abcnovels
Chapter 309: Old Women
Chapter 309: Old Women
Chapter 309: Old Women
?
Emir was about to answer, but Mr. Board stopped him with a raised hand.
"Allow me..."
A nod was shared between the two as he continued:
"From the reports I've come across, Earth yet harbors the remnants of robotic factories from the time preceding the Age of Myths, often referred to as the Old World by our people's origin."
While talking, he gestured for them to continue playing, and they silently agreed by checking out the 'Community Cards' at the middle of the table.
[A?] [K?] [5]
"Reports suggested that rogue sentient AIS claim dominion, but judging from what Mr. Pawn said, it appears the handiwork may be attributed to this Magnus, a Throne."
Mr. King raised once again, but this time instead of doubling his previous bet, he quadrupled it, pushing up four chips, which formed a total of eighty Valora.
After a moment of thought, Mr. Rook folded, and Ms. Queen met his bet, as did Ms. Knight.
"Moreover, it's not solely that; it seems he stirs the beasts within system one, hastening the emergence of a monster tide destined for their planet."
Mr. Board dealt the 'Turn' while speaking, revealing a [2].
"A perilous gambit aimed at seizing their planet for his own, as he cannot openly intervene unless they're faced with a truly world-ending event."
Chuckling, Mr. King wanted to 'Raise' for a third time, but his words were his creed; he was to go light for the first game, so he checked.
Ms. Queen didn't even bother and 'folded,' thinking that he was setting up for another 'Raise' at the 'River,' counting her losses early.
Ms. Knight confidently checked, the one who truly was planning a trap, a bluff, for in case her cards weren't as good as Mr. King made his out to be.
"Let me guess, that bugger'll use that as an excuse to send his lot in, claimin' to help, only to stab them monkeys in the back usin' some loophole in the CCA binding contract, takin' over their planet from the inside out with us none the wiser."
Emir held back the rising urge to slap the back of her head for calling them monkeys while saying:
"That's exactly right, don't ask how, but I know Magnus personally, so I'm sure that he wants Earth for himself, and you could say that I want his head on a spike."
Ms. Queen's foot brushed against Emir's thighs as she asked:
"Revenge deary?"
Unfazed, he shook his head.
"No... It's a lot more than just that. Me and him can't exist in the same universe knowing that the other is still alive."
She let out a soft giggle while her foot continued to climb, nearing the top of his thighs.
"Aw. You're really cute... Isn't that right, guys?"
The others, mainly Ms. Knight and Mr. King, didn't take long to match her words:
"He's a cute one, no doubt... Just a tad macho, that's all."
"Haha! Don't worry about it, Mr. Pawn; they're just a bit ol-"
"Shut."
"Hush yer mouth."
Mr. King looked away with a face filled with grime.
"O-Okay."
Emir, the man being teased, stayed silent, only giving them a shrug while pushing off Ms. Queen's foot. But he knew their words to be true-at least from their perspective.
Because at the end of the day, those opposite him have lived through the Age of Endless Chaos, before the Age of Rebirth, the Epoch when Earth returned to life, a time when death seemed as common as breathing, which said a lot, especially when the Epoch they now live in was filled with death as well.
He, though experienced in his own right, more so when age was considered a factor, was but a fledgling compared to them. And the fact that he tried to play around with his words, deluding his origin, source of knowledge, and intentions, appeared to them as such.
For if they wished to know, they would.
But they didn't, as they were not to know each other outside of this meeting.
So yes, scary as he was, the man was cute in their eyes.
"Bahh..."
Suddenly, the depressed vampire interrupted their charade by knocking on the table.
"Must you enjoy yourselves in my presence? Just continue the round."
Not needing his prompting, Mr. Board dealt the 'River,' now revealing the fifth and final card.
[A?] [K?] [5] [2?] [7?]
"You would do well to glean wisdom from gambling addicts, Mr. Rook. They possess determination, discipline, and punctuality; they do not bemoan every breath as some do."
Mr. Rook clicked his tongue while the rest chuckled, leaving the two players still left in the game to focus on each other.
Their eyes locked; though hidden by the 'fog,' they could still somewhat make out what the other looked like, expression-wise only barely.
Both showed confidence.
The King knocked on the table, indicating his intention to 'Check,' passing the round without raising.
"I'm pitying you here; you've only got twenty left, don't want to take that as well, so what do you say we just get the 'Showdown' started?"
Ms. Knight, the only one remaining to oppose Mr. King's dominance, teased a knock on the table but stopped her right hand as it went to the side and picked up a chip, the last of her 'Stack,' and threw it in the 'Pot,' increasing it to a total of two hundred and ninety Valora.
"Let's shall we?"
"Hoh, since you're going all in, why not just show your hand?"
"Nah, I'd rather keep ye on yer toes for this game and the next, keeps things spicy, it does."
She kept up with her 'feral' demeanor, acting like usual while laying the groundwork for her
bluff.
Mr. King began to think, and the room remained silent to allow that.
What were his chances of losing?
A 'Flush,' with any two Diamonds in her hands, like a {10} or {9}, was obvious but
improbable, yet not as much as the other options, as the probability was 9/47.
With a probability of 2/46 and 2/47, respectively, a 'Full House' and 'Four Of A Kind' were also
possible.
Now that all was laid bare, the question had arrived.
Would Mr. King, a man with a thousand Valora in his 'Stack,' risk adding a twenty coin loss
alongside the eighty he already bet?
"You really won't show me your hand?"
Ms. Knight shook her head, a grin plastered on her face.
"Not even if ye beg, me friend."
He chuckled once again, shaking his head as he stated:
"Fine then, I'll..."