Chapter 27: I Demand to Inspect the Cards (With an Authentic French Accent)
Eve’s hand, holding the wine glass, paused slightly.
Looking at Vivian’s perfectly natural expression—as if one hundred thousand were nothing more than pocket change—she found herself at a rare loss for words.
After all, she had merely intended to let her try an introductory round of Texas Hold’em. Two thousand was more than enough as an entry stake and for a brief experience.
After a full two and a half seconds of silence, Eve finally said slowly, “Young Miss… two thousand is sufficient.”
“Two thousand?” Vivian stopped rummaging through her bag and looked up, her face filled with disbelief and disdain. “What kind of interesting thing can you do with two thousand?”
She could not help recalculating in her mind. She harbored deep suspicion that anything associated with such a trivial sum could possibly be amusing.
That amount did not even equal one-tenth the cost of the imported rose petals she used for a bath.
Eve inwardly sighed. With two thousand, she could probably make the tavern owner climb onto a table and perform a striptease.
Vivian casually pulled out a thick stack of banknotes. At first, she intended to extract two thousand from it as if it were loose change. But after counting for a while, she grew impatient.
“Tch…” She simply tossed the entire stack to Eve. “Take it. I cannot be bothered to count. It should be about right.”
Eve caught it and estimated roughly fifty thousand Federal Coins. Her brow lifted slightly. About right?
Though Vivian’s words were sharp, her curiosity was impossible to conceal. “If this is a trick and it is not interesting enough, you will regret it!”
Eve said nothing. She merely stood up and signaled for her to follow.
The two of them approached the lively table.
Those seated around it were men who appeared to frequent the place year-round, their faces marked by sleepless nights or prolonged exposure to the sun.
They were fully engrossed in the game, occasionally cursing loudly. When Eve and Vivian drew near, they fell silent at once and looked toward them in unison.
“Pardon the interruption. Is there room? We would like to join,” Eve said.
Opposite the table sat a bald man with a cigarette in his mouth. If one had to guess, he was likely the dominant figure at this table.
He squinted at Eve, his gaze sliding past the child and locking squarely onto her figure.
Then he grinned, revealing yellowed teeth. Greed filled his eyes. He had clearly spotted prey—dressed like that, they must be wealthy.
“From the outer districts?”
“Yes. Is that unwelcome?”
“No, no, of course not. As long as the money is sufficient…” He deliberately dragged out the last word.
Eve had no patience for games. Without further talk, she tossed the stack of banknotes onto the table. “Is it sufficient?”
The bald man’s eyes nearly bulged. The surrounding players gasped. That thick stack consisted entirely of the highest denomination bills. They could not earn that much even after three months of hauling cargo.
“Ahem… sufficient. Certainly sufficient.” The bald man stood up and flicked ash from his cigarette. “Know the rules? Texas Hold’em. No-limit is too exaggerated—that is for city folk. We play smaller here. Minimum bet five hundred, maximum thirty thousand.”
His eyes never left the money.
“Understood,” Eve replied. She then drew out two thousand and placed it on the table. “Two players. One thousand each.”
“Interesting,” the bald man said, raising a brow and gesturing for someone to make space.
The other players grew excited. A cool-faced maid in uniform bringing what looked like a noble young lady to play Texas Hold’em?
They did not understand the minds of the wealthy. They only understood money. If luck favored them, they would have enough for months of cigarettes—perhaps even a seamless visit to Victoria Charm afterward.
Eve signaled for Vivian to sit.
Vivian, however, did not move. She frowned at the chair that another man had just vacated. It likely still retained his warmth.
“Tch…”
She lifted her eyes toward Eve. Though she said nothing, Eve immediately understood and turned to a nearby onlooker. “Would you kindly fetch a new chair?”
Proper etiquette had its uses. Coupled with Eve’s cool, timeless face, the man had likely never seen such a rare beauty in the Black Street in his entire life.
“N-no problem!”
“Thank you.”
A new chair was brought. The enthusiastic helper even snatched a cloth from a passing server and wiped it thoroughly.
Only then did Vivian sit down in satisfaction. Eve remained standing beside her.
The bald man pushed a pile of circular plastic chips toward them, dividing them into two stacks.
Vivian examined them. They were clearly old and worn; the numbers had faded.
“We are using these?” she muttered with disdain, regarding them as yet another unfamiliar trifle.
Eve leaned down and quickly explained the basic rules into her ear.
Texas Hold’em: two hole cards per player, five community cards. Combine two hole cards with three community cards to determine hand strength. Betting rounds and such.
Vivian listened, half-understanding at first. Yet her strong learning ability allowed her to grasp it quickly. She waved a hand. “Understood, understood. It is simply guessing and comparing sizes. This Young Miss will not be defeated.”
The game began. The bald man served as dealer. Conditions were limited; one could not demand elegance.
He shuffled with exaggerated flair, convinced of his own handsomeness, then dealt two hole cards to each player.
Vivian held her cards tightly in both hands, staring intently.
King of hearts. Two of clubs.
She saw the king and immediately assumed it was large. When the first round of betting began, she mimicked the others and tossed in a few low-value chips.
The community cards were revealed in sequence: Ten of clubs. Jack of spades. Queen of hearts.
Clearly, there was potential for a straight. But Vivian did not consider such matters. She only knew her king was large. Without hesitation, she matched the previous bets.
Eve had folded in the first round and now merely observed quietly, offering no reminder.
The river card came—a three, insignificant.
When the players revealed their hands, Vivian triumphantly displayed her king, already wearing an expression of early celebration.
But novices must pay tuition, must they not?
One player leisurely revealed a pair of jacks, forming three of a kind.
Another showed a ten and a queen, forming two pair.
The bald man chuckled and pushed the entire pot toward the player with three of a kind. “A single king cannot beat three of a kind or two pair.”
Vivian was stunned. She stared at her diminished stack of chips and turned indignantly to Eve. “Is my king not large?!”
“The hand is judged by combinations, Young Miss.”
In truth, maintaining a neutral expression was extremely difficult for Eve at that moment. Suppressing laughter required great effort. It was fortunate she had not looked at the others struggling to stifle their amusement.
“Remember, a single high card rarely holds meaning.”
“You are laughing, are you not? You must be laughing!”
“I am not. I am quite serious,” Eve replied, lowering her gaze slightly to appear solemn.
“Tch…” Vivian’s face was filled with incomprehension.
She had been so focused on winning that she had overlooked the details.
Impossible. How could she lose at a game like this?
Her competitive spirit ignited instantly.