The Great Villain! Bargains for More Than He Asked For...?

Lucian strode into The Dragon's Wager, hands casually tucked in his pockets, his practiced poker face firmly in place. The low hum of conversation mixed with the clink of coins, and the air was thick with smoke and the scent of ale. He approached one of the counters, leaning forward with an air of nonchalance.

"Do you offer loans?" Lucian asked confidently, his hands still resting on the counter.

The chip clerk, eyes closed and smiling as if it were second nature, gave a polite nod. "We do, sir. But we'll need some collateral."

Lucian tapped his chin thoughtfully before gesturing to the violet ribbon around his neck. "How about this? It's studded with rare gems—ought to be worth something."

The clerk's smile widened, his eyes opening just enough to reveal a glimmer of interest. "That will do nicely, sir."

With a smirk, Lucian untied the ribbon, folding it neatly before handing it over.

The chip clerk tucked it away carefully. "Now, how much would you like to loan?" he asked, his tone smooth but carrying a hint of expectation.

Lucian raised his hand, spreading his fingers wide.

The clerk's brows lifted slightly. "Five hundred, sir?"

Lucian shook his head.

"Five thousand?"

Lucian's lips curved into a lazy smile. "Higher."

The clerk hesitated, wiping a bead of sweat from his brow. "Five hundred thousand…?"

Lucian adjusted his collar, still maintaining his air of bored confidence. "Almost."

The clerk's smile twitched, his eyes finally opening wider as the realization set in. "Five million, sir…?"

Lucian grinned like a cat who'd just cornered a mouse, giving an enthusiastic nod.

Ignir, standing behind Lucian, frowned in concern. "Are you really sure about this…?"

Lucian glanced back with a confident smile. "Of course, child. Once you master it, gambling is just easy money."

The clerk hesitated before handing Lucian a small magical pouch, his expression uneasy. "Here you go, sir… Just remember, failure to repay—"

Lucian cut him off with a dismissive wave. "Yeah, yeah, eternal damnation, loss of limbs, blah blah. Just make sure to smile when I come back with double, alright?"

The clerk blinked, unsure whether to feel reassured or insulted.

Lucian grinned, tossing the magical pouch into the air and catching it effortlessly before making his way toward the main hall of The Dragon's Wager.

Ignir hurried to keep up, his wide eyes taking in the lavish surroundings—the glittering clothing of nobles and merchants, the polished mahogany furniture, and the golden chandeliers that bathed the room in a warm glow. "What game are we gonna play?" he asked, curiosity brimming in his voice.

Lucian chuckled softly. "Patience, Ignir. Lesson three: before engaging, always find easy prey."

He pointed toward an extravagantly decorated table, where merchants and nobles adorned with gold trinkets were engaged in a lively game.

"Bang!" Lucian mimicked firing a finger gun, his smirk growing even more confident.

Lucian slid up to the table, grinning widely—his intentions far from hidden.

"Mind if I join you, gentlemen?" he asked, his tone light and confident.

One of the nobles, a middle-aged man with a well-groomed brown beard, gave Lucian a quick, dismissive glance. "Sorry, kid. Only big hitters play at this table."

Before Lucian could respond, a merchant sitting beside the noble chimed in—a young, handsome man with blonde hair and piercing blue eyes, dressed in an ornate shirt and pants that screamed wealth. His glasses caught the light as he adjusted them, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Oh, come on, what's the harm in letting a newbie join? More money for us long-timers, right?" he chuckled.

A third man, a corpulent noble with a sour expression, slammed his palm on the table. His patience had clearly worn thin.

"Quit wasting time. Let's just get on with the game," he grumbled, voice thick with irritation.

Lucian's grin only widened, eyes gleaming with anticipation.

The dealer smiled at the new addition to his table. "Very well, gentlemen, how much do you want to bet?" he asked, shuffling the cards with the ease of a seasoned veteran.

Lucian leaned back in his chair, a smug smile on his face as he casually poured the contents of the magical pouch onto the table. The freshly acquired chips spilled out, gleaming under the chandelier's light. With effortless finesse, he began shuffling them between his fingers, the rhythmic clinking drawing the attention of the other players.

