A Lifetime of Betting

"Are you going to bet your slave?" Chung asked with a huge grin.

Crack!

Trevor stopped dead in his tracks, his gaze landing on the foolish man who had just called him a slave. If it weren't for the fact that they were being watched, he would have blown the man's head off.

"He's like my brother in arms. Don't bother apologizing, because he won't accept it. But just keep that in mind." Jun glanced at Chung, who was turning pale, and patted him with a serious look. "Behave yourself; we're about to make some money."

"What are you talking about?" Chung had already lost half of his soul on the way to this place. If he didn't die at Trevor's hands, the owners of this betting den would finish him off.

After saying that, Jun's eyes shifted to the left, noticing guards who had seemingly appeared from nowhere.

Jun fully understood what poor Chung was going through. This man thought he'd bring in some foolish noble or someone with a bit of money to spend in this betting den—a place where many men owed their souls—but instead, he brought in two lunatics who had been searching for trouble since morning.

"What's wrong? Aren't you going to welcome us, or do you think we don't have any money?" Trevor stared at them, took out a frogskin pouch, and arrogantly shook it to show everyone he had money. "I, Trevor, have plenty of money to bet with!"

The groups of drunkards and libertines downed their beers in a panic, nearly soiling themselves. Each of them thought, So, you've got lots of money? The problem is... Who's the crazy bastard who'll dare to win it from you in a game? Anyone who does will get split in two by those enormous arms.

Trevor was a massively built man, and his huge frame earned him respect. But most who didn't know him well had no idea about his playful side, which only came out when he wanted to win something.

"Good luck to everyone..." Jun murmured with a kind smile.

But Chung, standing beside him, grinned slyly. From what he observed, Jun seemed to hold a higher status than the muscular man, so Chung was glad he had shown him respect.

Chung chose his side and declared, "Enough games! This young man beside me came to play big and take all your money in just a few rounds. He's willing to bet amounts you'd only see in your wildest human dreams. So, if none of you have that kind of money, don't even think about playing with him, you pagan scum! Those who don't know how to lose and reach for their swords after losing their souls don't even deserve to stand before him."

Hearing Chung's final words, even someone as calm and composed as Jun almost turned around and walked out. Are you really wise enough to give me such high praise that no one even did in my past life? Please don't dirty my image with those ridiculous lines ripped from a novel about seeking greatness.

Trevor noticed Jun's fading smile and, looking at Chung, suggested, "Do you think we should kill the little chick?"

"Don't talk to me in strange codes I don't understand."

"What code?"

Jun nearly lost his patience, but suppressing the demons inside him that screamed to kill everyone and end this quickly, he walked into the betting den, eager to have some fun as well.

Inside the courtyard, there was a massive sunken table in the center, where several young merchant sons sat along with a few well-off soldiers who remained calm. The most notable among them was a fool named Gild, the son of a prominent merchant family in the kingdom. He was merely passing through this place while traveling on business.

Next to him was his friend, the son of a minister, who was accompanying him on this long trip. Behind them were their ever-present guards, ensuring their safety. Gild stood out the most with his slender appearance. Dressed in fine clothes, his deep-set eyes gave him an air of superiority. He always acted like someone of high rank, equal even to kings or nobles, according to his boastful words.

Of course, Jun had seen men with far more money, men who confused wealth with power. Those two terms were very different in life, and sadly, they only realized it when a powerful vagabond, whom they'd once thrown trash, killed them.

Gild was surprised to see everyone start to leave but then looked at the well-dressed Jun and what appeared to be his massive bodyguard.

Everyone focused on Trevor; Gild was no different. After staring at Jun's guard for a while, he turned his head and said, "Since you're eager to bet, I hope you don't cry when you lose your little fortune. We don't usually wipe away tears here; those people are beaten and thrown out."

"Such wise words. I hope that when I leave you penniless, you won't shed a single tear, or I'll have to slit your throat. The same goes for all the pigs accompanying you." Jun said this without even giving a second glance to the foolish young man who lived solely under the wing of his family.

"How dare you speak such words?!" shouted the young man next to Gild, ready to draw his sword and start a fight.

But Gild immediately intervened, "We are in the presence of a distinguished guest, one with a sharp tongue. I suggest you leave if you cannot endure words that could later be returned with far greater cruelty."