Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: All-In
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The Principal spoke in the voice of the Total Administrator.
"The reason the chip status wasn't separately displayed in the mission window when a player killed another during the Run Phase was simply because we wanted the players to 'figure it out for themselves.'"
The Principal grinned beneath his mask.
"Since the question was asked in front of everyone, I'll give you a special answer. Yes, Player Dokgo Hyun, you're exactly right."
The Total Administrator looked back and forth between Dokgo Hyun and Oh Sua as he spoke.
"During the Run Phase, if one player kills another, all chips held by the deceased player are transferred entirely to the killer!"
It was as good as openly stating that killing each other during the Run Phase was profitable.
Dokgo Hyun burst into loud laughter.
"Hahaha!! Just as I thought!!"
His laugh carried a hint of madness.
"My hunch was spot on! The essence of this game is 'Skill & Run' plus 'One-Card Poker'!!"
Dokgo Hyun had pointed out that the game's core intertwined two methodologies: chips and death.
First, actively use skills during the Run Phase to kill opponents and claim their chips.
Second, in the poker room, win all an opponent's chips through poker to kill them.
These two elements fused into a deadly game.
That was Skill & Run One-Card Poker.
Oh Sua and Na Youngho realized the true meaning of the game—something Dokgo Hyun had already grasped—a beat too late, and they shivered in realization.
At that moment.
Clatter!
Dokgo Hyun shoved all his chips into the pot.
"All in."
Dokgo Hyun had bet all 26 of his chips.
Including the ante, that made 27 in total.
"What...!"
Oh Sua gasped in shock.
"Ooh! An all-in!"
The Principal made a fuss.
"Player Dokgo Hyun! Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Very well! However, since you currently hold the most chips, betting all 26 is unnecessary! I recommend betting only up to the maximum possible pot!"
"Oh, is that so? Oh Sua has 14 chips left, and Na Youngho has 18? Fine, just set aside whatever's left over, and if I win, you can return them later."
"Approved! Now it's Player Oh Sua's turn to bet!"
The Principal looked at Oh Sua.
"Will you call the all-in? If so, you must call with all 14 of your remaining chips!"
The Principal urged her, but Oh Sua took a deep breath and asked Dokgo Hyun,
"What the hell are you doing?"
"Exactly what you saw and felt, Oh Sua."
Dokgo Hyun said through gritted teeth.
"You're right—we're even in the information war. You've practically monopolized all four hints. We need to end this poker round quickly."
"That's why I'm asking why you're throwing away your chips. If I call, you're clearly at a loss?"
There were no errors in the hint information, so assuming Dokgo Hyun was bluffing held no meaning.
"Call it my resolve. The real fun starts in the next Run Phase."
Dokgo Hyun pointed straight at Oh Sua.
"Next Run Phase, I'll kill you, Oh Sua. Whether the spirits set my body ablaze or sever my limbs, I'll ignore all obstacles and methods to take you down alone."
"Th-that's insane..."
"No, it's the opposite. It's a very wise strategy. The only strategy, in fact."
Dokgo Hyun opened his inventory window, reached deep inside, rummaged around, and pulled out an elixir to show her.
"As long as I don't die, this elixir heals all wounds."
"Ah...!"
"You'll need a ton of people to protect you. Meaning you won't be able to leisurely kill spirits yourself and snag hints like in this round. If you did, you'd have no spirits left to guard you."
"...!"
"Now you get why I went all-in? And what my resolve really means."
Dokgo Hyun lowered his gaze slightly, pointing at Oh Sua with his index finger.
"My resolve to kill you in the next Run Phase and reclaim every last chip I lose."
It was essentially a death sentence.
And it couldn't be dismissed as a bluff.
Dokgo Hyun had bet everything despite knowing this was a tough hand.
In other words, he'd lose most of his chips this round, then kill her in the next Run Phase to take it all back.
"Now, bet."
Dokgo Hyun's intimidation shrank Oh Sua's spirit.
'He'll kill me and take it all back? Using an elixir like that?'
Oh Sua's resolve wavered.
Dokgo Hyun's words weren't a direct counter to her strategy.
If anything, it highlighted a small risk in what she believed was a surefire win.
But to Oh Sua, who had trusted it completely, it caused massive turmoil.
'Maybe I shouldn't be so complacent. Come to think of it, my raw combat ability is the weakest here...'
Even though she'd brainwashed Na Youngho, there was a slight delay between command and execution.
"Player Oh Sua? 30 seconds remaining! You must call or fold!"
"Ah, w-wait a second."
Oh Sua turned to Na Youngho.
"What card did you get, Senior Na Youngho?"
"Do I have to tell you? Or should I?"
Oh Sua's anger flared.
Even under brainwashing and control, Na Youngho's prickly personality remained intact.
"Just answer!"
"I drew an 8 this time."
Na Youngho replied sullenly in polite speech.
"Heh..."
'That means Dokgo Hyun's card is at most a 5!'
According to Hint B, the three players' numbers summed to 23 or less.
Thus, there was no flaw in concluding that Oh Sua's J was the best hand this round.
With conviction, Oh Sua shouted,
"Call! All in!"
Clatter!!
"Excellent! Call declared! 14 chips confirmed! Finally, Player Na Youngho! Your turn..."
"Ah, Senior Na Youngho will fold."
