180: Chapter 180 [Gemini] - Rule Deconstructor

Before the applause of Happy the Pleasure Gambler had even faded on the deck, the pairing text for the duel in scarlet blood condensed once again above the Bone Scale — [ Gemini ] vs [ Tafeng ]. The beautiful middle-aged woman named [ Four-Leaf Clover ] had a bye once again, and the two male Hosts turned their gazes toward each other.

"Oh my god! This woman's luck is just too absurd! Three rounds in a row with a bye! She entered the final round without fighting a single match!" [ Tafeng ] activated his Talent, complaining as he flew in the air. The high vantage point provided by his flight Talent always gave him an air of arrogance, looking down on others.

Tafeng glanced at [ Gemini ], who was standing next to the bone ladder. [ Gemini ]'s black-and-white outfit was particularly eye-catching against the backdrop of the scarlet blood. "Hey! You [ Gemini ] over there! You'd better be sensible and just forfeit! My flight Talent allows me to adjust my chips at any time before the countdown ends, which means I am an existence you simply cannot predict! You have absolutely no chance of winning!"

[ Gemini ] did not reply, merely looking down and playing with the golden money bag in his hands. He looked up at [ Tafeng ], who was flying wantonly in the air and clamoring, and flashed a fake smile. After throwing the golden money bag upward with force using his right hand, he confidently turned and walked away, not worried in the slightest about whether the golden money bag would land on his own bone tray.

[ Four-Leaf Clover ] unconsciously traced the blood covering the deck with the tip of her deep purple high-heeled shoe, sending ripples of blood spreading across the surface. The beautiful middle-aged woman's gaze wandered back and forth between [ Gemini ] and Tafeng.

Although three consecutive byes had spared her the risk of consuming her lifespan to duel three times, there was not a trace of celebration on her face; instead, she grew increasingly solemn. The victory declaration [ Gemini ] made when winning his duel against the Prop Maker — "Anything less than 90 or more than 135 will lose" — made it clear to her that this boy was never a gambler who relied solely on luck, but a strategist who enjoyed the duel of wits.

Seeing [ Gemini ]'s actions, Tafeng thought for a moment in the air, then flew to his own bone tray. In the final second before the countdown ended, Tafeng confidently poured out 99 chips from his golden money bag, then shouted provocatively at [ Gemini ], who had his back turned: " [ Gemini ]! Are you sure you want to give me so many chips? Thank you very much for your generosity!"

"99 chips!" he shouted triumphantly, "Unless you have 990 chips in your money bag! Otherwise, don't even think about winning, hahahahaha!!! And in your money bag — there simply aren't that many chips!"

The Hosts on the deck held their breath. Even the Prop Maker, who was slumped in the corner, raised his hollow, lifeless eyes. Everyone thought [ Gemini ] was bound to lose.

The one-minute countdown ended along with Tafeng's provocative words. Hapi announced the result of this duel to everyone: " [ Tafeng ] 99 chips, [ Gemini ] 50 chips. [ Gemini ] wins, [ Gemini ] gains all 149 chips!"

Tafeng looked at [ Gemini ] in disbelief, frantically rushing from the sky to stand before him, and questioned loudly: "Impossible! You had at least 109 chips in your money bag!"

Tafeng's questioning caused [ Gemini ] to shrug. Unable to hold it in any longer, a burst of laughter erupted from [ Gemini ]'s mouth. Wiping the tears of laughter from the corners of his eyes, [ Gemini ] replied: "Hahaha! Sorry~ Hahaha! I didn't expect anyone to be so 'confident'. Is there any rule that says all chips must be placed inside the money bag?!"

As he spoke, [ Gemini ] pulled his hand out of his pants pocket, and chips, which had been hidden somewhere on his body, clattered onto the ground. [ Gemini ] took the golden money bag that had flown back into his hand and gave it a light shake. After a simple spin of his body, all the chips scattered on the ground flew back into the golden money bag like swallows returning to their nest.

Tafeng's flight Talent suddenly spiraled out of control, and with a "thud," he fell into the blood on the deck. Struggling to stand up and enduring the pain in his body, he stared fixedly at [ Gemini ]. In Tafeng's eyes, apart from disbelief at [ Gemini ]'s move that jumped out of fixed thinking, there was nothing left but fear and anxiety about having to return the [ Life Chips ] borrowed from Hapi.

[ Four-Leaf Clover ] walked gracefully toward the Bone Scale and locked eyes with [ Gemini ] under their respective bone trays. Her red lips parted slightly: "Little brother [ Gemini ], shall we have a small bet first?"

After piquing [ Gemini ]'s interest, [ Four-Leaf Clover ] continued: "The three duels you won were each won in a way that best matched your opponent's personal traits — [ Swift Shadow ]'s honesty, the Prop Maker's greed, Tafeng's pride. You are enjoying the entirety of the duel; from beginning to end, you are enjoying the [ Gambling ] with others, am I right?"

"It seems this auntie~ you see things quite clearly~" [ Gemini ] chuckled and replied.

