Perdente-Ivan's manga

## **Plot**

In the middle of the night, Ivan receives a phone call informing him that the moonshine, supposed to be smuggled, has just gone up in flames and the goods were burned to a crisp.

Next day Gian gets up, feeling something wrong with his hand which keeps on itching for some reason. However, he brushes it off and wakes up Ivan, who is still sleeping beside him. Ivan jolts from the bed, rushing to get ready and leave as quickly as possible. Gian inquires why he is in such a hurry, but Ivan avoids the topic until Gian tells him that he already knows it concerns something that caught on fire. Ivan gives up hiding the matter and confesses that the truck carrying moonshine costing about $3000 has burned down. The moonshine was scheduled to be sold to the black market the next week. Left with no choice but to cover it up himself, Ivan has to pay $4000, however, he's short on $1500.

Gian suggests he borrows the money sum from Bernardo, begs anyone of the elders for the money, or embezzles funds from the public but Ivan rejects all of his solutions. Finding his left hand trembling again, Gian tells Ivan to prepare the cash he has, affirming that he'll make him get the $1500 he needs. The two head to a gambling hall. Since Gian is banned from most casinos, the one who will be playing is Ivan. Ivan rules out all games with a dealer so as to avoid any dirty dealings. Sitting at the first poker table he sees, Ivan gambles against three players and Gian stays by his side just in case.

In the first turn, Ivan draws aces over eights otherwise known as the dead man's hand which is the hand Hickok drew before he was shot dead. Ivan panics believing it to be a deadly sign and calls a fold, discarding his hand and interest in the current game. Gian gets mad at Ivan for forfeiting when he could have won with such cards but Ivan objects that Gian is obsessed with winning when one's life is more important and they can win any other time.

Whilst Ivan and Gian bicker among themselves the other players keep calling a bet and raising it up until they complete betting and reveal their hands in order to determine the winner. Ivan participates in the next round and he's all set on winning, nonetheless, Ivan continues to lose one round after another and ignores all Gian's directions. Having had enough Gian excuses himself and Ivan for a bathroom break. Ivan protests that he was just about to win but Gian yells at him saying that he has already lost all his money without even noticing. After dragging Ivan to the bathroom with Ivan snarling about why he did such a thing, Gian snaps at Ivan for his attitude at the gamble table and losing his cool that he acted rashly worse than even Gian, himself. Ivan insists on going back and playing another round with some money he still got, Gian tells him he has completely lost his mind. Before Ivan can lash out even further, Gian force kisses Ivan to calm him down.

After getting it on in one of the stalls, Gian and Ivan return and try playing the roulette this time. Ivan bets all his money on blacks but the wheel stops at red and he loses. Gian suggests he just borrows the money from Bernardo but Ivan refuses again.

Gian finds a dime in his pocket and tests his luck at the slot machine. Fortunately enough, the jackpot is 2000$. Gian pulls the lever and while the two argue over how they are supposed to return to headquarters when they have no money, it turns out Gian won the jackpot and a great cheer goes up from the two. Gian enthusiastically tells Ivan that his hand trembling was a sign. Ivan doesn't understand so Gian explains to him that it means he will have great luck though it's just a superstition he has made up.