Magician in Type-Moon

Page 460

Two magic spells were activated simultaneously.

The emerald green light swirled around the hydra like thorns, gradually tightening, as if invisible venomous spikes had pierced its nerves, sealing off its final struggle.

Then--

"Good night."

Two soft voices rang out in succession.

Van Fem's paralyzing poison finally put this mythical creature into a deep slumber.

After a moment of silence, the dealer's voice broke the silence:

"The battle is over."

At this moment, the entire Van Fem boat banquet, all the gamblers, all the games, all came to a standstill over this outcome.

The skilled gamblers were all completely silent at this moment.

—Alette Escaldes.

—Isrid Morgan Fars.

——Matou Pond.

—Van Femme.

—Bai Ruolong.

They looked at the final 3D image with different expressions, but none of them spoke first.

It's not because I can't accept the outcome.

But because——

This battle was far too dramatic.

The story unfolds with dramatic twists and turns, like a meticulously crafted fraud, unfolding step by step, ultimately turning the tide and securing victory when everyone thought defeat was inevitable.

Until just now, they were still calculating the course of the battle.

But at this moment, the outcome is already decided and cannot be changed.

Changes in Chips

At the end of the previous round, the chips held by each gambler were as follows:

Isilid: 700. Alette: 1000. Matouchi: 2200. Van Fem: 1800. Bai Ruolong: 6500.

And now, based on the outcome of this final battle—

The dealer first looked at Isilid and nodded slightly.

"Lord Isilid, bet all seven hundred chips on the fighter's KO victory."

He went all in, betting everything he had.

But this is not enough.

"In addition, fifty magic circuits were bet—equivalent to five hundred chips."

Upon hearing this, the gamblers watching narrowed their eyes slightly.

This means that his bet is not just chips—

It is, in fact, part of its own magic circuit.

"The odds are three times, so you receive 3,600. However, your deposited magic circuits will be replenished here."

The dealer handed over the dragon-shaped emblem that symbolized the chips.

With the addition of the 2,400 chips previously deposited, Isilid's total chip count climbed to 3,100.

"Lady Alette, you have placed a bet of one thousand chips on a KO victory in the Fantasy race. If the bet fails, these chips will be confiscated."

"Oh dear, I still didn't win the bet in the end."

Alette shrugged, her tone relaxed, and looked at her empty chip stack with complete indifference.

Her total amount being reduced to zero meant she was completely severing ties with Van Fim's ship party.

"Lord Matouike, you placed two thousand chips on the fighter's KO victory in the final round. The odds are five, therefore, ten thousand chips will be returned to you."

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Matou Ike calmly accepted his spoils.

According to the settlement, he should have had 2,200 chips.

but--

This ever-calm gambler, for some reason, deliberately kept two hundred coins.

This small difference, though insignificant, is unsettling.

Could it be...?

Van Fem narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked at Matou Ike.

—From the very first battle, he foresaw that Luvia would use the paralyzing poison of the chimera.

If that's the case... then it means that Matou Ike had already predicted that the match would drag on until the very last moment.

Although there is only a fine line between "decision victory" and "final round KO victory" in terms of rules, if Matou Ike understood Luvia's personality, he would understand that they would definitely persevere to the end and personally deliver the fatal blow.

—How can you achieve this level of understanding after knowing each other for less than a week?

Even so, Matou Ike was still unable to defeat Shiro Raku.

Previously, Bai Ruolong had clearly declared:

He has placed all his bets on the fighter's victory.

As long as this isn't a lie, his total chips will soar to—

Thirteen thousand pieces.

This means that even if Matou Ike bets everything, he will still be unable to defeat Bai Ruolong.

Defeat is inevitable.

However, the next second, the dealer announced a result that surprised everyone:

"As per Lord Matouchi's request, these 10,000 coins will be added to Lord Isilid's chips."

—The entire room fell silent.

"……what?"

Bai Ruolong suddenly straightened up, her gaze sharp.

Not only him, but everyone present—except for Matou Ike and Isilido—showed expressions of shock.

Alette was the first to stand up.

"I demand an explanation. Why were Matouchi's chips added to Isilid's side?"

Matou Ike waved his hand dismissively: "It's nothing serious."

"How can it be 'no big deal'?! This is outright fraud! When did such a rule come into being?"

"Didn't the dealer already say that the bet for the third round is limited to two thousand coins per person?"

Matou Ike maintained his unhurried tone, his gaze calmly sweeping over everyone at the table.

"This statement implies the unspoken rule that gamblers can form alliances. Am I wrong?"

"...Yes, that's exactly right."

The dealer nodded in acknowledgment.

But Van Fem looked rather comical; he shook his head and laughed as if in despair.

"Haha, I've never heard of such a thing."

Matou Ike looked at him calmly: "That's what you said when you confirmed the rules, wasn't it?"

"Otherwise, everyone except me would likely cooperate. I think that's the obvious course of action."

"It is commonplace for players to exchange chips with each other in casinos."

Van Fem frowned slightly, as if recalling something, but in the end he shook his head and sighed.

“To be honest, I only realized the flaw in my statement before I said it. You're right, chip movement between casino players is indeed common… but the problem is,”

He gazed at the Matou Pond, his eyes deep and thoughtful.

"Almost all the ship banquets were conducted one-on-one between me and the players."

"Therefore, your actions are tantamount to taking advantage of a weakness."

Van Fem chuckled softly, his tone tinged with disillusionment.

"So, you're planning to share the treasure 'in a loving and harmonious way' in the clock tower?"

"This method of utilization is indeed feasible."

A subtle silence fell over the room.

"I understand the reason."

This time, it was Bai Ruolong who spoke.

"But even so, no one would willingly give up their chips, right? Matou Ike, why did you help them form an alliance?"

He narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze seeming to scrutinize the other person.

Isilid laughed heartily.

"Hahaha, of course it's because I have no chance of winning!"

"He told me, using the words of a Rubik's Cube, to bet two thousand chips on a 'final knockout victory,' and that he would ensure the win,"

"And all the spoils of victory—all of them belong to me."

Chapter 516 Accusations

"Unfortunately, given the situation at the start of the third battle, I truly had no chance of winning. So, what else could I do but agree?"