OLD-WORLD EXTRA

Chapter 308: Why? Who? How?

Chapter 308: Why? Who? How?

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"Now then. You guys, mind telling me why we're gambling? And ain't it weird? Chess club playing poker?"

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The chess pieces dared not to answer his question, leaving it to the Board.

It seemed that they too didn't want to risk stepping on any of his land mines. But thankfully for Emir, he didn't take it as an insult.

"Indeed, the abundance of players may complicate matters, yet I perceive your meaning lies deeper. Consider this a preliminary exercise for what lies ahead. Picture it thus: your mind embarks on a marathon, and this game serves as the warm-up stretch. Besides, there's naught amiss with chess enthusiasts exploring other games, is there?"

He smiled while shaking his head.

"None at all."

"We could indulge in movies and other pursuits favored by the youth, but where lies the essence of social interaction in such endeavors? Furthermore, it seems improbable that individuals leading lives akin to ours could be significantly impacted by fiction..."

While Emir listened to his rambling words, his mind searched for hidden meanings but found none, failing, so he went ahead and focused on the game they were about to play, not wasting his now extremely precious time.

And judging by the money presented by all four, combined with several other factors he took note of, Emir figured out which of them lived in Order-controlled systems.

Ms. Knight obviously wasn't, as she apparently lived on the edge of the known universe, meaning that her Valora was obtained by much more arduous means compared to a man like Mr. King, as he definitely lived smack dab in the middle of their Galactic Federation, enjoying the benefits that came along with such a status.

Those benefits included easier access to Valora, as that was the official currency used in all kinds of trades and purchases of goods, giving him leverage in every transaction compared to those without that benefit.

This might've not been the case for Ms. Queen and Mr. Rook as well, which essentially meant that the Chess Club had members from all over the universe, separated by tens of millions or maybe even hundreds of trillions of light years.

"...So Mr. Player, wise as always, chose this as our method."

When Mr. Board was finally done with his fanatical rant, Emir asked:

"Another question, are the meetings usually this long?"

Ms. Knight answered as fast as lightning, shoving her elbow into his shoulder,

"Nay, our meetings tend to be short, not much new to add, ye know. When all those years pass and ye finally become a Class-Three, there ain't much novelty left. We don't stumble upon anythin' excitin' like that. Usually just the same old routine. Your arrival today was our highlight since the last Mr. Pawn passed away..."

Her excitement died down slightly as she stopped invading his space, finally giving his shoulder some rest.

"Poor lad, still remember his enthusiasm. Unlike you, he was quite the happy-go-lucky fella, well, before it all when to shit at least. Anyways, if anythin' interestin' happens, then we linger, play chess, and talk for long, sometimes even for days, weeks."

Emir nodded.

"You know, not to be rude, but why the hell do you act like that?"

Ms. Queen lightly giggled while Mr. King laughed out loud, banging his hand on the table's edge, causing the coins to tremble.

"He's got you there~."

"Buahhahaha! You're being ridiculed by the new kid!"

Mr. Rook looked at the loud man with annoyance, his sharp teeth on full display as he hissed like a snake while hugging the stack of coins with both his arms, not wanting them to fall.

"Rich bastard..."

Meanwhile, Ms. Knight showed surprise for a moment, not expecting Emir to be so blunt. "Ah, that. Me, a Knight, bein' honorable and all, yet actin' like this... quite unusual, no?" She answered seriously, her demeanor calm, a rare occurrence, especially for those who knew her.

But they didn't comment, allowing the scene to unfold.

"Yes... Embodiment not work for you?"

"Nay, it did, but just 'cause one's all honorable, dignified, and shouts loyalty doesn't mean they can't also be like me-wild, playful, and whatever else ye might call me."

'I see... so not all knights are the same, it depends on how they perceive knighthood to be... All Celestials are different, even Morgiana could see her path differently-a cold so cold that it's hot maybe?'

"I'd say feral, but sure, I get it, Ms. Knight."

Pfft!

All present, with the exception of the two, forced themselves to swallow a chuckle that almost escaped their lips, not wanting to tease their little dwarf even more.

"Humph!"

Ms. Knight gave them the back of her head as she looked the other way, her arms hugging her

body.

The group shared a laugh, and Mr. Board, who had just finished distributing the chips after taking all their money, stopped shuffling the cards and finally began setting them down while announcing the game's beginning:

"Ladies and Gentlemen..."

