The first thing Jeff sees turning to the speaker is her barely covered chest. As in two small triangles being held together by leather cords. If their purpose was to keep modesty, then they were barely succeeding. Next, he noticed the blue tattoo on her highly exposed skin. Being familiar with magic by now with his own abilities, he easily guessed this had something to do with her class. Then he saw her eyes and immediately frowned. Something told him that he would not get along with this woman.
“ I got my own plans right now. I am waiting to see how viable they are before looking for a group.”
Jeff then frowned even more before turning back to his cards.
“ And just for an FYI, summoners have a naturally higher charisma stat, so charm effects do not work as easily.”
He then leaned forward to move another card as the woman behind him growled angry at his statement. One of the resort guards overhearing his comment took out a stone and the entire room was bathed in a pink glow. Before anyone could do anything else another grabbed the woman and several others were subdued as well.
“ Just great, more paperwork. Going to have to get a contractor in here now and break a bunch of charmed-induced contracts.”
Jeff could tell that was said out loud enough to be heard by several others in the room without it being too obvious it was a warning. Jeff on the other hand continued to flip cards. A stray thought of wondering if there was some kind of gambler or cardshark class that could synergize with his cardmancer one.
|Exp awarded: 17
(17) level-1 individuals had been subdued due to your actions.
Bonus Exp awarded: 10
Expose a plot of charm and contract abuse by bluffing and intuition.|
Jeff read the message before dismissing it. Apparently lying about being charmed was not actually a lie. He looks at his cards and sighs as he starts flipping them over to all show their back before mixing them together. A skinny kid with acne and glasses walks over and sits down.
“ Hey deal a hand of five card stud. We can play as we talk.”
Jeff shrugs as someone else motions to a guard and sits down as well. A teenage girl dressed like she really did not care about appearances.
“ Deal me in as well. I asked the guard to bring in a bunch of copper coins so we could bet with them. We all owe a ton of gold so some pocket change will not matter.”
Jeff looks at the other teen and he shrugs his shoulders as well. As he was about to deal a fourth individual, a man in a full suit of armor sits down across from him. At least he thought it was a man till she spoke.
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“ Count me in as well. It seems only us four were unaffected, except the guards. But they did not notice.”
Jeff sighs and deals out the cards.
“ Since the money not hear yet. We doing a free round so we all know the same rules. The game is five card stud. We bet, toss and redraw, and bet again. Face cards low to high is Jack, Queen, King, Ace. Jokers are wild and considered high card. Any questions?”
They each shake their heads and take up their cards. Jeff’s is C7, S7, CK, H4, H10. The teen girl sat to his left and tossed two cards.
“ Names, Janice, I got a class related to communications and surveillance.”
She then blushed.
“ I use to... stream online.”
It takes Jeff a moment to realize what she meant and dealt her two new cards.
“ Amanda, buffer... shutin artstudent. My apartment building caught fire and...”
Jeff nods at this as he tosses her new cards.
“ I... some creep got my IPN and well.”
They each turn to the last member of the circle.
“ I was a pro civ sim player and streamer like Janice. Well, not like her... but you know... anyways, administrator. I was on a plane when terrorists hijacked it. Names Bobby by the way.”
Jeff pauses before dealing Bobby his new cards and taking three himself. He frowned at seeing he traded a K high card for a 9.
“ Jeff, I got isekaied by a space rock. I am a summoner.”
Bobby whistles at that.
“ Nice, monstergirls?”
Jeff shaked his head and raises his empty hand to create a rookie with training gear. Taking a moment to show the others, he then puts it into his card vault. Glad he was sitting down as his mana was near half again.
“ Mana constructs. You see the bones because they are not tainted by mana attributes. Do not know how that happened.”
Janice rubs her chin hearing that.
“ What would happen if you did introduce an attribute?”
Jeff just shrugs and shows his cards.
“ Pair of 7s. That is something I plan on testing later.”
Janice nods to this and shows her hand.
“ Three 3s.”
Amanda just tosses her cards in the middle and Bobby follows suit. After that the guard brought them a hundred coppers each.
“ Right, do you want to pass dealer or?”
Bobby shakes his head.
“ Naaa, we good. You keep dealing.”
Jeff nods and shuffles before gesturing for Janice to cut before dealing again, starting with Amanda.
“ So, you all got any plans? I definitely know I do not want to be some idiot underling. I mean who tries to charm people in the middle of this place to sign magical contracts that would be sketchy in any world.”
Amanda gave a sharp laugh that echoed in her armor.
“ You be surprised. Unfortunately, we are the auxiliaries. Sure we are important, but we are nothing but a red smear on the ground where it counts. Well except for you, Mr. I got minions.”
Jeff just shrugged as Amanda opened with a 2 coin bet. Bobby matching it a moment later.
“ Give me something to be the administer of and I could make a city run like clockwork. Could probably do a decent job at defense too.”
Jeff thinks on that as he raises the bet to four.
“ I will be something of a general, or rather a mercenary captain. Boots on the ground as it were. Janice, if you could communicate long distances, could you keep in contact with Bobby to help with logistics?”
She nods as she matches the bet, followed by Amanda putting in two more.
“ Normally, people think I will be best buffing the front line, but I would do better keeping the supplies moving. Get more goods to the front faster and all that. As well act as a force multiplier for any caravan I am with. In case they are attacked.”
Bobby then puts two coins in as well.
“ We need a map.”