The Yellow-Haired Villain in Soaring Phoenix’s Novels Also Desires Happiness - Chapter 187
112. The Cheater
“You are…”
Just as he was about to leave, the Rat King Sam paused and looked at the man across the gambling table.
The black tuxedo had been removed, draped over his arm, revealing a fitted gray waistcoat and a white shirt. The garments were clearly tailored by a top-notch tailor, hugging the contours of his body and accentuating the man’s towering stature.
Beneath the top hat, his features were chiseled and deep-set, bearing distinct Northern Slavic traits, yet it was rare to find a Slavic man with such clear, light blue eyes.
However, in the shadow of the hat, it was difficult for Sam to discern what lay hidden within those eyes.
“Bruce Wayne.”
The man adjusted his hat and nodded politely.
“Good evening, esteemed Lord Sam.”
“Bruce Wayne?”
Sam frowned, chewing on the name. He had been mingling in the lower city for quite some time, and one would think he was familiar with the prominent figures here, yet he had never heard of this name.
Just some young punk who had heard of his reputation from somewhere?
“Sorry, but I’m taking the night off.”
Sam waved his hand dismissively, “You can go find someone else to play with.”
“Is that so?”
Mu En sighed regretfully, “What a pity. I’ve heard that the illustrious Mr. Sam is a master at gambling, so I even prepared a little extra in chips.”
A silver case opened, and with a crisp clatter, exquisitely crafted chips flowed out, piling up into a small mountain on the gambling table.
That was a full ten million emils worth of chips, a total of ten thousand pieces. It was hard to imagine how they had all fit into such a small case, but when they were all poured out, nearly covering half the table, it still delivered a tremendous visual shock.
In an instant, all eyes in the casino were drawn over, accompanied by gasps of astonishment, as if witnessing a display of wealth.
“Well, since Mr. Sam doesn’t have time to play, I’ll just…”
“Wait!”
Sam suddenly sat back down, his eyes sparkling with the gleam of a rat spotting cheese:
“Who said I don’t have time?”
“But…”
“There’s no ‘buts’ about it.”
Sam’s gaze swept over Mu En again, and this time he noticed the luxurious golden thread embellishments on the black tuxedo jacket draped over his arm.
As if recalling something, Sam couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow:
“You’re not from Belrand; you come from the Northern Territories?”
“Did you figure it out so quickly? No wonder you’re known as the Rat King in the alleys.”
Mu En took off his top hat, revealing a striking head of… silvery short hair, and smiled.
“I indeed come from the Northern Territories; I’ve only recently arrived in Belrand to see the world.”
“No wonder…”
Sam’s eyes burned as he licked his lips.
The Northern Territory is rich in rare minerals, and likewise, it is abundant in nouveau riche who possess these treasures.
Foolish and wealthy, addicted to alcohol, fond of gambling, they love to dress themselves up as clumsy aristocrats, yet can barely recognize a few characters; this is the most genuine label the world has for these nouveau riche.
So, no matter where they are, the nouveau riche of the Northern Territory are the most favored guests.
After all, no one is easier to fleece than they are…
“What are you still dawdling for?”
Sam shouted angrily at those around him:
“Why aren’t you quickly serving my most esteemed guest, the dear Mr. Bruce, the best service?”
The casino, which had been somewhat quiet, stirred once more.
Elegant music began to play softly.
Waiters rushed about, bringing red wine and cigars to the distinguished guests.
The beautiful croupier, with a low-cut dress that seemed to dip below her chest and a short skirt that threatened to rise above her thighs, helped Mu En arrange his chips while casually revealing her alluring figure to him.
“Now that’s more like it.”
Mu En held a cigar in one hand and playfully slapped the croupier’s backside, causing a gasp and then a hearty laugh:
“On this long night, we must find some fun, right?”
“Mr. Bruce speaks truly.”
King Rat Sam rubbed his hands together excitedly, “Shall we begin?”
“Start, start.”
Mu En waved his hand impatiently, “Let’s start now.”
