The lucky wheel had one hundred slots, each marked with a number. On the side, various prizes were displayed. The first prize was tied to number 25—a full year of free desserts from the city's most famous patisserie.
The moment Joshua saw that reward, everything else vanished from his sight. His eyes practically sparkled with light.
The female staff member beside the booth smiled brightly. "All you have to do is spin the wheel! If it lands on a winning number, the prize is yours. Simple, right?"
Joshua nodded eagerly. The staff member added a polite warning, "Each spin costs 500 parallel, though we can't guarantee you'll win..."
Because the price was high and the odds low, many players had gotten frustrated—some even angry enough to make a scene.
Although the employee couldn't see the young man's face under his mask, something about him didn't seem like the type to cause trouble. Still, she followed protocol and gave her standard warning.
Nine shouted in Joshua's mind:
