Chapter 41 - A Long-Awaited Gamble
The Kikyo Society is facing a bit of a financial crunch. To put it bluntly, we’re not flush with cash. We haven’t run out of operating funds, and we’ve secured the necessary capital to start the bar. So, it’s not a dire situation yet, but if things continue like this, we’ll be in trouble.
The reason is simple: we have a lot more apprentices, but our income hasn’t increased. Late one night, after the Kikyo Society members had retired to their rooms, I discussed our financial woes with Sophie.
I’d love to drown my sorrows in alcohol, but that won’t solve anything. We need to do something.
"Should we push forward with opening the bar?"
"Hmm. The bar will be our main source of income for now, but I don’t want to rush it."
"If we don’t, we’ll end up relying on Yukarin’s magic, and the apprentices eat a lot more than I thought."
The apprentices eat a lot, raising our food expenses. But I eat the most, and I can’t complain since I’m the one pushing them hard in training. Besides, if we can’t even feed them properly, they’ll feel insecure. There’s a line we can’t cross when it comes to cutting corners.
But is there a quick way to make a large sum of money?
Ah, I know. We could just take a big risk and win big.
"... Frederica, how about a big bet?"
"What? Really, Yukari?"
Frederica’s surprise quickly turned to joy. She’s actually a gambling enthusiast.
I’ve avoided gambling for a reason. Raiding other groups’ gambling dens would stir unnecessary trouble, and losing would be a bitter pill to swallow. We’re already short of hands and busy, so we can’t afford to invite trouble.
That’s why the Kikyo Society has banned gambling—until now. But as the president, I can make exceptions for the Kikyo Society’s benefit. It’s not for personal gain, of course!
Besides, I have someone in mind as a good opponent.
"Calm down. This is a one-time thing. And we can’t go in a large group, so it’s just us two."
"Now that it’s decided, I can’t wait. Yukari, let’s get ready!"
How desperate is she for gambling? She’s practically bouncing with excitement.
"Just hold on a minute."
We need to tidy up before we go out.
Looking at my reflection, I noticed my hair, which had grown out since leaving the camp, was getting annoying. It was a bit of a hassle to set it, so I decided to tie it up with a simple iron hairpin. It had a kanzashi-like look, which was a nice change.
We walked through the night streets towards the gambling den. It’s usually not a good idea to wander around at night in a less savory part of town, but no one approached us. The reason was likely the white-and-silver coat with the Kikyo emblem on the back. The purple amethyst Kikyo emblem on my chest glinted in the faint light. In this city, it’s almost suicidal to provoke the Kikyo Society, and anyone familiar with the area knows better.
Our walk through the night was surprisingly pleasant, and we were close to our destination.
Since we were there to make money, of course, we had a plan. The gambling den we were heading to is run by an organization hostile to the Kikyo Society. It’s safe to assume they use cheating methods. I’m not so much good at gambling as I am at spotting cheating. I’m confident in my ability to see through their tricks. I can also read the situation to determine if they’re trying to win or lose gracefully. I have a high accuracy rate with simple games like coin tosses. I’m planning to bet on that.
Alternatively, I could expose their cheating and make them pay up if they don’t want to be exposed. That could lead to some rough handling.
For this, Frederica is not part of the plan. I want her to enjoy herself as a regular customer, which will also reduce their suspicion of me.
After a longer-than-expected walk, we finally arrived at our destination. This is a bar run by the Marzio Family, which often causes trouble on Sixth Avenue. They’re likely making their money through shady means, so taking a small cut shouldn’t be a big deal.
The gambling den is in the basement. I’ve only heard about it from Bruno, but I know this is the right place.
Inside, the bar was bustling with drunk patrons, even late at night. I didn’t expect to be let in through the back door immediately, so I waited. The middle-aged bartender finally appeared and motioned us to follow him.
"Welcome, President Yukarinowe," he said.
He ignored Frederica, but I didn’t mind. I wasn’t there to cause a scene; I was there to have fun.
"I’m here to have some fun."
"We welcome you, madam. Please, follow me to the special floor."
A special floor, huh? In a regular gambling den, there are many general customers, making it harder to pull off anything shady. The special floor, while sounding fancy, is likely full of suspicious activities. They’re definitely up to something, but I’ll play along.
"Alright, if you say so. Frederica, what about you?"
"I’ll stay in the general area. The stakes are higher where the rich gather, after all."
Good, I’ll let Frederica enjoy herself while I take care of business.
"President Yukarinowe, please follow me."
I was escorted to the upper floor, while Frederica went to the basement. We took an elevator to our destination. The elevator doors opened to a spacious, high-end V.I.P. lounge. I drew a lot of attention in my white-and-silver coat.
No one stared openly, but I could feel many covert glances and whispers about my coat and emblem. I have a good ear.
Most of the patrons seemed to be wealthy adult men and their companions. The women were likely not their partners but paid escorts. There were also some local merchants, their business associates, and a few who looked like nobles or adventurers.
Service staff in revealing outfits and waiters walked around with drinks.
