Reborn for Revenge: Find her Fated Alpha-Chapter 113: The first bet

"I, Host Clementine, welcome you all to the paradise of the gamblers, where you not only try your luck but also decide your fate and question your destiny. Welcome to Highlight Gamblers," Clementine said.

Everyone erupted in applause and appreciation as impatient men hollered, asking for them to start the game.

Amelia sat a little away from the centre, but not far into the corner either.

She didn’t want to catch any attention until it was her turn.

The people on the far end usually prefer peace but are powerful and mysterious, not liking anyone invading their privacy.

The people on the front were the curious ones, who held little power but were eager to catch the eyes of the big bosses here, hoping to challenge them and win a fortune.

Most of the people in that group were also deemed cunning and calculative.

The sections here were divided just like that.

Amelia didn’t want to let her gaze wander off too much. However, she couldn’t stop her awe either.

In her last life, if there was one thing she was extremely good at, then it was her hand at playing cards.

She didn’t cheat, but due to her compulsive gambling, she earned her place in the rogue society. It wasn’t her choice.

She was sold to the brothel, and after Kael saved her, her life didn’t exactly turn sunny.

With no shelter, food, or money, she was left to wander the jungles, and that was how she met the group of rogues. Their original plan was to hurt Amelia.

Have fun and discard her, but one of the bosses wanted some entertainment, so he asked her to play cards. If she won, they would let her leave.

She won.

But rather than leaving, she rechallenged the boss. They thought it was a bold move, but she needed to take that kind of risk to earn her keep in the world.

She won the second time and earned her dinner.

When she was about to leave, the boss rechallenged her, surprised that a little girl had managed to win over twice in a row. And at that time, he bet on a position in his group.

Amelia didn’t want that. But what she indeed wanted was a home.

Thus, she bet on accommodation.

That was how she survived for some days until it was safe for her to move again, since her dear sister Hannah had sought her in the name of saving her, and she had unquestioningly believed her again.

"Let the first round begin. Our first lucky challenger today is— number 88,"

The house shuffled the balls in the large opaque box with all the numbers and randomly picked one.

Amelia looked around and her gaze fell on a man dressed in white, a strange way of dressing since the man was literally dressed in white from head to toe. Everything was white, including the hat, clothes, gloves, and even the shoes. And if that wasn’t enough, he wore a white mask to cover half of his face.

"What species is that?" Amelia couldn’t help but murmur.

Kyle looked at her awestruck face and wondered if he had known her perfectly. The more he studied her, the stranger she became.

"It’s a Gorgon," Kyle said.

Amelia nodded. That explained the hat on his head that covered his hair completely.

She saw how Gorgon sat on the table in the centre.

"Who do you choose as your opponent?" Clementine asked the person.

"I choose Talia," Gorgon lifted his gaze, and Clementine cleared his throat.

"Are you sure?" He asked.

"Positive," Gorgon said.

Amelia was about to ask Kyle who Talia was, but the man who already knew she would be doing so leaned towards her.

"Talia is a fairy who grants people wishes," Kyle explained.

Amelia nodded in understanding. So if she wanted, she could challenge witches and fairies, too? Too bad she was here with a definite target in mind.

According to protocols, she was allowed to challenge only once unless someone challenged her for the second time.

And winning over Galore was more critical for her than any wish.

After a bit of silence from everyone, Talia drifted from the club’s first floor, her floating form with wings looking angelic as she sat on the seat opposite Gorgon.

"Your bet," Talia asked, leaning like a true lady in the room.

"A meeting with the King of fairies," Gorgon said.

Everyone gasped in the room.

It wasn’t hard to know that meeting the king of fairies was a big deal.

Talia raised her brows at the man but didn’t condemn him before the public.

"Your stake?" Talia asked.

"My life. I’ll be your pet," Gorgon said confidently.

"Not interested," Talia said, tilting her head.

Gorgon smiled, the expression not reaching his eyes.

"My hair and my slavery," Gorgon said.

It was said that for a Gorgon, their powers lay in their hair, which they kept hidden from the world so it won’t leak.

Talia smiled.

"Now we are talking," Gorgon said.

She looked at Clementine, who nodded.

"Poker?" Talia asked.

Gorgon nodded.

The rules were laid.

Both of them would get to play five rounds. They would be allowed to shuffle the deck simultaneously to ensure they wouldn’t cheat and be fair game.

They would be allowed four cards each, and the one with the highest flush would win the round.

"Let me give you a heads-up," Talia said, placing the deck before Gorgon.

The man nodded and shuffled the cards before randomly placing four cards upside down before Talia and four cards in the same position before himself.

He placed the deck aside.

Talia smiled.

"Show," She said. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

They didn’t need to use the chips since they had already placed a bigger bet.

Gorgon displayed his cards.

He got two pairs—a pair of 4 and Kings.

He smirked.

Talia nodded.

She showed her cards.

It was an Ace of Spades, one 4, one 6, and one 9.

Talia lost.

Gorgon breathed in relief.

Talia stayed motionless.

"Do it again," Talia, bored and not wanting to work, looked straight into Gorgon’s eyes.

"Miss Talia, are you sure about it? You want to let Gorgon shuffle again?" Clementine confirmed.

Talias nodded.

Gorgon shuffled again. He won again.

Everyone held their breaths. This was surely turning interesting.

Gorgon shuffled again.

Everyone looked at the table in anticipation.

A set of 3,4,5,6 against a set of Ace, King, Queen, Jack.

Talia won.

Gorgon’s hands trembled.

He shuffled again and placed the cards.

A set of 9,9,9,6 against a set of 2,2,2, A

Talia won.

Beads of sweat formed on Gorgon’s face, and everyone started placing side bets on who would win this round.

Talia’s expression didn’t change.

"Shuffle," She commanded.

Gorgon shuffled with trembling hands and placed the cards.

A set of K, K, J, 3.

Gorgon took a deep breath. It was a good set.

He looked at Talia’s cards, who opened them one by one.

It was a royal flush. K, Q, J, A.

Gorgon slumped into his seat while Talia rose from her seat.

"It was a good game. But not just everyone deserves a meeting with our king. He is directly under the moon goddess," Talia said.

Clementine cleared his throat and announced the winner.

"Regarding the prize..." Clementine trailed off.

Talia raised the wand that no one noticed she had held since earlier.

She clicked Gorgon’s hat, and in one swift cut, she cut his hair, absorbing the power of a Gorgon through her wand.

Her eyes turned glossy blue before she smiled as Gorgon screamed in pain and fell from his seat.

"Let’s go, pet," Talia smiled.

Amelia flinched a little, her heart drumming against her chest.

If she had any doubt about the stakes of this place, they were surely gone. This place was a balance between pure heaven and hell.