Chapter 19: The First Throw
The clinking of coins and the rattling of dice never truly ceased in the Gold Hall. Gilded walls, crystal chandeliers, and counterfeit laughter painted a picture of luxury—one so excessive, it bordered on grotesque.
But at a particular table reserved for "special guests," all the noise faded. Only a tension sharp enough to cut through bone remained.
Seated at the center of the blackwood table, Hideo crossed his arms, letting his gaze wander from one face to another.
Across from him sat Abe Ishi, representing the powerful Abe family. On Hideo's left, Dai Izuma sat stiffly, trying hard to hide the sweat collecting at his temple. Behind him, Liu Yufei stood like a silent shadow—watching everything, unaware that she herself was being watched.
"The game is simple," Abe Ishi said in a flat tone. "Three dice. Guess the total. Three rounds. Win two out of three, and you win overall."
Hideo gave a faint smile.
"Simple, sure," he replied, his voice lazy and indifferent. "But the simplest games often cut the deepest."
Abe Ishi blinked, taken aback. He thought the poison he'd arranged would've clouded Hideo's mind by now. But the young man's eyes—no, they were too clear.
"Very well." Abe clapped the table, signaling the dealer. "Begin."
Round One.
The hired dealer from the Abe family shook the jade cup, letting the sound of clattering dice fill the air. Then, he cast them on the table.
6 – 4 – 2.
Total: 12.
All eyes turned to Hideo.
"Thirteen," he said quietly—before the dice had even landed.
Silence followed.
When the final count was revealed to be 12, Abe Ishi smirked.
"One point off. You lose the first round."
Hideo only shrugged like it was no big deal.
Round Two.
This time, Mori Haizou took the dealer's place. With confidence brimming in his smile, he began shaking the dice with a rhythmic motion that felt oddly... intense.
Before the dice hit the table, Hideo leaned back in his chair.
"Six," he said flatly.
Mori paused, his brows furrowed. He was sure of the setup. Still, he threw.
3 – 2 – 1.
Total: 6.
"Hideo wins?" Dai Izuma murmured in disbelief.
Abe Ishi clenched his jaw.
"The final round will decide it."
Round Three.
The tension rose sharply. Everyone held their breath. Even Liu Yufei, normally indifferent, now watched with serious eyes.
The last dealer—a burly man—shook the dice longer than usual, trying to throw off the reading.
Hideo closed his eyes for a brief moment.
"Ten."
The cup struck the table.
4 – 5 – 1.
Total: 10.
"Exact!" Liu Yufei exclaimed. "He won two out of three!"
Abe Ishi froze, while Mori Haizou stared at the dice with a look of utter disbelief. He was sure… two of them had been sixes…
While others were still trying to process what had just happened, Hideo casually pulled the silver coins toward himself. Then, elegantly, he pushed ten taels to Liu Yufei—and added a thousand lien on top.
"Miss Liu, congratulations. Consider this a small thank-you gift for your... lucky presence."
Liu Yufei accepted with a sweet smile, her eyes narrowing like crescent moons. She gave Hideo a proud pat on the shoulder.
"Nice work, little Takumi! Next bet, I'm raising it to a thousand lien!"
As if she'd completely forgotten how she cursed him as a third-rate scammer just hours ago.
Abe Ishi forced a thin smile.
"Third Young Master's luck is... extraordinary. What a beautiful opening play."
But his gaze darted toward Mori Haizou. The man shook his head, visibly shaken. That die… it's the energy-infused kind I designed myself. How could it…
But it wasn't over.
Hideo Takumi kept winning.
And winning.
And winning again.
The silver coins stacked into towers. The total? Over three million lien. Liu Yufei, who kept placing bets alongside him, pocketed nearly twenty thousand in silver notes. Her delight was impossible to hide.
The Abe brothers were now pale as corpses.
"You… you cheated! You con artist!" Abe Ishi shouted, his face red with rage.
The 700,000 lien he brought had shrunk to a few pitiful slips of paper. He pointed at Hideo with trembling fingers, his anger barely contained.
But Hideo just gave him a bored look.
"If you can't handle losing, you shouldn't play."
He tilted his chin up.
"To catch a thief, you need proof. To catch a cheat, you need collusion. Did anyone here see me do anything? Miss Liu, you're a ranked expert, aren't you? Did I look like I was cheating?"
Liu Yufei nodded with confidence.
"I was with him the whole time. He threw the dice like anyone else. No way he cheated."
Abe Ishi ground his teeth. "Who brought you here?!"
"Him!" Liu Yufei pointed to Dai Izuma. "He convinced little Takumi to come! And during all these high-stake rounds, that lazy gambler just sits there? Think I'm stupid?"
Everyone was stunned. The ferocious 'Tiger of the Liu Family' had a tongue sharp enough to slice bone.
Meanwhile, back at the Grand Preceptor's Estate...
"Report, sir. Hideo Takumi has entered the Gold Hall, accompanied by Liu Yufei from the Liu family."
"...Liu Yufei?" Abe Youran's brows creased.
"It seems like a coincidence. She berated Takumi, then forced her way along."
Hearing that, Abe Youran narrowed his eyes.
"A variable..."
He inhaled deeply. "Send word to Ishi and the others. Tell them to pull back. Reschedule the plan. I don't care if we lose some money—do nothing today."
"Understood!" The guard rushed out.
Abe Sank, seated nearby, chuckled.
"A wise call. If Takumi gets caught while Liu Yufei's there, the Dai and Liu families will hear about it fast. That's kicking a hornet's nest. Better to lose a little now and perfect the next trap."
Though he chuckled, his gaze remained sharp.
No way... did Hideo Takumi bring Liu Yufei on purpose?
No. He doesn't seem like the type to plan that far ahead…
Unfortunately for them… they were already too late.