章節 39: To Vizima
In the largest tavern of Floating Harbor, Wayne's grand gambling event reached its climax. In contrast to the gambling match the previous night, the news about the big game had spread far and wide. Almost the entire town's population flocked to the venue this afternoon to partake in the excitement.
The onlookers held their breath, eagerly following the developments of the game. The sheer number of participants exceeded the capacity of the large tavern, with even the brothel on the second floor unable to conduct business. Women dressed in flashy and revealing attire were sprawled along the staircase railing, engaged in hushed discussions about the grand event unfolding below.
Over a dozen soldiers strategically positioned themselves at the four corners of the tavern, gripping their weapons and observing the unfolding game with keen interest. Their expressions mirrored the astonishment shared by many.
Some onlookers who arrived late could only stand helplessly outside the tavern, sharing the lively atmosphere inside with the dense crowd through the windows.
Jaskier, adorned in flamboyant tights, clutched his lute passionately, singing and hollering to the crowd.
"Ding ding ding!"
"Victory streak! The witcher from the wolf school, Mr. Wayne, has won again."
"The prize money at the scene reached as high as 430 Oren."
"Are there any challengers left?"
"It was a legendary victory, a miracle worthy of an epic."
"If someone can put an end to his winning streak, that person will undoubtedly become the hero of Floating Harbor, eternally inscribed in its history."
"What are you waiting for? The lucky one might be you. Everyone anticipates your triumph."
"Come forward! As long as you possess an Oren and a Gwent deck, you have the chance to become that hero."
Encouraged by Jaskier's provocative flattery, some Gwent players who were initially hesitant due to Wayne's impressive match-winning streak regained their courage. A young businessman was the first to stand up, tossing an Oren onto the table, grabbing his Gwent cards, and sitting across from Wayne with a nonchalant smile on his face.
The new round of gambling began swiftly and concluded just as fast. In under 5 minutes, Wayne claimed a beautiful Gwent card from the defeated young businessman. However, another challenger promptly stepped up to take his place.
However, the residents of the floating port and the visiting tourists were just ordinary people. They weren't genuine Gwent card masters, nor did they possess a complete set of powerful rare cards like the wealthy businessman Levardon.
Wayne, on the other hand, had drawn a hundred cards from the losers during two consecutive days of bets. While his deck may have lacked those extremely rare and powerful cards, it had undergone numerous adjustments and reached a state of near perfection.
Wayne's Gwent card level, provided by the system, has also reached level four after numerous battles. With the added benefit of four points in luck, facing ordinary opponents in bets almost feels like cheating, as he can acquire any card he desires.
The duration an average player can withstand against him essentially depends on when Wayne decides it's time for them to fail. Despite Jaskier's encouragement that sparked interest among some Gwent players, witnessing Wayne defeat five consecutive challengers and achieve consecutive victories dissuaded anyone in the tavern from daring to challenge this formidable Gwent player any further.
The registration fee for an Oren is not expensive, but at least it can give people a few good meals. Rather than wasting it in vain, it is better to stay and do other things. Finally, after no one continued to challenge for more than ten minutes in a row, Jaskier flushed with excitement and announced in a high-pitched voice
"Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed residents of Floating Harbor," Jaskier proclaimed with fervor, "I hereby announce the conclusion of this unprecedented, earth-shattering Gwent card tournament. Our champion is none other than our wolf school witcher, Mr. Wayne.
In this grand gamble, he defeated over a hundred challengers consecutively without a single defeat. He has earned the title of a truly exceptional Gwent player."
"He shall become a legend in Floating Harbor, etched into the memories of all for ten, twenty, fifty, or even a hundred years. He is the true champion of Floating Harbor."
With those words, Jaskier set aside his lute, raised his hands, and clapped them together to capture everyone's attention. He then announced with enthusiasm, "Now, everyone, I have excellent news to share with you. You are in for a treat. Our champion of Floating Harbor is not only skilled but also a generous and kind soul. Since no one could claim the full prize, a whopping 430 Orens, he has decided to reward the tavern owner with half of the prize as a token of appreciation for everyone's enthusiasm."
"Starting today, every resident of Floating Harbor can enjoy a free glass of ale courtesy of the generous champion until the money is depleted. Let's all raise a cheer for this commendable act of generosity!"
Amid Jaskier's spirited encouragement, the surrounding residents erupted into excited cheers upon learning about the prospect of free beer for the next few days. Perhaps in the future, they might forget the Gwent master who won hundreds of Orens in the tavern, but the memory of the Floating Harbor champion who treated them to free ale would likely linger in their minds.
The lively atmosphere, however, proved to be short-lived. Shortly after the conclusion of the big game, the crowd began dispersing under the watchful eyes of the soldiers. With the night already upon them, the residents, content with their free ale, joyfully departed in small groups. Their satisfied expressions revealed the excitement of participating in such an entertaining competition.
Wayne and Geralt, mindful not to cause any trouble, had already packed their belongings, gearing up for an early departure the following morning to continue their journey.
Their next destination was Vizima City, the capital of Temeria, housing the king's palace and attracting a diverse population of nobles, wealthy merchants, soldiers, gangsters, and the impoverished. Vizima stood as the most affluent hub in Temeria, where a mix of peculiar events unfolded regularly, and there were a large number of commissions, which just needed to be solved by witchers like them.
Upon discovering that Geralt's next destination was Vizima, the poet Dandelion expressed a desire to accompany them. Jaskier shared a piece of news with Wayne and the group. The wealthy businessman Revardon, who had lost to Wayne at the gambling table, was set to depart with his caravan the following morning, heading for the same destination—Vizima.
Upon hearing the news, Wayne's eyes lit up, and he immediately said that he would talk to Levardon to see if he could take over the task of guarding. He didn't care about the poor reward, but because, moving with a large group of people, he could not only get a comfortable carriage, but also get some food.
The most important thing is that he can get a mission from Levardon. Wayne has always warned himself that if you want to become stronger, you must seize every opportunity to become stronger. The lifespan of a witcher is indeed very long, but if you don't seize the opportunity to increase your strength, you might turn into a corpse in an accident.
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