Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1469: Investments and Money

The dealer kept the roulette wheel in motion, calling out the winning numbers one after another. With every spin, the cycle of victory and defeat repeated for the players gathered around.

Unlike the strategic depth of poker, roulette is undeniably a game dictated by fortune. However, it offers more agency than slot machines, where a player's influence is nonexistent; here, a basic grasp of mathematics can actually provide an edge.

While some gamblers avoid betting on the same color consecutively, others recognize that red or black can frequently appear in streaks of two or three. Yet, even those players often grow hesitant when a streak persists.

In reality, a solid approach involves waiting with discipline until a single color has appeared more than three times straight before wagering on the opposite result.

Consider a scenario where red has hit four times in a row. Statistically, the likelihood of red appearing for a fifth consecutive time is low, making a bet on black a logical move.

Of course, the wheel has no memory, and red could easily land a fifth time, resulting in a loss. In such a predicament, the strategy would be to double down on black for the subsequent spin.

No system can promise a guaranteed win in the world of gambling; such a thing simply doesn't exist. Nevertheless, certain methods are objectively superior. Many who enter the casino hoping for a payday lack any coherent plan, letting their emotions dictate their bets while praying for a lucky break.

Alexia was undoubtedly part of that impulsive crowd. Her thirst for gambling far exceeded Silvana’s, and she seemed incapable of walking away.

Over the next thirty minutes, they participated in more than fifteen rounds of roulette, leading to disastrous consequences—at least for one person at the table.

Thud.

Alexia’s forehead slammed against the bar surface just as the bartender served her a third glass of whiskey.

"Shit! My luck is just trash! Again!" she shouted, glaring at the meager pile of chips remaining in front of her.

When Adam had first arrived, she held a million credits, represented by ten black chips. She had already burned through 1.5 million, meaning she had started her session with twenty-five of those black chips.

But now...

Clack. Clack. Clack.

Five black chips slipped through her fingers like grains of sand, clattering against the countertop.

Meanwhile, Adam checked his own stash of fifteen orange chips. Through a series of modest, successful wagers, he had increased his holdings by a few thousand, bringing his total to 15,000 credits.

Louis, opting for a quiet cup of coffee instead of liquor, merely shook his head at the display.

"Nobody forced you to triple your usual bet back there. You wouldn't be facing such a massive loss right now if you hadn't been so reckless, but there's no use crying over it now."

Alexia pouted, her cheeks puffing out like a frustrated child.

"I was positive it was going to be red! FUCK! What hurts the most isn't that it landed on black—it was that damn green 0!"

She slumped forward, hiding her face in her arms in sheer frustration.

"Why can't I have that kind of luck? Do you realize how much the house cleared on that single bet?"

Louis took a measured sip of his coffee before setting the delicate cup back onto its saucer.

"The probability was 1 in 37. Had you spent the entire session betting on zero from the moment we sat down, you would have been bankrupt before Adam and Silvana even showed up."

He turned slightly, lifting his coffee cup toward them in a mock toast of acknowledgment.

"From that perspective, your actual bets weren't the worst mistake. However, Alexia, if you don't slow down, we’re going to be completely out of chips very soon."

Surprisingly, Alexia didn't flare up at Louis for highlighting her failure. Her time at the roulette table was over; it was time for Louis to take the lead.

"First off, I still have plenty of funds. Not that I need to tell you that, considering you're the one who controls my bank account."

Adam looked over, curious.

"Oh, is he in charge of your money too?"

Alexia gave a sluggish nod. "Yeah... He doesn't just optimize our budget and make sure the mission department covers my expenses in the Dead Lands; he actually invests the surplus! Tsk, I have no clue where he puts it or what he does, and honestly, I don't care."

"Sigh, Alexia, finances are always vital. Regardless of your wealth, you must understand how to manage your capital. Even a billionaire can end up destitute if they are careless enough. It’s rare, but it happens."

Alexia appeared to tune him out completely. Her attitude toward her wealth was even more flippant than Adam’s.

"Pffft! Adam, you get where I'm coming from, right?" She turned her gaze to him. "What's the point of obsessing over interest rates and investment portfolios when I can just go out, slay a few Black Threat Monsters, and collect a multi-million credit paycheck from the government?"

Scratch. Scratch.

Adam rubbed the back of his neck, feeling the tension. He was hesitant to take a side, knowing full well that Silvana shared Louis’s disciplined view on money rather than Alexia’s gambling spirit.

"Well, I see merit in both arguments. I don't think you should totally ignore your finances, but... Alexia has a point. When you're a high-level Phantom, making a few million is relatively simple."

"Ahem," Silvana interrupted with a light cough. "Actually, if you are diligent with the tasks from the mission department, we're talking about tens or even hundreds of millions."

Louis nodded, conceding the point.

"True, both roles are necessary. Alexia handles the combat, and I ensure our capital works for us. On that note, our cafe should be ready to open in about a month."

Adam and Silvana blinked in synchronized confusion.

"Wait, what?"

A smirk played on Alexia's lips.

"Yeah, it's a little family project. Though personally, I’d have preferred opening a tavern with some real booze!"

"Hahaha," Louis laughed, glancing toward the rest of the gaming floor. "So, what's the next move? Shall we try poker or blackjack?"