CHAPTER 43: ETERNAL HAPPINESS

The cheerful noise filled the street.

The crowd, who were once disappointed, had turned excited. Men slapped each other’s shoulders, some even stomping their feet in disbelief. Laughter and cheers echoed through the street as more people walked closer to the entrance, trying to peek inside.

"An actual den! Hah! Who would’ve thought of this!"

"We don’t need to sweat in the sun anymore! Praise the heavens!"

"Leonard, you sly bastard, you really did it!"

"Eternal Happiness... ah, what a name! I like it!"

"I’ll guess we’ll really be happy here!"

Even those who had been saying complaints and curses earlier were now swept up in the enthusiasm. Some were grinning ear to ear, others already rummaging through their pouches of coins as though they couldn’t wait to throw their silver down.

Leonard raised his hand to catch the people’s attention once again.

’See, guys? This is my creation!’ His smile was wide, confident, and proud.

"My Friends!" His voice was so loud that it echoed in the narrow street. "I built this place for all of you. In here? We won’t cramp on the street. From today onward, this is our home for the game!"

A roar of cheers answered him.

"Now, let me explain how it will work!" Leonard continued, lifting his arm toward the open doorway. "Inside, you’ll find tables ready for you. Each table has its own dice and cup. Sit down, place your silver, and play to your heart’s content! You don’t need to fight for space anymore. Every table is fair, every game clear for all to see!"

Gasps of awe and nods of approval spread among the crowd. A man in the front rubbed his hands together eagerly.

"No more people bumping into me while I play... finally!"

"And listen closely!" Leonard grinned mischievously. "If you’re tired of standing, you can sit comfortably. If you’re hungry, you’ll still find food right here on this street. And if you’re thirsty..." he tapped his chest as if he was making a vow to the crowd. "I’ll make sure we find a way to bring drinks inside soon enough!"

That made the crowd erupt with laughter and whistles.

"Leonard! You’re spoiling us too much!"

"Hahaha! This is so good?"

"Make sure the drinks are cheap!"

"Bring us in already!"

"Come on, come on, I want to roll the dice!"

Leonard chuckled, his chest warmed as he glanced back at Gareth and Anika. Gareth simply crossed his arms with a smirk, while Anika’s eyes shone with pride.

He turned back to the crowd, lifted both arms, and declared, "Then let’s not waste any more time. Eternal Happiness opens its doors today for all of you! Welcome inside, my friends!"

With that, he stepped through the entrance first, his head held up high. The crowd followed like behind prey, their excitement was palpable in the air. They were ready to pour into the den and make history in their brand-new home.

The inside of the den became alive almost instantly. The moment the people stepped through the doorway, they let out sounds of amusement. The inside of the den was bright enough with the lanterns hanging on the ceiling.

Before anyone could say further, the people ran to claim the tables that they wanted.

Leonard, Anika, and Gareth moved fast to keep things orderly. But of course, three people alone weren’t nearly enough to handle the 5 tables.

That was why they had called in help.

"Over here, you two!" Leonard waved.

From the back room, the two men who were Old Marrek’s helpers appeared. One was tall and lanky with a nervous smile. He was Eric. While the other one has broad shoulders, but looked at ease. He was Ferio.

They still looked unsure of themselves, but they were here.

Anika clapped her hands to get their attention.

"Just remember what we practiced yesterday. Don’t panic and just focus on your tables. Show them how you roll the dice and don’t let anyone snatch your coins away, alright?"

"Y-Yeah, we’ll manage," Eric muttered. He quickly wiped the sweat off his forehead before nodding quickly.

"Yes, don’t worry!" Ferio also muttered before adjusting his sleeves and heading toward his assigned table.

Leonard’s chest eased a little as he watched them get to work. Since they only had 1 day to teach the two, they weren’t masters yet. They were not like him, Anika, or Gareth.

Still, what mattered most was that they knew the rules, the motions of the hand, and the look of the dice. He made sure of that.

Now, the important thing was that they had to make sure today would be a success. He can’t just hype this place for it not to be fun. That will be embarrassing for him.

Sure enough, once the two helpers settled down, the people started to calm down. He, Gareth, and Anika also took their own place.

On his table, Leonard clapped his hands together, loud enough to turn the heads of those people surrounding his table. He flashed them his widest smile, his voice booming with confidence.

"Alright! Are you all ready to test your luck today?"

Coins jingled as men leaned forward, already eager. Leonard leaned over the table, tapping the dice cup with his knuckles.

"You’ve all been waiting for this, haven’t you? Well, now, let’s see who luck favors today!"

A cheer rose from the group, and several hands reached into their pouches to toss down silver coins. The sound of coins hitting the table was like music to his ears. Leonard pushed the coins closer to him first.

"Good! That’s the spirit!" Leonard laughed out loud. He rolled his shoulders before shaking the cup in his hand. The dice rattled inside, every shake adding to the tension until he slammed it down onto the table.

"Let’s begin!"

After a minute, all five tables in the den were already running and alive with the game. Dice rolled in every direction, coins slid across the wooden table, and cheers, groans, and laughter overlapped one another in chaos.

That day, Eternal Happiness had truly been born.