Reborn as a Hatrack in the Mystical Land-Chapter 745 - 14: Ring of Kings

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"Dongzi, do you have anything left? One more round, and we might just turn this around?" Luo, who was only left in a pair of trousers, was in the same plight as Qin Dongting, who was also down to his last trousers.

Both of them stood in front of the gambling table at the Ten-Thousand Treasures Pavilion, looking utterly dejected. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"I’ve got nothing left. You already owe a hundred thousand Dark Pills," Qin Dongting said, staring at the mountain-like pile of chips that had been moved away from them.

The two were captivated by the bustling crowd and the golden chips made of gold piled upon the gambling tables as soon as they stepped into the Ten-Thousand Treasures Pavilion.

Having never been in such a spectacle, they were dazzled and, astonishingly, won a hundred thousand Dark Pills.

Now Luo was pumped with energy, he summoned the enthusiasm he had when he first took on a mission, rolled up his sleeves, and played ferociously from both sides; soon after, their wealth surged, and they won another four hundred thousand-plus Dark Pills.

Seeing this, Qin Dongting tried to persuade him to quit while ahead, but Luo wouldn’t listen and insisted on pushing their luck further.

He increased the stakes, from a few thousand per bet at first to tens of thousands, and even a hundred thousand per bet, but it seemed as if their luck had run out, and the golden chips before them gradually diminished.

On the final bet, Luo went all-in with a hundred thousand Dark Pills, hoping to recoup his losses in one fell swoop, but the banker opened with a sweepstake, wiping out his chips and causing him to lose another hundred thousand Dark Pills in the process.

The two gambled away all their Battle Armor and were left with nothing but their underpants. In this state, they would probably not even make it out of the Ten-Thousand Treasures Pavilion’s entrance, let alone go to the Mercenary Guild to register.

"This is terrible. We’ve not only lost but now can’t even afford trousers. Dongzi, I can’t go on like this. If word of this embarrassment gets out, Violent Moon will strangle me to death," Luo said with a woeful face, clutching his head and squatting next to the gambling table, ignoring the pointing and whispering of the other gamblers, almost ready to smash his head into the table leg.

Qin Dongting took a deep breath and, in full view of the crowd, he bowed slightly towards the stout banker on the gambling table: "My name is Qin Dongting, this is my companion Luo. It’s our first time in your esteemed establishment, and we’ve had a bit of bad luck, losing all our money and clothing. We kindly ask that you grant us a favor for the time being by returning our clothes. We are willing to leave our Mercenary Manuals and badges and promise to bring money to redeem them in three days."

The Mercenary Manual and badge are symbols of a mercenary’s identity; without them, the two could not accept tasks. Qin Dongting had thought the other party would surely agree to such terms.

To his surprise, the banker from the Ten-Thousand Treasures Pavilion merely snorted in disdain and shouted to someone behind him.

Two attendants from the Ten-Thousand Treasures Pavilion brought over a large chest. The skilled banker casually placed it on the chest, pushed down, and with a thud, the dust-covered large lock on the chest cracked open, revealing it to be filled with various Mercenary Manuals and badges.

With a resonant and breathy voice, the banker said: "Lads, don’t put on an act here. I’ve been at the Ten-Thousand Treasures Pavilion long enough to have seen all sorts. Everyone pleads poverty before me, claiming they’ll pawn their Mercenary Manuals and badges and come back for them in a few days. But what happens? As soon as they leave the Ten-Thousand Treasures Pavilion, they vanish without a trace. Let me tell you straight — even if you pawned your wives and mothers here, it would be futile. If you don’t come up with the money you owe, no one is leaving today."

Having said that, a dozen nimble mercenaries instantly sprang out from his side, each with eyes shining green, barely able to restrain themselves from ripping Qin Dongting and Luo Compass apart and swallowing them whole.

"Dongzi," Luo Compass was truly frightened. He now saw clearly when the banker casually waved his hand earlier, the dark energy that accompanied it was no less powerful than a Dark Heavenly Master.

On the continent, any casual Dark Heavenly Master was a personage eagerly sought after by all countries, so why would one be hiding in a mere underground gambling den and taking up the trade of banker?

The two of them had now become the perfect dupes, ready to be slaughtered at will.

Luo Compass was filled with regret, and Qin Dongting also had a face of difficulty.

With their abilities, they were more than a match for Dark Practitioners with Dark Earth Cultivation, but in front of this master, whose abilities were between a Small Achievement of Dark Heavenly and Dark Heavenly Great Success, they weren’t so confident.

Besides, losing money in a gambling den, repaying debts, is an incontrovertibly righteous matter. The two had no solid evidence to clarify that the gambling house was cheating, and even if they made a scene, it would only damage the reputation of the July Mercenary Team.

However, the banker glanced at Luo Compass, whose face was ashen, and Qin Dongting, who looked utterly wooden, then nonchalantly moved his gaze towards Qin Dongting’s hand and said, "Kid, you’re called Qin Dongting, right? I remember on the recommendation list for the Mercenary Newcomer King Competition, there was someone with that name. Judging by the ring on your hand, it seems to be you."

"Yes, that’s him, that’s him," Luo Compass suddenly revitalized like the returning light before death, instantly regaining his spirit. He had forgotten that Qin Dongting was one of the recommended candidates for the Newcomer King Competition, and that made him a bit of a celebrity.

"Since that is so, don’t say I’m not giving you a chance. Let’s gamble once more, this time with that ring on your hand as the wager. If you win, not only will I return your battle armor and Dark Pill Card but also add a bottle of Holy Mirror Spring. However, if you lose, the battle armor will still be returned to you, but your ring will stay with the Ten-Thousand Treasures Pavilion," a ring of a Mercenary Newcomer King candidate, which was worth its weight in gold.

According to the regulations of the Mercenary Newcomer King Competition, candidates recommended for the registration of the ranking matches must verify their identity with a Mercenary Ring to register; otherwise, they would not be acknowledged in any way.

This practice of recognizing only the ring and not the person, after being melodramatically spread by some, quickly became known across the continent.

Knowing that the Mercenary Newcomer King Competition and Xuyang Trial are held jointly, which is a rare occurrence on a centennial basis, the qualifications and rewards for participating and winning are unprecedentedly generous.

Qin Dongting came to Geyue Town aboard the Titan, following Yue Jinghua, which to some extent spared him from many unnecessary assassinations. He was unaware that several young mercenaries who had received the rings had been killed en route by unknown assailants, all for the purpose of seizing such a ring.

Qin Dongting looked at the Dark Heavenly Master and then at the ferocious mercenaries that gathered around. He had no choice but to accept his fate, didn’t he?

He slowly removed the ring that symbolized honor and gently placed it on the gambling table: "I agree to use this ring as the bet, but I have one condition. No matter the outcome of the gamble, I only pledge this ring."

To pledge meant there was still a possibility of redemption.

Even if they lost, they could still redeem the ring.