Godfather's System

052. Crucible - 29

When I arrived at the dividing line, I temporarily put aside the mysterious aims of the Greens. It didn't feel comfortable, but life had taught me that trying to handle problems before understanding them was a bad choice.

It was doubly so in a world I had yet to understand.

Instead, I focused on my more immediate problem. Where to set up my fledgling gambling operation. The general lines were obvious. I had already decided to keep an eye on the Greens, so being close to the border was a necessity. This location had other advantages, as if not inviting any gambler right into the middle of the camp.

I wanted any fight — which would inevitably occur — away from the center and easily contained. For that reason, I established it closer to the outer edge as well. Closer to a possible monster attack, they would act more carefully. That closeness would help me to expand my web of Charisma, continuing to gather Experience easily.

Altogether, the operation was set. I looked at the other blues. I said nothing as I drew a large circle with my halberd. "Disperse, boys. This area is going to function as a casino from now on," I declared.

My reputation among the Blues was enough that they dispersed without complaining. I didn't like acting like a brash idiot and depleting that reputation for such little gain, of course, but at this point, for good or ill, I had made a commitment to a personality, and changing it again would look suspicious.

A few orders, and people were dragging a few logs, and even set a small bonfire for people to come. I even arranged for someone to bring a cask of hard liquor. Poor judgment was the best friend of a casino, after all. Even a poor one like the one I had set up. Not the most impressive operation I had ever set, I thought as I surveyed the area. Five smaller circles, two for card games, and three for dice.

Smaller than I wanted, but probably enough for the first night. I could always expand if it brought more people.

With everything arranged, I looked around the Blues that were gathering. "Which one of you has gambling experience, preferably as a dealer," I called. None raised their hands. "There'll be two denicas payment, plus food," I added.

Suddenly, several hands jumped up. "Good, show me," I said as I passed them the decks and dice, and watched as they showed their abilities. None of them was particularly good. Any card shark would have gutted them in minutes, but luckily, I planned to stay around to make sure such a thing wouldn't happen.

Ultimately, I picked five that were the fastest to implement my offhand comments to their tricks. If I couldn't get competent, I had to make do with quick learners. Also, I made sure none of them had particularly quick fingers.

It was too early to mix the games with some house cheating.

I hired five more as muscle, just in case I had to step away for an emergency, and soon, my little gambling operation was ready to go, waiting for customers.

Customers who didn't take long to arrive. One of the dice pits was already operating for Blues when the Reds and Blacks started to arrive. A few, I even recognized from the game I had joined earlier, their smirks enthusiastic.

Understandable, because after my great 'loss' in that game, they were ready to repeat the experience. Even the cheater was here, no doubt ready to make another fortune.

Too bad I had no intention of letting him play around this time. It was not good for a casino, even a fleeting one, to fail against the cheaters, even in games where they took the money of the other players rather than the house money.

I quickly set the rules so that only one card game and one dice game were high-stakes, while the rest played in low stakes. No need to drain people too quickly.

The Reds and Blacks quickly gathered for the high-stakes dice game and started playing. Since the dealer was my employee, there was no cheating going on. They played a few hands, money going back and forth before one of them spoke. "Isn't it boring to just watch, boss?" one of the Blacks commented. "Maybe you should join us?"

"A good idea, but I can't play while it's my people throwing the dice. I have no intention of hearing you crying when I win."

"Maybe I can be the dealer again, then," the cheater suggested. I nodded, accepting it. And the game started. As we played, I heard some grumblings from the next pit, one that broke into a fight. I could have stood up to handle it, but why steal an opportunity from my new guards to show off?

"Handle it, and throw him out," I said as I pointed at the one that started the fight, and my guards did so. One against four was not easy odds to handle in a fistfight, and soon, the problem maker had been thrown out.

"Maybe a bit too much," suggested one of them.

"No, not tough enough," I answered. "In my games, I don't tolerate two things. Troublemakers, and cheaters."

"Great sentiment," the cheater committed, the smug satisfaction in his tone unmistakable. "It's not good to have cheaters taking money off the hardworking folks."

"Definitely," I said, ignoring the little trick he had pulled to get an extra two silvers. I wanted to teach him a lesson. I was prideful. Man, I didn't like to be mocked, even if the reason was not true. I could handle it when needed, however.

