{ Alright, we've heard the speeches from the 3 Rulers! Next up, bets!! }
As soon as the MC said that, the Usapong stood up to each side of the table.
"Hmm... I'll go first, huh~"
Madam Lin placed a chest containing a large yellow Nova crystal stone on the table. The audience was instantly shocked.
The MC couldn't help but smile.
{ Haha... Ha... The starting bet is already this big... It's a far cry from previous years... }
Nova crystal stones are stones that contain Nova inside. The tiers are the same as regular Nova tiers. Ranging from red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, gold, platinum. This stone can be used to make weapons or absorbed by the Conqueror to increase their Nova. Of course, the higher the level of the stone, the more Nova will increase.
But because the stone could actually increase one's Nova level instantly, even the lowest level stone, red, had a price that was too fantastic. On the downside, so far Nova crystal stones were only found up to a yellowish green color. Since the higher a person's Nova is, the more exp is needed to increase it, Nova crystal stones are not effectively used by Blue rankers and above.
Lord Durren whistled, "Heh. You bet Nova crystals?"
"Especially the yellow color. It should be around... 3? Or 4?"
Madam Lin held up three fingers.
"It's only three."
"Well, it's a good thing you can get yellow crystals just from three," Lord Durren chuckled.
"This is the importance of having connections with good merchants," smiled Madam Lin.
The MC couldn't take it anymore.
{ Anu... Those two rulers over there... Can you not say Carmela's Trillions with "only"}
{ My poor soul is quivering, you know!} annoyed the MC as the audience agreed.
Madam Lin chuckled.
"Ara? I'm sorry... But since Envy-sama is here, I have to prepare a good bet, right?"
Lord Durren snorted.
"That's bad... I thought I had brought the biggest bet here."
"What did you prepare?" asked Madam Lin curiously.
Lord Durren grinned, he clapped his hands. After that, one of his servants, a brown-skinned youth took a few steps forward and placed a red pillow with an Aquamarine pendant on it.
"This is an Epic level Item. It contains Counter Magic, Protection Magic, Healing Magic and Adaptation Magic inside," explained Lord Durren.
"I got it from the Ranker who lost the gamble against me. It's not lacking, is it?"
{ It can't be less, Lord Durren!!! } cried the MC, lamenting his poor wallet.
{ One side bet a Nova Crystals. The other side an Epic Item. What the hell is gambling this year!? Why is the bet up to Trillions!!!}
{ Don't you love the money? }
"Class, shut up. You're not the one gambling anyway," said Madam Lin.
{ Aaaaaaaaa... It's not me! But I'm so excited when it comes to money!!! }
The MC was pacing back and forth, acting like someone who had been cheated on.
{ Why... Why are people so rich? Huhuhu... Even though the previous M3R was only a few billion... Why did it go up this much... }
The audience laughed. To be honest, they were also shocked by the size of the bet. But since it had nothing directly to do with them, they chose not to care too much about it. Although it was annoying to see someone bet Carmela the equivalent of a 3rd floor exit ticket for 2000-3000 people so easily.
After seeing Madam Lin and Lord Durren's bet. People were curious about the thing that Envy would bring out.
Surprisingly, neither Envy nor his secretary were seen carrying anything.
{ Envy-sama... Are you also bringing out an equally expensive item?? Or is it even an expensive rare weapon? Or an elixir? Or-- }
"I came on a whim. So I didn't prepare anything."
Before the MC could finish his sentence, Envy cut him off.
{ Heh??? }
Envy let out a small sigh, she took out a paper from her pocket and wrote a few things on it then placed it on the table, near Madam Lin's Nova Crystal and Lord Durren's Epic Item.
Everyone, "?"
The MC carefully picked up the paper. And how surprised he was when he saw the paper more clearly.
{ Te-- }
"Te?" people were confused.
{ TEN TRILLION CARMELA!!!???? } screamed the MC in shock at the check with 10 Trillion Carmela on it.
"!!!"
Not just him, the audience, the other ruler and their servants were just as shocked.
Lord Durren even asked for the paper from the MC to see for himself.
"I-It's really 10 Trillion Carmela..."
Madam Lin smiled wryly.
"Envy, you... Seriously want to spend that much?"
The audience was speechless. They all knew that Ranker was rich, let alone Top Ranker. They had also often met rich people on the 3rd Floor. Because money was nothing on the 3rd Floor which was a gambling floor. But... Still, how can anyone spend 10 Trillion Carmela like it's nothing!?
"C-Crazy Rich Aunty!!!" the audience thought.
Unlike everyone in the stadium, Envy herself didn't seem to care much.
"Why? The money will come back to me if I win. No problem."
{ Bu-But Envy-sama... That's if you win! }
Envy glanced at the MC who was staggering in front of that much money.
