Warhammer: Hail to the Void Lords!.

Chapter 1055, page 9 of 1054: 'The Betting Game'

Horatio's gaze passed over the newly served glass of vodka burning with a blue flame and landed on an inconspicuous figure at the next table.

It was a Lightling, a short, wiry, rat-bearded demi-human known for its cunning and opportunism.

At that moment, he was looking back at Horatio with a pair of black bean-like eyes that gleamed with shrewdness, while toying with a peculiar silver coin in his hand.

The silver coin was engraved with a lifelike bird claw, exuding an ominous aura.

“Hey, big guy.” The Lightling noticed Horatio’s gaze, grinned, revealing a set of sharp, tobacco-stained teeth, and extended an invitation, “You’ve got a good drink. How about a game?”

Horatio's gaze locked onto the silver coin: "Where did you get this?"

"So, are you in or not?" The Leyterian deftly tossed the silver coin between his knuckles, keeping everyone in suspense. "Only if you win it from my hand will I tell you where it came from."

This demi-human had a huge, hooked nose that was extremely disproportionate to his short stature. Combined with his large feet and sneaky demeanor, he looked just like a goblin that had crawled out of a dark cave.

"Alright, how do we play?" Horatio's tone was calm, but his eyes sharpened.

“It’s very simple.” The Lightling expertly pulled a leather dice cup and six bone dice from his waist. “A single '1' is worth 100 points, and a single '5' is worth 50 points.”

Three identical points are counted as that number multiplied by 100. For example, three '4' points are 400 points.

However, three '1's are a special combination and are counted as 1000 points!

He paused, a glint of gambler's fervor flashing in his eyes: "Four or more identical points, double each time based on three!"
四个‘1’点是2000分，五个‘1’点是4000分，六个‘1’点就是8000分，王炸！

A straight, which is 1 to 6, is worth 1500 points.

Whoever accumulates 2000 points first wins the game.

In each round, you can pick out the scoring dice combinations you want to keep and set them aside, then re-shake the rest.

but……"

He abruptly changed the subject, revealing a sly smile, "If you keep gambling and the last roll of the dice doesn't produce any scoring combinations, then all your points for this round will be forfeited! In other words, you won't get a single point this round!"

"That sounds familiar. Tell me about the bet."

"If you win, you can take one thing from your opponent."

The Lightling said slowly, "But to have some fun, we'll play best two out of three. Only if you win the last round can you take the silver coin, how about it?"

"Bullshit!" Poniatovsky slammed his fist on the table, pointing at the opponent's unfair playing style and cursing, "You think you can trade all this junk you're wearing?! Can all of your clothes even buy him one piece of jewelry?! What good are you if he wins? What will he take first from you? Your stinky socks or your worn-out shoes?!"

"Huh?" The Lytarin spread his hands innocently. "It was just for fun. It's all about mutual consent at the gambling table. If you don't want to play, that's fine. Why are you getting angry? Really. If you don't want it, fine. There are plenty of people who want it. After all... it came from the Planetary Governor's Office, hmph."

"Sit down, buddy." Horatio pressed down on his friend, who was already burning with anger, signaling him to calm down.

Then, he cast a cold gaze at the Leyterian: "Do as you say."

The patrons at the next table immediately sensed something was going to happen and crowded around Horatio and Poniatowski's booth, making it completely enclosed.

The strong smell of sweat, burps, and cheap tobacco mixed together was particularly pungent.

Hey!
Blah blah blah!

The dice clattered and rattled violently inside the leather dice cup. It was Horatio's turn.

He slammed the dice cup down on the table.

"Three '1's." Horatio pulled out three dice from below, 1000 points.

"Wow, not bad luck, big guy," the other person praised casually. "How about it? Want to bet on those last three dice?"

Clatter. Clatter.

Without a word, Horatio covered the remaining dice with the dice cup and shook it again.

“一个‘1’（100分），两个‘5’（2*50分）。第一轮，我的得分是1200（1000+200）。”

"Wow, you're really lucky. You scored points on all the dice. Looks like you're having a lucky day."

"Just when things were really bad, maybe it's time for your luck to turn around. It's your turn."

Clatter. Clatter.

"Tsk, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, a straight (500)." The Lytrin rolled 500 points. He glanced at the last remaining die and chose to fold. "500 points. Next round, your turn."

Clatter. Clatter.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Horatio once again lifted the dice cup.

