Villain Simulator, Ch 231

"Don't do it again!" Yanfei quickly interjected. "Winning the last round was pure luck. Take the win and stop while you're ahead. Winning 20 million Mora is already like manna from heaven."

"Wait a minute! What kind of gambler quits after winning money?" Yelan's expression turned uncharacteristically serious. "One more round. This time, I'll roll the dice!"

"Of course," Lucas nodded. "Please, go ahead."

Yelan, who had never lost a bet since her gambling career began, couldn't stomach the fact that she had just been outplayed by someone unknown. And in such a humiliating way, no less.

With practiced speed, she tossed the dice into the porcelain bowl and shook it vigorously. The "clink-clank" sounds were sharp and rhythmic, reflecting her expertise. Slamming the bowl down on the table with a confident smile, she said, "Guess."

This time, Yelan was certain of her victory. She had infused the dice with Hydro energy, allowing her to manipulate the numbers. No matter whether Lucas guessed odd or even, she could effortlessly change the outcome. Victory was guaranteed.

"Wait!" Yanfei narrowed her eyes. "I want to check the dice first, just to prevent any funny business."

"That wouldn't be fair," Yelan said calmly, maintaining her composure. "What if you somehow hint at the outcome to Lucas? I'm not about to be made a fool of."

"Don't be ridiculous!" Yanfei retorted, pulling out her trusty scales. "I swear on my father's gift to me—this scale ensures fairness and impartiality. I won't let personal bias interfere!"

Yelan frowned. Refusing now might make her seem suspicious.

But to her surprise, Lucas shook his head and placed a hand on the table. "No need for that. My guess is... even."

"What are you doing?!" Yanfei sighed in exasperation. "You're doomed! There's no way you can win against her tricks. Fine, fine, we'll just have to give the winnings back."

Yelan smirked, her confidence radiating. "I'm sorry to tell you, but you've lost. It's odd!"

But as she lifted the bowl, her smile froze.

The dice showed three twos. It was... even.

How could this be?

Yelan's heart raced in confusion. She was certain she had manipulated the Hydro energy to change one of the dice to an odd number.

Instinctively, she reached for the dice, only to find them cold to the touch. They were frozen solid, stuck to the table.

"Bad luck, I'm afraid," Lucas said with a smirk, tracing a finger across the table to leave a frosty line. "I froze your dice to the table earlier with Cryo energy. Your little trick didn't stand a chance."

Yelan frowned at first but quickly broke into a smile. "It's been a long time since I've met such a worthy opponent. Fine, I admit defeat for the first two rounds. Let's settle this with one final game."

It was clear that Yelan was now more invested in defeating Lucas than in the contest itself. She wanted to reclaim her pride and her losses.

"Still betting 20 million?" Lucas asked, smiling faintly. "You've got 40 million left—enough for one more round."

"Who said I'm betting 20 million?" Yelan's eyes narrowed slyly. "This time, I'm betting 60 million!"

Lucas raised an eyebrow. "But you only have 40 million. How do you intend to make up the difference?"

"I'll wager something else," Yelan said, pointing a thumb toward herself with a smirk. "My body is worth the remaining 20 million."

"Are you insane?!" Yanfei exclaimed, aghast. "That's utterly ridiculous!"

"What's wrong?" Yelan asked with a chuckle. "Are you saying I'm not worth 20 million Mora?"

Lucas considered for a moment before nodding. "Alright, I'll take that bet. What game are we playing?"

"No more dice," Yelan admitted with a smile. "I'll concede that I wasn't in my best form today. Let's make it simpler—rock-paper-scissors. One round to decide it all."

"I like straightforward games," Lucas replied, nodding. "Rock-paper-scissors it is."

Hmm...

Seeing Lucas agree so readily, Yelan couldn't help but grin.

Among all her gambling skills, Yelan excelled most in games like rock-paper-scissors. Her keen eyes could analyze even the smallest facial expressions and subtle gestures to predict her opponent's choice with astonishing accuracy.

Unlike guessing odd or even, this was a game of pure human psychology, perfectly suited to her talents.

"Rock, paper, scissors!"

As Yelan raised her hand, preparing to throw her choice, Lucas suddenly said, "Wait!"

"Regretting it now?" Yelan sneered. "It's too late."

She had already deduced Lucas' move and made her decision. There was no way she could lose.

"Not at all," Lucas said, locking eyes with her. "I just wanted to ask—what are you going to play?"

"Ridiculous…" Yanfei groaned, massaging her temples. "As if she'd actually tell you. Even if she did, why would you believe her?"

["Interrogation" skill activated: Forces the target to answer one question truthfully. Success rate increases if the target's mental fortitude is lower than the user's. Can only be used once per day.]

Though Yelan's mental fortitude was strong, it paled compared to Lucas', whose attributes had been enhanced numerous times.

Yelan's confident demeanor faltered. Her expression became conflicted, her arm trembling slightly as she prepared to play.

"I… I'm going to throw…"

A bead of sweat trickled from Yelan's armpit, sliding along her side.

She had an unusual quirk—when under extreme stress, her armpits would sweat uncontrollably.

Of course, for Yelan, this minor issue was hardly worth mentioning.

After all, no matter the circumstances, she always seemed capable of handling them with ease. For her to feel genuinely nervous was an exceedingly rare occurrence.