How eager he is.
A cold smile flickered in Sam’s eyes.
I hope by then, when you’ve lost your pants, you can still manage to laugh.
“Well then, Mr. Bruce, since it’s just the two of us, how about we settle this with the most common game in Belrand, the Bass Poker?”
Sam deftly shuffled the chips in his hand as he proposed.
“Of course, that sounds good.” Mu En smiled in agreement.
The so-called Bass Poker is quite similar to the Texas Hold’em of Mu En’s past life, albeit with some simplifications.
After the dealer deals two hole cards, a blind bet is placed, followed by the community cards, with betting again in each round. The bets cannot be lower than the blind, and the next player’s bet cannot be lower than the previous player’s.
Players can fold, but there’s no cap on betting.
After three rounds, if no one has folded, the winner is determined by comparing suits and numbers, and the winner takes all the chips.
The winner takes all, money comes quickly, the house edge is low, and the rules are extremely simple, easily understood even by those whose minds have been dulled by alcohol and drugs, making it rapidly popular in the lower city of Belrand.
It is said that the noble lords of the upper city have quite a few who are infatuated with this game.
However, many gangsters enjoy playing this way as well, and it’s actually because…
“Mr. Sam, I just thought of something.”
“Oh, please, go ahead.”
“You wouldn’t be cheating, would you?”
Mu En stroked his chin seriously and said:
“After all, I’m unfamiliar with this place. If you cheat, I wouldn’t have any way to deal with it.”
“Of course not.”
Sam shrugged nonchalantly:
“Mr. Bruce can rest assured. According to the casino rules, if cheating occurs, one could be killed.”
“Oh? Does that include you?”
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“That’s right, it includes me.”
Sam revealed one hand to Mu En, who then noticed that he only had four fingers on that hand. “This is the price I paid for my arrogance when I was young, so Mr. Bruce can rest easy.
Of course, if you still have doubts, all the props here are available for your inspection, and you can even deal the cards yourself.
If I cheat, my life will be yours.”
“I see…”
Mu En pondered for a moment while stroking his chin, then suddenly reclined back in his chair, crossing his legs and said:
“Then forget it, I trust you, Mr. Sam. We have no grudges, so you shouldn’t have any reason to deceive me.”
“Naturally, Mr. Bruce, you will be our casino’s forever friend.”
Sam showed gratitude for Mu En’s trust, but from an angle where Mu En couldn’t see, a hint of sarcasm curled at the corners of his mouth.
What a fool.
…
The game began.
The hole cards were dealt, and before any bets were placed, Sam noticed the clear, albeit forced, joy on Mu En’s face.
Did he get a good hand?
So easy to read.
In that case, following the old rules, let’s give you a little sweetener first.
Sam’s eyes flickered slightly; he didn’t even look at his own hole cards, just subtly tapped his fingers on the table.
…
“The first round, the winner is Mr. Bruce.”
……
“Round two, winner, Mr. Bruce.”
……
“Round eighteen, winner, Mr. Bruce. Congratulations! You’ve broken our casino’s winning streak!”
Amidst the flowers, applause, the spray of champagne, the astonished gazes of the crowd, and the soft flattery of beautiful women, the atmosphere in the casino quickly reached a fever pitch.
And that “new king of gamblers,” who had entered the casino for the first time and shattered its winning record, was now reclining with his feet propped up on the table, one arm draped around a provocatively dressed beauty, lying atop a mountain of chips that was even taller than before, casting a disdainful glance at Sam.
“Mr. Sam, you don’t seem to be as formidable as the rumors suggest.”
“Ha ha, it’s just that Mr. Bruce is too strong.”
Sam “forced” a smile, wiping nonexistent sweat from his forehead:
“I’ve never faced such a powerful opponent as you; it’s truly a bit of a misstep.”
“Hmph, well, when I was in the Northern Territory, I was just as invincible, known as the Little King of Gambling in Jiangnan.” Mu En shook his head, boasting arrogantly:
“It’s only natural that you lost to me.”
