Chapter 92:

Noon had arrived, and Goldenrod City's Game Corner was ready to begin its daily hustle and bustle. With its doors now open for business, a throng of eager gamblers and game fanatics, who had been waiting in anticipation for what seemed like an eternity, poured into the vibrant atmosphere of the arcade.

Despite the fact that the game corner was already making colossal profits, the shrewd manager had a clever plan to maintain its success. At the stroke of two o'clock in the morning, he made the bold decision to close the doors and only open them again at noon the following day.

The strategy was a form of cunning hunger marketing that ensured the gamblers never got their fill. If the players were allowed to indulge their every desire, they might lose interest in the future, or worse, they would lose all their cash in one go, and the game corner would be a desolate wasteland.

By controlling the opening and closing times, the manager was able to keep the customers coming back for more. Although the initial earnings would be less, the long-term results would be worth it as the game corner would continue to thrive, always bustling with activity.

At precisely five minutes before noon, a stunning sight unfolded as the eager crowd of customers gathered outside the doors of the game corner, ready to pounce on any opportunity to play. The official venue was sanctioned by the Association, and it couldn't afford to be seen as corrupt or unscrupulous in any way. The game aficionados were allowed to play, but only for a limited amount of time to maintain the prestige of the establishment.

As the doors finally opened, the air crackled with electricity as the adrenaline-fueled players rushed in. Some were so impatient and addicted that they pushed and shoved their way to the front of the line, desperate to get their hands on a game.

At the prize exchange counter, two young men with lazy appearances were sprawled out, looking like they hadn't slept in days. Their eyes lazily scanned the crowd that poured in through the doors, while their faces contorted into sleepy yawns.

Wataru, with a glimmering earring on his ear, rubbed the tears from the corner of his eyes as he spoke. "Is everything in place? I don't want any surprises."

His partner in crime eagerly replied, "Don't worry, Wataru. The machines have been adjusted, and the probability is amazing. We've even arranged for shills to lure people in. It's going to be a show!"

Wataru nodded with satisfaction, his expression conveying his approval. "I have faith in you. Keep up the good work."

These shenanigans were just part of the routine operations at the game corner. To prevent people from thinking that it was impossible to make money here, the management always arranged for a few lucky individuals to win prizes.

But the probability of winning was no accident. Specialized technicians in the background had set the odds of winning for each machine. For example, the probability of winning the first prize was one in ten thousand, while the probability of winning the second prize was one in five thousand. It was all predetermined by the game corner.

Despite this knowledge, some people still believed they were lucky and kept trying their luck. What they didn't know was that the game corner had adjusted the probability of winning on certain machines to entice them into playing.

In any case, Wataru and his partner weren't worried about losing money if someone won big. Human nature was too greedy to stop there. Those who won would always want more, and those who lost would always want to make a comeback.

But what they didn't know was that today, everything was under someone else's control.

Two hours had passed, and the game corner remained unchanged, following its daily routine with military precision. The only exception was a few scattered cheers from the winners, while most of the players cursed under their breath. Their eyes, now bloodshot and fixated on the game console, betrayed a dangerous glint. Those in the know could tell that these players were completely engrossed, almost drunk on their obsession.

"Sato, nothing to report, right?" Wataru, the young man with the glimmering earring, had just awoken from a sneaky nap and yawned as he asked.

Though Sato's eyes were also bloodshot and his dark circles were pronounced, he didn't dare to let his guard down, responding with a forced smile.

"I'm watching, Wataru. Nothing out of the ordinary. Just a lucky kid who won almost a thousand game coins. His luck is just astounding."

But the envy in his voice was palpable, tinged with a deep sourness that couldn't be concealed. It was an amount that the game corner would hardly miss, but for Sato, who had just started working, it was a king's ransom. No wonder he was consumed with envy.

"Good luck, or something more sinister?" Wataru's voice had an ominous edge, and he was immediately on alert.

Unlike Sato, who was a newcomer, Wataru had dropped out of school early to work at the game corner. The old-timers had either left or been promoted, leaving him as the sole guardian.

Years of experience had honed Wataru's intuition, and he sensed that there was something fishy going on. From Sato's words, he knew that this lucky kid wasn't one of their regulars, which made him more suspicious.

It wasn't that people at the game corner couldn't win big, but it was a rare occurrence. Many people won money, but most of them only won a few hundred game coins. Anything above a thousand game coins would attract their attention.

"He didn't win all the time, and he lost a lot too. Plus, he didn't win any major prizes, only small ones. He just got lucky." Sato hesitated for a moment before explaining.

He had seen the person who won the thousand game coins himself, and the pattern seemed natural. The player had lost eight hundred game coins before winning them back through a fourth-class prize, resulting in a modest net gain.

"Maybe it's just a moment of good luck. He's going to lose it all soon. Be careful. I'm going to take a nap. I'm so tired," Wataru said as he yawned and stretched out on the table, falling into a deep slumber.

Sato couldn't help but envy Wataru's ability to nap whenever he pleased. As a newcomer, he hoped to make a name for himself and get promoted. He gently slapped his face to stay alert, not wanting to miss a thing.

Two more hours ticked by, and Sato was drenched in sweat, his hands clasped together in a frenzy of nervousness and uncertainty.

Finally, he made a decision, clenching his teeth and shaking Wataru, who was snoring loudly next to him. "Wataru, wake up! Something's up!"

"What's going on?" Wataru grumbled, roused from his slumber. Despite being groggy, he had regained some energy after sleeping for so long.

"That lucky kid from before just won almost ten thousand game coins!" Sato exclaimed anxiously, beads of sweat still clinging to his forehead.

"What?!" Wataru's eyes widened in disbelief. Ten thousand game coins amounted to a million Pokédollars. It would take them years to earn that much with their current salary.

Although it was a drop in the ocean for the game corner, if they lost more than a million Pokédollars, it would raise suspicion and bring the supervisor's scrutiny upon them. They couldn't risk being caught and punished.

"Let's go, we need to take a look," Wataru said urgently, his adrenaline pumping.