Lord Of Doom!Reincarnated Into a Novel as the Strongest Side Character-Chapter 59: A Emblem, and Logic

"Huh? This is a gambling house!? What are we doing here?" Sakura asked, slightly confused about why Gojin had brought them here.

Gambling houses were prohibited with strict laws against them, and when caught operating, they faced raids and severe punishment before being shut down. Anyone who dared to reopen would be executed. To avoid detection, establishments used various deceptive signs and names, often bribing officials to keep their activities under wraps. Common aliases included "Merchant of Dinners" and "Herbs and Women."

Gojin had quickly spotted the house. Je spotted the house from a distance, recognizing the subtle signs that hid its true thread. The worn sign hanging above the entrance, which read "Merchant of Dinners," was a common disguise for gambling houses in the era. He had seen similar establishments before and knew the tricks they used to evade the authorities.

He also had a scheme to make some extra cash from it and was confident of its success, knowing that most gamblers were fools when it came to their vices.

"Just making money daily before my other plan comes to fruition; everything’s already set."

Kenji and Sakura fixed their gaze on him, fully bewildered. Gojin was quite the schemer, always juggling numerous plans that seemed to align perfectly. He had meticulously arranged everything he intended to do in the city, and it was, somehow, all gradually falling into place. He had developed a deeper understanding of all the worlds than when he was still a novice as a "Child."

Noticing their confusion, Gojin sighed in frustration.

"Once we’re in, you’ll understand. These guys are so careless they don’t even check if customers are from the executives or not."

He chuckled as he pushed open the heavy double doors. Inside, the scene was lively—about thirty-five patrons were gathered, drinking, eating, and chatting.

Gojin knew all of them were hired actors, each playing a role in this elaborate facade. Their exaggerated reactions and casual demeanor were all part of the act, designed to maintain the appearance of a typical sakagura, where food and drink were served, while the real business thrived in the shadows.

"Now, where’s the real action happening?" he muttered, scanning the area discreetly. Most establishments would place one or two men to keep watch for any unusual behavior, like someone looking around too much or asking foolish questions—like where the gambling section was. They didn’t bother to check if it was the bureau or not at the entry as it was all part of the facade.

His gaze landed on a staircase where a woman was heading up, carrying a tray of alcohol to the second floor, the last level of the building. Gojin quickly concluded that this was likely where the gambling took place, even though he didn’t hear any sounds of games or chatter.

The three of them shifted to a quieter, more concealed spot on the current floor. Gojin asked for 2,000 coins and 1 silver coin, promising to return it eightfold. Sakura and Kenji declined at first, but after a few minutes, they decided to go along with his plan. Sakura handed him the requested amount without hesitation.

Gojin grinned.

"Why don’t you two stay here and enjoy yourselves while I take care of business? Just make sure to order my meal on time."

Kenji shot back,"You want us to stay here with all this...?"

But Gojin had already turned and headed for the staircase.

"I forgot he’s a flake," Kenji muttered, spotting Sakura already prepared to eat and placing an order. She gestured for Kenji to join her at the empty seat right in front of her.

He obliged.

...

Gojin was now on the second floor, where a door stood just a few inches away. He rushed in with enthusiasm, and as he slid open the paper door, everyone inside—who had been engrossed in a game of Hanafuda, with coins scattered across the tables alongside drinks and women—stopped in their tracks. They all turned to him with expressions of fear, as if they had just been caught in the act.

Gojin quickly read the room and, with a smile, pulled out a roll of coins and raised it high in the air.

"Let’s play!" Gojin exclaimed.

Instantly, the tension lifted, and they cheered, returning to their games amidst murmurs and conversations.

Gojin was well-acquainted with Hanafuda, having played it as a child with one of the junior exorcists back at the Seren Palace.

Hanafuda is played with a special deck of cards featuring drawn images of flowers and animals. The game typically involves two players or teams competing to form pairs or sets of cards based on specific combinations.

Objective: The goal is to collect cards that form specific combinations to score points. The game can be played in rounds, with players aiming to reach a predetermined score.

Setup: Each player is dealt a certain number of cards, while the remaining cards are placed face up in the center. Players take turns drawing cards from the center or from their opponent’s pile.

Gameplay: On their turn, a player can either draw a card from the center or pick one from their opponent’s discard pile. If they can match a card from their hand with one in the center, they lay down the pair and score points based on the combination.

Special Combinations: Certain combinations yield higher points, such as collecting all cards of a specific month or forming a set of unique cards.

