The River Card Miracle
"Aleck, you're up. We'll proceed after Yang opens."
The dealer called for us to reveal our hands. The master dealer, who had started as the button, showed his first.
Hearts A, Clubs K.
Then my cards: Spades 6 and 9.
Judging purely by hole cards, the master dealer had the clear edge.
"Whoa!"
"Master dealer lives up to the name."
"Damn, one-shot reversal incoming."
Gasps erupted from the crowd. The river card would seal the win, but my odds hovered around 10%. Everyone bet on the master dealer.
"Ah……."
Beside me, Katt clutched his head in despair.
"Hoo."
The master dealer, stoic until now, finally cracked a faint smile—confidence in his victory etched on his face.
"River card."
Amid the emotional whirlwind, the dealer's voice rang out. The final card flipped.
"……!"
"Huh……?"
"No way, insane."
"Holy crap, it actually happened?"
The spectators' choked breaths filled the air. Even Katt, frozen in agony, snapped wide-eyed, body rigid.
As expected—Sixth Sense.
I let a thin smile creep across my lips. Because……
"The river is Diamond 7."
It was the 7. Completing the straight on the board: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
My infinitesimal-probability hand had pierced through.
"Hah."
Victory's smirk drained from the master dealer's face, replaced by hollow defeat. His expression stamped my thrilling comeback as fact.
* * *
"Impressive. Our dealers don't go down easy anywhere. You study Hold'em formally?"
With Number 2's master dealer busted, I met Tumang Land's boss.
"Nah, self-taught."
"Ha…… haha, self-taught……."
The boss stared in disbelief. No wonder—Hold'em wasn't a solo game. Reading opponents' psyches was key. Claiming solo study must've sounded like a con.
"If it's true, that's real talent. Here's my card. Call anytime if you're up for dealing."
The business card read: Tumang Land CEO, Jaison.
So his name's Jaison.
A figure I'd never crossed in the game. I knew him only as throwing net spider clan. Now I had face and name.
Filthy scum.
I muttered inwardly at his face. Only after possessing this body did I learn how many lives Tumang Land had ruined under him.
Part of me wants to clean this place out.
Today's haul: a whopping 100 gold. With focus, I could've crushed every dealer and choked their cash flow. Sixth Sense's cheat-level power made it feasible.
But Craig would step in.
Craig backed this joint. Jaison later rode his coattails to run it vilely, drawing rivers of blood tears like Katt's.
Too late last time.
I learned of Tumang Land's Craig ties long after first hitting him.
By the time I chased the operator, he'd vanished without a trace…….
No name, no face.
Not this time. I'll remember you clear.
This life, I'd end Craig—and him. I opened my mouth to Jaison.
"Thanks for the honor. I'll call if the chance arises."
"Haha, you won't regret it."
He smiled, tension easing—likely calculating I'd recoup today's losses tenfold under him.
"How about your winnings? Leave 'em with us for compound interest……."
"Cash it all."
"All 100 gold?"
"Yes."
My firm tone made his cheeks twitch. He wanted the coins locked in.
Fat chance.
I swapped every coin for gold. 100 gold now filled my pockets.
"In, insane……."
Emerging with the gold, Katt gawked dreamily at the gleaming wave, lost in it.
"What's the ROI here? Started with free 10 silver, right? That's…… 10,000 times to hit 100 gold…… 9,900% return?"
Katt voiced it, then yelled in disbelief.
9,900%…… Even I've never seen that.
I was inwardly stunned too. Historic record, probably. My tale might legendize in Tumang Land.
"Uh…… Aleck."
Katt eyed me cautiously.
"Yeah, senior?"
"This is super awkward, but…… could you spot me Chung Hak Gwan fees?"
His voice quivered.
As expected.
I'd guessed his motive ages ago.
"Here. You lost 5 gold, so 5 covers it?"
"Huh……?"
"Wait—add 1 for living expenses. 6 total. And no more gambling."
"Wha, wha, six gold…… just like that? Not a loan?"
"Yep."
"WAAAAAAAAH, ALEEeeeECK!"
At my giveaway, Katt's eyes ballooned, tears welling. Pure joy from head to toe.
Capital's power, once more.
Could lend, but…… after witnessing my 100-gold win, outright gifting packs more punch.
Today, 6 gold made me Katt's sky. Winning hearts often costs a fortune—but 6 was a steal. He'd be my loyal ally till the effect faded.
Profit.
"No need to thank me so much. Fellow Mantis Hall trainees."
"I swear! I'll repay you someday!"
"No need. You saw my winnings. Take it easy."
"Aleck…… you're an angel!"
* * *
After saving Katt from bankruptcy and dropout, we headed straight to Chung Hak Gwan. We arrived an hour before deadline.
"Whoa, this is Chung Hak Gwan."
First-timer Katt gaped. No surprise—its scale dwarfed imagination.
Chung Hak Gwan was research hub first, school second.
Those back buildings are all labs.
Endless structures stretched behind the main hall. Ancient species research dominated, I'd heard.
Overheard before, but now with primal power, it hits different.
A strange thrill stirred as I turned to Katt.
"Register first."
Clearing the gate check, we hit the main hall's admissions desk. Entry fee plus year tuition: exactly 5 gold. Covered Katt's too—10 total.
Unlike my quick signup, Katt underwent physicals. Growth stage required baseline fitness.
"Cleared! I'm in. Thanks, Aleck—all you."
King mantis stock passed easy. Registered, he beamed endless gratitude.
"Whew, tension crashed. Legs like jelly."
"Earned it after today. Straight to dorms—rest up."
Our quarters: single rooms. Good—sharing would've sucked.
Stuck here a year.
Not days—a year. With Megaera power unpredictable, roommates spelled risk.
"Facilities are solid."
Fresh from shower, I flopped on bed. Chung Hak Gwan earned its top rep. Perfection in details.
With fees they charge, expected.
Lying there, I mapped my year-one goals.
Priority one: growth. Maximize here.
Target: Maturity Stage 2 minimum. Lucked into Growth Stage meeting Kun. Juvenile would've aimed Maturity 1—but now?
Growth to Maturity 2 in a year…… They'd call it madness.
Katt had freaked at my Growth jump.
'W-wait, Aleck…… you hit Growth Stage?'
Preoccupied with losses, he'd missed it—then exploded.
'Juvenile fresh, right? Impossible growth! And your size beats average broad mantis? What's your secret?!'
Excited probe, but……
'Senior, I'm just unique. Let it slide?'
'Uh? Sure, if you say so.'
Capital's might. 6-gold soul-pledge Katt obeyed instantly. Otherwise, endless hassle.
Juvenile-to-Growth was wild enough. Maturity that fast……?
Everyone here would riot.
And full Megaera bloom……
Kun's talisman might not hide it.
Then bolt from Chung Hak Gwan.
Either way, no loss. Such growth meant squeezing max value—nailing my purpose.
One: growth. Two…….
Glancing out window, research complexes gleamed—ancient species labs.
What's really there?
I gripped my chest, murmuring. Because……
Thump, thump.
……My heart raced wilder staring at it.