Golden Melody

Chapter 9.1

Now, the chips were his source of life, a constant threat that I could activate at any moment.

To prove I wasn't bluffing, I pressed a button on my own watch.
A faint buzzing sound filled the room, and a flicker of light emanated from Mr. Hamilton's watch.
He gasped, his eyes widening in fear as he realized the truth.

"You... you're really going to do this?" he stammered, his voice trembling.

I met his gaze, my expression unreadable.
"I'm not bluffing, Mr. Hamilton. I'm not afraid of you. And I'm not afraid to use this."

A jolt of electricity surged through his body, a fleeting sensation that sent a wave of panic through him.
He clutched at his chest, his face contorting in pain.
The shock was temporary, a clever trick devised by Jay.

"Alright, alright," he said, his voice strained.
He knew what would happen next if he didn't cooperate. He had no choice but to agree to my terms.

Kyliah, the dealer who had been observing the scene with a mixture of amusement and concern, stepped forward.
Her eyes, sharp and intelligent, met mine for a fleeting moment.

"The rules are simple," she said, her voice calm and authoritative. "We'll play Texas Hold'em. The winner takes all."

Mr. Hamilton, still reeling from the shock, nodded numbly.
He was a seasoned gambler, but he had never encountered an opponent like me.

I am young, but I was also cunning and ruthless.

I had learned the art of poker from my father, a master of deception and manipulation.

I had honed my skills in the casinos of Ruzia and Texan, playing against the best and emerging victorious.

The game began, and Mr. Hamilton tried to use his usual dirty tactics, but I was one step ahead.
He was good at bluffing, but I was better.
He couldn't get any good cards because I had already manipulated the deck with Kyliah. She had a connection to the casino, a connection that gave us an advantage.

The showdown was approaching, and the room fell silent.
The tension was palpable.
I maintained my composure, acting a little scared to give him a false sense of confidence.
He was holding garbage cards, a pathetic hand that couldn't compete with mine.
I had a full house, a powerful hand that would guarantee my victory.

"Showdown," Kyliah announced, her eyes glinting with anticipation.

"It's showtime," I said, my voice a low rumble that echoed in the room.

He revealed his cards, a weak hand of 9♣5♠8♦7♠A♥.

I then revealed my hand, A♦ A♠ 9♠ 9♦ 9♥, a full house.

A smirk stretched across my face as I watched the realization dawn on Mr. Hamilton's face.
He had lost.

"You... you cheated!" he sputtered, his voice laced with disbelief and anger.

I laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. "You're right, Mr. Hamilton.
I did cheat. But you taught me how to play this game. You taught me how to win."

Kyliah stepped forward, her expression unreadable.

"Mr. Hamilton," she said, her voice calm and steady.
"You have one hour to comply with Zatariel's demands, or you will face the consequences."

Mr. Hamilton slumped back in his chair, defeated.
He knew he had lost.
He knew he had been outsmarted.

"Urrggh Damned it!," he said, his voice a mere whisper.
"I lost. I underestimated you."

I leaned back in my chair, my gaze fixed on him.
"You're not the only one who can play this game, Mr. Hamilton. You're not the only one who can win. Now speak, what the hell with our watches?"

"The self-destruct chip is just a small part of it. The watches are also equipped with a sophisticated tracking system, allowing me to monitor their every move, their every thought."
he continued, his voice gaining a hint of confidence.
"I've used it to gain control of the school, to influence the government, to secure my own position."

He looked at me, his eyes filled with a mixture of fear and admiration.
"You're a worthy opponent, kid. But you're also a threat. I need to get rid of you."

"But you won't," I said, my voice was cold and steady.
"You're going to cancel your deal with Mr.Verra. And then, you're going to tell me how to deactivate these chips."

He scoffed.
"You think you can control me? I'm a powerful man, kid. I have connections, influence. You can't stop me."

I leaned forward, my gaze unwavering.
"You're right, Mr. Hamilton. You are powerful. But you've made a fatal mistake. You've underestimated me."

"I know how to deactivate those chips," I said, my voice a low rumble.

"You're making a mistake, kid," he said, his voice pleading.
"You're playing with forces you don't understand."

I turned to leave, my footsteps echoing in the silence of the room. "Think carefully, Mr. Hamilton."
I said, my voice cold and menacing as I pointed to his wristwatch.
"Or I'll use this to end you."

I stood up, my movements confident and deliberate.

I didn't need to see the fear in his eyes.
I could feel it radiating from him, a palpable energy that filled the room.

I left the room, ignoring his angry sputtering, and walked back into the casino.

Kyliah met me with a wide grin. "Grabe! That was cool!," she said, her eyes sparkling with admiration.
"I was so nervous there, you're still a minor."

I just nodded, a small smile playing on my lips.
She was right.
I was cool.
But it wasn't just about skill.
It was about strategy, about manipulation, about knowing how to play the game and how to exploit its weaknesses.

"Kyliah," I said, my voice was serious,
"no matter what happens to me, don't tell Miexha about this."

I couldn't ask for her hand in exchange for this.
This was for my mother, and for Kyliah.

There had to be another way, a way to earn her family's acceptance without resorting to such desperate measures.

Kyliah's expression softened, and she nodded, understanding the weight of my request.
She was relieved, at least a little.

We knew my life was in danger after leaving this place.
I had to be careful, to stay one step ahead.

"I'll be in touch," she said, her voice low.
"And remember, keep your eyes open. Mr. Hamilton won't give up easily."

I nodded
"I will."

I said goodbye to Kyliah, my heart heavy with a mixture of relief and apprehension.
I walked out of the casino, the noise and chaos of the gambling floor fading behind me.
I had won this battle, but the war was far from over.

I took a deep breath, trying to clear my head.
My mind raced with thoughts of Mr. Hamilton, of the students trapped under his control, of Miexha.

I pulled out my phone, my fingers trembling slightly.
I needed to call Jay.
I needed to tell him what had happened.

As I dialed his number, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was walking a tightrope.

The phone rang, and then Jay's voice filled my ear.
"Zat? Not... Sleep?"

"Jay," I said, my voice was urgent.
"I've got a lot to tell you. Meet me tomorrow at student council room"

One wrong move, one misstep, and everything could crumble. But I had to keep going.
I had to keep fighting.
I had to save my classmates. And I had to protect Miexha.