Aiura Kokoro was indeed using a provocation tactic, but she didn't expect it to work so well.
She was intimidated by Saotome's sudden display of aura, and the cards in her hand nearly slipped.
"Hey, hurry up and answer me! Do you agree or not!" Seeing Aiura Kokoro delay her response, Saotome impatiently slapped the table.
Aiura Kokoro finally came to her senses. She glanced at the cards in her hand.
[A, K, 10, 7]
And a "joker" she had just exchanged from Saotome.
This hand was already excellent. Just as she was about to look at Saotome's cards, she saw Saotome suddenly stand up from her seat and walk towards Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, who was behind her.
Ayanokoji was also a little surprised.
The words Aiura Kokoro had just spoken were not intentionally lowered in volume; basically, everyone in the casino had heard them, and he was no exception.
As the "debtor" they spoke of, Ayanokoji was still a bit embarrassed when he saw Saotome walking towards him.
Because of Aiura Kokoro's words just now, Saotome's face was still flushed.
She didn't explain anything to Ayanokoji, just lowered her head and hurriedly slipped a card into Ayanokoji's hand.
"Hold this, don't let anyone see it. This card will be key to my victory."
The moment Ayanokoji saw the card, he understood Saotome's action.
"Okay."
He smiled and nodded, as if not wanting to be seen by others, and held the card close to his chest.
Saotome seemed a little shy and didn't respond to Ayanokoji.
After saying that, she quickly turned her head and returned to her seat, not daring to look back at Ayanokoji's expression.
Saotome's behavior was naturally observed by everyone in the casino.
Saotome handed a card to Ayanokoji, and she still had four cards in her hand. It was clear that she had given one card to Ayanokoji for safekeeping.
"Are you worried I'll see your cards?" Aiura Kokoro already understood what Saotome was doing, and a smile appeared on her face: "I told you, I didn't cheat…"
Saotome was used to her excuses this round; she didn't even bother to respond, just looked at Aiura Kokoro with a look of disdain: "Hurry up, are you betting or not? Five hundred thousand for one round, winner takes all."
Although Saotome tried her best to conceal her cards, unfortunately, the back of her hand of cards was always facing Aiura Kokoro, and she had already seen them all.
[A, J, 7, 4].
And… Aiura Kokoro looked at Ayanokoji Kiyotaka. Although it was well hidden, the back of the card was still clearly visible.
It was a "3."
So that's it… Aiura Kokoro gradually understood everything, and the smile on her face grew wider.
The card Saotome exchanged with her was a "joker," the highest card, and this card could only be countered by a "3."
Saotome giving this "3" to that boy was meant to use the 3 to defeat the "joker" at a crucial moment.
If she didn't know what the other party's card was, she would indeed carelessly lose this game. However, as long as she knew the card she had hidden, the initiative was completely in her hands.
She was bound to win this game!
"Hey, are you still betting?"
Saotome urged again with an annoyed expression. Aiura Kokoro, worried that Saotome would speak up, quickly forced a smile on her face: "Okay, I agree, five hundred thousand a round."
Aiura Kokoro had currently won five hundred thousand from Saotome. If she lost this round, because a pauper could get double the money, she would have to pay Saotome one million Japanese Yen.
This was not a small sum for her. Normally, she would definitely respond cautiously.
But now, she had been blinded by continuous victories, believing that Saotome was just a fool sending her money, and she agreed without much thought.
The final round of the gamble began.
"4." Saotome played this, her smallest card besides the 3.
As the first attacker, this was an advantage, allowing her to play her smallest card first.
"7." This card was also the smallest in Aiura Kokoro's hand, and she played it with a smile.
"J."
"K."
The two then played their cards in order.
"A!" Saotome forcefully slammed her largest card onto the table, then looked at her with expectant eyes.
Aiura Kokoro sneered inwardly.
Yes, under normal circumstances, she would definitely play the "joker" she had just exchanged from Saotome.
After all, this was the "trump card" in "Instant Tycoon"; playing this card basically had no rivals.
Except for the "3."
Saotome must be waiting for this moment, right? As soon as she played the "joker," she would play that 3.
By the way, when encountering a "joker," the "3" is the largest card on the table; it trumps any card.
At this time, no card could beat it, and Saotome could smoothly play her last card.
Too bad… I won't let you succeed!
Aiura Kokoro thought she had seen through Saotome's arrangement. She didn't play a card, and with a smile, she looked at Meari: "I don't want to."
"Eh?"
Saotome Meari looked stunned. The next moment, she became anxious, slamming the table and even trying to stand up: "You're not playing a card? Don't you still have a joker in your hand? Play it, why aren't you playing it!"
Damn it, play it, why aren't you playing it!
Aiura Kokoro seemed to hear Saotome cursing.
"If you ask why… my subconscious feels it's not time to play this card yet."
Aiura Kokoro smiled, extending her hand like a well-educated young lady, gently signaling Saotome to play her card: "It's your turn to play now."
"…"
Saotome suddenly fell silent. She sat back in her seat, lowered her head, and remained speechless, as if she had suffered a great blow.
It seems… Saotome also knows she can't win, so she's despaired about the future, right?
That's right, losing one million Japanese Yen, she'll probably have to spend a long time paying off the debt.
Aiura Kokoro looked up at Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.
Unlike Hanatemari Kazura, who was almost in tears beside him, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's expression remained relaxed, even smiling, after Saotome "lost."
Aiura Kokoro couldn't help but sigh, lamenting the decline of morality and the erosion of human decency.
This new student must have had his eyes on Saotome Meari for a long time, deliberately lending money to Meari, just to make her desperate after accumulating a huge gambling debt, with no other choice but to give herself to him and repay the debt with her body.
Even if she didn't like Saotome Meari, she had to admit that this "pauper" had a very good figure and was the type that boys liked a lot.
Even in a place like Kabukicho, where "talents" emerged in droves, Saotome, with a little skill, could easily reach the top position.
I hope… this boy can treat Saotome well, and not have any strange fetishes, liking to play some flashy games that would cause her double torment, both physically and psychologically…
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