Two hours later I found out the names of everyone sitting at our table and said goodbye to two of them. The first was Tsugaru Aoto, and the second was Oe Kii, a man with half—face bangs. Another one, Chesue Yasuo, the one with the golden seal, was almost taken out, leaving him a measly seven million and a penny. I also participated in this, earning five million fifty thousand. I didn't understand how it turned out, but the bank was divided into three parts, two of which went to the sailor and Soga. The rest of the tables had lost three or four people by that time, so we were in the lead in this regard. I won't say, though, that I liked it, it's better to be one of the six than of the eight. I am glad that I am still sitting at all. Aneko, meanwhile, was cruising among the crowd of women, having conversations here and there, but mostly stood so that I could see her. Like, support. I waved to the waitress, ordering another juice and a couple of cakes, then looked at the cards that fell to me this time. Two and six. For the second time in a row, some kind of bullshit.
—Fold," I said, tapping my finger on the table.
To hell with it. I threw four hundred grand into nowhere last time. I'll wait for the next hand.
These bastards don't let me play at all lately. At first they figured out that I only play with good cards, and began to throw them off. I, in turn, saw through them and started bluffing, raising a lot of money. They realized that I was bluffing, and the game leveled out, after which I became abnormally lucky with the cards. You really will believe in the proverb about beginners. Having almost equaled the money with the other players at the table, I managed to lose almost a third of my money, which went to Soga and Ishikawa. But it's not that that's terrible, but the fact that for the last half hour my opponents seem to feel when I have bad cards. I was clearly read, but I absolutely could not figure out how. It's definitely not a facial expression. I will never believe that there are only physiognomists-geniuses sitting here. Because I will be able to deceive ordinary aristocrats, I have conducted so many business negotiations in my world after my dismissal that I am confident in my abilities. And without any "body control", which is still not an assistant when playing poker. Managing facial expressions is not like drinking vodka, it's much cooler. Here you yourself need to be at least a physiognomist-genius. Well, or at least understand it well. No, I was miscalculated on some characteristic movement, something I do unnoticed for myself, which gives me away with my head.
And a lot of time has passed. There are two or three people left at the other tables, and only we have five, taking into account the last disposals. To be honest, this game has already got me. A few hours of sitting is clearly not good for my mood. But others even took breaks, and only we all sit as glued. I would like to request a break, but only pride and lack of understanding of the realities stopped me. In the end, if everyone is sitting and not digging when there is a break at other tables, does that mean anything? If they continue to play, it means that it is necessary. And that I'm weaker than the others, or what? I don't physically care how long I sit.
Aneko was now at one of the glass tables, like the overwhelming number of ladies, and was having a conversation with two women and some guy. She was sitting, remarkably, so that I could see her without turning my head. She didn't look tired, but would the eldest daughter of the head of an ancient and influential clan show her fatigue? Eh, I want to smoke, to be honest.
As I said, there are five people left at our table. Soga, Ishikawa, Chesue Yasuo — the type with the seal, the captain of the first rank, whom everyone called Hatano-san, and, in fact, me. The fat man and Ishikawa had about ninety million each. Hatano has fifty—five, also about. I have sixty—five kopecks, and Chesue, who was on the verge almost from the very beginning of the game, but nevertheless has stayed until now, has about forty.
Two cards are laid out in front of me. Reaching out to look at them, I froze. What's the point of watching if I'm being read? Play Hollywood without looking? Besides, I'm really tired of sitting here. It will certainly look weighty, but only if I win. And it rolls like this only in that very Hollywood. So it will be perceived by others as my surrender. Well, or stupidity. Better watch yourself carefully, Max.
Hatano was thinking about something.
— Five hundred. — What a bet. I don't care that they read me, I'll throw it off and that's it. But if he gets lucky, I'll cut down at least five hundred thousand. Hehe, if he gets lucky…
Jack, ace. I do not even know… He definitely has better cards. A couple, for example. But mine are not bad either.
— Fold. — Chesue threw off, it's my turn.
— I'm calling. — There are too many options as to why he started with such a sum, and my cards are good.
— Fold.
— Fold.
Have you seen it? Damn poker players. Now the sailor and I are one on one. Will he throw it off or not? The first three cards are placed on the table. Ten, lady, king. Street. From the higher cards. Even if he has a couple there, there can't be a full house yet. In the worst case, we'll just split the pot. As long as he doesn't throw it off.
— Five million.
Awesome!
— Raise.
— I'm calling.
Or maybe he has a street there too? M-yes. The fourth card is a jack. Something tells me that he definitely has a street there.
