The group froze in their steps, some were confused and some were annoyed. Lucy then turned back and raised her eyebrow.
" Oh look it's the cheater team." Ivar teased.
" Little girls like you should be going hom... it's the CHEATAH you uncultured females."
" Sure, sure. Now what do you need?"
" Simple, we want a rematch."
" Seriously, you've lost so many times but you still want a rematch? How long have you waited?"
" Not that long. TODAY will be the day when you lose." the leader said pointing a finger at Ivar.
" Don't lie, Gust. You've been coming her everyday asking for Solaris's whereabouts. You even rambled about how you missed her so much." Wolf teased.
" Th... that's not true. Don't slander me when you don't have any proof." Gust's face flushed.
" What do you ever mean? Even if I'm not here, there are countless members that can say the exact same thing. Some of them can even impersonate you because they heard you say it too many times." She said innocently.
" Leader, even we know that it's true. You shouldn't lie in front of Ivar, she might even hate you." One of the party's member said.
By now, Gust's face had reach a new level of red. He now look like a ripe tomato. The new members look at each other questionably, they clearly didn't understand what was happening.
" What's going on?" Aella asked.
" who are you?" Gust asked. He didn't notice that the group was more crowded than usual. No believed that he has good senses so it was either that they weren't here before or it was... it was because all of his attention was on Ivar.
" They are the new members of our party, any problem." Ivar said.
The Cheetah party immediately shake their heads, how could they object an S class member? In the entire Bloodbow guild, there are only a handful of S class members and 3 of them are The Slayers. Insignificant members like them could never in their lifetime argue with an S class member.
" So let's be straightforward, what do you need from us?" Tinuviel asked threateningly. She was clearly running out of patience for this team.
" Well you see, our leader wanted to challenge Ivar to another match. He was getting desperate but when we went to the guild today, we saw the amazing go..." Furry, one of the party's member said but was interrupted.
" I just want to challenge Ivar to another match." He said
"... Got it, all you want is a match right?" Gust nods with a smile plastered on his face.
The 4 that was originally confused was then more confused that it was starting to get frustrating.
' Lucy, what is going on?' Everest asked.
' Well it's just what you just heard. Gust wants to challenge Ivar to a match.'
' NO, i understand that but who is he?'
' Calm down child, I was just teasing you. He is Gust, the leader of the Cheetah Team and also a B class mage. Now before you ask how he became the leader, let me explain. The requirement of making a party is having 2 or more members, the leader have to already reach C class or has level 20 magic. However reaching C class somehow makes people recognizes you more so it's best to both increase you magic level and upgrade your level at the same time. That's also why I told you to collect those precious items on our way here.'
During their journey, many monsters that reside in the forest attacked them. They would have left those items after killing the monsters if it wasn't what Lucy had suggested. She said that those items would be beneficial for them and if they ran out of storage in the future, they could just throw them away. Now thinking back, they should really thank her, if not for her they would still have a wooden card.
" Do you want to join us?" He asked the new members. They were all curious so they nodded. It seems like they are going to battle each other.
' GREAT! Let's move to another room.' Gust intercepted their train of thoughts leading them to another room.
The lobby has 3 corridors that was connected to the main lobby, and 2 staircase that all lead to different areas. The group took the corridor on the right that was use for entertainment. The hallway was covered with red, it also seem like that each passageway has it's own color theme.
the corridor somewhat reminds them of hotels in Terra, it was long and spacious with many doors. They walked through the hallway until they reached a room. The door has a tag which labeled " 336". Gust then opened the door to a spacious room filled with many gambling games. They then are confused at to why they were here? Weren't they fighting?
" So why are we here?" Blaze blurted out.
" What do you think we are here for? We are here to have the match, silly." Ivar said taking a seat at the centre table.
Tinuviel then walked over to the shelf full of gambling tools, and took back a deck of cards. She then arrived at the table taking the dealer's place. Gust then took the seat opposite to Ivar's.
" Let's start." Tinuviel said. She then shuffled the deck and passed to the player's 2 cards each, then lay out 5 cards in the middle.
Meanwhile, the audience took their seat around the main table. The girls finally realized what they were talking about. They weren't fighting but were actually playing POKER!
They definitely didn't see that coming, they thought that since Gust was so big they thought that he only has muscles and no brain. It was truly a perfect example of never Jude a book by it's cover. They mentally apologized to Gust thinking that he must be clever. They then relax into the chair and started to watch the match. They all went in there thinking that this might be a really good match but...
Unfortunately they were wrong. He was a total IDIOT with no brain cells.
" HOW? I clearly had a better hand than you." Gust said desperately.
