Chapter 117
Chapter 117
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 117
Chapter Title: High Risk, High Return
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"What good is keeping an apostle all safe and cozy? You planning to age him like miso paste?"
"But..."
Seong-un believed that Lost World players had settled into a 'safe playstyle.'
There was nothing inherently wrong with that.
Lost World had a long playtime, which meant defeats carried heavy emotional fallout, fueling an equally intense desire for victory.
Aiming for safe play was only natural.
But Seong-un always thought 'moderation' was key.
As soon as Seong-un broached the topic, Eldar asked what he meant.
Seong-un explained.
"Basically, playstyles boil down to two big categories: high risk, high return or low risk, low return."
Eldar nodded at that.
"Say there are two poker players of equal skill. But one chases big wins with risky plays, while the other goes for safe, small gains."
"Yes."
"So, who wins in the long run?"
Eldar blinked.
"Is there a right answer?"
"Yeah."
"Since their skills are equal... they tie?"
Seong-un paused for a moment.
"I said there's a right answer, but it's just a simple quiz. No need to overthink it."
"So tying's off the table?"
"Yep."
Eldar hesitated before answering.
"Here, I'd say the safe player wins, and you're about to tell me that's wrong..."
"Doesn't matter if you guess wrong, but no need to force an answer you don't believe."
"...The safe player wins in the end, right? I don't play much poker, but I've seen bold bluffers crash and burn plenty of times..."
Seong-un jumped in as if he'd been waiting.
"The risky player wins."
Eldar gave him a look that said I knew it.
Seong-un shamelessly prodded.
"What're you waiting for? Ask why."
"...Why?"
Seong-un answered.
"Safe play is predictable."
"Huh?"
"Poker keeps dealing cards. You don't know what you'll get, what your opponent's holding, or if yours beats theirs. You predict. But sticking to safe moves only? You're readable."
"Right."
Eldar nodded.
"But Nebula, doesn't the risky player get readable too? Always raising big on weak hands?"
"Sure. But here, you're facing a safe player."
"True."
"The safe player won't match your risks. What if you actually have the nuts?"
Eldar furrowed his brow.
"This isn't wordplay, is it?"
"What'd I explain those long ears for?"
Eldar tugged the tip of his ear.
"They're just for show."
Seong-un added,
"Anyway, poker's designed that way. Stick to safe plays—calling raises, folding weak final cards timidly—and your hand's an open book. That's safe play. Sure, it could be a bluff, but that's not the point here."
Eldar thought for a bit.
He had no poker experience, but applying it to other games didn't sound off.
In other words, safe play meant missing obvious chances, while risky play grabbed them after several tries.
"Hmm, so you're saying poker favors the risky player over the safe one?"
"Huh? No."
Seong-un replied,
"Most games with uncertainty and probability work that way."
"If that's true... why?"
Seong-un tilted his head like it was obvious.
"Because it's more fun."
"Ah."
Seong-un continued,
"Not saying go full reckless, though."
"You did say 'moderation.' Mind sharing how to gauge that?"
Seong-un answered instantly.
"Tough question."
"Figures."
"Figuring it out levels up your game."
Now Eldar understood why Seong-un had sent Rakrak alone to the Solitary Flame capital.
It seemed incredibly risky to him.
Of course, Seong-un knew the Five Alliance held meetings often lately.
Runda attended, so it wasn't news, but once a meeting started, system rules cut off contact with Seong-un. No telling when it'd end or if everyone showed.
What if Kramphus skipped today's meeting?
Players usually stayed near their key spots—like capitals—for oversight.
Rakrak appearing then would've unleashed creations and faith resources, putting him in danger.
Losing Rakrak would've been a huge blow for Seong-un.
To Eldar, it was borderline gambling—with low stakes for the risk.
High risk, low return.
And indeed, Kramphus's main forces weren't in Daimarit anyway, per Eldar.
Sure, toppling the royal castle and killing the king was basically the final step to crumbling the nation.
But in Lost World wars, gods—not kings—were the real commanders.
Causality walls made proxy rulers efficient, but existing armies didn't vanish into chaos overnight.
Those 30,000 troops were still there.
Yet Seong-un framed his play as risky but victory-bound.
When Eldar voiced his thoughts, Seong-un agreed.
"Fair point."
"So it was a reckless gamble?"
"Hm, high risk yes, but not low return."
"So there's more gain than I thought?"
Seong-un said,
"A few things. First, it shows I'm not just a textbook player. That's a win already."
"Huh?"
"Think about it."
Seong-un tapped his temple over the mask.
"Everyone's at the poker table. Chips checked, cards dealt. Hands look decent—call to see the next? All in. But the last guy's like, 'All in!' What do you do?"
"What's my hand?"
"So-so."
"Can't risk the stack on the first hand. Fold."
Seong-un nodded.
"Reasonable."
"Phew."
Seong-un followed up.
"Now, hand's still so-so, but he all-ins five games straight. What then?"
"...Huh?"
Eldar blanked out briefly.
"Can that even happen?"
"Which part?"
Eldar said,
"He wasn't all-inning on good hands?"
"Who knows. Five god-hand streaks are possible odds-wise. Or some bluffs mixed in. Or all bluffs."
"Then..."
After agonizing, Eldar said,
"I'd fold till I get a winner."
Seong-un shrugged.
"Not great."
"Knew it."
"That guy's throwing everyone off. Some wait for his hot streak to cool, others call anyway. But more chips = advantage. He scoops small pots from calls and folds, building a lead. Even without more all-ins, he starts strong."
Eldar nodded.
"So what you did was..."
"Not quite all-in."
Seong-un said,
"Just worth a shot."
Wisdom sent Kramphus a curt message of consolation, then warned to prep for war and watch the lone Rakrak.
"Didn't expect Nebula to go this far. Apostle assassination was predictable, but Heukrin lacks backup strategies beyond Rakrak. Normal play skips apostles without apostle support."
Kramphus recovered from the shock quickly too.
"He's overreaching. Royals aren't wiped, castle's not rubble. Chain of command holds. 30k troops intact."
Of course, the damage to Solitary Flame was worse than Kramphus let on.
Apostle Rakrak had delivered divine punishment—even Satyros's apostle couldn't stop it.
Rumors flew of Rakrak striking Daimarit 'like lightning.'
Fear of Heukrin spread.
Other nations grew restless.
Excluding chaotic, civil war-torn Asbestos, Golden Eye, Red River, and Myriad Caves needed constant divine oracles for internal control.
Players like AR1026 even assigned guardians to creations.
The Five Alliance paused regular meetings during war.
Runda found the shift bewildering.
Is this okay? Meetings were a weakness, sure. But weren't they for alliance bonds? And preventing betrayal? We worried most about the alliance crumbling.
Everyone downplayed Rakrak's stunt, but to Runda, trouble brewed once they got pinned to capitals, fretting over his next strike.
Though for me, fewer worries is a relief.
Runda's loyalties quietly shifted from the Five Alliance toward Seong-un.