The Old Gambler's Plea (2)

Jemison gazed at Du Chen with hopeful eyes. "This... how about this?" Du Chen offered, "What if I help you win back everything you've lost?"

Were it anyone else, Du Chen would have dismissed him outright. But Jemison was an oddity, and Du Chen still vividly recalled the peculiar itch in his backside after helping the professor settle his gambling debts and cover his meal expenses last time.

Truth be told, Du Chen secretly wished Jemison would lose money more often, just so he could step in to help—it was practically a cheat code for accumulating good deeds!

Yet Jemison shook his head repeatedly. "That would still take a few days. That old devil Pied has gone mad, closing his casino for 'rectification.' Now I've nowhere to win back my fortune!" He clutched Du Chen's hand, smearing oil paint across his arm, and pleaded, "I can't find Pied or Kristina anywhere, Francis, please, just let me stay here for a few days!"

"Do you have nowhere else to stay?"

Under Du Chen's gaze, Jemison looked a little embarrassed. He chuckled awkwardly, "No one is willing to take me in... Oh, no, it's that no one understands my passion for art!" Having said that, he squatted stark naked behind the tightly shut door, craned his neck, and declared brazenly, "That's how things stand, Student Francis, just give me a definitive answer!"

"Professor, I'll find you a room in a dormitory then!" Du Chen was utterly speechless, caught between exasperation and amusement by this seemingly deranged professor. However, keeping Jemison close was out of the question; after all, Du Chen had far too many clandestine affairs to hide lately.

He pulled out a gold coin and handed it to Jemison, saying, "I'll have Harry buy you some clothes later. Then, find somewhere suitable and settle down there."

The moment Jemison took the gold coin, Du Chen's backside tingled with an itch. <i>A gold coin well spent!</i> he thought.

Jemison, overflowing with gratitude, thanked him profusely and theatrically. Then, his gaze fell upon the gift Du Chen held, and he inquired, "My dear Student Francis, are you off to visit someone?"

A thought sparked in Du Chen's mind, and he hastily asked, "Yes, I'm going to visit my friend's teacher. His name is Roland. Do you happen to know him, Professor?"

"Roland? Oh, I'm not familiar with that madman, but the Old Charlatan divined his fortune some years ago, and they're quite chummy!" Jemison casually plucked the exquisitely packaged gift box from Du Chen's arms, pried open a crack, glanced inside, and chuckled. "Hey! Who prepared this gift for you? That fellow's sharp! To think he actually guessed what Roland likes!"

Roland was well-acquainted with Bovin, and Jemison was an even closer friend to Bovin. Du Chen's heart gave a jolt. He had underestimated Jemison. As the saying went, 'birds of a feather flock together,' and perhaps this Jemison was also a hidden master, playing the fool.

Considering this, Du Chen felt that the investment of one gold coin had yielded a colossal return.

"Is that so? It would be splendid if Sir Roland likes this gift. Professor, please find Harry to assist you; I'll change my clothes and be off shortly!"

Du Chen returned to his room, shed his oil-stained robe, and changed into a standard crimson Battle Mage's vestment. When he emerged, Jemison was still in the courtyard, using clear water to wash the paint from his body.

Observing Du Chen's new attire, Jemison pursed his lips and shook his head. "Hmm... not quite. You were most distinctive in white robes, much like a friend of mine!"

With that, he approached, rubbed his grimy hand on his own stomach, collected a patch of oil paint, then slapped it onto Du Chen's chest, beginning to sketch. "Ha, that looks much more pleasing to the eye!"

Du Chen looked down to see the peculiar symbol Jemison had imprinted on his chest. It resembled the small hook he used in his previous life for digging through coal to find loose change, but this hook was double-pronged. Despite Du Chen's mastery of various small tools, he couldn't discern its purpose.

Yet, it had to be said, Jemison truly was a skilled artist. Once his design was imprinted on the vestment, the crimson robe acquired an added touch of mystery, and when worn, it showed no trace of being out of place.

"Haha, many thanks for your artistic flourish, Professor Jemison. This attire certainly looks much better. Well then, I'll leave you to your business; I must depart!"

Roland resided at the Icy Jade Pool, located at the southern tip of Battle God Isle, precisely where the lower crescent of the moon-shaped island tapered and the Water River emptied into the sea.

Du Chen journeyed south along the Water River, traversing mountains and streams, all while carefully avoiding the academy's classified areas. It wasn't until noon that he finally reached the Icy Jade Pool. The arduous trek filled Du Chen with immense envy for those Battle Gods capable of flight.

Boom! Boom!

By the shore of the Icy Jade Pool, beneath the roaring cascade of the waterfall, an incessant, strange thrumming echoed. Du Chen approached and saw Aliza, whom he hadn't seen in days, bare-chested and relentlessly pounding a large bluestone slab on the ground with his fists. The bluestone shimmered with vibrant energies, clearly imbued with battle qi by Roland.

Not far from Aliza, Roland lay on a patch of weeds, eyes closed, basking in the sun.

"Hey, Young Master! Young Master has come to see me!" Aliza abandoned the bluestone and ran over.

A warmth bloomed in Du Chen's heart. Whether it was the emotions inherited from Francis or his own burgeoning affection, he felt an extraordinary closeness to Aliza, regarding him as a true younger brother.

As he ran, the simple-minded boy burst into a fit of bawling. "Young Master, Aliza has missed you terribly!"

Du Chen's heart throbbed with emotion, mixed with a hint of pity. The boy was good in every way, save for his rather dull wit. Even at sixteen, he was as dependent on his kin as a mere child.

Lost in thought, he was about to meet Aliza, when suddenly, Roland barked coldly, "Is your day's training complete? Get back there and continue smashing that stone!"

Aliza's steps faltered in fright. Du Chen waved a hand at him, smiling, "Sir Roland, I am Francis..."

"Begone! I have no interest in seeing you!"

Du Chen tapped the box in his hand, unflustered. He continued to smile, "Your student has brought a humble offering, a set of Jungle Chess. I wonder if it might pique your interest?"

"Chess?" Roland, still reclined on the weeds with closed eyes, waved dismissively. "Then speak a few words with Aliza and be off. Don't say I'm heartless later; bother us less when you have no pressing business! When you graduate, I'll surely grant you a Battle God-tier attendant!"

Du Chen secretly praised Shieb in his heart. That fellow truly knew how to get things done. He wondered how Shieb had conceived of such an eccentric gift, one that genuinely seemed to have pleased Roland.

After conversing with Aliza for a while and giving him the beef jerky he'd brought, Du Chen approached Roland. "Your Eminence, I have one more humble request, if you would..."

"Begone! Are you deaf!?" Roland shrieked, as if possessed by madness.

Next, he sprang up, snatched the Jungle Chess from Du Chen's hand, then pointed at the waterfall and snarled, "Boy, believe it or not, I'll toss you in there for a bath!?"

"Stop! Please don't be angry!" Du Chen cried out in alarm. He had come today with a purpose and absolutely could not leave empty-handed. Fortunately, he had already devised a strategy to deal with the madman on his way here. "Sir, I can depart, but the way I play Jungle Chess is rather unique. You..."

"New way to play? No interest! I prefer the nostalgic way!"

Roland was about to dismiss Du Chen again when, at that very moment, his lazy gaze flickered across Du Chen's chest, lingering for a fraction of a second on the double-pronged iron hook. He then swiftly turned and reclined back onto the weeds. "Hmph! I'm in a good mood today; speak your mind!"