"Twenty million?"
Old Avery's sudden huge bet startled most of the gamblers, and almost everyone directly pushed their cards away, folding.
But there was one who didn't believe in bad luck. A Mr. Norris from Greece sneered and said, "Old Avery, who are you trying to scare? It's just twenty million! I'll play with you!"
Takyiana looked worried: "My dear, don't be impulsive!"
Old Avery smiled, "I know what I'm doing."
He leaned into Takyiana's ear and whispered, "My hole card is an Ace."
"But…"
"Don't worry, our luck has always been good."
Norris saw that Old Avery wasn't paying attention to him but was chatting intimately with the beautiful woman, and immediately became furious: "Old Avery! Are you looking down on me? I'll match it!"
The dealer dealt the cards. The dealer got a 4, Norris got a 9, and Old Avery got a King.
He had 21 points.
Ollivander Avery chuckled, looking at Norris mockingly, as if he were looking at an idiot.
Norris was enraged and slammed the table. "Old Avery! Do you think you've won for sure? I'm betting my entire fortune against you!"
Betting his entire fortune?
"How do you plan to bet?"
Norris sneered: "I have about fifty million Galleons in cash, shops, and properties. I've placed my bet, do you dare to match it?"
If Old Avery didn't match, then the twenty million he had already put down would be lost.
But now he already had 21 points, and Norris's face-up card was a 9, making it very likely he would bust.
The only way he could lose was if the dealer also got 21 points, but the dealer only had a 4, so getting to 21 points was extremely unlikely.
"I only have twenty-four million three hundred thirty-five thousand Galleons, I'm putting it all in," Old Avery said.
Takyiana quickly held his arm. The old man clearly felt the girl's tension.
He gently patted her hand, comforting her: "It's fine."
Norris snorted: "Poor man, then it's twenty-four million three hundred thirty-five thousand."
The surrounding "wealthy" gamblers gathered around. Although they were actors, witnessing a multi-million Galleon gamble firsthand was still very exciting—
Though they all knew what the final outcome would be.
"Open them!"
Norris flipped over his hole card, which was also an Ace, so he had 20 points.
Old Avery laughed heartily, flipped over his hole card, and said triumphantly: "21 points! I won!"
There was a collective gasp from the surroundings.
Old Avery felt Takyiana's hand on his arm tighten even more.
In fact, it wasn't just the girl who was excited; his heart felt like it was about to burst out! His fortune had doubled in one hand—what kind of concept was that?
Old Avery stood up excitedly. He gestured for the dealer to quickly transfer the chips from the stunned Norris's front, but the dealer didn't do as he wished. Instead, she drew another card and placed it in front of herself; it was a 6.
Old Avery froze for a moment, then his heart began to feel uneasy—
No, it wouldn't happen. His luck had always been good, and this time was no exception!
The dealer dealt another card; it was a 9.
This meant the dealer already had 19 points. Unless the dealer's hole card was a 2, Old Avery would still win nine times out of ten—because there were already two Aces on the table, and even if the dealer's hole card was an Ace, the probability of her drawing another Ace was minuscule!
It's a sure win!
With his luck, what was the difference between a 12/13 probability and one hundred percent?
But the dealer smiled. She gently flipped over her hole card—
A 2 of hearts.
21 points.
Dealer 21 points, everyone loses.
Old Avery felt as if his heart was suddenly squeezed by a hand. He could barely breathe, his legs went weak, and he slumped back into his chair.
The chair legs scraped against the marble floor, making a harsh sound.
"Zzz—"
Old Avery's eyes rolled back, and he fainted.
…
…
When he woke up again, he was in the house he had bought. Takyiana sat by his bed, looking at him with worry.
"Olymbos, you're awake!"
The girl gently held Old Avery's hand, "We won't gamble anymore, okay? You know, I love you, and I've never met a gentleman like you!
So whether or not we have that one hundred million doesn't really matter. I can marry you—I'll continue to work at Pharaoh's Left Hand, and my money is enough to support both of us, you don't have to worry! Besides, you still have the house…"
Old Avery sat up and reached out to cover his heart—
He glanced at the hourglass on the nightstand.
Although the hourglass wasn't activated, the "highlight" moments of his life still replayed in his mind.
Who was he?
The patriarch of the Sacred 28 families! A figure who once stood at the pinnacle of the Wizarding World!
Now he was actually going to let a girl support him?
Old Avery felt insulted.
Although Takyiana's words were sincere and moved him.
"No, Takyiana," Old Avery took a deep breath, "I cannot let you be wronged."
He stood up with difficulty, "Do you remember? I only used 200 Galleons back then and almost earned ten thousand Galleons. I can do it!"
He grabbed the hourglass and then took out the house deed from the cabinet.
"Wait for me at home, Takyiana, I will definitely win it back…"
"No, don't go gambling!"
Old Avery shook his head and gently pushed Takyiana away. At this moment, he couldn't hear anything else; there was only one thought in his mind—
I want to win money!
"Bang!"
The door closed.
Takyiana remained sitting by the bed, a smile on her face.
She had finally completed Comrade Dantes's mission.
Imperio?
True masters of mind control never used that thing. If Old Avery had lost all his family fortune because of Imperio, he could openly report it to the Egyptian Ministry of Magic.
But if Old Avery willingly lost everything, no one could say a word against it.
Moreover, when a person's misery is caused by their own reasons, the regret is bound to be multiplied.
Comrade Dantes was right,
One must be ruthless towards enemies, and even more so towards foes, to make them completely collapse from spirit to body.
…
…
The next morning.
The door of Old Avery's house was pushed open.
Old Avery, looking lost and dejected, walked in like a zombie, muttering "Takyiana."
"Takyiana!"
Returning to the house seemed to restore some of Old Avery's spirit. He called his lover's name but found the house empty, with no one there.
Several Egyptian Wizards followed him in from behind: "Ollivander Avery家, quickly pack your personal belongings. This house no longer belongs to you."
Old Avery tremblingly turned his head. He looked thirty years older now, completely different from his spirited self of just a day ago.
He turned and rushed out of the house—
He was going to Pharaoh's Left Hand, he was going to find Takyiana.
Right, Takyiana had money. He would ask her to lend him some first; he could definitely turn things around!
She loved him so much; lending him some money would definitely not be a problem!
"Hey! Avery! If you don't take care of things here, we'll take all your belongings!"
Old Avery ignored them, his mind solely focused on rushing back to Pharaoh's Left Hand.
Takyiana!
I can definitely do it!
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