Chapter 213: Gambling Venue (2)

Gambling Venue (2)

Johanna watched the gambling table with a slightly tense face.

The saying about beginner’s luck isn’t nonexistent; rather, it’s almost like a curse.

Probability dictates that with enough numbers, it will always regress to the mean. No matter how much Texas Hold’em is a game of skill involving psychological warfare and counting, if the cards don’t come, you can’t win.

Moreover, the endgame is much more important than the early game in gambling. Players loosen up, and the bold moves that weren’t there at the beginning start to shape the game.

That’s why novices, deceived by their own luck, end up losing everything they have.

“......Hmm.”

However, as time goes on.

As the gambling continues.

Johanna becomes even more relaxed. She leans back in her chair, stretches a bit, loosens her neck, and even observes the mafia beside her.

[ Shion Ascal victory ]

Thanks to Shion Ascal’s overwhelming victories. The beginner’s luck is lasting a little, no, quite a long time.

The other players at the table are also seasoned, but when faced with a bluff, they catch on brilliantly and eat them up, and conversely, if they have high cards, they die off like phantoms.

It’s skill that surpasses luck.

[ Shion Ascal victory ]

“This is fun.”

That’s all Johanna said. The mafia executive put his hand to his forehead. It was quite a sight to behold.

“This is why gambling is interesting.”

Gambling is very honest. The greater the risk, the greater the return, and where there’s a loser, there’s a winner.

The reason Johanna chose Shion was simply because ‘his poker face is worth seeing’.

She discarded all her plans and made her last bet on Shion Ascal, and the result was.

[ Table 3 concluded ]

[ Winner: Shion Ascal ]

[ Round advancement confirmed ]

It came back as a victory. Johanna looked at the mafia beside her. To the guy who was trying to get up in a hurry, she said,

“You.”

“......”

The executive was silent. Johanna continued in a low voice.

“If I win this bet, I will make a proposal to your boss.”

Her eyes inside the mask were filled with murderous intent.

“I can settle one hundred million ren of the three hundred million ren bet with your neck.”

This was serious. There was not a hint of falsehood. If she won the bet, she would definitely take Consigliere Eri’s skull.

Looking at the man’s stiff expression, Johanna smiled thinly.

“It wouldn’t be bad for you to deliver the message to your boss directly. Be happy that I’m valuing you at one hundred million ren. Go on.”

“......You’ve only advanced to the next round so far.”

“When will you ever be worth one hundred million ren? So smile. Be grateful.”

“......Let’s see if you can make it to the finals.”

Consigliere Eri said that, but his lips were trembling. Fear had already blanched the tip of his tongue.

“We’ll have to see about that.”

Johanna waved her hand dismissively and settled back into her chair.

“I don’t think I’ll lose, though.”

* * *

The fourth preliminary round was passed without much difficulty. The psychological warfare was definitely tougher, but the cards were surprisingly good.

I was becoming somewhat confident.

It seems that the class of [Bethune], the ‘Gambler’, applies here as well.

Of course, it’s only about 2-3 cards out of a hundred that stick well, but at a professional level, even a single leaf is as significant as a building.

“Congratulations. Here’s your round ticket.”

“Thank you.”

I received the round ticket from the organizers. As soon as I stepped out of the fourth preliminary venue, a limousine approached.

Whirring—

A car twice as luxurious as the one I had arrived in, equipped with all sorts of defensive magic spells, opened its doors automatically.

“......”

Inside was Johanna. A woman with her blue hair twisted up into a bun and secured with a hairpin, wearing a fluttering silk dress.

I naturally straighten my posture.

“Come in.”

At Johanna’s invitation, I sat down. Johanna smirked and extended her hand.

It’s a rookie mistake to take her hand here.

I handed her the round 6 ticket instead. Johanna asked with satisfaction.

“How was the preliminary?”

“It wasn’t difficult.” n0ve(l)bi(n.)co/m

“Ho. Is that so?”

Johanna examined the ticket from all angles. The organizer’s seal. The anti-counterfeiting formula. Shion Ascal’s name. After thoroughly checking, she handed it back to me.

“Don’t lose it.”

“Yes.”

Then she took out a check from her inner pocket.

“Here’s your bonus.”

I accepted it while maintaining decorum. I didn’t even check the amount.

Johanna may seem like a woman obsessed with gambling, even to the point of looking like a homicidal maniac, but she values manners and etiquette.

She’s a bit different from Jade. Jade prioritizes respect towards himself over manners, but Johanna is fixated on overall demeanor.

Yet, because Johanna herself is so down-to-earth, there’s a whole truckload of people who have committed a faux pas in front of her and dropped dead on the spot.

“......You serve Zia?”

“Yes.”

Just then, the limousine started moving. I looked at the passenger seat. I could see the back of the head of the balancer ‘Beckman’.

“Are you here at this gambling table on Zia’s orders?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Have you gambled before?”

Not in this life, but in a past life, quite a lot.

“I’ve played a ghost before.”

“Ghost?”

“Yes. During the college board process...”

Ghost Hotel.

Johanna shrugged with a look of not knowing.

