Brunei paused for a moment, staring at Peake as he counted the patterned pieces of iron one by one. There were nine piles in total, as many as 90 pieces, plus Pique's hands were already too big, and he drank alcohol, so he couldn't take it, and it was five minutes after he counted the numbers. Pique re-stacked them into nine stacks, set them aside, and stacked them with the other eight, smirking smirked.

"Mr. Peake. Brunei finally opened his mouth, his voice a little dry, "Gambling is such a terrible thing." ”

Pique finally took his gaze back from the external magic emblems, looked at Brunei, grinned, and didn't know if it was because of his appearance, or because of Brunei's psychological effect after thinking that he was out of a thousand, Bruneith felt that his smile was a little hideous: "That's right! Bruneith brothers! Even a strong man like you can't win all the time, and there are times when he is unlucky." That's why when I gamble, my heart pounds, and I feel as if my soul is steaming in an iron pot. Isn't it, brother Brunei?"

Brunei lowered his head, avoiding Pique's gaze, pursed his lips, and replied in a low voice, "I don't think so." ”

Pique didn't seem to hear Brunei's words, or pretended not to hear them, and laughed twice: "Okay, Bruneith brothers, get ready for the next game! Don't worry, you've lost a lot, but you've got more left." Until the last minute, there is still hope – just as there is a risk of losing everything, even if you have the greatest advantage. That's why you've been suffering, aren't you?"

Brunei was silent for a while, then raised his head and stared into Pique's eyes: "Mr. Pique, what you said, is it true?"

"What?" Peake looked a little surprised, "is it true?"

"The joy of gambling. Fighting wits and courage, facing risks, suffering, and so on. Brunei's voice was hoarse, and he suddenly couldn't make a sound in the middle of speaking, so he had to cough twice before continuing, "Is that true? Mr. Peake, can you really experience the pleasures of gambling?"

Peake raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean?"

Brunei suddenly laughed, his smile was not good-looking, nor did it lack momentum, but it seemed to be squeezed out, which matched his voice: "I'm sorry. I didn't doubt what you meant. I just thought, what a coincidence. ”

Brunei paused for a moment, saw Peake's questioning look, and then continued: "Fifty thousand standard units is a lot of money - hehe, sorry I said something stupid." That's a lot of money, of course, and, for someone like me, who is displaced and doesn't have a fixed place to live, it's all my asset – everything I have. Mr. Peake, I guess you understand. ”

Peake's brows furrowed slightly, and he nodded, "Yes." Brother Brunei, are you drunk? We're gambling. ”

"Of course, we are gambling. Brunei tilted his head to the side, "I was about to say this, please give me a little patience." I've now lost 17,000 standard units to you, that's a fraction of my assets. If I'm a person with common sense, a calm person – the kind of person I've always thought I am, I should have stopped my losses right now. Give up the gamble. ”

Pique's expression was a little subtle for a moment, and then he laughed: "Don't you want to gamble anymore, Brother Brunei." Although—"

"That's right, it's like this. Brunei interrupted Pique's words and chuckled under his breath, "Like this, calmly judge the situation." Enough has been won, don't let greed affect you, withdraw in time, only in this way, it is possible to make a profit in gambling. ”

"But," Brunei let out a shrill chuckle before stopping abruptly, "sorry, rude." My mind started to feel less normal – because I experienced the joy of gambling. Losing everything is a terrible thing, but losing everything is different, the possibility of 'destruction' itself means excitement! The half that has been lost, the other half that is about to be lost, is mixed with the excitement of gambling, cooking my brain! My brain is already boiling! Mr. Peake! I will not quit!"

Pique's expression looked a little surprised, perhaps because he was puzzled by the sudden words of Brunei Sitang, who had not moved before whether he won or lost, and he stopped talking or laughing, but just looked at Brunei Si, as if he wanted to see the flowers in his face.

"That's why I said it was too coincidental!" Brunei burst out into another shrill laugh, "Mr. Peake, you are the same! Although reason prevailed for a moment, you are already indulging in the pleasures of gambling!"

