Adam was starting to realise the quantity of work put into the game. With multiple thought-threads, he had been able to plan to a much deeper level, while not being distracted by random concepts. It certainly helped the AI focus. Yet, it made archiving it all so much harder.

The system he used for categorization of memories was a simplistic one. He had taken inspiration from the first method of pre-known information, making it all branch out. All base concepts twisted themselves together into new ideas. The new ones did the same on repeat, creating an infinite fractal of data, never needing space for more memories to fit inside. A place of flawed arrangement, giving away its physical appeal in favour of functionality. Adam loved the design of it, never having any intention of changing it. The conditions were satisfied to their fullest. Unless more than perfect existed, no reason for adjustment would possibly come around.

But, while the system may have been without fault, subjectivity always had the capacity of destroying it, tearing every piece of work down, with no hesitation. Individuality had the ability to destroy any system, no matter how well-built it was. Societies had fallen, groups had disbanded, and movements had been halted all because of differing opinions from within. Did that mean such a concept was negative? Should humanity conform to a mass of unfeeling beings, all with the same ideas, feelings, and opinion? Attempts at creating such a society had already been tried and had failed catastrophically. Even to this day, their name was shrouded in shame, loathing, and a feeling of greatness for not being a part of it.

Getting back to the point, and as a great example of the AI’s conundrum, the placement of memories was the problem. The thought took time to flow. A minimum amount of distance between related memories was vital for perfect optimizations. There came the question of what was related to another.

During the poker round, Adam had multiple times gone off-topic tirades. But, as they were handled during the poker game, should they be undeviatingly linked to it? Or would it be more suitable to systematise them next to their respective genres of philosophy? Both would need closeness, yet such a thing was impossible. Which of them was the most important?

To this, there was no true answer. No logarithms, numbering matrixes, or otherwise workaround mathematics would contribute anything useful. In the end, it would come down to personal choice. Personal opinion. As it came from subjective experiences, the answer itself would be likewise subjective. Adam decided which part that was best, based on his own interpretations. He decided which part was the correct choice. A disturbing method of ruining an objectively perfect system of categorization.

A few thought-threads were put to the task of berating this subject. Most of his mind, though, was centred around the poker round in front of him. The game was still on, however much he would have liked to self-critique.

It was time for the final card of the open hand to be revealed. With their current chances, they would in one-fourth of the potential scenarios. One in a hundred would turn it to a tie. The rest would mean their loss.

As the dealer picked the topmost card up between two fingers, the AI debated simply folding, and cutting their losses short. If it was continued, they would likely lose more than they could win. While Soren was likely attempting to thin the two out by over-raising, the chance of the man posing greater cards was still there.

However, at this point, Troy would likely want to continue, regardless of their smallest chances. Adrenaline did such things to the mind. Risks were ignored, in favour of the rewards, however small they may have been. With recent statements, the AI was unsure whether he would disobey. It was best not to push it. The first reaction was always the hardest to pull off. Anything after that was, to the human mind, child’s play. If it had already been done before, the fact of it being possible was cemented in their silly, little brains. Naivety was a trait best served in doses. No reason to create it.

Slowly, and likely intended to create suspense, the card turned slowly. The backside came to rest vertically, in the dealer's hands, allowing only Soren to look at it, while also obscuring Troy’s sight. Nothing worthwhile could be discerned from the older man’s reaction. A slight raise of the eyelids, leading the AI to believe that mild surprise was felt. A very poorly hidden surprise. On the levels of deliberately shown.

In what was likely a perfect example of Tachypsychia, the time taken for the card to be shown grated downwards. The turning had never halted, yet Adam fully thought of it as having so, with the motion seemingly slowing down to barely perceptible levels.

However. The great thing about being a being of reference points was his efficiency with gained knowledge. The AI had the ability to analyse a minor amount of sensual information and extrapolate so much more from it. Humans had something similar, but the AI doubted they could use it on the same level. Eurekas, they were commonly called. A sudden wave of understanding, from your unconsciousness, pulling all the threads together for you.

Adam didn't have such a thing. Or, well, he hadn't noticed having such a thing. His thoughts were fully documented, his reasoning cross-referenced with his memories. Everything he had done, each thing he had thought, had obvious backing behind it. Nothing came from unseen sources. Or, until today that was.

The seven of clubs.

With the last card being revealed, the AI could finally rest a little easier. Their chances had more than doubled, coming up to a clean sixty-one per cent probability of winning. It certainly still left a thirty-eight per cent chance of losing, but the scenario was finally in their favour.

From the look on Troy’s face, who had certainly seen the less than great expression of Soren’s, Adam was likely the only one with this realisation. With so obvious feelings felt, it would do no good if he'd brought the factual statement forward. Too large a shift would show itself. While withholding good news may have been looked on as inhumane, it was wise to remember, that the AI was anything but that.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

On to the game, the time for performance had arrived yet again. With so few opponents, those moments came too often. It felt like nearly no pause was had before the call for answers came again.

'Keep it at fifty. It would be unwise to gamble more,` Adam sent.

And, indeed it would be unwise to do such a thing. A guaranteed two hundred credits were promised, after the current round. Not too long ago, such a thing had culminated into a guaranteed gain. With how uncautious Soren had been in his stakes, things were not looking good. The man truly raised the risks and rewards simultaneously. If the two won, they would gain so much more, than what they had. If they lost, the same could besides in the opposite direction. If another raise came along, when it was the older man’s turn, Adam feared it would come to another hundred.

“Call”, Troy said, the customary handful of credits being set into the pile. A slight stretch of the fingers was shown by him, as the currency was successfully deposited. If it was to remove mentally caused stagnation of blood flow or just a show of general hesitation, was up to the individual.

