Die, Replay, Repeat

Chapter 287 - The Game of Shadows

A surge of excitement coursed through Ace of Spades as he processed the incredible feeling of being trusted. 'I'm," the one HE trusts the most out of all the Pokers?' 

That thought hit him like a thunderbolt. His heart raced, and for a moment, everything around him seemed to fade. 'I've' earned it!'

Filled with passion and commitment, Ace of Spades immediately declared, "Yes! I can do this! Don't worry, sir. Your secret is safe with me, no matter the cost!"

Fang Xiu glanced at Ace of Spades, who looked like he was ready to throw his life away in his excitement. 

In that instant, Fang Xiu's mind drifted to the future. He could almost picture it: Ace of Spades, captured, tortured in a grim interrogation room. 

No matter what pain he was subjected to, Ace of Spades would never break. His loyalty was unwavering, and the sparks in his eyes were proof of his resolve.

But Fang Xiu wasn't worried. His expression remained cold, and his voice remained even as he said, "I wasn't asking if you'd die for me. I'm asking if you can actually take Joker's place. Don't worry about keeping your secret—I've already taken care of that. You remember the piece of your flesh I got from you just now? Betray me, and you'll regret it."

The chill in Fang Xiu's words struck Ace of Spades like a bolt of ice. The terrifying powers Fang Xiu wielded, the ones he had barely begun to understand, filled him with both fear and awe. There was no doubt in his mind now—betraying Fang Xiu was not an option.

"Sir, you can count on me," Ace of Spades responded quickly, his voice trembling with respect, though still tinged with fear. "I'll make sure everything with the Pokers is handled when I get back."

Fang Xiu nodded, clearly pleased with the response. "You don't need to worry about anything about Zhou Qingfeng. I still have control over the new Joker appointment. The Pokers is on you now. You have one month to get everything back together. If you fail, I'll find someone else to replace you."

The weight of the responsibility crushed down on Ace of Spades. 

Apparently, Fang Xiu had taken care of almost everything for him, and now it was his turn to handle things below. If he failed, he would probably kill himself out of shame. 

"A month is plenty, sir. If I don't succeed, I'll bring you my head," Ace of Spades swore, his voice steely with determination.

Fang Xiu's eyes gleamed with approval. "Good. Since you're so loyal, I'll give you a little help. Cellar number 28 of the Royal Winery, go get it."

Ace of Spades furrowed his brow in confusion. "Sorry, sir, I don't understand. What does the cellar have to do with this?"

Fang Xiu gave him a piercing, icy look. "That's where Ace of Club keeps his prized wine collection. The man's obsessed with it. You know what to do next."

A flash of understanding crossed Ace of Spades' face. "Ah, I see, sir! I'll set a trap in the cellar and lure Ace of Club there. Once I take him out, one less rival."

Fang Xiu's voice cracked like a whip, sharp and filled with anger. "Idiot! I don't want you to wipe out all your competition. Think. You know how much Ace of Club treasures his collection. Why wouldn't you use that to your advantage? Make him support you for the position instead."

Ace of Spades froze, his face flushing with embarrassment. "You're right, sir. I'll do as you say."

"Good. Now go," Fang Xiu commanded, his tone dismissive.

Ace of Spades bowed deeply and disappeared into the shadows, eager to fulfill his orders.

Once he was gone, Fang Xiu's expression softened from anger to icy calm. He stood still for a moment, deep in thought. 'In one month, the Pokers will be mine.'

Turning, he began walking away. His ability to predict the future made personal guards unnecessary—unless, of course, he stayed away for too long. 

As he walked through a dimly lit alley on his way back, a figure caught his attention. 

Leaning casually against a wall, the man was tall, with short braids, wearing loose armor and a sword at his waist. 

A cigarette dangled from his lips, and he radiated an air of rebellion.

The man noticed Fang Xiu's approach and flicked the cigarette away before giving a slight bow. "Sir, it's an honor. I'm Gongben Teng'er from Isleland's Investigation Bureau. I look forward to working with you."

Fang Xiu paused, his gaze locking onto the stranger. He studied the man for a moment before coolly muttering, "Leave."

The polite greeting, offered in the middle of the night in a shadowy alley, felt insincere to Fang Xiu. No matter how cordial the stranger seemed, he knew it was all just a mask.

A playful, teasing voice rang out from behind Fang Xiu, breaking the stillness of the night.

"Heehee, Mr. Fang, you seem a little upset. Need some help cooling off?" 

Fang Xiu didn't flinch; in fact, he didn't even glance over his shoulder. His posture remained unshaken, his voice smooth and calm, as always.

"Now that you mention it, it's been almost a week since I've taken someone's life. Maybe today, I'll make an exception."

"Heehee..." A petite woman with a cherubic face and a pink robe stepped out from the shadows, her smile bright like a spring flower as she spoke. 

"Sir, don't rush. I know you're in the mood for a fight, but I doubt you'd stand a chance against me. We're here with good intentions, you know. We're here to invite you to Isleland as our guest."

The man standing next to her, with a serious face but a hint of mockery in his voice, added, "We already sent you an invitation and visited your headquarters, but sadly, we didn't get a response. So, we've been waiting here for you. If we've been rude, we ask for your forgiveness."

Fang Xiu turned his head slightly, his voice low but laced with icy sarcasm. "Are you done with your little speech?"

The two of them froze, their eyes meeting in confusion before both burst out laughing.

"Chief Commander Fang, you certainly have a sense of humor," the woman said, still chuckling. "But it seems like you're not interested in cooperating. That's fine. However, we were just strolling around and happened to overhear something we shouldn't have."

Her smile twisted into something far more dangerous as she continued, "Who would've thought that the Chief Commander is secretly a member of the Pokers? Surely, you wouldn't want Huaxia Investigation Bureau to find out about that, would you?"

Fang Xiu's expression remained unreadable, even as their laughter echoed in the alley. A small smile tugged at his lips. It had been a while since anyone had dared provoke him directly. It was almost... refreshing.

"Do you hear what you're saying?" Fang Xiu asked, his voice still calm but with a steely edge. "You think that I, the one who saved the headquarters, am some undercover agent for the Pokers?"

The woman giggled at the sarcasm in his tone, completely unfazed. "Yes, when we first heard that, we were shocked. But sometimes, truth is stranger than fiction, don't you think, SIR?"

Fang Xiu's lips curled into a cold, cruel smile. "You're right. I AM an undercover agent for the Pokers. In fact, not just an agent—I'm the leader of the Pokers. Feel free to spread that around."

Without waiting for their reaction, he turned and began walking away, his pace steady and unhurried.

The two of them exchanged another confused look, clearly taken aback by his cool response. 

"Sir, there's no need to bluff," the woman called after him, her voice still light but now edged with suspicion. "I don't believe for a second that you're not worried. And by the way, I've recorded everything you just said. I've got the evidence."

Fang Xiu didn't even slow his stride. "You can fake recordings. Next time, try video."

His words were calm, unbothered—because he knew the truth. They didn't have anything on him. No one would believe them, not with the reputation he had built over the last few months. 

As "the Foreseer," Fang Xiu's words were gospel.

Translator's note: Looking forward to seeing Fang Xiu traveling around the world.