“...... Yes. Pikpi grinned, "yes, Brother Brunei." Didn't I say it from the beginning? We're going to have to have a good time tonight. As long as the Brunei brothers are still interested, I will not quit halfway. ”

Brunei's expression calmed down for a moment, smiled a little embarrassed, and scratched his head: "Haha, was it seen by Mr. Peak? But since Mr. Peake says so, I'll believe you?"

Peake's brow furrowed a little deeper: "Yes." I did what I said, and Flashfox was watching from the side. ”

"Oh well. It's my turn to shuffle the cards. Brunei raised his hand and took the cards to cut and shuffle, his hand still rough, but he was gradually becoming proficient, "Ah, yes, Mr. Flashfox." I had a bit of a headache, was thirsty, and was sweating a lot. Please bring me a glass of ice water, can you? Preferably with some ice – the price is not a problem. I need to drink some ice water to cool off. ”

Flashfox nodded and bowed, took two steps back, and disappeared inexplicably, as he appeared every time inexplicably. Originally, Brunei regarded Flashfox as a threat more than Pique, but now Brunei has completely focused on Pique.

"Bang-" "Bang-" "Bang-"......

Brunei shuffled the cards in his hand one by one, and Pique, who had looked a little impatient before, sat there honestly, watching Brunei shuffle the cards, and there was no sense of being in a hurry at all - just as Brunei had expected.

In similar situations, people's minds do make sense at some point.

In other words, when you are sure that you have won, your biggest concern is that your opponent suddenly does not want to continue gambling. Whether the reason is to recoup the cost or to win more, the situation is the same, and the ideas will naturally be similar.

Naturally, this kind of thinking is rarely produced in ordinary gambling, and it is even less likely before the cards are dealt. As Pique said earlier, one of the charms of gambling, and its greatest characteristic, is its uncertainty. What looks like an advantage can be lost, and what looks like a disadvantage is likely to win – while Brunei desperately plays up the risk and fanaticism, Pique calmly sees through Brunei's true purpose.

In other words, Pico is not the type to indulge in this so-called "thrill". Everything he did was just to win money - and he had deliberately and constantly said things like "exciting" to cover up the fact that he was actually only thinking about winning, so he made a thousand. In retrospect, from the time he heard that Brunei had fifty thousand standard units – no, probably from the first time he saw Brunei Darussalam, everything he did was for the same purpose.

"Your ice water. According to your needs, a large number of newly made ice cubes are specially added, so the price is 5 gold coins, please understand. ”

“...... 5 gold coins. The corners of Brunei's mouth couldn't help twitching, now that winter has just passed, not to mention directly using spells to make two pieces of ice, I'm afraid it won't take two or three standard units, but now to argue with Flashfox about this is completely indistinguishable from the priority, unnecessary extraneous branches, "Ah, it's okay, thank you very much, just put it on the table." ”

Brunei stopped shuffling, put the cards on the table, and reached for the glass of ice water: "Ahhh

With a "bang", the cup overturned, and the full cup of water poured out, and in the blink of an eye, it flowed to the table, dripping to the ground. The cards on the table, of course, are not spared, even if they seem to have been specially treated, the surface is quite greasy, and they have been completely soaked with water, and the color has changed subtly.

"I'm sorry. Brunei looked a little hurried as he picked up the cards, carefully separated them one by one, his face flushed, and stammered, "Ahh I didn't expect the water to be so cold, and it turned out to be—ah!"

Accidentally, Brunei scattered the cards on the ground again, leaned over to pick them up one by one, and looked really embarrassed. Peake couldn't help but show a smile that he had never seen on his face before: "Ah, Brother Brunei, don't be so nervous. We've had a lot of alcohol before, and it's inevitable that we'll get a little drunk. I can't see when I sit and talk, and I get dizzy when I move. Haha, it's okay, I'm going to ask for a deck of cards-"

"No, no need!" Brunei continued to pick up the cards in a panic, while showing a begging look, "Just use this deck of cards, can't you?"

