The old man was still laughing with satisfaction, his face flushed from alcohol and a winning streak. He shook his bag of chips proudly, displaying a pile of colorful chips he had collected—a symbol of his wealth and victory that he deliberately flaunted. His loud, slightly hoarse laughter echoed in the relatively quiet room, disturbing the usual tranquility of the place.
Natty held tightly to Lucian's arm, her cold fingers gripping him firmly. Her face was pale, her lips trembling. "Young master, you should stop now," she said with a trembling voice, full of concern. "You've lost twice and lost a lot of money. There's no need to push yourself." She looked at Lucian with tearful eyes, showing her deep worry.
Lucian clapped Natty's hand, his movements gentle yet firm, calming her worries. "I'm just teasing him," he said calmly, his voice flat and calculated. "He's too confident now. With that amount, I don't feel like I'm losing much…" He paused his sentence, a thin and mysterious smile blossoming at the corner of his lips. His hand lifted, his index finger touching his lips—a gesture asking Natty to be quiet and stay calm. He winked once, a hidden wink behind his cloak, as if sharing a secret with Natty. That small movement indicated that there was another plan he was formulating.
Lucian turned to the dealer, his gaze sharp and full of confidence. He was unfazed by the old man's laughter or Natty's worries. In a calm and self-assured voice, he said, "I still want to continue the game," his tone firm, showing strong determination. "This time with a substantial amount." He stared at the old man with a challenging look.
The old man laughed heartily, his voice slightly hoarse from alcohol and excitement. He pointed at Lucian with his trembling finger. "You still haven't accepted your defeat, kid?" his voice dripped with mockery and condescension. "You think you can beat me? Your money won't be enough!" He confidently gulped down the remaining whiskey.
Lucian took a slow breath, then with a casual yet meaningful motion, he placed 10 shimmering gold chips on the table. His movements were measured and calculated, with not a hint of doubt or fear. The atmosphere at the table fell silent instantly. All eyes were fixed on the stack of gold chips. An extraordinary amount—1 million rubles—lay on the table, creating a tense suspense. The casino went quiet immediately. Some people around began to pay attention to their tables.
The old man was initially shocked to see the pile of gold chips, but then he laughed uproariously, his voice slightly hoarse from alcohol and excitement. He pointed at Lucian with a trembling finger, yet his eyes sparkled with confidence. "Ha, you're really something, kid," he said, his voice sounding a bit surprised yet still full of mockery. "That's why I hate kids like you. So bold to challenge me!" He took a confident swig of his remaining whiskey, attracting more spectators. "I accept your challenge," he continued, with a smile that was both self-assured and slightly cruel.
"Give me all your money!" With a slightly unsteady movement from the drunkenness but still full of conviction, he placed his own 10 gold chips on the table, matching Lucian's bet.
The dealer, who had been observing calmly all this time, now spoke, "Understood, since the players have agreed, the next round will begin." He looked at both players with a flat expression, but his eyes reflected the tension present. The atmosphere in the room grew tenser, as the audience held their breath, waiting for the next round."Caught," muttered Lucian, a cynical smile spreading across his lips. He leaned back, resting his head in the palm of his hand.The dealer, with skilled and measured hand movements, dealt the next cards.
Lucian peeked at his cards—4 of Hearts and 5 of Diamonds. Not a good hand. The two cards lay before him like two heavy, cold stones, pressing down on his hopes. He concealed his disappointment behind a flat expression, a mask he had mastered well.
The old man across from him looked at his cards—King of Spades and 10 of Diamonds—with an increasingly wide and confident smile. He held back laughter, a nearly uncontrollable laugh of victory, certain he would win again. His eyes sparkled with triumph, gazing at Lucian with a look full of disdain and condescension.
The dealer revealed the flop—6 of Diamonds, 7 of Spades, and Jack of Hearts. Lucian immediately saw an opportunity. If he got a 3 or an 8, he would have a straight! A slim chance, but enough to keep him in the game. Meanwhile, the old man had high cards, King and 10, but no strong combination yet. He was still confident, but tension began to show on his face.
"I raise 5 blue chips," said the old man, his voice full of certainty, but there was a slight tremor indicating a hint of doubt. He placed the blue chips on the table, raising the bet.
Lucian observed the expression of the old man closely. He seemed confident, but not overly so, a sign that he might not have a very strong hand. Lucian pretended to hesitate, his eyes wandering for a moment as if he was considering the risks. He took a deep breath, as if struggling with a tough decision.
"I will also raise 5 blue chips," Lucian said, his voice calm and flat, concealing his sharp thoughts. He added his chips to the table, matching the old man's bet.
The dealer revealed the fourth card—2 of Spades. Lucian still hadn't gotten a straight. Disappointment was implied behind his mask of calmness. The old man tapped the table with his fingers, thinking for a moment. He considered the risks, but his arrogance and confidence still dominated. He grinned, a smile filled with disdain and certainty of victory.
"Raise, 10 blue chips!" he said, his voice full of confidence that was almost arrogant. He added the blue chips to the table, significantly increasing the stakes.
Some spectators started to whisper. The game was becoming more intense, every breath felt heavy, every movement felt slow. Lucian knew this was the right moment to bluff, to turn the tables, to win this game. He had prepared himself for this moment.Lucian observed the old man carefully. His face was red, not just from alcohol, but also from tension. Lucian smiled subtly, a smile full of meaning.
"You are quite confident, Old Man," Lucian said, his voice calm yet pressure-filled, "But I'm curious, will your 'king' card be enough?" The sentence came out casually, yet contained a veiled threat.
The old man was shocked, his eyes widened slightly, a reaction he could not hide. Lucian caught that reaction sharply. The expression of surprise, a fleeting flash in his opponent's eyes, confirmed his suspicions. He had suspected the man's cards—most likely just a high card, a King, without a strong combination. He had read his opponent very well, reading more than just the cards; he read the soul of his opponent.
