Chapter 72.

Seven-card stud had a simple set of rules .

At the beginning of the game, players were each dealt three cards by the dealer . Each player would then choose one of those three cards to reveal while keeping the other two hidden .

Then, players would begin betting, with dealers providing each player with a new open card . When the number of cards became seven, the betting would stop .

Players who were still in the round would show their hands, and the person with the best hand would win .

“This bastard really won’t look at his hand until the end… Look at your hand for god’s sake! How can you be so confident?”

“You’ll read my face if I do . I’m not confident in maintaining a poker face . ”

The bald guy sitting next to me kept pestering me . However, I only glared at Bert . To be exact, I was glaring at the bracelet on his left wrist .

An obsidian bracelet with black luster .

That was an artifact Bert obtained through one of his scams . However, Bert didn’t know that it was an artifact, yet .

Rather than Bert’s money, I wanted his bracelet .

Currently, we were in our twelfth round of poker .

Chae Nayun was still in the negative, while my chips had multiplied to 60 million won .

“…Tsk . ”

Bert was angry, understandably so . I would be angry too if a random kid suddenly barged in on my scheme and took 50 million won .

However, Bert currently had the best hand . Five cards had already been dealt, so there were two cards left until we would show our hands . If Bert got an ace, he would complete an ace-high full house .

“Next hand . ”

The dealer dealt the sixth round of cards .

Bert got an ace of hearts .

He had completed his ace-high full house .

The chances of getting an ace-high full house were 0 . 144% . It was a hand that normally didn’t lose as the only hands that won against it were four of a kind, straight flush, or royal flush . The chances of getting a four of a kind when someone else had a full house was even lower than winning a lottery .

However, there wasn’t even a single movement in Bert’s facial muscles . Since I couldn’t tell even with my heightened perception, it was safe to say he had a perfect poker face .

“…Hm . ”

But I was fine .

My luck led the situation to my advantage . If I had a four of a kind and my opponent had no hand, I would be unlucky as my opponent would just fold .

The opponent having a full house was the perfect trap .

That said, my four of a kind was still incomplete .

In my hands were the deuce of diamonds, deuce of hearts, and deuce of clubs . I was still missing the deuce of spades .

However, I trusted my luck .

“Call”

Bert made his bet, maintaining his calm .

“I raise!”

The bald man increased the pot size with a terrible hand . I wasn’t sure what happened, but he must have received Bert’s sign somehow .

“Call . ”

Chae Nayun also called carefully .

…She really was terrible at this game .

In any case, I also called just like Bert wanted . In this seven-card stud table, the maximum betting limit was 500 million won . Although I made quite a bit, I was still short stacked compared to the other more rich players on the table . With that last call, I had gone all-in .

“Here’s the final hidden card . ”

Deuce of Spades .

My four of a kind was complete .

“Ah, kid, you already went all-in, so you can’t bet anymore, huh . ”

Just like Bert said, I was out of money . There was still a round of betting left .

Bert asked casually .

“Why don’t you bet that ring on your finger instead?”

Bert noticed that the ring on my finger wasn’t an ordinary ring . As expected of a scammer, he had good eyesight .

“What!?”

However, the one who reacted fiercely wasn’t me, but Chae Nayun .

“Is this guy crazy!? Hey, let’s just leave!”

“…What, the game isn’t even over yet . Just stay put . ”

“It’s fine, I’ll give you the money you would have lost—”

“Just sit . ”

What’s up with her? I grabbed Chae Nayun’s wrist and made her sit .

“Fine, I’ll bet this priceless ring, so you bet that too . ”

I pulled my ring out and placed it on the table . Then, I pointed at the obsidian bracelet on Bert’s left wrist .

After thinking about it for a moment, Bert took his bracelet off .

“Deal . ”

Then, Chae Nayun whispered into my ear with a worried face .

“Hey, are you really okay with that? That’s your family keepsake—”

“I won’t lose, so just stay still . I would have folded if I didn’t stand a chance . ”

I didn’t even hear what Chae Nayun was saying .