Peake smiled, "But that deck is completely soaked." ”

Brunei's expression looked a little pitiful: "No, but, you see, this deck is still fully usable." ”

As he spoke, he separated the cards one by one: "It's just a small mistake, I didn't break your cards!"

"......," Peake was silent for a moment, then continued to laugh, "It's okay if it breaks. It's not worth much, and I won't-"

"I said it wasn't broken!" Brunei slammed the table and stood up, although he staggered and walked unsteadily, but finally held on to the table and avoided the embarrassment of falling to the ground, but because of this, he lost the momentum of his roar and muttered, "Really, every card is good, but I have to say that it is broken, and I have to change the cards, what are you doing......?"

Brunei's eyes suddenly widened and he looked at Pique: "Why do you have to change cards?"

Peake was stunned for a moment: "What?"

"Why do you have to draw?" Bruneith repeated inarticulately, "Why have you been winning big and losing small since just now? Basically, when you have a small hand, you have folded in the first round of the ante betting! And, if you think about it, you always have a big hand...... Are you playing tricks on the cards? Afraid that if you soak in water, I'll see the clues? That's why you have to change the cards?"

Peake's brows furrowed: "Brother Bruneisi, what nonsense are you talking about! Are you insulting me!"

Brunei seemed to be frightened by Pique's angry appearance, and his momentum was much weaker, but he still muttered to himself: "Then why do you have to change cards? ”

Pique's brows furrowed in disgust, and he waved his hand: "Okay, then use this deck of cards, okay?"

"Ahh Brunei replied as if taken aback, and put the cards back on the table, "I'm done, let's get started." ”

............

[Hehe, little Bruneith, when did you start? Not only can you lie, but you are also very good at acting. 】

"It's not about acting, it's just random nonsense. All in all, the situation is now clear. ”

"He offered to play with me until the end, and was afraid that I would quit the game, which showed that he had the confidence to win, that he was indeed making a thousand; he allowed me to pretend that he had inadvertently established a rule of taking turns shuffling the cards, indicating that he was not in the process of shuffling the cards or doing anything else; he offered to change the cards and finally agreed to use this deck of cards, which showed that he did not use any hands or feet on the cards. ”

[Hehe, that's right, so the situation is very clear. I have been playing with such a stupid scam for so long. 】

"Well, I think I'm really drunk. ”

............

The Adventurers' Guild is a huge organization that seems to spread across the continent, and the more remote and dangerous the place, the more you can see them. This is already evident from the fact that the entire continent has penetrated its power into the Endless Mountain Range. Countless "adventurers" who are keen on adventure, looking for excitement, exploring the unknown, or small and big, have been blessed by it.

It's just that the Adventurers Association in Fox Town is relatively special. There are no unexplored unknown places in this area, no natural dangers to challenge oneself, not even rare and rare animals, and the adventurers' guild branch here is often referred to as the "Mercenary Guild".

And the adventurers who are mixed up here are naturally mostly "mercenaries", benefiting from the chaotic situation in the Roble area, all large and small forces, and the people in them, all need a group of additional troops from time to time to replenish their strength, or do something that they don't want people to know that they are doing.

War, fighting, protecting, assassinating, as long as there is enough money, the adventurers here will do anything, and the only thing they will not do is to be loyal to a specific force or person alone. Today's proprietors may die at their hands tomorrow, and both adventurers and their employers have long been accustomed to this fact.

Compared to those who aspire to travel the continent, the "adventurers" here are nothing more than a bunch of fanatics, villains, or madmen who care about profit and value money more than their own lives. The former Pique is naturally one of them, the famous "Wild Beast" is active on every battlefield, and the colossal body and bloodthirsty smile together make the average coward frightened at just one glance.

It's just that, unlike his nickname, "Beast" Peake is a person who is very willing to use his brains, otherwise he would not have managed to survive on the dangerous battlefield for so long with the strength of a mage, and he could still gain fame. It was impossible for him not to notice that what he was doing was not a long-term solution. Becoming a second-turn mage is not an easy task for them to succeed in just accumulating time, and compared to the magical strength that is not necessarily—no, most likely not to grow over time, the weakening of physical abilities over time is inevitable and visible to the naked eye. The longer he does this, the weaker he becomes, the easier he will die.