"I'll definitely win."
{ But that 10 Trillion... }
"Definitely win."
{ Uhh....... Well, if you're that sure... }
The MC gave up.
Since the three things at stake were already on the table, Usapong checked all of them by means of a light scan to see their authenticity. Once it was confirmed that all the objects were genuine, Usapong made them disappear somewhere.
{ What about the betting system? } asked the MC trying to forget the size of the bet.
The three rulers were silent. As if they were waiting for each other to speak. Finally it was Madam Lin who proposed.
"How about... We bet everything on the table?"
"The winner will get ownership of everything on the table and the loser will lose everything."
Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
Lord Durren nodded, he was fine with it.
"Just do that, I'll take it all home."
"Ara? How confident, I'm the one who's going to take all this home," Madam Lin smiled.
{ ....... }
The MC could see the lightning flash between them.
{ W-what do you think, Envy-sama? Do you agree? } asked the MC turning his gaze to Envy.
Envy nodded.
"Yes."
Usapong confirmed. It listed what was at stake, what kind of gambling would be done and what rules were involved. Usapong also scanned Envy, Ophelia and Delta who were going to the Decision Labyrinth. After the data from Usapong was completed, the notification of involvement in gambling came to the rulers.
Usapong gestured (👌) with it finger towards the MC. As a sign that gambling can begin.
{ Alright, with the approval of the 3 Rulers and witnessed by Usapong! This year's gambling stakes have been confirmed! }
The MC jumped back into his flying saucer and flew to the center of the audience area.
{ I hereby declare, this year's Gambling Meeting of the 3 Rulers... Begins!!! }
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****OOO****
Character Information
Name: Madam LinNova: III OrangeRace: OniAge: UnknownStatus: Eastern Ruler of the 3rd FloorAffiliation: 3rd Floor Eastern Region [https://img.wattpad.com/f143c53854c1c181e6942107130bbf256cf3cfd1/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f4d6d595356616a745f71673771513d3d2d313334343336373630392e313739326462393739363634633539363730343435343035333531302e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Name: Madam Lin
Nova: III Orange
Race: Oni
Age: Unknown
Status: Eastern Ruler of the 3rd Floor
Affiliation: 3rd Floor Eastern Region
-------------------------------------------------
Name: DurrenNova: UnknownRace: UnknownAge: UnknownStatus: Western Ruler of the 3rd FloorAffiliation: 3rd Floor Western Region [https://img.wattpad.com/6ad52ba7601dfab50081b505bd5a11faac4f3dbf/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f30445a4b733954486663744652413d3d2d313334343336373630392e313739326462393339373433373934303839323335373330373231302e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Name: Durren
Nova: Unknown
Race: Unknown
Age: Unknown
Status: Western Ruler of the 3rd Floor
Affiliation: 3rd Floor Western Region
-------------------------------------------------
Name: UnknownNova: UnknownRace: UnknownAge: UnknownStatus: EnvyNorthern Ruler of the 3rd FloorAffiliation: 3rd Floor Northern RegionNemesis Guild [https://img.wattpad.com/a8b4fc3fe74529608769f27a601351185d5b5ab4/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f766169495633444a5f53355f2d413d3d2d313334343336373630392e313736303431633937316330373031663531393635323636313531332e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Name: Unknown
Nova: Unknown
Race: Unknown
Age: Unknown
Status: Envy
Northern Ruler of the 3rd Floor
Affiliation: 3rd Floor Northern Region
Nemesis Guild
****OOO****
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Meanwhile, in the Stadium's VVIP Room
"What the..."
A girl couldn't seem to wrap her head around what she was seeing right now.
She wasn't in shock or overly surprised. Just confused. Completely confused by this situation.
Even though she had absolutely no intention of doing anything troublesome. She only came to watch the gambling show, which was the biggest event on the 3rd floor, at the coercion of her friend. But she actually discovered something by accident.
The girl rubbed her eyes several times, making sure she didn't see anything wrong.
"........"
And she really didn't see it wrong.
"Why... are those kids there?" puzzled the girl, Naeva Winter, seeing her teammates on the main stage of the show.
are those kids there?" puzzled the girl, Naeva Winter, seeing her teammates on the main stage of the show [https://img.wattpad.com/fd9e35e4d44f331b15d68040761fec1c1e1fa121/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f547a594b7056644c4e6c4c6f57413d3d2d313334343336373630392e313739326462383939386136643263313639363634333339323438352e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Those kids? It wasn't just Ophelia?
Yes, it was. Naeva was not mistaken. She was referring to more than one person.
The others might be fooled, but how could such a little trick fool her who recognized others from their Nova.
There were Bere and Ruka there too. Right behind Lord Durren. Somehow, both of them were there as Lord Durren's servants. Naeva couldn't guess why.
