CHAPTER 17: UNLUCKY ONE

"Wait, why are they called the unlucky 13 when they pretty much wrote the game?" Cee asked.

"They're called Unlucky because they're not allowed to use any passive skills but one. I assume that's the one we just saw?"

"You are correct, but it serves a purpose. Because literally to have fun, but it's sort of an allowance on how much we can spend each day."

"Your net worth probably ranks in the millions if not billions each," Fi intervened. "Even if you add up the full usage of your ability, four hundred-thousand dollars worth of sand dollars might as well be pocket change."

"Aren't we a math whiz, doing that all in your head."

"I thought administrators were like silent partners in FS, they can possess facilities and functions, but can't manage them for themselves, so how is that you've put up a whole casino?"

"Well, that's an interesting question, but simple answer is, we aren't." He slammed his cane on the ground. "This is an autonomous event, activated by the first benefactor and run by an artificial intelligence. Right now, we are just mediators playing along in what you players may call a game of spirits, as in the 9 spirits that govern this game."

"The game spirits, as in the stuff you mention in the opening?" Cee asked.

"It's more than just flavor text, the game spirits are artificial intelligence designed to monitor and tweak the outcomes of probability measured proportionally by profits and losses."

"Ha, I knew it!" Fi said excitedly.

"Seriously, Fi, you did?" Chance said in a spectacle matter.

"I mean, this game quantiles luck but I've always thought there was something that didn't add up. I remember once that I was seconds away from total defeat from a relentless Jinx mob. I was outnumbered and low and LP and KP, I knew the only way I could escape was with a royal flush or better. The odds of that were six hundred and forty-nine thousand, seven hundred and thirty-nine to one, so why wait until the enviable. Next thing you know, I pulled the right hand at exactly the right moment and made it back away practically intact."

"So you got lucky." Chance shrugged off.

"Against all probability that royal flush shouldn't have happened. I could simply explain it away with a glitch or coincidence but math just doesn't add up. It was something I couldn't calculate."

"There's a lot of stories like that," Benjii interjected. "In fact, if you think really hard I'm sure all of you have a similar experiences."

"...okay, so maybe I get the occasional lucky streak or strike when I'm low on cash, but everyone does eventually."

"I've been playing this game for more than an hour and I've learned several new skills and hit a lucky strike on my first time." Cee said. "I'm open to the theory that that's more than coincidence."

"Believe it or not, that's not supposed to happen more than seven times in 1 year, I'd wager to say your experiences have been twice as extraordinary." Benjii said, pointing his cane to each player. "You and you and all of you are not just lucky, the spirits have designated you as having high potential to become lucky stars. Not just a player who wins, but one who has the potential to surpass even the spirits themselves...or so the benefactors believe."

"If we're so lucky, how come you're the one with the OP skill and we're running on fumes here?"

"You're still around aren't you?" Benji. "With the exception of Ms. Froggy over there, both of you still have 1 remaining Luck Point. If you're willing to make a wager, perhaps we don't have to have a straight out conflict to resolve this little theory."

"How do you propose that?"

"There's an old saying amongst highwaymen and robbers, your money or you life. Most players are willing to wager KP and LP as willing as any resources, but few will actually wager there unless you have skill that requires sand dollars to activate. Since I'm not one to pick a fight I know I could win, how much are you all willing to wager for a shot at the grand prize?"

"You've got 4 chances left to use that skill..."

"...and I'm willing to wager the worth of those 4 chances for a chance at a fair fight."

"Two hundred million sand dollars?" Fi said in shock. "That's more than twice our resources combined."

"You're willing to wager two hundred thousand dollars, on a fair fight?" Chance said. "Call me a skeptic but I find that hard to believe."

"You're right, it does seem a little undervalue, so let me give a little insider information. There's a little used freeform skill known as 'all or nothing' it wagers a player or group of player's G$ against an opponent to create a fair fight, disabling all passive skills and using only active skills in a 2 point competition."

"It seems like it would be popular, why doesn't everyone know about it?" Cee asked.

"It's not that nobody knows about it's just that a lot of player would have to be pretty desperate or stupid to use it." Chance clarified. "Sure it can grant you a fair fight, but it comes with an even greater cost. If you can't match your opponent's wager, the system will have to make up the difference in value in G$. It's one of the only skills where players can receive a negative number in your sand dollar count."

Cee thought about it for a moment, until she realized what this meant for players who had a collective total that was less the maximum amount being wager.

"...In other words, if we lose we'll have to make up the difference in two hundred thousand dollars."

"When split three ways, that's only thirty-nine million, nine hundred and twenty-night thousand, six hundred forty-eight sand dollars, give or take a third of cent."