So, do you have to work hard to save money and wait for your retirement when the time comes? Not to mention that you may die tomorrow, the money you have saved today may be wasted. As a turner, how difficult would it be for him to go to the Federation to find a stable, at least not starving job, if he was willing to wronged himself? Why would he risk his life on his belt and become an adventurer?

So, he ended a relatively easy mission, and unexpectedly got a bit more than he imagined, and when he was drinking and gambling with people as usual, he suddenly had an idea, anyway, everyone will squander the money they earned, so what does it matter if Pique gets a part of it?

Naturally, things will not go so smoothly, there are more than a thousand, even if everyone is a drunk, it is inevitable that there will be a time when they will be discovered. But Pique explained the stakes to them, wooed them, and became collaborators with them. And in the end, the entire Fox Adventurers Association, except for their companions, the rest of the people were no longer willing to gamble with them.

At this point, Pique found new prey.

Most of the adventurers from other places are heroic and generous, and they will carry a lot of money with them, and if you think about it, you know that you don't have enough gold coins and standard units on your body, how can you have the ability to run around like this?

Moreover, the best thing is that these people from other places will only gamble with them once at most, no need for too complicated games, no need for too hidden tricks, no need to save face for the other party, no need to consider squeezing too hard next time you can't squeeze money, if the other party is not willing to gamble and lose, the number of the other party will not be more than the people here.

Therefore, when Pique heard about the game of Indian poker, he couldn't help but feel that this was the perfect prop for him. Both sides know each other's cards, not their own, and it looks very similar to an ordinary poker game, just unnecessary to add a little novelty, but in fact, this setting is simply born for the sake of a thousand.

The easiest way to get out of this type of poker game is to take a peek. Let people stand behind their opponents, and pass on information that they can't know to themselves in code, as long as they compare a number, they can ensure that they win big and lose small. Indian poker, on the other hand, does not need to be complicated because it only uses one card, because the cards are clearly revealed, so there is no need to worry about the peeking person not being able to see clearly, and because you want to look at the cards on your opponent's head, it is not strange to keep your eyes on the direction of your opponent.

After that, Pique thought of having several people take turns to play the signal, and found that not only can make people drunk and lose judgment, but also may be because of the effect of magic, which will make people impulsive, irritable, and unwilling to easily quit the gambling game.

Today, Pique no longer accepts any assignments. Relying on this income alone, while living a comfortable life every day, he saved a huge amount of more than 10,000 gold coins. 10,000 gold coins is a huge amount of money that even if he goes to work in the Federation as a mage and doesn't eat or drink, I'm afraid it will take thirty or forty years to save.

And today, Pique feels that this is the third turning point in his life after the idea that he wanted to start gambling to make money and start playing on outsiders. He always felt that he was always lucky at such a critical time.

It used to be on the battlefield, and it was the same at other times. He thought of the day he had been paid enough money to make money from gambling, and the day he began to attack outsiders, he had heard about Indian poker. It's the same today, he's always lucky. The fact that there are always big hands in a match is enough to prove it.

This kid named Brunei actually has such a huge sum of money, but he still thinks very highly of himself, and thinks that he is clever to use some method of doubling the stakes. Pique has also figured out that if he theoretically has enough money, he can indeed be invincible, but at the same time, Pique also thought that this kind of gambling is also convenient for Pique to squeeze out the kid's inventory as soon as possible.

If you use the general gambling method, I am afraid it will take three or four hours to win 10,000 standard units. And at that time, the potency of the wine drunk will also fade slightly, and after losing for so long, after so many times, how can Brunei continue to gamble.

Pique couldn't help but laugh, he always had good luck at critical moments like these.

