Chapter 12: Club Games

“I didn’t expect Dr. She’s people to catch the girl with precognitive abilities so quickly—what a delightful surprise.”

“Of course. If not, there’d be no point to this research at all, wouldn’t you agree, Mr. Ma?”

Ma Jinlong let out a hearty laugh, but just then the alarm began to beep urgently. Dr. She glanced at his tablet. “One of my men was monitoring a car on the highway heading toward General’s Mountain, but for some reason, we suddenly lost contact with him. Quite strange.”

“Maybe your man was slacking off,” Ma Jinlong remarked sarcastically.

Dr. She studied the map of the area around General’s Mountain. A red circle marked one section, yet already one-sixth of the area had faded from view. “I stationed several of my lower-level cyborgs to maintain a wide surveillance field. Now, one of their brainwave signals has abruptly ceased transmission—no more sending or receiving.”

“Impossible! After all these years of your so-called cyborg research, are they really this fragile?” Ma Jinlong slammed the table in displeasure.

Dr. She was used to such attitudes from the wealthy. He remained calm, analyzing the situation. “According to Wu Qiwei’s recent report, whoever killed Xiang, that vampire, is clearly not an ordinary human. I suspect we may be dealing with a natural enemy of vampires.”

“I’ve invested so much money and wasted years on this project, only to reach this level? If your creations can’t even defeat their natural foes, what’s the point? Who am I supposed to send to next year’s Death Tournament to compete against those ancient relics and their foreign mercenaries?”

“You needn’t worry about that. When the time comes, I’ll assemble for you the perfect team,” Dr. She replied, confidence written all over his face.

Ma Jinlong eyed him skeptically. “Since you’re so composed, I’d like to put your latest creations to the test.”

“No problem.”

“A Si, call an emergency shareholders’ meeting at the club,” Ma Jinlong instructed his assistant by phone, calculating in his mind the formidable opponent Wu Qiwei had praised. He still harbored doubts about Dr. She’s handiwork. With this rare opportunity, why not use it to probe just how far the old man’s technology had come? And he could also squeeze some more funds from the others—after all, none of them would ever risk betting on something uncertain.

Dr. She put away his tablet, looking displeased. “Mr. Ma, you’re up to your old games again.”

“Of course! How could I pass up such a lucrative game?” He was already working out how much money he’d rake in from this little amusement. For Ma Jinlong, everything was tinged with the prospect of profit.

On the multimedia screen, a live feed showed several people. Each of them was a titan of industry, their fortunes immense. They exchanged polite greetings before Ma Jinlong, seated at the head, beamed at them. “How have you all been? First, let me thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to join me for a little game.”

“If Mr. Ma calls, of course I’ll come,” replied a slender man with a cheerful smile, prompting laughter around the table.

“I just love meetings that come with games.”

“I wonder what new kind of game Mr. Ma has thought up this time?”

“Here’s the situation: Four kilometers from my General’s Mountain property, an unidentified car has appeared. It looks like someone’s trying to snoop around our cyborg investment. Dr. She has just finished a batch of new prototypes, so I thought now would be the perfect time to test whether these specimens meet our expectations. Gentlemen, which side would you care to wager on?”

As he explained, Ma Jinlong keenly watched their faces, calculating how best to maximize his own winnings.

While the others hesitated, the slender man spoke first. “I see. Even if the other side has some tricks, they can’t possibly defeat Dr. She’s creations—ten times the strength of an ordinary man! Of course I’ll bet on Dr. She’s team.”

“No need to rush, gentlemen. Let’s first review the situation before placing your bets.” Ma Jinlong stood and switched on the live feed. The screen showed high-speed footage: two men and a woman stepping out of a car. “Allow me to explain: At the base of General’s Mountain, in the Lost Woods, there are three people—I’ll call them the Underdog Group. One, according to our investigations, possesses extraordinary powers—Wu Qiwei can vouch for this. The other two are, quite frankly, just ordinary people. On our side, there are about ten prototypes stationed outside, all ordered to converge and eliminate the Underdog Group. Place your bets on which side will fall first.”

“Now I get it,” chuckled a slightly overweight man seated third from the left, lighting a cigar. “Three against ten, with two just acting as cannon fodder. No matter how you look at it, they’re doomed. Mr. Ma’s real aim is just to profit from the game—what an easy business.”

“Heh, betting starts now. As I said, it’s three in the Underdog Group versus ten experimental subjects. Who will win? Odds are two to one, all bets in US dollars.”

“I’ll wager five million on the prototypes killing the underdogs,” the skinny man announced, and the others followed suit, casually placing their bets.

“I’ll take Dr. She’s prototypes as well, for ten million.”

“Since everyone’s backing Dr. She’s side, I’ll take a risk and bet on the underdogs—the ordinary group—to win. My stake: twenty million dollars.” The most inconspicuous man at the table finally spoke, drawing startled looks from everyone.

Behind Ma Jinlong, one man allowed himself a faint smile before quickly composing himself.

He was usually the silent one in the club, but now he’d spoken up—and his bet made Ma Jinlong uneasy. Among them, he was the youngest, not yet forty, already standing out in the circle of powerful magnates thanks to his remarkable abilities.

Although Ma Jinlong had some doubts about Dr. She’s team, he still fundamentally trusted them. Wu Qiwei’s endorsement notwithstanding, he didn’t fully understand the real capabilities of the opposing force—making this unexpected bet all the more concerning.

A few others began to jeer: “Mr. Zeng Yilong, you’re really foolish—betting on the underdog in a three-against-ten, just throwing your money away! Is it because you have nowhere else to spend it? Hahaha!”

“Well, it’s understandable. After all, Mr. Zeng started out in agriculture, and though he’s made a fortune in real estate these past years, when it comes to these games, it’s best to judge the situation carefully.”

“War itself is a dynamic affair. The tide of battle can shift in a heartbeat, and sometimes the best opportunity is the most fleeting. I don’t believe those at a disadvantage have no chance of turning the tables. If I lose, it’ll simply mean my judgment was lacking.” Zeng Yilong spoke with steady composure.

Ma Jinlong was surprised by this turn, but maintained his affable smile. “Ha, this is a friendly wager—everyone bets as they please. I’m sure Mr. Zeng has his reasons for backing the underdogs. Let’s wait and see.”

“Damn you, Zeng Yilong, always getting in my way and ruining my profits—how infuriating,” Ma Jinlong fumed inwardly. He knew the true strength at play; the first wave he’d sent out was mere cannon fodder. If the underdogs won, he’d stand to reap a windfall—yet now Zeng Yilong refused to play by the script.