"Fold."
"Fold."
"Alright, eight Gold Krakens," a sharp-dressed young man said.
"I'm in."
"You, big beard," the young man snapped, gesturing to a man standing nearby. "Isn't your friend with the painted face the one playing? If you're not playing, don't stand there."
Twisted Fate gave the kid a weary look but didn't bother replying. If he weren't so strapped for cash lately, he would have jumped in and taught him a harsh lesson.
"I'll call too."
"Three, ten, nine," the sharp-dressed man said, flipping over three community cards.
"I'm in," both of his opponents said.
"Now this is what I call guts. Sixty-seven Gold Krakens. You in? I'm all in. Now throw your cards in." As the young man spoke, one of his opponents folded.
"You're folding too—oh, screw me~ You've got guts! You've got nerve! I'll play you!" Before the young man could even finish his taunt, the other player also went all in.
"What've you got? An Ace and a King?" The young man flipped the last two cards. "A pair of sixes... Well, you're the boss."
As the now-broke young man left the table, the other gamblers invited Twisted Fate to join, but being painfully short on funds, he politely declined and left as well.
"I've got to find some money. Any big jobs around lately?" Just as he was reaching the door, Twisted Fate saw the same sharp-dressed kid heading back in.
Taking out a high-interest loan, are we? Tsk tsk, another one bites the dust. As Twisted Fate mused to himself, he brushed past the young man, only to notice that he wasn't holding borrowed money, but what looked like a stick of dynamite. His expression hardened, and he quickened his pace out the tavern door.
After walking a brisk twenty meters, he saw the young man exit the tavern as well and start shouting in the middle of the street.
"Screw all of you! You want to play cards?! You want to play?!" BOOM! In the middle of his rant, the tavern exploded.
"Go on, arrest me! Damn it!" the flashy young man continued to yell. "I did it! It was me!"
At the bomber's proud self-confession, enraged members of the gang that owned the tavern rushed out. But the young man, who had just been holding his hands up in surrender, dropped them, pulled out a pistol, and started shooting. Witnessing the scene, Twisted Fate just shook his head and quickly moved away. "Alright," he muttered. "Classic Bilgewater."
Twisted Fate looked at the beautiful woman sitting before him and offered a greeting. "The honorable Lady Serena, a pleasure."
The woman opposite him wore a sun hat, a gorgeous green dress, a thin black veil, and a wig of long, golden hair.
"Hello to you too, Twisted Fate. I've recently taken a liking to a certain treasure, and I require your help. That's why I had my people find you. Thank you for coming."
Twisted Fate had been on his way to discuss another job, but when Lady Serena's people found him, he dropped it without a second thought and followed them here.
This had nothing to do with romance. It was purely because this lady was a very generous patron who paid extremely well. In the past, she had coveted certain exquisite items that their owners were unwilling to part with, so she had hired Twisted Fate to... acquire them for her.
Each job was highly difficult, but for Twisted Fate, who could use teleportation magic (with his cards), it was never a big deal. The original owners often wouldn't even realize their treasures were missing until days later.
"Not a problem, my lady. You can leave it to me."
"Mm, I like your straightforwardness. It's an exquisite dagger, hidden in a treasury with heavy security. No one else was willing to take this job."
"It sounds challenging, but that's alright. I enjoy a good challenge. Just tell me the location. Of course, if you have information on the guard patrols and the owner, I would be even more grateful."
"The location and guard deployment will be given to you by my butler shortly."
"My deepest thanks, Lady Serena. By the way, regarding my payment for this job..." Twisted Fate asked, his posture perfectly straight yet relaxed, his expression casual yet serious, exuding an air of confidence and professionalism.
"You won't be disappointed. This is a very big job, bigger than all the previous ones combined."
Twisted Fate's smile widened.
"Oh, right, I forgot to mention. The dagger belongs to Gangplank."
The smile on Twisted Fate's face vanished in a flash, a perfect imitation of a Sichuan opera face-change. Without a word, he stood up and started walking towards the door.
"Ten thousand Gold Krakens."
After taking two steps, Twisted Fate executed a perfect 180-degree turn and sat back down. The entire sequence of movements was as smooth as flowing water.
"The intelligence report? Please have the butler bring it as soon as possible."
Sarah gestured for the butler to bring the report. A faint smile was still visible beneath her veil, but inwardly, a dark thought crossed her mind.
'Go on, smile. Keep smiling. Why did you stop? Don't you like it?'