Ending the Game: The game continues until all cards have been drawn and played, at which point players tally their points to determine the winner.

Gojin felt confident as he prepared to join the lively game, knowing that his experience would give him an edge.

He walked over to a table that was devoid of women and drinks—he disliked the drinks, and as for women, he just wanted nothing to do with them. He was quite tired of their behavior, often reminiscent of high school antics, despite their ages as adults, shaped by his past experiences.

However, at this table sat a woman draped in a black scarf that covered a scholar’s hat, obscuring her face. From her attire, it was clear she was female. Gojin found it quite normal for a woman to be a gambler; there should be no gender restrictions in such pursuits. Yet, he couldn’t shake the feeling that ancient men had a misguided view of women, often relegating them to the kitchen, which he found completely unethical.

He took a seat opposite her. To his surprise, a game was already set up for play. She looked up slightly and smiled.

"Finally, an opponent. So, how much are you willing to bet with me?" she asked in a voice that was soft and melodic.

Gojin studied her intently. She exuded a lot confidence, clearly believing she would win. He analyzed her demeanor, trying to gauge what kind of player she might be.

The Strategist: This type of player meticulously calculates their moves, often analyzing every possible outcome before making a decision. They tend to play conservatively, preferring to minimize risk.

The Risk-Taker: These gamblers thrive on adrenaline and are willing to stake large amounts without much thought. They play aggressively, often relying on luck rather than strategy.

The Bluffer: Masters of deception, these players use psychological tactics to mislead their opponents. They might feign weakness while holding strong hands, creating an air of uncertainty.

The Cautious Player: They take their time and are very methodical in their approach. They often wait for the right moment to make a move, preferring to observe the game before jumping in.

The Intuitive Player: Relying on gut feelings, these gamblers often make decisions based on instinct rather than logic. They can be unpredictable and hard to read.

Gojin took a moment to consider, sensing the skepticism growing in her expression as he weighed his options.

After a few minutes of contemplation, he finally said:

"What about we start with a low stake? 500?"

A grin spread across his face as he leaned in closer, ready to engage in the game.

The female answered with a confident yes and pulled out 500 coins from her pouch. The weight of the coins was substantial, and Gojin noted the emblem embedded on them—a stylized chrysanthemum, symbolizing nobility and power, often associated with the Heian era Imperial Palace. The emblem featured sixteen petals radiating outward from a central circle, a mark of the elite.

"Could she be a member of the Fujiwara clan, one of the royal family?" Gojin thought, his gaze lingering on the emblem before she quickly tucked the pouch away, unaware that he had seen it.

The coins dropped onto the wooden table with a sharp clink. Gojin placed his own 500 coins beside hers, and the game commenced without any unnecessary words.

He examined his hand, carefully considering his options. He picked a card from the center—a cherry blossom—and placed it down, matching it with a cherry blossom card from his hand.

A point scored.

He didn’t celebrate about that, and rather waited for the woman’s next move.

She drew a card, revealing a pine tree. She laid it down, claiming a pair. Gojin noticed the slight narrowing of her eyes - a sign of her concentration. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm

He contemplated his next move, realizing that she was confident and likely a strategic type. He decided to draw from the center again, hoping for another cherry blossom to build on his score.

He pulled a crane card, which he placed down, matching it with another crane from his hand.

Another point scored.

A flicker of a smile crossed his face, but he quickly masked it, maintaining his composure.

The woman observed him closely, then drew a card and revealed a moon. She laid it down, creating a potential set for later. Gojin studied her strategy.

She was seemly not just playing cards; she was calculating her moves, anticipating his.

Gojin needed to play defensively. He decided to draw from her discard pile, hoping to block her strategy. He picked up a maple leaf, but it didn’t match any of his cards. Frustration crept into his expression; he had missed an opportunity to score.

The woman seized the moment, drawing a card and revealing another crane. She laid it down, completing a set of three. Gojin’s brow furrowed as he realized she had gained the upper hand.

Determined to regain control, he drew a card from the center, revealing a red plum blossom. He laid it down, matching it with another plum blossom from his hand.

The woman watched him closely, then drew a card, revealing a butterfly. She laid it down but hesitated, skepticism flew in as she considered her next move.

Gojin sensed the uncertainty and took a moment to analyze the situation.

He decided to take advantage of her hesitation by drawing from the center again. This time, he pulled a second maple leaf. He laid it down, creating a potential set.

As he did, he noticed her expression shift; she seemed to be recalibrating her strategy....

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A/N: The fujiwara clan that had kept on being repeated by Gojin would soon be explained!