“Now then . ”

The pot size was 300 million won, but the real value of the pot was much higher with two artifacts on the line .

“What will the others bet?”

When I asked, Bert’s teammates immediately folded .

“…I also fold . ”

With that, Chae Nayun also fell silent .

Only Bert and I were left in the pot .

“Then shall we show our hands?”

“Sure . ”

“I’ll go first . ”

Bert revealed his hand, ace-high full house .

“Full house?”

Chae Nayun’s face stiffened . For some reason, she seemed to care more about the outcome of this match than me .

“Haha, sorry, kid . ”

Bert grinned and moved to sweep the chips to his side . It was the stereotypical scene of someone about to lose .

“Hold on, I haven’t revealed my hand yet . ”

“…What?”

Just like what victors would do in gambling movies, I grabbed the loser’s wrist and stopped him from sweeping the chips away . Then, I slowly revealed my hands .

Four cards, all with the number 2, showed up .

“Four of a kind . It’s my victory . ”

Immediately, Bert’s expression darkened .

Chae Nayun cusped her hands and shouted .

“Wow! A four of a kind! H-How!?”

Chae Nayun’s hair stood on ends, as did mine . Although I already knew I would win, winning brought a great sense of ecstasy .

**

Just as I expected, Bert made a big scene, calling me a scammer . However, Chae Nayun subdued him before the security guards could even arrive, and I grabbed all the chips along with his obsidian bracelet .

===

[Athenian Citizen’s Obsidian Bracelet] [Magic Artifiact]

A bracelet with magic seals .

—Shock Absorption & Automatic Recharge

*When its wearer receives damage, some of it is converted into magic power and stored in the bracelet .

*Slowly charges magic power when exposed to air .

===

Although this bracelet could store magic power, the wearer couldn’t use it directly as the magic power would only linger inside the bracelet . This was the reason that Bert wouldn’t realize the true worth of this bracelet until a year later . Of course, that was in the original story . Now that the bracelet was in my hands, he would never find out about its true worth .

Then how could this bracelet be used?

It was simple . You just had to engrave another magic seal into the bracelet .

This bracelet could store up to four magic seals . For now, I planned to put seals that enhanced my physical body .

“…What were you going to do if you lost?”

Chae Nayun, who was walking next to me, suddenly asked .

“Jump off a bridge . ”

I meant it to be a joke, but Chae Nayun made a serious face .

“…Don’t say that . You have to live your life to the fullest . ”

It was surprising to see her say something like that in such a serious tone .

“What is it all of the sudden? What, you want your money back?”

Of the 300 million I won, 100 million belonged to Chae Nayun .

“No, you use it . You won it fair and square . I’ll consider it a lesson fee . I won’t gamble ever again . ”

Chae Nayun walked forward while grumbling . It seemed she planned to leave the casino .

“Oh, by the way . ”

Then, she suddenly came to stop and turned around to face me . After hesitating for a moment, she spoke abruptly .

“You were pretty cool today . ”

With that, she turned back and left the casino .

“…I guess I was . ”

Of course, I had no plans to leave yet .

Standing in the middle of the casino floor, I breathed in the heated atmosphere’s air .

Trrrrr—

The sound of a spinning roulette struck my ears .

I could hear people screaming at a baccarat table .

Slot machines tempted people with their addictive tune .

The laughter of dealers rang out, and tables were stacked with chips and cards .

Casino, where the fate of fortune was decided by luck .

Here, I was king .

“… . ”

I clenched my fists and chose my target .

First was the roulette .

I walked up with heavy steps and put down 100 million won .

“1 to 12 . ”

Spectators gave me curious glances .

Chweek— The roulette spun .

Its destination – the number 12 .

“Oooh!”

Spectators and players cheered as my money became 130 million won . A confident smile emerged on my face .

After that, I tried all sorts of games .

Blackjack .

Indian Poker .

Baccarat .

Texas Hold’em .