Oh Sua cut in, telling the Principal, then turned to Na Youngho and repeated,
"Fold."
"Yes..."
Na Youngho folded.
Per the rules, the Principal revealed Na Youngho's folded card.
Flip!
It was indeed an 8.
Seeing it, Oh Sua thought,
'Don't chicken out. The spirit hint strategy is still solid.'
No matter what Dokgo Hyun said, winning big this round would reverse the game.
'Even if Dokgo Hyun tries to kill me, I can escape. Use the escape strategy to stack spirit marks on him! That's the plan!'
Spirit marks accumulated gradually.
Dokgo Hyun already had three, weakening him by about 30%.
Three more would drop him to 60% weakened instantly.
Oh Sua had zero marks, and spirits weren't affected by the penalty.
'It's fine! Don't freak out. I can do this!'
Oh Sua steeled herself.
Watching Oh Sua and Dokgo Hyun, the Principal chuckled inwardly.
'Heh heh heh.'
Both players had their own resolve and strategies.
Which resolve held the edge, which strategy prevailed—they'd only know after the next Run Phase.
"Heh heh heh."
The Principal couldn't hold back and laughed out loud.
"Then, Player Dokgo Hyun and Player Oh Sua! Please reveal your cards!!"
Flash!
Oh Sua revealed first.
The Principal's voice boomed.
"Player Oh Sua!! J!!!"
"Huh... Not bad. Pretty high."
Dokgo Hyun said in an odd tone.
"Heh heh heh! Ahaha! Kyahaha!!"
Oh Sua stood up laughing.
"I win! I won!"
It was her first victory over Dokgo Hyun in a battle of wits.
For her, it was a priceless triumph.
It bolstered her confidence immensely.
"Player Dokgo Hyun. Please reveal your card quickly."
The Principal urged.
"Let her laugh a bit more. It'll be her last."
Dokgo Hyun said leisurely.
Oh Sua froze.
"What did you say?"
"I said laugh more. I'm being nice."
Dokgo Hyun smirked.
'Talk about good luck.'
For Dokgo Hyun, it was insanely lucky.
"You drawing a J made it crystal clear—I got a good card with no doubt."
Dokgo Hyun smirked and revealed his card.
Thud.
"...Huh?!"
The Principal's eyes widened.
"This... This is impossible!"
The Principal realized Dokgo Hyun had 'cheated.'
But he didn't call it out—or rather, couldn't.
He didn't know how the cheat was pulled off, and he was curious.
"Ah...?"
Oh Sua couldn't comprehend.
"Look at my card properly, Oh Sua."
Dokgo Hyun smirked.
"Huh?"
Oh Sua finally checked the card.
'It has to be 10 or lower, right?'
According to the hints.
Dokgo Hyun's card should naturally be low.
"Ah...!!"
It wasn't.
Dokgo Hyun's initial card this round had indeed been a 4.
But the one he revealed now was not.
"Way higher than you thought, huh?"
Dokgo Hyun smirked.
The card Dokgo Hyun revealed was a K.
"...".
Oh Sua's pupils shook.
"You look shocked."
"This... This can't be!"
Oh Sua pulled out all her hint papers.
"Look at the hints! This is cheating!! Cheating!! It makes no sense!!"
The Principal cleared his throat.
"I strongly suspect cheating too. But hints are just hints."
"B-but...!"
"Poker rulings are decided solely by revealed cards. I'm starting to get a sense of how Player Dokgo Hyun cheated."
The Principal glared at Dokgo Hyun, who smirked back.
"But all rulings are based only on revealed cards, right?"
"Correct. You got really lucky."
"Exactly. Really, really lucky."
Dokgo Hyun humbly admitted it.
He could repeat "lucky" a hundred times and it wouldn't suffice.
"I don't get it?"
Na Youngho looked baffled.
The Principal spoke up.
"Player Dokgo Hyun. For everyone's sake, why not explain the answer and solution?"
"Only if you don't charge me with fraud."
"Hmm, can't do that. If you confess voluntarily, punishment is inevitable."
"Then I'll stay silent."
Dokgo Hyun smirked.
'Even I think it was a brazen cheat.'
Luck and cheating.
And pretending to be resolute to provoke Oh Sua.
To uncover the secret behind Dokgo Hyun's trick this round, one had to go back to the previous Run Phase.
The previous Run Phase.
Dokgo Hyun observed his surroundings near the library entrance.
He wondered why no one was coming to kill him.
Then he realized Oh Sua's strategy: controlling spirits to kill themselves and collect hints.
Confirming no ambush worries from spirits, Dokgo Hyun briefly returned inside the library to execute his planned trick.
'Card restoration trick.'
During the third poker round, Na Youngho had drawn a K.
And under Oh Sua's order, he was forced to fold himself.
In his rage, he tore up the card and threw it...
'A few pieces fell on me.'
On his head, nape, thigh...
Three large pieces total.
Pretending to brush them off his body, Dokgo Hyun palmed them and stored them all in his inventory.
And then...
"Heave-ho."
Dokgo Hyun grabbed a magazine from the display near the library entrance and sat at the waiting room table.
Rip! Rip!
He tore a page into shreds.
He kept only three small pieces and tossed the rest in the trash.
Then, as a test, he tried 'restoring' it.