บท 84: Chapter 67 edited
Le Chiffre takes his seat at the table, his gaze unwavering as Kage deliberately positions himself to face him. With a decisive motion, the banker closes his case, signaling the beginning of the high-stakes game. Mendel's smile radiates assurance as he addresses the players, "Gentlemen. When I return, one of you will be the winner of a considerable fortune. Good luck."
The players nod in acknowledgment, but Le Chiffre remains stoic, taking a quick puff from his inhaler. In that fleeting moment, his eyes betray a hint of vulnerability before quickly regaining their composure.
The dealer begins to distribute the single cards, announcing, "High card deals." A Jack lands in front of Kage, and as their eyes meet, a subtle tension fills the air. The dealer proceeds, assigning blinds for each player, while Kage meticulously observes their reactions, searching for any sign of weakness. Mathis's presence at the bar doesn't escape his notice as the game unfolds.
Fukutu folds, followed by Infante, who confidently declares, "Twenty thousand." Le Chiffre matches the bet with a calm demeanor that belies his strategic prowess.
Kage receives his cards – two red aces – and despite their strength, he maintains a poker face, acutely aware of Le Chiffre's piercing gaze. The players to his right fold, leaving Kage to confidently announce, "Twenty thousand."
Tomelli, the Italian player, relinquishes his cards as the dealer lays down the flop. While others focus on the community cards, Kage's attention remains fixed on his opponents, keenly observing their reactions. Gallardo remains neutral, but Infante's subtle disappointment doesn't escape Kage's perceptive eye. As the game progresses, the stakes grow higher, and the tension at the table reaches a palpable crescendo.
As Kage shifts his gaze to Le Chiffre, he notices the intense scrutiny mirrored in the Le Chiffre's eyes, both men silently assessing each other for any hint of weakness. With a confident smile, Kage glances down at the flop, revealing three hearts.
Gallardo and Infante both knock, signaling their decision to stay in the hand without raising the bet. Le Chiffre, however, fixes his gaze on the impassive Kage and boldly declares, "Fifty thousand."
An audible murmur ripples through the room at the substantial raise. Kage meets Le Chiffre's gaze, analyzing Le Chiffre's expression for any telltale signs of strength or deception. The intensity of the moment is punctuated by the subtle twitch of Le Chiffre's eye, swiftly concealed by a calculated gesture as he feigns contemplation.
Without betraying his own emotions, Kage confidently pushes fifty thousand into the center of the table, eliciting an even more pronounced reaction from the onlookers. It's clear that the stakes have escalated rapidly. Sensing the gravity of the situation, Gallardo and Infante fold their cards, conceding to the escalating tension between Kage and Le Chiffre.
As the dealer lays down the next common card, known as 'the turn,' Kage maintains his focus on Le Chiffre, disregarding the card itself. The tension in the room mounts as the card is revealed to be a 9, prompting a subtle yet telling reaction from Le Chiffre as his finger presses tightly against his cheek, betraying a hint of unease beneath his composed facade.
As Le Chiffre confidently raises the stakes to one hundred thousand, Kage's mind races with calculations and observations. He considers the implications of the pair now visible on the table and the subtle cues he's gleaned from Le Chiffre's demeanor.
Just as Kage is about to respond, his attention is momentarily diverted by the breathtaking sight of Lady Jaye entering the room, adorned in a stunning dress. Their eyes lock in a silent exchange, drawing Kage's focus away from the intense game unfolding before him. Lady Jaye's deliberate approach adds to the dramatic flair of the moment as she positions herself behind Le Chiffre, her gaze fixed on Kage.
With a quiet smile, Kage acknowledges her presence, "Hello dear. Weren't you supposed to enter so that the others could see you?" His tone carries a hint of amusement, tempered by the seriousness of the game at hand.
Lady Jaye returns his smile, her demeanor poised and confident as she responds, "Was I? My mistake. Good luck, darling." Her words carry a subtle reassurance, injecting a moment of warmth and familiarity into the tense atmosphere of the high-stakes game.
As Le Chiffre impatiently shuffles his cards, the dealer breaks the silence, addressing Kage, "Mr. Kage?"
With a smile, Kage momentarily snaps out of his thoughts and responds, "Oh yes, sorry." Without hesitation, he matches Le Chiffre's bet, his expression betraying none of the calculations racing through his mind.
As Lady Jaye joins Mathis at the bar, she inquires about Kage's progress in the game, asking, "How's he doing?"
Mathis, his attention focused on the intense gameplay, offers his assessment, "Kage? I believe he's drawing to a flush. He may already have the other two hearts, but so could Le Chiffre. Yet, he's the one pushing the bets up. He may even hold the other two nines. But I doubt it." Mathis concludes, his tone betraying a hint of uncertainty amidst the calculated speculation.
As the tension mounts, the dealer deals the final card, known as 'the river.' All eyes are fixated on the table, except for Kage and Le Chiffre, who remain locked in a silent standoff. The card, a 2 of hearts, is revealed, prompting a subtle shift in Le Chiffre's demeanor.
With deliberate slowness, Le Chiffre removes his hand from his face, revealing no sign of a tell or twitch. His voice is steady as he raises the stakes once more, declaring, "Two hundred thousand." The gravity of the moment hangs in the air as Kage and Le Chiffre continue their silent battle of wits, each player keenly aware of the high stakes at hand.
As Lady Jaye and Mathis watch Kage intently, the tension in the room reaches its peak. Every eye is fixed on the unfolding drama as Kage, with a decisive motion, pushes in two hundred thousand and declares, "Call."
Le Chiffre's facade of confidence wavers ever so slightly as he locks eyes with Kage, clearly taken aback by the unexpected turn of events. The dealer, sensing the gravity of the moment, addresses Le Chiffre, "Monsieur, you have been called."
Le Chiffre reluctantly lays his cards down, revealing a pair of black 2s. A palpable sense of anticipation fills the room as the dealer announces, "A full house to Monsieur Le Chiffre." With all eyes now on Kage, the dealer turns to him and prompts, "Monsieur Kage?"
As Kage shakes his head in resignation, he tosses his cards away, eliciting a buzz of astonishment from the spectators. Le Chiffre, unable to conceal his elation, swiftly gathers the chips, a glint of triumph gleaming in his eyes as he locks gazes with Kage.
In that moment of defeat, Kage was forcing Le Chiffre to reveal his hand with a pair of twos, Kage has metaphorically stripped the Le Chiffre bare, exposing the vulnerability behind his facade of invincibility.
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