บท 173: Chapter 173: Lotus Casino
[Third Person's PoV]
As Lucian drove down the darkening road, Percy sat in the passenger seat, gripping his seatbelt so tightly his knuckles turned white. His expression was a mixture of concern and disbelief as he glanced over at Lucian. "Are you sure you know how to drive?" Percy asked cautiously, his voice tinged with doubt.
Lucian smirked, a flash of amusement dancing across his face. "Yeah, don't worry. My dad taught me."
Percy's eyes widened in disbelief, "Seriously?" he exclaimed, incredulous. "I can't imagine the God of the Underworld teaching his son how to drive!"
Annabeth, who was reclining comfortably on Lucian's lap, rolled her eyes and let out a soft sigh. "He taught you how to drive a carriage, Lucian, not a car," she pointed out dryly.
Lucian casually rested one arm on the windowsill while the other hand gripped the steering wheel. His expression was as laid-back as ever. "They are both run by horsepower, aren't they?" he replied with a mischievous grin, clearly enjoying his little joke.
Percy groaned, his eyes narrowing as he muttered under his breath, "He's going to kill us all…" He slid down into his seat, his body language radiating a mixture of resignation and unease.
As they approached a red light, Lucian brought the car to a smooth stop. A family van pulled up next to them, and the driver—a middle-aged man with tired eyes—drummed his fingers absently on the steering wheel. The man glanced to his left and did a double-take when he noticed Lucian behind the wheel with Annabeth casually perched on his lap.
Lucian, ever aware of his surroundings, caught the man's surprised gaze. Without missing a beat, he offered the man a two-finger salute, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips as the light turned green. Lucian pulled away, leaving the stunned driver staring after them in disbelief.
The hours rolled by, the sky slowly turning from dusk to night. Annabeth threw her arms into the air, letting out an exuberant shout. "Woo-hoo!" she cheered, the wind catching in her hair as the car sped along the empty road.
But as the night deepened, one by one, everyone began to succumb to exhaustion. Annabeth and Thalia eventually dozed off, leaving Lucian alone with his thoughts as he navigated the quiet streets. His mind drifted, boredom settling in as he leaned his head on his fist, his eyelids heavy. 'I wonder what would happen if I just drove off to the side…'he thought absentmindedly, but quickly shook his head, chuckling inwardly at the absurdity of the idea.
The next morning, they all awoke to the sound of the car being parked. Blinking the sleep from their eyes, they found themselves at a gas station, the car idling by a pump. Lucian was already outside, wearing a black turtleneck hoodie, one hand stuffed into his pocket while the other handled the gas pump. His face was mostly hidden by the high collar of the hoodie, giving him an enigmatic air as he stood in the cool morning light.
"Take this time to stretch your legs, use the bathroom, and grab some snacks," Lucian said, his voice calm but plain. "We've still got a long way to go."
Without argument, everyone followed his suggestion. Annabeth took charge of the snack run, heading into the gas station with a determined look, while Lucian sat against the car hood, staring blankly ahead.
Thalia approached him, crossing her arms as she leaned against the car beside him. "Why are you wearing that? It's pretty warm out," she remarked, her brow furrowed in confusion.
Lucian shrugged, a smirk playing on his lips. "Got bored last night and decided to customize my clothes to pass the time," he replied nonchalantly.
Thalia chuckled, shaking her head in amusement. "Well, let me drive this time. You need a break."
"Do you happen to have a pathfinding ability like mine?" Lucian asked, raising an eyebrow in challenge.
Thalia rolled her eyes. "Just tell me where to turn. Relax for once," she said with a smirk.
Lucian shrugged again, this time with a hint of reluctance. "If you say so."
As Annabeth returned, bags of snacks in hand, Clarisse followed closely behind her, hauling a few more bags from the gas station. Lucian hopped off the hood and gave Thalia a look. "I'm not sitting on your lap," he said flatly.
Thalia's grin widened in teasing delight. "Hehe, bummer. I was really looking forward to that part," she quipped.
With that, Lucian and Thalia swapped seats, and Annabeth eagerly reclaimed her spot on Lucian's lap. Everyone piled back into the car, with Percy making sure Grover sat in the middle seat as they prepared to continue their journey. The bag Ares had given them resting on Percy's lap.
"Is everyone good to go?" Thalia asked, her hands already on the steering wheel.
"Yes, Mom," Lucian scoffed playfully.
Thalia shot him a sharp look but didn't press the matter as she drove off. Lucian gave her directions while both he and Annabeth fed her snacks, the car cruising through the winding roads with the wind rushing past them.
---
A few hours later, the group found themselves standing in front of a towering building, the bright neon sign reading "The Lotus Casino" in bold, glowing letters. Music thumped through the walls, barely muffled as it seeped into the street.
The car's blaring music was silenced as Thalia killed the engine, the air heavy with anticipation.
"Is this the place you need to go to complete your quest?" Percy asked, slinging his bag over his shoulder and gazing up at the flashy building.
Lucian's grin widened, a spark of excitement in his eyes. "Yup."
"Are we even old enough to go inside?" Clarisse muttered as they approached the grand entrance, eyeing the neon lights warily.
