You call this a projection?

”I will be the one to gamble with you.”

Having said that, without giving Polnareff a chance to object, Shirou Emiya pulled him back and sat down in front of D’Arby.

”How about it, D’Arby? No problem with that, right?”

Shirou looked directly at D’Arby with an unquestionable tone. Although Shirou, possessing memories of a past life, knew they could defeat the master gambler D’Arby by following the method from the original story, that method relied too heavily on luck.

If D’Arby’s psychological resilience were just a bit stronger... no, it should be said that since D’Arby was using J. Geil’s location as a stake rather than information on DIO’s Stand ability, he wouldn’t carry such a heavy psychological burden this time compared to the original.

This meant the victory method from the original work might very well be useless—unless they could win the information on J. Geil’s location first, or add stakes that D’Arby couldn’t afford to pay!

”GOOD! To be honest, I couldn’t ask for more,” D’Arby smiled indifferently at Shirou’s sudden intrusion. ”In fact, compared to the Joestars, who could be eliminated by Lord DIO at any moment, you—Shirou Emiya, the Prophet—are the one Lord DIO is truly concerned about. It couldn’t be better that you’ve delivered yourself right to me.”

D’Arby wasn’t lying. As Stand users named after the [Nine Egyptian Glory Gods], D’Arby and his peers were more like secret weapons compared to those named after the [Tarot Cards].

It wasn’t that the former were necessarily much stronger than the latter, but while many Tarot Stands were ”blank slates,” every Glory God Stand possessed a unique and specific ability.

Using special abilities as weapons, what they feared most was an enemy like Shirou Emiya who could effectively ”dox” them instantly.

Similarly, the fact that Shirou could state their Stand abilities before they even acted confirmed beyond a doubt that he truly possessed prophetic powers. An enemy Prophet who knew their secrets... not just DIO, but even D’Arby would lose sleep over it.

However...

”Hey, Emiya...!”

Polnareff seemed unsatisfied with this turn of events and wanted to say something, but Avdol pulled him back from behind. Avdol gave Polnareff two slaps to make him calm down.

”Polnareff, look at the state you’re in!

If Emiya hadn’t saved you, do you really think you could have beaten a professional gambler?”

What did that mean? Rubbing his stinging cheeks, the beaten Polnareff looked blankly at Avdol. He then looked in the direction Avdol was pointing—toward his own soul, which was already being partially dragged out by [Osiris]!?

”What? ...Since when!?”

A bewildered Polnareff was instantly struck with horror. Wasn’t D’Arby’s Stand ability only supposed to activate after winning a gamble? Why was his soul being gripped by [Osiris] before he had even started playing? It was illogical!

”Did you forget, Polnareff?” Avdol looked at D’Arby with lingering fear. ”It happened when this man said—he wanted to bet on whether your [Silver Chariot] was faster or J. Geil’s escape speed was faster.”

”How did you answer him?”

”How did I answer him? ...I remember saying—Fine, I’ll bet with you...?! Co-co-co... could it be!?” Polnareff’s eyes widened in disbelief.

”Yes! The moment you said ’Fine,’ the gambling contract was established!” Avdol nodded, his face equally grim.

If they hadn’t known D’Arby’s Stand ability in advance, and if they hadn’t been observing as bystanders just now to see how D’Arby induced Polnareff step by step, they likely wouldn’t have realized so quickly that Polnareff had fallen into the trap.

Daniel J. D’Arby was a terrifying man.

Not just Avdol, but Polnareff himself retreated a few steps after realizing what had happened. ”But, I-I-I... that wasn’t what I wanted to bet on at all!”

Even though he knew about J. Geil in advance and realized it would be hard to catch him without knowing his hiding spot, no matter how un-smart he was, he wouldn’t have bet on that. It was obvious he would lose!

”Exactly. That’s why [Osiris] is only holding onto your soul without completely crushing your spirit to extract it. But gambling in that state...” Avdol said solemnly, ”Polnareff, do you still have a chance of winning? That guy is a professional gambler; he won’t pass up any chance to cheat. We might have fallen into his trap before we even knew it!”

”Then Emiya...” Polnareff looked nervously and worriedly at Shirou Emiya, who was taking the blow for him.

-

-

-

The conversation on Polnareff’s side did not affect Shirou and D’Arby. Both Shirou, who saw how Polnareff was tricked, and D’Arby, who failed to resolve Polnareff in one go, acted as if nothing had happened. They continued the previous topic.

”Then we shall play Rock-Paper-Scissors. By the way, how about a one-round match to decide it all?” D’Arby asked.

”Fine. But before that...” Shirou nodded to start the game, then turned to look behind him. ”Mr. Joestar, I have a favor to ask.”

”?”

”I recall that DIO was once an adopted son of the Joestar family, and his current body actually comes from your grandfather’s body, correct?” Shirou asked.

”Yes, that’s right. Why?” Joseph replied instinctively.

”Nothing, I just need an endorsement.” Shirou smiled and turned back to D’Arby.

”D’Arby, your [Osiris] Stand ability only requires a proof from a close relation to take a person’s soul without their consent. Therefore...!”

Shirou took out a pen and paper from his pocket and handed them to Joseph behind him. ”On the basis of betting my own soul, I will also bet the soul of the Joestar adopted son—DIO!

And in the upcoming match of Rock-Paper-Scissors, I will only throw Paper!”

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