Arthur had her.
There was no way Tsunade could just have this event canceled, especially after the entire town knew she was present.
If she did, it would make her look like the bad guy, and she'd lose her reputation. Plus, she was here anyway. Might as well enjoy herself since Arthur wasn't being a creep.
The momentary pause didn't get past her assistant. Shizune playfully nudged her, barely containing her burgeoning grin.
"Not that I don't appreciate the sentiment," Tsunade said, forcing herself back into a more businesslike demeanour, "but why did it have to be so grand?"
"Let's just say I admire your work enough to know what a beautiful leader finds attractive." There it was again. The way he maneuvered around questions while simultaneously preventing a woman, regardless of her status, from saying no to him. "Care to join me for a game, my lady?"
Even if Tsunade wasn't keen on admitting it, the thrill of gambling was an enticing allure. Add the extra privacy; it meant that she could unwind without fear of public scrutiny.
"Fine," she relented. "But I'm only playing for fun."
That statement couldn't be further from the truth since she had a well-known gambling addiction.
The moment she sat down, waitresses appeared, bringing her favourite dishes alongside Shizune's. Her eyes widened in delight at the beautifully plated food.
"How did you know what my favourite food was?" she incredulously asked.
"This is your favourite, too?" Arthur laughed. "Haha. I really ordered this for myself, hoping you two would like it."
"Oh…" Tsunade said, trying to recover some dignity. Shizune teased her by elbowing her lightly. "Stop it already."
As the game began, Tsunade couldn't help but ask, "So, Dan, where are you really from, and how did you manage to fund this event?"
"Wizened Town from the Water Country. I moved here after a business failure, sadly. As for my finances, I worked hard in various trades, diligently saving so I could help others by promoting goodwill."
This answer resonated with her, not just for its innocence but because it mirrored the spirit of the Will of Fire she held dear.
Tsunade allowed herself to relax and not be drawn in by his charms.
The table soon became filled with laughter instead of questions as sake was introduced.
Taking a sip, she enjoyed it since it was made just the way she liked. Arthur, being a Christian, swapped his drink for water.
As their game progressed, he found himself on a losing streak.
Tsunade questioned internally if this was a bad omen or not. But she couldn't tell because the two weren't technically gambling.
"Maybe you should think about switching the game," she suggested. "No offense, but you're not that good."
Arthur chuckled. "Haha. Unless you were actually wagering something, there's no need for me to try."
Tsunade's pride was now hurt; a compulsive gambler like her wanted a real challenge. But to get that, she had to bet something.
"I know you didn't come here with any money," he said, luring her, "so how about we put something of less value on the table?"
"What did you have in mind?"
"Hmm…" Arthur suggested while scratching his temple. "There's not really anything I want… Your heart's not for sale either." Then he pointed a finger as if he had an idea. "Wait, what about a small piece of property in the Leaf Village? Oh! And I'll wager five million ryō for it."
Both Tsunade and Shizune spewed out their drinks. Then they coughed, still unsure of what they had just heard.
"Are you serious?" Shizune finally managed.
Just what sort of land was worth that much? With five million ryō, Arthur could simply buy out approximately a quarter of the village.
"Why not?" Arthur playfully shrugged. "If I lose, you could use the money to invest in whatever you want."
Tsunade was leaning heavily on a "no." Mainly because this had the makings of a scandal to rival any illegal operation. Plus, if her council found out that their beloved Hokage liked to give out land in casinos, that wouldn't end well for her tenure.
But her council wasn't here now, were they?
Shizune brought Tsunade closer and whispered something. When she was done, the two turned to Arthur.
"Well, Dan," Tsunade said with an amused smirk, "let's say I take you up on that wager. Is five million ryō all that you're willing to offer?"
This was cute. The fifth Hokage was about to let greed and her fake winning streak blind her judgment. Mixing that with the sake from earlier, things were going exactly as Arthur planned.
"Anything you want," he added. "You name it, I'll give it."
"How about this then?" she suggested. "If I win, you become my financial advisor in the Leaf."
"Interesting," he mused.
