Esper Harem in the Apocalypse

' `It's not cheating if you aren't caught. Cheating is fine as long as no one catches you.' Those are the words of a coward. It's not even about morals or ideals, it's about the undeniable thing.

Those who cheat are worthless and useless. I am not saying that; they themselves are proving that. I mean, why would one want to cheat? To win, obviously.

However, why do they need to cheat to win? Doesn't that mean they have no confidence in themselves that they would never win unless they cheat? Do they have no pride in themselves?

Even I am confident in myself. If I wasn't, my super luck wouldn't be working. When I say I don't want to cheat, I don't mean I am a good guy who doesn't want to do those things; I say it because I don't need to cheat. It's not about 'justice to your opponent' kind of shit, I just think they are worthless and useless pieces of shit.'

After changing his clothes, Rudy went to the stage and requested the dealer to start the finale right away, and they did.

Angelica had fallen asleep inside Rudy after they had a quickie in the changing room.

"What game would you like to play?" the dealer asked Rudy.

Rudy shrugged his shoulders and said, "I don't care about the game because I know I am going to win."

Rudy purposely made himself sound arrogant as he wanted to get on Leo's nerves. But that wasn't the only reason.

So far, in all the matches, Rudy had never selected a game, and he always let his opponent choose. That was his first step to asserting dominance over the opponent, and it had somehow become his signature move in the eyes of his fans.

"You said it!" Leo scoffed out loud and uttered, "I was waiting for you to say that!"

Leo turned to the dealer and said, "I want to play the same game we played."

'Heh. Stoooopid! You just dug your own game. Now see how I destroy you,' Rudy scoffed softly.

The dealer turned to Rudy and asked, "Are you okay with the card guessing game?"

"Of course. I am quite confident about my memory."

"Alright then. How much will you be betting?"

"Ask Mister Leo first."

"I know I am going to win, so I bet fifty million dollars!" Leo shouted at the top of his lungs so everyone could hear even though there were mics on the table and the stages.

'Right of the bat, huh? I have a little more than sixty-six million dollars, but I don't want to bet all of them,' Rudy uttered inwardly.

"I bet sixty million dollars."

"Ahahaha! You seriously don't get it, do you?" Leo slammed his card on the table and said, "Why do you think I am top #4 in the underworld ranking?!"

"I am not quite sure," Rudy said calmly. "I only pay attention to the top 3. Sorry."

Kill the enemy with kindness— that was something Rudy always wanted to try.

"You…" Leo clenched his fist and thought, 'I checked his ranking after he won the last match. He doesn't have more than sixty-five million dollars. If I bet more than that, I will automatically win!'

Leo tapped on his card and said, "I increased my betting amount to one hundred million dollars."

"Whoa! One hundred million?!" The crowd began to make noise.

"Even the winning amount of this tournament is fifty million, and he is betting one hundred million in a game?!"

"You idiot. Why do you think Leo is in the top 4? He doesn't fear anything. And no one can beat him in this game. He has already won this match!"

"But he is up against the 'Mad Gamber', you know? He shot up in the underworld ranking like crazy. And didn't you see his match with Roid?"

"Yeah, that was a bone-chilling game. I still can't believe he beat Roid."

"Come to think of it, isn't Leo doing the same thing Rudy did in his match with Roid?" someone asked.

"Now that you mention it… yes. He increased his betting amount more than the winning amount, just like Rudy did in his match with Roid."

"What's going on? Is Leo copying Rudy?"

"No, you asshole. Leo is at the top. He doesn't need to copy. I think Rudy copied Leo."

"What the fuck? That makes no sense."

'You worthless piece of shit…' Leo uttered inwardly as he heard someone comparing him with Rudy. 'Your opinion doesn't matter. What matters is my fame and money. It doesn't matter how I win. As long as I win, I don't care what people think of me. And everyone knows that no one looks at a loser.

Once I beat this arrogant outsider, I will rise even more in the underworld ranking and become top 3. I have finally come so close to achieving my dream. I just have to win this tournament, and then I will enter the top 3!'

Leo snickered at Rudy and said, "What will you do now?"

.

Rudy pondered for a while and took out the black card.

'This card…! He used it in his match with Roid too! But I couldn't see it clearly!' Leo's eyes widened when he saw 'Ross' written on the card.

"Call," Rudy said calmly.

The dealer called two staff members who helped her arrange the cards on the table.

"Wait a minute…" Rudy grabbed one of the cards and smirked at Leo before looking at the dealer. "Don't you think the cards should now be changed?"

"If you want that, then sure." The dealer clapped her hands, and another staff member brought a plate with various decks on cards.

Rudy glanced at Leo and smirked at him from the corner of his lips to let him know that he was aware of his trick.

Fear— that was something all the living beings had experienced. But no one would want to experience it again. However, they would have no choice or control over it, and they would encounter various fears throughout their lives.

Rudy just let Leo taste a bit of fear. Now, Leo was aware that Rudy knew he was cheating. Leo was going to play this match in fear that Rudy would expose him and destroy his career as a gambler.

Rudy had done what he had said. He had won the match even before it began.