The Greatest Showman #684 - Invincible

Renly steadied Paul with both hands, using his right foot as an emergency brake to push back, preventing both of them from tumbling into the swimming pool. Looking up, Renly noticed a towering figure not far away.

In a crowd, it's hard to miss someone like him.

The man's massive frame was hard to ignore, resembling a black bear. His tight black shirt strained against his muscles, the glossy black of his back glistening in the sun—he looked like a more Italian Mafia version of Vin Diesel or a rougher version of Dwayne Johnson.

The man had a schadenfreude smile plastered on his face, his eyes gleaming with the satisfaction of watching a spectacle unfold. This wasn't unusual—everyone around him wore a similar expression—but he seemed to lack any attempt at subtlety, which made his demeanor feel off. When his eyes met Renly's, he immediately looked away, as if caught in the act.

Renly didn't have time to think about it. Their brief exchange of glances was enough, and he quickly returned his focus to helping Paul up.

Paul laughed and grinned, "Renly, you're finally done with work? We're playing a game—wanna join in?" His words were a bit slurred, his tongue not as agile as usual.

"Game? Of course," Renly replied with a smile, turning toward Jessica. "How about you, Jessica? You in for some fun?"

Jessica tossed her hair back, a smirk on her lips. "Not worried about losing to a woman, are you?" Her playful challenge was met with a chorus of boos and cheers from the group—the kind of banter that made these games at parties so thrilling.

Valentino, eager to keep things moving, looked at Renly and Jessica, then back to Paul. He couldn't let the game end just yet—he needed to win.

"Paul, it's your turn to pitch. Let's finish this round, then we'll invite Jessica," Valentino said quickly, his tone pushing for the game to continue. "Men always keep their promises, right?"

Renly, noticing the tension in Valentino's voice, glanced at the man who had introduced himself. Paul smiled and nodded.

"Valentino," Paul explained, "We filmed our first movie together. It's been ten years now."

Renly didn't think much of it. With a large crew on a big set like Fast & Furious, meeting someone for the first time wasn't surprising. He chuckled lightly. "Sounds like fate. Who knows, maybe we'll work together again for the sequel."

Valentino, unable to hide his disdain, let out a smug laugh. "Oh, really? I heard you don't want to come back for the sequel. Some people get a little success and start thinking too highly of themselves. But I don't think you've earned that yet."

The crowd noticed the dig, and all eyes turned to Renly. But Renly wasn't fazed. He raised an eyebrow and quipped, "Seems like I've stirred up some jealousy recently. That's a good thing, right?"

The comment drew laughter from the group, but Valentino didn't seem amused. He rolled his eyes and quickly turned away.

Renly couldn't help but feel a strange vibe from Valentino, as if there was something more behind his attitude. But before he could dwell on it, he turned back to Paul.

"Do Valentino and Fan know each other?" Renly asked, sensing some underlying tension.

Paul nodded. "Yeah, they're friends."

Renly chuckled to himself. Paul is still so naive, even after all these years.

Valentino, sensing the conversation was veering off track, growled impatiently, "Are we playing or chatting, guys?"

He raised his hand, signaling for everyone to get back to the game. "Paul! Let's go!"

But before the crowd could chant Paul's name, Renly shot back, "Don't be in such a rush. You sure you're ready to lose?" The playful challenge only made everyone laugh louder, but Valentino's face reddened with frustration.

Jessica, ready to join in, pulled her hair back and adjusted her skirt. Her confident movements drew cheers from the crowd. But before she could step up, Valentino blocked her path.

"My game with Paul isn't over yet," he insisted, his posture firm.

Renly eyed him skeptically. He could tell there was something off about the situation. Paul, wobbling slightly, muttered, "I've lost three rounds already." His words were accompanied by a broad grin. "Each round, one full glass of whiskey."

"Paul!" Valentino snapped, clearly growing more anxious. Renly glanced at him, then said with a smirk, "Why are you in such a hurry? Are you sure you'll win? Can't wait to see Paul drink some more?"

The comment was lighthearted, but it clearly threw Valentino off balance. His face froze, and the crowd took notice of his discomfort. Renly saw through him. Valentino wasn't as smooth as he thought.

Renly leaned in, making it clear he wasn't backing down. "How about I step in for Paul? After this round, Jessica and I will compete. But we'll double the stakes—ten cups, not just one glass of whiskey."

With a wave of his hand, ten cups appeared on the table, and the atmosphere turned electric. The crowd roared with excitement. Even the DJ adjusted the music to match the energy.

"Renly! Renly! Renly!" the crowd chanted in unison, adding to the already charged atmosphere.

Renly was in control now, making sure to keep the pressure on Valentino. After a brief moment of shock, Valentino's face shifted, his smirk returning. Renly hadn't seen the earlier rounds, but he sensed there was something fishy about the setup.

He stepped up to the table, glancing over the setup. On the left side of the table, a pile of ping pong balls lay in a red plastic bucket. On the right, four cups were lined up along the white line. It looked simple enough, but Renly wasn't convinced it was as straightforward as it seemed.

"Let me see how you play first," Renly said with a knowing smile. "What are the rules? How many shots does each person take?"

Valentino's composure faltered for a moment. He looked at his friends for guidance, but there was nothing subtle about the signals they were sending. "Ten shots," he said, trying to regain control. "Or do you want to go first? It's good luck for a beginner."

Renly shot him a knowing look. "Ten shots? That's a bit excessive, don't you think? Three shots should be enough to decide the winner. Let's keep it simple."

Valentino, flustered, could sense he was losing control. Renly's calmness only added to the pressure.

A commotion broke out as some people argued and bumped into each other around the table, but Renly kept his focus. He wasn't going to let Valentino off the hook so easily. "How about we throw one shot each in turn?" he suggested, making it even more apparent that Valentino was scrambling.

Valentino tried to protest, but Renly wasn't having it. "Or are you scared?" Renly taunted, causing the crowd to join in. "Valentino! Valentino! Valentino!" they chanted, eager for the drama to unfold.

Renly kept his eyes on Valentino but couldn't help but notice a few odd interactions at the ping pong table—people moving cups, exchanging glances, and whispering. Something wasn't right, but Renly wasn't about to let it slide.

The game was about to get even more interesting.