Capital City, Donia Kingdom
The sound of loud, booming laughter, cheers and conversation filled the tavern section of a large inn.
Inside the building, a small crowd had gathered around a round table, watching a ga of poker with great interest.
The man that had stolen everyone’s attention was a young handso individual with dark red hair, grey eyes and a troubleso smile.
Twelve rounds that night, yet he had not suffered a single defeat. Not once, not since his one year of gambling in that joint.
At first, they had suspected him of cheating. Made him sit far from the table, they had even gone as far as stripping him to his underwear, yet, he still won every ga.
By now, everyone knew not to bet against Jackal, yet there were always a few who dared.
Especially foreigners....
Jackal relaxed his back, pushing his chair to stand on two legs. "Heh, what happened that the confidence up had a few seconds ago, Mr Stark?"
He brushed his finger over his cards, a relaxed smile on his face.
Thwack!
Jackal slamd his cards on the desk, his combination far superior than his opponents’.
Imdiately the man saw the cards, he fell down to his knees, sweating buckets.
"Please, Mr Jack... my wife, she is going to kill if she finds out I lost everything!"
Jackal knew that the man might not really be far from the truth. Mr Starks’ wife was a swordsman in the imperial army, plus...
Jackal’s shoulders fell.
...he was in a similar situation as the man.
Still, when it ca to betting with Jackal, it was either you go high and bet even the clothes on your back, or you go ho.
Jackal glanced at the guards at the table. "Strip him."
Ding!
While his associates went to work, the man screaming as his clothes were ripped off his back— the bell above the door chid as a new set of visitors strolled in.
At the sight them, Jackal perked a brow. "High elves?" He muttered.
No, their ears weren’t the right shape. Added to the fact that high elves would never visit a place like this, jackal ca to a conclusion that seed even more absurd.
Wood elves...
’What are wood elves doing here?’
Whenever Jackal saw a wood elf, they were often a slave being dragged around by their master, or it was whenever he visited the more high-class brothels on certain... business.
But these people looked far from what slaves looked like. In fact, they looked wealthy, far wealthier than the average rchant.
Even the way they carried themselves scread of nobility.
’Heh...’
All Jackal saw was his next set of victims. Elven nobles who wandered far away from their ho, finding themselves in a strange land? They were just begging to get robbed.
"If you would please excuse ..." Jackal got to his feet. He arranged the necklace he wore properly, smoothed down his jacket, then kissed his ring for good luck.
Navigating his way through the in, he ca to a stop close to the elves and paused to listen in on them.
"What do you an ’I need to eat so vegetables,’ Eliron? I’m not a rabbit you know?" The silver haired elf pouted, pointing her finger at a young man who seed like their leader.
"I know, you’re more like a chicken, considering you sotis forget how to fly."
"T-that was just one ti!"
"Don’t worry, if you are a chicken, you’ll be a pretty white one." The only other girl in the group teased.
She had vibrant red hair, green eyes and a smile that could bewitch nations. Jackal suddenly felt he needed to be wary of her the most.
"A-Artie, not you too!" Silver hair sobbed.
’Hmm? Was I wrong about them being nobles?’ Jackal mused as he watched them from the side.
Nobles were often more uptight, especially elven nobles. At least, that was his experience when he t a few high elves.
Not like these were high elves though..
A more mature elf then walked up to Eliron and said, "My lord, I’ve booked the rooms, shall we go upstairs?"
Eliron nodded. "It was a long day, I guess it’s best we get so rest before tomorrow."
"Good evening my good sir!" Jackal quickly cut in, closing the distance between them in a few steps.
Eliron smiled and nodded. "Good evening to you too. Can I help you?"
’Hmm? No disgust at the sight of a human? Strange... this will be easier than I thought.’
Jackal grinned. "No, no, nothing like that." He pointed at his table. "We were having a nice ga of poker, and we just beca short of one man..."
He turned back to Eliron, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Any chance you would be interested?"
This was his signature line. Make it sound like he would be doing him a favour, appeal to his good heart, sell a friendly ga...
