"Indeed, the simplicity of a gamble sometimes has its own charm." Kirari replied with a thin, unreadable smile.
"Very well, I agree to play coin flips. However, Ren-sama, how can I be sure that you won't cheat? You are a Campione, with power far beyond the understanding of ordinary humans, while I am just a regular person. If you use supernatural power to manipulate the outcome of the toss, I wouldn't even notice."
The guests listening to the conversation silently nodded in agreement in their hearts. Kirari's concerns felt reasonable. Dealing with individuals with supernatural powers, cheating was not impossible.
Especially someone of Campione caliber? Clearly, no one would notice their hidden actions!
Pointing to Godou who was sitting not far from him, Ren said with a faint smile.
"Momobami Kirari, you must have investigated my background and personality, as well as Kusanagi Godou's, haven't you? There's no need for me to explain what kind of person Godou is. This man won't stand idly by if he senses any cheating, especially since this bet involves such enormous assets... and a human being. He will definitely interfere."
Hearing Ren's opinion of him, Godou smiled wryly.
"That's right. I will watch Ren closely. If I sense even the slightest bit of cheating, I will definitely expose it. After all, there's a human being used as a bet here, even though I don't like the idea."
In fact, Godou really wanted to stop this gambling that he thought was absurd. For him, using a human—Momobami Ririka—as a bet was a very inappropriate and inhumane act.
However, Erica and Liliana quickly realized Godou's intentions and immediately acted to prevent him from intervening. They understood that although Ren and Godou were friends, boundaries still existed, especially in matters concerning a Campione's decisions. Godou had no right to dictate what Ren should or should not do.
Erica and Liliana also realized the potential danger if Godou interfered in Ren's affairs; it could easily trigger an unwanted conflict.
As Ren and Marquis Voban had once said, among Campiones there were only relationships of ignoring each other, non-aggression pacts, or eternal enemies fighting to the end.
"Lady Kirari, I, Erica Blandelli, as a Great Knight of the Copper-Black Cross, guarantee the fairness of this game. Our perceptions are sharp enough to detect the movement of magical energy. If King Ren tries to use his power to manipulate the outcome of the coin toss, both of us will definitely know."
Putting on a serious yet reassuring expression, Erica added her guarantee.
"We will act as neutral witnesses. Lady Kirari need not worry about any cheating from King Ren's side."
Seeing Erica's actions, Liliana also joined in guaranteeing the outcome.
Kirari showed a convincingly relieved expression.
"I feel much more at ease and secure now that the Great Knights of the Copper-Black Cross and the Bronze-Black Cross, the two largest and most prominent Mage Associations in Italy, have agreed to be witnesses in this game. With the guarantee from both of you, the fairness of this game will definitely be maintained."
Using the Momobami Family's vast resources, Kirari knew intelligence information regarding the Seventh King and the Eighth King, including Erica's and Liliana's backgrounds as Knights sworn to Kusanagi Godou.
"By the way, so you won't complain when you lose, let's play three rounds."
"Oh, Ren-sama is very confident in your victory?"
"Yeah, I won't lose."
"..."
Kirari fell silent for a moment, not knowing the origin of Ren's confidence. A feeling of unease gnawed at her. Unfortunately, she was already too far into this game, and retreating was not an option.
She tried to convince herself that victory was still on her side.
'The other side's biggest mistake is his arrogance! Letting me flip the coin and choose the side of the coin first? That's the same as handing me the initiative. With my sharp observation and analysis skills, I can definitely read the pattern and predict the outcome of the toss. Victory is definitely within my grasp.'
"Since Ren-sama agrees, then let's begin the game."
Raising the 100-yen coin in her hand, Kirari tossed it into the air, right under the watchful eyes of dozens of pairs of eyes of the Japanese elite present at the Shinomiya Family's grand banquet.
In her mind, time seemed to slow down. Kirari fully relied on her extraordinary kinetic vision. She focused on the silver coin spinning rapidly in the air, analyzing every rotation.
'The coin touched the floor after 155 full rotations and an additional 2/3 rotation. The first bounce was 7 cm high, followed by 4 increasingly shorter bounces. The total spinning time in the air was 5.6 seconds. And... it stopped on the back side of the coin.'
The complex calculations flashed through her mind with lightning speed.
With newfound confidence, Kirari announced her answer.
"I choose... Tails."
"Since you chose Tails, then I choose the opposite, which is Heads."
Without the slightest hint of doubt or worry on his face, Ren maintained his faint smile, as if victory was a natural and expected outcome for him.
*TING!*
The clear sound of the coin hitting the marble surface of the hall floor broke the tense silence.
Everything happened exactly as Kirari's incredibly accurate mental calculations predicted, without the slightest deviation. Her lips curved into a thin smile of victory.
However, that smile instantly vanished from her beautiful face as her eyes clearly saw the side of the coin lying motionless on the floor. The top side clearly showed the image of heads.
'Impossible... this is impossible!'
'I calculated it perfectly! Every rotation, every bounce, every second of spinning time... everything matched my calculations! Why is the result the opposite?! Was there any factor I missed?'
"Looks like I won the first round." Ren said in a relaxed tone, as if the victory was natural and he had expected it all along.
His faint smile now looked like a subtle yet piercing mockery to Kirari.
"There are still two rounds left, Momobami Kirari. Please start the next one."
Struggling to calm the surge of shock and confusion within her, Kirari shifted her gaze towards Godou and the two women accompanying him.
"Eighth King, did you sense any cheating in the coin toss just now? Did Ren-sama use his supernatural power in any way?"
Frowning, Godou tried to remember carefully.
"Umm... I'm not very good at sensing magic because I'm still a beginner. But honestly, I didn't feel any strange or unnatural magical energy from Ren just now."
Erica nodded in agreement with him. "My opinion is the same as Godou's. I didn't sense any manipulation of magical energy during the coin tossing process."
Liliana gave a similar answer in a firm tone. "As a Great Knight, I would have sensed any use of magic. I can assure you that King Ren did not use his power to cheat."
"I see..."
Kirari, who had an extraordinary ability to judge character and honesty, stared intently at the three people. Based on their expressions and tone of voice, she felt certain that they were not lying. Her shock only increased.
'How could my perfect calculations be wrong? Maybe it's just a coincidence? Yes, that's the only explanation.'