Everything went just about as I’d predicted.

  Tao picked the next cup, and after I announced my intention to steal it for two, he folded. The bronze coin slid over to my side, putting me at nine points.

  I chose the following cup. It turned out to be silver, and Tao immediately tried to steal it for two. I cut him off by claiming it for three.

  Tao chose again after. He tried to rebuy that cup for three, so I folded. He eventually revealed it was the last silver coin.

  And the final cup, the one I chose, went to me uncontested, since Tao wasn’t willing to steal for two. It was the bronze coin, meaning no extra points, but no loss either.

  The first round wrapped up at 8–9.

  It wasn’t exactly the outcome I’d expected, but I wasn’t going to complain about being a point ahead.

  As expected, the crowd’s murmurs swelled into full conversations. People were trying to figure out how the match had reached this point, and a few had already started making side-bets on who would win.

  I've been involved in a lot of gambles lately.

  Tao seemed to be thinking hard too. My guess? Something along the lines of debating whether he should let my lead stretch a little or strike now. Would I fold if I suddenly fell behind? Should he lure me deeper into the game? Questions like that probably churned in his mind, judging by how often he lifted his cup to drink.

  Ugh, I’m done!

  Sys looked furious as he threw his magnifying glass away.

  It’s no use! This isn’t going anywhere!

  I sighed since I agreed with him………ew I agreed with-

  For starters, he’s not even doing anything!

  Throughout all our back-and-forths, Tao never made a single suspicious move.

  All he ever did was glance at you over the rim of his cup, take a drink, then choose one of the cups on the table. Nothing strange in his drink either! It’s the exact same thing you have. And trust me, I checked. Thoroughly.

  While Tao tapped lightly on the table as the results were announced, Sys zipped over again, inspecting every inch of him with irritating dedication.

  There’s no hidden coins in his sleeves, nothing’s wrong with his cup, his clothing, his hair, nothing! There’s nothing below the table, on the table, in his nose-

  As you can see, Sys went overboard, and we still came up empty. Either Tao truly wasn’t cheating, or he was incredible at hiding it. It would make sense; he hadn’t been caught in what was supposedly years of running this game. And there was always the possibility he avoided cheating early just to lure me deeper in.

  But then, was it really just luck that he picked the gold coin first?

  If we consider that my little scheme nudged him into wanting the gold coin right away, then there’s only one conclusion.

  He cheated.

  But how? Neither of us found a single clue, not even the smallest tell. Even the tapping wasn’t anything meaningful. At first, I wondered if he was trying to listen for the sound of the coin inside the cup, but that idea’s too far-fetched. You’d need magic for something that precise.

  It is too far-fetched.

  So, let’s assume this.

  Tao only cheated for that gold coin, or at the very least, sometime right before or around the moment he picked it, he pulled off whatever trick he used.

  What?

  “It looks like he isn’t cheating now, but we know for sure he did with the gold coin. So we can assume he cheated back then and hasn’t cheated since. It makes sense. He’s been running this game for years, and I’m sure he could do the same math I did and figure out which cups were worth picking once the gold coin was out of play.”

  But if he can think like that, wouldn’t he notice that something feels off? That the choices afterward kept leaning in your favor? What if he starts to suspect your real plan?

  “He might. But it’s too late now. We’re in the second round, I’m already up a point, and I’ve got a better chance of staying ahead.”

  We still don’t know how he’s cheating!

  “Not how, but we do know when he did.”

  Nope. Still not getting it.

  He cheated sometime before or around the moment he grabbed the gold coin. So what exactly did he do? What happened during that timeframe? Did anyone else show up?

  “Listen up.” Adam yelled out so everyone would pay attention. “Now that the first round has ended, we can move on to the next round. Beric here leads by one with nine, while Tao follows closely with eight. Of course, before we continue, the two will have to pay the ante.”

  Tao and I then gave up a bronze coin and put it into the pot.

  “The real scores are now eight to seven.” Adam clarified.

  I changed my seating position since my ass was starting to hurt.

  You did not need to say that-

  I took a quick look at Tao.

  He was staring intently at the coins we’d both earned, drinking steadily from his cup like he needed the focus.

  Let’s say everything really did unfold the way I planned.

  If he truly didn’t cheat just to make me feel safe enough to keep playing, then that only makes the “lucky” moment stand out more, that the first coin he picked just happened to be the gold one.