"It's only been three weeks since we were scattered. How are they already involved with something troublesome like that?" Naeva's mind wondered.
The girl tried to think of possibilities. But she lacked the information to reach the right result. Naeva gave up. She drew one conclusion that she thought was certain.
"I guess, if this world is a story, Ophelia or Bere must be the main character. How come trouble always comes no matter where they are."
[ Eva-sama, what did you see to this extent? ] asked Scorpio who was sitting next to her.
If asked why Naeva was in the VVIP Room right now, Scorpio was the answer. While at the Zodiacks' home in their dimension, something caught the attention of several Zodiacks from the screen displaying footage of Naeva's puppet. The screen captured the excitement of 3rd Floor which would be hosting the Meeting of the 3 Rulers in a few days.
It was impossible for a gambling maniac like Scorpio to miss such an event. As soon as possible, Scorpio went to the Stadium to buy a 14-person ticket (12 Zodiacks + Naeva, where Gemini was a twin, so her human form counted as 2 people). Of course, Scorpio bought them with Naeva's permission. Since it was not only Scorpio who wanted to watch, Naeva had no choice but to agree.
Finally Scorpio bought the ticket. But what Naeva didn't expect was that instead of buying an ordinary ticket that cost 100,000-1,000,000 Carmela, Scorpio bought a VVIP membership so that they could sit in the VVIP room that only contained them in that room. Where the membership price for one person is 1 billion Carmela.
Naeva couldn't get angry because what Scorpio did had its benefits too. She was sure that all the Zodiacks gathered together would be very noisy. So maybe it was good that they could watch in a private room.
[ Those on stage... some are Eva-sama's colleagues, right? ] asked Virgo on the other side.
Naeva nodded.
"Yes. I wonder why they were there."
The raspy, wet voice of a man sitting with his feet propped up interrupted the conversation.
[ If I'm not mistaken, earlier people called the girl with her eyes closed a slave, right? Eva-sama, now you're friends with a slave too? ] the man giggled.
[ Taurus, what did you just say? ] got angry from another man standing near them.
[ Hahahahaha!!! I'm just kidding, Libra. So stiff ] laughed the man.
[ Your jokes aren't funny! Watch what you say to Eva-sama! ] lectured the other man standing nearby.
[ Iye, iye... ] He replied with no intention and became even angrier.
Before the argument got noisier, Naeva stopped it.
"You didn't see her Nova?"
[ Ah? Her nova? You mean Calliope's bluish-black nova? So what? ] the man asked.
Naeva looked back at the stage.
"Calliope is my brightest student. I don't know what happened. But there's no way she's there for no reason."
[ Hohoho... So in your opinion, that lady over there is planning something or other by being directly involved with the Meeting of the Three Rulers, Eva-sama? ] asked the cool grandpa dressed as a waiter while pouring a cup of hot tea for Naeva.
Naeva accepted the tea naturally.
"Yeah. This is Calliope after all."
[ Eh~? What if she wasn't there by design? Like... Careless maybe? ]
The girl sitting behind Naeva thrust her head forward.
The flat girl who sat next to the girl and instead of focusing on the stage, focused on her game sniggered.
[ Baka da, hontou ni baka da ]
[ W-Wait, it could be because of being tricked or something! ] denied the girl.
The flat girl turned off the game console.
[ Probability <10% ]
[ Huh!? What does that mean!? ] confused + annoyed the girl.
Virgo broke up the two.
[ Maa, maa... Calm down you two. Aqua, maybe Pisces meant it... the possibility of Eva-sama's Student's descendant being deceived that easily is very small ]
[ Really? ]asked the girl answered by the nod of the flat girl next to her.
[ Iihh... You must speak clearly, Pisces! ]
[ No Comment ]
Naeva was honestly thinking the same thing. It was unlikely for a Calliope to be tricked. Apart from the fact that the Calliopes were a highly intelligent family, they also had an extraordinary memory, how many even remembered everything since they were babies. In addition, adult Calliope will awaken another skill of their eyes, which is a lie detector. So it's hard to imagine that a Calliope could be deceived.
If anything, Naeva was more worried (not really) about Bere and Hamer who would probably be in deep debt when they met again.
Rather than her colleagues who were inexplicably there and had no idea what they were up to. Naeva's attention was currently focused on someone else.
The 3rd Floor Northern Ruler, Envy.
"That kid... She's the kid Zeta hit that time, right?" thought Naeva.
Naeva felt that Envy's Nova and the Nova of the girl Zeta hit that time were exactly the same. They were definitely the same person. Even if she wore the mask of the 7 Deadly Sins, there was no way she could trick Naeva's eyes.
"My previous guess was right, she's a fake Envy."