182. Shop Around

"You're not such a simple character, are you? Looks like I misjudged you."

Sometimes winning money was far more troublesome than losing it. Carl was experiencing that feeling now.

He listened to Aymeric's displeased words from across the table, then to the gamblers beside him cheering and celebrating for him, and understood what they meant.

They wanted him to place another bet, to bring them another surprise or another showdown.

Looking at the red-haired man across from him, Carl was certain that if he showed even the slightest hint of provocation, the other man would immediately go exchange more chips and come back to play him, continuing until one of them was utterly cleaned out, either "winning back his pride" or "losing everything."

But if they kept playing like this, Carl had a feeling that eventually they would both land on the green 0 or 00 and lose every last chip together, so...

So Carl, who had already won enough money to reward his subordinates and helpers, was done playing.

There was nothing wrong with leaving after winning.

Never gambling again.

If a gambler said those words, no one would believe them. One day, they might grow dissatisfied with how slowly money came in, remember the thrill of winning, and step back into the game. They would keep going until they lost everything they had ever won and still refuse to wake up, convinced they could turn things around even after they had lost it all.

Carl ignored everyone. Amid the jeers and cheers, he silently picked up the device holding his chips and left without saying a word, calm as ever.

His reaction made Aymeric glare at him.

"Lafaard! Coward!"

"Idiot."

Carl answered Aymeric's Dutch insult in flawless Chinese.

He had considered whether, for the sake of his identity,