Novel Full Chapter 16 - A Cup
The crowd was in an uproar when they saw Emma coming out. The robust anchor for the Happy group smile when he saw a young man coming out.
'Hu! Fresh Meat'
Some people in the crowd looked at Emma in pity, murmuring.
"He's a fine young man. Why would he gamble all the money he worked so hard for?"
"For the same reason everyone gamble. Hoping to get what he never worked for."
"But not with the Happy house."
"It's quite a pity."
"That's none of our business. We're here to entertain ourselves. Let stay and watch."
Emma was oblivious to what people are saying about him. Though if he knew, he won't care. He walked confidently toward the robust man.
"Welcome! We're pleased to have you here." The fake smile on the robust man's face broadened. "I'm coke."
"Which section will you choose? We have the bronze section with less reward. The silver section with average reward. While the gold section had the best reward. You can win anything in the gold section. So my friend, which section are you going for?"
"Of course! I'm going for the gold section."
Hearing this, Coke's smiles broaden. 'Ah! Today, I will receive a lot of commission. There is a lot of fat sheep today.' He gestured Emma with his hand to come toward the gold section. 'Don't worry. I will empty your purse for you.'
Emma stood in front of a projected screen. He looked at the screen which had the logo of the Happy house.
"My friend, please deposit your money," Coke said happily, bring out the bracelet scanner.
Seeing the bracelet scanner. Emma pretended to be shocked. "Mr. Coke. I don't have a bracelet. I lost it during a gambling competition."
Hmm!
All the crowd was surprised by what they heard. 'How could someone use his Origin bracelet to gamble' They thought. Meanwhile, Coke looked at Emma dumbfounded. He opened his mouth but words did not come out. After a while, he regained from his shock. 'I guess he's a gambling fanatic.'
Coke put on his fake smile. "Then what are you going to use?" 'He surely has money to bet, right?'
"I have $10 with me," Emma replied casually.
What!
Emma's casual reply stupefied the crowd. How could someone with $10 come to Happy House? Is he nut? The crowd thought. Emma's stupidity baffled them.
Coke was becoming more annoyed with Emma's stupid behavior. He would have sent Emma away if there wasn't any crowd around. 'What a clown.'
"But I will place my Elementor phone S1 as collateral. What do you think?" Emma with fake proudness.
[But you don't have an Elementor phone.]
"They didn't know that," Emma replied in his head.
Hmm!
'S1! That's a good bargaining chip. It's more than enough.' Coke fake returned to his face. "Ok, put your phone here." Coke pointed to a tray.
"No can do." Emma rejected.
"Why!" Coked puzzled.
The turn of events surprised the crowd. They were watching the drama with interest. The ghettos barely have anything interesting and entertaining. That's why they come out in large numbers when they heard the Happy house was setting out their gambling store near them. It was just to keep them entertained. Barely did any one of them have any money to bet?
Meanwhile, Emma looked at Coke straight in the eyes. "Because that's how I lose my origin bracelet."
Coke furrowed. He squinted his eyes. After a thought, he asked. "What do you want?" 'I can't let him return with that S1. It must be mine.'
He was already blinded by greed. All his thought was how to get more commission from the area of the ghetto. And he would do anything to achieve that.
Hearing this, Emma smiled. His plan worked. The robust Coke had walked into his trap. Instantly the smile on Emma's face disappeared. "Mr. Coke, This is what we'll do. I'll hold to my phone. When I lose in the gambling. I'll give you my phone. Surely, you know I can't escape from your house, right?"
"Sure, you don't dare," Coke said in disdain. 'Who would try to escape from the house. Unless you're tired of living.'
"Good! So you don't have to worry about me running."
"Ok. Let begin"
What!
The crowd was stupefied when they realized Emma was about to start without depositing any money. They rolled their eyes. This was the first. The iron rules of the house were Deposit before you begin.
"What happens to the house iron rules?"
"How would I know?"
"Can we now gamble without any money now?"
"You can try"
"Shut up! The first stage is about to begin."
Instantly, the crowd was quiet. They fixed their gaze on the projected screen, watching Emma's every action.
"Do you see the cup?" Coke pointed to the cup on the screen. "It will be covered and then reshuffle with the others. You are to find the cup." Coke paused and looked at Emma. "Do you understand?"
Emma nodded.
"Good! Start" Coke commanded.
Instantly, the cup on the screen was covered and started to shuffle with the others, covered in a blue square. Shortly, the shuffle stopped.
Seeing the multitude of squares on the screen. The crowd took a deep breath. A young woman among the crowd asked no one in particular.
"How could one locate a single cup in the middle of that?"
The crowd ignored the obvious stupid question. They stared at Emma, anticipating his move.
Meanwhile, Emma was talking to Lily.
[This's quite dumb. It's easier than I taught.]
"Un Hmm. I don't know it would be this easy. This is just simple Math. Should I pick the answer directly?"
[No, it would seem easy and probably you're cheating. They may not let you continued. So pretend you're thinking about it.]
"Lily, you're the best."
Emma pretended. He placed his hand on his lip, thinking. He stumped his foot on the ground. He wiped of the illusory sweats on his forehead. He looked at Mr. Coke.
"Could you make it easy? This is quite hard."
Coke put on a fake concerned face. "Sorry. This is the game. It can't be changed." 'Um-hmm. The S1 is mine.'
Emma turned to look at the crowd with worry. Seeing this, the crowd felt empathy for Emma. But they could do nothing for Emma.
"What a poor boy" An old woman sighed.
[Enough of your charade.]
"How's my acting?"
[Hurry, it getting late. You don't want to sleep outside right?]
"You're right. Let me perform my magic."
"Mr. Coke, can I chose another one" Emma enquired again.
Mr. Coke shook his head.
Emma sighed and shook his head. "Then, I will just try my luck."
"I chose this." Emma pointed to a square box.
Seeing this, Coke smile. 'Finally, he made his decision.' "Are you sure?" He sounded concerned.
Emma nodded. 'Are you kidding me? That's the cup. If I'm not sure. Then what.'
"Ok." Coke nodded his head.
The blue square that Emma pointed to turn yellow. Then slowly, it changed and show what was underneath. Everyone in the area held their breath. They were looking at the screen in a daze.
The square finally shows what was underneath. And behold there was a cup.
What!