So, are all the fools in the Northern Territory like you?
Sam scoffed inwardly.
But now it seemed, the fish had completely taken the bait.
“So, Mr. Bruce, do you want to keep playing? You’ve already won several million.”
“Of course, my luck is running high; let’s keep going.”
……
Round nineteen, winner, Sam.
“Oh, what a pity, my winning streak has ended.”
Mu En didn’t care at all, pushing aside a handful of chips next to him.
“Continue.”
……
Round twenty, winner, Sam.
“Looks like I’m finally turning my luck around,” Sam said with a smile.
“Hmph, it’s just two rounds; what does that prove?” Mu En scoffed.
“Continue!”
……
Round twenty-five, winner, Bruce.
“See, see, I told you, that was just a minor accident.”
After losing several rounds, Mu En finally regained his arrogant demeanor, but he seemed completely oblivious to the fact that this time, the victory had earned him a pitifully small amount of chips.
“Continue!”
……
As night deepened, the atmosphere in the casino grew increasingly heated.
Everything seemed to be heading toward a fate that was predestined.
In the fortieth round, the winner was Sam.
“How… is this possible?”
At this moment, the “Gambling King” Bruce had long lost the arrogance and confidence he had earlier. He stared at his hand, his face gradually paling.
Once again, he had lost—this time, due to his own greed, he had lost a full five million!
The mountain of chips beside him had already dwindled to less than half; now, only a bare little hill remained.
Even the girls who had just been fawning over him had already left, not to mention the onlookers around him, who were now filled with jeers.
“What’s wrong, Mr. Bruce?”
Sam, enjoying the massage from a beautiful dealer, asked with a feigned look of concern:
“Are you feeling unwell? If you’re uncomfortable, we can take a break…”
“Continue!”
Mu En’s eyes were bloodshot, like a beast that had lost its reason: “Next round, next round I will definitely turn the tables.”
“Alright then.”
Sam licked his dry lips, a smile involuntarily creeping onto his face.
This kid still seemed to have quite a bit of money left, but there was no need to take it slow anymore; it was time to reap the rewards.
Everything was going according to plan.
First, give him a little taste of sweetness, let him feel that he can easily win money; that way, at any moment, he would harbor the hope of a comeback.
Then gradually push him to the brink, and in that despair, offer him a glimmer of hope.
The best kind—the kind that shines, unparalleled in its brilliance.
At that moment, he would…
“All in! I bet everything!”
With an excited roar, Mu En pushed all the chips in front of him forward.
He stared at his hand, his body trembling uncontrollably, his eyes gleaming as if he could see his future of winning it all.
—This was only natural, for the hand he held was four of a kind.
Four of a kind, one of the highest hands in this game; ordinary people might gamble their lives away without ever drawing a four of a kind.
And now, at the brink of losing it all, he had drawn a four of a kind…
Naturally, everything would be wagered.
Here lies the psychology of a gambler; as a seasoned player, Sam understands this better than anyone.
Everything has been under control from the very beginning.
“Not just these chips; I have deposits at the Imperial Bank, and I own several properties in Berland worth at least ten million. I’m betting all of it!”
Crystal cards, land deeds, even his own gold pocket watch—the man claiming to be Bruce seemed to have gone mad, putting everything on the table.
According to the rules, the stakes must be equal.
“You’re not going to fold, are you?” The man, suddenly realizing his reckless actions, looked up nervously at Sam.
“No, of course not.”
Watching those casually valued tens of millions, a broad grin spread across Sam’s face.
“To be honest, my hand is quite strong. Why would I fold, Mr. Bruce?”
“Then your bet…”
The roughly ten million in chips Sam had was not enough.
“The casino; I’m betting this casino.” Sam clapped his hands, as if he had been prepared for this all along, and his subordinate placed the deed to the casino on the table.
The casino…
The man’s gaze swept around, his expression growing more excited.
He seemed to envision a future where he owned this money-making casino.
Thus, he eagerly threw down his hand.
“Four of a kind! I have four of a kind, Sam, you lose!”
