Draw card!
Naoki spent her last point of experience to pull one more card.
**System:** Congratulations, Host has drawn the special ability card "Ghost Hand."
Ghost Hand? A pretty useful card it enabled all sorts of sleight-of-hand tricks.
And in a game like Bullfight, the best cards to manipulate were the tens, Jacks, Queens, and Kings.
Say you had three cards that made a Bull and your remaining two were a 7 and 8. The sum is 15, meaning a Bull 5 not great. But if you replaced that 7 with a 10, it instantly became Bull 8.
In the second round, even though Naoki had an excellent hand, she only won back one chip since Kayama had only bet one.
Current chip count: Naoki - 16, Kayama - 24.
Naoki sighed, gathered her five cards face-down, tossed them into the discard pile, and activated Ghost Hand. Silently, she palmed the topmost card a 10 and slipped it into her sleeve.
The motion was smooth and natural. Under Ghost Hand's effect, Kayama noticed nothing.
Why not steal a King? Simple Kayama had already drawn a King earlier. If he drew two more and Naoki showed up with a fourth King, she'd be exposed. But tens hadn't appeared yet. Swapping a ten was far safer.
The braided receptionist announced the third round.
Naoki's hand: 2, 8, Queen
Just from the first three cards, she already had a Bull. Good start.
Fourth card King.
Nice. Now for the fifth... please be high.
Fifth card Ace.
Naoki's face fell. In Bullfight, Aces were worth 1 the weakest value. She had Bull 1, the lowest possible valid hand.
Her disappointment was obvious. Kayama smirked. He checked his hand: 3, 6, King, 5, 5. Bull 9.
His lips twitched. Almost unbeatable.
From Naoki's reaction, she likely had a bad hand. Unless... she was bluffing?
Still, Bull 9 was strong. No way she had Bull Bull. He bet on that.
Naoki let out a small laugh and pushed all her chips forward.
"ALL IN."
A full bet of 16 chips.
If Kayama folded, that was fine too.
Kayama flinched. That bold move suggested a great hand... or was it a bluff?
He hesitated. Naoki had looked genuinely upset when she saw her cards.
Was it a trick?
If she *was* bluffing, he'd win it all.
His hand was strong. Why back down?
"I call."
He pushed forward 16 chips.
"Reveal," said the braided girl calmly.
Kayama spread his cards with a sneer. "3, 6, King, 5, 5. Bull 9."
Naoki lowered her gaze. Then she stood.
With her left hand, she folded her cards. Her right hand slammed the table.
Kayama flinched.
"You think Bull 9 means you've won?" Naoki grinned wickedly.
"You " Kayama choked on his retort, anxiety creeping in.
As both their attention locked on the sudden outburst, Naoki's left hand moved. With the Ghost Hand's boost, she swapped the Ace in her sleeve with the 10 she'd hidden earlier.
The switch took longer than the previous sleight. But the misdirection worked.
She fanned out her hand.
From Bull 1 to Bull Bull.
Kayama stared, stunned. Thunderstruck.
"No... impossible..."
He mumbled to himself. Losing all 16 chips crushed his confidence.
"What a thrilling match," the braided girl chuckled.
Down to just eight chips, Kayama didn't stand a chance in the remaining rounds.
Naoki, now with Ghost Hand enabling seamless swaps, easily outplayed him and won the match.
**System:** Congratulations, Host! You defeated livestock Kayama in Bullfight using skillful card manipulation without getting caught. Victory! Awarded 2 XP.
"Congrats. Cleaning duty at the Student Council building is all yours."
Winning the gamble was only one step forward.
There was still a long road ahead.
Though defeated, Kayama couldn't help but mutter, "How can someone that good be stuck doing janitor work like me?"
"Who knows?" the braided girl smiled, sensing something interesting on the horizon.
...
Finally, Naoki had a legitimate way into the Student Council building. But the real opportunity wouldn't come until Monday.
That's when the Council held their weekly executive meetings.
Everyone attended.
After several days of cleaning, the staff inside the building started to take vague notice of her.
Monday arrived.
Just after lunch, Naoki was called in.
"Hey, you go clean the main conference room. Meeting's at three."
"Coming!" Naoki grabbed a bucket, mop, and rag, heart pounding as she headed to the Council room she'd never been allowed to enter before.
Since this was the official meeting space, it was normally locked. Only Council officers had keys. She could only enter when tasked to clean.
It was just past 1 p.m. The meeting wouldn't start for two hours. Plenty of time to work.
The spacious conference room felt solemn the moment she stepped in. The design leaned minimalist, with deep, dark colors.
A long rectangular table stretched down the middle, flanked by rows of elegant black-violet wooden chairs.
At the far end stood a wide, plush seat facing the door raised above the rest. A throne.
Obviously the president's chair. Honestly, it looked less like a meeting and more like a royal court.
Even the room's layout screamed hierarchy.
Naoki scanned the space, then got to work.
She wiped down each chair and table, setting everything back in perfect order. Last step mopping.
When she reached the president's seat, she hesitated. The sofa-like chair looked expensive. Could she just wipe it with a rag?
It looked clean. Probably didn't need a new cover.
Then she caught a faint scent.
Lowering her head, the fragrance grew stronger.
Clearly, the same person had always used this seat. Their perfume lingered.
A person's preferred scent often reflected their personality.
Someone who favored a light, fresh fragrance probably didn't like heavy makeup. A bold, intense perfume suggested a more flamboyant nature.
Rare chance. Even though her current goal wasn't the Council President, collecting intel never hurt.
Naoki leaned in, trying to memorize the scent.
She'd compare it later and figure out the brand.
It wasn't strong, but it was distinct. A presence. The longer she inhaled, the dizzier she felt.
Just then
Footsteps. Rapid. Approaching the door.
Naoki jolted, practically rolling off the chair.
No way she could be caught doing something so suspicious.
If they kicked her out for this, all her efforts would go to waste.