Chapter 105: Gamble(2)

James and Ben sprung from their seats, their eyes wide with wonder at Luke. Luke then gave them a friendly smile.

"However... If we win, both of you must give your..."

In anticipation, James and Ben gulped. James then inquired since he couldn't take any more of the anticipation.

"Does it have anything to do with money?"

Luke came to a complete halt and chuckled at James, which perplexed James and Ben.

"Money? I got quite a few of them. I don't require money; instead, I require all of your slaves."

James came to a halt and spoke nervously for a few moments. His face is turning white.

"S-slaves? What are you-"

"There was no need to hide it because I already knew. So, what are your thoughts?"

James and Ben exchanged glances before turning their attention to the golden card on the table. If they win, they will receive the royal family's unlimited money, while if they lose, they will only lose dispensable slaves that they could reclaim. James and Ben smiled nicely at Luke, hiding their ravenous gaze and looking pity on him.

"We agree, so how many rounds are there?"

Luke remained silent and lifted his two index fingers. James and Ben were taken aback by this.

"Two rounds...?"

Luke replied with a smile on his face.

"We only need two rounds to win,"

"Ho!"

James was taken aback and gasped in surprise.

'What a pompous brat!'

After that, James grinned at Luke.

"Is that so? Well then, shall we have a game and see what happens?"

Luke smiled innocently at them.

"Of course, Elena, will you honor me by playing for me?"

James and Ben came to a halt and asked, perplexed.

"You're not going to play?"

"Me? Obviously not. I'm not very good at gaming, so I enlisted the help of a friend."

Selena, who is now called Elena, stepped up and took a seat. She then smirked at the old men, who were staring at her in disbelief.

"Hello, boys, are you ready for the opening round?"

"O-of course,"

The cards were then shuffled and distributed by one of the girls when James flicked his finger. Luke just sat there and watched them pick up their cards before carefully placing random cards.

Luke doesn't know how to gamble because he didn't have time to learn as a kid, so he brought Selena, their group's gambling lord, to play for him.

Luke has no idea how excellent Selena is, but after witnessing her play with Lina and the others and always winning, he decided to bring her along and put her to the test.

And, after all, children's lives are on the line, so he believes she won't let him down.

It became eerily quiet as soon as the three of them put their hands on their cards, and Luke could see continual gazes being exchanged by the three of them. They appear to be attempting to read each other.

Nash spoke in Luke's head in the middle of the game.

• I went through their possessions, and they aren't cheating.

Luke smiled and nodded. He was concerned that these two elderly men may cheat, so he asked Nash to keep an eye out for him. He then heard Nash question him once more.

• Would you like me to assist her? For an easy win, I could virtually tell her opponent's cards.

Luke came to a halt and then shook his head. Nash then cocked his head, perplexed. Luke, who appears to have sensed his confusion, explained to him.

"Give her a chance to shine. Also, I have faith in her and her ability, so there's no need to be concerned about her."

Nash came to a complete stop on Luke's shoulders and smiled warmly.

• You're correct, Dad! Because she is family, I should be able to trust her!

Luke nodded and returned his attention to the game.

All three teams have already placed some cards on the table, and the game is still going on. They appear to be attempting to match each of the cards that each player lands in turn. Selena also appears to be doing a good job at playing.

'So these two are the ones who sell young children? How disgusting!'

Selena concealed her displeasure by drawing another card. The card she landed appears to be unavailable for both parties, as they all scowled when they saw it. They each took a fresh card from the deck, and Selena was up next again.

Selena drew another card, and the game continues in this manner. Selena immediately remembered her childhood memories and prior events that led her to this particular time in the middle of the game.

'Where are we going, Papa?'

'Shh, I'll take you to a school,'

'School?'

'Yes, a school where you shall learn the God of Light's sacred teachings.'

'Why?'

Selena's father came to a halt and looked at the three-year-old Selena, who was staring at him with interest. After that, the father grinned.

'Because you have been chosen.'

Selena smiled at the sight of her father being happy and smiling, and she grew eager to see the 'school' he was referring to. She could only see her father's smile thus she didn't notice her father's greedy expression.

'Thank you kindly for the funds!'

Selena's father then bowed to the priests keeping her captive. Selena was perplexed as her father delighted in the bag of money he had received.

'Papa?'

Selena was taken aback when her father stopped smiling and glared at her with hatred.

'You bitch, don't call me papa.'

He then walked away after saying that, leaving Selena stunned.

'Hahahaha! Grasp the ball! Get it!'

Selena, ten years old, gazed out the window of her vacant room. She could see children having a good time outside.

'I'd like to play as well...'

Creek!

Selena turned to see the priest approaching her for yet another rite and prayer.

'Let's go,'

Before leaving the room with the priest, Selena pursed her lips and cast one more glimpse outside her window at the children.

'Those fucking scumbags didn't even feed me right. And now I was hearing strange phrases in my head, how fantastic.'

Selena, a 15-year-old girl, rubbed her head, irritated by the voice in her head's continual yapping. For some reason, it's asking her to flee.

Selena then stood up and walked up to her window, which was dark and deserted. She then took a deep breath and swallowed.

'This is insane... Why should I flee?'

Selena paused for a moment. She then let out a sigh.

'Escape, huh? You know what? Let's f*ck it all and jump off this five-story balcony! It's fine if I die; I've wanted to be dead for a long time ago!'

Selena then tightened her fists and tied her head. She then dashed up to the window and leaped out. She held back her scream as she felt the ground contact her feet, but strangely, she didn't feel any pain. When Selena opened her eyes and glanced down at her feet, they began to sparkle gold.

She was taken aback at first and attempted to shake it off, but it was stuck on her foot.

'What the hell is going on here?'

Selena took a strange look at her feet but came to a halt as she heard a cry.

'Who's there?! Is there an intruder?'

Selena reacted with a flinch and bolted. She was able to flee the God of Light's temple fast because of the golden light on her feet.

'Hahahaha! Pops! You've lost yet again!'

'Damn you! How do you manage to be so good?!'

Selena, 20, cockily sneered at the elderly man with whom she was gambling. She's currently in a pub in Hak Village.

'It's called experience, and luck is a big part of it.'

'How long have you been gambling, you brat?'

'I've been gambling for a while, and I can assure you that I am unstoppable.'

'Haa. I guess I'm becoming old?'

Selena then proudly grinned and placed the gold in her pocket that she received from the old man. But then something unexpected happened.

'Urgh! What's going on?! Ugh!'

Selena struggled to free her neck from the old man's clutches. She's out of breath in a matter of seconds.

'What are you doing, P-pops?!'

'Keke..'

Selena suddenly came to a halt and turned to face the source of the chuckle, where she noticed a scrawny man staring creepily at her as she was strangled.

'At long last, I caught a saint.'

Selena was going to ask who he was when her oxygen ran out and she passed out.

Selena was subjected to numerous beatings and whippings, as well as being famished for days, after that day.

'This would never happen to me if I stayed in that temple and never left.'

She used to think like that every day, but one day she just stopped and embraced her conviction that she would die soon.

Not until she was rescued from her cell and set free by a silver-haired woman dressed in shabby and lengthy clothing. Luke, the strange woman who wished to be a man.

Her life improved dramatically after that; she had a family, a home, and an abundance of food.

Selena gave a sly grin. She had an unexpectedly amusing thought.

'I guess it's now my turn to save the captive youngsters,'

Selena then joyfully spoke after landing her final card.

"I win, and this round belongs to me."