"Why should we trust you?" Valthorn, the leader of that gathering garrison, asked the outsider.
"Because I can choose to spare you when I go to kill your lord." Kaizen declared, looking serious.
"Bastard!!!" One of the elves pulled his sword out of its sheath and swung it in Kaizen's direction. "Don't talk about the lord with your filthy mouth!!!"
However, just like the moment before, the elf suddenly stopped centimetres away from touching Kaizen.
"I swear that if any more of you try to attack me, the brains of all of you will explode in your skulls and drip out of your ears."
The dark elves' eyes sparked with anger at Kaizen's declaration, but no one else acted. On the contrary, the other dark elves backed away, fearful of death. It was clear that Kaizen was powerful, very powerful. The atmosphere in the tavern became tense, as if the slightest movement could trigger an explosion.
"You dare threaten the Lord in his own domain? You're meddling in matters that don't concern you, outsider!" Volthorn cursed, his hand clenched around the hilt of the sword that rested next to the large chair he sat in.
Kaizen remained impassive. He placed one hand on the mug on the counter. "I'm not threatening anyone, I've just been honest. That's why I want to take part in this game. The choice is yours."
The dark elves exchanged hostile glances, but the mysterious energy that had prevented them from touching Kaizen still hung in the air, thwarting any attempt at direct action against him. Valthorn, although sceptical, realised that the outsider possessed an unusual ability and decided to accept the proposal, even if it meant keeping his men alive.
"All right, stranger. If you wish to take part, so be it. But it's not fair that we're all offering you something and you're offering nothing but threats," warned Valthorn and looked at the dwarf sitting next to him.
"All right, stranger. We accept your offer," declared Valthorn, straightening up in his chair. "But what kind of game do you propose?"
Kaizen smiled, pleased with the acceptance. "It won't be a simple game of dice like you proposed for the respectable dwarf. I propose something more challenging, a test of skill and cunning. Something that will separate the weak from the strong."
Valthorn frowned, but nodded, curious. "Go on..."
Kaizen looked around the tavern before moving closer to the table. He took out a pack of cards from his inventory and began to shuffle them skilfully. "It will be a card game, but not just any card game. A challenge of bluffing and strategy. The winner will get the Night Sword as a prize and all the supplies. There's no tie, just three rounds to decide.
If we each tie with a round won, we'll have a fourth round to declare the winner, but I doubt we'll get that far."
The dark elves and dwarves looked at each other. The tension-filled air was now turning to anticipation.
"Very well, but, young man, explain the game. What's the point?" asked Talfor.
Kaizen smiled, pleased to have caught the attention of everyone in the tavern. "The game I'm proposing is called... Triad, let's call it that. It's a card game that requires cunning, strategy and, above all, the ability to read others. Each player receives a hand of cards and the aim is to form trines of cards of the same suit or value.
To do this, you can each choose an opponent to swap a card you don't want from your hand with a random card from their hand, so you can form the trades. However, trades cannot be declared openly; you have to bluff and deceive your opponents to hide your true intentions."
Talfor scratched his grey beard, showing his curiosity mixed with a touch of suspicion. The dark elves, although still frowning, agreed, understanding Kaizen's proposed game
The outsider dealt the cards with the skill of an experienced player, while the players tried to think of strategies to win the game.