Velkaris was alive with its usual nighttime pulse—bright lights spilling out from every doorway, the air thick with music, chatter, and the distant sound of coins clinking. Trafalgar walked with purpose, Barth trailing a half-step behind.
He didn't need to ask around; he knew exactly where Lucien would be. The man was a businessman, and businessmen of his sort gravitated to the same places—places where fortunes changed hands, where the real deals were made.
The casino loomed ahead, an opulent building with golden trim and crystal lamps glowing above the entrance. Even from outside, the sound of dice rolling and cards being shuffled blended into the hum of expensive entertainment.
