I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 12

You have to pay what you owe and leave.

There are generally two types of people who get caught cheating.

Either they fall flat on their face and beg for forgiveness.

“M-Me? Cheating? W-What are you talking about?”

Or they don’t come to their senses and try to deny it until the end.

It just shows how desperate they are, but once you’re caught cheating, you can’t get away with just denying it.

“You don’t know what I’m talking about? With all these cards stacked at the bottom, you’re telling me you don’t know? How am I supposed to understand that?”

“W-Well, that’s, um…”

“Looking at it like this, I can see exactly how you were trying to cheat. You were trying to give me a straight and him a flush, right? Wow, that’s really amazing. I just shuffled the cards, and it turned out like this? What an incredible coincidence, don’t you think?”

As soon as Wellesley finished speaking, his men, who had been positioned around the table, rushed over.

“What’s going on? He was cheating?”

“These crazy bastards… This was a rigged gambling den?”

“Looking at the cards, it’s pretty obvious.”

“Wow! These motherfuckers…”

The situation was about to turn into a huge commotion, and when even other regular customers started to peek in to see what was going on, the desperate owner quickly intervened.

“W-Wait a minute! This is… I’m sorry! It’s all my fault that we had such a dealer with bad habits in our club. I will investigate this incident thoroughly…”

“What the hell are you talking about? You need to be investigated too. You’re not going to pretend you didn’t know about this now, are you?”

“Lord Wellesley! It’s a misunderstanding! I swear to God, I’ve never been involved in such nonsense.”

Still, it seems they had at least agreed on how to cut ties when caught.

Even though he was about to take all the blame, the dealer just lowered his head with a look of disgust and didn’t offer any further rebuttal.

Well, shall we poke him a little to make him feel like telling the truth?

“Cough! Cough!”

I pretended to be startled by the commotion and coughed loudly as a signal. Wellesley then brought his butler forward and asked.

“My butler happens to have a law degree, you know? Let’s ask him. This dealer is said to be the main culprit of the cheating. How much punishment would he get if we dragged him away and threw him in jail?”

“Typically, ordinary theft results in imprisonment, but the story changes when the victim is a nobleman. Moreover, this case involves fraud, so it could be considered robbery rather than ordinary theft, which could lead to a punishment equivalent to robbery. The death penalty is certainly possible. Accomplices or accessories might get a reduced sentence, but the main culprit won’t get any leniency.”

“Really? That’s not bad. I know a lot of people in the court, so I’ll make sure that guy’s head is chopped off on the execution stand.”

Wellesley smiled grimly and muttered as if he wanted everyone to hear, and the dealer’s eyes filled with terror.

“Huh? D-Death penalty? What do you mean… I thought it would just be a prison sentence?”

“Prison? Don’t be ridiculous. Did you really think you could get away with just that? I don’t know who the idiot who told you that was, but you just cheated a nobleman. Did you think I looked easy to take advantage of because I’m the second son and won’t inherit the title? Do you think I can’t use my father’s connections to put you on the execution stand?”

“W-Wait a minute! It wasn’t me! It wasn’t me!”

Whether he could actually put him on the execution stand or not, when someone with Wellesley’s background threatens, it doesn’t sound like a simple threat.

It’s more like predicting the future that will definitely come.

Even if you receive enough money to live on for the rest of your life, what good is it if your head is chopped off?

As Wellesley was about to get up, the desperate dealer grabbed his pants leg and clung to him.

“I-I’m not the main culprit! I was just doing what I was told! I only participated because they said they would share the money if I did as they said! Really!”

“Told? Who told you to do it?”

“What the hell is he saying! Lord Wellesley! Don’t listen to him! He’s just trying to lie to avoid being dragged away!”

If there’s someone who freaks out before being pointed out, who is it?

Even without being told, the dealer pointed to the owner, who was obviously trying to save his own skin, and proved the unchanging truth that there is no loyalty in the face of death.

“That owner is the main culprit! I was just doing what I was told, and I have evidence! I can bring other dealers as witnesses too. I’ve kept a record of all the money that bastard gave us!”

“You bastard! How dare you wag that dog-like tongue! Shut your mouth right now!”

“It’s too noisy. Both of you shut up. We’ll know who’s telling the truth once we see the evidence anyway.”

In fact, just looking at the current situation, it’s clear who the real culprit is and who the accomplice is.

Doesn’t it all add up just by looking at Jack’s face turning pale and the dealer smiling as if he had just returned from hell?

“L-Lord Wellesley! It’s not true. It wasn’t me! I mean, this is…”

“So you’re going to deny it until the end. Then I have nothing more to say than to tell you to say the same in court.”

“T-That’s… No, I mean, this isn’t something I’ve been doing for a long time, but the stakes got a little bigger this time, so I just had a bad thought for this one time…”

“That guy says he has records of you giving him money before. Why don’t you try to lie with a little more effort? This is your last chance. If you lie one more time, I’m going to get up and call the police right away, so do what you want.”

