Chapter 247: The Goddess of Fortune
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 247: The Goddess of Fortune
The House of Oro, the Golden House.
As mentioned before, it was a place where not only the vast sums of money needed to run a tycoon game were at stake, but also priceless items and valuable slaves were offered as prizes.
One couldn't just participate; you had to raise your rank to earn the right to enter games for specific prizes.
To become a VIP, you didn't need to make donations or build connections with the manager. You had to win big at the casino games.
It wasn't mandatory, but for a user trying to complete their collection, it was a mini-game they couldn't afford to skip.
I had only stopped by for a moment and had no intention of playing, but I was unexpectedly invited as a VIP.
“Those languid eyes, as if you could fall asleep anywhere, are so lovely! Your hair is dazzling just to look at, and your skin is as white as snow. And those red lips, so prominent against it all, are like a flower blooming in a field of snow!”
It was all thanks to this damn lecher taking an interest in Azyeth.
“Beautiful lady, from what land, what family do you hail?”
Normally, one might answer that they were the princess of the Freezian Kingdom.
“I… am Rami’s slave.”
But Azyeth knew no such thing.
She revealed not that she was a princess, but a slave.
“A slave?”
“Yes.”
Blinking in disbelief, Erma’s gaze fell upon me. I made a show of stroking Azyeth’s ear.
“Do you have business with my slave?”
“And you are?”
“I am this woman’s master. I’m also known as the Slave Reaper.”
“The Slave Reaper! Why must a lady like her be with a villain like you…!”
Erma lamented.
Anyone would think she was his own sister.
“Hey, Slave Reaper. Sell her to me. How much?”
“Sell my slave? How could I possibly do such a thing?”
“Are you really the one saying that?”
“If you have no further business, we’ll be on our way.”
“Wait!”
Burly guards with swords at their waists blocked our path. I stopped Azyeth as she prepared to take a stance.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“Don’t be like that. Since you’re here, how about a game with me?”
“That sounds like you’re proposing a wager with my slave as the prize.”
“I like that you’re quick on the uptake. She’s a slave, so there’s no problem putting her up as a prize, right? More importantly, I know your reputation. I can’t let a lady like this die.”
Do you think I’m Azyeth? You think I can’t see through your shady intentions? He was practically screaming that he wanted her.
“I refuse. The offer isn’t particularly tempting.”
“Don’t be so hasty. Hear me out before you decide. What do you want? Money? Or perhaps the rare slaves I possess? If you win, I’ll give you everything.”
“I’m a merchant myself, so I know this well: merchants never make a losing deal. The conditions they offer are always worth less than what they truly desire.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“I’m saying that since you’re the one making the request, you should be the one to offer terms that put you at a disadvantage.”
There was no point in making a bet now just to win a coin or two. It wasn’t worth the trouble.
“If I win, you hand over this casino.”
“Ha! That’s absurd. You want me to bet the casino on a single slave?”
“If you don’t like the terms, you don’t have to accept. Why are you so angry? I have nothing to lose.”
There’s a saying about a beauty capable of toppling nations.
It wasn't an exaggeration. Azyeth was beautiful enough to bewitch a dragon, and because of that, her kingdom had frozen over.
That was Azyeth. To even put her on the same scale as a mere casino was preposterous from the start.
“So, what will it be? My companions are waiting outside and I’m busy, so please decide quickly.”
“Hmm…”
Erma, who had been groaning under my pressure, finally gave his answer.
“Fine. I accept those terms.”
Wow, this crazy bastard.
He actually accepted?
“Well then, that makes it worth my while.”
“Let’s make a contract so there’s no backing out after you lose.”
“Excellent.”
Erma’s servant brought a contract. It was a mana contract, bound by the signatories’ own mana.
“Rami?”
“Don’t worry. All I have to do is win, right?”
No matter the stakes, a bet is a bet. You just have to win.
Of course, with stakes this high, I had to be fully prepared.
The moment that lunatic put his casino on the line, it was tantamount to declaring he would cheat.
And if he was going to cheat, then I had no reason to feel guilty.
I took out a piece of paper and a pen from my pocket and jotted down a short message.
“Azyeth, could you send this to my companions?”
Azyeth nodded and created an ice bird. The bird took the rolled-up paper in its beak and flew out the window.
“What was that just now?”