"Hey! Manager, is that the Kikyo Society?"
The manager?
"This is Mr. Buladesh. As indicated by the coat, this is indeed the person you’re looking for."
"Ah, my apologies for the rudeness. How about a quick game? I enjoy challenging new customers."
The middle-aged man, who seemed to be a successful businessman, approached without hesitation. His gaze was unsettling, but I didn’t mind. His money is fair game.
"Sure, why not?"
He seemed slightly surprised by my immediate agreement, but what did he expect?
"Please use this table. I’ll have it set up right away."
The manager, who turned out to be the middle-aged man, quickly prepared the table.
"What do you want to play? I’m new, so I’ll follow your rules."
As we moved to the prepared table, a female server in a revealing outfit approached with a drink. I took it and took a sip, and the manager returned.
"President Yukarinowe, I’ve brought chips for you. Please exchange as much as you’d like."
Of course, in a place like this, customers wouldn’t use their Records directly for transactions. So, I decided on a reasonable amount.
"Let’s start with ten million, I guess."
"Understood."
It seemed like a safe amount. The chips were placed in front of me: a stack of million-chip and a stack of hundred-thousand-chip.
Looking at them, they seemed small. The successful businessman in front of me had a stack ten times larger. Other tables also had large stacks, making me feel like a pauper. But I could always increase my stack.
The atmosphere here reminded me of the legendary Bubble Era. Despite the troubled times, this place felt quite luxurious.
"Please enjoy, Mr. Buladesh and President Yukarinowe. I’ll leave you to it."
The manager bowed elegantly and left. He seemed too refined to be part of the underworld.
Being challenged to a one-on-one game was unexpected, but it was interesting. He seemed decent, despite his unsettling gaze. He was surprisingly friendly to the staff.
"I’m Buladesh, running the Buladesh Company on Central Avenue, specializing in transportation magic tools. There’s no need for introductions; you’re quite famous in Exembra lately."
"Thank you. I’ve been to your store a few times and plan to visit again soon."
It wasn’t just a polite response. With the increase in apprentices, our three Jeeps weren’t enough. I was considering buying a larger vehicle, and his store was the only place in Exembra that sold them. It would be a while due to our current financial situation, but it was a genuine intention.
"Great, I’ll welcome you. Shall we start the game?"
When I said I was open to any game, he confidently picked up a deck of cards and started shuffling. It was a one-on-one game where we took turns dealing. If he played fair, there was no issue. I was ready to enjoy.
The excitement of a long-awaited game was thrilling. The game was similar to Texas Hold’em Poker. The basic rules were: Two cards were dealt to each player, and five community cards were placed on the board, revealed one by one. The players would use any five of the seven cards (two in their hands and five on the board) to form the best hand.
After the initial deal, players would take turns betting or raising, and after the flop, the turn, and the river, the final showdown would occur. Players could fold if they felt they couldn’t win or if the stakes got too high.
The interesting part was that even with a weak hand, you could bluff and win if your opponent folded. Of course, if they called, you’d lose everything.
There were many more detailed rules, but that was the gist. It brought back memories from my early days in the camp.
The businessman’s card handling suggested he was confident in his skills. So far, there was no cheating.
I looked at my two cards and immediately bet a million chips.
He wasn’t intimidated by the large sum, which was expected. This would be fun. I’d gradually chip away at his confidence. We both called, and the showdown revealed no winners. He seemed cautious after my initial high bet. The million chips we both bet were added to the pot for the next round.
In this game, even weak hands were ranked, but this local rule applied. It was now my turn to deal. I confidently shuffled and dealt, maintaining a poker face. He bet a million chips right away, showing he was a competitive player.
Hmm, he didn’t have a strong hand. I had a pair of strong cards, so I was confident in winning this round. As expected, I won and added two million chips to my stack.
We continued alternating dealing and betting. While luck played a role, skill and reading the opponent would gradually make a difference. We played quietly, enjoying the game. As the rounds progressed, my stack grew, and his diminished. By the time my stack was about four times larger, Buladesh conceded.
"You’re impressive. The Kikyo Society might be even more formidable than I thought."
"You were a tough opponent, Buladesh-san."
"I can’t match you. But I had a lot of fun! Will you play again with me?"
"Sure, anytime."
If he was willing to be a good sport, I’d happily play again.
He could have cheated, but he probably realized it wouldn’t work against me. In the end, we had a fair and enjoyable game.
I made a good profit, and the game itself was fun. I’d buy a larger vehicle to give back a little. Buladesh left for the elevator, and I sighed. I made quite a profit without any unnecessary trouble. The high stakes in the V.I.P. room could be risky, and it was good that I didn’t bring Frederica. I’d made enough for the immediate future. There was no need to push further.
While sipping a drink, the manager approached.
"Excuse me, President Yukarinowe. Some patrons would like to challenge you to a game. What do you think?"
I looked in the direction he pointed and saw a group at a table. They seemed to be inviting me.
Challenging me was part of my style. I’d already planned to leave but decided to make one last big win.