Ultimate Cash System
Chapter 151: Manga Cafe.

Chapter 151: Manga Cafe.

Lukas woke up the next morning feeling surprisingly fresh and light on his feet. The deep rest and quick workout from the day before had cleared his mind completely, leaving him calm, focused, and ready for whatever came next. He lay there for a few moments, listening to the distant hum of the hotel’s air conditioning and the faint sounds of the city stirring awake outside his window. Slowly, he stretched each limb under the soft sheets, rolling his shoulders and arching his back until every muscle felt loose and relaxed.

When he finally sat up, he reached across the nightstand and tapped the phone. Within minutes, a tray bearing fluffy scrambled eggs, golden toast, ripe fruit, and a tall glass of fresh-squeezed juice appeared. Lukas ate deliberately, savoring the warm eggs and tangy juice as he planned his day in his mind. The simple pleasure of a good meal reminded him how much small details mattered.

Once he’d finished every last bite, Lukas returned to the phone and dialed Ichigo’s number. His fingers tapped the handset in a confident rhythm as he waited. "Mr. Lukas, I was just on my way. We’ve prepared everything to your liking, and I will be there shortly," Ichigo’s polite voice said, full of upbeat assurance.

"Very well, then," Lukas replied smoothly. "I’ll be waiting in my suite. Also, please bring Yaho with you—I enjoy her company." He pictured her quick smile and easy confidence, and it made him grin. After hanging up, he leaned back in the chair, letting the soft morning light warm his face. With his body rested, his mind refreshed, and his allies on the way, Lukas felt ready to tackle the day’s challenges head‑on.

After a short wait, the doorbell chimed softly, announcing Ichigo’s arrival. Lukas rose swiftly from the chair and walked down the hallway to open the door. Ichigo stood there in a perfectly tailored suit, bowing with the kind of precise politeness that spoke of both training and respect. Lukas offered a brief nod, then stepped aside to let him enter. Ichigo paused in the entryway until Lukas returned to his seat, his posture calm and confident.

With a courteous smile, Ichigo reached into his jacket pocket and drew out a sleek black card. He placed it gently on the small table in front of Lukas. "Sir, this card has a total limit of 1,500,000,000 Yen," Ichigo explained clearly. "You may now hand me your cash and check, and I will manage all the transactions from here."

Trusting Ichigo implicitly—after all, Henry’s recommendation carried weight—Lukas stood and went into the bedroom. He returned moments later with a thick stack of crisp bills, complete with the system‑generated pay stub, and his leather‑bound checkbook. He laid ten million dollars in neatly ordered bills and a four‑million‑dollar check on the table. Ichigo accepted both with practiced grace, sliding them into a fine leather folder.

"Sir, the password for this card is 9956," Ichigo continued, counting the bills in plain view. "It belongs to our chairman, who was pleased to lend it to you. It offers unlimited spending capabilities." The slow, deliberate count reassured Lukas that there would be no mistakes.

Just as Ichigo finished, another knock sounded at the door. Lukas motioned for Ichigo to stay seated and crossed the room to open it. Yaho stood there, one hand on her knee and her breath coming in quick, shallow gasps—proof of the effort she’d made to be here without delay.

"You ran here?" Lukas teased gently, his voice warm with amusement.

"You did it on purpose,"

Yaho said, she was a little angry but she could hardly do anything about it as one was her current boss and another will be he boss next if he was telling the truth.

After Yaho finally stepped fully inside the suite, she came to an abrupt halt and froze in her tracks. Her eyes widened as she took in the sight before her: waves of cash—stack upon neat stack—spread out across the plush couch. The sheer volume of money made her heart skip a beat. Ichigo, standing a few feet away, remained focused and unhurried, methodically counting each stack of bills with calm, deliberate precision. His steady movements and quiet concentration only heightened the surreal atmosphere of the room.

Yaho pressed her fingers to her lips and bit her lower lip softly, realizing in that instant that Lukas hadn’t been exaggerating or playing a joke. He truly meant every word—he intended to gamble every single yen laid out before them. The thought of risking such an enormous sum made her stomach flutter, but she also felt a spark of excitement at the boldness of his plan.