Even Go-Stop .

Every time I moved to a new table, my money multiplied like a colony of bacteria .

**

6:10 P . M . , 50 minutes before the start of the event, it was time for the traveling club’s members to meet .

Other than Kim Hajin, everyone was waiting at the appointed location .

“Ah, Hajin is here . ”

Kim Suho spoke, pointing in the distance .

“Finally, why is he always la…”

Chae Nayun couldn’t finish her sentence .

Kim Hajin had changed significantly compared to a few hours ago .

His shaggy hair was brushed up neatly, and he had changed out of his cadet uniform and was now wearing a brand name suit . With his luxury dress shoes making him 6 centimeters taller, he walked up, exuding confidence .

“… . ”

“… . ”

“Oh, Kim Hajin! What happened?”

Chae Nayun and Yoo Yeonha stood in a daze with their mouths half-open, and Kim Suho asked with a surprised face . Kim Hajin grinned . His white teeth glistened under the sunlight .

Dumbstruck, Chae Nayun asked .

“What, did you get your teeth whitened too?”

“Hm? Ah, something like that . ”

It happened at an antique shop . Using his laptop, Kim Hajin checked whether there were any useful items, and then he found a ‘300-year-old toothbrush’ which supposedly raised the charm stat by 0 . 01 points . The increase in charm came from having his teeth cleaned, which included teeth whitening .

“Your clothes… did you buy them…?”

“Yeah . ”

Yoo Yeonha and Chae Nayun scanned him from top to bottom . Feeling confident, Kim Hajin crossed his arms and even put on sunglasses .

At that moment, a soft, silvery voice rang out .

“Oh, who’s this?”

The group turned to the direction of the voice .

There, we saw Kim Junwoo, a hunter of the ‘Vast Expanse’ .

“Chae Nayun?”

Kim Junwoo looked at Chae Nayun and waved his hand . Chae Nayun’s eyes widened .

“Ah! Why are you here, Oppa!?”

“Nothing much, just hanging out . ”

Kim Junwoo scratched his head and smiled modestly . Then, Yoo Yeonha approached him with her eyes flashing .

“Could you be… Kim Junwoo from the Vast Expanse?”

“Yup, that’s me . It looks like my name is still worth something, haha . ”

“It’s nice to meet you . ”

Yoo Yeonha shook hands with Kim Junwoo . Then, Kim Junwoo turned towards Kim Hajin, seemingly recognizing him .

“Ah! You’re the kid who was making bank at the casino! You were Nayun’s friend? Nice to meet you, man . I’m jealous, I only lost money . ”

“Making bank…?”

Chae Nayun, Yoo Yeonha, and Kim Suho tilted their heads simultaneously .

“Yeah, I think he made around… 2 billion?”

“““2 BILLION!?!?”””

The three of them shouted at the same time . Even to Yoo Yeonha and Chae Nayun, 2 billion won was a lot of money .

Kim Junwoo rubbed his chin and spoke .

“I think so . A bunch of big guys in suits dragged him out after a while . ”

“They didn’t drag me out . They gave me a key to the hotel’s best suite and even guided me there . To take a break . ”

“Oh, is that what happened?”

Hearing Kim Hajin, Kim Junwoo nodded with a smile . Then, he glanced at Kim Suho . Chuckling like an old man, he whispered into Chae Nayun’s ear .

“Who’s he? Your boyfriend?”

“W-What are you talking about?”

Chae Nayun glanced at Kim Suho, then glanced at Kim Hajin .

“He’s not . ”

Seeing Chae Nayun’s eyes, Kim Junwoo made a mischievous smile .

“Don’t tell me, you’re hunting two rabbits at the same time?”

“W-What are you talking about!?”

“Polyandry should be okay for someone like you, Na— Uk!”

“Stop!”

Chae Nayun struck Kim Junwoo’s solar plexus with her elbow . Kim Junwoo held his stomach exaggeratedly and yelled surrender .

