JOKER

Back in the "Plague Base," Rein and Metternich made a bet.

They won and received a divination saying that "misfortune turns to good fortune."

Although I don't know the meaning of that kind of divination, it seems like it doesn't matter if I lose.

Whether one encounters misfortune or good fortune, it seems that whether or not one consults a divination makes no difference.

Now Metternich is going to take another gamble.

Anyway, there's no consequence to losing, so Rein will just consider it as accompanying this guy to indulge his gambling addiction before he dies.

He asked, "Shall we draw cards and see who goes first? Should you draw first, or should I?"

A barely perceptible glint flashed in Metternich's eyes as he spread the fifty-four playing cards on the table and said calmly, "Mr. Rein, please."

Rein felt that his tone was a little too polite.

This guy doesn't even respect the emperor and empress, so he doesn't seem like the type to be polite just because he's a city lord.

Anyway, the rules are very simple, it's just a matter of comparing the size, and there's no skill involved, so there's no need to waste time choosing cards.

Without thinking much, he reached out and casually pulled out a playing card, just like last time.

But at that moment, for some reason, Rein suddenly remembered something that squinty-eyed man had said before, and a thought popped into his mind, "Is the probability of me drawing a certain card really one in fifty-four?"

Statistically speaking, that is indeed the case.

But he always felt that what the squinty-eyed man said seemed to make sense.

However, with the influence of "luck," "probability" should indeed not be fixed.

Just like in a gambling game, theoretically everyone has an equal probability of getting good or bad cards. But lucky people always seem to get good cards, while unlucky people get bad cards all night long.

But this very act of drawing cards caused a problem.

Ymir was standing nearby, seemed to have noticed something. Her expression changed drastically, and she whispered, "Rein, be careful!"

Rein assumed this was just like the gamble he'd played at the "Plague Base" before, so he drew his cards and wanted to see what they were.

But at that moment, he noticed that the magic patterns on the back of the card he had drawn were lighting up.

Clearly, this activated some kind of special restriction.

But what's even stranger is right before our eyes.

At this moment, although Metternich had a relaxed smile on his lips, two phantom figures suddenly appeared beside him, holding scythes, with cloaks covering their heads and their bodies shrouded in black mist.

The shape of this phantom is exactly the same as that of some legendary "Grim Reaper" in this world!

Two "black shadows" held scythes to Metternich's neck. The scene resembled a condemned prisoner on Guillotine Choke, awaiting execution.

Once the results are in, the execution must be carried out immediately.

As soon as the dark figure appeared, a thick aura of death enveloped the entire room.

"Holy crap. What's going on?"

Rein's eyelid twitched, and he mentally muttered a complaint.

As soon as the phantom appeared, he immediately felt a chilling sensation that sent shivers down his spine. He knew very well that it wasn't a change in the room's temperature, but rather a tremor that originated from his very soul.

That kind of "existence" that transcends existing knowledge.

Could this "Chain Blade Shadow" really be the Grim Reaper?

Seeing Ymir and Andrew looking on high alert, Metternich waved his hand and explained, "Don't be nervous, this magic rune is only aimed at me and won't hurt Mr. Rein."

Metternich seemed to know very well who the two phantoms beside him were, and he showed no fear on his face, maintaining his previous calm and indifferent demeanor as if he didn't care about anything.

At that moment, Rein looked at the playing cards he was holding, which hadn't been turned over yet, and immediately understood what was going on.

He asked, "Is this your 'Fate Card'?"

"Yes."

Metternich readily admitted it, shrugging his shoulders to express his apology. "I'm sorry, Mr. Rein. To ease your mind, I asked you to do me this favor without informing me first."

He paused, a slight smile playing on his lips, and continued, "Because I thought you would definitely win, but you didn't want to draw, so I had to resort to this tactic."

The tone of his words seemed to convey a sense of certainty.

As Rein listened, his face twitched, and he muttered to himself: I don't even think I'll win, so how do you think I will?

He hadn't wanted to get involved in this mess, but feeling helpless, he muttered to himself, "Didn't we agree to just gamble casually?"

"This is the bet on that game."

Metternich smiled, then suddenly his expression turned serious, and he said solemnly, "However, I'm betting that you'll win!"

"."

Rein was a little confused. You bet I'll win?

What good would it do you if I won?

However, he immediately realized that there was only one card that could guarantee a win.

His expression turned strange, and he blurted out, "You're betting I can get the ' JOKER Card?"

