996 Card Game (1/2)

After entering the East Balam Military Veterans Mess, Klein handed his cane and hat to his valet, Enuni, only to see Colonel Calvin of the Loen Kingdom's Ministry of Defense wearing an army uniform, waiting at the foyer with a glass of red wine in hand.

This long-faced officer smiled as he raised his cup at Dwayne Dantes.

”Long time no see.”

”It really has been a while.” Klein smiled as he walked over.

Colonel Calvin immediately offered his right hand.

”Congratulations. You did pretty well. Everyone was very pleased.”

”I was very pleased as well.” Klein used a Loen-styled euphemism to express his pleasure in cooperating. He then shook hands with him.

Calvin retracted his arm and glanced at Macht before he said with a laughing sigh, ”Back when you first introduced Dwayne, I was quite distrustful of your judgment, but now I understand how you're a Member of Parliament.”

”Anyone who interacts with Dwayne can easily tell that he's an expert at this,” Macht accepted the colonel's approbation with the same Loen-styled euphemism.

Calvin retracted his gaze, sipped some red wine, and smiled at Dwayne Dantes, asking in passing, ”How much did you earn this time?

”Don't worry, I won't raise prices in the future because of it. I'm simply curious.”

”20,000 pounds in gold,” Klein gave the midpoint value as an answer.

In actual fact, he had earned 25,000 pounds, but after paying Miss Messenger 10,000 pounds for ”Her” services, he had only earned 15,000 pounds.

Calvin nodded.

”Not bad. If you need to convert those gold bars into gold coins, I can introduce you to someone from an imperial mint factory.

”How was it? Did you notice anything abnormal around Maysanchez's area?”

Klein said directly without thinking, ”Yes!

”There was a place called Revival Square under his control that was destroyed by lightning.”

”That, I'm aware of,” Calvin replied with a rather heavy expression.

But you probably do not know that the person before you was the one who created the lightning... Klein smiled and then said, ”Also, Maysanchez seems to be maintaining a fragile balance among many factions, but in actual fact, he has already secretly aligned himself with a particular faction. Of course, I'm not exactly sure who it is.”

He had no intention of betraying the Church of the God of Knowledge and Wisdom. All he did was divulge a little to win the trust of the Loen military.

”The only thing that can be confirmed is that it isn't us,” Calvin nodded and said with a deep look in his eyes.

”It's unlikely to be Intis.” Klein helped him eliminate one of the wrong choices.

Calvin tersely acknowledged.

”That isn't a bad thing either. The few factions surrounding Maysanchez are supported by Intis. If he wishes to expand, there's no way he can circumvent them. When the time comes, perhaps we will have more arms sales on our hands.”

With that said, he offered a toast.

”Holy Lord of Storms, to riches for everyone.”

As believers of the Evernight Goddess, Klein and Macht smiled in response without giving a direct answer.

After taking another sip of red wine, Calvin pointed at the second floor.

”Dwayne, I brought you here today to play cards with a VIP. Texas Hold'em.”

”Which VIP?” Klein asked with piqued interest.

Calvin's expression turned solemn as he said with an unobvious smile, ”Admiral Amyrius. He has been given a post and is currently in charge of the Ministry of Defense.”

Admiral Amyrius... The admiral whose younger brother was stripped of his post as governor-general, had his mistress corrupted by the Mother Tree of Desire, and ended up losing his post as highest commander of the Central Sonia Sea's navy? I've worked with him before and even pretended to be him for some time... Indeed, when it comes to a demigod, as long as they didn't screw up too badly, and if they are willing to hold it in, they will always be able to step out of the nadir... Klein recalled everything that had happened at Oravi Island, turning wistful.

Towards Admiral Amyrius Rieveldt, he still felt some guilt towards him. Although most of what happened back then didn't have anything to do with him, his mistress's anomaly was ultimately a result of the Mother Tree of Desire's wish to control him.

”That is to say that our future cooperation requires His Excellency's approval?” Klein asked in enlightenment.

”That's how it is.” Calvin nodded and pointed up the stairs. ”Let's head on up.'

When they arrived at the second floor, they stopped in front of a pair of dark red double doors. Calvin turned his head to glance at Dwayne Dantes.

Your mission today is to lose money.”