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The Returners watched the opera, patiently waiting for The Wandering Gambler to make his appearance. After having yet another unfortunate encounter with Ultros, they saw him steal the show, as expected.
Cyan, the man of the hour and owner of the Blackjack, looked pretty disgruntled with his own stunt. Nonetheless, he took Celes with him, as he said he would, and the Returners followed them.
Aboard the Blackjack, Cyan gently put Celes down. “I do beseech thee, forgive my ungentlemanly ways, Miss Maria. I didst perform this publicity stunt, as thy manager did request, yet personally I find it most distasteful. I shall be with thee anon.” Then he left the room.
Celes threw a rope for Locke, Edgar, and Sabin to get in.
“Where’s Cyan?”
“He’s coming.”
Cyan returned. “STOWAWAYS! Miss Maria, step aside. I shall deal with them in a trice!”
“Wait, don’t harm them!” Celes rushed forward to stop Cyan. “They are not stowaways, and I am not Maria. My name is Celes, and we need your help to stop the Empire!”
Cyan put his dagger and dice back into his pockets, not perceiving any hostility. “Be it Maria or Celes, it matters not. My work is complete. I shall dock so thou mayest disembark from my vessel.”
“Cyan, we have to go to Vector. We need this ship to get there.”
Cyan turned his back to them. “I am done making the affairs of others mine own. This was the final task. Thou hast come too late to seek mine aid.”
Locke stepped from behind Celes. “The Empire's totally rotten! It's using magic to enslave the world. This is your business whether you like it or not!”
What Locke was saying didn't sound too far-fetched to Cyan. He gave Locke a side eye, but nothing more.
Celes could perceive the character imprinted on Cyan’s face. This was a man who had seen and done enough. “You want to be left in peace, but if you don’t help us, peace will be nothing but a distant memory. Please!”
“Dost thou intend to thwart the Empire? Thou wouldst render a great service to the world.” Cyan said indifferently.
“So, you’ll help us?”
Cyan turned to Celes. “I took upon this trade to be the man at the helm instead of allowing the usual human filth to claim this place. In mine dealings, I drew near to the corrupt, the usurers, and the traffickers, and managed to halt some of them in their tracks. But the Empire was ever the mightiest foe and seemingly insurmountable.”
Edgar approached. “The Empire and my realm were allies… until recently. Right now we have a real chance of taking their power away from them.”
“I had already purposed to… retire and dwell with mine kin.” Cyan looked longingly at his pocket watch. “A gambler hath no business in the realm of politics.”
Sabin chimed in. “You can’t just sit back. If we don’t do anything, the Empire will end up owning you!”
Cyan didn't flinch at Sabin's words. Although he didn't doubt the accuracy of his dreadful forecast.
“What if we make a bet? The last one before you retire for good.” Celes proposed.
Cyan crossed his arms, looking at her with interest.
Celes got a coin from Edgar. “We'll decide with a coin toss. If it's heads, you'll help us. If it's tails, we leave you alone to enjoy your retirement. Well, Mister Gambler...?”
Cyan smiled, feeling nostalgia for the old days when he started the business, back when his late wife and son were still around and he still held hopes of making a difference for his family and for other people like him, who came from nothing. “Fair enough.”
Celes flipped the coin, and as soon as it landed, she happily announced her victory. “I win! Now, honor your part of the bargain!”
Cyan’s piercing eyes stared at her, suspecting that she had attempted to hustle him. He picked up the coin. “How...unusual! A coin with identical faces...!” He was not pleased. “In mine establishment, thou either play the game by the rules or take thy leave. I have seen enough!”
Celes appealed to his compassionate side. She could tell he had one. “The whole world is at stake. I’m talking about all that lives. Of course we are willing to do a little evil in order to do greater good!”
Cyan breathed deeply, keeping his eyes on Celes.
Celes looked into his eyes. “Our approach may seem dishonest, but what we’re trying to do is the truest of endeavors.”
Her words resonated with him. He looked at the coin in his hand, and then at her. “Dost thou truly stand a chance against the Empire?”
Celes’ sincere eyes reassured him. “Yes! We really do!”
“Very well then. For all that matters, my life is but a chip in thy pile.” Cyan’s voice was austere but assertive, placing his fist on his chest while still holding the coin, then he flipped it again.