Gambling

Alexander once memorized the entire city to find Lili, but his memory suffered a lot because of his sudden loss of status. He couldn't remember a lot from before the fight with Shira.

As he walked, he saw a vampire leaving a shop with entire logs on his shoulders. He figured that store may have what he wanted.

He passed the logs guy and entered the store.

The woman behind the balcony saw a child entering the store. It was strange to see a child around here so she became curious about him.

She stared at the child and he stared directly at her with a serious expression.

"How do I get wood?" He asked.

"I can sell you some, but you need money for it"

"Money? What is that?"

"Did your parents never told you this stuff?"

"..."

*Sigh* "It's simple, you can exchange money for things you want at stores and that's it. Any more complicated details, I don't know"

"How do I get money?"

"Working"

"Where?"

"I don't know, anywhere someone is willing to pay you I guess, or in the army"

"What do you mean by the army?"

"I'm surprised you don't know, there's a building at the end of the street where you can join the army. I don't know much about them since they work mostly outside the city. But you shouldn't go there, it's too dangerous for kids"

Alexander didn't hear the lady's words and left the shop. He walked all the way to the end of the street.

Arriving at the front of a huge building, he knocked on the door. He waited for a while but no one opened the door.

He could hear some glass breaking and a lot of noise. Seeing no one would open the door for him, Alexander entered the building on his own.

He could feel a really bad smell as he followed the noise.

He opened a door and inside he could see a lot of people drinking, dancing and talking. No one paid any attention to him until a woman approached him.

"What are you doing here little fellow?" She spoke loudly because of the music.

"I want to join the army"

"Here?! You want to join here? Hahaha!"

Alexander looked at her confused. She laughed a bit more and asked him again seriously.

"Are you sure? You shouldn't enter this kind of place at your age"

"I just want money"

The woman looked at him with pity, assuming he was a poor kid. Which wasn't too far from the truth.

"Talk to that guy on the table, he's the division's commander"

"Thank you"

Alexander went towards the table she pointed at the corner of the room.

He wanted to speak to him but there was a crowd of people surrounding the table so he squeezed past them and looked at the table. They were playing poker.

"Hahaha! You are losing your skills old man!"

The man sitting in front of the commander was making fun of him.

The commander didn't say anything and continued playing. After a while, the commander was almost without money.

"Why don't we bet everything again?" The commander said.

"Haha! You must be a senile old man. Why would I bet everything I have when you have nothing?"

"I will give you the position of the commander"

"You think anyone wants your shitty division? You must think I'm a fool"

The man left and the commander lost almost all his money.

The people lost interest and went to do their own things. Alexander approached the commander now that he was alone.

"I want to enter the army"

The commander, angry his plan didn't work out, didn't even look at him.

"Get out kid. I have no time for jokes"

"You don't look busy"

"Shut up"

"How can I enter the army?"

"I don't know and don't care. Go somewhere else"

"But the lady said I could join here"

"Yea? Go away and tell her to stop saying bullshit"

"She didn't seem like a liar, but you do"

"How would a child like you know anything about lying?"

"I don't know"

"Listen here, little shit. Get out"

"No. I need money"

"You think you are smart? Fine, let's do it like this. We will play and if you win a match from me, I'll let you join"

"Okay"

Alexander didn't make ceremony and sat on the chair at the other side of the table.

"Do you know how to play?"

"Yes"

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"How the fuck do you know all my cards?!"

"..." Alexander didn't bother answering.

Evan taught him everything about the game. He easily won against the commander who wasn't that good at bluffing. Alexander could tell every time he lied.

"Can you let me join now?"

"Just one more game and I will accept you"

Five games later, the commander lost them all.

"Okay, I give up. You can join. But why are you joining a place like this?"

"The lady said I could get money if I joined. Can you give me money now?"

"The payment here isn't that good. The amount of money you can get isn't much"

"Can I buy wood with the money?"

"Yeah, I guess..."

"It's okay then"

Alexander still didn't fully understand how money and payments work. He still couldn't understand if his decisions were good or bad.

"Now give me the money" Alexander didn't give as much value to money as other people, he wanted only one thing, and that is to buy wood. The rest he could think of later.

"Well, normally you would have to wait a month to get any payment. But if what you want is money, I have a good idea"

The commander and Alexander went around the party playing poker with people. Soon, Alexander robbed the money of almost everyone at the party in card games.

The commander would present him to people as a kid who didn't know how to play and lose a few matches on purpose. Then, he would win it all back and more.

The commander made a lot as well with bettings.