A few of them shot him irritated glances, clearly unimpressed with his flashy entrance, while others couldn't help but watch with a mix of curiosity and skepticism.

The dealer dealt the cards, and Lucian kept his face neutral, his eyes flicking from his hand to the others at the table.

The first noble, a brown-haired man, placed a cautious bet. The blonde merchant chuckled confidently and raised the stakes, while the corpulent noble merely grunted, matching the raise without a word.

Lucian couldn't help but smirk. "Guess Lady Luck has a soft spot for handsome devils," he mused.

"Call," Lucian said casually, pushing his chips forward. Behind him, Ignir shifted nervously, his wide eyes flicking between the players.

The game unfolded, cards revealed one by one in the center of the table. Lucian's expression remained unchanged, even when he caught the corpulent noble trying to glance at his hand through the reflection on a nearby silver goblet.

A small, amused smirk curled on Lucian's lips. Fine. If that's how they wanted to play.

A few rounds passed. Lucian deliberately made small bets, intentionally losing a few hands to lower the others' guards. His relaxed posture and light banter gave him the air of a naive rich kid playing pretend.

"I wonder how my father played this…" Lucian smirked, feigning uncertainty.

Then came the big hand.

The corpulent noble leaned forward, licking his lips. "I'm all in," he declared, shoving his mountain of chips into the pot. The brown-haired noble hesitated but eventually matched, wiping sweat from his brow. The blonde merchant's confidence didn't waver as he too pushed his chips forward.

Lucian hesitated for a moment, just long enough for them to think he was nervous. Then, with a theatrical sigh, he matched the bet.

"Man… looks like I'm all out."

The dealer revealed the final card. The corpulent noble's eyes gleamed as he slapped his cards down—a strong set.

"Hah!" he barked, triumphant.

The blonde merchant chuckled, adjusting his glasses with a confident smirk before laying down his hand—an even better combination.

"Looks like the pot's mine," the merchant declared, his voice dripping with satisfaction.

The brown-haired noble glanced at his own cards, then at the others'. Realizing his loss, he groaned, slapping his hand onto his forehead.

"Damn it," he muttered, sinking back into his seat, frustration etched on his face.

Lucian raised an eyebrow, giving them both an almost pitying look. "Not bad," he said slowly. "But…"

He laid down his cards—an unbeatable combination. The room fell silent.

Lucian leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms lazily behind his head. "Oops," he drawled, flashing a sly grin. "Looks like I'm a natural."

The corpulent noble shot to his feet. "Impossible! You were bluffing the whole time!"

Lucian chuckled, gathering the mountain of chips. "Maybe. Or maybe I was just letting you think that. Funny how confidence blinds people."

The blonde merchant groaned, running a hand through his hair. "You little—"

Lucian patted him on the shoulder with a grin. "Thanks for the fun, gentlemen. Better luck next time."

As Lucian stood to leave, Ignir whispered, "How did you know they'd fall for it?"

Lucian smirked, pocketing a few chips. "Greed, child. It's the most predictable thing in the world."

Just as he turned to go, the brown-haired noble stopped him, eyes gleaming with vengeance. "How about another game, kid? All in, no folding." A sly smile crept across his face.

The blonde merchant chimed in, a wicked grin splitting his face. "Yeah, you're good at this. I'll bet three hundred million if you accept."

The corpulent noble, who had been sulking, burst out laughing. "You got us good, kid. I'll bet five hundred million!"

Lucian's confident facade wavered for a split second, mouth agape, a bead of sweat forming on his cheek. For a fleeting moment, he couldn't help but imagine the consequences of losing—debts he couldn't pay, creditors who wouldn't take "sorry" as an answer.

Then his grin returned, sharper than before. "Man, you three sure are brave," he muttered, forcing his swagger back into place as he reluctantly sat down again.

The dealer's eyes glinted with glee. "How about we make this more interesting, good sirs?" He snapped his fingers, summoning his Codex, which floated before him, pages flipping until it settled on one labeled Dominion of Luck.