Warriors will die if they charge.

A delicate violet scent dispelled the strong aroma of alcohol lingering in Marcus's nostrils. He loosened his oak glass, wanting to see who had interrupted his heated argument with his dwarf brother.

In the dim light, a tall woman wearing a mage's signature pointed hat stood beside the wine barrel. The shadow of the hat's brim covered her slender eyebrows and long, dark blue hair. Her eyebrows were lightly powdered, and her bright purple eyes were clear as water. She had thin lips and a pert nose.

Marcus unconsciously opened his mouth and looked down.

His rounded and delicate chin was the most perfect work of art he had ever seen. His neck was long and elegant, with a small gold pendant floating between his barely visible collarbone. His broad chest was even more towering than the Eternal Peak that the dwarf had mentioned.

So beautiful?

He coughed twice, turned his head, looked at Bading's bright red nose, and said in a stiff tone:

"Of course not, this is my treasure. And who are you? Are you here to cause trouble? My dwarf friend has a long axe and a short temper."

Bardin, rather perceptive, asked, "What does 'short' mean?"

"Perhaps you've misunderstood. Are you two adventurers?" The woman walked familiarly to the dwarf's side, lifted the hem of her linen travel robe, and sat down in an empty spot on the bench.

A pale hand with distinct knuckles emerged from the robe, pointing at the cloak of intelligence clutched in Marcus's hand:

"This should be a magical item. If you happen to find this cloak, I'd like to buy it for research purposes. How about 100 gold dir?"

100 Gold Deer!

Consumption in Linhe Town has risen significantly in recent years due to the influx of adventurers, but he can only earn a maximum of three real copper coins a day working hard at the dock.

One copper coin could buy about half a kilogram of hulled wheat, which was equivalent to one-sixteenth of a silver peso, while one gold dirham was enough to be exchanged for fifteen silver pesos.

The Griffin Kingdom is an agricultural and commercial nation with no large gold or silver mines. It typically uses grains as the base to regulate the gold content of its currency. One gold coin can usually buy a quarter of a ton of wheat, which is the staple food.

The original owner, Marcus, had saved up money for several years and barely managed to leave behind a "legacy" of nearly three gold coins.

100 gold dir is enough for Marcus to buy a decent set of equipment and join a more rewarding adventure.

As Marcus hesitated, Bardin slowly shook his head: "Buddy, I have a cousin who used to be an adventurer. She came to human territory for a few years, and she almost got her beard swindled by a mage. She said it was worth 100 gold dir, so this tattered cloak is definitely worth 1000."

The mage frowned slightly: "This dwarf master, a piece of rough jade must be meticulously carved to become a masterpiece that will be remembered for generations, while a cloak with magical properties is of no use in this gentleman's hands..."

She smiled gently at Marcus: "I forgot to introduce myself, I am Lorthera, a mage from Silver Mountain City."

Marcus was taken aback, feeling that those purple eyes were as dark as ink, yet as clear as the sea.

Dark pupils can draw a person's soul into the abyss, while clear eyes are like the stamens of blooming violets, reflecting one's own image in the deepest recesses of those eyes.

No, Marcus! This woman is indeed beautiful, but it's impossible... For someone this beautiful to make you act like a virgin spying on your first love, something's definitely not right.

Wizards are all mysterious and enigmatic beings. There are always rumors in the town that the Water Ghost Queen was created by a wizard to punish the southerners who do not believe in God.

He slammed his hand on the table, finally realizing the truth, and tilted his head back, beaming smugly at Lorra:

"I saw through your trick, mage! You used charm on me!"

Lorra was slightly taken aback, seemingly not expecting Marcus to be so straightforward.

She smiled mysteriously, her milky-white hand gently tucking a few strands of hair that had fallen beside her ear, her breath sweet as orchids:

"Then, Mr. Marcus, would you be willing to give me this cloak?"

"Of course..." Marcus turned his head with difficulty, staring intently at Bardin's red nose, and said, "I don't want to."

Bardin was speechless at the young, lecherous human. He rolled his eyes and turned to examine Lorra: "Hey, witch, stop flirting with my young buddy. What's the use of this tattered cloak anyway?"

"If I explain the purpose of this rough jade, will the dwarf master charge me ten thousand gold dir?"

"Hmm." Bardin didn't refute, but simply pointed at Marcus and said, "This thing belongs to Marcus, so he's in charge."

After several awkward moments, Marcus suddenly calmed down. The Warrior's Handbook contained many records of warriors being tricked and killed by mages, and he couldn't fall for Lor'thera's tricks.

He tossed the exquisite cloak in his hand, pulled out a deck of bridge popular in the Griffin Kingdom from his pocket, and said to Lorthera, "Since you want this, why don't we play a game of cards? If you win, it's yours; if you lose..."

Marcus suddenly felt that 100 gold Dill wasn't so tempting anymore. Since even a common-grade intelligence cloak could sell for a high price, there were still plenty of opportunities to make money through lotteries.

But this woman has ruined my and my dwarf brother's drinking pleasure, so she must be taught a lesson.

Under Lor'thera's amused gaze, Marcus shrugged and said in what he thought was a cool way, "You have to buy me and the dwarf a drink."

"Playing bridge with a mage, I hope you understand what you're doing." Lorra leaned forward, resting her chin on the back of her hand:

"I have many ways to change the value of the cards."

"Ha, I never lose."

Lorra found it amusing that playing cards with the mage was easy; even without cheating, she could easily defeat the straightforward little warrior using only her memory and calculations.

The cloak was worth more than 100 gold dir, but her offer was already quite sincere. Marcus neither listened to the dwarf's advice to raise the price nor refused outright. Instead, he decided to take a gamble.

Besides, even if she loses, she'll only have to buy them a drink.

Are young people concerned about saving face?

Marcus shifted his position, placing the cloak of intelligence, which he had wagered, in the center of the table. Some people who had heard the commotion gathered around, and the noisy scene annoyed Lorthera, making her feel like a monkey being watched.

The mage snapped his fingers, and a beam of grayish-white light flashed from his fingertips.

A semi-circular gray-white arc covered the long table, isolating it from the chaotic outside world. Bardin, who was drinking, muttered complaints, saying that he hated magic the most.

Lorra squinted at Marcus, who had suddenly entered the magical barrier and was swallowing hard. "Deal the cards."

Marcus shuffles the bridge deck and deals nine cards to each player.

Lorra picked up the cards, glanced at them, and said confidently, "Orem or Buka?"

Marcus didn't understand what she was saying. He placed the remaining 22 cards in the middle and swept the cards across his hand.

Bridge in the Griffin Kingdom is similar to the old-fashioned poker, with four suits in order of size: sticks, shields, swords, and glasses.

There are ten types of cards in total, from smallest to largest: wheat, coins, soldier, page, chariot, knight, nobleman, bishop, queen, and king.

The common rule in taverns is that the dealer plays a card first to form the bottom of the deck.

The challenger must play a card higher than the dealer's base card, or a card of the same face but higher suit. The dealer then chooses whether to call, playing a card higher than the challenger's, until either side folds.

The player with the highest-ranking hand at the end gets 1 point.

At the end of each round, the player who played the card can draw a card to continue to the next round, and the dealer takes turns.

When the deck runs out of cards, the player with the most points wins. If a player runs out of cards midway through the game, they are considered to have lost.

The nobles considered playing all their cards to be a short-sighted act, hence the term "the winner's restraint."

Playing no cards at all means complete defeat.