The First Round has begun, each person except from the dealer was given two cards, one facing downwards, and one up. Each and every member at the table looked to each other, searching frantically to see if they have a larger 'value' than the other, they had eyes like serpents, not one good intention came from them, they all wanted to escape with their lives, not caring at all for the next person, yes, every single one of them at that table were Bastards, they truly lived up to the name of the game, and proved exactly WHY the dealer had created this game for them.
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DEATH TO THE BASTARD
Round 1:
Kanejirō, CEO of SNLF Manufacturers:
Hand: 8 of Spades (Faced Down) and a 6 of Hearts.
Value out of 21: 14/21.
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Kaneko, Head of HaltViolence.
Hand: 9 of Cloves (Faced Down) and a 7 of Diamonds.
Value out of 21: 16/21.
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Renji, Minister of Finance of Japan.
Hand: Ace of Spades (Faced Down), 10 of Hearts.
Value: 21/21, Blackjack.
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"Each 'player' has received two cards, you have had 20 seconds to make look at your 'hidden' card and make a decision. To STAY or to HIT. Make your decisions now." Uttered the dealer.
To stay in Blackjack meant to keep your current hand, and not to take another card, since you are happy with your deck. To hit meant to take another card from the deck, in normal Blackjack, you can take as many as you want until you have over 21. However, the rules of DTTB made it so that you can only take one, it was a lesson, you are to be grateful with what you are given, to be given more than what you have is a luxury, but you will never have the privilege of having more than what the FATHER allows you to have, it was symbolic, it was well-thought of, and it was graceful, it showed that the only equality in humanity was punishment, that was the one privilege we as humans shared.
Kanejirō HIT, gaining a 4 of Cloves. Kaneko also HIT, gaining a 9 of Hearts, Renji stayed. Since Kaneko has exceeded the limit, he has gained a STRIKE, and has reached ever closer to the noose. If this was normal Blackjack, Renji would have been the sole winner, but because somebody had exceeded the limit, there are now two winners, Kanejirō and Renji.
"The cards are revealed, the winners of Round 1 are Renji and Kanejirō, the loser is Kaneko, and therefore, he has been given a strike. One more strike, and he will pay the ultimate debt to the FATHER and be crowned the BASTARD." Announced the black masked dealer.
Everyone glanced to the dealer, everyone feared the dealer, with the psychological manipulation that he utilised, he had shot down two of the strongest people in the facility, he had locked all exits to the room, and there was no hope for outside help, with this method, he easily asserted dominance in the room, he literally had the gun in his hand, and everybody was in his dominion. The only person who kept cool, was the young Minister of Finance, who knew there was no point in panicking, and wasting energy, he could win this game against these useless fools and go home unscathed, is what he thought, after all he made it this far in the hierarchy and wouldn't let anything go to waste.
"With the conclusion of the first round coming to an end, the second round now approaches, I will give out 2 cards again, and fate shall take it's stream." Spoke the dealer.
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Round 2:
Kanejirō has been given a 6 of Spades and a 6 of Cloves.
Kaneko has been given a 10 of Hearts and a 10 of Diamonds.
Renji has been given a 7 of Hearts and a 5 of Diamonds.
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Looking at his cards, Renji does not change his expression, he knows that he has one of the worst possible hands currently, yet he assesses the situation, and he sees the sweat running down Kanejirō's cheek, his heavy breathing, and his rugged appearance, he now realizes that he may have a bad deck, but Kanejirō has it much worse, and to keep his cool appearance is key to him winning this round, as showing his fear would only get him into a deep trouble. In life, sacrifices must be made, as humans we believe that in wars, death is not a choice but a guarantee, the best way to end a war is revolution, rebellion, and for rebellion to succeed there must be a martyr, you are mistaken if you believe martyrs are picked at random, or by God, a martyr is selected, and Renji has picked Kanejirō as the martyr necessary for his victory.
Renji has STAYED. Kaneko has STAYED. Kanejirō has HIT. Kanejirō has gained a 10 of Hearts, meaning he has now exceeded the value limit of 21, he now has 1 STRIKE along with Kaneko. Although not visible to the others, Renji had a daunting grin on his face, he knew in a fight-or-flight moment, you need to take drastic risks to ensure safety, it's human nature, and Kanejirō had ran out of good luck and pulled the short straw.
"With the upcoming events, Kanejirō is now on his last strike along with Kaneko, Renji remains untouched. The game will continue as planned." Uttered the dealer with no remorse to show his victims.
Every time a new round started, those who have been 'marked' by the 'Father', and are soon to turn into 'Bastards' gain a little more anxiousness as they step a little closer to the edge of the cliff. The only 'privileges' in life that we get are the light of the sun and life itself, and both are limited, day turns to night, and life turns into death and decay, those who have greed and take more than what they are given are 'Sinners' and 'Sinners' will be dragged into Hell by the devil himself.
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Round 3:
Kanejirō has been given a 7 of Diamonds and a 6 of Spades.
Kaneko has been given an Ace of Hearts and a 10 of Diamonds.
Renji has been given an Ace of Cloves and a 10 of Hearts.
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"Pick your choices, you have 20 seconds." Announced the dealer.
Kanejirō, now agitated and hostile, looks around the room, his two friends look at him, it may have been a hallucination of his since he is in a moment of such distress, but it looked to him as they were both laughing, and the cackles echoed in his brain, drool exited his mouth and tears flooded his eyes. He chose to HIT.
"... Kanejirō has been given the 9 of Spades. With that, the round is over. YES, the values are shown to be, 21 for Kaneko, 21 for Renji, and 22 for Kanejirō. This makes Kanejirō the 'BASTARD', and as the game goes, he will now pay the ultimate price." Shouted the dealer in a malicious tone.
" I apologise, Kanejirō. I apologise for choosing YOU as my 'Martyr'! The world is it's own political construct, and this is my rebellion, YOU have ensured my win. Your death is not for naught, my friend! And God will gladly take you into his warm embrace for your sacrifice, this win is all mine!" Applauded Renji in an ecstatic tone.
Looking at Renji in disbelief at his betrayal, Kanejirō paused for a moment, then lunged straight at the dealer.
The dealer took his pistol, and shot Kanejirō 3 times, all in the head, his brain turned to mush and exited the wound as sludge.
"What a nuisance, you're disrupting the game, 'BASTARDS' have no right to live in the world of the righteous, isn't that right, Renji?" The dealer glanced at Renji, who looked at the dealer with a sort of happy, but switching to nervous expression. Blood smeared the mask of the dealer, and the Wraith couldn't be any happier to rid the world of one more evildoer.
BOUT 1 OF THE GAME, COMPLETE.