Lucian pushed open the door with a carefree shrug. "Who knows?" he said, a mischievous glint in his eyes as they stepped into the casino.
(🎶🎵 Po-po-po-poker face, po-po-poker face, bam, bam, bam, bum 🎶🎵)
The interior was even more extravagant than they had expected. Neon lights flickered in every direction, casting vibrant hues across the vast gaming room. It wasn't just slot machines or Pac-Man games—there were water slides that snaked around a glass elevator, a bungee-jumping bridge, and even a climbing wall. Laser tag, virtual reality suits, and hundreds of video games lined the room, each more elaborate than the last. Kids roamed the floor, but not many, and waitstaff offered every imaginable snack.
A bellhop in a bright Hawaiian shirt greeted them with a wide smile. "Welcome to the Lotus Casino! Here's your room key, no extra charges, no tips. Go on up to the top floor, room 4000. If you need anything—bubbles for the hot tub, targets for the shooting range—just call the front desk. And here are your LotusCash cards. They work everywhere in the casino."
Percy tilted his head, confused. "When do these max out?"
The bellhop laughed. "Good one. Anyway, enjoy your stay!"
As the bellhop walked away, everyone turned to Lucian expectantly. Lucian rolled his eyes. "Why are you all staring at me? Go have fun. We've got time."
Percy and Grover let out excited cheers, high-fiving each other as they dashed off. Annabeth looked at Lucian curiously. "And what are you going to do?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
Lucian smirked, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "That's a surprise. Don't follow me," he said mysteriously before disappearing into the crowd.
Annabeth and Thalia exchanged a glance. "What do you think he's up to?" Annabeth asked, intrigued.
Thalia sighed, shaking her head. "Your guess is as good as mine, but knowing Lucian, he's probably up to no good."
…
As Lucian wandered through the crowded casino, his voice took on a playful, eerie tone as he sang softly, "Where are you~?" His eyes scanned the room, but with so many people around, it was hard to pinpoint who or what he was looking for. He let out a small sigh and shook his head.
"Yeah, no... too many people," he muttered, realizing that searching with just his eyes would take forever.
Closing his eyes, Lucian activated his clairvoyance, an ability granted to him by the Treasure Seeker potion. His vision expanded beyond his body, soaring through the casino like a phantom, darting between the patrons with ease. His sight moved swiftly, hunting for his target, until he heard a panicked voice cut through the din.
"BIANCA! WHERE ARE YOU?"
Lucian's eyes snapped open, a grin spreading across his face. Without a second thought, his body dissolved into a wisp of black smoke, gliding through the crowds like a shadowy specter. He reformed behind a boy in a brown flight jacket, quietly approaching with a mischievous smile. He tapped the boy lightly on the shoulder.
Startled, the boy turned around, revealing his obsidian hair and eyes, his bangs half-concealing his gaze. He looked up at Lucian, confused. "You're not Bianca," the boy muttered, narrowing his eyes in suspicion.
"Really? What gave it away?" Lucian replied with a playful scoff, his smirk widening.
The boy frowned. "What do you want?"
Lucian shrugged casually. "You looked lost, so I thought I'd help. I know where Bianca is. Follow me." His voice was smooth, almost too friendly, as if he had everything under control.
The boy hesitated for a second but then nodded, desperation evident in his eyes. "My name's Nico. Yours?"
"Lucian," he answered, glancing down at the kid with a sly grin.
"Cool name," Nico remarked, though his mind seemed preoccupied with other thoughts.
Lucian chuckled and ruffled Nico's hair playfully. "I like you already, Nico. Don't worry, we'll find Bianca."
Nico's expression softened slightly as he nodded. "Just... please help me find my sister."
"She's not far," Lucian assured him, his tone becoming more focused as they moved through the bustling crowd.
Within moments, they heard a frantic voice. "Nico! I told you to stop wandering off! Where did you go?"
Nico's face lit up as he shouted, "Bianca! I'm over here!"
Bianca, a young girl with striking features, hurried toward them, her face a mixture of relief and irritation. She crouched down to Nico's level, scolding him gently, "What did I say about running off on your own?"
Nico winced. "I'm sorry, jeez. But hey, I'm fine, right? I even met this cool guy. His name's Lucian." He gestured toward Lucian, who was now standing a few steps away, watching them with a pleasant smile.
Bianca looked up at Lucian, her expression softening. "Thank you for helping my brother," she said gratefully.
Lucian waved it off with a casual gesture. "Don't mention it." He crouched down beside them, meeting Bianca's eyes. His smile, however, held an edge of something darker.
Without warning, Lucian grabbed both Nico and Bianca's hands, his grip firm yet deceptively gentle. He looked at them with an affectionate smile, but something sinister flickered beneath his gaze.
"Nico... Bianca..." Lucian slowly said, his voice almost tender.
The siblings exchanged uneasy glances, attempting to pull their hands free, but Lucian's grip tightened.
"I'm going to kidnap both of you now," Lucian said calmly, his smile widening as he closed his eyes.
Both siblings stared at him, their confusion quickly turning to fear.
"W-what?" Bianca stammered, trying to yank her hand away.
"Huh?" Nico added, his voice trembling.
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