Chapter 18: Tempting Bet

The next morning, the new members of the club gathered in the school locker room, who had already lost to the main team more than once. On the central bench, with a serious expression on his face, sat So Ho, and next to him was Jen Ryu.

"Nobody in this team, except for you and me, can be trusted. After Ming You, you can't call any of them human anymore," So Ho declared with contempt.

Jen Ryu decided to support him: "That's true. Even Jung Ho, with his principles, has become inhumane. We need to figure out what to do when the main team consists of such bastards."

"What about just not playing? Even if something happens to us or our relatives, we can just go to the police, right?" Mei Yu interjected.

"Hey, we don't want anything to happen, so that's not an option," interrupted one of the newcomers.

The team was in confusion, as they had no real way out. But when the locker room door opened and Ming You walked in, the team was even more bewildered.

"Hey, guys, miss me?" he said indifferently.

The newcomers didn't know how to react, but So Ho was the first to exclaim: "What the hell do you want?"

"Chill, chill, I'm here with a pretty good deal," Ming You replied, raising his hands.

Jen Ryu stood up abruptly and shouted angrily: "What kind of deal? We're not going to dance to your tune!"

Ming You's face remained indifferent as he continued: "Why so rude? I came to help you, by the way."

Veins bulged on the foreheads of the newcomers, their faces twisted in anger. None of them had words for such audacity, but So Ho, having calmed down, decided to ask: "So what help are you offering us? And what's in it for you?"

"Help in the form of canceling the captain's point increase rule; in fact, your points will be increased. As for my benefit," Ming You smirked ominously, "you're just pathetic weaklings, and I'd enjoy crushing you even without my advantage."

The locker room fell silent for a moment, but Jen Ryu grabbed Ming You by his shirt and shouted: "Bastard, who are you calling weaklings, huh?"

"All of you. And not only are you weak, but you're also stupid," Ming You taunted.

Jen Ryu was about to hit him, but So Ho stopped him: "Don't fall for his provocation."

After Jen Ryu stepped back, So Ho moved closer to Ming You and said: "Let's say you want to play fair, which we'll never believe, but regarding the game… You're clearly planning to set your own rules, right?"

Ming You feigned a smile: "You're quite perceptive, so yes, you're right, but you're mistaken about one thing; I'm going to make the rules in favor of your team."

So Ho and the others were puzzled, but he still asked: "And what rules will benefit us? You clearly have something up your sleeve!"

"Partly right, it will be a one-round game with me, but if you lose, heh-heh," Ming You grinned wickedly, "the rules will be in my favor. But if you win, not only will I wipe out all your debts, but I'll also leave the team. So, what do you think? Tempting offer, isn't it?"

The team remained confused, but Jen Ryu decided to clarify: "So what rules are you going to set?"

Ming You continued indifferently: "It's quite simple: my points will count as one, like in regular streetball, meaning a three-pointer will be worth two. But your points will be doubled. It would be foolish to refuse, wouldn't it?"

"So what's the catch?" So Ho asked loudly.

"The catch is that if you somehow manage to lose with such an advantage, in the last games your points will be halved, and my player's points will be quadrupled. To be precise, your points will equal 0.5 instead of 1, while my player's points will equal 4. The same goes for three-pointers: your shot is worth one point, my captain's shot is worth eight points," Ming You explained slyly.

"So it's like a gamble? If we win, we're debt-free; if we lose, we're definitely losing in the last games too…" So Ho said uncertainly.

Ming You gave a thumbs up: "Exactly. So, do you agree? Or do we stick with the same rules as before?"

"Why can't we just play by normal streetball rules?" Jen Ryu asked aggressively.

"Exactly! Why complicate things?" So Ho supported him.

Ming You shot them a menacing look: "You still don't understand who the debtors are, do you? I'm just giving you a chance to get out of a tough spot, so you should be grateful to me. But if you refuse this chance, it will be solely your fault."

"Well thank you fuck, you're a saint!" Jen Ryu said angrily and sarcastically.

"Suit yourselves, it was my job to offer." Ming You was about to leave, but So Ho decided to take the chance: "Wait, we need time to think about your offer."