"Yes."

Metternich nodded, a cold glint flashing in his narrowed eyes, and said in a low voice, "Because only if you take that card can you beat me!"

At this moment, he didn't give anyone time to react. Without any selection, he directly drew a card from the deck and turned it over to look at it.

It was a black and white "JOKER Card!

"."

As Rein watched this guy draw cards with such domineering confidence, as if he were possessed by a "God of Gamblers," his face twitched violently.

Alright, now there's only one card that can win, and that's the "Colored JOKER".

If Metternich wins this bet, he will die.

He might survive if he loses.

That's why he bet on Rein to win.

Rein simply couldn't understand the gambler's mentality.

Brother, you're gambling with your own life! Are you just going to let someone else take your life like that?

Furthermore, you, a "professional gambler," lack confidence in yourself, yet you believe I will definitely draw that card?

Metternich, however, seemed completely unaware that his fate was in someone else's hands, and his face remained calm.

At this moment, he added with a smile, "Mr. Rein, turn the card over. Let's see if I guessed right."

"."

Rein's brow twitched involuntarily.

That's when I understood why, before the bet, this guy only said "what if I win?" and not "what if I lose?"

Metternich was playing big; he was actually betting on two games at the same time.

Bet against fate, bet on yourself to win.

He bet with Rein that he would lose.

They're all gambling with their lives.

Rein suddenly felt the cards in his hand were a bit heavy.

As soon as you flip to a page that isn't one-fifty-fourth of a "colorful JOKER," this smiling, squinty-eyed guy in front of you will immediately kick the bucket.

Although he didn't kill him, his death was related to himself.

This feeling isn't good.

Metternich seemed to see through the difficulty on Rein's face and said, "Mr. Rein, you may think that what I'm doing is a bit crazy. On the contrary, I've never been as clear-headed as I am right now. So, you don't need to feel too much pressure."

Rein frowned but didn't say anything.

And then Metternich said, "Mr. Rein, do you know what I meant when I said 'I understand'?"

"Oh?"

Rein listened attentively.

Metternich's expression suddenly turned serious. He said, "Theoretically speaking, my deductions should never have such a catastrophic flaw—wrong from beginning to end. Because I'm also certain that there are no absolutely random events in the world. Everything can be traced back to its source, and a causal relationship can be found. Even seemingly chaotic, probability-based gambling is actually influenced by luck."

He continued, "But we also have a saying in our 'Gambler Sequence': 99.9999% of things in the world have a cause and effect, but there is also a line that is truly random and unpredictable. Just like the 'JOKER Card' in poker, it is that 'randomness' outside the rules!"

"I didn't understand this before. But after seeing Mr. Rein's appearance and the sudden emergence of your 'Black Dragon City,' I finally understood the true meaning of 'Gambler Sequence'!"

"You are the real 'JOKER Card' of this era!"

"."

Metternich spoke with great passion, but Rein was completely bewildered.

When in doubt, consult quantum mechanics.

He felt that if Metternich lived in his world, he would probably be a very good physicist.

Upon hearing these words again, Ymir and Andrew, who were not far away, both changed their expressions.

From their perspective, they understood something.

More importantly, they saw that Metternich's demeanor had suddenly changed!

Ymir's expression was very complicated. He muttered something as if explaining something to Rein: "His realm has broken through."

"."

A breakthrough?

Upon hearing this, Rein was at a loss for words.

Are all "Gambler Sequence" this overpowered?

Did you break through in just one game of cards?

He suddenly thought of himself.

He grasped the "intent of fist" and advanced to a Transcendent world, which nearly killed him.

That's great. Other Transcendent have to go through trials and tribulations to achieve such profound insights between life and death, and even then, they might not succeed.

They gamblers just played a high-stakes poker game and they broke through?

However, it's just a little bittersweet.

If Rein were given the choice to advance to the "Gambler Sequence," he certainly wouldn't choose this route.

Or rather, anyone with a normal brain is not suited for this Extraordinary Sequence.

But then again, isn't this guy already one of the "Ten Great Legends"?

After he breaks through, what realm will he reach?

Metternich seemed to see through Rein's doubts at a glance, and without asking any questions, he explained, "I have broken through to the legendary level. I have seen a new realm."

His tone suddenly became incredibly bold, and he said in a deep voice, "A realm that is legendary in our 'Gambler's Lineage'— the New Card Order!"

Rein didn't ask what that realm was.

I asked him, but even if he knew, he wouldn't understand.

