The so-called "Concentration" is a card game that tests memory and strategy.

Similar to "Guess the Number," this game is usually played as a two-person or multi-person competition.

The gameplay is as follows:

First, prepare "a deck" of playing cards, remove the jokers, and then shuffle the remaining fifty-two cards, placing them face down on the table.

Next, one of the opposing sides (or multiple sides) begins to flip cards.

The player can flip two cards at a time. If the two flipped cards have the same rank, the player can take those two cards and gains the right to flip two more cards. Conversely, if the two flipped cards have different ranks, the player must turn them back over, relinquishing the turn.

This continues until all the cards have been flipped, and the side with more cards in hand wins.

The above is the most basic form of "Concentration." Under these rules, there is almost no room for strategy; it is a game that is "ninety percent memory, ten percent luck."

However, there are many variations of Concentration. With the addition of some new rules, the game becomes quite complex and interesting...

For example... the "differential scoring system," which is "not based on who flips more cards, but on who flips cards with a higher total rank value."

Another example... adding jokers to the "differential scoring system" and stipulating that "successfully flipping a pair of jokers allows the player to immediately swap scores with the opponent."

In these two modes, the importance of luck and strategy becomes more apparent.

In addition, there are various ways to increase the difficulty, such as "using two decks of cards, but only scoring points if the flipped cards have the same rank and suit," "receiving point deductions for flipping specific combinations (such as flipping two cards with different ranks but the same suit, or flipping two cards whose ranks add up to 13)," and "limiting the flipping time."

In short, the variations of "Concentration" are diverse, but one thing remains constant: "memory" is the most powerful weapon in this game.

...

One o'clock in the morning.

Preparations for the "Triple Concentration" game are complete.

This second game adopts an elimination system...

Sixty-four players will compete in one-on-one matches, and those who win three consecutive matches can enter the top eight and become the winners of the night.

As for the fifty-six losers, they won't be as miserable as the losers in the previous game... At this time, the remaining U.S. dollars in their hands have been deducted for the "loan portion," and the loan contracts they signed have been voided. Therefore, these fifty-six people can at least take the "net winnings" from "Guess the Number" off the ship.

Of course, whether that little bit of money can solve their problems outside is another story...

For now, let's talk about the situation of this second round of the game.

The pairing method for this game is... drawing lots.

It's called "drawing lots," but the players don't actually have to "draw" anything. They just take turns shaking a drum containing numbered balls. The 64 numbered balls in the drum correspond to seats 1-64, and the seats determine the pairing for the matches.

Feng Bujue can understand this setup. If he were in charge, he would arrange it the same way...

Although using a computer to randomly match the players is the most efficient method, the organizers obviously don't want a decision-making process where all the results are obtained "in an instant" and the players themselves don't participate.

What the organizers want to see is... the reactions and performances of the guests as the results are revealed one by one. Therefore, he naturally wouldn't let this process end in a few seconds.

Thus, the drawing of lots took nearly half an hour.

During this half hour, the players watched the game rules and lined up to take turns shaking the drum.

In the blink of an eye, it was one o'clock in the morning, and the game... officially began.

...

Feng Bujue's opponent is a woman wearing a black butterfly mask.

She should be a very beautiful woman.

I say "should be" because she is wearing a mask, so it's not necessarily absolute.

Although... what Feng Bujue sees is a luxurious low-cut dress that outlines an alluring figure; what he smells is a perfect amount of various brand-name cosmetics; what he hears... is a seductive voice that is both charming and graceful.

However... he is still not convinced that she is definitely a beauty.

If you ask why, Brother Jue would answer you - "These days, you can't even trust the covers of *****, what else can you..." The following three thousand words are omitted.

Okay, let's get back to the story...

"Heh... Mr. Crow, I didn't expect to run into you at the start of the second game~" The butterfly mask smiled charmingly, saying nothing of substance, seemingly trying to test Brother Jue's reaction.

She leaned over the trolley table, eagerly showing off her "assets," and making no secret of her flirtatious gestures.

However, the response she received was...

"Nonsense, the matching is determined by drawing lots." Feng Bujue was completely unmoved. He replied in his usual calm, yet slightly mocking tone, "If you could predict the results of that kind of thing in advance, you wouldn't need to be on this ship. You could just go buy a lottery ticket."

The butterfly mask was slightly stunned by Brother Jue's retort, but she didn't show it. Instead, she quickly adjusted her mood and continued, "Heh... I'm just a little afraid of competing against you, that's why I said that~"

Clearly, she is a very sociable woman. No matter who she faces, regardless of their gender, age, or personality... she can handle them. It's no exaggeration to say that from domineering CEOs to perverted otaku, she is confident that she can make them feel attracted to her in a short amount of time.

Unfortunately, Feng Bujue... doesn't seem to be within her "from top to bottom" range. Not to mention from top to bottom, even from left to right, from inside to outside, from shallow to deep, from the whole to the part, from the phenomenon to the essence... Brother Jue is a type she has never encountered.

"If you're scared, just admit defeat, bullshit doesn't solve anything." Feng Bujue said lazily, and at the same time, he took a step towards a round table a few meters away.

In less than ten seconds, he dragged two chairs with backs over from there.

"Hmph... he speaks in a particularly unpleasant way, but he still has some gentlemanly manners." When the butterfly mask saw Brother Jue bring "two" chairs over, she thought to herself.

She thought one of them was for her.

She was far too naive.

"Phew... they don't look heavy, but they're actually quite heavy." Two seconds later, Feng Bujue placed both chairs on his side, one to sit on and one to put his feet on...

He slumped down sideways and looked at the referee at the table with dead fish eyes, "So... Mr. Referee, if you don't mind, while you're checking out breasts behind your sunglasses, could you please help us shuffle the cards?"