Chapter 123: The winner of the second round

"Hey... I didn't even know you'd be here." Jena muttered, approaching Adam with slightly flushed cheeks.

Adam nodded as he looked at Trici.

"I promised my sister. I wanted a vacation myself though. I've never been to a fair before, and as I see, there's plenty to do here." Adam pointed to a table.

The show host was already laying out the playing cards, everyone got eight cards, the suits were common, but there was one special card, a dark monster with wide wings and long claws against the blue moon. This game was called Old Monster, in honor of one rather popular but simple card game, but with its own design.

One of the three players had nine cards because someone had gotten a Monster, in this case, it was Hazel. However, that didn't mean that she had a Monster because Silvana or Louis could have a Monster, even though they had eight cards each. Hazel could have all the regular cards, or maybe she was the one who ended up with the monster.

Sure, it was obvious to the audience, but not to everyone. For example, Adam had only seen Louis's cards, and a sharp glint ran through his eyes.

Jena smiled.

"Yeah. Old Monster, is a simple game anyone can play, even a child. However, that doesn't stop them from using tactics, psychology, and deception, because they can ask questions of each other. Some will tell the truth, some will cheat."

"Hmm... What are the rules?" Adam tilted his head. He hadn't played any card games before, though he'd heard of them. In the slums, various gangs had it as their only entertainment, but Adam was lucky not to be among their group.

Jena looked at him with mild interest. Such Adam's naivety attracted her. It created a contrast, between his talent and power as a Phantom and the simple young man, who was trying to get used to a simple, happy life.

After all, people without monsters were able to think of enough things capable of changing the world to entertain themselves or improve life.

"It's simple. If a player has a pair, they discard it to get cards, one player offers the other to choose a random card from their hand. The turn goes clockwise. Whoever ends up with the Monster loses. It sounds simple, but if you have someone tricky playing against you, it gets a lot more complicated." Jena quickly explained before the first move of the Old Monster began.

Louis needed to choose one of ten cards. If Hazel had the Monster, he had an 11.11% chance of picking a bad card and coming one step closer to defeat.

"Come on. How long can we wait?" Hazel frowned, not wanting to show Louis any emotion.

"Well, I just wanted to stretch the pleasure. If I choose Monster, it's going to be sad." Louis shrugged before choosing the leftmost card.

He turned it around and sighed heavily.

"Hahaha, he got the Monster right away!" Someone in the crowd exclaimed with an excited smile.

"Phew..." Jane sighed with relief, "If he had a pair, he would have won by now."

Trici glanced at her, touching her lips.

"You want him to lose?"

Jena nodded.

"Yes. He seems like a nice guy, but I'm annoyed by his sly grin."

Trici nodded, then she turned to Adam. She pointed at Jena and said:

"Brother, is that girl your wife?"

Adam and especially Jena blushed. No one would have asked them such a question even if they knew about their relationship, because it was inappropriate and tactless. However... could a child know anything about tact? Trici just asked because she felt like it, nothing more.

"Did I do something wrong...?" Trici muttered, quickly changing her gaze from Adam to Jena. Their silence was unnerving and made Trici anxious.

Tap.

Adam patted Trici on the head, watching the game.

"No. It's too early for me to get married. However, that moment comes for everyone at some point. You'll be a bride someday too, won't you?"

This time it was already Trici who blushed, lowering her head and biting her finger. Trici may not have fallen in love with anyone yet, but she knew about weddings and love from the games and books she'd read and the stories Leona told her.

"Come on. Take this one." Louis pointed to the right card.

This time Hazel decided to trust him and... it turned out to be the wrong card not giving her a pair.

Whoooosh.

Before Hazel could realize anything, Louis took her left card and collected the pair, turning out to be the second winner!

"Shit!" Hazel exclaimed angrily, realizing that she had been tricked like a child.