After easily defeating Violet in poker.
I muttered to myself as I walked away from the mercenary guild.
"Is it because the hotel and casino are about to be completed that renowned gamblers are starting to come?"
Lucas, hurrying to catch up, asked me.
"Are you saying more cheats like that woman will come?"
"Violet is a member of the gambler party 'Gambler's Club.' In other words, four more are likely to come."
The high-ranking heroes I wanted to recruit for the casino-attached hotel.
One of them – and the first I wanted to recruit.
The gambler party, Gambler's Club.
They were the first to take the bait.
"Good, as they come..."
I grinned.
"I'll crush them, laden them with debt, and make them my subordinates."
***
In a forest, a little distance from Crossroad, at a crossroads.
There, skillfully set up camping tents were placed around a burning campfire.
In front of the fire sat a tired-looking middle-aged man and woman, and a young boy and girl, one each.
At a glance, they looked like a regular family, but they were all glaring sharply at each other.
And for a good reason... what they held in their hands were gambling tiles.
Holding gambling tools similar to Earth's mahjong tiles, these people of all ages were scrutinizing each other, progressing in a serious game when-
"Waaaaah! This is so infuriating!"
Violet burst out.
Dressed in a neat fedora, coat, and suit, her light violet hair fluttering, she suddenly threw her hat to the ground.
The four people playing mahjong immediately brightened up.
"Violet!"
"Our leader has returned."
"How was the recon? Does Crossroad smell tasty?"
"Is it worth our while to come all the way to this backwater?"
The four people eagerly bombarded her with questions, to which Violet gritted her teeth.
"...I was fleeced."
"What?"
"I got fleeced, damn it!"
Dropping her formal speech, Violet sat down on the ground in frustration, roughly pushing back her sweat-soaked bangs.
Her words shocked the other four.
"What do you mean you got fleeced?"
"The Lord of Crossroad, that crazy Third Prince! We played a round of poker, and that man... my illusions didn't work on him at all. I was utterly defeated!"
The news of Violet's defeat surprised them all.
After all, although Violet might not be the strongest in gambling skills among the five – her ability to cheat was the strongest.
That's why she was nominally the leader of this gambler party.
"I've never met a man like that before."
Violet bit her lower lip in frustration.
"He nullified my illusion in an instant and toyed with me using bluffing. It was like... like he sliced open my belly and exposed my insides?! Aaah, damn embarrassing..."
Violet, lying sprawled on the ground, screamed and flailed her arms and legs.
The other four, looking down at her, turned serious.
"Hmm, we came here thinking we could easily rob this rural city's casino..."
"If they made Violet like this. They're not ordinary, are they?"
"Isn't this serious? Should we just run away?"
"...We can't do that."
The last to speak was the youngest among them – a girl with a red cloak, her hood pulled low.
"We've come too far to give up now."
As the girl spoke, the other gamblers fell silent. She continued quietly.
"I don't know how Violet's illusion was dispelled, but our four skills are still effective. If we five join forces, we can toy with any opponent."
That's why we formed the Gambler's Club.
The girl, murmuring softly, glanced at Violet.
"Right, Violet?"
As the girl sought agreement, Violet suddenly sprang up.
"Yes, of course! I might not know alone, but you... And if we move together, we can take down anyone!"
"Then it's decided. Come on, get up."
Violet hastily stood and picked up the trilby hat she had thrown on the ground, placing it back on her head.
The girl smiled thinly and gestured with her chin.
"Now, Violet. As the leader. Command us to reengage with vigor."
"Uh, okay...!"
Violet, after gauging the girl's reaction, raised her arms high.
"Alright, let's go! Gambler's Club! We'll repay this humiliation! That man, no, that city... let's clean them out...!"
Violet, looking again for the girl's approval, saw her nod. Violet grinned.
"When the five of us gather, we can even rob the Empire's Central Bank! A countryside city like this is nothing!"
Hearing this, the other gamblers laughed and packed their belongings.
A middle-aged man, Lime.
A middle-aged woman, Orange.
A boy, Cobalt.
A girl, Scarlet.
And the leader - Violet.
These five gamblers, each using a color as their nickname, were the Gambler Party Gambler's Club.
Checking their respective 'skills', the five gamblers started heading towards Crossroad.
Like all gamblers, aiming for a big 'score'.
***
The day after Violet was defeated by me.
The five gamblers of the Gambler's Club came to my mansion.
"I didn't expect you to come directly? Lead them to the parlor."
"...Are you sure it's okay, my lord?"
Lucas sweated coldly.
"They are professional con artists. Do you really want to get involved with them?"
"A con artist is still just a human."
My main enemy is monsters.
"What they're aiming for from me is just money."
Monsters aim for our lives.
Compared to them, how harmless are these con artists?
Considering their shallow goals, their small measure, there's no reason to be afraid. They're just toys for me to play with.
As I entered the parlor, the five gamblers all bowed to me in unison. Their ages varied widely.
"I was very rude yesterday, Prince Ash."
