"We will see who holds the winning hand when the night ends, Lady Cassandra," Richter muttered to himself as the train sped toward the upper district lines.
The mechanical vibrations of the lower tier transit faded into a smooth, silent glide as the train ascended the grand vertical rails of Upper Aethelgard. Richter adjusted the high collar of his tailored coat, stepping out onto the pristine marble platform of the grand casino district. The air here did not smell of rusted iron or stagnant river water, instead, it carried the expensive scent of imported jasmine, roasted coffee beans, and the clean ozone of high-grade electric generators. The Radiant Casino loomed ahead like a massive mountain of polished white stone and glowing golden glass, its architecture designed to showcase the b