The owner, perked up his ears at the word “chance,” quickly raised his head and rubbed his hands together obsequiously as he asked.

“Perhaps, if I tell you the truth… will you forgive me?”

“What the hell are you talking about? Why would I forgive you? I trusted you and enjoyed gambling here consistently. But all you thought about was betraying my trust and ripping me off. And now you’re asking me to forgive you? Do you even have a conscience?”

“It’s not that I intended to, but… you said there was a chance…”

While Jack was hesitating, Wellesley’s butler approached him and whispered in a voice that could only be heard if he concentrated.

“If this gets out, Duke Wellington might get angry. You must not forget that the general election is scheduled in a few days, even if it were at another time. I know you’re angry, but you need to be careful.”

The son of the prime minister, who leads the current ruling party, was involved in a rigged gambling game while enjoying gambling?

Of course, gambling is not illegal under current law, and he is the victim, but it would not be particularly beneficial to his image.

This is because voices are increasingly calling for the regulation of the harmful effects of gambling.

In other words, in the current situation, there is enough reason to quietly cover up this situation.

Wellesley, who seemed to be contemplating after hearing the butler’s story, lightly clicked his tongue and glared at Jack.

“Alright. Unlike you beasts, I am still a member of the noble class, so I have to give you at least a minimal chance. However, we need to settle the accounts properly, right? I have to get back at least 1.5 times the money I’ve lost so far, no, at least twice.”

“O-Of course! I can check the books and give it to you right away!”

“Let me make it clear that this is my share that I should naturally take. Now, I need to think about how to give you a chance.”

Wellesley’s gaze, which had been looking around, stopped on the deck of cards he had been enjoying until just now.

“Come to think of it, I came here today to enjoy a fun card game. I almost forgot because of this ridiculous commotion. That’s right. Now that things have come to this, let’s test our luck with cards. Jack, come and sit down. If you follow the conditions I present and beat me, I’ll make an exception and let you off the hook.”

“Really? If you really let me off the hook, I’ll follow any conditions!”

“Well, now that I think about it, I don’t think it would be good for me if this matter spreads more than necessary, so I don’t intend to impose too harsh conditions. First of all, we’re continuing the game that was interrupted earlier, so let’s keep the stakes at 1,000 pounds. And how about we play just three rounds, and the person who wins more money here becomes the winner?”

“If I win more money, I become the winner?”

“That’s right. But I won’t actually give you the money you win. You’re buying your life with it. Conversely, if I win, you’ll have to pay back that much money and receive a penalty, right?”

Since he’ll be executed if he’s dragged away anyway, who cares about the penalty of having to pay back the money?

As expected, Jack nodded like crazy and hurriedly sat across from Wellesley, afraid that Wellesley might change his mind.

“No problem! I’m ready!”

“Wait! Now that I think about it, there’s one more problem. It doesn’t make sense to entrust this game to the dealer who was obviously cheating in front of my eyes, does it? Right?”

“Well… that’s right.”

“Let’s see. Is there anyone here who is suitable to entrust with the job? I could have my butler deal, but then you might not feel it’s fair.”
The ultimate reason for doing this ridiculous play so far.

Wellesley, who was pretending to look for someone, smirked as he looked at me drinking milk.

“It seems like there’s someone who looks more suitable than anyone else. Let’s have that kid deal. Isn’t that the best choice that can satisfy both sides? Hey, do you know how to shuffle cards?”

“…Yes. Well… I’m also very interested in these games, so I know how to play… I’ve practiced a lot because shuffling cards looks cool.”

“Then can you come over here and shuffle the cards and deal them to us? Jack, you don’t have any complaints, do you?”

“I understand. Since we can’t bring in a reliable dealer, it’s better to have a kid like that do it.”

Originally, scammers are basically suspicious.

Jack was probably worried that Wellesley would set up a dealer to help him, even though he didn’t show it.

That’s why he was so happy and immediately agreed.

Then, isn’t it our duty to do our best to meet those expectations?

Why, just like how killing everyone and eliminating the witnesses means that even if you make a fuss, the word “assassination” doesn’t hold up.

If you don’t notice it even when you see it right in front of you, then it becomes a fair game, not a scam.

* * *

Jack felt like he had fallen to the bottom of hell and grabbed a lifeline.

He had never dreamed that he would be so grateful for the fact that an election was being held.

‘But that hypocritical bastard. He’s just trying to show off while pretending to be benevolent.’

He must have thought I couldn’t hear him, but I heard it clearly with these two ears.

He would like to tear me into a thousand pieces, but it’s just that the situation isn’t favorable right now.

If this gets out, Duke Wellington, who is preparing for this year’s general election, will be furious.

Nevertheless, the fact that he insisted on such conditions shows how much he wants to send me to the execution stand.