"And that's on top of the five million you promised."
"Is that all?"
"One more thing," she added. "Before I agree, I have to know: what sort of land in the village you're after first?"
Shizune seemed equally interested as her gaze darted between the two.
"Honestly?" he said, scratching his chin. "I hadn't thought too much about it yet. Let me take a moment to think..." He pondered dramatically while tapping his fingers against the table. Then he feigned an idea striking him. "The funeral! That area within the village could definitely use some improvements."
Tsunade's brow furrowed, feeling offended as she said, "Sorry, but that's public property. Not even I have the right to simply give it away, let alone wager it over a game of blackjack."
Arthur waved a dismissive hand.
"I'm not actually after the property itself, my lady. I'm really just looking to renovate it. Much like this event, I'd love for the villagers to have a beautiful and respectful area to remember their loved ones—a place built correctly for the next generation. So really, you can say that I'm not wagering for the land itself, but for the construction of the land."
Tsunade's expression softened at the sincerity of his proposal. One of the things she valued the most was fostering the next generation, something he knew all too well.
"You mean every word?" she asked.
"Of course! No reason for me to be even trying after all of this hard work."
"Fine…" Tsunade relented, "I accept then."
After a moment of the deck being shuffled and the cards being dealt, a new game commenced.
"I hope I win this," Arthur happily said.
The first round revealed a face card and a six for her (sixteen), while he had a seven and a five (twelve).
"Hit me," she confidently said. Shizune dealt her a five. "Twenty-one. Not bad."
"I'll stand," Arthur said.
"Wow…" Tsunade teased. "Five million and a free advisor's all mine."
Arthur laughed, playing his role correctly. "Hey, don't count me out just yet! I'm just getting started!"
As the rounds rolled on, she continued to gain momentum by sweeping the table clean in a string of victories. Arthur, however, remained focused with a confident grin never leaving his face.
In the fourth round, he was dealt an ace and a nine (ten or twenty).
"Look at that," he remarked, leaning back in his seat. "I'm finally getting somewhere!"
Tsunade had a seven and an eight (fifteen). "Hit me." She was dealt an eight (twenty-three).
"That's game for me, my lady."
"Maybe I should stop now then…"
"Giving up already?"
"I did say 'should'."
Spoken like a true gambler.
As they approached the final round, both were tied at equal victories. Winner takes all in this last one.
Shizune dealt the next hand as Tsunade drew a ten and a two (twelve). Meanwhile, Arthur had pulled another ace and five (six or sixteen).
"I'll hit!" she bravely announced. She was given an eight. "Twenty. Stay!"
The two looked at Arthur, knowing that he was going to ask for a hit.
"Hit me…" Shizune dealt him another ace (seven or seventeen). "Hit me…" Shizune dealt him a two. (nine or nineteen). Now Tsunade was sweating. "Hit me…" Shizune dealt him another two! "That's twenty-one, my lady."
"What?!" the two women said in unison.
Arthur had counted cards again; he knew exactly that after Tsunade drew an eight, all the higher-numbered cards were finished.
Had she asked Shizune to hit her, she would have had twenty-one. But Arthur knew someone like Tsunade, who was mediocre at best when it came to gambling, didn't want to risk it.
No one average at this game would have. But Arthur wasn't average.
Tsunade let out an exasperated sigh, unable to mask the disappointment in her features. Yet at the same time, she felt like it was good that she lost.
Had she won, she would have thought of it as a bad omen.
"Well then," she finally said, "you beat me fair and square."
"Haha," Arthur chuckled, "I have to admit, I did have fun." At those words, he pulled out his suitcase from underneath the table and opened it to reveal stacks of ryō. They shone like jewels in both women's eyes. "Here. This is for you, my lady."
"What?!" Tsunade wondered. They were both confused. "But… I lost?"
"Does that matter?" Arthur paused for effect. "I actually planned to give this to you whether I won or lost since I like you, my lady."
Tsunade's cheeks finally flushed unexpectedly. Whether it was the sake of getting to her head or Arthur was just really good with words, she was truly surprised.