"Not all of our parents have megabucks like you bubble head and tuition doesn't cover all my expenses." Chance said. "That debt can follow you into the real world, we're talking credit ratings, defaults, collectors, the whole works. Plus, if we do log on again, we'll never gain any G$ in our daily luck roll. Do you know how much it takes to gain any LP and KP alone?"

"Since you're concerned about paying off your debts perhaps we can reach a little compromise." Benjii asked. "As an administrator I have certain authorities that include holding onto outstanding debts for trade of equal value. So, if you do end up in the red, I won't sick the collectors on you unless you agree to certain terms."

"What kind of terms?" Cee asked curiously.

"For starters, you must log in at least 3 times a week, or days when I see appropriate for your services. So, be sure to check your messages often."

"I've got no problem with that." Fi said. "When I'm not studying, I'm logging on anyway."

"Second, you must be permitted to transfer any more funds from your personal accounts or private accounts, all G$ must be earned within Fortuna."

"Awwww." Fi whined knowing she couldn't pay off her debts.

Chance smirked at the thought that if they were in-debt that not even Fi would be able to pay off her debts.

"Third, you can receive liquidated assets from FS, but they will not be counted to your G$ count, only assignments authorized by me will be paid off."

"Liquidated?"

"He means transferring dollars into physical form. It's like credit and cash, but rarely used because it's a lot more risky because it's less direct." Fi whispered to her.

"What kind of assignments?" Chance inquired.

"Nothing illegal, but let's just say it's a challenge you cannot refuse or it's an automatic default. Finally, and this part is not negotiable, it will be a game of my choosing and I will be given a four point lead."

"That means you'll still have the advantage of one to three against us." Fi counted.

"Yet, you're a troupe, so if even one of you wins, against me, I'll lose 3 points, but if I win you'll each lose only one. I think it's a fair advantage don't you?"

"Does anyone even have the skill 'all or nothing?'"

"You do now."

With a tap of his cane on the ground a window appeared before each player of their newly acquired stats.

[ You have acquired All of Nothing (Lv.1) ]

[ All or Nothing (Lv. 1)

A freeform skill.

Creates a fair competition,

Neutralizes all passive skills,

Granted each player 1 LPs each.

No KP or LP required.

Wager: G$ All ]

"Wow, you really are a lucky frog, Cee." Fi said. "It's the first new skill I've earned in weeks."

"That's new it says wager, not cost, do other freeform skills have the same features?" Cee asked.

"Only the really risky one's, which is why I'm saying this whole game is."

"You know my father says, never spend money you don't have, but only if you spend money you can earn."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Sounds like something your dad would say if you accidentally used his credit card, which can happen sometimes." Fi said.

"My father used a loan to open up his business, but that meant compromising a few household expenses." Cee clarified. "Before he made sure to clarify a lot of things to me, even told me the sacrifices we'd make if we wanted to be a business. I think it was his way of saying that if you're willing to work for it, you have to take a risk. Granted this is big risk, but so is everything in this game, so I'm willing to take that if it's worth it."

"Yeah, me too." Fi cheered along. "It's like you said, before 'nothing ventured, nothing gained.'"

"That was how I thought we'd end up with nothing, this is less than nothing, I thought you'd know that makes a BIG difference." Chance said.

"A negative is just a positive on the opposite side of nothing." She laughed. "Tell you what, how about I treat you to lunch for the next couple of semesters? At least you won't go hungry, eh?"

Chance turned his head to Fi and then Cee, one face with a great smile of optimism and one smile of stern determination. Knowing that the two of them would be relentless in their refusal, he decided that there was no other choice to make.

"...you're really bubbly for an egghead, you know that right?"

"And you're very fiery for a fluffy little bunny bun." She said with her lips pressed in a kissing manner. "I'll take the compliment though." She brushed the tuff of his white hair, nearly knocking his rabbit ear headdress off.

"Since you all agree, all you have to do is say the magic word."

"What's the magic word?" Cee asked.

"A simple verbal confirmation will do." Benjii leaning on his cane with both hands. "Do you wish to participate in this game of luck?"

"Yes." They all said in unison.

"Then let us begin." He said dropping his cane to the floor.

It gave not a sound, vanished into a dark void disappearing a plum of black smoke that filled the area in total darkness. As the darkness crept into every corner like a vine without restraint, the entire area the players found themselves sitting in front of a professional poker table. In front of their seats they saw 2 chips with the mark of four-leafed clover, and sitting at the dealer's spot was Benjii shuffling an ordinary deck of playing cards over again.

"Taking all bets." He said as he stamped the cards on the table. "Minimum bid if 1 chip, the name of that game is Omaha Poker."