Damn, I recarneted As A Judge in Fantasy World

"Are you in charge of the Count Eplin gambling fraud case?" Abel asked.

"Yes, I took charge," Sears confirmed.

"It seems like you're having trouble verifying it. Would you like to go with me?"

"The investigation is almost finished," Sears replied, his tone shifting to one of reluctant confidence.

"So, did you find the stolen funds?" Abel pressed further.

"...No," Sears admitted, his confidence quickly deflating.

Abel understood his frustration. Fraud cases often left victims suffering, even after the trials concluded. It was a harsh reality of their world, one that neither justice nor conviction could always resolve.

Abel nodded his head, his expression firm.

"Until now, it would have been natural not to be able to find it, but that won't be the case anymore."

Suddenly, a memory from long ago came to mind.

At the same time, a fiery anger rose within him.

'Those vicious mortgage scammers.'

It had been a hard-earned reversal of fortune, achieved with the money he had saved by scrimping and sacrificing.

Although it was an old apartment, the sense of accomplishment had been tremendous.

But soon, despair had set in.

The real owner had shown up, surprised, and demanded they vacate the property.

Only after looking into the matter had Abel realized the truth.

He had been ensnared in a real estate fraud, and he knew there were many other victims like him.

'I never thought even the real estate agent would be in on it.'

How could he not have been fooled?

The scammers had fled overseas before being discovered, and the lost funds were never recovered.

What kind of police, Abel thought bitterly, gets outmaneuvered by a fraudulent real estate agent?

Unfortunately, it had all happened before his official appointment.

"What are you going to do?"

Corbin Sears looked puzzled, his brow furrowed in concern.

Cutting the tail of the underworld's schemes was truly masterful. Abel guessed they would throw in some low-ranking scapegoat from the organization, someone who knew nothing.

Fraud sentences were notoriously light, but Abel had no intention of letting things go that way.

He needed to recover the lost funds and bring the real culprit to justice.

"If you want to catch a tiger, you have to go into the tiger's den."

---

A ruin with a gloomy atmosphere loomed on the outskirts of Shuguri.

It was so eerie that one might wonder who would dare approach it, yet surprisingly, it attracted quite a crowd.

A large guard stood at the shabby entrance, watching as customers passed through quickly.

Corbin Sears, observing the scene from afar, shuddered slightly.

"I never thought you'd ask me to go to a private casino."

"You can't recover embezzled funds by just sitting in an office and discussing it," Abel replied firmly.

"There's no point in searching every nook and cranny of that place. The money's already been stolen, and if we can't prove it was a scam, it will only make the court and prosecution look ridiculous."

"It's okay. I don't think it's a disgrace to try and uncover the truth, even if you fail. On the contrary, the bureaucrats who do nothing should be more ashamed."

"Ahem!"

Inspector Sears coughed awkwardly, turning his head slightly as though stung by Abel's words.

The investigation into Count Eplin was being conducted based solely on surface evidence, even though Abel knew that wouldn't resolve anything.

"Let's go," Abel said, walking confidently toward the casino.

Corbin, however, hesitated.

"Why?"

"If my wife finds out I visited a casino, she'll be furious."

Oh, that damned obsession again. Judging by Corbin's intense reaction, the condition seemed quite serious.

But they couldn't turn back now.

"So you disguised yourself, didn't you? No one will recognize you like this," Abel reassured him.

They were wearing old leather armor and carrying a crossbow and a spear each. To all appearances, they looked like seasoned mercenaries.

Their faces were smeared with dust and soot to add to the illusion.

"Let's go without wasting any more time," Abel urged.

Approaching the guard at the entrance, Abel anticipated resistance.

"Wait a minute. Not everyone is allowed in here."

The expected response came.

Being a secret gambling house, the place had no choice but to screen its visitors.

However, this minor obstacle was easily surmounted.

Ting!

A gold coin traced a beautiful arc through the air before landing in the guard's palm with a clear sound.

The guard, who snatched the coin lightly, tried to suppress a grin.

"Ever seen a mercenary stuck in a neighborhood? Stop being so tight, bro."

"As expected, mercenaries know how to talk. You know the rules, right? No fighting."

"We didn't come all the way to Shuguri to cause trouble."

"Okay. But doesn't that guy look a bit clumsy?"

"That's because I'm a beginner. I'm a C-class," Abel explained casually.

"Aha! Looks like you brought him here to show him around. Go play quietly."

"Thank you."

After exchanging a fist bump with the guard, Abel walked through the entrance, maintaining his composure.

As they proceeded down the dimly lit hallway, Corbin leaned closer, his voice low.

"Your Majesty, how do you know so much about these types?"

"I've encountered them often."

Abel's familiarity with the underworld came from his time closely observing Jaren Burgess's organization in the Northern Ark.

The dynamics here were no different.

As they ventured deeper, a noisy, bustling space came into view.

Partitions separated tables, and an attendant promptly guided them to a designated spot.

"Let's start by exchanging chips," Abel suggested.

He opened the pouch at his waist, revealing its contents with a heavy thud.

