They Played Dirty. I Played Deadly.

Jenson's POV

As such, Martin strutted out of the casino with Cecilia in his arms, cocky and untouchable. The crowd even parted like the Red Sea for the two of them, shouting his new title: “King of Gambling!”

I, on the other hand, was pelted with rotten eggs and stones by people who once called themselves my fans. Once they were done, I left the casino in total disgrace.

Out on the street, every public screen flashed with news of the birth of a “new gambling legend.” Martin sat there during his flashy interview, smug and clean-cut. When asked about me, he sneered, “Maybe the guy used cheap tricks to earn his fame before. Who knows?”

I didn’t stick around to watch.

I wandered like a ghost with no home, broken and lost. I didn’t even know if I could win tomorrow’s match because everything about this felt so strange, so wrong.

The weight of failure sat on my chest like an invisible hand, choking the breath from me.

What now? What the hell do I do?

At this moment, hopelessness consumed me.

I didn’t even realize I had walked all the way to a shrine. But the moment I heard the chanting of scriptures, my restless heart started to quiet down.

Then the occultist opened his eyes and looked straight at me, deep and knowing.

I ended up staying there the whole night.

By morning, I left and headed for the next game.

On the way, Martin called me.

The moment I picked up, I heard Cecilia’s breathy moans through the line.

“Jenson,” Martin taunted, “Don’t forget to show up on time. Your wife tastes amazing. She’s a real beast in bed, you know?”

Quickly after hearing that, I hung up and let out a slow, cruel laugh.

Martin. Cecilia. This time, you were both going to pay. And it’d cost you more than you could imagine.

When I arrived at the casino, everyone was already there. All that was missing was me.

“Jenson, do you even have money left to bet?” someone asked, mocking, and tossed a few copper coins at me like I was a beggar. “Bark like a dog for us, you broke loser!”

Despite that, I said nothing and just stared coldly at them, unmoved.

But all I got was more insult.

“Still acting proud? Look at you. You’re a mess!”

“He probably can’t even afford those coins.”

Still, I walked straight to the table, pulled out a chair, and sat down.

Then, I calmly placed my last pile of cash on the table.

Seeing that, Martin snorted, “That’s it? That’s all you’ve got left?”

“Not quite,” I said. “I’ve also got… my life.”

I placed a gun on the table, and gasps rippled through the room.

“Damn! This just got real. He’s playing for blood now!”

“Quiet! This is the final showdown. Let’s see how it ends.”

Hearing the excitement around, Martin grinned. “Jenson, this time, you're dead.”

He waved for Cecilia to move and take a seat to the side.

“Perfect. That’s just how I wanted it,” he said while smugly looking at me.

Humiliating me and dragging me off the throne and into the mud had always been Martin’s dream.

“Let’s begin, then.”

“Wait,” I said calmly. “To make this fair, I brought someone.”

That was when Rolf Gardner, the wealthiest man in the capital, walked in.

He owed the shrine's occultist a favor. And to repay it, he agreed to do me a solid. And that was to make sure Martin couldn’t cheat or run from the result.

With Rolf in the room, all the noise and taunts died down instantly.

“Let’s start,” the dealer announced.

The game began, and my face-up card was a Queen. As for my hole card, I didn’t look at it yet. Martin’s visible card, on the other hand, was a 10.

“Two million,” I said coolly, pushing the chips forward.

Martin narrowed his eyes, studying me. Then silently matched the bet.

The dealer revealed the second round of cards, and everyone's eyes were focused on the game.

This time, I got a 4, while Martin pulled a King.

“Three million,” I said.

“Call,” he replied.

On the third card, I drew a 5, and he got a Jack.

His hand was clearly aiming for a straight flush. Anyone watching could tell he was in a stronger position. As such, people around the room were already shaking their heads in disappointment at me.

“Heh,” Martin sneered. “Even the heavens have turned their back on you, Jenson.”

Then he shoved all his chips to the center of the table. “All in. If you lose this one, you lose everything. And then… you die.”

“So?” he smirked. “You in?”

Just then, Martin ordered someone to bring my mother forward and return her to me.

To him, it didn’t matter anymore. He had already accomplished what he wanted. My life was already on the table.

“Don’t say I’m heartless,” he said with a smirk. “See? I gave your old mother back. Now tell me, Jenson, you got the guts to go all in?”

Without hesitation, I shoved all my chips into the center and firmly said, “Call.”

I could hear people in the crowd snickering, mocking me. But I didn’t care.

Then the dealer dealt the final cards.

Mine was the Ace of Hearts, and Martin’s was the Ace of Spades.

“You’ve got no chips left,” he said, eyebrows raised. “You really gonna bet your life now?”

“All the way,” I said.

“He’s insane. Who bets everything with those cards?”

“Maybe his hole card’s a Queen.”

“Pfft. He already screwed up once. He wants a second beating?”

“From the look on Martin’s face, his card might be a Queen too.”

Martin then suddenly stood up, cocky as ever, and started dancing some ridiculous victory dance he made up, acting like he’d already won.

“I’ve got the highest hand,” he declared. “So I’ll reveal first.”

He slapped his hole card down and laughed, “A Queen! You're done for, Jenson! Game over!”

The card flipped with a snap, and everyone leaned in.

Then their eyes widened in confusion.