Sarah wasn't usually like this. Perhaps it was a way of regulating her emotions while a crucial plan was in motion, or perhaps it was the unusual stirrings of a heart about to have its revenge. Who could say?
Watching as Twisted Fate carefully read the report, handed it back to the butler, and prepared to leave, Sarah spoke.
"I can't wait to see that exquisite dagger."
"Alright. I'll get it back for you."
"I look forward to your success. A pleasure doing business with you."
Outside Gangplank's treasury, Twisted Fate waited, hidden in the dark. It was only after a member of the Ironhook Gang entered with a haul of valuables that his face, concealed in shadow, became slightly clearer.
A while later, the gang member came out, shot the breeze with the guards for a bit, and then left.
A single card had now appeared in Twisted Fate's hand, but he made no move, waiting for another half an hour.
Then, he began to act. Pinching the glowing card between two fingers, a circle of blue magic cards appeared around him, spinning and flashing. 'Destiny.' After the flash, he was already inside the treasury.
The treasury was filled with treasures, but Twisted Fate was unmoved. His eyes were fixed on the prize.
Soon, he felt for a small wooden box. He opened the lid, and the target came into view: a beautifully crafted dagger, inlaid with precious gems.
'This is how it's done. Master the patterns, make your move at the critical moment, and then act decisively. Once you have the target, get out immediately without a second thought.'
Twisted Fate, still reveling in his success, found his good mood shattered. A gun was pointed at his back, and he heard the distinct sound of it being cocked.
He raised his hands to show he was not a threat and turned around. His plan was to feign weakness, wait for the enemy to let their guard down, and then counter-attack. He had been in this situation many times before and had always come out on top.
"Long time no see, Twisted Fate."
The man holding the shotgun was Graves. He was out? And he was here, at this exact moment? Twisted Fate suppressed his shock and put on a casual air.
"Is this any way to greet an old friend? With a gun? There's no need for that."
"Ten years. Do you have any idea what my life has been like for the past ten years?! Do you know what it feels like to be in that prison?!"
Twisted Fate was speechless. Normally, he would have already resorted to witty banter, cracking jokes to throw his opponent off balance and find an opening. But right now, the words wouldn't come.
"Those bastards tortured us, their cruel methods enough to drive a man insane. But I didn't break. Because no physical pain could compare to your betrayal! I've been waiting for this moment, to find you, you traitor!"
At that, Twisted Fate snapped back to himself, his mind flashing back to their old days as partners.
"So what you're saying is, I'm the reason you survived. You should be thanking me."
The words made Graves's eyelids twitch with rage, but he immediately recognized his old partner's trick: using words to create a distraction. He noticed the card that had appeared in Twisted Fate's hand and was even more certain.
He pulled the trigger. BANG!
The card exploded into a shower of confetti, the shot nearly taking Twisted Fate's hand with it.
"Are you an idiot?! You're going to bring everyone down on us! Do you know where you are? Whose turf this is?"
"Do I look like I care?"
"Tell me, why?" Graves roared.
"Graves, I'm happy to see you again, I really am. But this isn't exactly the time or place for a chat."
"Why?!" Graves bellowed, his mind fixated only on what had happened ten years ago.
Twisted Fate's eyes drooped with resignation. It seemed a quick, peaceful exit together was no longer an option.
Several cards appeared in each of his hands. He flicked them forward, and as they flew, they multiplied, a shower of magic cards hurtling towards Graves.
Graves opened fire, blasting the incoming cards out of the air. For a moment, the room was filled with shouts, footsteps, smoke, and splintering wood.
Just as the two squared off, ready for another round, the door was kicked open. The Ironhook guards had arrived and joined the chaotic fray.
"Are you serious?" Twisted Fate asked, pinching a new card between his fingers, ready to throw it.
Graves nodded. He was about to say something but was interrupted by more of the Ironhook Gang piling in.
In the midst of the chaos, Twisted Fate activated his magic, 'Destiny,' teleporting with his mission objective, the dagger, to just outside the treasury. He drew a red card, hurled it at a pre-planned spot, and set off an explosion that ignited the treasury.
A pang of guilt hit Twisted Fate. This was the second time he had abandoned Graves. But it's fine, he thought. He's built like a bear. This is just to buy some time.
With that thought, Twisted Fate turned to leave. But he hadn't taken two steps before he heard a tremendous CRASH. Graves had just burst through the wall.
Wreathed in black smoke and silhouetted by the blazing fire, Graves looked like a demon crawling out of hell. Twisted Fate knew he was in deep, deep trouble tonight.