Even Stark who had helped with the paperwork, didn't know the specific details, so how could Justin Hammer a complete outsider, possibly uncover Bayonetta identity?
Due to his subordinates incompetence, Hammer once again flew into a rage smashing a pile of random objects.
Along with this, he shifted his vengeful gaze to Shi Xiaolei, who had appeared alongside Bayonetta.
He had seen with his own eyes how Bayonetta constantly gravitated toward Shi Xiaolei, concluding they were a couple.
Believing that causing trouble for Shi Xiaolei could embarrass Bayonetta was just one factor.
Having spent his days mingling in the business world, he was also accustomed to the tactic of "picking the low-hanging fruit".
There were four people present at that time.
Among them, Happy was Stark confidant, and targeting him would easily alert Stark.
As for Rhodes, besides being "Stark close friend." he was also a colonel in the military, making him even more untouchable.
After comparing the options, Shi Xiaolei, whose background had already been investigated and who didn't seem as close to Stark, became the logical target.
Well, in a sense, Hammer anger wasn't entirely misplaced—judging by the frequency and number of interactions between Shi Xiaolei and Stark, and considering the resources and channels available to Hammer Industries.
To be fair, failing to uncover the close friendship between Shi Xiaolei and Stark was indeed their negligence.
In fact, it was precisely because of this oversight in intelligence gathering that Hammer would.
Well, that's a matter for the future, so let's not mention it now.
Arriving in Las Vegas meant that at least three-quarters of this journey had already been completed.
"We've endured plenty of hardships so far. For the remaining part of this trip, I'd like to take it easy."
"Does anyone else share my desire to rest for an extra day?"
The next morning, while everyone was gathered for morning tea, Stark spoke up.
"I'm flexible."
Pepper and Happy didn't need to be asked; they would certainly follow Stark lead.
Looking at Shi Xiaolei family seated at the left side of the round table, Rhodes expressed his stance first.
"As for me..."
Personally, he didn't mind either way, and he imagined 2B and Bayonetta wouldn't object either.
As Shi Xiaolei responded, he turned his gaze toward Kanna.
The little one was holding chopsticks, struggling somewhat awkwardly with a slippery shrimp dumpling.
Lending a hand, he picked up the dumpling and placed it on a small plate with dipping sauce.
With an indulgent tone, Shi Xiaolei asked.
"Kanna, Stark is planning to rest here for another day. What do you think?"
"Eh?"
Not understanding why her opinion was being sought, Kanna had just stuffed the dumpling into her mouth.
With puffy cheeks, she looked up, her eyes full of confusion.
"If we stay one more day, our trip to Disneyland will be delayed by a day."
"However, as a substitute, you can play here for an extra day. Which arrangement do you think is better?"
Shi Xiaolei patiently explained.
Visiting Disneyland had been a wish close to Kanna heart since the day they set out, but yesterday acrobatics, circus, and magic shows had also left a profound impression on her.
"Hmm..."
After weighing the options for quite some time, she still couldn't decide.
Kanna small face looked troubled, as if what she was eating wasn't a delicious shrimp dumpling but a mouthful of bitter medicine.
It was Stark who finally relieved the little girl of her dilemma.
"Kanna, did you know? There's a cooking competition tonight. If we stay an extra day and leave tomorrow morning... hehe, let me tell you, the chefs participating in the competition are all very skilled and make many delicious dishes. Since you love tasty food, wouldn't you like to try the masterpieces of these great chefs?"
As Stark spoke, Kanna eyes grew increasingly bright.
The swaying balance finally tipped, and the little girl excitedly raised her hand, happily exclaiming.
"I want to eat delicious food~!"
"Done deal~"
Looking at Shi Xiaolei, Stark snapped his fingers smugly.
'I haven't heard about any cooking competition today?'
'If I say there is one, then there is one. Having money means being this capricious.'
Through their eye contact, Shi Xiaolei understood exactly what was going on.
Clearly, this so-called cooking competition was an idea Stark had just come up with on the spot.
What more could he say? Shi Xiaolei could only smile helplessly, giving Stark a 'whatever makes you happy' eye-roll.
And so, the decision to delay departure by one day was settled.
He had thought there would be no further developments, but to Shi Xiaolei surprise, on the way back to their room after breakfast, Bayonetta suddenly expressed an idea.
"Hmm?"
Thinking he had misheard, Shi Xiaolei turned his head in great surprise.
Meeting Shi Xiaolei gaze, Bayonetta shrugged.
"I spend money ferociously. If I don't earn a bit more, I won't have enough to spend."
So she planned to stay longer in Las Vegas to earn more money? It seemed she was determined to use her extraordinary abilities to raid the casinos for money.
Recalling the opening CG storyline from "Bayonetta 2"
Shi Xiaolei felt a shiver down his spine and quickly abandoned any idea of refusing.
"Fine then, stay if you want to."
"Pick up a phone later so we can keep in touch. Oh, and one more thing..."
Scratching his head, Shi Xiaolei didn't forget to add a reminder.
"Don't make my moves in this hotel, go to others instead, right?"
Without Shi Xiaolei having to spell it out, Bayonetta had already grasped his meaning.
"Haha, you know, this hotel belongs to Stark."
"If it's like yesterday, where you can find other unfortunate souls, that's fine. But if you're betting against the dealer, you'd be winning Stark money... We have a good relationship with him, so it wouldn't be appropriate."
With an awkward smile, Shi Xiaolei nodded.
"Understood, I'll exercise discretion."
She said she would 'exercise discretion' but when it actually came to doing it.
True to her word, she refrained from amassing wealth at the Golden Coin, fulfilling her promise.
However, when she visited the casinos in other hotels, she wasn't nearly as courteous.
Two days later, on the day when the group left Las Vegas to continue their journey.
At 9:30 in the morning, after seeing off Shi Xiaolei and the others, half an hour later, Bayonetta appeared in another hotel casino.
Then, from 10 AM until 6 PM... from gambling tables in the main hall to high-stakes games in VIP rooms.
From slot machines, lottery machines, and roulette wheels to blackjack and Texas Hold'em.
Playing all day long, her earnings once again exceeded a hundred million.
And that wasn't the end of it.
Over the next few days, before taking a flight to Los Angeles to meet up with Shi Xiaolei and the others who had just arrived by car, Bayonetta raided seven more casinos at a rate of one or two per day, like an invading army sweeping through a village.
To put it plainly, among the "Big Eight" top-tier casinos in Las Vegas, only Stark Golden Coin was spared.
Consequently, the owners of the other seven casinos naturally misunderstood, believing Bayonetta was a "hitwoman" specifically hired by Stark to steal their business.
They were furious inside but intimidated by Stark ruthlessness.
The former owner of Golden Coin was a living example—although he had made a good profit selling the hotel, that was just a one-time deal.
Conversely, if he hadn't sold the hotel and had kept the gambling license in hand, he might have earned as much as Stark had paid him, and for much longer too.
In short, fearing that targeting Bayonetta would provoke Stark into hostile takeovers, the owners of these casinos didn't dare to make any rash moves.
How would such reactions appear in the eyes of ordinary gamblers?
She had consecutively raided so many top-tier casinos, yet no one dared to confront her.
Coupled with her superior gambling skills and luck that seemed as if Fortune herself had descended.
In just a few short days, a new urban legend emerged in Las Vegas, and Bayonetta was crowned with the title of "Queen" by thrill-seeking gamblers who loved nothing more than to watch the drama unfold.
(T/N: Like the story fellow daoist?you can read 20 chapters ahead on my P@treon [[email protected]/DaoistRongyi] Thanks for your support! 😊)