Brunei, who had just lost the game, took the card, rubbed it twice in his hand, and put it on his forehead, and Pique also grabbed a card - the card was very cold, soaked in ice water, and it was a little uncomfortable to hold. Fortunately, it's not very cold here, and if it's outside, I'm afraid my fingers will freeze off.

Pique thought as he looked up at Brunei's cards. Perhaps because of the immersion, the oil on the card was even brighter, and Brunei stood again, blocked by the reflection, and looked at it for a long time before he finally saw it—and for a moment, he almost burst out laughing.

Brunei's card is a 2 of clubs. As he thought, he was always lucky at such a critical moment.

"I'll bet first, 18,000 standard units. ”

Brunei said the line as expected. Pique wanted to laugh more and more, even if according to this tactic, Brunei won, he would only win 1000 standard units, which is indeed a lot of money, but for Brunei, where is the money worth such a big bet to fight for? Not to mention, Plum 2, haha!

"Ha, the Brunei brothers are really arrogant, I thought the nine thousand gold coins just now were exaggerated enough. It's a great honor to be able to participate in such a big gamble, hahahaha!" Peake adjusted his angle as he said unnutritious nonsense, because Brunei suddenly stood up, and it was not easy for him to see his companion behind Brunei.

"What are you doing, drunkard, doing so many stupid things, and suddenly standing up, causing me so much trouble. Peake couldn't help but curse in his heart. But he didn't plan to ask Brunei to sit down, Brunei was already a little suspicious just now, although it sounded more like he was drunk, and he couldn't tell the severity and wanted to make excuses for messing up things - these young people always took face seriously, but after all, he was already suspicious. No matter how you say it, the little ghost with so much money will not be a complete fool, and it will only cause trouble. For the same reason, his movements cannot be too exaggerated.

After winning this game, he only won 35,000 standard units, and Brunei still had 15,000 standard units left in his hand. Other companions would blame him, it was nothing, and on such a lucky day, because of his own mistakes, he missed such a large sum of money, and he himself would not forgive his stupidity.

Peake laughed as he reached for the glass of wine, lowered his body a little, and finally saw his companions—they didn't make a code. Is it because he has already typed it, and thinks he has seen it? He shook the wine glass in his hand according to the predetermined code. This was a signal to call for another code, however, the companions did not respond.

What the hell is going on?, Peake picked up his glass and drank it down. When the last bit of foam in the cup fell into his mouth, it occurred to him that he had to have so much trouble reading Brunei's cards before, so maybe those guys didn't see their cards clearly, so they didn't play the code......

"Anyway, Brunei has a 2, so let's call. Peake couldn't help but think, and he spoke, almost speaking.

"......" Brunei suddenly pressed his face again, this seems to be a kind of technique he likes to use, to gain an advantage in communication, he has done it many times before, he was silent for a while, and then he said: "Why? Wasn't it always very simple before? Why did you suddenly hesitate? ”

Brunei's unusual behavior calmed Pique, who was already drunk, but his basic train of thought was still there, and suddenly it was as if he was trying to force Pique to make a decision - to force Pique to call. Peake suddenly had a flash of inspiration, and pressed Brunei's shoulder with a smile: "Haha, Brother Bruneisi, look at what you said." I'm not as wealthy as you, with a big bet of 18,000 standard units, and I don't even blink an eye. Besides, I don't have to fold and call, I might even raise. ”

Brunei snorted coldly: "What nonsense, you have never raised a bet, have you?"

"Isn't that worrying that the big bet will scare you? Peake chuckled inwardly, pushed Brunei back a little, and tilted his head back to the side: "Haha, maybe it will scare you for a while." ”

After grinding like this for a while, his companions finally saw the card on his head - "2".

"I see, I'm 2 too. "I see, that's why he's so aggressive, and I'm worried about what else he thinks." Hehe, a draw, what do I do? Fold to give him a little sweetness, or call?...... He was already a little skeptical before, saying that I always fold when I take small cards......"

I called. Pique smiled, "Let's open the cards!"