As I sat on the main sofa in the parlor, Violet stepped forward and spoke.
"Having lived abroad, I never thought that a member of the royal family would govern such a remote city. Please understand with a generous heart."
Her tone changed, probably because she was in front of royalty.
"Don't worry, Miss Violet. And this time, you've brought friends?"
"Yes. My beloved parents and siblings."
I smirked at them, bowing again in front of me.
A family setup, huh? Do they think I'd believe that, you con artists?
"From what I experienced yesterday, your highness is quite good at poker."
"I'm as good as anyone else."
Actually, just an average level.
"You also had a high reputation for enjoying leisure in the Imperial Capital."
"Well, I partied as much as others."
"And you're even building a luxury hotel with a casino in the city, it seems your affection for this isn't ordinary."
Ash, in his wild days, was said to have lived crazily in alcohol and gambling.
Essentially saying, you're a gambling addict, so you're building a casino in this countryside - that was the implication.
Violet gauged my reaction. I gestured with my hand.
"Stop beating around the bush and get to the point, Miss Violet."
"...Won't you be bored until the casino is completed, your highness?"
Violet pointed to her colleagues.
"How about you enjoy a little 'game' with us until then?"
Ah, you gambling addict. We'll entertain you. Let's roll through the night together.
That was their intention in approaching me.
I curled my lips into a sneer.
'Look at these guys.'
Planning to work me over before the casino is even built? Trying to strip the wallet of a prince?
"Sure."
Just what I wanted.
I wanted to recruit you as quickly as possible to make use of you. I flicked my hand.
"I'm not sure if you can handle me, though. Shall we warm up right now?"
"What will the game be?"
"Poker, of course."
I don't really know the rules of other games.
I gestured to the side, and Aider immediately brought me a pack of playing cards.
Snap! Snap!
Shuffling the cards in my hand, I beckoned the gamblers to take seats around me.
"Sit down, won't you? You said you'd play with me."
As if they were waiting, the five of them sat in chairs around me.
And thus, the poker game began.
***
We played poker for hours.
During that time, I won a lot.
Not because I was good, but because they let me win to keep my spirits high.
I bluffed excessively, and they fell for it. In this petty poker, I kept winning and making money.
Meanwhile, they assessed my skills. Their thoughts were obvious.
- This guy's poker skills are mediocre.
- He's addicted to bluffing. Continuously bets big on low hands.
- Reckless tactics, typical of a wealthy royal.
- Yesterday's win against Violet was just a big bluff that luckily worked.
I saw the gamblers exchanging glances. I snorted internally.
Time to really start playing.
"Ah, this is fun, so fun. It's great playing with someone new. I'm tired of playing with locals, knowing each other's style."
After another round of bluffing and scooping up the stakes with a low hand.
While shuffling the new cards, I shrugged.
"Being in this backwater, I always get the itch to play. That's why I'm building a casino... It's great to have people like you to play with before it opens."
"Your highness, aren't you getting bored?"
Just as expected.
I raised my eyebrows.
"Bored?"
"Playing for such small change. Isn't it too unexciting for someone like you?"
"Ha, you know me well. I was just getting tired of this kids' money."
"We've been playing for a long time and the tension has eased. How about we raise the stakes a bit as we start anew?"
Little by little. Gradually.
Like clothes getting wet in a drizzle, they plan to increase the stakes and strip away my wealth.
But-
"Why raise a little? Let's make a big raise."
No need for preliminaries among pros.
Let's dive into the real game, you bastards.
I gestured to the side, and there Aider appeared, grunting as he dragged a cart with a box on it. I opened the box myself.
Whoosh-!
A dazzling golden light burst from the box.
"...?!"
Gold bars.
The box was full of gold bars, each the size of a child's arm. The eyes of the five gamblers widened.
"All of you, from now on, will take turns challenging me one-on-one."
I grinned wickedly at the five of them.
"If even one of you beats me, I'll give you this whole box of gold bars."
I tapped the gold bars with my hand and glanced sharply at them.
"But if even one of you can't beat me. That is, if I smash you all."
"..."
"Your lives will be at my mercy. In other words, your lives will be mine."
Expressions of disbelief flickered across the faces of the five.
In their eyes, I probably seemed like a naive prince who had only dabbled in gambling in the Imperial Capital, now foolishly challenging professional hustlers.
I hope they keep that misconception.
I'll show them who's boss.
"How about it, will you try?"
"...Just one thing, make it clear, your highness."
Violet, swallowing dryly after looking at the gold bars, looked at me.
"After the match is over, I'm worried you might change your mind. Is this condition really valid?"
"No need to worry about that. This contract will be sealed with notarization magic. If violated, there will be a corresponding price to pay."
You thought to trap me and suck away my money.
But it's the other way around.
"So, what do you say? This is your only chance to back out, friends."
I took out a gold bar, held it in my hand, and shook it, grinning wickedly.
The one trapped isn't me...
But you, you fools.
--TL Notes--
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