Lukas watched Yaho’s reaction with a small, confident smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. He stood a few paces from the table, his posture relaxed yet purposeful. His eyes met hers as he spoke in a calm, steady voice, "I’ll spend it all. Mr. Ichigo, please arrange a venue where I can place such a large bet." The certainty in his tone left no room for doubt—he was serious about this.

At those words, Ichigo gave a polite nod and finally set aside his counting tray. He reached for his sleek leather briefcase, carefully slipping each stack of bills back inside. Once the last bundle of Dollar was secured, he closed the briefcase with a soft click. Tilting his head slightly, he confirmed with Lukas, "Yes, sir. We’ve arranged an invitation to the Sannin Horse Racing event today. It’s an exclusive, invite‑only gathering where only a select few ever gain entry. You’ll be free to gamble as much as you wish, but please remember this one rule: do not argue with anyone. Many powerful figures and mafia bosses will be in attendance, and tensions can rise quickly." His measured warning underscored the seriousness of the place.

With his instructions delivered, Ichigo bowed deeply, briefcase in hand, showing the utmost respect before turning toward the door. Lukas let the bow linger for a moment, then raised an eyebrow at the departing figure. He watched Ichigo’s footsteps fade down the corridor, the soft click of polished shoes on the floor marking each step.

Lukas then shifted his gaze back to Yaho, who remained standing near the door, still processing the enormity of what had just happened. With a gentle, almost habitual courtesy, Lukas asked, "You’re not going to eat anything?" His tone was warm, reflecting his adherence to Japanese hospitality—he wanted to make sure his guest was comfortable before they moved on to the next stage of the day’s plan.

Yaho took a steadying breath and blinked, coming fully back to the present. She gave a small shake of her head, a wry smile forming on her lips as she acknowledged the question. In that moment, she realized that there would be plenty of time for food later—right now, she wanted to see what would Lukas do with such amount of money.

Lukas smiled and walked out beside Yaho, enjoying the warm morning air. Today, he decided, they would first visit a manga café—a quiet place he’d wanted to try for some time. After that, he planned to head to the exclusive betting venue and gamble away the rest of his money. The idea of a peaceful hour surrounded by colorful comics felt like the perfect way to clear his mind before the high‑stakes excitement that awaited him later.

The manga café was just a short walk from the hotel, and Yaho led the way with confident steps. Lukas guessed she must spend a lot of time here, given how easily she navigated the narrow streets and side alleys. He knew Japanese manga cafés had a reputation for cleanliness, which appealed to him—while he wasn’t a strict clean freak, he disliked entering most public places because they tended to be grubby and poorly maintained. But following Yaho’s lead, he felt reassured that this spot would meet his standards.

When they arrived, Lukas was pleased to see a sparkling glass entrance and tidy signage. They reserved a private booth, and Yaho immediately dove into the shelves, returning with ten different volumes cradled in both arms. Lukas picked up three titles less forcefully—One Piece, Sand Land, and Love Hina. He chose Love Hina specifically because he enjoyed a lighthearted harem manga now and then, and he looked forward to a relaxed reading session before the day’s real action began.

After reading quietly for some time, Lukas stood up and made his way back to the counter. He asked the attendant for every volume available of One Piece and Love Hina — he wanted to dive deeper into those worlds. The man behind the counter looked to be around thirty years old, with a friendly smile and bright eyes. As Lukas handed over his room number, the cashier gave him a knowing wink and slid another manga across the glass. It was Kurohime, a title Lukas hadn’t expected but was eager to explore.

Accepting the unexpected gift, Lukas simply nodded thanks, tucked Kurohime under his arm, and returned to his suite. When he opened the door, he found the room quiet and empty—Yaho wasn’t there. The sudden hush made him pause in the doorway, wondering where she had gone for a moment.

He settled onto the edge of the bed and opened Kurohime, flipping through the first few pages. The artwork was sharp, the story instantly gripping. Lukas leaned back against the pillows, already planning to hunt down the second volume as soon as possible. Just as he reached for his phone to check availability, Yaho appeared in the doorway, carrying two steaming bowls of ramen. "Complimentary," she said with a grin—the café’s small gift to make their reading session even better.