  I needed that coin to be gold, and I acted in a way that would push Tao to choose it too.

  He cheated for that, but how?

  What happened that could give me even a single clue about how Tao managed to pull it off?

  “Refill, please,” Tao said, raising his cup.

  There.

  I glanced to the side as Sarah appeared again, carrying her tray and the pitcher, clearly ready for another generous tip.

  “I’m surprised,” Sarah said as she refilled Tao’s drink. “I didn’t think anyone else could get ahead of you, especially a kid.”

  Tao sighed. “Same here. I never imagined I’d end up in a losing position.” He handed her another silver coin. “Though if I do lose, I won’t be able to keep tipping this much.”

  “Hah,” Sarah snorted. “If that happens, I’ll just hope Beric is just as generous.” She shot me a wink.

  “I should be the one getting tips,” Adam cut in, marching over with an irritated look. “In fact, where’s mine?!”

  “Oh,” Tao said, patting his pockets. “Here.”

  Adam didn’t even blink when Tao handed him a bronze coin.

  “This doesn’t seem fair,” Adam complained.

  “Maybe if you weren’t drinking on the job, you’d get more,” Sarah fired back.

  “I’m not! I finished my drinks earlier,” Adam insisted. Then he suddenly paused, eyes widening. “Wait! I still haven’t gotten my free drinks.” He jabbed a finger toward the crowd, voice rising. “Who was it?! Who promised them?! I want them now!”

  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  “So this is the same guy who almost became a royal knight,” Zachary muttered as they all watched Adam spiral into chaos. First he yelled at the crowd, then he sank further into frustration as everyone denied responsibility.

  “People change when they get drunk,” Nyra said.

  “Adam was always an odd one,” Cedric sighed. “If he weren’t so lazy, and if he actually applied himself, he’d be standing in the royal courts by now.”

  “They weren’t just rumors?” Malo asked. “I thought they were just scare-stories to make troublemakers behave when he finally decided to do his job.”

  “Like that one story where he—he took down a pa-pack of direwolves?” Corven asked, voice cracking slightly.

  “Some tales are exaggerated,” Merilda admitted, “but his talent and skill aren’t.”

  “He’s the reason that the guard who follows Zin around has that scar,” Jain added.

  “Seriously?” Kaelyn asked. “Him?”

  They all fell silent again as Adam transitioned from anger to teary despair, mourning both his missing sword and the free drinks he’d forgotten about.

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  “It’s for the best that he doesn’t get any more drinks.” Jain said.

  “Once tainted, only ruin and misery can follow such a bright future,” Noll murmured.

  “I agree,” Zachary said, then he glanced over at Mayern, who had been unusually quiet. “What’s up? You’ve barely said a word.”

  Mayern drew in a slow breath. “I’m trying to figure out Beric’s game plan.”

  Jain slid between the two, slinging an arm over each of their shoulders. “Alright, what’ve you got?”

  Mayern frowned deeply. “I think this exact outcome is what Beric was aiming for. Most games end early in the second round because Tao usually establishes a huge lead. But that didn’t happen here. Beric is actually ahead, and only because he managed to steal the gold coin.”

  “For a one-point profit, no less,” Jain noted.

  “If this lead was what Beric wanted, then that childish act of his was part of the plan,” Mayern continued. “By acting nervous and asking for a way out if things went wrong, he convinced Tao he wasn’t going to play long. Tao would realize that to take all of Beric’s coins, he needed to keep him in the game. He had to boost his confidence, make him stay, make him take risks, and eventually lose everything.”

  “This belief that Beric was too nervous to bet,” Nyra added, “is what pushed Tao to choose the gold coin first. And Beric knew that, or rather, he made Tao think that. Which is why he was willing to go all in.”

  “But from Tao’s perspective,” Mayern went on, “giving up that gold coin wasn’t a loss, but it was an investment. He’d only lose a single point, but Beric would gain confidence. And with a few small, controlled losses, Tao could eventually set up a future round where he’d reclaim everything in just a few bets.”

  “Huh? That’s what was happening? I had no idea,” Kaelyn said, completely bewildered.

  “Go figure,” Malo muttered.

  “If you’ve got something to say—”

  “Since the gold coin was removed from the game,” Mayern continued smoothly, “and Beric was up one point, the way stealing and rebuying works meant Beric would always end up tied or one point ahead.”