"Raising another 5 gold chips," Lucian said, his voice calm but filled with unwavering confidence. He added gold chips, which were worth far more than the blue chips, to the table, dramatically increasing the stakes. His movement was calm, measured, yet full of hidden strength.
The crowd whispered louder. This is a huge bet, a bet that determines the fate of the game. The air in the room felt increasingly suffocating, filled with a chilling tension. The old man appeared slightly restless, sweat beginning to dampen his forehead. He bit his lip, a small gesture indicating his nervousness. Lucian deliberately mentioned King—and his reaction confirmed that it was true. He had managed to read his opponent's mind, mastering this game with his intelligence and sharpness.
"H-how could this kid know?" the old man muttered, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and anger. Doubt began to creep into his mind, a deadly doubt in the world of gambling. He didn't want to appear weak, but he also couldn't ignore the fact that his opponent had read his cards with remarkable accuracy. His confidence, once so strong, was now beginning to crumble.
"Me too, I will add 5 gold chips," said the old man, his voice sounding a bit forced, full of doubt that he tried to hide. He placed his gold chips on the table, matching Lucian's bet. The tension in the room reached its peak, like a ticking time bomb ready to explode. All eyes were on the dealer, waiting for the next card that would determine the fate of the game.
The dealer revealed the last card—8 of Diamonds. The card fell slowly, as if time was slowing down, increasing the tension in the room to its climax. Lucian had a straight—4, 5, 6, 7, 8! A strong combination, a nearly certain victory. He hid his victorious smile behind a calm expression, a perfect mask. The old man looked at his cards and realized that he still only had a high King! He had no combination at all, just a weak high card in the face of Lucian's straight card.
However, before the dealer asked them to reveal their cards, Lucian pressed his psychological advantage further. He knew that the old man was nearly ready to give up, but he wanted to ensure his victory. He took a deep breath, pretending to hesitate, his eyes wandering as if he was considering something very difficult.
"Wow, this is bad," Lucian murmured quietly, his voice loud enough for the old man to hear, "Does that old man have a 'flush'?" The statement came out casually, but it contained a veiled threat, a question designed to make his opponent even more uncertain.
The old man mumbled, "Flush? I don't even have three of a kind!" His voice sounded shaky, filled with panic. A sense of panic began to emerge, gnawing at his remaining confidence. He realized that he had fallen into a psychological game meticulously crafted by Lucian.
"This boy, can he guess my card?!" muttered the old man, his voice almost inaudible, but full of disbelief and fear. "Maybe he also knows something I don't...." The doubt grew stronger, eating away at his mind.
Doubt crept into his mind. And in the world of gambling, doubt is the biggest enemy. Confidence that was once so strong, has now been shattered, replaced by fear and uncertainty. Lucian glanced at the old man with a calm expression, as if waiting for a decision, an expression full of certain triumph. And finally, the old man gave up, losing not only by the cards, but also by the psychology of the sharp opponent.
"Tch, I'm folding!" he said angrily, throwing his cards at the table roughly, a gesture that showed his defeat and his anger. The voice echoed in the silent room, signaling the end of the game.
The crowd was instantly in an uproar. Whispers turned into gasps of surprise. Some people stood up from their seats, unable to believe what had just happened. Lucian flashed a slight smile, a calm and confident smile of victory. He slowly turned over his cards, revealing 4 Hearts and 5 Diamonds. Two cards that seemed weak, but had formed a deadly straight along with the cards on the table.People were shocked.
"Oh my God, he won with a straight..." whispers filled the room, full of admiration and disbelief. They never expected Lucian could win with cards that appeared so weak at the start of the game. His brilliance in reading opponents and mastering the game became the center of attention.
The old man gasped, his face flushed from a mix of alcohol, anger, and shame. "WHAT?!" his voice rose, filled with disbelief and rage. He never expected that this kid could win with such cards—and worse, he gave up before seeing his opponent's cards.
Lucian leaned back in his chair, a slight smile on his face, a smile full of sweet and bitter victory. "Thank you for the game, Old Man," he said, his voice calm and laced with concealed respect.
"YOU CHEATED!!!" the old man shouted, slamming his hand on the table, causing it to shake. His anger erupted; he could not accept his defeat. He was searching for a scapegoat, looking for an excuse to cover up his shame.
Lucian remained calm, his eyes fixed on the old man with a calm and meaningful expression. "Hmm? I'm just playing by the rules," he said, his voice steady and flat, without a hint of emotion. He did not let his emotions be stirred by his opponent's anger. "Oh, could it be that you can't accept your defeat and are accusing me of cheating?" The last sentence came out casually, but it carried a sharp sarcasm that made some spectators laugh.
The dealer, who had been observing calmly all this time, now spoke up, "Well, this time the winner is this gentleman." He pointed towards Lucian with a measured hand gesture, officially announcing his victory. His voice was calm yet firm, ending the tension that filled the room.
Lucian casually took his stack of chips, his movements measured and confident. The stack of chips, which had a very high value, seemed so light in his hands.
"Young master! I really think you'll make me a guarantee if you lose..." Natty's voice broke the silence, his voice a little worried and astonished. He walked over to Lucian, his face mixed with admiration and worry.
"Why is he so outspoken," Lucian muttered to himself, "Natty, I won't accept a challenge without a well-thought-out plan." He smiled faintly, a smile that held many meanings.
With a great victory in hand, Lucian got up from his chair and left the table, his movements calm and full of confidence. He walked past the crowd of spectators who were still whispering in disbelief, leaving the old man still in disbelief at his defeat.
"Alright, it's enough fun now to go back to the original plan."