Then after he let him win the first few gas, he would lure him into the bet.
If it didn’t work then he would switch to plan b, enticing them with money.
Eliron scratched his head and glanced at his group. "I don’t know... the journey here was turbulent to say the least... I want to hurry up and go to bed."
"Co on man, this is Donia! You should loosen up a little, drinks will be on of course." Jackal laughed.
The elf stroked his jaw, thinking over his words. "You are right, it won’t make sense to visit without perusing the local gas and customs."
He frowned lightly. "But I don’t even know how to play poker. Our village is so remote that the ga has never wandered into our borders."
Jackal waved his hands dismissively. "That is not a problem at all, I’ll teach you of course."
"Ahh, in that case, let’s go!" Eliron turned to his group. "You guys go on ahead, I’ll et you later."
They gave Jackal a strange look, just before turning and climbing the stairs.
’What was that all about?’ Jackal thought.
"I am Eliron by the way." Eliron offered his hand for a hand shake.
Although Jackal had picked up his na while eavesdropping on them, he pretended like he did not know it.
"Jackal." He shook Eliron’s hand. "Welco to Donia."
After introducing everyone to the new vict—player... Jackal went over the rules and began distributing the cards.
As the cards were going around, Eliron grabbed his drink and took a sip while staring at the chips.
"According to your explanation, this ga is often played with cash on the line or other valuables?"
Jackal nodded with a sly smirk. "Of course! Placing your wealth on the line often cos with a thrill that nothing else can be compared to."
"Then why aren’t we betting now?" Eliron frowned.
"I felt it would be rude to start betting right off the bat, you’re new to this ga you know?"
The young elf laughed. It was calm and lofty, Jackal could practically sense the wealth oozing off that laughter.
Click—!
He dug his hand into his coat and pulled out a pouch of coins, the sizable sack jiggled as placed it on the table.
"I’m an adventurous man Mr jackal." Eliron smiled. "No need to put on training wheels."
Jackal held back the urge to lick his lips. He could see a glint of gold shining within the bag.
"Ahh... I see! I have underestimated you, forgive ." He bowed in respect.
Then a malicious grin appeared on his face. "But over on this table..." All the n stared at Eliron with a dark look in their eyes, and a daunting grin on their faces.
"When we bet, we put it all on the line. Think you can handle that?"
Eliron looked skeptical, but after his bold statent, there was no way he could back out now.
"C-child’s play!" The elf boldly declared.
’Bingo!’ Jackal thought.
"Then let us begin!" Jackal rubbed his fingers together as he picked up his set of cards.
There was only one way this ga could possibly end. The reason Jackal had won countless gas without fail was because unlike others, he possessed a special skill.
[Higher Cognitive Function]
This skill allowed him to calculate and make deductions five tis the speed of an average human!
Because of this, by reading facial reactions, gestures and even the order of cards, he was able to read his opponents moves before they even made them.
Sotis even before they thought of it...
Of course, it was not one hundred percent accurate, but he was almost never wrong.
For him to lose, his opponent would either need to be an extrely lucky bastard, or he would need to be able to see the future!
Eliron picked up his cards as the rounds began, the corner of his lip curling up in a vindictive smile. "Raise."
Jackal blinked. ’Huh?’
He was new to the ga, yet... Why did he seem so confident? He shook his head, he was probably over thinking things.
Thirty minutes later...
"Fuck!"
Bang!
Jackal kicked a garbage can in rage, only to grab his leg and wince in pain.
He was outside the tavern, stark naked—a table cloth the only thing he had to cover his privates.
Whenever the frosty night wind would blow past, a shiver would run down his back as goose bumps rose from his skin.
"Such a vile man!" He cursed out loud.
At least whenever he won, he had the decency to leave his victims with their underwear!
Jackal sighed and stared at his finger. At the spot where his golden ring should have been, only a pale tan mark was left.
"Ciera is going to kill ..."
..
A/N
We are going back to our boys pov starting from the next Chapter. These two Chapters were to introduce so key characters as well as set the pace for the volu.
But, hey, do you guys like multiple POVs?
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