บท 141: The Apostle

"Huh? Where…?" I awakened to find myself seated at a poker table, my senses dulled and my memories spotty. The room appeared hazy, with colors blending together, and sounds muffled as if I were in a dream. Across from me sat the dark figure with the golden mask.

"I'm glad you're up again," he said in a strange voice, smooth, and melodic but resembling nails scraping on a board.

His features were sharp and commanding, his eyes a mesmerizing shade of crimson that seemed to pierce through my foggy consciousness. Dressed in impeccably tailored attire that hinted at immense wealth and power, he exuded an aura of dark charm.

The man with the golden mask leaned in.

"Let's play a game of cards, I'll bet you the casino and the girl you seem to like," his voice smooth and persuasive, tempting me. What he proposed was enticing, promising a prize beyond imagination. Despite the warning bells ringing in the back of my mind, I couldn't resist the allure of the game.