Tumang Land
Tumang Land. The holy site for gamblers.
Tumang Land was basically the real-world equivalent of Gangwon Land on Earth.
'Countless players who played Chungwangjeon lost big money here.'
It was inevitable. As soon as you entered the area around Damyang or Tumang Land, tempting hands would reach out to you.
'Katt fell for it too.'
They start by scattering coins as bait. Just come exchange them, and they'll give you 10 silver worth.
10 silver was enough living expenses to last a lone person a whole month. Back in Chungwangjeon, it was an amount low-level players couldn't ignore.
Common thoughts among players back then. But the end for those who stepped into Tumang Land was rarely good.
Just like real-world gamblers, most ended up the same in Chungwangjeon.
Tumang Land drove countless players to bankruptcy!
I was no exception.
'Was it when I was raising my Caucasus clan...? I got wiped out soul-deep once too.'
Normally, after that, you'd never set foot in Tumang Land again. While everyone else cursed it and stayed away.
I was different.
'I dove headfirst into Tumang Land like a maniac.'
Back then, all I had was time anyway. As a vet, I was determined to conquer even Tumang Land. I went mad on gambling for months.
'And...'
"Ah, Aleck! You're not thinking of going there too, right? No! If you lose money too... w-what are we gonna do? Is it my fault? I'm fine. You at least... go properly register at Chung Hak Gwan..."
As I walked ahead, lost in old memories, Katt's voice rang in my ear.
"Don't worry. I'll win back what you lost too."
"N-no, I said! That place isn't where normal folks can make money."
Katt grabbed my arm and screamed. I flashed a slight smile and dragged him toward the entrance of Tumang Land.
"Welcome, customer! First time at Tumang Land?"
"Yes."
As we entered, two slender beauties greeted us politely. Glancing at their emblems, I saw crossed red wings.
Ruby Moth clan. Famous since ancient times for their flashy looks.
'Seeing them, Robed really is stunningly pretty.'
The thought hit me out of nowhere. For some reason, her face popped into my head. I was sure Robed wouldn't lose to these beauties famed for their allure—in fact, she outshone them.
"Exchange please."
I chuckled inwardly and handed over 1 silver.
One woman gave me 11 blue coins. 1 silver equaled 1 coin, plus 10 bonus coins worth 10 silver for first exchange.
"Event coins can't be exchanged back!"
She winked as she handed them over. The 10 event coins couldn't be swapped for real silver—you had to spend them here.
"Have a fun time."
She bowed slightly, arm gesturing inside. Their eyes curved like crescent moons. To them, I was just another prey.
"Ah, Aleck! Really, no!"
Katt yanked my arm again, face pale and anxious, shaking his head frantically.
"I told you not to worry. I'll only use this much."
I pocketed one of the initial blue coins and held only the 10 event ones.
"F-fine, if you're doing it, stick to just those. I thought the same at first. Won a few, lost some, got heated and kept going. Before I knew it, lost it all, so I exchanged more thinking I'd win back what I earned... but this time..."
I gave Katt a slightly queasy look as he rambled nonstop. Wasn't he half-dead earlier? Looked like he'd calmed down.
His usual chatter was back.
'At least his spirits are up.'
Better than moping with wilted antennae.
"Hold'em is the main game here. Gotta play that to make big money. I stuck to it... Tip: at the start, with your hand..."
I half-listened to Katt's game advice as I headed to an empty table.
"One game please."
"How many players?"
The waiting dealer asked. I glanced at the clock on the wall.
'More players good for building pots, but...'
No time. Half a day till Chung Hak Gwan registration deadline. Just 6 hours. Less, factoring travel.
Needed fast turnover and compound magic over safe play.
"Heads-up."
"W-what? No! Newbies can't win heads-up!"
Katt reacted first, shocked. Not even the dealer.
Heads-up. 1v1 against the dealer here.
Dealers were all pros; common sense said normals couldn't beat them.
'Heads-up demands the strongest Hold'em strategies and psych warfare.'
Interactions, pot control, bluffs, reads—all crucial. Way more focus than multi-player. Normals couldn't handle seasoned dealers.
"It's fine. Watch."
I told Katt, then started heads-up with the dealer.
"Oh, fearless guy doing heads-up over there?"
"Brave dude. Opponent's... whoa! Fairy?"
"Straight heads-up with a pro dealer? That's throwing money away! Hey buddy! Come here—we'll spot ya even!"
"Kahaha! Leave him. Experience is everything."
Laughter from onlookers. I ignored them, eyeing the dealer across, cards dealt.
Refined beauty. Now I saw her badge: red. Second-highest after black—pro dealer.
'No wonder this table was empty.'
Didn't matter who; top-tier here apparently.
'Perfect warm-up.'
My eyes sparkled like stars at the cards, long-lost thrill of gambling surging.
* * *
"Bet."
I dropped 100 coins from the stack. 100 coins = 100 silver = 1 gold. Huge for one bet.
"...F-fold."
The dealer, trembling, folded after following. She'd lost streak after streak already; no mental fortitude left.
'Easier than expected?'
Even I was surprised. Had confidence from game glory, but dominating a pro like this?
'Super Sense pairs too well.'
Reason: Super Sense atop peak Hold'em skill = invincible.
I stripped the dealer bare, ballooning 10 silver start to 10 gold in a flash.
"M-my... g-god! A-Aleck... you're the god of Hold'em?!"
Katt, jaw dropped through the process, yelled my name in ecstasy.
"N-now let's go back."
"Wait. Not done yet."
"What? More here?!"
Katt wanted out now that I'd won big. But I was still hungry. Just warming up—too soon to quit.
'Plenty of time left.'
Only 2 hours passed. Still margin.
"More?"
Flushed dealer said wait, contacted someone.
"Customer, I'll handle you from now."
New guy: tall handsome man. Dealers here all lookers. Fitting for Tumang Spider clan beauties.
'Anyway, this one's a Master Dealer.'
Black badge. Highest rank. Number 2 engraved—even among Masters, second-in-command.
'Big fish.'
I eyed him intrigued. In-game conquests ended with top-10 Masters. Never saw 1 or 2.
'Here of all places.'
Wonder what Number 2 brings. I grinned, ready to play.
* * *
"Bet."
Master pushed 50 coins.
'Hm.'
My hand: measly two pair. Bad cards persisting.
Bluff possible, but...
"...Fold."
I cleanly forfeited my bet.
"Ooooh."
"Holding his own against a Master Dealer?"
"Whoa, new face—where'd he come from?"
I won last hand; this time yielded. Onlookers gasped.
Crushed pro, now trading blows with Number 2? Eyes wide.
'Not second for nothing.'
I smiled at him, ignoring crowd. Fun. Without Super Sense? Maybe couldn't win.
'But winnable.'
Confident inwardly, kept going. My stack slowly grew.
Then, the unflappable Master threw down the gauntlet.
"All-in."
All his coins shoved. Massive pile—hard to count. Winning it'd multiply my earnings several times.
'My hand...'
Spade 6, Spade 9.
'Board...'
Diamond 6, Heart K, Heart 5, Heart 8. Final card pending; deciding last bet.
He all-inned. Call or fold?
'Open cards: just 6 pair.'
Textbook: fold. Calling all-in with that? Insane.
Pot huge too—loss would bankrupt me.
'Head says fold...'
Super Sense whispered: call.
'What to do...'
I closed eyes, thought. Then smirked.
"Call."