“Three '6's (6 x 100), 600 points.”

Clatter. Clatter.

“两个‘1’（2*100），一个‘3’（0）。200分。”霍雷肖靠在椅背上，平静地计算着，“1200加600，再加200，正好2000分。我赢了。”

A look of annoyance instantly appeared on the other person's face.

"Two rounds and a game is over? That's too fast, hahaha!" Poniatowski mocked loudly without any mercy. "How about that, little dwarf? You really made a fool of yourself!"

“That was just a warm-up.” The goblin flicked his wrist, untied a heavy money pouch from his belt, and tossed it onto the table. “This is the most valuable thing I have on me, you have nothing to say now, right? I’ll go first in the next round,” he said.

Clatter. Clatter.

“1、2、3、4、5、6！啊哈，完美的大顺子，1500分！到你了。”

Crackle, clackle, clackle.

“Five '2's (2*100*2*2), you’re pretty lucky.” The goblin laughed, but a hint of contempt flashed in his eyes. “However, you only get 800 points.” He picked up the last die, shook it rapidly in his hand, and then slammed it down.

“Three '5's (5*100), 500 points. Game over, second round, I won.” He raised his head, his gaze sharp as a dagger, fixed on the Void Obsidian brooch on Horatio’s lapel. “I want your brooch.”

"Hey! Wait a minute! He didn't specify what he wanted from you in the first round! And you still dare to..."

Click.

Horatio didn't speak, but instead reached out and took the Void Obsidian brooch from his collar. It was now wildly sought after by the upper class in Sintira and was extremely valuable.

He casually placed it on the table and slid it toward the other person, without a trace of heartache on his face.

It was as if he had pushed over an ordinary black stone, rather than a priceless jewel.

"Ah...that feels great!" The goblin and his companions greedily crowded around, some even sticking out their tongues to lick it and biting it with their teeth to test the hardness of the gem.

"Show some respect! The next round is still undecided! That thing doesn't belong to you yet!" Poniatowski snatched the brooch and slammed it heavily on the table next to him.

"The third round, let's begin." Horatio's voice was calm and steady, his emotions and rational judgment unaffected by temporary gains or losses.

Clatter. Clatter.

他先手，骰盅揭开，六个‘2’（2*100*2*2*2）！1600分！一个极好的开局。

Clatter. Clatter.

His opponent's turn. The dice cup was opened, revealing three '3's, a paltry 300 points.

He chose to continue shaking the remaining three.

In the second round, he got one '1' (100) and two '3's (0), for a total of 100 points. In this round, he only got a total of 400 points.

"Hmph, this guy's doomed," Poniatowski scoffed. "Does he really think we're drunk and can't count? Haha."

Clatter. Clatter.

When it was Horatio's turn, he only needed 400 points to finish this round.

He lifted the dice cup.

1、2、4、5、6、6。

A near-perfect grand slam straight, but missing a '3'. It was as if his '3' had been stolen by the goblin in the previous round of dice rolls.

“Ah! What a pity!” Poniatowski slapped his thigh in regret. “In that case, we only have '1' (100) and '5' (50) points in this round, for a total of... only 150 points.”

Horatio had no choice but to pick out '1' and '5' and shake the remaining four dice again.

The dice cup is lifted.

3, 3, 3, 3...

The '3' that was missing in the last round has appeared in large numbers in this round.

"Not a single point!" his opponent cheered excitedly, his voice shrill and piercing. "According to the rules, all your points for this round are null and void! You don't even have those 150 points!"

He triumphantly grabbed the dice cup and began shaking it wildly.

"Hmm, three '1's! 1000 points, not bad!"

He shook the remaining three dice again.

“一个‘1’（100），两个‘5’（50*2）！又是200分！”这一轮，这个男人总共得到了1200分。加上之前的400分，总分1600分，与霍雷肖持平！

The moment of truth has arrived.

In the third round, Horatio's luck turned extremely bad, and he only managed to score a mere 200 points.

When it was "Goblin's" turn, he shook the dice cup again, a sly grin on his face.

Five '2's! 800 points!
With 2400 points, the Leytelins won.

“I want the ring on your left middle finger.” The Leyterian’s eyes gleamed with greed as he licked his thick lips with his long tongue, speaking slowly and deliberately.

"..."

Horatio remained silent, but his face instantly turned ashen.

Because what this Lightling ratman wanted was his engagement ring with Falida.

(End of this chapter)