-The reason why the result of giving him a chance to escape so generously is like this is because God did not want to save him.

He’ll probably make excuses like that and hand me over to the police.

And he’s going to take the money anyway, so there’s nothing to say but that he’s just a greedy pig.

What if I win?

Then Wellesley will make a big deal out of how generous he was.

And he’ll take twice the money he’s been ripped off so far, regardless of the game, so even if I win, he won’t lose any money.

What this means is clear.

He just wants to play with me and enjoy the feeling of being a winner.

Then there’s only one thing I need to do. I must win this gamble and survive.

I will desperately continue my life and repay this humiliation in the future.

‘To do that, I need to focus on this game in front of me. If I lose, I’ll be executed… I have to win no matter what.’

He said we’re playing three rounds, but the important thing is not winning two out of three rounds.

The person who wins more money out of the three rounds wins, so even if I lose two rounds, I can still win if I win one round big.

Conversely, even if I win two rounds, if the opponent wins with a high-paying hand like a flush or a full house, I’ll go straight to the execution ground.

‘But something’s strange. How did a guy who didn’t even know I was cheating right in front of him until recently suddenly become so sharp?’

He even brought a lawyer with him, so he must have come here with a plan today.

In that case, I can’t trust the dealer he sets up either, but fortunately, he doesn’t seem to have thought that far.

The kid named Killian, who sat in place of the existing dealer, was a face that Jack was quite familiar with.

He was a kid who had recently started coming here more often, and he had been enjoying the taste of gambling while playing small games for the past few days.

Jack remembered kindly explaining the rules to him, saying that this is how a kid grows up to be a good customer.

The dealer is neutral, and if it’s just a three-round game, then it’s just a battle of luck.

There’s no room for other factors to intervene at all.

Jack, who was praying for the first time in his life, looked at the cards in his hand and cheered.

‘Good! A pair of Ks [Kings].’

This is the best start I can realistically consider.

As soon as he received two more cards, Jack was convinced that luck was on his side when he completed a pair of 10s in addition to the K.

Since he had two pairs from the beginning, there was no reason to avoid betting.

Jack confidently showed his hand after continuing to bet a total of 50 pounds.

“…Aces for a three of a kind?”

“Hahaha! Luck seems to be on the side of those who live honestly. Since it’s double 50 pounds, I’ve won 100 pounds first.”

Jack’s pupils trembled uncontrollably as he looked at the three ace cards proudly placed in front of him.

Based on the revealed hand, there is only one case in which Wellesley can make a three of a kind with aces.

Two of the three cards he received at the beginning must have been aces.

‘I thought it was just a pair of aces at best, but I didn’t know he had one more…’

Of course, it’s not an absurd probability since I started with two Ks.

I can only think that he was a little luckier than me.

Losing the first game so futilely when I thought I had the upper hand made my mouth dry, but there are still two games left.

Jack, with a praying heart, received three cards for the next round and checked the cards, trembling without realizing it.

‘Good! This time, a pair of Js [Jacks]! If I stay calm this time, I can make up for it.’

He pretended to be as depressed as possible so as not to reveal his joy, and continued betting passively with a low sigh.

As expected, the sky did not abandon him, and soon another J came out, finally completing a three of a kind.

If I win here with a bigger bet than the last game, the situation will be reversed in an instant.

Jack confidently bet 70 pounds, being careful not to laugh too much, and opened each other’s cards.

“Hehehe, fortunately, I think I was lucky this time. I have a three of a kind of Js…”

“I’m sorry to hear that. I have a straight here. 4 times 70 is 280 pounds. Have I already won 380 pounds? This game is too easy, so it’s starting to get boring.”

That’s strange.

Were aces and straights originally hands that came out so often, as he said?

Jack’s heart sank as he saw Wellesley’s cold smile as he swept away the money in front of him.

‘Could it be… is that bastard cheating?’

But how?

This is my business, so I can’t install any equipment to cheat.

Besides, he put a young child who doesn’t know anything in the dealer’s seat, so how can he manipulate the game?

‘Come to think of it, his hand movements are a bit skillful for a child who doesn’t know anything. No, that’s enough to do if you just practice shuffling cards. In the first place, there’s no way a kid like that can do something like bottom dealing [dealing the bottom card of the deck].’

But still, there’s always a chance, so shouldn’t I be careful?

Since I’ve lost two games in a row, if I can’t make up for it in the third game, my head will really fly on the execution stand.

So I have to consider all possible scenarios and eliminate variables.

If I judge calmly, the fact is that the only person who can manipulate the cards here is the dealer.

Jack stared intently at the kid shuffling the cards, and even shuffled them one more time himself to prevent him from bottom dealing.

And, fortunately, Jack, until the last moment when that young child was distributing the cards for the third round in front of his eyes.

He couldn’t find any manipulation or abnormality.