Peake was about to take his hand off his forehead, but Brunei grabbed his wrist with one hand. Brunei's eyes widened, revealing a hideous smile, the corners of his mouth were connected with the ugly scar, as if they were one, and it looked like a beast that chose to devour people, not at all like an expression that a human can make: "Don't worry! According to the rules, after you call, I can still raise!"

The monstrous monster shoved the beautifully crafted little box forward: "Raise - I'm studing!"

............

"Five, six, seven...... Mr. Bruneisi, you have 13,700 standard units left in your box, are you sure you want to bet them all?"

"Of course, you know what stud means, right?"

At the beginning of "......", Pique was really frightened by Brunei's momentum, but thanks to the time when Flashfox was calculating the bets next to him, Pique was given plenty of time to think. Seeing that the opponent is 2, it basically means that he will not lose no matter what, and Brunei must have realized it, if it drags on like this, his strategy of doubling the bet will not be able to be carried out, so it is better to fight it out at this time.

Once Pique calls, he'll find that if he chooses to re-raise, Pique folds and can recoup his losses, whereas if Pique calls, which is unlikely to recoup his costs anyway, he might as well raise and win more. These gamblers who have lost their minds under the stimulus of alcohol and impulsiveness have seen too many ugly Piques, these people, they must lose nothing before they come to their senses and weep bitterly to repent of their mistakes.

But if they weren't so stupid, how could Pique squeeze the last bit of their possessions out?

This game made such a decision, as long as you don't fold and don't ruin your fun, this impulsive frenzy will never fade.

Pique almost couldn't help but smile evilly: "What's more, this seventeen thousand standard units are already my thing, how can I let it go!"

"Flashfox, how much money do I have for the time being in the association?" the expression on Peake's face twisted and vicious without him noticing.

"Mr. Peake, you have 7,400 gold coins in your temporary deposit. ”

Peake picked up the two bags that he hadn't touched at his feet: "Add the 2,000, that's 9,400, right? Then, Flashfox, what's the maximum amount I can borrow from the association?1,000 for 1,100? I'm talking about the maximum!Is 3,000 for 4,000? Yes! It's 12,000 and 400! Also, 1,300 gold coins—"

"Hehe, Mr. Peake. Brunei laughed, "Don't be so forced, can't you just fold? Well, drop five thousand gold so you don't have to borrow—"

"No!" The green tendons on Pique's head burst out one by one, that's 5,000 gold coins, this game is less, and the next game won't be so much, the 5,000 gold coins in hand, how can you just let it go!"It's okay, I can still borrow it from others! I've promised you, I'm going to have fun with you, isn't it, Brother Bruneisi! It's okay, it's just 1,300, I'm sure——"

"Haha! Mr. Peake, that's a good point! It's rare for you to have such pride, and it's not interesting for us to grind and chirp like this, right?" Brunei laughed out loud, "We play such a big gamble, and we still grind, but we really don't look like men, isn't it in vain! I don't play this to make money! It's better to do this, Mr. Peake's weapon, although it is not worth so much money, but I think it has also gone through a bloody storm with Mr. Peake." Come on, take the rest of the money from this weapon and go to the showdown!"

"......" Pique glanced at his mace, to say that it was bloody together, it was true, but even to himself, it was not worth 500 gold coins, he picked up the wine glass again and shook it, and his companion raised two fingers again, "...... Come on!"

"Haha! What a pride! We all do everything to each other, press everything down, and fight it out!

"Oh!" Pique also screamed in order to spoil the fun, taking the card from his forehead, and holding his head in frustration, "Ah, it's rare that the atmosphere is so good, it's actually a draw." No way, let's do another game. ”

"A draw?" said Brunei with that inhuman smile again, "Are you sure?"

Peake was stunned for a moment, and looked down at his cards. The lights were so bright that he couldn't see what it was, and Peake couldn't help but get a little closer—it wasn't surprising that he couldn't see clearly, but why, there were some cracks on it?

A slender hand reached out from the front and gently swept away the crushed ice from above.

"The Ace of Spades. Mr. Peake, you really always get big cards. ”