Chapter 6. The Beginning of the Plan

"Do you guys follow soccer?" Eric asked.

The three guys and the girl exchanged confused looks, not understanding what he was talking about. In 2002, the US could still be called a "soccer desert."

In this country, American football, basketball, hockey, and baseball were popular. English football was considered a game for weaklings. Could this sport compete with American football in terms of spectacle? British game in America? No way!

The American market had long been divided among popular sports, and although soccer was popular worldwide, it didn't catch on in some countries, just like cricket in India.

Just as Chinese people don't play baseball, and Chinese chess hasn't become international, cultural differences play a role.

"Alright, you don't understand soccer, but it doesn't matter. You don't need to understand the game; you just need to know how to place bets. I'll give you instructions."

Billy crossed his arms and said seriously, "Eric, this isn't a great idea. I've never heard of anyone getting rich through gambling."

Bordeaux also opposed the plan: "We studied finance, not math. Otherwise, we might have tried to get rich in Las Vegas."

Warren added, "I've heard that many sporting events are controlled by bookmakers. They can make anyone the winner. Making money off this is too difficult."

These concerns were understandable, and such cases did exist, for example, the match-fixing scandal in Italian soccer. But that was just a regular league, and Eric was dealing with the World Cup, which was hard for bookmakers to control.

There are many reasons for this. The simplest is that the cost of the players far exceeds the capital of most bookmakers.

Players earn millions from advertising contracts, and no one would risk their reputation for small money. Moreover, the World Cup is held every four years, and a player's career is too short to take risks. Who knows if this will be their last World Cup?

For those who have already earned enough money, honor is more important than money.

Even if the bookmakers bribe 1-2 players, it won't affect the game. You'd need to bribe half the team, which is too expensive.

Besides, bookmakers make real profits from commissions, not from the outcomes of matches. They earn when people place bets.

At the 2003 World Cup, South Korea, as hosts, didn't want to look bad and tried to bribe other teams, but they refused. So, they decided to bribe the referees. This led to the dirtiest World Cup in history.

This chaos bankrupted many bookmakers due to unexpected results.

As a result, a very amusing situation arose. After the World Cup, bookmakers united, demanding fair matches and a ban on match-fixing. They also opened their financial reports and called on players to do the same to avoid suspicion.

These actions received support from international anti-money laundering organizations.

So, the World Cup in Japan and Korea was the most profitable event, and this was Eric's chance.

His three best friends weren't particularly optimistic about his plans. He turned to Judy. She shrugged, "I don't mind, since it's not my money. Tell us what to do."

Eric smiled, "See, it's my money, so you have nothing to fear. It's just a game, a multi-million dollar game you haven't played before."

"Besides, gambling winnings aren't taxed. The companies pay the taxes for you in advance. So, it's settled!"

Since Eric was confident, his friends stopped objecting and waited for instructions.

"I have 10 million dollars. I'll divide it into five parts, 2 million each for you. You'll go to the UK, Macau, Singapore, and Brazil. I'll stay here."

"The trip might be risky, so I'll assign a bodyguard to each of you. But try to keep a low profile."

"When the World Cup ends in a month, you'll come back home. That's it!"

He decided to give each one a bodyguard to ensure their safety and monitor their actions.

Judy smiled, "We're going on a business trip? Great! I've always wanted to visit Asia. Singapore is a beautiful city. What do they call it? The Garden City?"

"Then I'll go to the UK. I've always wanted to try their famous cuisine."

Eric patted Warren on the shoulder, "I don't recommend it. Compared to real Chinese food, British cuisine is like crap. Go to Macau; you'll gain 10 pounds and despise the local Chinese restaurants."

Warren frowned, "No, I'm losing weight. Food will ruin my plans. I'll still go to England."

Bordeaux smirked, "Are you sure? British gays are very active. Watch out for your white ass."

"Uh..."

Billy licked his lips, "I heard Brazilian girls are hot. This will be an unforgettable trip."

Judy immediately perked up, "Let's switch. Brazil suits me more. You go to Singapore."

"Why?"

Judy clenched her fist, "Want to test it?"

"Okay, you win, but be careful and don't catch anything. Eric won't cover your medical bills," Billy winked.

They agreed that Warren would go to Macau, Billy to Singapore, Bordeaux to the UK, and Judy to Brazil.

Although Brazil wasn't as dangerous in 2002 as it later became, there were still issues with drugs and gangs, so Eric decided to give Judy two bodyguards.

After the party, Eric received the 10 million dollars in his account.

The next day, his friends flew to their destinations.

At dawn, Eric was driving home, thinking about the upcoming millions. The clouds over the mountains looked like stacks of money, and it seemed like every Franklin was smiling warmly at him.