“I told you, my companions are waiting outside. I wrote a note telling them not to wait and to head back to the inn first.”
“Hmph.”
I infused my mana into the contract, sealing the deal. Now, if either of us lost and failed to honor the agreement, a curse would take root.
We moved to a game table set up in the VIP room.
There was me, Azyeth, a woman acting as the dealer, Erma, and his subordinates. They surrounded the exits and the perimeter to ensure we couldn't escape.
“Is there a particular game you’d like to play?”
“Let’s keep it simple. Poker will do.”
“Then we’ll play until one side loses all their chips.”
Erma sat down.
“What are you doing? Not sitting? You know you can’t back out now.”
“Of course. However, the person sitting in this seat won’t be me.”
I sat Azyeth down in the chair.
“Rami?”
“What’s this? You’re going to have this lady play?”
“Is there a problem?”
“Not really. I prefer playing with women over men anyway. But to make a slave play your wager… you really are insane.”
I shrugged lightly.
“But, Rami…”
Azyeth looked at me with anxious eyes. I had just witnessed how abysmal her luck was.
She probably thought she couldn't possibly win.
But she had nothing to worry about.
“Don’t mind a thing. Just relax and have fun, Azyeth. Victory and defeat aren’t for us to decide.”
*
The game was Texas Hold'em, the most iconic version of poker.
If the Caribbean Stud Poker Azyeth had played earlier was a battle against the dealer, Texas Hold'em was a battle against the other players.
Drawing a good hand was important, but what mattered more was the psychological warfare.
The key was to win the mental game against your opponent, bluffing with a weak hand as if it were strong. It was a rule set where player skill mattered most.
“I saw you can use magic, but this room is equipped with a mana detection device. An alarm will sound if it senses any mana. Try any funny business and you’ll be disqualified, so be careful.”
The game began with Erma’s warning.
The dealer dealt cards to Azyeth and Erma. Without even needing to look, I knew Azyeth’s hand was terrible.
Even for the emotionally detached Azyeth, it was hard to remain impassive in a situation like this.
It was enough to make her wonder if Karami was trying to abandon her.
—Do not worry, Princess. If it comes to it, I shall protect you.
Skadia’s words were of little comfort.
“Call…”
“Call.”
Each of them started with 30,000 chips.
In a way, it was their life force.
The moment one of them ran out, it was over.
“…Call.”
“Raise, two thousand.”
“Call…”
The hands were revealed.
Azyeth’s high card versus Erma’s two pair.
Just as I’d expected.
The first round ended in Azyeth’s overwhelming defeat.
The cards for the second round were dealt.
“Call.”
“Call…”
“Raise, four thousand.”
“Fold…”
Though it was a small amount, Erma took the chips in the second round as well.
Cursed with such wretched luck, all Azyeth could do was lose as little as possible and delay her inevitable defeat.
But that was just like hugging a time bomb that was about to explode.
The third round.
The fourth.
Azyeth folded again and again, and Erma slowly chipped away at her stack.
This is too easy. I don’t even need to cheat.
Unsurprisingly, just as Karami had been certain of, Erma had been preparing to cheat.
Otherwise, he never would have agreed to such an absurd wager.
His opponent was the infamous Slave Reaper. He had been looking forward to a game against him, only for Karami to put a slave up as his proxy.
He had been wary, wondering if she was a skilled player, but that wasn't the case at all. He wondered if it was an act, but she couldn't hide the dejected look on her face.
A possibility flashed through Erma’s mind.
“I see. So that’s what this is.”
This was a distress signal from Azyeth.
Yes, she wouldn’t want to die at the hands of the Slave Reaper either. Don’t worry. I’ll save you soon.
As it happened, the cards were favoring him today.
The goddess of fortune was smiling upon Erma.
The game continued.
Azyeth folded endlessly. On the rare occasion she got a good hand and went in, Erma had a better one, forcing her to take a huge loss.
Because of that, Azyeth returned to her defensive stance, like a turtle retreating into its shell.
Not that it was doing her any good.
Her chips were slowly disappearing.
Soon, the stacks were 17,000 to 43,000.
She sent a pleading look to Karami, but he just smiled. Azyeth’s icy heart began to burn with anxiety.
It was the next round.
Azyeth, who was about to fold without thinking, stared intently at her hand.
♥8 ♦8.
The flop came ♣8.
A three of a kind.
