I Picked Up the Trash Others Threw Away - Chapter 37.2

Chapter 37.2

I repeatedly shuffled the cards in silence as I listened to their conversation.

It seemed like a simple gesture, but as they said, if you understood the characteristics of Hwatu, it would be possible to hide as many cards as you wanted and cheat.

Cheaters would inevitably appear if Hwatu became popular. How would Moonlake deal with that?

‘He said that I just need to do my job as the dealer, so it should be fine if I don’t get involved even if the players cheat.’

The strange tension felt throughout the game was not just my imagination, but as the game gradually approached the end, the three people gradually became more serious and less talkative.

“The winner of the first game is this lady.”

The first game of Hwatu ended with the victory of the noblewoman.

“Shall we go straight to the second game?” she suggested, hiding her smile under the fan, which she elegantly fluttered in front of her face.

“Hm, as expected, no one can match the Lady’s learning ability. Did you understand the rules in this short time?”

“It’s a game where you have to use your head while thinking about the points you want to make rather than relying on luck.”

“But the cards you get are also a very important matter.”

Contrary to my concerns, the three of them focused on enjoying the game without causing much trouble. I, too, remained faithful to the role of being the game dealer.

When the three games were over, as Moonlake’s staff had told me earlier, they stood up at the same time.

“Do you wish to continue?”

“This is enough for a test. You seemed nervous but you didn’t stutter or falter. By my standards, you’re accepted.”

“Sorry?” I asked back, surprised by the oldest gentleman’s answer.

The noblewoman next to him laughed and explained.

“When we bring in a new dealer, we always have a test. However, we don’t tell the person. It should feel like a real game. In particular, Hwatu is a new game coming to Moonlake, so the manager asked us to be thorough.”

At the same time as I wondered if I was that untrustworthy, Seraph’s face came to mind.

Of course, from the manager’s point of view, it was necessary to check whether the new person had the right skills for the role.

However, I didn’t expect him to secretly watch me as I did my job as the dealer, or even test me without telling me anything. I felt my impression of him plummeting.

The three thanked me for the delightful game and left the room.

As I gathered the Hwatu cards, I couldn’t help but criticize Seraph for not informing me of this fact.

“Isn’t trust important even in a contractual relationship? I don’t like this, really.”

“I apologize if I’ve disappointed you, Lady.”

“What? When did you come in? You didn’t even knock.”

As if he heard me talking behind his back, Seraph suddenly appeared in front of me.

I almost dropped all the cards I had gathered on the floor. He must have been listening quietly behind the closed door, given that he appeared at the right moment without making a single sound.

I looked straight at him with a hardened face. We were both wearing masks, so we couldn’t see each other’s expressions, but surely, he could tell how dissatisfied I was from the pout on my lips.

“Who wouldn’t find it ridiculous when first, you were secretly monitoring me, and then, you summoned me here to manage the game that turned out to be a test? Why were you even tailing me?”

“I wasn’t tailing you. I can’t openly send a letter to the lady, so I just asked my employees to pass along the invitation over a meal. I guess their awkwardness gave them away.”

Since I couldn’t see his expression, I didn’t know if this man’s words were true or false. He was sly, never showing his real intentions—typical of someone who operated in the underworld.

It was better to deal with a man like Trish, who was good by nature.

Would I be able to get along with this man in the future, when I couldn’t even determine whether he was an ally or an enemy?

“… So? Did I pass your test?”

“All three of them agreed that you’re fit for the role, so I would like to officially welcome the Lady as a dealer at our casino. Could you give us an alias to use here, if you don’t mind?”

I quickly thought of the most common female name that I could use here.

“Jane, please call me Jane.”

“Jane… A plain name, unlike the Lady herself. Alright.”

As if asking for forgiveness for the rudeness of his past actions, Seraph lightly lowered his waist, then took my left hand and placed a kiss on the back.

Like a knight’s oath of allegiance to a lady, or a token of trust.