GAMBLE: Rule of Cards

INITIAL ASSESSMENT

“We’re here, Mr. Mayfly,” the resigned game head told Denton who was still looking at the island. They are still hundreds of meters away from the island but one can already see the beauty of the island. Though there is a big establishment on the top of the island, the trees and the green leaves are still there. The place is green, except for the establishment on the top. “Here is the place of the game, Mr. Mayfly. You might not know this but this is where you stayed for a whole ten days. Among the five hundred and plus players, you are the only one who got to leave this place as a whole, and look at you, you are back as an upcoming game head.”

“I really don’t know the outside part of this place, so I can’t remember this… but I am actually astonished to see the outside, it looks lonely but beautiful. Also, you kept the tree and did not cut them for the establishment,” Denton noted. “I don’t know what I should be feeling right now but, I think I should come inside the building already. This place piques a lot of memories inside my head, some are good and some are bad… but I guess, this is how it’s supposed to be. I am actually scared that I’d remember a lot of things after seeing this place…”

The spokesperson nodded. “Well, I guess, we should already come inside the place, since you have been itching to see it, Mr. Mayfly,” he said as he guided his visitor towards the secret elevator. The building was set in the summit of the island, and so it will be hard for them to climb it by foot. Fortunately, the building was made and renovated before the incoming game head visits. “This is the inside of the building,” he said as the door of the elevator opened and welcomed Denton inside the building. “The building is only a one-story building but it already scopes a big mass of land. The building is divided into parts. The parts are all necessary to all the players, workers and the administration. I suppose you know some of the parts inside this building, right?”

“I know some, for sure,” Denton replied with a smile. As they continued on walking towards the pathway, Denton wandered his gaze and continued on looking at the whole place with all of his interest. “That is the way towards the infirmary, right?” The resigned game head looked at him differently. “It’s just that, I was punched one day inside the game… I went to that place and my feet could remember the way,” he said. Denton thinks that he should not push the argument since no one between the two knows that it was his brother who was the lost guard, that it was his brother that was hiding inside the infirmary. He pointed at the right. “That is the way to the comfort room. It looks as if I know the place necessary for the players…”

“And you never talked about the arena,” the resigned game head said before opening the gate of the game arena. It was the place where the players used to stay while they were inside the game. Now, there are a lot of people fixing things inside the arena and they are too busy to even see the three gentlemen on the door, looking at the inside. “As you can see, we are also renovating the game arena for the betterment. Since the last game halted, the beds are removed and will be replaced by new beds, for new players. We ensure that, at least, before they are eliminated, they are treated well. It’s the last best thing we can do.”

“A lot of things surely has changed, and so will the game head,” Denton muttered out of nowhere. He heaved out a sigh after telling those remarks. He looked at the resigned game head who was spacing out after hearing that statement. “Sorry, did that sound offensive?” he asked the game head who just avoided gazes instead of answering his question. “If ever, are there any changes in the battlefield? Out of all the places inside, that’s where almost all the sad memories were made… so I’d like to check on the place, if I can?”

“Of course, you are the head of this game, you can,” the spokesperson said. “However, all the renovations are made by our boss’ decision, which is the resigned game head.” They all entered the battlefield and saw all the guards inside who were all piled in line. “The battlefield is the only open space inside the building and is only closed every night for safety purposes. Since there are green lives inside, we want them to still get enough sunlight.” Denton looked at the guards who were not moving. They all raised their hands and gave Denton a bow. “That means that they are welcoming you as their new game head. Since they will be under you, you must know how to handle them, Mr. Mayfly.”

Denton was taken aback after that synchronized movement of the guards in front of him. “They may be harsh to the players, but they surely are good servant for their boss, which will be you, Mr. Mayfly,” the resigned game head said. “They are also people who strive and work hard to earn money. The only way they could do that is to eliminate the players, since that is their job. For sure, it must be hard for them to kill for money… but that’s the job they were tasked to do. Like you, they have no choice but to abide by it. Please treat them right.”

“I will,” Denton said before he also bowed down to the guards. The guards immediately raised their bodies up and waited for the three to leave before they continued their jobs inside the area. Denton was really happy to see the guards, although there is still pain every time he sees a guard. They are the one who eliminates the players, and it’s their conscience that kills them too… but it is sad to know that they are just doing that so they and their families could live. It’s all about money and life over dignity and conscience, and as per Denton, he could have actually done something similar back when Denise was admitted inside the hospital. “Where should we go next?”

The two gentlemen walked Denton somewhere the latter does not know. “This is my official office, Mr. Mayfly,” the spokesperson muttered. “As you can see on the back, there is a familiar sight. This is where I record myself for the announcements and everything I say inside the monitor or the speakers. As per now, I will be resigning my position also, so it’s your decision who to put inside this office. I suggest you put someone with an alluring voice and that who does not stutter a lot. That is really important as a speaker in this game. I hope you could find someone even better than me, Mr. Mayfly. Shall we head to the next office that we will visit?”

They all agreed to go to the next stop. “This is my office,” the resigned game head said as they entered the office of the game head. The office was really familiar to Denton, since there is a time that he once accidentally eavesdropped at the office. “I mean, my former office for being the game head. Now that I have resigned, this is officially yours, Mr. Mayfly,” he said. “Since I just got my resignation letter approved, I haven’t moved my things yet. I will, for sure, move my things after this day, so that you will be able to have time to fix your office.” Denton nodded in agreement to the resigned game head’s remark. “This office already has it all, it has a mini bar, a reception area, its own comfort room and the table with the computer having all the datas of the games before your term, so you’ll have an idea what to do while you’re here.”

“Sure, sure,” Denton replied while smiling. He wandered around the area. He was really curious about everything but he was scared that the two would find it weird if he asked… “Still,” Denton said, as he decided to talk about his inquiries. “About the games, sir… those games that I played are the games that the next set of players will play or… can they change? If they can, who will choose the games?”

“We will be sure to give you the manual of the whole game, so you will have a quick recap of what to do as a game head. About the games, it is your decision to make your own games or to copy or revise the other year’s games. It is your decision, Mr. Mayfly. Everything under this roof lies on your decision,” the resigned game head replied. “We know that accepting this offer is really hard for you, sir… however, we thank you for your acceptance. May you lead the game better than I did…”