Chapter 437

Chapter 437

After easily defeating Violet in poker.

I muttered to myself as I walked away from the mercenary guild.

"Is it because the hotel and casino are about to be completed that renowned gamblers are starting to come?"

Lucas, hurrying to catch up, asked me.

"Are you saying more cheats like that woman will come?"

"Violet is a member of the gambler party 'Gambler's Club.' In other words, four more are likely to come."

The high-ranking heroes I wanted to recruit for the casino-attached hotel.

One of them and the first I wanted to recruit.

The gambler party, Gambler's Club.

They were the first to take the bait.

"Good, as they come..."

I grinned.

"I'll crush them, laden them with debt, and make them my subordinates."

***

In a forest, a little distance from Crossroad, at a crossroads.

There, skillfully set up camping tents were placed around a burning campfire.

In front of the fire sat a tired-looking middle-aged man and woman, and a young boy and girl, one each.

At a glance, they looked like a regular family, but they were all glaring sharply at each other.

And for a good reason... what they held in their hands were gambling tiles.

Holding gambling tools similar to Earth's mahjong tiles, these people of all ages were scrutinizing each other, progressing in a serious game when-

"Waaaaah! This is so infuriating!"

Violet burst out.

Dressed in a neat fedora, coat, and suit, her light violet hair fluttering, she suddenly threw her hat to the ground.

The four people playing mahjong immediately brightened up.

"Violet!"RêAd lateSt chapters at novelhall.com Only

"Our leader has returned."

"How was the recon? Does Crossroad smell tasty?"

"Is it worth our while to come all the way to this backwater?"

The four people eagerly bombarded her with questions, to which Violet gritted her teeth.

"...I was fleeced."

"What?"

"I got fleeced, damn it!"

Dropping her formal speech, Violet sat down on the ground in frustration, roughly pushing back her sweat-soaked bangs.

Her words shocked the other four.

"What do you mean you got fleeced?"

"The Lord of Crossroad, that crazy Third Prince! We played a round of poker, and that man... my illusions didn't work on him at all. I was utterly defeated!"

The news of Violet's defeat surprised them all.

After all, although Violet might not be the strongest in gambling skills among the five her ability to cheat was the strongest.

That's why she was nominally the leader of this gambler party.

"I've never met a man like that before."

Violet bit her lower lip in frustration.

"He nullified my illusion in an instant and toyed with me using bluffing. It was like... like he sliced open my belly and exposed my insides?! Aaah, damn embarrassing..."

Violet, lying sprawled on the ground, screamed and flailed her arms and legs.

The other four, looking down at her, turned serious.

"Hmm, we came here thinking we could easily rob this rural city's casino..."

"If they made Violet like this. They're not ordinary, are they?"

"Isn't this serious? Should we just run away?"

"...We can't do that."

The last to speak was the youngest among them a girl with a red cloak, her hood pulled low.

"We've come too far to give up now."

As the girl spoke, the other gamblers fell silent. She continued quietly.

"I don't know how Violet's illusion was dispelled, but our four skills are still effective. If we five join forces, we can toy with any opponent."

That's why we formed the Gambler's Club.

The girl, murmuring softly, glanced at Violet.

"Right, Violet?"

As the girl sought agreement, Violet suddenly sprang up.

"Yes, of course! I might not know alone, but you... And if we move together, we can take down anyone!"

"Then it's decided. Come on, get up."

Violet hastily stood and picked up the trilby hat she had thrown on the ground, placing it back on her head.

The girl smiled thinly and gestured with her chin.

"Now, Violet. As the leader. Command us to reengage with vigor."

Snap! Snap!

Shuffling the cards in my hand, I beckoned the gamblers to take seats around me.

"Sit down, won't you? You said you'd play with me."

As if they were waiting, the five of them sat in chairs around me.

And thus, the poker game began.

***

We played poker for hours.

During that time, I won a lot.

Not because I was good, but because they let me win to keep my spirits high.

I bluffed excessively, and they fell for it. In this petty poker, I kept winning and making money.

Meanwhile, they assessed my skills. Their thoughts were obvious.

- This guy's poker skills are mediocre.

- He's addicted to bluffing. Continuously bets big on low hands.

- Reckless tactics, typical of a wealthy royal.

- Yesterday's win against Violet was just a big bluff that luckily worked.

I saw the gamblers exchanging glances. I snorted internally.

Time to really start playing.

"Ah, this is fun, so fun. It's great playing with someone new. I'm tired of playing with locals, knowing each other's style."

After another round of bluffing and scooping up the stakes with a low hand.

While shuffling the new cards, I shrugged.

"Being in this backwater, I always get the itch to play. That's why I'm building a casino... It's great to have people like you to play with before it opens."

"Your highness, aren't you getting bored?"

Just as expected.

I raised my eyebrows.

"Bored?"

"Playing for such small change. Isn't it too unexciting for someone like you?"

"Ha, you know me well. I was just getting tired of this kids' money."

"We've been playing for a long time and the tension has eased. How about we raise the stakes a bit as we start anew?"

Little by little. Gradually.

Like clothes getting wet in a drizzle, they plan to increase the stakes and strip away my wealth.

But-

"Why raise a little? Let's make a big raise."

No need for preliminaries among pros.

Let's dive into the real game, you bastards.

I gestured to the side, and there Aider appeared, grunting as he dragged a cart with a box on it. I opened the box myself.

Whoosh-!

A dazzling golden light burst from the box.

"...?!"

Gold bars.

The box was full of gold bars, each the size of a child's arm. The eyes of the five gamblers widened.

"All of you, from now on, will take turns challenging me one-on-one."

I grinned wickedly at the five of them.

"If even one of you beats me, I'll give you this whole box of gold bars."

I tapped the gold bars with my hand and glanced sharply at them.

"But if even one of you can't beat me. That is, if I smash you all."

"..."

"Your lives will be at my mercy. In other words, your lives will be mine."

Expressions of disbelief flickered across the faces of the five.

In their eyes, I probably seemed like a naive prince who had only dabbled in gambling in the Imperial Capital, now foolishly challenging professional hustlers.

I hope they keep that misconception.

I'll show them who's boss.

"How about it, will you try?"

"...Just one thing, make it clear, your highness."

Violet, swallowing dryly after looking at the gold bars, looked at me.

"After the match is over, I'm worried you might change your mind. Is this condition really valid?"

"No need to worry about that. This contract will be sealed with notarization magic. If violated, there will be a corresponding price to pay."

You thought to trap me and suck away my money.

But it's the other way around.

"So, what do you say? This is your only chance to back out, friends."

I took out a gold bar, held it in my hand, and shook it, grinning wickedly.

The one trapped isn't me...

But you, you fools.