The boy suppressed his anger and continued to prick up his ears to listen to the sound of the dice. Even if he couldn't hear the exact position of the dice, it still gave him a sense of security.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka took a sip of water. The Dealer also put the dice cup down on the table.
She placed her hand on the dice cup and asked the two, "Are you guessing big or small?"
"...You go first." The boy glanced at Ayanokoji, hesitated for a moment, then gave the opportunity to answer first to Ayanokoji.
[Choose big.]
A voice promptly appeared in Ayanokoji's mind—this was the voice of the safety net system.
Whenever Ayanokoji Kiyotaka performed his tenth gamble, a safety net mechanism would be triggered, ensuring Ayanokoji's victory.
He hadn't heard this voice for two weeks, and hearing it suddenly brought a sense of nostalgia.
"I choose big." Ayanokoji Kiyotaka replied to the Dealer with a smile on his lips.
This smile was merely Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's nostalgia for the system, but the boy sitting opposite him thought more deeply. From that smile, he felt disdain, composure, condescension...
Originally, the boy had also intended to choose "big," but seeing that smile, the anger in his heart surged uncontrollably, and he said in a deep voice, "I choose small."
As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly sobered up, feeling a bit bewildered.
Why did he suddenly choose small? Didn't he feel that choosing big was better?
But since he had already spoken, he couldn't change his mind. He stared intently at the dice cup, still holding onto hope—a fifty-fifty chance, maybe it would be small?
Both of their guesses had been stated. The Dealer nodded and lifted the dice cup—the side of the dice facing up was 5.
A single glance, verified as "big."
The boy's face instantly turned pale. He had lost the "Formal Match"; the five million yen he had just received from Mibuomi Aoi was thus easily lost, ending up in someone else's hands.
He fell into deep regret. Why did he change his mind at the last minute? If he hadn't, he wouldn't have lost this game at least!
If he had spoken first, wouldn't he have won!
If Ayanokoji Kiyotaka knew his thoughts, he would surely feel pity for him.
When Ayanokoji activated the safety net system, his defeat was already predetermined.
His thoughts had already been subtly influenced by the system without him realizing it.
"Alright, the gambling stake is five million. Give it to me."
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka held out his hand to him.
The man's face was extremely ugly, but under the Dealer's supervision, he still obediently handed the money to Ayanokoji.
Of these five million, four million would be paid by Mibuomi Aoi, and for the remaining one million, Mibuomi Aoi had promised to lend it to him temporarily, so he wouldn't need to repay it immediately even if he lost.
This was the only thing he felt lucky about.
The boy walked away dejectedly. Meari squatted in front of the table, looking at the five stacks of ten-thousand-yen bills, blinking, feeling somewhat unreal: "Five million... was this money won so easily?"
"That's right. That's why so many rich people lose everything overnight. The initial small benefits aren't enough to satisfy them, so they start gambling bigger and bigger."
After Ayanokoji Kiyotaka finished speaking, he didn't forget to remind Meari: "I don't say anything when you gamble normally, but you must never gamble with debts you can't repay. At least, before you gamble, you must inform me."
"I know!" Meari nodded repeatedly.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka took one million from the five million: "Meari, you four can split the remaining four million."
"...Huh?" Meari was stunned, then quickly shook her head: "Why are you suddenly giving us so much money? This is your own money won from gambling; it has nothing to do with us!"
Although Meari was a "little money-lover," she was unwilling to take money that she shouldn't, especially from Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.
"Yesterday afternoon, when Mibuomi Aoi came, he gave me a bank card with ten million yen in it, saying it was an apology. This four million is your share."
Meari was still a bit hesitant and didn't want to take it.
However, Kurume Laiwei was not polite at all. She directly picked up a stack of money and said with a smile, encouragingly, "Meari, take it. The boss isn't short on this money. If you don't want it, give your share to me too."
"Who said I don't want it!" Meari was startled and quickly took the remaining three million in her hand: "I'll give this money to them later."
She might not want the money, but she couldn't let Kurume Laiwei take her share!
"That's right..." Kurume smiled, secretly winking at Ayanokoji. She said that on purpose, otherwise Meari wouldn't have been willing to take the money.
Meari got the money, but her brows furrowed, and she started worrying about Ayanokoji. "Ayanokoji, Mibuomi Aoi lost five million, so he definitely won't let it go. He might send more people..."
"Indeed, Mibuomi Aoi is not a philanthropist; he definitely won't just stop after sending me five million."
Ayanokoji stood up and stretched, saying indifferently, "Then let him come. I'd like to see what methods he'll use."
Meari stamped her foot in frustration: "Ayanokoji, you should care a little! He's the Accounting of the Student Council. What if you anger him and he exposes our casino to the Student Council President!"
"Relax, he won't. We also have leverage on him."
"...Are you talking about the Zenshoukai?"
"That's right. Once we expose the Zenshoukai's affairs to the Student Council President, he won't get away with it either. So he won't push us too hard and do something that harms both sides."
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka and Mibuomi Aoi each held "leverage" over the other, but this was only for "deterrence." Both had an unspoken understanding not to use it lightly.
Once used, it would be a lose-lose situation, and neither would do such a foolish thing.
Ayanokoji smiled and ruffled Meari's head: "Alright, leave Mibuomi Aoi's matter to me. Don't worry about such things. Go help in the Chemistry Preparation Room across the way. Hanatemari Kazura and Togakushi Yukimi are busy."
"Kurume, you stay here. I'm going across the way too."
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka said, and also walked towards the other side.
"What are you going to do?"
"My gambling addiction is acting up. Just a small game."
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's trip to the other side was naturally to replenish a "guaranteed win" opportunity.
The person Mibuomi Aoi sent this time was just a "pawn." He would definitely send more people to cause trouble.
He needed to prepare early.
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