At this, Sam’s smile grew even more vibrant, his eyes filled with mockery.
What a fool.
Generally speaking, you would win, after all, I intentionally let the dealer deal you that, but four of a kind.
But that’s the general case.
The Rat King lowered his gaze, looking at his own hand.
Perhaps the dealer made a mistake; this hand was terrible, not even a pair.
But that was of no consequence.
He extended a finger, gently rubbing one of the cards.
The number on the card instantly changed, and with this change, his hand underwent a dramatic transformation.
It became the highest hand in the game!
This wasn’t magic; it was merely skill.
Magic is too easily perceived, while this kind of street-side trick, as long as it’s practiced enough, becomes even harder to detect.
As for… cheating?
Heh, of course, this is not cheating.
How can something that hasn’t been discovered be called cheating?
Kid, let me show you the cruelty of the lower city.
If you can’t even shuffle the cards, what do you have to gamble with me?
“Mr. Bruce, I’m really sorry.”
Sam gently placed his cards down, revealing a hand that was harder to read than four of a kind, a hand that some might never see in their lifetime, and with a confident smile he said:
“It seems that my skills are still superior.”
“……”
At that moment, the entire casino fell into a deathly silence.
As if everyone was stunned by the hand that Sam had revealed.
This brought Sam great satisfaction as he cast a leisurely glance at the “Mr. Bruce” before him.
Enjoying the despair of others was his favorite pastime.
……
But, he did not see despair in those pale blue eyes.
Instead, there was… mockery.
Unparalleled mockery.
It was as if a grand performance had just taken place; the man who called himself Bruce placed his top hat back on his head, as if he had transformed in an instant. The exaggerated emotions that had been on display were now cast into shadow by the broad brim of the hat, becoming elusive once again.
Yet only the sarcastic smile at the corner of his mouth remained so clear.
“Mr. Sam, what are you talking about? The winner… is me, right?”
“You? How is that possible? I have…”
Sam lowered his head, and then his expression suddenly went blank.
In disbelief, that hand that should have beaten everything became humble and weak again; let alone four of a kind, even the smallest pair could hardly compete.
Because.
That card, which he should have made disappear with his trick, inexplicably returned.
Just like that, awkwardly stuck among his cards, so eye-catching.
“This… how is this possible?” Sam let out a horrified scream.
It’s back?
What the hell, it’s back?
Wasn’t that card already made to disappear?
Did you grow legs on your own?
“Your biggest asset is just an A card, while I have four. Who loses and who wins, I think anyone should be clear on that.”
Mu En took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
Although the atmosphere was heated, the casino was not particularly hot, yet he seemed to have gone through a vigorous exercise, drenched in sweat.
“Then all of this belongs to me.”
Click.
The cold sound of the crossbow echoed in the silent casino.
Mu En withdrew his hand, calmly raised his head, and looked at the magic crossbow in Sam’s hand. His pale blue eyes, shrouded in shadow, remained as calm as a deep well.
“Mr. Sam, what do you mean by this?”
“That’s not right, this is very wrong!”
Looking at the nearly five thousand worth of assets about to fall into Mu En’s pocket, Sam waved the crossbow and shouted recklessly, “The winner should be me! That card was clearly taken away by me; my hand is the biggest!”
“Took away?”
Mu En raised an eyebrow, as if hearing this phrase for the first time. Tilting his head, he asked softly:
“So, Mr. Sam, does that mean… you cheated?”
“Fuck you! You’re the one who cheated!”
Sam’s eyes were bloodshot, staring fiercely at Mu En:
“You must have done something; otherwise, I wouldn’t have lost. I’ve never lost before!”
“Heh, Mr. Sam, if you’re going to accuse someone of cheating, you need to provide evidence. Plus, you said you took your hand away; doesn’t that just mean you’re admitting to cheating?”
Mu En smiled, as if he had finally seen the little rabbit hop into his trap, smiling brilliantly… yet coldly.
“That means, not just the casino and the money, now your life… is also mine.”