  “Which means all of this was planned by Beric?” Nyra whispered.

  Silence fell. Even Malo and Kaelyn’s argument died instantly as the weight of that idea sank in.

  “That’s…….impossible, right?” Zachary said slowly. “There’s no way Beric is secretly some genius who could plan all that…….is he?”

  Cedric cleared his throat. “It would explain why he’s acting so differently here.”

  “He is our fellow disciple for a reason,” Merilda said softly.

  “Still,” Zachary tried again, “aren’t we assuming a lot? Beric’s just a kid. This might just be beginner’s luck. It’s not like any of us actually know him.”

  “But we do.”

  Every head turned toward the new voices.

  The Elders had arrived, along with Hume and Volk.

  “Dad, what are—” Kaelyn began, but her father’s hand came down in a quick chop to the top of her head, making her bite her tongue.

  “How many times have I told you to stop fighting?” he scolded, then nodded toward Malo. “Sorry for the trouble.”

  Malo lifted a hand dismissively. “No problem.”

  Cedric and Merilda bowed. “Master.”

  Elder Alric grinned widely. “Little Viper and Little Bull,” he boomed, throwing his broad arms over their shoulders. “Enjoying the party?”

  “Quite so,” Cedric said, lifting his bowl of food proudly.

  “Not at all,” Merilda muttered.

  “Saintess Liora,” Mayern breathed in awe.

  “Oh, please,” Elder Liora smiled warmly. “There’s no need to address me like that. That’s all in the past.”

  “So, how’s the game going?” Volk asked, wiping his hands. “I had to use the restroom earlier.”

  “Beric is—is up a point,” Corven explained.

  “Really? He’s up?” Volk blinked in shock. “He keeps surprising me.”

  “Zachary.” Elder Walden’s voice cut through the air.

  Zachary bowed reflexively. “It’s good to see you again, Elder Walden.”

  “Hmph.” Elder Walden hobbled over, pulled a chair closer, and sat. “I hear things are going well for Beric.”

  The other Elders followed suit, and the surrounding guests instantly offered up their seats out of respect.

  “He’s up a whole point!” Kaelyn exclaimed. “I don’t know if he meant to, but he’s still up!”

  “He meant to,” Elder Walden said without hesitation.

  All eyes snapped toward him.

  “That boy has been hiding things for years.”

  Elder Alric nodded, sighing. “I feel the same. Beric’s always been off.”

  “He understands far more than he shows,” Elder Liora added gently.

  “So what?” Zachary began, only to yelp when Elder Walden smacked his shin with his walking stick.

  “How many times must I remind you to show respect when speaking to your seniors?”

  “Sorry,” Zachary mumbled.

  “Wait,” Mayern said, trying to steady himself. “I get that Beric is gifted, believe me, I know. He beat Malo, after all. But you’re saying he’s also good at mind games?”

  The Elders said nothing.

  “Did you really need to bring up my loss—” Malo started.

  “I will not confirm that,” Elder Walden said calmly. “However-” He leaned back, tapping his cane softly. “What he is capable of isn’t fully known. If he is skilled at these so-called mind games, then we must discover that ourselves. Beric is not the type to reveal anything willingly.”

  Everyone exchanged uneasy looks.

  Mayern swallowed hard. “Then……we just have to keep watching.”

  And with that, every eye returned to the table, just as Adam finally settled down enough to begin preparing for the second round.

  But Elder Walden wasn’t finished.

  He sank deeper into thought.

  Even though he and the other Elders had known Beric for years, they had never truly known him. As he’d said, Beric wasn’t the open type. Sure, he had his talkative moments and played the part of an ordinary child, but there was always something off.

  They had never once felt confident they understood everything about him.

  In short, what they knew about Beric was only a bit more than what Mayern and the rest knew.

  And what they knew was only a bit more than someone like Adam.

  And if Mayern’s group could somewhat figure out Beric’s real plan, if it was all intentional, then-

  Wouldn’t someone who spent years undefeated in this game, a supposed master of mind games, figure out something was wrong?

  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  He’s finally done. Geez, this guy’s a fully grown man, and he was busy sobbing over some drinks. Honestly, what’s with………Beric, you there?

  The layout was important.

