chapter 19
Leticia’s eyes widened at the unexpected remark.
“Really?”
She knew it wasn’t nice to judge by appearances, but… for someone who looked like they could drink anyone under the table to say they couldn’t handle alcohol?
Judging from Wigg’s usual demeanor, she figured he wasn’t lying.
Nodding thoughtfully, Leticia realized she still had a lot to learn about her aide.
“Well, that’s good. It means you can focus more on work. Go have some juice or something.”
“…Yes, ma’am.”
Wigg clenched his fist in a show of support.
Leticia nodded in response, but the dealer flinched at the sight of Wigg’s massive, veiny fist.
‘Was that a threat? Like, “Try anything funny and you’re dead”…?’
Leticia, completely unaware of the dealer’s nervous misinterpretation, simply smiled sweetly.
As the dealer fumbled to shuffle the cards, hands trembling, some men began to approach Leticia, who was calmly seated at a table in the otherwise male-dominated casino.
“Haven’t seen you around before. First time here?”
“Not that we’re ones to talk, but this game’s a little too dangerous for a lady just looking for fun…”
They feigned concern, but their subtle condescension and smug superiority were clear.
Leticia, having survived many years in high society, saw right through their intentions. But she played along, flashing an innocent smile.
“Then would you mind showing me the ropes? I’m new, so I don’t know much.”
To be fair, they weren’t entirely wrong.
She had only learned the rules and had no actual playing experience.
‘For the first game, let’s see what kind of situations trigger this ability.’
Leticia flattered them just enough, and the men, easily convinced, sat down at the table.
“Honestly, this game’s a bit boring for us… but sure, we’ll teach you a thing or two.”
“Then let’s begin,” the dealer said, dealing the cards with practiced ease.
Leticia picked a suitable card to reveal and glanced around the table, carefully studying both her own hand and the others’.
‘The man on the left—his card is glowing.’
The dealer dealt another card, following the standard sequence.
Still, the glow around the man’s card didn’t fade or shift.
Next was the betting round.
Leticia placed a modest bet and continued to study the cards on the table.
Dealing, betting.
Even by the time all seven cards had been dealt, the golden glow never left the man’s card.
“Reveal your cards.”
Leticia folded at a sensible point before the stakes got too high.
As she had predicted, the man on the left revealed a triple and took the win.
‘So the outcome is already determined from the first card…’
This would be easy.
Leticia smiled confidently, watching the man rake in the chips.
‘Poker’s partly a game of psychology, but with this ability, I don’t need to take that risk.’
If she got a good hand, she’d go all in. If not, she’d fold early.
Simple strategy.
“How was that? Starting to understand how it works?” the man asked smugly, brushing Leticia’s shoulder with a patronizing hand.
“We’ve shared a table, after all. Since I won, how about I buy you a drink? I can give you a few more tips—”
“Hmm…”
Before he could finish, Leticia pushed his hand away.
Startled and about to protest, the man met Leticia’s eyes and froze.
Gone was the innocent blue gaze of the naive girl he thought she was—now they were filled with an eerie sense of pressure.
It was like looking at a completely different person.
“Though I suppose if I lose all my chips, I might want a drink.”
Leticia casually gestured to the table, inviting him back.
She had learned the rules. Now it was time to catch some prey.
The game continued well into the early hours of the morning.
The man, eyes bloodshot, received another card from the dealer.
Please…
He had started with nothing but a lighthearted intent to flirt his way into buying her a drink.
But now, hours later, the massive stack of chips he had built was completely gone—transferred to Leticia’s side.
What was left wasn’t pride. It was desperation.
He checked his hand—and his eyes lit up.
A straight!
This was it.
Not the highest-ranking hand, sure, but the odds of pulling a straight were less than 1%. That meant the odds of someone having something better were even lower.
“All in.”
He pushed his last chips into the center of the table.
The dealer signaled the final reveal.
“Show your cards.”
With a triumphant smile, the man turned over his hand.
No way I lose this time.
He reached to collect the chips he and Leticia had bet, already certain of victory—
But Leticia flipped her hand.
“…What?”
His eyes widened.
A back straight.
One tier above a regular straight.
“Oh my, I won again?”
“N-No way…”
The man watched, stunned, as Leticia swept the mountain of chips toward her.
Noticing his dazed gaze, Leticia offered him a sly smile.
“Thirsty? Since we’ve shared a table, and since I won, how about I buy you a drink?”
Echoing his earlier words exactly.
That smug smile made the man boil over.
He leapt to his feet.
“This is cheating! A scam!”
He lunged at the dealer, grabbing him by the collar.
“You! Fess up! You’re working with her, aren’t you?!”
“W-What? No way! I’ve never seen this lady before today!”
“Then how the hell do you explain her winning over and over again?! She’s a first-time visitor!”
The flustered dealer glanced around for a guard, but the casino was nearing closing time—no help was in sight.
Everyone else just watched in silence, unwilling to intervene.
That was when Leticia calmly spoke up.
“You’re exaggerating. It’s not like I always won. I folded last round, didn’t I?”
Her rebuttal caused the man to turn his fury fully onto her.
“Oh, right. Great point! Funny how you always bet big when you win, and fold like a ghost when you’re about to lose! If that’s not rigged, what is?!”
“So basically… when you win, it’s skill. When someone else wins, it’s cheating?”
“This whole situation doesn’t make sense!”
“So,” Leticia folded her arms, coldly eyeing the man, “Do you have any proof I cheated?”
He flinched.
He had watched her like a hawk during every round—but hadn’t seen anything suspicious.
“If it were me, I would’ve taken the hint and quit after a few losses.”
“…”
“Not knowing when to fold and clinging to the game like your life depends on it—that’s your lack of skill.”
Leticia took a step forward and delivered the final blow.
“So before you go around accusing innocent people, maybe take a long, hard look at your own abilities?”
Her mocking tone made the man flush with rage. His face turned red, then pale, then red again.
He lunged at her.
“You little—!”
Just as he tried to grab her by the collar—
Step.
A shadow loomed behind him.
And a deep, heavy voice rang out.
“Boss. Is there a problem?”
The man turned reflexively—
And found himself staring up at a giant of a man, a full head taller, with a scar slashing across his jaw.
Wigg stood there, looming like a mountain.
Boss…?
The man’s jaw dropped. A hiccup escaped his lips.
Hic!
Leticia, who had been quietly watching, spoke again.
“No, it was just a little misunderstanding. It’s all sorted now.”
She smiled at the frozen man, seeking confirmation.
“Right?”
He glanced at the bag of chips in her hand, then back at Wigg towering over him. But all he could do was hiccup again.
“Then let’s go, Wigg.”
Leticia handed him the chip bag and took the lead.
As the man, the dealer, and the rest of the casino watched in stunned silence…
Click. Clack.
Only the crisp sound of Leticia’s heels echoed confidently through the room.
Good boy wigg