But he knew that he still had a card in his hand.

He asked, "Mr. Metternich, what about this card?"

To flip or not to flip?

"Of course, we'll open it."

Metternich smiled confidently and said, "I think I made the right bet. So, the moment you drew your card, I knew I had both won and lost."

Rein didn't waste any more words. He was "brainwashed" by the guy's confident tone and began to believe that he must have a "colorful JOKER" in his hand.

When he flipped it over, a colored "J" was revealed, and then he knew what the card was.

It really was a "Joker Card.

The comical Red Nose clown on the playing cards seemed so unfathomable at this moment.

This result seems incredible, yet it was entirely expected.

"I knew it was this one, didn't I?"

Metternich smiled faintly.

He gambled his life with the calmest mindset.

He won.

Neither sad nor happy, as if everything was under control.

The moment the playing cards were flipped over, the two black phantoms holding scythes to his neck suddenly disappeared.

The chilling feeling that had permeated the room suddenly vanished into nothingness.

"I used to think that being legendary was the Transcendent achievement, and that choosing one out of fifty-four was the 'ultimate card sequence'."

He looked at Rein and continued, "Now that I've heard you talk about Black Dragon City and about a whole new world Beyond the Mist, I realize that my abilities were previously limited by my 'limited cognition.' But now that I've broken through my cognition, I've naturally broken through."

Rein had no idea what new Transcendent realm this guy had comprehended, and was completely confused.

Metternich didn't say much, but looked at Rein and said solemnly, "Mr. Rein, I owe you my life for surviving this time.

"."

Rein remained noncommittal, but then he realized that he hadn't really helped much.

They flipped over the cards.

He said, "So, are you going to leave now?"

Now that they don't have to die, they naturally have to consider the previous question again: whether or not to leave the Oma Imperial Capital.

"Certainly."

Metternich readily agreed, laughing, "To witness the collapse of Omar, to see that old man and that queen die before my eyes, seems quite nice. Besides, if Mr. Rein welcomes me, I would also like to see that miraculous 'Black Dragon City'."

Metternich kept mentioning "Omar's collapse," which irritated Andrew was standing nearby.

"Hey kid."

He coldly warned, "Dopler is soft-hearted and is giving you a chance to live. If you don't know what's good for you and continue to do evil after you get out, I will definitely kill you!"

"Old man, you may be very powerful, but if I want to leave, you can't stop me."

Metternich seemed completely unconcerned by the threat from the Grandmaster of qigong, and coldly said, "Besides, as I said before, my life has never been given to me by anyone. If I really have to thank someone, it's not that old man, but Mr. Rein."

Andrew's white eyebrows twitched. "You..."

The atmosphere suddenly became tense.

Rein, standing to the side, was afraid that the two would start fighting.

Before he could even make a move, Metternich laughed and said, "Don't worry, Omar's current situation is already set in stone. It won't change whether I do anything or not."

He said this more like he was speaking to Rein.

Rein didn't care; he and Ymir were only responsible for getting people out of the capital.

Such a living, breathing person, and a legendary Transcendent with unpredictable and mysterious abilities, they simply don't have the power to restrict his freedom.

Metternich didn't seem inclined to dwell on the matter any longer, and instead brought it up again. "By the way, Mr. Rein. Didn't I say I'd give you a fortune reading if I lost?"

Rein didn't mind and casually agreed, "Okay."

He thought that, like last time, Metternich would casually utter a seemingly mystical divination result.

Unexpectedly, this guy pulled out a deck of cards and asked with feigned curiosity, "I'm also curious how many years of my lifespan Mr. Rein's incredibly lucky 'JOKER' will take away from me."

Rein: "Will this divination cost me my lifespan?"

Metternich raised an eyebrow. "Normally not. But certain divinations will."

Rein: "Last time too?"

"Last time?"

Metternich countered with a question, seemingly recalling for a moment before squinting and saying, "When we last met, Mr. Rein's fortunes were far worse than they are now."

The familiar feeling has returned.

When engaging in such Mystic System and Transcendent conversations, just mutter and cryptic remarks.

Rein didn't ask any further questions and said, "If it's going to cost you your lifespan, then forget it."

He felt that if he got the same divination result as last time, it didn't matter whether he listened or not.

Even if there's no "fierce" element, he'll still be careful at all times.

"No. Since we've lost, we should admit defeat."

Metternich smiled and shook his head, insisting on turning over the first divination card.