He pointed at the middle of a table where a black and white chip was fixed.

"Touch this link point to recall the rules if they seem hazy, for the first match is about to commence. Do remember not to cheat; I can easily spot if you're using your abilities, as can Mr. Player; no one can use Aether in his Celestial Realm without his notice."

No one moved his hand except Emir, his finger tracing its corners for a moment as he accepted the data and went over the rules.

He memorized all the cards in the deck: four suits. Spades, Hearts, Diamonds, and Clubs, each containing thirteen cards: an Ace, number two till ten, Jack, Queen, and King. Alongside that, also noted down the ten ways to win, already forming a plan, basing it on his luck, which was certain to be terrible.

'Good.'

Emir nodded, tapping the table, letting Mr. Board know that he was ready.

Then everyone did the same thing, placing a chip, playing their 'Ante' so to speak, the buy-in bet to play the match, which was ten Valora.

Mr. Board then proceeded to deal the cards, clockwise, to all the chess pieces, giving them two each, their values hidden as he had them face down, showing the cards' red backs.

Flick, flick...

All at the table checked their cards, flipping the edge and glancing discretely.

This was what they got.

Mr. King: [A] [A?]

Ms. Knight: [K?] [Ka]

Ms. Queen: [Q] [J+]

Mr. Rook: [10] [10]

Mr. Pawn: [3] [8+]

At first glance, anyone could see that Mr. King had the best hand, a pair of Aces, high potential

for a 'Full House' or even a 'Four Of A Kind.'

The second best was Ms. Knight with her pair of Kings and the third was Ms. Queen, with a

'Ten' she could get a 'Straight' with the 'Flop' and 'Turn.'

Debatable with probability in mind, but Mr. Rook was fourth best, his pair of tens could get him a 'Full House' to beat the rest, but yes, highly unlikely.

Emir's 'Hand' was the worst.

His luck truly was abysmal.

No pairs, no flush, or straight potential-essentially a useless hand.

Not folding there would've been absolutely dumb, but he didn't want to be out of the woods

yet, so he prolonged it, waiting to see if Mr. King would 'Raise' before the 'Flop' or not.

If he did, then he would; if not, then he would continue, all for the plan's ending.

"Well... Let's warm up a bit.'

After a heartbeat, Mr. King put another chip down, totaling his bet to twenty Valora.

Mr. Rook did the same, followed by Ms. Queen, but this chain was broken by Emir, who had

been tapping his cheek with his thumb as his hand covered his mouth.

He threw his cards to their dealer, 'Folding,' his 'Hand' still hidden. Although it hurt quite a bit to lose ten Valora, which amounted to ten billion UC, an amount of money so astronomical that it would cripple sector management for a time, he knew that it was the correct decision, and it wasn't as if he had another choice, there was nothing else he

could do.

"I'll let you guys play this one."

Ms. Knight chuckled at his nonchalant words while placing matching the bet and raising the total 'Pot' to ninety Valora.

"Aye, sure, thanks for the ten Vez. Anyways, ye mentioned wantin' freebies before, did ye

not?"

Emir nodded and relaxed back on his chair, his eyes fixed on her 'foggy' silhouette. "Hmhm, I'll start off with this... Ms. Knight, as an Edgekeeper, do you know of the Order's attack on Sol's domain or, more particularly, on our mother planet?"

She tilted her head, question marks projected through her body language.

Ms. Knight wasn't the only one who reacted that way, as the rest and even Mr. Board, who was about to reveal three cards, the so-called 'Flop,' paused his actions and stared at Emir. "Mr. Pawn, could you expound on this matter? Does the Order seek to assail system one? If so,

why, and more importantly, who?"

Emir was the one who showed surprise this time around, his gaze scanning them for any sign

of a prank, but as he found none, he answered with a name:

"Magnus Valerius."

"...I see."

It seemed that everything clicked with Mr. Board, the one who looked to be the most familiar with the mysteries of their world, as he continued with the 'Flop.'

The rest of the chess pieces weren't so skilled in that department, much better than Emir, yet

lacking compared to the Board they were placed on.

Mr. King was the first to speak after Mr. Board, wanting something to be cleared up:

"I know who that man is; I think everyone does; a Throne is never silent; his greed is widespread; his terror hovers over many systems, but still..."

He let out a sigh while running a chip through his fingers.

"How?"