  Tao and I were sitting at opposite ends, with Adam to my left, the bar behind me.

  While Adam turned around and got to fixing up the coins and cups for the next round, Sarah was bombarded yet again with more requests. She answered some, flipped some others off, and spent some time chatting to both Tao and I.

  I didn’t talk that much.

  I was busy trying to figure out how Sarah was a part of this.

  Didn’t Sarah say she wasn’t a part of it?

  “Dumbass, that doesn’t mean she’s clean.”

  Yeah, but it does mean people in the past have already suspected and accused her. But seeing how Tao's still here, they didn’t lead to shit.

  “Can you stop getting things right and stick to your character archetype?”

  Huh? Yo, shut the hell up, you-

  “Oh, Beric, here.” Sarah handed me a small refill. “You got this!”

  I stared at the glass cup.

  It had to be involved somehow.

  But what could a glass cup even do? Sure, it could reflect things, but Tao wouldn’t be able to see the reflections from where he was sitting. Maybe if his cup were glass too, the light could bounce off into mine—

  Wait.

  What if that’s why his cup isn’t glass? If he could see reflections from my side, then that’d mean if he had a glass cup as well, I’d be able to see reflections every time he lifted a cup. That would give everything away.

  No, that still didn’t add up. If it were only about reflections, the placement of the cups would matter way too much. One slight shift and the angles would be wrong. It’s too unreliable.

  Sarah suddenly took my cup back and scrubbed a smudge off with a napkin. “Ugh,” she groaned. “I keep telling them to just wash these normally, but no, they skip that and use magic instead. And then they get all offended when I show them how disgusting they still are.”

  It’s you. It has to be. But how?

  I watched her closely, searching for any hidden signals, any hand movement, a twitch of a finger, a nod, a wink. Anything.

  But there was nothing.

  Then did the cheat happen during the very first turn?

  As Adam came back and set the tray down with the fresh cups, Sarah stepped away.

  The second round was starting.

  And I still had no idea how the cheat worked.

  So, we’re screwed.

  I turned around, scanning the surroundings.

  I wonder if Sarah does it behind me.

  That had to have been thought of already. If that’s how it works, it’d be completely ruined by just you two switching seats.

  “They can easily get around that by having Sarah move around. She’s a bartender, and they rarely sit still.”

  And just like I thought, Sarah was moving about and refilling drinks.

  I know it’s you S-

  “Sarah.”

  I inhaled sharply.

  I think Sys did too.

  We turned around slowly.

  Tao sat with his head propped in his hand, staring at me. It was a calm look.

  “Something wrong, Tao? Do you need Sarah again?” Adam asked.

  Tao didn’t answer. His eyes never left me.

  How did he know?

  “No, he didn’t.”

  He finished your thought. And he didn’t even respond to Adam.

  “It was just a coincidence. It’s nothing to—”

  “Beric?” Adam asked when he saw my face.

  I sucked in a sharp breath and turned toward him.

  “Are you okay?”

  I didn’t answer.

  I didn’t dare look back at Tao.

  Beric, I didn’t sense any magic being used.

  He didn’t use magic.

  But he read my mind.

  “Beric?” Tao said next in a gentle voice.

  I turned to him slowly.

  He was smiling now. “Is something wrong?”

  I froze.

  My brain stalled. I couldn’t think. I couldn’t speak. I—

  HEY!

  Sys’ irritating voice echoed in my head.

  GET YOUR HEAD BACK IN THE GAME!

  ..........Okay. Just relax.

  I’m still up a point.

  I still have a game to play.

  I drew in a long, steady breath.

  “Sorry about that!” I forced out a bright, fake grin. “It just hit me that I’m actually winning.” I let out a laugh.

  “Ah, I get that,” Adam said with a sympathetic smile.

  Nice recovery!

  “Are you sure?” Tao asked.

  Stay calm.

  “I do hope you’re not feeling off,” he continued. “It would pain me to see you continue in such a state, so suddenly, too. I wonder if—” He paused. “Was it something I said?”

  He knows.

  But how much?

  He knew I was thinking about Sarah. But why?

  Was he assuming I had some childish crush on her? No.

  The timing was too exact. He knew precisely what I was thinking.

  He knows I suspect Sarah, but if that’s true—

  “The second round will now start,” Adam announced, holding up a bronze coin.

  Shit.

  This isn’t good.