The Life of Koru, Chapter 54
(you can donate to https://donate.nifty.org/)
The grand hall of Sir Grandio's mansion was illuminated with crystal chandeliers, casting a golden glow on the richly decorated room. Sir Ishmael, clad in his distinctive checkered attire, entered with an air of calm determination. He was greeted by Sir Grandio, whose presence was as imposing as his reputation. Flanked by his massive koru bodyguards, the Cocaine King said:
"Checkered Man, I'm glad that you've come! Let me introduce you to my other guests for the poker night!"
Sir Grandio took Sir Ishmael to a poker table where two intriguing individuals were already waiting.
The first one was Lady Celeste, a mysterious woman with an enigmatic smile and a reputation for being a master tactician. Her eyes gleamed with curiosity and a hint of mischief. Sir Ishmael remembered having read about her in the news. It was rumored that she had killed her own husband in order to inherit his fortune. She was now one of the richest drug lords in Colombia, owning a staggering number of plantations and koru slaves to work on them.
The second guest was Baron Lucius, a sharp-eyed gambler known for his uncanny luck and manipulative prowess. He wore traditional Senegalese clothing -- golden robe and a turban. This made him look exotic and mysterious, but his intimidation techniques as a mafioso were quite mundane, brute force and yelling, precisely what one would expect from an upstart tyrant.
These two guests were dirty rich just like Sir Grandio. Why did they play poker on slaves? It was only a way of having fun, or was it more -- a demonstration of their power and a way to feel in control?
Lady Celeste and Baron Lucius were by no means Sir Grandio's only guests. Other gangsters played poker at separate tables, while some indulged in roulette and various casino games. A few of them merely spectated, sipping on alcohol. The hive of activity showcased Sir Grandio's popularity and the intricate web of social connections he maintained. It was an obligation for lesser ruffians to attend the casino nights of the "Cocaine King" where loyalty was tested and alliances were forged under the guise of gambling and revelry.
Back and forth through the crowded room, koru waiters moved with cocktails and trays of appetizers. They were the best looking slaves Sir Grandio had, their nakedness in stark contrast with the fine clothes of the Black gangsters. These slaves provided a lewd display of well-defined muscles, pert asses, big nipples and cocks, that the Black Lords liked to grope. Some of these slaves were required to go on all fours for a quick fuck. They stood there like improvised footstools and tables, and the Black gangsters snorted cocaine directly from their backs. A few koru performed shameless dances at the pole.
As, Sir Ishmael owned no slaves, he had to convert money into his starting poker chips. Each poker chip represented a pack of koru, with denominations including 5, 10, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 koru.
"I am sure our new friend who has no koru at all will find creative ways to acquire them throughout the evening!" Lady Celeste chuckled.
"Many fortunes have started like this!" Baron Lucius added.
The game commenced, the tension in the room palpable. The stakes were high, and the cards were dealt with precision. Each player concealed their strategies behind stoic expressions, the fate of the slaves hanging in the balance.
Lady Celeste glanced at her hand of cards and raised an eyebrow. "I'll raise you one thousand koru!"
Sir Grandio leaned back in his chair, considering his options. "Bold move, Celeste! I'll call!"
Baron Lucius tapped his fingers lightly on the table, studying the expressions of his opponents. "Interesting. I'll see your thousand koru and raise you a thousand more!"
Sir Ishmael observed the increasing bets, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Fold!" he said quietly, laying down his cards.
Lady Celeste smirked, revealing her winning hand. "Full house!" she announced confidently.
Sir Grandio gritted his teeth, realizing he had been outplayed. "Well played, Celeste!"
She chuckled softly, collecting her winnings. "Another round, gentlemen?"
As the game progressed, Sir Ishmael's mind was more and more focused, his every move calculated to ensure victory. Lady Celeste's strategies were complex and elusive, keeping everyone on edge. Baron Lucius played with a blend of charm and deception, his confidence unshaken.
Sir Grandio, however, was a formidable opponent. His poker face was impenetrable, his moves decisive and aggressive. The room was thick with anticipation, each player pushing their limits.
"Do you want to try some of this marvelous powder?" Sir Grandio asked Sir Ishmael with a sly grin, holding out a small vial filled with sparkling white substance.
"Sorry, I don't consume drugs!" Sir Ishmael responded.
"But you have to try it! I am the Cocaine King! I provide the purest experience you will ever encounter!"
"I'm here for the game, not for your substances!" Sir Ishmael replied calmly, pushing the vial back towards Sir Grandio.
"The Checkered Man!" Lady Celeste chuckled. "Always so polite!
So they continued the game for another hour and for the first time Sir Ishmael won. After that he won again, but something was fishy. Sir Grandio looked indifferent and sleepy, almost falling from the chair. Lady Celeste accused seeing sparkly dots, probably due to tiredness. Baron Lucius yawned so much that he could almost swallow everyone.
A mafia henchman stumbled trying to reach Sir Grandio:
"Boss, I don't understand what's happening!"
"What do you mean?" Sir Grandio asked.
"Everyone is feeling weird. I think the cocaine was infested with something odd... with some other drug... With... zirikum..."
And as he pronounced this word, the thug's eyes rolled back, and he collapsed to the floor, unconscious.
Sir Ishmael was taken aback. Zirikum? This drug was very potent and dangerous and no Black person was known to consume it. It was a drug for the slaves. Whoever had the intention to mix it with Sir Grandio's cocaine had a malicious agenda.
Before Sir Ishmael could react, the grand hall's doors burst open. A menacing figure strode in, flanked by a dozen henchmen with machine guns. The newcomer's eyes gleamed with malicious intent. It was Sir Grandio's greatest enemy, Giuseppe Malvado.
Malvado had lived for years in the shadow of Sir Grandio, acting like a loyal servant but in fact willing to overthrow him at the first opportunity.
That night was the culmination of his treacherous planning. As the effects of the zirikum took hold of the guests, Malvado's carefully hidden ambition began to surface.
"I want them all to be taken as captives!" he said. "I am the new Drug King of Colombia!"
"Your reign ends before it even begins!" Sir Ishmael said charging his superpowers.
"What the fuck?!" Malvado said, unwilling to believe that there was someone who could stop him at that point.
With a swift, decisive movement, Sir Ishmael unleashed a shockwave of energy that rippled through the grand hall. The force of his power sent Malvado's henchmen sprawling, their weapons clattering to the floor.
Malvado tried to flee, but Sir Ishmael's supercharged agility allowed him to intercept the would-be usurper with ease. He grabbed Malvado by the shoulders, lifting him effortlessly off the ground.
By the time Sir Grandio recovered from the hallucination effects of zirikum, Malvado and his henchmen were all bound and ready for justice.