Seven-card stud had simple rules. The dealer dealt three cards each to the players. Each player chose one of the three cards to reveal while keeping the other two hidden. Then the players would bet as the dealer provided each with a new open card. The betting would cease when the number of cards reached seven, and the player with the best hand would win.

“This bastard really won’t look at his hand. Look at your hand for god’s sake! How can you be so confident?”

“You’ll read my face. I’m not confident in my poker face.”

The bald guy kept pestering me. However, I only glared at Bert. To be exact, I glared at the obsidian bracelet on his left wrist. Bert had obtained it through one of his scams, but he didn’t know it was an artifact. I wanted his bracelet instead of his money.

We played our twelfth round. Chae Nayun remained in the negative as my chips multiplied to 60 million won.

“Tsk.”

Bert looked understandably angry. I would be angry too if a random kid barged in on my scheme and took 50 million won. However, he currently had the best hand. The dealer had already dealt five cards, with two left. Bert would complete a full house with another ace.

“Next hand.”

The dealer dealt the sixth round of cards. Bert picked up an ace of hearts and completed his full house.

The chances of an ace-high full house were 0.144%. That hand would only lose against a four of a kind, a straight flush, or a royal flush. The chances of a four of a kind when someone else already held a full house were lower than winning the lottery. Bert showed no signs with a perfect poker face.

“Hmm.”

My luck still gave me the advantage because an opponent with a full house wouldn’t fold. That said, I still hadn’t completed my four of a kind. I had the deuce of diamonds, the deuce of hearts, and the deuce of clubs. I needed the deuce of spades. However, I trusted my luck.

“Call”

Bert calmly betted.

“I raise!”

The bald man increased the pot with a terrible hand. He must’ve received a sign from Bert.

“Call.”

Chae Nayun also carefully called. She played terribly.

I also called just like Bert wanted. The maximum betting limit for this table was 500 million won. I made quite a bit, but paled in comparison to the richer players at the table. I went all-in with that last call.

“Here’s the final card.”

Deuce of Spades. I completed my four of a kind.

“Ah, kid, you already went all-in, so you can’t bet anymore, huh.”

I ran out of money with one round of betting left.

“Why don’t you bet that ring on your finger instead?” Bert casually asked. He noticed the ring on my finger wasn’t ordinary. As expected, he had good eyesight for a scammer.

“What!” However, Chae Nayun strongly reacted. “Is this guy crazy? Hey, let’s just leave!”

“What, the game isn’t even over yet. Just stay put.”

“It’s fine, I’ll give you the money you would’ve lost—”

“Just sit.”

What’s up with her? I grabbed Chae Nayun’s wrist and made her sit.

“Fine, I’ll bet this priceless ring, so you bet that too.”

I pulled off my ring and placed it on the table. Then I pointed at the obsidian bracelet on his wrist. Bert took off his bracelet after thinking for a moment.

“Deal.”

Chae Nayun whispered in my ear with a worried expression. “Hey, are you really okay with that? That’s your family keepsake—”

“I won’t lose, so just stay put. I would’ve folded if I didn’t stand a chance.”

I didn’t even hear what Chae Nayun said.

“Now then.”

The pot size increased to 300 million won, but the real value was much higher with the two artifacts.

“What will the others bet?”

Bert’s teammates immediately folded when I asked.

“… I also fold.”

Chae Nayun also backed out and fell silent. Only Bert and I remained.

“Then shall we show our hands?”

“Sure.”

“I’ll go first.”

Bert revealed his ace-high full house.

“Full house?”

Chae Nayun’s face stiffened. She seemed to care more about this match than I did.

“Haha, sorry, kid.”

Bert grinned and proceeded to sweep the chips like the stereotypical person about to lose.

“Hold on, I haven’t revealed my hand yet.”

“… What?”

I grabbed the loser’s wrist like in the gambling movies and stopped him from taking the chips. Then I slowly revealed my hand. All four cards with the number 2.

“Four of a kind. It’s my win.”

Bert’s expression immediately darkened. Chae Nayun clasped her hands and shouted, “Wow! Four of a kind! H-How!”

She expressed her shock and excitement. I already knew I would win, but it still felt ecstatic.

***

Bert made a big scene and called me a scammer. However, Chae Nayun subdued him before the security guards could even arrive, and I grabbed all the chips along with his obsidian bracelet.