" You asked me how? It was written all on your face. I mean don't you understand what the game's name mean? it means that you need to have a poker face, like not showing your thoughts." Ivar said clearly frustrated.
She had endured this for 20 minutes and this was how exactly it started.
- 20 minutes ago -
" Let's start." Tinuviel said. She then shuffled the deck and passed to the player's 2 cards each, then lay out 5 cards in the middle. Both sides then look at their hand, still remaining a poker face.
" What are we betting with this time?"
" Points"
" If you want to bet points. One chip will be equivalent to 100 points. How much do you want?" Tinuviel said.
" What? That's not a lot, change it to 1000."
" Are you sure Gust. I don't want you to be homeless for the next month."
" I... I'm sure, give me 30."
" I'll go with 30."
" You both have bet 30 000 points. You can't exchange anymore after this one. If you run out of points before the tenth round ends. You will automatically lose. ARE YOU SURE?"
The pair of players nodded. 30 000 points was a big amount for lower class members but when you start to defeat B class monsters, it become an average amount. Considering both of them are above C class, the damage won't be as bad.
" Gust will lead the first round."
Gust betted 1 chip, and Ivar followed. Tinuviel then turn over 3 cards. It was:
3 of diamonds
4 of spades
Jack of spades
Gust then betted another 2 chips, which was raised to 4 by Ivar. Gust begrudgingly followed.
Tinuviel then turn over another card which is the Queen of spades.
" Interesting" Ivar gently smiled.
Gust looked at her and contemplated. He currently have a good hand but what if Ivar has a better hand? He finally bet 2 chips which Ivar followed.
He then thought that she might not have a good hand since she didn't raise the bet.
Tinuviel then revealed the last card which is a Jack of diamond.
Gust smiled, because of the last hand he was almost that he can win this round so he made a high bet. Putting down 5 chips, he glanced at Ivar to see her smiling. She then put her legs on the table and leaned back to her chair.
" Only 5 chips? I thought you would bet more considering your high hand." Ivar taunted.
" You... how did you know?" He said. The only answer he received was a laugh and a raise to 8 chips.
" Raise to 8 chips." Ivar said looking at him sleepily.
By her look right now, he figured that she must have a strong card. Yes, she must have a strong card so he will fold. Her hand's rank must be higher than 2 pairs since he would still contemplate if he has 3 of a kind.
" Fold." He announced. He only lost 12 chips which was 1/3 of his ENTIRE TOTAL.
" Hehe... looks like I won even though I had a trash hand." Ivar announced laughing gently.
Gust stopped breathing, he didn't expected that he lot such a good hand to a trash hand. His face started to cover with sweat. By the time of the 3rd round ender, he was sweating buckets.
Ivar thought the match was surprisingly difficult... NOT. It was worst than the ones she previously played with him.
By the end of the round three, Gust lost all of his chips to Ivar. He looked at her with such despair and shock that she almost felt pity for him.
" HOW? I clearly had a better hand than you." Gust said desperately.
" You asked me how? It was written all on your face. I mean don't you understand what the game's name mean? it means that you need to have a poker face, like not showing your thoughts." Ivar said clearly frustrated. Gust looked at her questionably.
" What! Don't tell me that you didn't notice yourself making those faces. I even notice your habits, like when you have a bad hand, you will tap the table. And when you have a good hand, your body will relax and sometimes will have a smile. Like seriously, how did the people before me lost to you."
Gust looked down clearly embarrassed. He just wanted to show her that he was capable of using his brain but that clearly backfired.
" Anyways, I can tell that you're improving but just be more observant." She sighed.
" That ends the match. The winner is Solaris." Tinuviel announced. She then transferred the points from Gust's card to Ivar.
" When we have our 136th match, try to be better." Ivar then exit the room followed by the girls. They then walked through the corridor to the front door of the castle, not caring when people stare at them. They understand that it was rare to see new faces and S class members but no need to stare.
When you register to the guild, you will have to promise to not reveal any guild member's identity outside or in the guild. If you violate the rule, you will be kick out of the guild and get your memory erased of anything related to the guild.
When they finally exit the building, they burst out laughing.
' That guy seriously doesn't have a brain. How could he even fall for the smallest trap.'
' I mean when you look at it, there were people that lost to him and many at that.'
' After the Deadly War, did the human race's IQ drop?'
' That's likely considering before the war, if their intelligence level is like this, no one would ever allow them to enter a guild let alone to B class.'
' If you don't think about his IQ, the child is actually pretty kind.'
During their previous life, after getting backstabbed too many times, they developed the ability to judge people. Even though Gust is a little slow and straightforward, he is still kind.
' Anyways, it's still early. We should be able to continue our plan before the completion.' Lucy concluded.
They all nodded, then split into their respective group and went their ways.