…Meanwhile, there was a man who was watching the rowdy scene in hiding .

Evil Society’s ‘Bermund’ .

His strength was around the middle of the pack in everyone attending today’s event .

“From the looks of it, Kim Junwoo doesn’t know about the details . Yes, I’ll join up soon . ”

Finishing his report, he turned back .

“…!”

But as soon as he turned around, he saw a woman enveloped in darkness . Immediately, Bermund became breathless .

Long black hair, deep dark eyes . Her murky eyes seemed to be devouring him .

Staring at Bermund, the woman called someone .

“Jain . ”

“Yeah, I’m here . ”

Another woman appeared beside her .

At that moment, Bermund felt his death .

**

Same time .

A limousine stopped in front of the Thames River’s opening leading to Clancy Islet .

Countless reporters and cameras were concentrated around the limousine, and the door of the limousine then opened .

From inside, a long, beautiful white leg appeared .

The woman who got out of the limousine was Rachel, wearing a silver dress .

The princess and pride of England .

When she appeared, the flashes of the reporters busily flickered .

“Do you have any thoughts on tonight’s event?”

“According to the rumors, you lost Cube’s rank 1 theory spot . Do you have any comments on the matter?”

Responding with a smile, Rachel continued to walk . Although she wasn’t accustomed to wearing high heels yet, her steps were more perfect and beautiful than a model’s .

Arriving in front of the Portal, Rachel met a businessman .

“Thank you very much for personally visiting us today, Princess . ”

He was Zelen, the CEO of the multinational ‘Roton Corporation’ .

Today, in Clancy Islet’s Clancy Hall, he would personally reveal how to effectively utilize the [White Crystal], in which tens of thousands of magic power were concentrated .

Furthermore, Roton Corporation had asked the English Royal Court to attend to heighten the formality of the presentation . As Roton Corporation was the greatest sponsor of the English Royal Court guild, Rachel couldn’t refuse their request .

“Have you increased security for the event?”

Rachel asked Zelen .

“Haha, of course . ”

There was always the potential of Djinns or bandits interfering . Because of it, events of this scale rarely happened . However, Roton did not want to give up on the stock price increase and other astronomical profits they could make from this announcement .

Of course, they made thorough preparations for potential threats . They chose ‘Clancy Islet’ as their venue, which was arguably the safest place in Europe, and hired numerous mercenaries, and even lobbied the Hero Associations to have high-rank Heroes dispatched .

“You can look forward to it, Princess . ”

Zelen’s eyes scanned her .

Rachel did not like his lustful, snake-like eyes .

“As the biggest sponsor of the Royal Court guild, Roton will promise to elevate the guild’s status . ”

**

Clancy Islet’s largest luxury hall, ‘Clancy Hall’ .

There was still thirty minutes left until the event started, but the place was filled with people . Adorned in luxurious clothes, they were all members of the upper class .

However… I didn’t lose out to anyone in terms of luxuriousness .

300 million won suit – it was so expensive because it was a Cloth Armor – and a partial artifact jacket .

It was enough to make me look like an Asian millionaire .

“Mm . ”

Sitting alone in a cool posture, I looked around the hall .

Yoo Yeonha was busy trying to build connections, and Chae Nayun went to the bathroom saying she needed to take a dump .

“You’re here too . ”

At that moment, someone’s voice rang out from behind me . I turned around .

The boss of the Chameleon Troupe, currently ‘Li Xiaopeng’, was there .

“Oh, you came too, Xiaopeng-ssi . ”

“Right . As a Hero in charge of guarding… what bullshit . “

However, Boss suddenly stopped cursed in the middle of talking .

I understood why .

I had also heard what Jain whispered in her ear . It was thanks to my Gift, Observation and Reading .

—You finally met your crush, Boss . Congratulations .

“Kuhum . Kuhum . ”

A dry cough came out of my throat .

“Ah, s-sorry . My colleague was saying something strange through my earphone… . ”

Boss made an excuse, tapping on the earphone in her ear .

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