Chapter 100
Chapter 100. The Xino Covenant (2)
Following Luo Nan's gaze, a lavishly dressed, strikingly handsome young man with a warm, approachable smile at the corners of his mouth was walking toward him with both arms spread wide.
Those violet eyes—symbol of supreme imperial blood—gleamed with undisguised delight.
"Gosius Austrein."
Second Prince of the Osoke Empire. Serela's "second elder brother," two years her senior.
Incidentally, this fellow was three years older than Luo Nan.
Luo Nan put on an amiable smile and likewise spread his arms, exchanging a light embrace with Gosius.
Gosius patted Luo Nan on the back. After the two separated, he laughed, "Luo Nan, long time no see…… how have you been lately?"
"Thanks to the Second Prince's kind regard, I've been doing quite well." Luo Nan replied with a measured tone.
"Hey, why so formal between the two of us," Gosius took Luo Nan by the hand, "come with me—we're just missing one person and we can get started."
"……"
Luo Nan naturally knew what "game" Gosius was referring to.
It was a board game popular among the Opalia noble circles—"Stellar Deduction," also known as "Starfield Calculation."
It could be played by two to four players, who would choose a "Star Base" of different sizes depending on the number of participants. Each player held a set number of "Star Crystals," and at the same time held a hand of cards called "Star Sigil" cards. The first player to move the required number of their Star Crystals to the center of the Base won.
Back when Luo Nan used to mingle in social circles, he had often played this game with various young nobles.
Truthfully, in his memory, he won more than he lost.
The two came to the recreation area in the Xino Palace's main hall. By this point the area had already gathered a sizable number of young nobles, most clustered in groups—some focused intently on watching ongoing matches, others engaged in quiet private conversation.
"'Stillpoint'—Simir, your pieces are done for this round." A young noble flipped a card from the table, his expression utterly at ease.
And the young noble addressed as Simir simply laughed it off. "Worthy of the 'Silver Lion Young Lord'—in board games, truly without equal."
"Under 'Stillpoint,' my remaining three pieces can't escape the elimination range," Simir shook his head. "Delphius, you win."
"Oh? This match is already over?"
At Gosius's voice, the spectating nobles instantly parted to clear a path for the two of them.
The two stepped up to the game table. Luo Nan gave the board a cursory sweep, and instantly understood that the noble just called Simir had been calculated to death from start to finish by Delphius.
'This fellow actually went for the high-difficulty playstyle of eating all his opponent's pieces?'
In Stellar Deduction, aside from the standard method of being the first to move enough of your pieces to the Base center, there was also a high-difficulty victory condition—
Eat your opponent's pieces, reducing the number of their surviving pieces below the minimum required for victory.
The former was called "Stellar Crown," while the latter—the method Delphius had just used—was called "Stellar Annihilation."
At the thought, Luo Nan said with a smile, "Stellar Annihilation victory? Delphius, haven't seen you in half a month, and your skills have grown."
"Oh…… it's Luo Nan. A minor win, nothing worth mentioning," Delphius replied with an equal smile. "Since the last time at Her Highness Serela's Homecoming Banquet—how come you've been nowhere to be seen for this past half month?"
"Naturally, there were matters to attend to."
Luo Nan settled naturally into a seat at the table and casually waved for an attendant to take away the nine-track game board Delphius and Simir had been using, replacing it with a twelve-track board for four players.
Once the attendant had reset the game board, Luo Nan shuffled the cards with practiced ease. "You won't mind me taking the dealer's seat?"
"But of course—today you're the star of the show. It's only fitting you deal." Gosius, who had also taken his seat, gave a slight smile, acknowledging Luo Nan's role as dealer.
Delphius and Simir had no objection either.
"Let's play the classic ruleset—Luo Nan still needs to go and receive our Highness later, and we can't keep him from a fine lady on our account." Delphius joked.
"Fine by me." Luo Nan dealt the cards to all four with practiced ease, then slipped on the specialized finger ring used to push the Crystal Pieces.
"The wager for this round……" the young noble Simir asked aloud.
"The wager……" A flicker of intent crossed Delphius's eyes. He turned his head to Gosius. "Your Highness, what do you say we use this round……what for our wager?"
Gosius tapped his fingers lightly on the sofa armrest. After a moment, he said lightly, "How about a bottle of 'Tears of Menas'—the two losers must each drink an entire bottle of 'Tears of Menas.'"
Having said this, he turned to ask Luo Nan, "Luo Nan, what do you think?"
Tears of Menas?
Luo Nan suddenly remembered—it was more than half a month ago, at Serela's Homecoming Banquet, that his previous-life memories had been awakened.
It was precisely that white wine called "Tears of Menas."
'Oh…… these fellows—seems they have some other scheme in mind.' Luo Nan mused inwardly.
He gave the Delphius seated to his side a brief look over, and his basic profile information flashed through his mind.
Delphius Tyros.
Son of the Tyros Duke, the same age as Luo Nan, and likewise a prospective new student at Radiant University.
But Delphius's reputation was entirely unlike Luo Nan's. This person had an outstanding reputation and was known by the epithet "Silver Lion Young Lord" in Opalia's noble circles.
'Enough—forget whatever scheme these fellows are running, because no scheme of theirs can be executed unless this Young Master loses first.'
Luo Nan turned over the four Star Sigil cards in his hand and gave them a brief glance. In an instant, he had a plan.
'This hand…… so it goes like this.'
Having settled on his strategy, Luo Nan placed the card he would play this round face-down on the table, extended a hand toward Gosius—the next player in turn. "Your Highness, it's your turn."
Gosius was not as carefree as Luo Nan. He lowered his head and thought for a moment—during which he and Delphius and Simir exchanged glances without leaving any trace—then played his own card.
"Mine is this one." Delphius, like Luo Nan, played his card after only brief consideration.
Once all four had played their cards, Luo Nan began pushing his Crystal Pieces with the finger ring, and at the same time reminded Simir across from him, who was on his team. "Simir, don't forget that we're partners."
"Of course, Luo Nan." Simir nodded.
Luo Nan knew his words carried little weight—but he said them in good faith all the same.
After all four had each completed their Crystal Piece movements, Luo Nan asked, "Does anyone elect to activate a Star Sigil card this round?"
As expected, in the first round, none of the four chose to play their cards.
Luo Nan gave a nod, continuing to run the game. "Then all Crystal Piece movements for this round take effect. The next round now begins."