A reasonably strong hand.
Maybe she had a chance this time?
“Call.”
“Raise, five thousand.”
“Call.”
“Oh? Looks like you got a pretty strong hand this time.”
“……”
Azyeth ignored him and looked at the fourth card.
♠8.
Four of a kind.
“Check.”
Erma checked.
Azyeth wanted to raise, but there was always a chance…
She checked as well.
Azyeth’s four of a kind versus Erma’s one pair.
It was Azyeth’s first win.
“Should I congratulate you? What’s your game? Weren’t you asking me to save you?”
Her life had been extended.
Erma shook off his lax tension and refocused.
Getting bored, he decided it was about time to end this and tapped the table three times with his finger.
The next round.
The cards were dealt.
This time, Azyeth didn’t fold.
The showdown revealed their hands.
Azyeth’s full house versus Erma’s straight.
Azyeth had won again.
Erma’s eye twitched as he glanced sideways at the dealer. A faint look of bewilderment was on her face.
The next round.
Azyeth’s second consecutive full house versus Erma’s high card.
The result was as if their luck had been completely reversed.
Erma furrowed his brow.
What? What’s going on?
The trick Erma had set up was the dealer. It was simple: give Erma good cards and Azyeth bad ones.
He had given the signal, so it was time for the dealer to work her magic, but instead, Erma had lost twice in a row.
It didn't seem intentional, as the dealer who dealt the cards looked just as flustered. And it couldn't be a mistake; she was a highly skilled employee.
Did they do something?
Azyeth was focused on her cards.
Thanks to her good run, she seemed to be in a slightly better mood.
Karami, on the other hand, had been wearing the same smile from the very beginning.
If he used magic, the detection device would have gone off…
Karami’s eyes met Erma’s, and his smile widened.
“Is something wrong? Is there a problem?”
“Something feels off. I’m just asking, but you’re not cheating, are you?”
Karami tilted his head.
“I wonder. From where I’m standing, it just looks like my slave’s luck has turned.”
“Is that so?”
“She kept losing and has only just won three hands, hasn’t she? And now you suddenly bring up cheating. Perhaps you tried to pull something and it didn’t go as planned? Otherwise, I see no reason for you to be suspicious.”
The accusation hit its mark, silencing Erma for a moment before he spoke again.
“Of course not. But for a change of pace, I’d like to switch dealers. Any objections?”
“My slave is playing in my stead. I suppose I can accept that much.”
The still-confused dealer left, and another one entered.
The game resumed.
But the result didn’t change.
As if there was no intention of hiding it, all sorts of good hands found their way to Azyeth.
And then, even…
♥A ♥K ♥J ♥Q ♥10
The strongest hand in poker.
A royal straight flush.
“Whoa…”
Even Azyeth, who drew the hand, let out a gasp of admiration, as if it were her first time seeing such a thing.
“You bastard! What kind of trick did you pull?!”
Finally losing his patience, Erma shot up from his seat.
“You’re going to look at that hand and still pretend you’re not cheating?”
“Do you have proof?”
“What?”
“Even if I were cheating, it’s your job to prove it, not mine. Bring me evidence of what trick I’m using. For now, sit down. We have a game to finish.”
“No! You’re the one who has to reveal what trick you used.”
The guards who had packed the room drew their weapons and approached.
“Are you threatening me now? What about the contract?”
“The contract is for when the loser of the bet doesn’t keep their promise. In other words, since the game isn’t over and there is no loser, it’s not a breach of contract.”
“What flimsy wordplay.”
Karami wasn’t flustered in the slightest; he had anticipated all of this.
“Azyeth… seems busy. Skadia?”
—I have been waiting for those words, human.
Azyeth was completely engrossed in her astonishing luck. In her place, while she was enjoying herself, Skadia was summoned.
Not as a human, but in her dragon form.
BOOM…!
Her colossal body instantly cramped the space.
The moment Skadia appeared, the guards were pinned down, unable to move.
It wouldn’t have been strange if the building had collapsed right then and there.
“A d-dragon?!”
Erma shrieked and fell backward.
“Please, take a seat. The game isn’t over yet, is it?”
“…What?”
“Would you rather be eaten by this dragon, or will you continue the game?”
Karami smiled benevolently, as if bestowing great mercy.
“After all, I’m a kind slave trader. If you win the game, I’ll do anything you ask.”