Gambler's Philosophy

Minsk made his move again, and this time he did not even blink.

After standing casually by the roulette table for three minutes, he won back all the clothes and gold Xia Lin had lost. The entire process was as smooth as flowing water, as though he had merely gone to a bar to order a glass of plain water.

"Take it." He tossed a bag of chips and the clothes to Xia Lin. "You should have learned your lesson this time, right?"

Xia Lin silently took them, got dressed, and followed Minsk to the bar area on the second floor of the casino.

At the bar on the second floor of Fate's Fountain Casino, things were relatively quiet. Soft magical lighting spilled across the dark wooden counter, while the scent of aged rum drifted through the air.

Xia Lin sat at the bar, gloomily downing liquor strong enough to make even a Dwarf frown. To his left, Minsk pulled a brand-new deck of cards from inside his trench coat and spread them casually across the counter. As he shuffled absentmindedly, he said, "Did you know? There are two kinds of gamblers." Minsk did not look at Xia Lin. His gaze remained fixed on the cards dancing between his fingers.

Xia Lin took a drink. The liquor burned a line of fire down his throat, and he frowned. "What two kinds?"

"The first kind." Minsk lightly tapped the deck, and the cards rippled like waves. "They are people who simply enjoy gambling. They enjoy the uncertainty, the thrill Fate gives them. Winning and losing are merely part of the process. What truly excites them is that moment when their hearts begin to race."

His movements suddenly stopped. With perfect precision, he drew a Joker from the deck. The eerie smile