[Athenian Citizen’s Obsidian Bracelet] [Magic Artifiact] A bracelet with magic seals.

Magic Seal (1/4) — Shock Absorption & Automatic Recharge: When its wearer takes damage, a certain amount will be converted into magic power and stored in the bracelet. Will slowly recharge magic power when exposed to air.

The wearer couldn’t use the stored magic power directly as it only lingered inside the bracelet. That was why Bert didn’t realize the true worth of this bracelet until a year later. Of course, that occurred in the original story. He would never find out now that I had obtained it.

The bracelet could simply be used if you engraved another magic seal onto it. This bracelet could store up to four magic seals. For now, I planned to add seals that enhanced my physical attributes.

“What were you going to do if you lost?” Chae Nayun asked from next to me.

“Jump off a bridge.”

I meant it as a joke, but she looked serious.

“Don’t say that. You have to live your life to the fullest.”

Her serious tone surprised me.

“What is it all of a sudden? You want your money back?”

Of the 300 million I won, 100 belonged to Chae Nayun.

“No, you keep it. You won it fair and square. I’ll consider it as a lesson to never gamble again.”

Chae Nayun walked away while grumbling. She planned to leave the casino.

“Oh, by the way.”

She faced me and spoke after slightly hesitating.

“You were pretty cool today.”

She turned back and left.

“… I guess I was.”

Of course, I had no plans to leave yet. I stood in the middle of the casino floor and breathed in the heated atmosphere.

Trrrrr—

The sound of a spinning roulette struck my ears. I could hear people screaming at a baccarat table. Slot machines tempted more gamblers with their addictive tunes. Dealers laughed and tables stacked with chips and cards.

In this casino, where luck decided fortune, I reigned as king.

“…”

I clenched my fists and picked a target. The first would be roulette. I walked up with conviction and placed down 100 million won.

“1 to 12.”

The spectators curiously glanced at me.

Chweek—

The roulette spun. Its destination landed on… number 12.

“Oooh!”

Everyone cheered as my money increased to 130 million won. I confidently smiled and tried all sorts of games after that.

Blackjack. Indian Poker. Baccarat. Texas Hold’em. Even Go-Stop.

My money multiplied like a colony of bacteria every time I moved to a new table.

***

The traveling club met 50 minutes before the event at 6:10 P.M. Everyone waited at the appointed location except for Kim Hajin.

“Ah, Hajin is here.”

Kim Suho pointed into the distance.

“Finally, why is he always la…”

Chae Nayun couldn’t finish her sentence. Kim Hajin had changed significantly compared to a few hours ago. His shaggy hair was neatly brushed up, and he now wore a brand-name suit. His luxury dress shoes also made him 6 centimeters taller as he confidently walked up.

“…”

“…”

“Oh, Kim Hajin! What happened?”

Chae Nayun and Yoo Yeonha stood with their jaws dropped as Kim Suho asked. Kim Hajin grinned and his white teeth glistened under the sunlight.

“What, did you get your teeth whitened too?”

Chae Nayun asked dumbstruck.

“Hm? Ah, something like that.”

Kim Hajin had checked whether an antique shop carried any useful items with his laptop. Then he found a 300 year old toothbrush which supposedly increased the charm stat by 0.01 points. It also included teeth whitening.

“Your clothes… did you buy them?”

“Yeah.”

Yoo Yeonha and Chae Nayun scanned him from top to bottom. Kim Hajin confidently crossed his arms and even put on sunglasses.

Suddenly, a soft voice spoke.

“Oh, who’s this?”

The group turned and spotted Kim Junwoo, a hunter of the Vast Expanse.

“Chae Nayun?”

Kim Junwoo looked at her and waved. Chae Nayun’s eyes widened.

“Ah! Why are you here, Oppa!”

“Nothing much, just hanging out.”

Kim Junwoo scratched his head and modestly smiled. Yoo Yeonha approached him with sparkling eyes.

“Could you be… Kim Junwoo from the Vast Expanse?”

“Yup, that’s me. Looks like my name is still worth something, haha.”

“It’s nice to meet you.”

Yoo Yeonha shook hands with him. Then Kim Junwoo turned towards Kim Hajin and seemingly recognized him.