Gold coins tumbled out, catching the attendant's attention.

"Are you exchanging everything?"

"Of course."

"Please move this way for now. Our staff will bring the chips shortly."

They were led to a luxurious room, soundproofed to keep out the raucous noise.

'For a criminal organization, they have good taste,' Abel thought, noting the lavish decor.

He poured himself a drink and downed it in one gulp.

"Ugh!"

Wine was not usually consumed in this manner, but Abel's disguise as a mercenary required certain sacrifices.

Fortunately, his crude behavior did not arouse suspicion among the staff.

Moments later, the attendant returned with a tray of chips.

Ting!

Abel tossed another gold coin at the man, who caught it with a pleased grin.

As the door closed, Abel strained his ears to catch the murmured conversation outside.

"A real sucker just walked in. He looks like a newbie, so let's fleece him quickly."

Corbin, overhearing this, whispered nervously, "I don't know if this is okay. You're spending too much money."

"It's fine," Abel assured him. "I'm just here to get justice."

Soon, the sliding door opened, and someone stepped inside.

"Ugh!"

Corbin gasped audibly.

The visitor was none other than Viscount Eplin.

Abel raised an eyebrow but quickly composed himself.

'This is better. Ending it quickly works for me.'

Eplin's presence here while under investigation was bold, to say the least.

Countless victims had suffered under his fraudulent schemes, Baron Lamont included.

"Are we starting with just three people?" Abel asked.

"No. More will join soon. It's no fun with too few players," Eplin replied.

Abel examined the table and the cards closely. The game resembled poker but with simplified rules—cards numbered one to ten, in red and blue.

Just as they were about to begin, a woman entered, her face hidden under heavy makeup and a wide-brimmed hat.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Judging by her demeanor, she seemed wealthy, likely a noblewoman.

"Now that everyone's here, let's get started. Waiting around will only make me drunk," she quipped, shaking a bottle of cheap wine.

But Abel noticed something unusual.

Corbin's legs were trembling.

Pretending to pat Corbin's shoulder, Abel whispered, "Calm down."

However, Corbin's next words left Abel momentarily speechless.

"The woman sitting across from me… is my wife."

No. Surely it couldn't be.

Wasn't this supposed to be just a bout of hypochondria?

What in the world was going on?

For a moment, Abel was dumbfounded when he realized that the woman sitting at the gambling table was the wife of Prosecutor Corbin Sears.

However, he didn't let his surprise show and quickly whispered something to Corbin.

"Pretend not to know her as much as possible. If you can, don't even open your mouth."

"…Yes," Corbin replied nervously.

Fortunately, their disguises were perfect. Abel had deliberately kept his shabby leather helmet on, and Corbin had a bandage wrapped around his forehead. At this point, even those closest to them wouldn't be able to recognize them.

Abel cast a quick glance at Mrs. Sears. She seemed completely uninterested in them, her attention focused entirely on the gambling table.

"When does it start?" Abel muttered quietly.

Somehow, he felt like they were being chased by time.

'I guess she's in a rush. She probably needs to get home before her husband finishes work,' Abel thought.

He suspected her hypochondria was most likely a ploy. Mrs. Sears was undoubtedly under pressure to maintain appearances and avoid raising suspicions. She likely knew Corbin wouldn't just stay home to prove his innocence if something seemed amiss.

"I will call the staff," Count Eplin said, smiling gently. He reached for the bell on the table and rang it twice.

Tinkle! Tinkle!

A neatly dressed young man entered the room almost immediately.

"Is there anyone else coming?" Count Eplin asked.

"I don't think so," the young man replied.

"Then we'll have to play among ourselves. Bring me the cards."

"Yes, sir," the man responded, disappearing briefly before returning with five decks of cards.

Count Eplin tore open one of the decks and spread the cards across the table, showing that they were untouched.

It was a clear gesture meant to prove there was no manipulation.

Mrs. Sears nodded approvingly. "That's certain. Have you checked everything too?"

Abel, quietly observing the scene, realized the question was directed at him. Before Corbin could say anything that might give them away, Abel quickly spoke up.

"Of course. The casino in Perias is known for its gentlemanly reputation. Unlike the ones further north, where they're more inclined to commit fraud."

He deliberately mumbled, trying to sound casual while masking any nervousness. His words were spoken with an air of confidence, designed to fit the part.

Count Eplin seemed intrigued by Abel's comment.

"Oh? You've been to the north?"

"I've taken on some commissions while traveling between the Northern Ark and the Northern Legion," Abel replied.

"I'm sorry to ask, but how were your earnings?"

Abel noticed the subtle undertone in the Count's question and immediately understood his intent.

'He wants to gauge how much money I have,' Abel thought.

It was a scam-like inquiry, clearly designed to assess how lucrative a target Abel might be. The Count was likely trying to determine the timing of his eventual exit from the game.

But Abel wasn't about to call him out on it. After all, he was here for a reason—to outplay these so-called elites at their own game.

'Aren't I here to make a name for myself anyway?' Abel thought with a sly smile, masking his growing anticipation.