Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1472: Silvana’s Luck

The game of poker proved to be far more intricate and captivating than Adam had initially anticipated. He couldn't be certain, but Alexia also appeared intrigued—or perhaps she was merely focused on the match because Louis was one of the contestants.

Beyond being her Operator, Louis was also her husband. This bond undoubtedly added a profound new dimension to their already powerful connection.

However, what truly stunned Adam about poker wasn't the mechanics or the rules, but the sheer volume of wealth a single participant could amass through a stroke of luck.

’During that first round, Silvana wagered 50K while the others threw in another 100K each, and then Louis and that woman doubled the stakes twice. With only six people at the table—and there was room for more—he walked away with 950K from just one victory!’

While that wasn't quite enough to recoup everything Alexia had surrendered at the roulette wheel, Louis was on track to rebuild their bankroll within a few more rounds at this pace.

Of course, Louis couldn't expect to win every single time; in a fair match, such a feat is impossible regardless of one's luck. He had no intention of cheating, as there was simply no need for it. He possessed absolute confidence in his own expertise.

Furthermore, with Silvana also at the table, if she managed a few lucky hands, the two of them would effectively drain the funds from the remaining four players.

After several more rounds, the moment Adam had been anticipating finally arrived:

"Straight Flush!" Silvana cried out with joy, revealing her two cards on the felt.

The massive man seated to the left, who had been the last to act, was clearly disgruntled by this development, his frustration etched across his face.

"DAMN IT!" He barked, slamming his fist against the table before discarding his hand. He had held a Four of a Kind—the same winning combination Louis had used in the opening round.

His hand was only a single rank below Silvana’s, yet that small margin meant she took the entire pot while he was left with nothing.

One might wonder where Silvana obtained the capital, considering she and Adam only arrived with 15K. That wasn't even enough for a minimum bet at a high-stakes table like this. The single purple chip worth 50K credits that Louis had handed her at the start had been wagered immediately.

Essentially, Louis had simply provided her with the stake.

Should she win, the debt could be repaid, and if she lost... they hadn't even bothered to discuss that outcome, as it was clear such an amount was trivial to them.

It appeared that neither Louis nor Silvana were in any real danger of going broke.

"Yay!" Silvana cheered, raking in a pile of fifteen black chips.

It had been a grueling and lengthy round. A seventh player had joined since the previous hand, and everyone had called until the showdown, with several raises driving up the pot.

By risking 300K, Silvana had just secured 1.5 million. This was almost the exact sum Alexia had dropped at roulette.

"Tsk, enjoy your luck." The burly man grunted as he stood up to leave. He had no desire to lose any more of his fortune here.

Having already parted with several hundred thousand, his experience as a casino regular told him exactly when it was time to walk away.

Silvana’s face was alight with a beaming smile. This was her inaugural major win. Currently, she held 1.5 million credits in her grasp. There was nothing stopping her from cashing out those black chips for hard currency right now.

It was the most significant amount of money she had ever personally held.

Admittedly, following Adam's exploits in the Dead Lands, he had far more than 1.5 million in his accounts, and Silvana had full access to it. However, she recognized that those funds weren't truly hers and hadn't been earned by her own hand.

Louis gave a nod before addressing the woman, who was now the sole original player remaining in the game.

"If my math is correct, your losses have reached 700K. Even for the very wealthy, that is a substantial sum, wouldn't you agree?" Louis asked with a cunning grin, idly shuffling his black chips. Though Alexia would likely lose them again soon, they belonged to him for the moment.

The woman let out a heavy, weary sigh in response.

"I'll stick around for a few more hands. Perhaps my luck will turn. This has been one of the hottest tables I've seen in a long time; nearly every round features a powerful combination. I just haven't been the fortunate one yet."

Louis nodded and readied himself for the next deal. Silvana looked toward Adam, who gave a supportive nod. As long as she was enjoying herself, he was perfectly fine with lingering in the hall a bit longer.

...

The following thirty minutes continued in a similar fashion.

While poker and spectating didn't provide the same frantic adrenaline rush as the slots or roulette, the game possessed a clear strategic depth.

At any second, a dominant hand could be rendered worthless by the dealer's final card. Or, in the end, two players might reveal the exact same combination.

Louis successfully pulled off several bluffs, which protected his capital and allowed him to snatch additional pots.

Silvana attempted to mimic his maneuvers, but as a beginner facing an expert, she lacked the seasoned practice required to pull off his sophisticated tricks.

Naturally, every poker table had its own atmosphere. Much depended on the players' tolerance for loss and the venue itself.

One might find elites from the First Ring playing in a luxury skyscraper, or criminals from the slums and poverty-stricken districts of the Third Ring gambling in the shadows.

In some circles, cheating was considered pointless or far too risky, while in others, it was the primary method for victory.

Regardless, every game—no matter how deep or engaging—eventually reaches its conclusion.

Tap.

Louis slid his chair back toward Alexia, carrying twenty black chips. They had returned to their starting point of 2 million. The exact amount Alexia had previously lost was restored.

"So," Louis said, scanning the room. "What's our next move? This casino holds many curiosities for everyone, whether they are ordinary people or not."