Yet at this moment, faced with Lucas's interrogation-like questioning, Yelan felt an unfamiliar wave of tension rising from the depths of her heart.

The ever-composed Yelan, known for her ability to read people effortlessly, now felt as though every layer of her defenses had been peeled away, leaving her entirely exposed under Lucas's gaze.

It was as if she were bound tightly by invisible ropes—a sensation that was pressing, oppressive, and yet strangely thrilling.

The sweat under her arms grew heavier, trickling down as she raised her arm high, leaving her completely unguarded. The air seemed to carry an ambiguous scent, an intoxicating sweetness that muddled the senses.

Yes, the sweat of a beauty somehow always seemed to have a fragrant allure.

Finally, Yelan's mental defenses crumbled entirely under the effect of Lucas' [Interrogation Technique], and she murmured, "I'll… choose scissors."

As her words fell, both her and Lucas' hands came down at the same moment.

Lucas revealed a rock.

And Yelan… truly threw scissors!

Witnessing this, Yanfei's face displayed a rare expression of shock, her mouth slightly agape.

If not for knowing beforehand that the two had no prior connection, this scene would have looked as though Yelan had deliberately lost to Lucas on purpose.

Yelan stared at her scissors-shaped hand, frozen in disbelief. What had just transpired wasn't merely astonishing—it bordered on the incomprehensible.

Not only had she disclosed her chosen move to Lucas beforehand, but even as she made her play, she didn't change her decision!

Of course, Yelan didn't realize that she had fallen prey to the effects of Lucas's [Interrogation Technique]. The skill compelled the target to ensure that their answers and actions aligned perfectly. As a result, she was incapable of altering her choice.

"We won! We actually won!"

Yanfei, after a long moment of silence, finally exclaimed, "Sixty million plus forty million… that's Hundred million Mora! This is just unbelievable!"

Thinking back to how she had previously boasted about earning a mere one million Mora in a day, Yanfei couldn't help but feel a twinge of embarrassment.

"Three wins in a row against me," Yelan finally spoke, her voice calm despite the circumstances. A faint smile tugged at her lips. "I accept my loss. The forty million Mora is yours."

"Wait a moment," Lucas interjected with a sly grin. "Didn't your wager include more than just forty million Mora?"

Recalling her earlier, hasty words, Yelan sighed and admitted, "There's no need to take it so seriously. It's just twenty million Mora; I'll settle it with you after the competition."

Considering Yelan's character and wealth, she certainly wouldn't "sell herself" for a mere twenty million Mora.

"Yes, yes!" Yanfei chimed in, trying to smooth things over. "I'll vouch for her. Yelan will absolutely pay you back."

"As the saying goes, a person's gambling integrity reflects their personal integrity," Lucas countered with surprising firmness. "Are you suggesting that Yelan wouldn't honor her own words?"

"I admit it was reckless of me earlier," Yelan confessed. "I thought I had an unshakable advantage. How about this—after the competition, I'll double the amount and give you forty million Mora? That should be more than enough to make up for it."

Lucas said with a wry laugh. "No need for Mora—if you refuse to honor your wager, I'll consider all three rounds null and void."

"Are you out of your mind?" Yanfei exclaimed, poking Lucas's forehead in frustration. "At least take the Mora!"

Unexpectedly, Yelan's lips curved into a faint, bitter smile. "What a masterful provocation. Fine, I've spent my life outsmarting others, and now someone's outsmarted me instead. Truly, one who walks by the river cannot avoid getting wet. The Mora—and I—are yours."

"Miss Yelan, your decisiveness is truly admirable," Lucas said as he stepped aside. "The kitchen happens to be empty right now. Please, come with me."

"The kitchen?" Yelan let out a dry laugh at the absurdity. "Who would've thought my first time would be in a kitchen? Truly karmic retribution."

"You're really going to waste time on this now?" Yanfei scolded, stomping her foot. "There's less than an hour left in the competition!"

"Indeed, there's no need to rush," Yelan added. "I can fulfill my wager after the competition."

"I live by three rules," Lucas said as he leaned in close to whisper in Yelan's ear. "I don't eat leftovers, I don't hold grudges overnight, and I don't delay… certain pleasures."

"Have it your way, then," Yelan sighed. "Men truly are all the same."

As the two stepped into the kitchen, Yanfei stamped her foot in frustration. "Humans... are really unreasonable!"

She couldn't explain why she felt so irritated. After all, whether Lucas lost the competition or entertained himself with another woman, it shouldn't have had anything to do with her. Yet, for some reason, Yanfei couldn't shake the feeling of discontent.

"Tsk, tsk, have you just been busy here all day?" Yelan feigned nonchalance, glancing around the kitchen. "I hope my cloak doesn't pick up any oil stains, or this loss will truly sting."

"No need to act so composed," Lucas pointed at her underarm and smirked. "You've already given yourself away."

Indeed, Yelan's underarms were now visibly damp, a clear sign of her inner turmoil.

"I… I admit I'm a little nervous," Yelan confessed, finally dropping her pretense. She sighed softly. "In the end, I'm just a woman. To lose something so important like this—before even meeting someone I truly care for—it does leave me feeling uneasy."

"Don't worry," Lucas said with a reassuring smile. "I won't take anything truly important from you. At least… not this time."

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