NEO ZONE
PRIVATE BAR
8:42 PM, SUNDAY

3RD PERSONS VIEW。

"Looking good, babe!" Donghyuck complimented from afar as his eyes landed on the girl in a red dress. Jaemin shoved Donghyuck, "You look great, Keiko!"

Jeno scrunched his nose, "Can you two please stop?" he fished out his black framed glasses from his coat's pocket before wearing them, pushing a small button on the side and the internal part of the glasses turned light green, showing only him a holographic identity scanner. "So she is Yun Keiko, or more like, Mikami Keiko." he approaches the girl beside Sicheng, bowing down his head a bit, "I haven't properly introduced my self, I am Jeno."

Keiko nods at him, "I know."

Jeno looked through her identity before waving at her, "It was nice to properly meet you, Keiko. I hope we get along."

Keiko shrugged, "Let's see what happens later."

Jaehyun licked his lips, a hand going over his sleek styled dark brown hair which had a few greenish blue highlights. He tugged onto the collar of his white polo before smirking at Keiko, "Mon Cherie!"

"Bitch what do you want now?" Keiko grumbled, moving away from the male who only walked closer to her. Jaehyun had a faint smile on his lips, eyes gleaming with hint of playfulness. "No need to be grumpy, Cherrie."

"Game night!" Ten yelled, holding up the cue stick in the air before pointing the end at Hendery. "I'm gonna beat you this time!"

Yangyang sat on one of the bar stools with Xiaojun next to him. The two talked normally, and sometimes Lucas and Chenle would join in their conversation.

Youngho sat in front of Yuta as they played a game of Dual Clash Poker as Kun assisted them as their dealer. Taeil watched the two play as Donghyuck sat beside him.

Taeyong was by the entrance of the private bar, sparking a conversation with Doyoung and Jisung. Jaehyun looked down to glance at his silver wristwatch before grinning, "Almost show time," he stated before darting his eyes onto Mark and Renjun. "Get to your positions, they will be arriving soon." he ordered and the two boys nodded, making their way out of the bar.

Chenle continued to eye Keiko's movement which didn't go unnoticed by Sicheng. The older boy nudged him, "Anything wrong with Keiko?"

Chenle shook his head, crossing his arms before leaning back onto the counter, "No..."

"Then what's with the stare?"

"I don't know, I'm just thinking how her life would turn out to be when we win."

Sicheng shrugged, feeling a bit saddened, "Does he really plan on killing her though?"

Jungwoo snooped into their conversation, "Who plans killing who?" he hummed, chuckling deeply before drinking a shot of vodka.

"Taeyong. Does he really plan on killing her?" Chenle repeated making Jungwoo grin back.

"Probably." Jungwoo said, and stared at Taeyong who was approaching them. "Taeyong never betrays his own words."

"Then why do all this," Sicheng frowned, gesturing to the whole gamble thing.

Jungwoo smirked before pushing himself off the counter, "To make things fun."

"Jungwoo," Taeyong called out and jabbed his thumb backwards, "you didn't invite Dasom, right?"

The latter nodded his head innocently, "You didn't want to bring her– besides what can she even do."

Taeyong pursed his lips, "Good. Mikami Keishin will arrive in a few minutes, Mark and Renjun went to escort him."

"What about Hansuke?" Jungwoo questioned.

"Hendery and Jaemin would handle him."

"And Keiko?"

Taeyong darted his eyes onto the girl who was now talking to Yangyang with an annoyed Xiaojun beside them. The corner of his lips tugged up into a smirk, "She'll be fine on her own, besides, I don't think she would want a companion."

Jungwoo rolled his eyes, "Boring."

"So, what are they going to play anyways?" Keiko asks the two boys and Xiaojun pursed his lips, looking at Youngho who was grinning after winning the game with Yuta. Yangyang looked obviously worried, with a scowl on his face he sucked in some air, "Well, knowing Taeyong and Jaehyun... they would've probably made another game by themselves."

"Do they cheat?" she raises her brow, interested to know if these mafioso bastards have their own sly cheats to these gambles. Xiaojun chuckled, "When it's necessary? But don't worry, Keiko, there won't be any cheats. Unless... your father..." he trailed off, eyeing her.