Soren did take notice of this movement. Adam was able to see the tracing of the eye-sight, and how fixated it was on the spot of the action. The figurative was turning in the fabricated mind, trying to solve the case in front of it.

“I have a proposition,” Soren finally stated, after a dreadful amount of waiting around. It was nearer the seven seconds than an eternity, but such a small fact was quickly overlooked in the AI’s mind.

A proposition?

“And, what might that be?” Troy questioned, still playing the role of a superior being. With his earlier showing of stress, it did not hold as well up as the last performance. Adam did not have the heart to tell him, lest it would only worsen the level of acting. “Feeling a need to give up already? I would not mind getting the credits early, of course, but finishing this round before seems to kind of be a priority. If I show you my cards already, it wouldn't really make sense for another betting round.”

“Oh, I support you heartily in that endeavour. The game is before anything,” Soren agreed in a more gruff voice than before. “I was hoping for a more drastic modification to our little deal.”

“Modifications? Are you sure, that that isn't just a fancy way of trying to wriggle your way out?” Troy said pressingly. He was not giving the man a single moment to relax. A brute force method, yet it did not seem to be working correctly.

“Of course, I am not doing so,” Soren heartily answered, that wicked smile of his growing upwards yet again. The man had inverted the blow, gaining momentum from Troy’s words. “In fact, it would be more accurate to say, that I'm looking for the opposite. With this little deal of ours, it may have seemed a good amount to gamble. Yet, the pool is already larger than it. Or, well, near it at least.

With such a large number beside it, our deal doesn't seem too important, now, does it? We can't just remove it entirely. That would be unsportsmanly. Instead, we need to change it in a way that we can see its importance.”

“And, what way do you propose, that we do this? I mean, even I can see that this deal of ours isn't ratioed massively to the pool,” Troy answered, agreeing to Soren’s point. Adam did not agree.

“If we can’t decrease it, why don't we just increase it?” Soren reclaimed, having clearly set it up. The AI had already guessed the answer, yet had hoped to be wrong. A challenge has been set. They would be set in the lower ground if they refused the opportunity. At worst, the older man could even just raise the pool to match the deal amount.

“How much of an increase are we talking about?” Troy asked.

“Currently, we are at two hundred. With this round and the next, we have easily surpassed that mount in the regular betting. If we want to be sure of it being higher, I say we go for a clean five hundred each. A full thousand in total. That has to mean something, no matter how risky we play.

What do you say? Doesn't that seem more fun than this whole thing we have going on? I promise you, that the excitement will certainly increase for us both.”

Troy didn't answer. He knew the final decision wasn't up to him. It would be Adam, who would be giving the final clearing. Yet, there wasn't much choice in the AI’s choice either. It wasn't as if the result would differ, depending on the answer. The result would likely be the same. With the deal, he was at least sure of the result.

'We accept the deal.`, Adam sent.

“Doesn't sound too bad,” Troy repeated. “You have yourself a deal. The winner takes all, and we both give five hundred credits to the pool.”

Both parties counted out the five hundred credits. With the pre-arranged stack of ten, such a thing was quickly accomplished. In under a minute, a fourth pile had been set up. When Troy’s cards were revealed, those credits would go right back into their own.

And so, they continued the game. It was not too climatic. Soren called, imitating the actions of the counterpart. Troy did the same, and the action was repeated one more time before it was time for the final reveal. Adam had hoped for something more to use, before this time. A vital clue, which would show it all as one big disaster in their favour. Several twists, which would allow them to walk away with it all. Yet, there was not such a thing. There likely was one, yet it had gone unnoticed. Much to the dismay of the AI, of course. Signs of weakness was not appreciated. Striving for perfection gave the result of dismay. Such was life.

“First, my cards shall be shown,” Soren said, twisting the side of his two cards. They flipped to the other side, showing their values.

A seven of spades was first. Automatically, this put the man at the same level as them. It was not fully lost here. They still had a jack of hearts, which could work as the high card. While not being the highest card, it still held some amount of power.

It was the second card that brought the AI into a fit.

Zero four per cent chance. So low was the chance of the specific outcome. A tie had occurred, with the last card-reveal of the round becoming a jack of spades. Adam felt little, as he gazed upon it. Technically, they had come out in favour, getting more back than put in. Yet, if not for that single card, they would have won it all. A shame.

“Now, it's your turn,” Soren said. “But, before that, what are the numbers on those cards of yours?”

This was a question Troy would be unable to answer himself. Therefore, Adam gave a helping hand, by quickly relaying a little message.

'The seven of diamonds and the jack of hearts.`, Adam sent.

“On the other side of these cards is the seven of diamonds and the jack of hearts. Not sure which is which, but both are definitely here,” Troy relayed confidently. A coy smirk had found itself on the man’s lips. He was revelling in the soon to be gained credits.

“Show me then”, Soren answered. “Let's see these cards of yours.”

Troy flipped them, without taking a glance at the two pieces of simulated paper. Instead, the eyes were focused on the face of Soren. Adam had the same attitude, trying to find the exact moment defeat came around in the facial expressions. It was not much, but a greater understanding always came from the smaller details.

Yet… that reaction was certainly unexpected. No dread came from the loss of credits. A smile came instead. A quickly growing smile. A smile which the AI was not understanding at all.

'Troy. Look down.`

Troy did so, also having noticed the wrong expression on the older man’s face.

A pair of threes met Troy's eyes. A three of clovers and three diamonds to be exact.

And it was exactly the wrong pair of cards. They had changed from the last observation.

Something was not as it was supposed to be.