stupidity, or a calculated move, he seemed intent on facing Dante at poker. By using his real name, Dante was saying, "Bring it on."
Yamato: "They know you? How…?"
Dante: "You've seen the reports. That guy's the self-proclaimed Doctor."
Yamato broke into a cold sweat. If their cover was blown from the start, they were already in danger.
Yamato: "It's over. Let's go back!"
Dante: "This is my job. I'm seeing it through."
Dante wouldn't back down. They were in enemy territory. Staying was risky, but leaving meant letting the army or criminals get the funds—both bad outcomes. Better to stay and take their money. Yamato reluctantly agreed.
The poker game was set for the evening. Until then, they waited quietly in their room.
Night
As poker time neared, Yamato started getting ready—makeup, party dress, the works. Dante lounged on the sofa, staring into space.
Yamato: "Dante, get changed."
Dante: "Huh? Change? I'm fine like this."
Yamato: "You'll stand out! Change!"
Dante's outfit—black undershirt, gloves, boots, red vest, coat, and pants—was practically a neon sign. The plan was already in shambles, but Yamato was desperate to salvage it. She opened a garment bag on the bed, revealing a tailored suit.
Dante: "I didn't order this. How'd you get my size?"
Yamato: "We had your measurements from when you got your navy uniform."
Dante's old uniform had been shredded by Cerberus, but new measurements were taken when he rejoined the naval base.
Dante: "Not wearing it."
Yamato: "You have to!"
Dante: "…"
Despite being the admiral, Dante had no veto power. Grudgingly, he changed into the suit and stared at himself in the mirror. Yamato giggled at his odd behavior.
Yamato: "I'm not done yet, so go ahead."
Dante: "Yamato, kiss me."
Yamato: "W-What?! A kiss?! Even if we're pretending to be married, that's…! //////"
Yamato flailed in a comical panic at Dante's bold request. It was amusing, but his intentions weren't romantic.
Dante: "Come to the game late. Approach me and give me a subtle kiss. The other players will be distracted by your beauty, losing focus."
Poker wasn't just cards—it was a psychological battlefield, reading opponents' faces and movements to predict their hands. This was a strategy.
Dante: "Oh, and wear this. I'm counting on you."
He handed her a hair accessory and left. Alone, Yamato slapped her cheeks in front of the mirror, psyching herself up.
Yamato: "Kiss…! //////"
Muttering the word, she flailed again. Dante's plan seemed risky, and her nerves weren't helping.
Dante arrived at the VIP poker venue. Showing the guard his invitation, he was let in without issue. A grand poker table sat in the center, with a bar counter along the wall. Other players and their entourages were already there—associates were allowed in.
Scanning the room, Dante saw no sign of the army officer he was targeting. The Doctor approached.
Doctor: "Let's have some fun tonight, Dante… or should I say, Tony Redgrave? I'm a bit confused."
Dante: "Get confused at poker, and you'll lose even the winnable games."
Dante shot back with a provocative smirk and walked away. The Doctor grinned in response.
A man confirmed all players were present and addressed the room. He was the mansion's owner and the dealer for the game. He explained the rules: twelve players, including women, each starting with five million in chips. Players could add up to three million more if they ran out, or leave and lose everything. Each player got two cards, with five community cards revealed by the dealer. Players combined their cards with the community cards to make a hand and bet accordingly. Winnings would be wired to designated accounts after the game.
As players took their seats, Dante sat across from the Doctor, who took the seat meant for the army officer. Dante's eyes widened.
Doctor: "What's with the look? Rattled before the game starts? You said it yourself—'you'll lose even the winnable games.'"
Dante: "(This guy…)"
The Doctor threw Dante's words back at him. More concerning was why the Doctor was in the officer's seat. Was he tied to the army, demons, or the abyssal fleet?
Owner: "Let's begin."
Doctor: "…Raise."
Owner: "Your turn."
Dante's turn came, but he stayed silent, staring at the Doctor. This was his target now.
Dante: "Call."
The showdown came, and hands were revealed.
Owner: "Three kings and two sixes—a full house. You win."
Chips slid to the Doctor. It was the first day, so players were cautious, not pushing bets too high.
Doctor: "Not doing so hot, are you, Dante?"
Dante: "Game's just started."
The game continued. Dante called a waiter.
Dante: "Gin and tonic."
The drink arrived quickly. Sipping it, Dante glanced at the entrance and froze. Yamato had arrived, wearing a cherry-blossom pink dress with an open neckline and the hair accessory he'd given her. Every player turned to look.
Yamato approached, placed a hand on Dante's shoulder, and gave him a gentle kiss on the cheek before walking to the bar counter without a word. Dante couldn't take his eyes off her.
Owner: "…Your turn, Dante. Dante?"
Dante: "…Huh? Oh…"
He tossed in chips for a call, still glancing at Yamato. Getting caught in his own plan wasn't part of the deal.
Doctor: "A kiss from the goddess of fortune? Hope it works."
Yamato: "(I'm dying of embarrassment… //////)"
The first day's game ended, and Dante and Yamato returned to their room. The match had dragged on, but it was evenly fought, with no one eliminated. Still, Dante's chip count had dwindled.
Tomorrow, players would get aggressive. The game would resume at noon.
It was late, and Yamato started preparing for bed. Then, a problem: the room had a double bed, not twins. Too late to change now.
Dante: "Time to sleep."
Yamato panicked at the thought of sharing a bed. Dante, unfazed, lay on the sofa.
Yamato: "No, Dante, take the bed! I'll sleep on the sofa!"
As the admiral, Dante shouldn't sleep on a sofa while a shipgirl took the bed. She urged him to switch.
Dante: "Sofa's fine."
Stubborn as ever, Dante wouldn't budge. Yamato climbed into the bed, feeling guilty. For a while, she fidgeted restlessly.
Dante: "…Can't sleep?"
Yamato: "!"
Startled, she hadn't realized he was still awake.
Yamato: "I'm not used to sleeping alone in such a big bed…"
Dante: "Even though they call you Yamato Hotel?"
Yamato: "I'm not a hotel!"
She shot up, yelling at the nickname she hated. Dante's joke didn't land.
Yamato: "Who's that Doctor guy?"
Dante: "…No idea."
The army officer hadn't shown, and the Doctor had taken his place. Was he posing as the officer, or was he connected to the army? His identity was a mystery.
Yamato: "I feel like I've seen him before, but I can't remember where…"
Dante: "Doesn't matter. Sleep."
Yamato: "Um, Dante…?"
Her hesitant tone made Dante crack one eye open.
Yamato: "I can't sleep alone in this huge bed… I mean, the sofa's bad for your body, so sleep here!"
Her flimsy excuse betrayed her true feelings. Dante smirked, moved to the bed, and soon Yamato fell asleep, facing away from him. Thinking how shipgirls always needed looking after, Dante closed his eyes.
To be continued…