Game of Poker

. . .

Jin, who couldn't stop Zeirenne, followed her instead. He didn't know who she was heading for, until he saw Miura Takumi, roasting his marshmallows.

She was up to something, he knew. Foiling her plans would surely be a bad idea. He found himself acting as well.

"Here, let me help you," he said, taking one of the sticks from Zeirenne after sitting on one of the four logs circled around the fire.

"I know you two.." Miura Takumi said with an underlying tone.

Zeirenne scratched her head, "Ohh. I guess the news really is that widespread."

Like every person on the internet, he started prying on the two, "I heard you studied in the same college. Which university is it?"

Zeirenne started cupping her face like a teenager in love, "We studied together in the University of Beijing... he took up literature and I was in arts."

Feeling unconvinced and bored, Miura Takumi watched the embers going up, stopping his urge to touch the burning coal, "Then why did you only start dating now?"

When he brought his gaze up, he pinned it into Jin, intimidating him to answer, "We'd like to keep our reasons to ourselves."

He didn't feel intimidated by Miura Takumi, but rather, on the girl sitting beside him who was determined to win this battle of wits.

Miura Takumi found this interesting, but before he could even ask another question, his phone rang.

Zeirenne set the plate down full of the s'mores she made, before dusting herself up, "You can take the call. We should head in now."

"Thank you for your help."

They both said their good byes to Miura Takumi before stepping inside, with Jin's arms wrapped around her shoulders.

With a foul smell of bloodlust in his hands, he watched the two before they disappeared into the distance.

"Yes Willy?" he said upon taking the call.

"He wasn't able to know who the hacker was Miura-dono," Willy said on the other line.

He took a glass of water and sprinkled it down to put out the fire. Smoke started rising and he reached out for the s'mores on the plate, examining it carefully before taking a bite.

"You know the drill..."

"Yes, Miura-dono."

He waited for the gunshot to sound before ending the call. This boosted his appetite and he grinned like a devil, sniffing a million-dollar chocolate, priced for smelling like blood.

"Now this is getting more exciting."

* * *

On the other hand, Zeirenne was scurrying on her path. Jin followed right behind her without saying anything.

She knocked on the room at the end of the hallway, and Dylan opened the door. She breathed a sigh of relief before stepping inside his room.

Three of them settled inside.

"What happened?" she asked Dylan.

"They found our gateway to them. Good thing I was able to trace it back before they could even start breaching the system."

She took out her phone and started looking for something.

"Here, take this, that's a mirror server, I was able to copy their entire system without initiating a self-destructive program."

* * *

In Germany, Andrei was settling a different agenda at hand.

"You were there, right? First heir to the Italian Monarchy, and second in-line for the Silverian Society," the lady on the other side of the poker table said, "Lord Terzo of Siccily."

Andrei fixed his stares, the casino table separated him from a stunning lady who's known as this club's finest game master.

"May I know what you're talking about? Lady Astrid"

She maintained a poker face before curling her lips for a menacing smirk.

"January 13. Night of the Annual Doomsday Gala. You came in with an unknown lady, and came in as Mr. Argenti, the CEO of Silva International tasked to join the summit. You were there... with both personas I may add."

Andrei took his eyes away from his cards, surveying his foe in front.

"I don't care who that doppelgänger of yours is," she placed her cards—straight flush, "I want to know who that bitch is. The one who knocked me unconscious, and got in the way of our plans. I'm sure you know her well."

Andrei nodded his head before revealing his deck, "I'd gladly tell you... but doing so will rid this game of its purpose. Winner gets something in return, right?"

Royal flush.

"Alright," she said, "name your price."

Andrei crossed his legs, resting pretty on the seat after long hours of playing.

"Be your doppelgänger's doppelgänger."

Her laughter echoed around the grandiose room, exclusive only for the Master of Poker.

"You're telling me to cover that bitch's blunder? No way in hell!"

He contested her stares with a smirk, "Then you should've won, 'cause I'm not asking you for a favor. This is a price you have to pay for losing. Besides, you would've failed your mission if it wasn't for her."

She measured up to his stares before rolling her eyes, "Alright. Then I'd gladly obey your order, Your Majesty."

. . .