Madness: CORDIALITY

Billy: She's here?! Fuck.

He took deep breaths to calm down, and coughed a bit, he was indeed curious about what was happening, however he was too far away to see it so he got down. He summoned a black umbrella, however the handle looked like that of a gun.

This is one of the weapons he remembered most, since it was cool when he watched it in a video: Sonic Umbrella X768 from the new generation of RHG, Umbrella.

This shit could shoot blasts of energy, act as a sword and shield, and it can even be used as a disguise since today is raining, he would just look there for a bit before leaving out, there would be less people outside, and he was tired to stay all the day in.

He climbed down the stairs while using the umbrella as a cane, and looked around, the tables were completely filled with people, but he was adapted to this sight, he just walked in the mob and soon he reached the table.

There were two people, one of them were trembling and sweating cold, while the other was frowning while looking at the cards.

Billy: 'So she is Esdeath… More beautiful than I imagined. It will be pretty hard to have a friendly connection with her if the rumors are true.'

The frightened man was holding many chips, while Esdeath held the same number, Billy looked at the frightened man, and his eyebrows raised when he noticed that the man was acting…

He acted frightened to make Esdeath play more, if he showed himself to be weak, she would surely ignore him later, but it seems that he didn't know that Esdeath's capability to read the people is slightly higher than Billy's.

Then Billy looked at Esdeath, she had three cards covered in the table, only she knew about them, at the other side, the man's cards were covered too.

Esdeath: This time I will win...

She talked with an annoyed tone, making Billy frown a bit.

Billy: 'How many times did she lost…?'

The man uncovered his hand, revealing a 3, 4 and 5 of different suit, a "straight", Esdeath gritted her teeth and revealed a 7, 10, K, all of them were of the same suit, a "flush".

Some men, probably working for Esdeath, patted her shoulder and said.

Man: Calm down, General. It's not worth being so angry...

Meanwhile, the other player, flinched and stuttered.

Player: C-C-Can I go…?

Esdeath: Tch, another round.

Player: Y-Yes…

Man: But General, we don't have almost anything here…

Esdeath: I will bet everything I have!

The Player faked a gulp and said.

Player: T-Then I will bet everything too…

The atmosphere turned heavy, everything meant even one's life, if Esdeath would lose… God knows what would happen... And Billy would doubt that Esdeath would not unsheath her rapier for the life of this man...

Both of them placed their chips on the table and the player shuffled the cards and gave 3 for himself and 3 for Esdeath, both of them looked at their cards. Billy got behind her and saw a "flush" with a 4, 8 and 9 of clubs.

Billy: Not bad…

Esdeath clearly heard him, but she ignored him and laid the cards down. The man uncovered his cards, revealing a three of a kind, with three K.

Esdeath's trembled in rage from losing another time, and almost uncovered her cards, however, surprisingly, Billy's hand reached her cards before her. She raised an eyebrow and looked at Billy, who held a smile and a finger on his mouth, signaling her to stay silent.

Then he revealed the first card, revealing a 8, before anyone could react, he revealed the second card, revealing a 9, Esdeath was gritting her teeth, knowing what will be the 3rd card.

Billy's hand reached the third card, and flipped it… Revealing a 10 of clubs…

Everyone froze as they looked at the cards on the table… The player stopped acting and looked shocked at the cards that Esdeath had, even Esdeath herself looked shocked, her rage was gone, replaced with surprise.

Player: S-Straight Flush…

Billy: Aiya, look here… A straight flush, I guess you won, General.

Esdeath: W...What…?

Esdeath was too shocked to formulate a proper speech, she looked at the cards in front of her… There wasn't a 10 of clubs, there was a 4! Where did the 10 of clubs come from?!

Billy: So… You don't want your reward?

His words brought Esdeath to reality and she glanced at the player, who was seriously trembling this time.

Esdeath: Men, take him to the dungeon.

Due to the player betting on "Everything", he doesn't have any right to being protected from the rules, and became Esdeath's property, so… He fucked up.

The people behind Esdeath snapped out from their surprise and nodded, then they took the man away.

Esdeath stood up from the chair and looked at Billy, he was wearing a black tuxedo, similar to the minions that were walking around the casino, he was carrying a black umbrella and had a semi-transparent veil covering half of his face, he looked just like a noble.

But her gaze was attracted from the dark red broken halo floating over his head.

Billy: So, do you want some wine? I think we still have some good ones.

Esdeath: "We"?

Billy: Right, you are new in this place. Hello, I am Billy. The owner of this casino and the God of Gambling.

Esdeath: God of Gambling?  That's a pretty arrogant statement.

Billy: This isn't arrogance, this is a fact, if I say that I am second in gambling, no one will dare to claim to be the first.

He turned around and walked towards a table. Esdeath followed him and sat at the other side of Billy, a minion came at their table and served them two glasses of wine, before he filled them with wine.

Billy: I heard about you, General Esdeath. The strongest general in the capital.

Esdeath: So… How were you able to do that thing?

Billy: You mean swapping the cards? That is something that only real professionists can do, there are some who uses stupid tricks, others manipulate the deck, which was used against you, and then there are those who corrupts the dealer.

You need to be careful here, General. This place is just like a battlefield, it's just on a different concept.

Esdeath: I noticed… Are you perhaps a Teigu user?

Billy: God knows.

Esdeath narrowed her eyes and said.

Esdeath: ...Anyway, for someone that was able to open a casino here, you must have some capabilities if you are this successful.

Billy: It's all about connections and power. However, General, I suggest you to not play like that in a casino.

Esdeath: What do you mean?

Billy: What are your views on the life?

Esdeath: Obviously the strong survives and the weak die.

Billy: Mn, in a casino, it is "If you play too much, you lose too much. If you play too little, you win too little."

I know you have a keen eye on people, but you must be careful to their hands, not their faces, only in some games you need to be careful to their faces.

Obviously, I would like to ask you to not go in a casino, but it is your choice.

Esdeath: Not going in a casino? Why did you open one then?

Billy: Because I abuse of people's greed, the more they want, the more I gain. Their greed for money forces them to play, their desire to win will bring them to a loss, and that loss will accumulate until it will turn to despair, finally, that despair will force them to bet on everything, and lose everything.

You were pretty near to be a slave, you know, right?

Esdeath: Tch, I would have just killed him out from the casino.

Billy: Yet, that means you lost to him, a loss is still a loss, and for someone like you, I don't think that it will just be forgotten.

Esdeath: You seem to know a bit about me.

Billy: M'lady, I reached this place not because I am good at gambling, but because I can read people, this is the first step to the victory. The second being having power, the third is skill, and at the end it's a strategy.

Let's talk about something else more generic. How was the day?

Esdeath: Don't make me remember, there was too much paperwork so I came here to have fun... At least I can use that man to distress myself. Soon I will leave the empire and go to the north.

Billy: Well, for me it's is a good day, no one tries anything weird, everyone has their share of fun… Sometimes I would go to play myself, since almost no one really knows my face, it is pretty easy to trick people.

He turned around and checked the clock, then he stood up.

Billy: I need to leave now, I have other affairs to do other than managing the place, the bottle is free so you can take it home. Bye.

Then Billy walked away, leaving the General Esdeath alone.