“Lia, how’s your luck?”

“…Luck?”

Su Hong’s earnest question left Lia momentarily stunned. Why bring up something so trivial?

Seeing he still awaited an answer, she replied with a hint of irritation, “Average. Stop beating around the bush—what do you *really* want?!”

Su Hong had no hidden agenda. He simply wanted to confirm whether Lia possessed any unusual resistance to luck.

After all, luck was often a one-in-a-hundred chance—and that “one” always ended up being *him*. Everyone around him was left with nothing but misfortune, even suffering inexplicable bad luck.

That was why, for as long as Su Hong could remember, he had always been alone.

In every relationship, he deliberately kept things at the level of acquaintances or casual friends.

So even if Lia merely *resisted* bad luck… she could at least be someone he could trust.

“Do you have a coin? Let’s play a few rounds of heads or tails.”

“Heads or tails?”

Lia stared at him, utterly bewildered.

She’d already pulled out a coin—then suddenly clutched it tightly to her chest, as if realizing something.

“Who’d play coin games with a notorious gambler like you?! M-My Spirit Card Slot is broken because of you… and now you want to win *my* coins?!”

Her voice trembled; a faint shimmer of tears welled in her eyes.

Though Su Hong had no idea what a “Spirit Card Slot” was, he hurriedly said, “No! I don’t want to win. If I win, I take nothing. If *you* win, I’ll replace your Spirit Card Slot. Deal?”

Lia blinked at him, confused. Why propose such an unfair bet?

*Could he… be trying to compensate me but too shy to say it?*

She shook her head hard, banishing the thought.

Impossible! He was pure evil—just bored in prison, gambling itch acting up!

…Yet somehow, his stubbornness felt pitiful. He *could* have escaped lawlessly… yet chose to stay and “bully” others.

With a sigh, Lia finally handed him the coin.

Su Hong took it and offered a gentle, well-meaning smile. “Heads or tails? Your pick.”

“…Tails.”

He nodded, flicked the coin upward with his thumb.

—*Ding.*

It spun into the air with a crisp ring.

As it landed, Su Hong caught it firmly in his palm.

His slender fingers slowly lifted. In that revealing instant, a flicker of disappointment crossed his face—almost imperceptible.

“Sorry, Lia. I misunderstood you.”

He tossed the coin back. She caught it and huffed angrily.

“You’re cheating! Only fair if *I* toss it!”

Without waiting, she flipped the coin herself, slapped her palms over it, and glared at him.

Amused by her stubborn pride, Su Hong shrugged. “Fine. I’ll pick… heads.”

Lia peeked—and froze.

*How?! I tossed it! My own coin!*

Her eyes darted to the repaired cell wall. *Of course… he’s a top-tier Spirit Cardmaster! His dynamic vision must be insane!*

“You saw it land! Redo it—you face away this time!”

“Huh? Do you think I’m an owl?!”

Nearly speechless, Su Hong turned around anyway.

Predictably, he guessed right again.

Watching her suspicious glare, he rubbed his forehead. “Lia, just pretend I lost. I’ll get the warden to replace your Spirit Card Slot. Stop. You can’t win.”

He truly didn’t want to continue. For all her “notorious gambler” accusations… *she* was the one chasing losses.

—Losing, yet refusing to quit until everything was gone.

As Lia hesitated, Su Hong quickly changed topic. “Wait—what *is* a Spirit Card Slot? And that… strange sword you pulled out? Magic? Qi?”

“Eh?!”

Lia gaped. How could such a powerful Spirit Cardmaster lack basic knowledge?!

But his expression held zero deception. A storm of realization crashed within her.

“Y-You… could it be… amnesia?”

Su Hong suppressed a smile, nodded, then gave a self-deprecating shrug.

“Call it amnesia. Otherwise, who runs through streets in pajamas and gets arrested?”

Lia fell silent, teeth pressing her lip.

*No wonder the pajamas… no wonder that lonely, pained look…*

He remembered *nothing*. This world was foreign to him. Immense power, zero common sense.

Then caught by shady gamblers… and *her*.

Beneath that “evil” act? Just someone who couldn’t trust anyone. With no place to belong. Not even someone to play a simple coin game with.

*How tragic… and I judged him so harshly!*

Guilt tightened her chest. Head bowed, voice trembling: “I-I’m sorry.”

“???”

Su Hong stared, utterly bewildered.

She’d been hostile seconds ago—why the sudden apology? Did *he* say something weird?