Contents
CHAPTER 48: The Double Double
Overview
Broken by Mudt’s betrayal and jade withdrawal, Bero descends into months of despair and goes to the Double Double to gamble away his last money before killing himself. Eiten, an armless No Peak Green Bone and casino overseer, intervenes, draws out Bero’s confession about jade crimes, and alerts No Peak via Lott.
This pivots Bero from self-destruction toward becoming a potential asset or liability in No Peak’s wider conflict.
Summary
After surviving a shine poisoning and SN1 overdose, Bero spends weeks in the hospital, saved only because his tolerance and a sedative slowed the poison. He awakens broke, jade-less, and resentful, learning that neighbor Mrs. Waim called an ambulance and that Mudt vanished with his jade and shine.
Months of isolation follow as Bero sinks into withdrawal, poverty, and suicidal thoughts. With rent nearly due and no prospects, he withdraws all his remaining funds and goes to the Double Double, deciding to gamble everything as a final test of fate before killing himself.
Bero drinks heavily and plays beggar’s lot, briefly winning before steadily losing. When he announces his intent to die, a concerned dealer signals security. An armless Green Bone, Eiten, arrives with a small monkey, uses precise Deflection to escort Bero to a back office, and offers water and a chance to leave safely if Bero abandons his suicide plan.
Eiten explains he runs the casino’s hoji distillery and unofficially watches Poor Man’s Road. He reveals the Horn of the Mountain once cut off his arms, that he once wanted to die, and that he rebuilt a life. Bero counters that jade ruined him. Bitter and drunk, he admits to being a thief and smuggler, working with barukan and Uwiwan crews, losing a team to the Mountain, refusing whisper work, being cut off, and finally betrayed and robbed by Mudt.
Seeing opportunity in Bero’s knowledge, Eiten calls “Lott-jen,” stating he has someone the Pillar might find interesting. The chapter ends with Bero poised between despair and possible recruitment by No Peak.
Who Appears
- BeroFormer new green and jade thief, destitute and suicidal after Mudt’s betrayal; confesses crimes at the Double Double.
- EitenArmless No Peak Green Bone and hoji distiller; stops Bero’s suicide, empathizes, and calls Lott about him.
- MudtBero’s former partner who drugged him, stole his jade and shine, and disappeared; target of Bero’s vengeance.
- Lott-jenNo Peak contact Eiten phones, possibly to inform the Pillar about Bero’s value.
- Mrs. WaimNeighbor who found Bero overdosing and called an ambulance, inadvertently saving his life.
- Dealer at the Double DoubleConcerned dealer who signals Eiten after Bero declares suicidal intentions while gambling.