CHAPTER 20 - A Game of Fools and Fortune
Despite the barrage of protests and ever-changing rules, Hideo Takumi emerged victorious. His sharp tongue lashed out effortlessly, silencing the losing gamblers whose faces turned red like freshly boiled lobsters. Their coin purses now hung empty, like a winter sky stripped of hope.
Meanwhile, Hideo and Liu Yufei were busy counting their winnings. Every note they flicked through with theatrical flair felt like a dagger to the hearts of those defeated, who could only sit frozen in disbelief.
With a gleeful hum, Liu Yufei grabbed a handful—at least a hundred thousand liens—and casually stuffed it down her cleavage.
"Takumi, you know your win today was all thanks to me. Just a little extra won't hurt, right?"
"...It's already in your chest. Am I supposed to reach in myself? I'd get arrested for indecency..."
Hideo offered a resigned nod and a crooked smile.
"Of course I don't mind. Without you, I wouldn't have won nearly this much."
Liu Yufei's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Then... can I grab another handful?"
Hideo stared at her flatly. "Auntie, you already took your share and a bonus. As humans, there's a thing called shame, you know."
"Kekeke~ I'm just teasing. Look at that stingy little face!" she laughed, giving him a flirtatious wink.
With a profit of over two hundred thousand liens, Hideo couldn't suppress the smile tugging at his lips. Nearby, Dai Izuma sulked quietly, watching them with burning envy.
Why wasn't I born a girl... he thought bitterly.
Hideo glanced at his friend, slumped like a pig mourning a lost bowl of hot soup. He sighed inwardly.
I was going to give you some pocket money… but with that pitiful face… forget it.
Stretching his arms, Hideo laughed, the sound ringing through the hall like a bell on an autumn night.
"Are you all out of money? If so, I guess it's time for me to head home and rest. Just a small win after a short game—how disappointing! What do you think, Miss Liu?"
Before anyone could respond, Abe Ishi stepped forward, tension in his voice.
"You're not leaving that easily."
The mood shifted instantly. All eyes turned toward him. The gamblers' thoughts turned to mud, their strategies and confidence crumbling. Mori Haizou and his group clenched their jaws, frustration clearly visible.
With calm but cutting words, Hideo replied, "If you feel cheated, walk away. If you can't handle losing, you shouldn't have played in the first place."
His words slapped the crowd like cold water. He then casually handed the remaining pot to Liu Yufei, along with ten silver liangs and a bonus of a thousand liens.
"Miss Liu, think of this as a small token for the luck you brought tonight."
Yufei beamed, patting Hideo's shoulder with playful charm. "With my aura of fortune, I declare another round! Let's go—one thousand silver liangs this time!"
Tension surged once more. The gamblers who once stood tall now shifted uneasily. They hadn't expected the 'foolish' boy to turn the tables so dramatically.
Hideo sat down again, eyes fixed on the dice before him.
"Six," he said flatly as the dice were passed to Mori Haizou.
Narrowing his eyes, Haizou threw them with practiced confidence.
2 - 2 - 2. Total: 6.
The room fell silent. Haizou froze.
"I was sure at least one of those would roll a four... how did this happen?"
Fear began to creep across the faces of the gamblers. They realized this night belonged to Hideo Takumi. Once more, he gathered the winnings and handed them to Liu Yufei like it was always meant to be hers.
"Miss Liu, this fortune is merely a reflection of your destiny. Please, accept this bonus."
Liu Yufei blushed slightly, but her smile was radiant. "You're unbelievable, young master. But I won't back down! I'll raise the stakes again!"
Across the hall, Abe Ishi's group exchanged worried glances. Their funds were drying up.
Dai Izuma suddenly muttered, "Wait… who even told us to go all in like this? Maybe we were never ready for high-stakes gambling in the first place…"
The atmosphere grew heavy once more. Hideo stayed composed, though deep inside, a strange thought gnawed at him.
This winning streak... it's too perfect. It can't be just luck. Am I truly bending fate? Or have they fallen into a trap of their own making?
Standing tall again, Hideo raised his voice.
"If you can't handle losing, leave. This game is for those ready to risk everything!"
His words thundered through the Thousand Gold Hall. His aura radiated like that of a king without a crown. Hideo knew this wasn't just about dice—it was about instincts, control, and the courage to command the table.
And as he looked out at the gamblers frozen in silence, faces tight with regret, he grinned.
"This is just a game... and I'll never let someone else decide my fate."