Just like now, when I waited for our little cheater to feel confident enough to pull a trick that he couldn't weasel his way. At this point, my word wasn't good enough when I called someone a cheater. I could still beat him and kick him out, of course, but I would just look like a sore loser.

Unfortunately, he was playing safe, so I had to suffer his smug smile for several more hands until I noticed his hand slip into his pocket and come out with an extra set of dice.

"How about a bigger pot, something to make things fun," one of the Reds offered suddenly with a smirk, and he only did after watching him reach into his pocket. They were in cohorts. Even better.

"Sure, how about five hundred denicas," I said as I threw all of my money, along with a second pouch filled with rocks.

"I don't have that much with me, but if you're willing to extend a line of credit…" he suggested.

"Of course," I said, and six people joined the game, seven including me. Four of them were in cahoots, the way they shared glances confirmed it, and the other two were unlucky victims who joined the game. "Actually, how about a raise," one of the others that belonged to their little band of cheaters commented. "How about if we raise it to a thousand." He smirked. "Unless you're scared, of course."

"Deal," two of them jumped in.

"Too rich for my blood," the fourth one commented, in an attempt to look as if they were not collaborating. One of the victims pulled back, and the other stuck.

"I'm game. Roll it," I ordered, and the dealer grabbed the dice, ready to roll.

I had to admit, it was a good trick. Fleecing me a great amount of silver while also ruining my reputation as a gambler. Of course, if they were smart, it was just the beginning. They would follow with another hand, allowing me to earn some back, before pushing me even deeper into debt…

Even if they couldn't collect all that debt, it would still ruin my reputation. Furthermore, they could use that to push against Jehrann, damaging the Blues in the process. Not a bad plan.

Too bad I had no intention of allowing it to start. Just as the cheater started throwing. I leaned forward and grabbed his waist.

"Hey, what's going on, we're playing a game here. No need to act like a brute —" the one that proposed the initial bet started.

Only to be interrupted by the distinct sound of bone breaking. I twisted the hand of the cheater, and he lost control of his hand.

Two pairs of dice spilled. "I told you, I don't like cheaters," I said with a whisper, but that was all that was needed with the sudden silence that surrounded us. Just to make a point, I grabbed the weighted dice and broke it in my grip, the embedded lead clear.

One of them reached for his dagger, trying to be sneaky. "I don't recommend it," I suggested as I turned to him. "Not unless you don't want to lose your hand permanently."

I turned back to the group. "Now, maybe I'm old and not remembering the stuff correctly," as I turned toward the cheater. "But I feel as if I had mentioned I don't like cheaters." I smiled. It was not a nice smile. "Actually, I'm pretty sure I did," I said.

Meanwhile, the cheater didn't even move.

"Answer me," I ordered.

"You did," he whimpered.

"Good. It would be sad if I misremembered stuff," I said as I leaned forward, and took both his weapon and his pouch. Then, I gestured toward one of my guards. "Throw the trash out," I ordered, watching in amusement as he was dragged away.

"Now, boys, we were just about to have a game," I said as I gathered the dice in my palm. "But since our dealer is gone, maybe it should be me that throws the dice," I said as I raised my hand, opened my palm, and pulled my sleeves. "Just to make sure I don't have any hidden dice, unlike the dealer you lot brought along," I added.

"M-maybe it's for the better if we call it a day," one that raised the bet to a thousand cut in.

"No need," I said, then smirked. "Unless you're scared, of course," I added, repeating his words.

He was scared, but also smart enough not to utter those words. "W-we can play, of course," he admitted.josei

"Now, feel free to check the dice, we don't want people saying that I was a cheater," I said, passing the dice to them. They checked it, although their trembling fingers made it difficult.

"Good," I said as I threw the dice, which, inevitably, ended up in my victory. I didn't need the weighted dice to throw the exact numbers I needed. Especially with all the advantages granted by my Agility.

"It seems that victory is mine, boys," I said, looking at them. "Four thousand denicas." I stopped, smiling as I gestured to my newly hired guards and dealers. "Pause the game and follow me, boys. We have some debt to gather!"