"Auntie!" (` dish´) The corners of [ Four-Leaf Clover ]'s mouth twitched because [ Gemini ] called her an auntie. Then, controlling herself to maintain a smile, she continued speaking to [ Gemini ]: "Little brother [ Gemini ]~ you should call me big sister~ My three consecutive byes were not luck. I believe you have been observing me and planning to gamble with me in a way that fits my personal traits. Here, I will openly and honestly propose my suggestion for a small bet before our duel."

[ Four-Leaf Clover ] took a deep breath and said slowly: "I possess a luck-type Talent, and its specific effect is probability manipulation. Here, I propose a small bet: if I win, I hope you will place only 10 chips on your bone tray. Based on my observations, I believe you are a person who keeps their word. Of course, if I win, I will place 10 chips on my own bone tray."

[ Gemini ] touched the white earring on his right ear with his right hand and nodded with interest: "Thank you for your trust, big sister. So, what exactly is your 'small bet'?"

[ Four-Leaf Clover ] glanced confidently at Hapi and continued: "Let's bet on whether the number of chips in your money bag is odd or even! Could you please act as a notary, Hapi? I assume you would be quite happy for such a thing to happen."

[ Gemini ] nodded: "Sure."

Hapi giggled, straightened his pink suit rather seriously, and then raised one hand forward: "Haha! It's just right as a small interlude before the final. In the name of [ Happy the Pleasure Gambler ], I declare the bet is on!"

[ Four-Leaf Clover ] said confidently: "The number of chips in your money bag right now is odd!"

[ Gemini ] paused for a moment, took 1 chip out of his pants pocket, and applauded [ Four-Leaf Clover ]: "Excellent judgment! With one sentence, you limited the crucial factor of time! You won!"

Hapi announced symbolically: "[ Four-Leaf Clover ] wins! Please start the final duel as soon as possible!"

[ Gemini ] raised his hand as if resigned and tossed exactly 10 chips onto his own bone tray, while [ Four-Leaf Clover ] confidently stepped on the bone ladder and placed 1 chip into her own bone tray.

[ Four-Leaf Clover ], with both feet on the ground, walked up to [ Gemini ] and whispered: "Little brother [ Gemini ], I knew you were a person who keeps their word!" She then stood beside [ Gemini ] waiting for the one-minute countdown to end.

In the last 3 seconds of the countdown, [ Gemini ] tossed 10 chips onto [ Four-Leaf Clover ]'s bone tray. Turning to look at the astonished [ Four-Leaf Clover ], [ Gemini ] kindly reminded her: "It's clear that big sister [ Four-Leaf Clover ] rarely signs contracts. Remember, next time there's a similar opportunity, be sure to add more restrictive conditions."

Yes, [ Gemini ] kept his word and placed only 10 chips on his own bone tray, but the rules of this bet did not require that chips only be placed on one's own bone tray. Therefore, the situation that was a guaranteed win in [ Four-Leaf Clover ]'s plan was reversed by [ Gemini ] in the final 3 seconds of the countdown.

Hapi announced the result of the final duel at the right moment: "[ Four-Leaf Clover ] 11 chips, [ Gemini ] 10 chips. [ Gemini ] wins, [ Gemini ] gains all 21 chips!"

[ Gemini ] walked up to [ Four-Leaf Clover ], who was dejected because her supposedly perfect plan had failed, and sincerely extended his right hand, saying: "As a gambler, you are very unqualified! But as a human, you are very interesting! This is the most enjoyable bet I've had, apart from the first duel. Thank you!"

[ Four-Leaf Clover ] showed the maturity of a middle-aged person, smiling and extending her right hand to shake [ Gemini ]'s: "Little brother [ Gemini ], truly an excellent mind. Being able to make you feel pleasure during our [ Gambling ] is also my honor."

Hapi also offered applause for the two: "A wonderful duel! The second bet, [ Weight of Life ], ends here!"

Suddenly, Hapi's eyes glowed red, and the scarlet blood on the deck began to boil. A terrifying laugh came from Hapi's mouth: "Hahaha! Let's proceed with the settlement of [ Life Chips ]! All Hosts who borrowed chips from me, I'm going to start collecting debts!"

The boiling scarlet blood surged and swallowed the bodies of the Prop Maker and Tafeng. Amidst their wails and pleas for mercy, everyone present felt their vitality strengthened or weakened to a certain extent.

The blood returned to calm, and Hapi also returned to his normal appearance: "[ Prop Maker ], [ Tafeng ], because your remaining lifespan is insufficient to repay the [ Life Chips ] borrowed from me, you die immediately; [ Muscle Maniac ], [ Swift Shadow ], [ Passerby Man ], [ Wu Doumi ], [ Four-Leaf Clover ], because your remaining [ Life Chips ] are less than your own lifespan, the excess lifespan is now extracted. [ Latte Life Extension ], [ Gemini ], because your remaining [ Life Chips ] are greater than your own lifespan, the insufficient lifespan is now injected."

A round of applause rang out. Hapi waved his hand happily, the blood seeped into the deck and disappeared, and the wheel behind him also slowly faded away: "Congratulations again to all Hosts for completing the second bet. Next, we enter [ Rest Time ]. Before the third bet begins, everyone is free to visit this [ Deep Sea Gambling Ship ]." As Hapi's voice echoed on the empty deck, his figure also faded and disappeared from everyone's field of vision.