#242 - Chapter 242: Ugly
"A blind man who likes to gamble..."
These two traits combined made Jin An stop in his tracks. He suddenly remembered someone who fit both descriptions perfectly.
Seeing Jin An suddenly stop, Tian Yue Shi asked curiously:
"What's wrong?"
"It's nothing, let's keep going."
Jin An smiled and shook his head, pulling Tian Yue Shi forward.
He was just a little curious about Issho (Smiley) appearing here.
But when he thought about the special nature of the Sabaody Archipelago, he understood.
Inside the gambling house, Issho opened his tightly closed eyes and turned his head towards the entrance.
In the dim light, his eyes, showing only the whites, looked somewhat frightening.
"What an interesting person..."
He muttered to himself, sensing that a gaze had just been fixed on him. He could feel that the person seemed somewhat familiar to him.
"Hey! Blind man, are you going to play or not? We're all waiting for you!"
A rough-voiced man urged impatiently.
Issho came back to his senses and said with a smile:
"Playing, playing, don't be impatient..."
He was interrupted by the man's urging, but he wasn't annoyed. Instead, he easily joined the game.
He sat at the gambling table, his fingers gently tapping on the surface, as if contemplating something.
Although his eyes couldn't see, his keen hearing and intuition allowed him to accurately perceive everything around him.
The men opposite him were loud and boisterous, the sound of dice being thrown rising and falling, but Issho's expression remained calm.
At the same time, Jin An and Tian Yue Shi continued walking down the street, the sunlight shining on them, bringing warmth and peace of mind.
Tian Yue Shi occasionally looked up at Jin An, a gentle smile on her face.
"Jin An, are you happy to be out this time?"
Tian Yue Shi suddenly spoke, her voice gentle.
"Sometimes, I really feel that having you by my side is a very happy thing."
Jin An looked down at her, his eyes gleaming with affection.
"A'Shi, why are you saying this all of a sudden?"
"Maybe it's because I feel particularly relaxed today."
Tian Yue Shi smiled.
"With you by my side, everything becomes simple."
Tian Yue Shi smiled sweetly, her heart filled with warmth.
She leaned gently on Jin An's shoulder, and the two continued to stroll down the street, enjoying a rare moment of peace.
"Oh, right, I remember hearing you say when I was unconscious that Rouge's child was about to be born?"
Jin An's voice sounded particularly warm in the afternoon sun.
Tian Yue Shi looked up at him, her eyes sparkling with a soft light.
She nodded slightly, a gentle smile appearing on her face.
"That's right, Rouge is an extremely gentle and strong person."
Jin An tilted his head slightly, calculating the time in his mind. It seemed that the time for Ace to be born was indeed approaching.
With Jin An's intervention, Rouge wouldn't have to endure 20 months of suffering.
Like ordinary mothers, she would be able to give birth safely after 10 months of pregnancy.
Tian Yue Shi's expression became more serious. She sighed softly and continued:
"Most of the time, I really think Rouge is amazing, carrying so much on her own."
Jin An frowned slightly, as if pondering something.
"Skypiea is a good place. Hopefully, time can heal the wounds she has suffered."
Tian Yue Shi's eyes softened.
"Yes, Rouge has always been strong."
"She never complains, always silently enduring everything, for the sake of the child, for the sake of the future."
She was a little puzzled and asked,
"Why is Rouge alone on Skypiea? Where is her husband?"
Although Jin An had asked them to go to Skypiea to accompany that lonely woman, Jin An hadn't told them about her situation.
They couldn't ask Rouge about such things, so they only asked the question in their hearts now.
Jin An paused.
"She is a friend's wife."
"That guy suffered from an incurable disease and entrusted Rouge to me before he died."
Tian Yue Shi was a little sad.
"Rouge's fate is really too difficult..."
A sense of protectiveness arose in Jin An's heart. He took Tian Yue Shi's hand and patted it gently.
"That's why I asked you to go up and talk to her more, to let her know that she is not fighting alone."
Tian Yue Shi looked at Jin An excitedly, tears glistening in her eyes. She said softly:
"I hope this world will return to peace soon, so that people can live happy lives."
Jin An gently rubbed Tian Yue Shi's head.
"That day will definitely come..."
He will definitely bring peace to this world.
With the things he is doing behind the World Government's back, if they are exposed, the World Government will definitely not let him go.
......
On the other side, inside the gambling house.
Issho's fingers slid gently along the edge of the dice cup, the corners of his mouth slightly raised.
His opponents all showed nervous expressions, obviously wary of this seemingly ordinary blind man.
"Your luck is really good, blind man."
One man said through gritted teeth.
Issho smiled faintly, the dice cup in his hand shaking gently, making a crisp sound.
"Luck is also part of strength, isn't it?"
Amidst a stunned and unwilling gaze, the dice cup was slowly revealed, and the result once again shocked everyone.
Issho won.
His eyes, without pupils, seemed to reveal an elusive sense of mystery, making people feel chilled.
"What an interesting place..."
Issho said in a low voice, as if talking to himself.
He could feel that this place held many secrets, and the person who had just left also possessed many secrets.
"Come on! Continue, I don't believe I can't win against you, blind man!"
"......"
Looking at the ugly appearances of these people, Issho smiled lightly, not caring at all, and muttered to himself,
"It is also fortunate to be blind, for there are too many dirty and vile people in this world that one cannot bear to look at."
Yet he wanders in this turbid world.
"Blind man, did you just say something?"
Because the gambling house was too noisy, he only saw Issho's mouth move.
"I said, I'm going to win this game too! Hahahaha!"
Issho laughed heartily, today he was going to make a big profit again.
Issho's gambling is different from other gamblers' pursuits. He enjoys the process of gambling. Even if he loses in the end, he just laughs it off.
While others only look at the result. Even if they win briefly along the way, they will only think about why they didn't bet more earlier.
After losing, they won't consider stopping, but will become more and more obsessed until they lose everything.
Even then, they won't reflect, but will only think about how to make a comeback next time.
Once addicted to gambling, this person is almost useless.
...
...
