Chapter 183 Interdimensional Texas Hold'em
"Henry, Mila and Emily have been gone for four days. Why haven't they returned yet?" Ellie pouted, a lollipop in her mouth, her hazel eyes squinting as she looked out the study window at the gathering crowd in the square.
It's another day for recruiting workers. Most of them were people Henry brought back from Hyratos, including orcs and commoners.
Some were just observing, while others quickly found work. Today was the last batch.
If they still didn't want to work, they'll have to wait for the next recruitment. The Lord's Manor won't support those who were lazy and unproductive.
"It won't be that quick. The four days are calculated based on Mila and Emily. If they managed to persuade the orcs from the tribe, it would take at least one more day with a larger group. They should be back tomorrow," Henry said, without looking up from the documents in his hand, occasionally making corrections with a pen.
"Will they be in danger?" Ellie asked, a hint of worry in her voice. Though she had expressed her trust in Mila, she was genuinely concerned.
"Don't worry. I've already sent David with the archers into the mountains, and Gabriel is with them. If my estimation is correct, they should have met by now," Henry reassured, putting down his pen and looking at the fox-eared girl with a furrowed brow. "Don't worry. Let's play a game!"
"A game?" Ellie turned to Henry, her curiosity piqued. "What game, Henry?"
Seeing Ellie's attention drawn, Henry opened the bottom drawer of the desk and took out a small wooden box.
"This is a poker game played with cards," he explained.
Henry stood up, holding the box, and came to the table in the center of the study, motioning for Willow, who was studying recipes, to come over. Ellie was curious for it.
As for Tess, upon hearing that Henry wouldn't leave the castle today, she followed Charles to the military camp during the morning training, showing her restless nature.
"Willow, what is a poker game?" Willow closed the recipe book, her gray eyes full of curiosity. This was the first time Henry had played a game with them.
"A very fun game," Henry smiled. He also noticed that the beast-eared girls were restless, often daydreaming or snacking when they had nothing to do.
So, before he returned to Earth, he had someone customize a special deck of cards, with patterns he found online, including knights, orcs, commoners, and nobles.
"Let's get started!" Ellie eagerly looked at the box.
"Okay!" Henry opened the box and took out a delicate deck of cards. Since it was customized, it was relatively expensive due to the small quantity.
Henry explained the rules, pointing out the suits and characters on the cards. Ellie and Willow quickly took notes, their eyes shining with excitement.
Ellie and Willow quickly took out their notebooks, eagerly jotting down notes, their eyes shining as they looked at the exquisite patterns on the cards They were full of eagerness to try the game.
"Henry, let's get started, I want to play," Ellie's slender hand tapped the table.
"Yes, Henry, let's begin," Willow glanced at the wooden box, which still contained several decks of cards.
"Don't peek, each of you take a deck," Henry rolled his eyes and quickly shuffled the cards.
"Yeah! Henry is the best," Willow exclaimed, pulling the wooden box to her chest and taking out a deck of cards, giving Ellie another one.
"Great!" Ellie took the deck and put it in her backpack, afraid that someone would take it from her.
"Let's start!" Henry dealt the cards, then arranged his own hand, watching the two of them busy with a smile on his face.
"Henry, wait, I'm not ready yet!" Ellie hurriedly held the cards, her hazel eyes glancing at the notebook from time to time.
"It feels so difficult," Willow said, holding the cards and looking at the notebook, occasionally dropping one.
After three minutes, Ellie and Willow finally had understood this game, looking at Henry with serious expressions. Three of them were playing Texas Hold'em.
"I'm coming!" Henry struggled to hold back his laughter and laid down two cards.
"I'm in!" Ellie exclaimed hurriedly, fumbling with the cards and accidentally dropping a few.
"I'm in too!" Willow immediately placed her prepared cards on the table.
"No!"
"I'm in," Ellie hastily threw down her cards again.
"What?" Willow paused, one hand holding onto the fox ears of Ellie, shouting, "Silly, we're on the same team."
"Really?" Ellie tilted her head, glanced at the rules on the notepad, and quickly tried to take back her cards.
"No, once the cards are played, there's no turning back," Henry lightly tapped the fox girl's hand.
Ellie pouted, feeling embarrassed as she glanced at Willow with narrowed eyes, her heart skipping a beat.
In this chaotic situation, Henry win the first round easily, going on to win twelve more in a row.
After thirteen rounds, Ellie and Willow had grasped the game. Henry now had to rely on luck to win.
"Willow, is your pizzeria not ready yet? When will it open?" Henry asked.
"We'll open when Mila and Emily come back," Willow said, nudging Ellie with her foot.
"Pass!" Ellie exclaimed.
Henry was surprised. Ellie usually played her cards right away, but now she seemed to be learning.
Willow gave a sly smile and asked, "Will you come when we open, Henry?"
"Pass!" Henry had a bad hand this time. It seemed like he was going to lose. He added, "Of course, then I'll have a taste of the signature pizza in the shop!"
Willow replied, "Surely you won't be disappointed!"
Then her mouth curled up, she grabbed a large stack of cards and played, "A straight!"
"Pass!" Henry replied reluctantly.
Ellie shouted, "Yeah! We won, Willow! We finally won."
Were they this happy just because they won? Henry smiled, don't think he didn't know what the two of them were up to down there, especially since it was his foot that Willow accidentally tapped.