Ming You turned around and mockingly said: "What's there to think about? You either have a chance to cover your debts, or I'll bury you deeper in them with my advantage, so it's either yes or look for some jobs."

So Ho, like the others, started to panic: "Hold on, give us five minutes!"

"You had time, but you wasted it on doubts and bad language towards me," Ming You said coldly, turning his back to the team.

"Fine, we agree! Guys," So Ho turned to the stunned team and continued, "logically thinking, in the round with Ming You we have a chance not just to win one round, but to wipe out all our debts, plus with an advantage, so we shouldn't pass up this opportunity."

"But how…" One player tried to interject, but Ming You interrupted: "Great, it's settled. I'll see you tomorrow evening at the same court. If you manage to lose, blame only yourselves." Ming You waved goodbye and then closed the locker room door, leaving the rookie team in complete bewilderment.

When the locker room door slammed shut, Mei Yu shot up from his seat and said, looking distrustfully at So Ho: "What the hell do we have to dance to his tune? You know he's plotting against us, why did you fall for it?"

So Ho, silent for a few seconds, replied anxiously: "This is our only chance, and I don't want to miss it. It's certainly strange that the rules are in our favor, and he's definitely up to something, but if we left things as they are, we would definitely lose, since Ming You is the strongest in this team not just due to his strategies but also his physical strength."

An anxious silence enveloped the locker room, but Jen Ryu decided to speak up: "Maybe he really has something planned, but damn it, we have to take the chance! We have no other opportunity, so let's gather our strength and crush him in this game. Everyone wants to see Ming You leave the team, right?" He raised his fist, and the team was inspired.

"It's decided, we'll take him down!" shouted Mei Yu, and the team was energized. All the rookies headed out to the gym, preparing for the upcoming match.

The evening of the next day, at the outdoor court. Spectators began to gather by the benches, with Ming You arriving first, dressed alone in a black jersey with the number 44. He tossed the ball into the air, and a cunning smile never left his face, revealing only his empty eyes.

"You're here again, Ming You?" came the voice of Taek Jung, who bowed respectfully before approaching him, then asked thoughtfully: "Are you sure your plan will work?"

"Of course," Ming You replied, skillfully catching the ball. "I'm going to set the rules in favor of their team and cancel my advantage of doubled points."

"Rules in favor of five players?" Taek Jung raised an eyebrow in surprise. "That's unexpected. Do you really believe they'll accept it?"

"They already have," Ming You smirked, shooting the ball into the hoop. "The point increase is just a way to make the game more interesting. And they'll think they have the advantage."

"Aren't you afraid it might backfire?" Taek Jung asked, admiring his confidence. "That's quite a risky move."

"Risk is what separates winners from losers," Ming You said, effortlessly sinking the ball. "I know how to control the game, and they won't be able to stop me."

At that moment, the team of five players, led by So Ho, approached the court, and the tension in the air became palpable. So Ho looked at Ming You with suspicion but said nothing.

"Ready for the game?" asked Mei Yu, scanning the team.

"Always ready," So Ho replied, his voice sounding confident, though a flicker of doubt crossed his eyes.

Noticing the team warming up, Ming You stepped closer to the court line. He could feel the tension from his opponents, but it only fueled his gambling.

"Come on, guys, don't relax," So Ho shouted, his voice full of determination.

Ming You and So Ho exchanged only glances. So Ho's gaze was filled with hatred and rivalry, reading that this game would be more than just a match; it would be a true battle. But Ming You wore only a mocking empty look, which unnerved So Ho.

"So, friends," announced referee Sung Wo, drawing the crowd's attention. "Today we have a special game! Ming You will face off against the five-player team!"

The crowd erupted in applause, and Ming You smirked at his opponents.

"For the five-player team, points will be doubled!" the referee continued.

Whispers and doubts spread through the crowd, but most decided to bet on the five players. Taek Jung looked at Ming You with admiration: "You really thought everything through," he said with a smile. "That's impressive."

"This is just the beginning," Ming You replied, his seemingly empty eyes sparkling with eager anticipation. "Time to show them what real game means."

So Ho, standing on the opposite side of the hoop, clenched his fists, ready for the confrontation. The tension escalated, and everyone understood: it was going to be a heated evening.