Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1470: Poker (Part 2)

With Alexia having already drained their funds by 2 million credits, the responsibility of fixing their balance fell, as it usually did, onto Louis.

Up until this point, the games hadn't required much expertise. Anyone was capable of pulling a lever on a slot machine or betting on a roulette wheel.

However, the atmosphere shifted as they approached the poker table, where the dealer sat waiting for the full roster of players to assemble.

Adam and Alexia shared a knowing look. Their pasts had never afforded them the opportunity to master a game like poker. While it was technically possible to play on pure instinct without knowing the rules, such a path almost certainly led to ruin. A player lacking knowledge could only survive on a miracle of luck, and even then, such fortune wouldn't strike twice.

Step.

Louis moved forward, taking a seat on the left side of the table with an air of absolute confidence. To his right was a middle-aged woman whose expensive jewelry and poised demeanor suggested she possessed more than enough capital to endure a long night at the casino.

"Oh, it seems I’ve been blessed with some very handsome company this round..." she purred, leaning toward him. She reached out, intending to brush her hand against Louis’.

Before her fingers could make contact, Louis lifted his hand, stopping her movement and ensuring she had a clear view of his wedding ring.

"I apologize, but I am taken. And, for the sake of your own well-being..."

Louis gestured with his chin toward Alexia. She was standing nearby, tapping her foot with visible irritation. If she followed her first instinct, she would have dragged the woman out of the casino simply for daring to speak to her husband.

"I’d advise you to keep our interactions strictly professional. I’m certain we have a very fascinating game ahead of us, after all."

The woman shifted her gaze to Alexia, flinching slightly at the young woman's fierce expression before she forced a smile.

"I understand. It’s always the fiery beasts like her who end up with the best-looking men."

Louis gave a casual shrug.

"I am perfectly content with my choice."

The woman remained quiet for a beat, then a mischievous grin spread across her face as a question occurred to her.

"If it’s not too personal, I’m curious—which one of you made the first move? I don’t mean just dating, but the actual marriage. Who decided they couldn’t wait any longer and had to claim their partner for good?"

"Hey! What kind of ridiculous question is that?" Alexia barked, shaking her fist in indignation. The woman didn't seem scared, though. She realized that touching Louis was a death sentence, but a bit of prying conversation was likely safe.

Louis let out a heavy sigh as the memory of that day resurfaced.

"I believe you can guess the answer. Most people would figure it out just by looking at us. But I’ll tell you anyway: it was Alexia, my partner and now my wife. As you might imagine, it was a situation where saying 'no' wasn't really an option for me."

"Hahaha, I knew it!" The woman burst out laughing, while Alexia glared at her with such intensity it seemed she was trying to burn holes through the stranger with her eyes.

Standing to the side, Adam was genuinely surprised.

’Damn, I really should have expected that from Alexia. She’s never cared for tradition or social etiquette; she just takes what she wants. But... she’s definitely more possessive than Silvana, isn't she? Hah, I guess I got lucky.’

As Louis engaged the woman, the remaining seats at the table were quickly filled by arriving gamblers.

Louis turned his attention toward Adam and Silvana. He knew Alexia had no intention of playing; she preferred to watch from the sidelines and offer her support. Besides, the stakes were high—if Louis failed, every chip they possessed would be gone!

"What about you two? Poker is a complex game, but since it involves gambling, luck is just as vital as skill. Would either of you like to join in?"

"Actually..."

Silvana stepped toward the table, nervously scratching her cheek.

"I’d like to give it a try. I understand the rules and I’ve played a few times on my laptop, though I’ve never actually sat at a real high-stakes table before."

Louis gestured toward the final empty chair located to the dealer's left.

"It’s yours. Just be prepared, you’ll be responsible for the small blind."

Silvana nodded and quickly sat down, not wanting to keep the other players waiting.

Adam and Alexia looked at each other, both sharing the same confused thought:

’Small blind? What on earth is that?’

Tap.

Just as Silvana settled into her seat, Louis flicked a chip toward her. It wasn't the standard orange or black—it was a purple one.

"Think of this as my contribution to making the game more interesting," Louis said with a casual wave.

The woman’s eyes widened as she stared at the purple token.

"Hell... You really came here to play for high stakes, didn't you?"

Louis only smirked. Silvana, meanwhile, studied the purple chip in her hand. If orange represented 1,000 credits and black represented 100K, then this purple chip was worth 50K. That single chip was worth triple what Adam and Silvana had earned from their entire time at the roulette table.

Silvana looked to Adam for confirmation, and he gave a simple nod. He had full confidence in Louis, and in the grand scheme of things, 50K was a manageable risk.

Though...

’This is only the start, isn't it?’ Adam thought, watching the dealer prepare the deck. ’If 50K is just the small blind, what does the big blind look like? Is there even a limit?’

A moment later, the dealer—a young woman with cascading brown hair—focused on Silvana.

"Are you ready to post the small blind?"

Silvana nodded and pushed the purple chip forward.

The dealer then turned to the next player, a massive, bearded man sitting to Silvana’s left. Due to the seating order, these two were required to place the opening bets, which would set the pace for the entire round.

"Tsk, 50K? Are you for real? A table like this is going to bleed me dry!"

Despite his grumbling, he tossed two purple chips into the pot. 100K was the big blind, the second mandatory bet of the match.

The dealer gave a professional nod, confirmed the bets, and began distributing the initial cards to the players.

The round was officially underway, and it remained to be seen which would triumph: calculated skill or raw luck?