Zia had a connection with Sonya. Of course, they weren’t friends. Zia didn’t have friends.

However, as the ostracized youngest member from both the branch family and the main house of Libra, they shared some inexplicable common ground. They often talked when they were younger, and Zia had always highly regarded Sonya’s abilities.

“Thrown away after being used... that’s what this is.”

Therefore, this is Derek’s act of discarding after use.

Zia had anticipated this from the start. There was certainty that it would come to this.

From the moment Sonya swore loyalty to Derek.

Derek cannot contain someone like Sonya. Derek, who must own all the merit, can never truly possess Sonya.

“What was the evidence...?”

─We do not know yet. It was handled in utmost secrecy by Derek himself.

“...”

Zia wants to save her.

But if this is a direct order from Derek, Zia must not get involved.

There aren’t many people who can save her within Zia’s reach.

...Not many at all.

There is one person that comes to mind, though.

* * *

Sonya was caught. She fell into a trap. The news was immediately disseminated through the Libra phones.

[ An investigation by Sonnet Revil and the Libra Disciplinary Committee is scheduled to proceed. ]

I looked at my Libra phone from the dormitory of the Knight Academy.

[ The disciplinary committee will consist of four direct members of Libra. ]

It went as expected.

The convening of the Libra Disciplinary Committee meant that, at the very least, her life would be spared.

It was probably about maintaining appearances.

I put down the Libra phone.

“It’s over.”

Can I now become Zia’s second-in-command?

Ding─

The Libra phone rang again.

I looked at the message.

[ Chaser Shion Ascal has been selected for the internal investigation team of the disciplinary committee. ]

[ You are commanded to investigate the truth and authenticity of Sonnet Revil’s case. ]

“...Why me all of a sudden?”

I was dumbfounded.

...

The disciplinary committee in charge of Sonnet Revil’s punishment was selected to be the four direct members.

Even if from a branch family, she still has Libra’s blood in her veins.

Of course, the direct members were very busy, so they substituted physical meetings with video calls.

─Sonya will not be allowed to remain in Libra.

Derek argued for Sonya to be stripped of her title and permanently exiled, but Johanna demanded for a more thorough investigation.

─To cast out a collateral relative who has been loyal to you for so long. That’s just like you, Derek. So fucking annoying.

─Loyalty? Johanna, do you see loyalty in this letter?

On the other hand, Jade seemed uninterested. Instead, during the meeting, he proudly presented a report on his extreme mana stone and showed off the accounting analysis of this quarter’s profits...

It seemed he was in a good mood because his business was doing well.

─Use your eyes and see for yourself. This is the letter she exchanged with Aventagher.

Derek showed Johanna the letter. Johanna retorted sarcastically.

─What about the possibility of forgery?

─None. The handwriting can be forged, but the content of that letter contained information only an insider would know.

─Hmm. So there was a faction within Libra trying to set up this collateral relative. Was her achievement too great? Are you jealous? Since most of your achievements came from Sonya’s brain.

─...Johanna. Have you lost your mind?

Johanna was simply picking on Derek because she thought he was a dick, and Derek, knowing this better than anyone, was getting his blood pressure up.

─Lost my mind? I’m simply asking for a proper investigation. Not some half-assed investigation, but one that goes through a proper verification process. Not some shoddy method like showing off a letter.

Johanna, who knew better than anyone how to provoke Derek, grinned, showing her teeth.

─You fucking bitch.

Derek finally lost his temper.

─Don’t meddle. It’s my business. Since she was under me, I’ll handle it myself.

─Dear brother. Even before she was under you, she is our cousin with Libra’s blood.”

Derek and Johanna glared at each other through the screen, engaging in a silent battle of wills.

Zia had been quietly blinking up until that point, her lips sealed.

Suddenly, Jade spoke.

─...I wonder how many years the trend for high-priced mana stones will last. The price of the extreme mana stone will inflate two to three times more than it is now.

─Jade, just shut up. Write your monologues in your diary.

─Brother, why don’t you take a look?

Jade forcibly broadcasted the report written by his subordinate onto the screen, sticking it in front of the camera.

Derek let out a deep sigh.

─...Fine. Let’s say we go with Johanna’s fucking suggestion and investigate. Then who will do it? I don’t want to trust you, and you can’t trust me, can you?

Jade interjected.

─Brother, I don’t have time for investigations. I’m too busy with business trips because of the extreme mana stone these days.

─...I see, I’m envious.

─At last, you’re being honest.

Jade leaned back in his chair with satisfaction.

─So...

Derek looked at the youngest on the screen. Johanna’s gaze naturally followed.

─Yeah, Zia.

Zia trembled slightly, but she had expected it to come to this as soon as Derek and Johanna started their parallel arguments.

Johanna asked Zia.

─Zia, do you have someone suitable under your command to investigate the truth?

On the other hand, Derek seemed to doubt not only Zia but also the competence of her entire team.

─There’s no way.

“I do.”

Zia quickly responded. Derek frowned, and a mischievous smile appeared on Johanna’s lips.

─Who is it?

At Derek’s question, Zia cautiously called out the name.

“Shion... Ascal.”