Chapter 24: Let’s Play a Game (3)
The Nether-Realm.
It was a vast realm ruled by anarchist Demon-Gods and Demon-Lords, where the rules were even stricter than those of Aether.
Rules simply HAD to exist.
Cheating, however, was something that broke those rules.
That was precisely why it was so difficult to find cheating in the casinos of the Nether-Realm.
Of course, a few tables were deliberately rigged to ensure people lost money, but this was extremely rare and, strangely enough, actually legal.
Dean knew why these ghosts, despite their laughter, adopted a serious demeanour the moment the game began.
They were trying not to break the rules.
For a human, breaking the rules might result in a mere fine.
For a ghost, however... breaking those rules would cost at least a part of their soul.
So if Dean exposed these people’s cheating, he could report them directly.
Yet there was one thing the young man didn’t know.
If he actually managed to expose their cheating, the punishment would be automatic. He wouldn’t even need to do anything.
And so the games had continued, time and time again.
Dean, however, had finally managed to notice something after losing nearly five thousand Nether and Aether coins.
"Tick—"
"Tick—"
"Tick—"
Every time, without fail, just before the hand began, this strange, faint sound would emerge.
It sounded just like the click of a button being pressed.
Whilst playing the game, Dean had tried to work out where the sound was coming from, and he’d managed to pinpoint its source within a short time.
One of the Ghosts was holding an object in their hand.
Dean had seen the object but, without reacting, had continued to focus on the game.
At that moment, he thought to himself.
"Pocket Watch of the Unknown."
To confirm his theory, the young man had rushed through the game he was currently playing, in a rather foolish manner.
Before the next game began, whilst the cards were being shuffled, the sound had emerged once more:
"tick—"
The young man was now certain of what was happening.
Somehow, this watch was the very object carrying out the trick.
This had piqued Dean’s curiosity.
Was it possible to break this trick?
So, out of curiosity, he spoke to himself, but in such a way as if he were addressing Percival:
"Percival. Do not come out, but can you see what I see?"
The moment Dean asked this question, a reply came:
"Positive, sir."
"Can you somehow, in some way, influence that pocket watch? Not now, but in the next game," Dean enquired.
Along with this question, another affirmative reply was sent to him:
"I shall do my best, sir."
Percival was a spellcaster.
Nevertheless, Dean’s body contained Holy Power.
As per the terms of the contracts, the spirits of ghosts or other entities were bound to the individuals with whom they had contracted; consequently, there would be a small reserve of Holy Power within Percival’s mana.
Mana itself might be only half as powerful as Yin and Yang, but the Holy Power within it could bridge that gap.
Percival would do his best.
And so, the move Dean had been making was swiftly played out and concluded.
Now it was time for the show.
The new cards had begun to be shuffled.
"Now, Percival."
Along with Dean’s thoughts, a very subtle, almost imperceptible aura had emanated from his body.
Dean and Percival were very fortunate to be powerless.
As the energy they possessed was weak, it was at a level that was virtually undetectable.
Under normal circumstances, whilst another energy was present on that pocket watch, it would not have been possible to pierce through it with such a weak energy.
Here, however, Dean’s energies were coming to the fore.
The young man was unaware of this, and indeed, it was hardly likely that he would be, but the energies within his body were truly pure.
Perhaps his spirit was very bright, and both magic and holy power favoured him for that reason, but these energies were truly formed, created and functioning with incredible purity.
This granted them the ability to pierce through the yin and yang energies, which, even in their weakest state, were many times greater than his own.
Percival had seeped directly into the clock.
"Tick—"
When that sound emerged once more, the croupier had dealt the cards and, at the sight of them, had glanced at Dean just once.
In front of Dean lay both an ace and a 10 of clubs.
"I won, right?" Dean had asked.
At this question, the ghost acting as the croupier smiled wryly and said, "Ye--yes, you did."
Immediately afterwards, the young man asked, "Now that I’m lucky, I’d say I’ll put 10,000 Nether and Aether coins on the bet. Is that alright?"
At this, the pupils of every ghost’s eyes seemed to turn into gold coins.
"Of course, of course!" the croupier had said.
Dean, meanwhile, had given Percival an order.
"I need to lose this hand; don’t do anything."
The young man wanted to raise the stakes as much as possible and take down these ghosts in a single move.
Given that they were playing simple bets, they didn’t have a great deal of money. Still, it was clear they didn’t want to risk their lives by selling an S-Grade item in the secluded corners of the Nether.
Dean wasn’t a fool.
It was possible to understand all this with just a glance, a single thought.
This showed that there was a way to take them out in a single move.
Dean took a ten-thousand note from the system and placed it on the table; the energies within that note were practically overwhelming the ghosts.
The cards were dealt immediately.
Dean had lost almost instantly.
However, it was now time to play a part.
Dean began to act as if he were angry, grinding his teeth together, trying to subtly signal to the ghosts that he was ready to do something serious.
The ghosts, however, had smiled.
This always happened.
The losers would get annoyed and put more on the line.
The man opposite them was no different from the others.
At least... that’s what they thought.
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