— Check. - hm. Either everything is not so good there, or I am being bred. The law of meanness says that they breed.
It's a good funeral march to tap, Maximka. Think. I've already been fucked once with a strip on my hands, as if not to run into a second time. Ten, jack, queen, King. Even if Hatano has a pair of any of the cards lying on the table, he does not have a full house, not yet. So, we're playing. But be careful, this bank is enough for me.
— Check.
The last card was a nine. Generally tin. Straight on the table.
— All-in.
You don't have a full house anyway. So I don't care.
— I'm calling.
—We're opening up, gentlemen," the croupier's voice rang out.
And so Hatano turns over the cards. Two kings. Still, he's a risky guy. Until the last one, he had only three kings, and only with a nine came straight to him. I turn mine over. Jack, ace. Straight with an ace — I won. And he became the richest at the table. Mwu-ha-ha-ha!
"You're lucky as... as a beginner, Sakurai-kun.
"It's hard to disagree with that, Hatano—san.
— Well, I wish you further good luck. It will not be superfluous.
In the next hour, Chesue and I managed to blow ten million each, which went to Soga and Ishikawa. But at the same time, I was still the richest, with my hundred and ten million. The owner of the signet had thirty, and this sweet couple had a hundred. The rest of the tables were empty, the freed people crowded around us, rubbing the ladies aside, and carefully watched the game. You can understand their attentiveness, because it is with us that fate can bring them together next time.
I look at the cards that have fallen out to me. Eight, nine. Slightly below average. We have to wait for the flop, you never know what will come there. Soga puts fifty thousand, Ishikawa immediately raises to five hundred, and Chesue to two million.
"However," I said, looking at the aristocrat with the signet. He glanced at the crowd, at Ishikawa and Soga, at the clock. Five hours of sitting, got everything. — I support it.
The first round of trading ended with a bet of three million and a bank of fifteen. No one has ever discarded the cards. Flop. Jack, ace, ten. Personally, I have a straight without one card, but to be honest, I don't care. If the street doesn't come, I'll throw it off right after someone, and if no one throws it off, so much the better. The game will finally end.
On the second round, we all added another six million. And here is the fourth card — the jack. Personally, everything is lousy for me, but there is still a chance that a queen or a seven will fall out. Soga checks, Ishikawa puts another lam, and Chesue raises the bet to five. I call, just like Soga.
—What an interesting game," Ishikawa remarked, fanning himself. — And I'll bet, perhaps... twenty-one million.
Funny, that's how much Chesue has left.
— I'm calling, — he went all-in.
How interesting it all turns out. Well, I'll probably support the bet, too.
— Call.
— All-in.
What a... Soga has gone completely crazy! Or he has awesome cards. Or he's bluffing. Or ... a-a-a, figs will understand.
—It's... amazing, Soga-san. I don't even know what to do now. Although I think I will support it. — What the fuck is going on here?! And what
should I do now
?
At this moment
, everything
they were staring at me. The people gathered around our table, Soga and Ishikawa, even the figures on the second tier. And as a witcher who feels all these views, I really didn't like it.
—Wait," Chesue suddenly raised his hand. — I want to put a receipt on the line.
Oh, that's interesting.
— I hope it won't be a car? Soga grinned cheerfully.
— And not some small firm. Really, it's an extra headache. — This is Ishikawa.
— An artifact. I bought it for four hundred million," Chesue replied.
— Is he in your arms? Somehow I don't want to wait for him to be brought. And then they will also begin to evaluate," Soga drawled lazily.
After that, I realized that he and Ishikawa just didn't want to accept his bet. Apparently, there are some nuances that I do not know about. So far, I only understood that when Chesue wins, he will not get the whole pot, he has invested too little. The rest of the money will go to the highest card combination after him.
— Yes, any artifact is worth more than your bid! And mine is more expensive than the whole bank!
— I don't even know, personally I don't need some unknown artifact there. Unlike winning at this table," Ishikawa supported his friend.
— R-r-r, you're kidding me.
— Of course not, we just want to continue playing, and if you have nothing else to offer…
Two against one. I mean, as long as they refuse for a couple, my consent does not solve anything. And given my generally bad cards, I don't care what they come to there.
— Wait! — That's persistent. What kind of cards does he have there? — Corvette. Only from shipyards, worth three hundred million.
— Chesue-san, for the Ishikawa clan, a corvette is an extra hassle, we don't need ships. Winning here and now still looks better.
— The same situation. Moreover, the Soga clan has enough ships already. There is a clear plan, both financial and military, and an extra corvette does not fit into it.