“Ah! You’re the kid making bank at the casino! You are Nayun’s friend? Nice to meet you, man. I’m jealous, I only lost money.”

“Making bank?”

Chae Nayun, Yoo Yeonha, and Kim Suho simultaneously tilted their heads.

“Yeah, I think he made around… 2 billion?”

“2 BILLION!?!?”

The three of them all shouted. Even for Yoo Yeonha and Chae Nayun, 2 billion won was worth a lot. Kim Junwoo rubbed his chin and spoke.

“I think so. A bunch of big guys in suits dragged him out after a while.”

“They didn’t drag me out. They gave me a key to the hotel’s best suite and even guided me there to take a break.”

“Oh, is that what happened?”

Kim Junwoo nodded with a smile. Then he glanced at Kim Suho. He chuckled like an old man and whispered into Chae Nayun’s ear.

“Who’s he? Your boyfriend?”

“W-What are you talking about?”

Chae Nayun glanced at Kim Suho, then at Kim Hajin.

“He’s not.”

Kim Junwoo mischievously smiled at her reaction.

“Don’t tell me, you’re hunting two rabbits at the same time?”

“W-What are you talking about!”

“Polyandry should be okay for someone like you, Na— Uk!”

“Stop!”

She elbowed Kim Junwoo’s solar plexus as he held his stomach in exaggeration and surrendered.

Meanwhile, Evil Society’s Bermund hid and watched the rowdy scene. His strength measured around the middle among everyone attending today.

“Kim Junwoo doesn’t seem to know. Yes, I’ll join up soon.”

He turned back after finishing his report.

“… !”

A woman enveloped in darkness appeared. Immediately, Bermund became breathless. Long black hair and deep dark eyes that seemed to devour him. She stared at Bermund before calling someone.

“Jain.”

“Yeah, I’m here.”

Another woman appeared beside her as Bermund felt his death.

***

A limousine parked in front of the Thames River leading to Clancy Islet. Countless reporters and cameras surrounded the limousine as the door opened. Rachel stepped out in a beautiful silver dress. The cameras busily flickered as the princess and pride of England appeared.

“Do you have any thoughts on tonight’s event?”

“According to rumors, you lost your first place in theory at Cube. Do you have any comments?”

Rachel smiled and continued walking. She wasn’t accustomed to wearing high heels, but proceeded more perfectly than any model. Rachel met with a businessman in front of the portal.

“Thank you very much for personally visiting us today, Princess.”

Zelen, the CEO of the multinational Roton Corporation, greeted her. Today, he would personally reveal how to effectively utilize the [White Crystal] in Clancy Hall. The object contained tens of thousands of concentrated magic power. Roton Corporation had asked the English Royal Court to attend and increase the event’s prestige. Rachel couldn’t refuse since Roton Corporation was their greatest sponsor.

“Have you increased security?” Rachel asked Zelen.

“Haha, of course.”

Events on this scale rarely occurred because djinns or bandits would always interfere. However, Roton did not want to give up the potential stocks and astronomical profits. Of course, they thoroughly prepared and chose Clancy Islet as their venue for that very reason. They also hired numerous mercenaries, and even lobbied the Hero Association to dispatch high rank heroes.

“You can look forward to it, Princess.”

Zelen's eyes scanned over her. Rachel disliked his lustful, snake-like eyes.

“Roton only promises to elevate the guild’s status as the Royal Court’s greatest sponsor.”

***

Clancy Islet’s largest hall filled up thirty minutes before the event. Everyone wore luxurious clothes as part of the upper class. However, I didn’t lose out to anyone with my 300 million won suit. It also functioned as cloth armor and a partial artifact that transformed me into an Asian millionaire.

“Mm.”

I sat alone in a cool posture and looked around. Yoo Yeonha busily networked while Chae Nayun went to the bathroom.

“You’re here too.”

Someone's voice sounded from behind. I turned around and saw the Chameleon Troupe’s Boss disguised as Li Xiaopeng.

“Oh, you came too, Xiaopeng.”

"Right. As a hero in charge of guarding… what bullshit."

However, Boss suddenly cursed. I also heard what Jain whispered in her ear thanks to my gift.

— You finally met your crush, Boss. Congratulations.

“Cough. Cough.”

I cleared my throat.

“Ah, s-sorry. My colleague said something strange through my earphone.”

Boss made an excuse as she tapped her earphone.