Hey! Wait, Ryan! Wait a second!"
While Rafn was busy thanking the shopkeeper, Ryan had already surged far ahead. Consequently, Rafn kept sprinting after him, struggling to catch up.
Huff... puff... huff... puff...
"Can't you hear me? I told you to wait! Why are you in such a rush?"
Rafn asked this while gasping for breath. He assumed Ryan was annoyed by what had just happened, but the expression on Ryan's face suggested otherwise, leaving Rafn utterly bewildered.
"Ryan, what's so funny? Stop it. You should look at your face in a mirror—it looks hideous with that expression."
Despite Rafn's words, that look did not fade from Ryan's face at all; in fact, it only made the situation more suspicious. Ryan suddenly turned toward Rafn, who was still panting behind him, yet that peculiar grin never left Ryan's face.
"Hehehe... Hahaha! Rafn, look! This... this is what true happiness means!"
Ryan pulled out a small pouch. Rafn didn't know what was inside at first, but for a moment, he realized something.
"Wait... look... just a moment! Is that pouch... does it contain exactly what I'm thinking of right now?"
"HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!"
Ryan's laughter erupted like an explosion. Hahaha! This was the first time Rafn had ever seen Ryan act this way. Was he being disgusting or repulsive? Both, I suppose, Rafn thought.
"Hehe! I gave that old hag counterfeit money! Hahaha! Did you see that? You should take me as your role model, Rafn!"
"What? Impossible! We have to go back immediately!"
Rafn's words were truly incomprehensible to Ryan. Go back where? We are already heading back anyway.
Rafn: "No, what I mean is we must go back and give the shopkeeper the actual money."
Rafn's words felt like a dagger piercing through Ryan's heart.
"Huh? You're saying we should go back to that old hag? This is her reward for trying to swindle children like us!"
"No, no, stop! You are not a child! What kind of child would do what you just did? You are acting wrongly. Here, give me the money; I will return it to her myself."
Ryan: "Tsk, tsk. It seems you haven't understood a thing, Rafn. This money belongs to me now—to me alone. I am the one who got it, not you. By what right do you try to force me to return it?"
Rafn: "And by what right do you steal people's money? Fine, do whatever you want from now on. I will not be your partner in anything you do, do you understand?"
After Rafn finished speaking, the tone Ryan used changed; it became soft, seemingly delicate and full of emotion.
Ryan: "Hey... Rafn... are you alright?"
Such a question, asked in that tone at that moment, was confusing for Rafn.
"Huh? What do you mean by me being 'alright'? I am fine! You are the one who is not okay!"
But that tone quickly shifted into a sharp, ear-piercing pitch. The voice Ryan used to address Rafn after that was like a high-pitched, grating screech.
Ryan: "RAAAAAAFNNNNN! What are you talking about? What did that old hag do to you? Answer me!"
Ryan began inspecting Rafn's body from his toes to his head. This behavior did not please Rafn at all, and he appeared extremely annoyed.
Rafn: "Hey, Ryan, stop! What are you doing? I told you to stop! Tsk, fine, do as you wish. I won't force you either."
Thus, Rafn departed in a fit of rage at his friend's actions. But this did not deter or discourage Ryan; instead, he basked in those moments as if he had won a great war, rather than just a few silver coins.
Meanwhile, Carlos had returned to the same inn where they had stayed the night before last, hoping to find a vacant room. As soon as he arrived, he knocked and entered.
"Hello?"
Upon seeing him, the innkeeper shot Carlos a look that held no goodwill. Carlos was aware that getting a room here again would be difficult, but he had no other choice.
Carlos: "Old man, I need a room for three people."
The innkeeper did not answer his question; instead, he remained silent for a short while. When he finally spoke, he said: "There are no vacancies. Look somewhere else."
Ah, I already knew it. This old man is still bitter about what happened yesterday morning.
Carlos tried to show some extra friendliness toward the old man.
Carlos: "Come on, old man, we are in a real bind. We are willing to pay double the price if you wish. Is there truly no vacant room?"
Despite all the incentives Carlos used, the old man remained stubborn.
At that exact moment, someone burst into the place, kicking the door open as he entered. However, his facial expression was very strange. It was Ryan.
The moment Carlos saw him, he realized he no longer had a glimmer of hope for a room. He shouted at him: "RYAN! What do you think you're doing?!"
Surprisingly, Ryan paid him no attention. His gaze was fixed solely on the old man in front of him. The two continued staring at each other for a while, their looks being ones of pure challenge.
Ryan finally broke the silence, saying: "Are you the one they call Old Man Mario?"
Carlos's reaction was the most bewildered. "Mario? How do you know his name, Ryan? Don't start any unnecessary trouble!"
While Carlos was speaking, it was as if he were talking to a wall. The two continued staring at each other, until the old man decided to respond.
"Yes, I am Mario. But who are you? I don't think I'm famous enough these days for a boy like you to know my name."
On the other side, Ryan was stifling a smile, overwhelmed with joy. He spoke:
"Do you have any idea how famous you are in the Royal Capital, Arca? You are truly an amazing person. Your reputation is known by everyone, far and wide. I've always wanted to meet you, but considering you live in this isolated city... it's quite strange."
While Ryan stood there praising Old Man Mario, the two others nearby were completely ignorant of everything happening.
Who is this Mario? Carlos wondered.
Both the old man and Ryan turned to him at once, giving him a look of utter contempt. Old Man Mario ignored the matter, but Ryan did not.
Ryan: "Old Man Mario is a living legend walking on two feet, standing before us today. Don't you know he hasn't lost a single duel or bet in his entire life? He is the role model I look up to—the Legend of Gambling!"
Upon hearing this, all the grand images in Carlos's imagination regarding Mario were shattered.
"The King of Gambling? Hah... it seems I got excited for nothing. Tsk."
As Carlos turned toward the door to leave in annoyance, the old man addressed him:
"Wait. For the sake of your friend here, I will allow you to stay in this inn for free."
Despite Carlos's irritation, the offer was tempting. He ignored the absurdity, took Rafn with him, and headed up to the second floor, leaving Ryan and Old Man Mario downstairs.
"Hehe... Old Man Mario, I want you to teach me some of your legendary tricks."
"Hmm... Alright, boy. But first, tell me your name."
"Right, right. My name is Bryan, but you can call me Ryan as well."
"Hmm... Did you say Bryan? Isn't that name..."
Just as the old man seemed to be trying to recall something, Ryan interrupted him:
"Hey, old man, how about we have a match right now, and you can teach me through it?"
Old Man Mario loved the idea. "Oh, that's a wonderful idea!"
In response to the old man's answer, Ryan pulled out a pouch full of money—the same pouch that had been the subject of the earlier quarrel with Rafn. He placed it on the table and began facing the old man.
While Ryan was still spending his time with Old Man Mario, Carlos and Rafn were falling into a deep sleep, preparing to leave in the morning.
End of Chapter