Hellbents
Chapter 18: Three Coincidences Mean Destiny

Ava cursed in her heart even though her face revealed a smile. Ezra with acting skills that deserve to be included in the Oscar nomination said enthusiastically that the 'apparently' lodging they rented was the same. Again a coincidence, the prince nodded due to his own statement.

Selena noticed their interactions with sparkling eyes, immediately interested in the topic that was indirectly alluded to. River, being a friendly man as ever, explains at length their meeting, ending with Ezra's addition to Ava's sadistic hunting.

Sadistic. Ava nodded at the word. "Maybe what you mean is effective" he disagreed. But his disapproval was rejected by the prince who shook his head. "The most effective way is to shoot them, one shot dead, but you slam the poor birds to the rock because they hit you with the tail."

"I just remind you that a tailed cannon has a tail as hard as a rock."

"Kan, you're vengeful! Sadistic." Ava looked around, looking for a defense. Actually Ava already knows her tendency to retaliate against the actions that affect her, good or evil, human or not. But a defense will make his feelings lighter.

River shrugged, he couldn't argue because he wasn't there. Al was silent with a flat face, while his nephew, Roy, looked at Ava and Ezra alternately, confused and worried. On the other hand, Selena who decided to equate her inn as well, watched their debate with a mischievous smile. "You know the saying, the first meeting is called chance, the second meeting is called certainty, and the third meeting is destiny. It means you're a fool!"

It's nonsense. But Ava expertly disguised her facial expression, so no one knew if she would refrain from forcefully putting a bar of bath soap into Selena's mouth.

Their first meeting was a coincidence, but the second and third were called stalking. Stalkers.

The six of them sat in a circle at a large table of restaurants in the inn. The atmosphere there was boisterous, the sailors who finally set foot on the mainland satisfied themselves with gallons of alcohol, women, and games. In the corner of his eye Ava can see a group of people playing cards, in the middle of them a mountain of coins becomes the bet. What if Ava steals their gambling proceeds? It feels good. Seeing his condition, most of the group were drunk, their faces and eyes were reddened, bodies staggered, and some even fainted first even though the afternoon sun had not fully set. If he can distract them, Ava will get a chance to-be

"You want to play cards? How do we bet?" Ezra suddenly severed the chain of his mind.

"I don't fully understand the rules of the game," Ava replied half-lyingly. In its dimension, Ava is very good at gambling, especially if the game is poker, a card game that relies more on facial expression readings and psychology than luck. But since this dimension with its origin had differences here and there, Ava could not confirm her victory.

River took over the conversation with the rules of the existing card games, "I'm not very good at playing, but I still know how to play," River closed the sentence.

In essence, black-jack or poker have the same rules. In other words, Ava can earn a lot of money if gambling. But once he promised Lexa not to gamble excessively, so he would hold back.

Selena is "wearing" with sparkling eyes, but Ava believes that the woman is paying more attention to the beautiful faces around her than amazed by the explanation of the card game described. Al still did not care, while his nephew glanced secretly at Ezra. "Let's play!" Roy cheered after a while, probably getting a signal from his employer.

"Hows it? Poker on? It was even more exciting to risk something too," Ezra swiftly chimed in with a defiantly arrogant look.

... Hm.

For now Ava will follow the prince's veiled scheme, test the situation, then retreat if he smells suspicious things.

"We bet 30 coins first as an opener." Ezra nodded in satisfaction at Ava's reply.

That way the six of them play poker, each turn has a different dealer.

The game's initial atmosphere was still tame, there were no attacks that Ava detected, at least at the time. The first half was won by Roy, who put his winning money awkwardly into the inventory.

Second half Ezra fold, giving up on his chance to win on that turn, Ava who became the croupier frowned suspiciously.

Selena hesitates to go with the flow, Ezra himself looks more excited, the light in her eyes starts to heat up. Al who became the city saw without speaking.

"Add, 100 coins." Eventually Selena retreated, leaving the two of them to compete with each other.

"Add, 150 coins." River beside him gasped. "Rina!" scold the man.

But Ava's grin still appears, now he's biting back.

The chance to win with just a pair of 10 cards is actually small, it's just that poker is not a card game that relies solely on luck. Mental war is also included.

Ava knew Ezra's initial intention when he invited them to bet, so she used the gap to win money.

The match was won by Ava.

In the next turn also follow the pattern that has been laid out before. Armed with the reason for "beginner's luck", Ava continues to raise the existing bet, especially if the card he has a high chance of winning. River plays it safe, betting if he feels superior then retreating when the cards he gets are ugly. Selena just follow-up, looks still do not understand the rules of the game of poker. Al folds too much, so naturally he eventually resigns and is willing to become a permanent city. While Roy is too easy to read, his acting skills still suck, maybe that's why when the drama "forest bandit" yesterday the dialogue he received was not much. Ezra as expected, challenged until the end. Of course, there is a time when Ava must retreat, to balance her winning rate so that other players do not give up easily, so they will feel there is a chance to win. Because the more people who come, the greater the winning money.

Until the end of the 21st round, Ezra said, "Ah, my money is running low, but I still want to play."

Liars. Ava knew full well that there were dozens of digits of coins in the man's inventory.

This is when Ezra most likely revealed his true intentions. With Al, his servant, who became the city, then Roy who would become the hype-man, agreeing to anything Ezra said, would shake Selena or River so that whatever the prince said would be the decision of the majority. The planned plan will be implemented soon.

"What if if I lose, I'll obey the winner's request?"

"But if it's unfair, maybe we could risk the same thing? So the winner can make a request for each of us."

Ah, so this is their trap design.

Selena almost nodded when Ava immediately yawned. The girl's actions instantly distracted River, the man said, "Oh, are you tired? It's night, anyway."

"I'll just go to sleep, you guys can keep playing."

Ezra looked fixated, probably not expecting something like this to happen. Well, it is only natural that if Ava who claimed to be a beginner, was in a big win on her first game, it would be assumed to continue playing at least until her lucky path stopped.

The prince miscalculated. "Loh, wait!" River also faithfully followed Ava this time around, leaving their table with one last sentence, "If the money you have is up, I can lend you some coins, but don't get addicted to gambling."

Feel it.