Keiko gritted her teeth, "I don't know much about him but I'm pretty sure Mikami's don't cheat."

Xiaojun smirked, "Mikami's don't, but Mikami Keishin does."

Yangyang pushed Xiaojun away before he could get on Keiko's nerves again. With a low growl, Yangyang pulled the girl from the brat in an instant. "Hey, um, I'm sorry for him. But seriously, you don't know anything about your father do you?"

Keiko shook her head, "I don't... actually."

"Well, I don't really know much, but I know who does." Yangyang's gaze fell on the main hacker of the mafia, seeing him seated on a table with a laptop in front of his face.

Jisung had his cheeks puffed as his fingers continued to type endlessly. Occasionally, he would stop to take some sips but he mainly focused onto the screen.

"They're here!" Lucas yelled and everyone scrambled to their places. Keiko strutted her way towards Jisung and gave him a little smile before standing beside him. The door opens, revealing Mark and Renjun, escorting the infamous Mikami Keishin of the Mikami Empire.

Keiko fiddled with her fingers and Jisung reached his other hand to stop her. "Are you nervous?"

She sighed, "Quite."

Jisung grabbed her hand and tried to assure her, "Kei-noona, everything will be fine."

"I'm going to lose my life, Jisung. That doesn't sound fine." she mumbled, sulking as she watched Keishin spark a conversation with Taeyong and Jaehyun. Often would they glance at the girl making her snarl at them in return.

After a few negotiations, Keishin sat down on a table as he faced the gambler of the mafia, Seo Youngho.

Youngho was more than ready to play, eyes nothing but the sense of danger, he had his mafia face on. Keishin let out a laugh, amusing Youngho, "So this is NCT's compulsive gambler, I heard lots about you. Even that downfall of yours."

Youngho remained unbothered, brows raising up he just smiled wickedly at Keishin, "My downfall wasn't as huge as yours, Keishin."

"Besides, we're not the one losing today."

"The dealer would be Qian Kun." Taeyong gestured to the oldest executive with a smile. Kun bowed at the two gamblers, a box of fresh new cards sponsored by Yun Hansuke's Gaming Corporation.

He opened the black cards, smoothly laying the cards onto the table. "Since you're a special visitor, as requested by Lee Taeyong, you will be playing the Gamble of Life, a simple and short game." he announces, catching everyone's attention. "The bet is Mikami Keiko's life and Lee Taeyong's life. If the Mikami's win, everything of Lee Taeyong will fall into the hands of the Mikami's. If the Mafia wins, everything of Mikami Keiko will fall into the hands of NCT."

Jaw and fists clenched, Keiko had her teeth gritted together upon listening to Kun's words. It was insane, that these people could go far enough as betting life just to get what they want, more specifically, a downfall of the other's life.

Calm and composed, Kun started shuffling the cards, the sound of sleek plastic cards being shuffled and stacked filled the quiet yet tense room.

"We would play a simple modified game of even or odd. There is exactly fifty two cards in a standard deck, but here, we have two unsuited jokers which we would discard, as well as the Jack, Queen, and King of each suits." Kun explained, "Each player would be given a chance to guess the cards value, if it's an even card or an odd card. The Ace card would equivalent to an odd number, which is one. We have a total of forty cards, which means forty guesses."

Keiko sighed, making her way behind the counter to get herself a drink. "What a stinky game." she mumbled.

Kun grinned at them, "But of course, there would be more to that. If you guess wrong, you'll have to face a consequence, in which you have to put something valuable at stake."

"If it comes down to a draw, we would be using the coin toss of fate."

Keishin clapped his hands, smiling at Youngho, "Well, i'd love to risk anything just to bring you down." he chortled, looking at Taeyong who raised a brow, sniggering.

Taeyong sat beside Jisung, head tilted to the side, "We have ourselves a deal, Mikami."

Youngho hummed, "Shall we start?"

The two gamblers nodded at Kun and the male raised the deck before slamming it onto the table, a vicious grin on his face, "Game on!"

—

look who had to modify a game for this hdskdjsj

-jibin