052. Crucible - 29

052. Crucible - 29

When I arrived at the dividing line, I temporarily put aside the mysterious aims of the Greens. It didn't feel comfortable, but life had taught me that trying to handle problems before understanding them was a bad choice.

It was doubly so in a world I had yet to understand.

Instead, I focused on my more immediate problem. Where to set up my fledgling gambling operation. The general lines were obvious. I had already decided to keep an eye on the Greens, so being close to the border was a necessity. This location had other advantages, as if not inviting any gambler right into the middle of the camp.

I wanted any fight which would inevitably occur away from the center and easily contained. For that reason, I established it closer to the outer edge as well. Closer to a possible monster attack, they would act more carefully. That closeness would help me to expand my web of Charisma, continuing to gather Experience easily.

Altogether, the operation was set. I looked at the other blues. I said nothing as I drew a large circle with my halberd. "Disperse, boys. This area is going to function as a casino from now on," I declared.

My reputation among the Blues was enough that they dispersed without complaining. I didn't like acting like a brash idiot and depleting that reputation for such little gain, of course, but at this point, for good or ill, I had made a commitment to a personality, and changing it again would look suspicious.

A few orders, and people were dragging a few logs, and even set a small bonfire for people to come. I even arranged for someone to bring a cask of hard liquor. Poor judgment was the best friend of a casino, after all. Even a poor one like the one I had set up. Not the most impressive operation I had ever set, I thought as I surveyed the area. Five smaller circles, two for card games, and three for dice.

Smaller than I wanted, but probably enough for the first night. I could always expand if it brought more people.

With everything arranged, I looked around the Blues that were gathering. "Which one of you has gambling experience, preferably as a dealer," I called. None raised their hands. "There'll be two denicas payment, plus food," I added.

Suddenly, several hands jumped up. "Good, show me," I said as I passed them the decks and dice, and watched as they showed their abilities. None of them was particularly good. Any card shark would have gutted them in minutes, but luckily, I planned to stay around to make sure such a thing wouldn't happen.

Ultimately, I picked five that were the fastest to implement my offhand comments to their tricks. If I couldn't get competent, I had to make do with quick learners. Also, I made sure none of them had particularly quick fingers.

It was too early to mix the games with some house cheating.

I hired five more as muscle, just in case I had to step away for an emergency, and soon, my little gambling operation was ready to go, waiting for customers.

Customers who didn't take long to arrive. One of the dice pits was already operating for Blues when the Reds and Blacks started to arrive. A few, I even recognized from the game I had joined earlier, their smirks enthusiastic.

Understandable, because after my great 'loss' in that game, they were ready to repeat the experience. Even the cheater was here, no doubt ready to make another fortune.

Too bad I had no intention of letting him play around this time. It was not good for a casino, even a fleeting one, to fail against the cheaters, even in games where they took the money of the other players rather than the house money.Visit no(v)eLb(i)n.com for the best novel reading experience

I quickly set the rules so that only one card game and one dice game were high-stakes, while the rest played in low stakes. No need to drain people too quickly.

Even if they couldn't collect all that debt, it would still ruin my reputation. Furthermore, they could use that to push against Jehrann, damaging the Blues in the process. Not a bad plan.

Too bad I had no intention of allowing it to start. Just as the cheater started throwing. I leaned forward and grabbed his waist.

"Hey, what's going on, we're playing a game here. No need to act like a brute " the one that proposed the initial bet started.

Only to be interrupted by the distinct sound of bone breaking. I twisted the hand of the cheater, and he lost control of his hand.

Two pairs of dice spilled. "I told you, I don't like cheaters," I said with a whisper, but that was all that was needed with the sudden silence that surrounded us. Just to make a point, I grabbed the weighted dice and broke it in my grip, the embedded lead clear.

One of them reached for his dagger, trying to be sneaky. "I don't recommend it," I suggested as I turned to him. "Not unless you don't want to lose your hand permanently."

I turned back to the group. "Now, maybe I'm old and not remembering the stuff correctly," as I turned toward the cheater. "But I feel as if I had mentioned I don't like cheaters." I smiled. It was not a nice smile. "Actually, I'm pretty sure I did," I said.

Meanwhile, the cheater didn't even move.

"Answer me," I ordered.

"You did," he whimpered.

"Good. It would be sad if I misremembered stuff," I said as I leaned forward, and took both his weapon and his pouch. Then, I gestured toward one of my guards. "Throw the trash out," I ordered, watching in amusement as he was dragged away.

"Now, boys, we were just about to have a game," I said as I gathered the dice in my palm. "But since our dealer is gone, maybe it should be me that throws the dice," I said as I raised my hand, opened my palm, and pulled my sleeves. "Just to make sure I don't have any hidden dice, unlike the dealer you lot brought along," I added.

"M-maybe it's for the better if we call it a day," one that raised the bet to a thousand cut in.

"No need," I said, then smirked. "Unless you're scared, of course," I added, repeating his words.

He was scared, but also smart enough not to utter those words. "W-we can play, of course," he admitted.

"Now, feel free to check the dice, we don't want people saying that I was a cheater," I said, passing the dice to them. They checked it, although their trembling fingers made it difficult.

"Good," I said as I threw the dice, which, inevitably, ended up in my victory. I didn't need the weighted dice to throw the exact numbers I needed. Especially with all the advantages granted by my Agility.

"It seems that victory is mine, boys," I said, looking at them. "Four thousand denicas." I stopped, smiling as I gestured to my newly hired guards and dealers. "Pause the game and follow me, boys. We have some debt to gather!"