Chapter 7: Cash Grab! Is He a Sucker?  

While the construction team surveyed the property, Benjamin pulled out his phone and got to work. 

The World Cup was underway, and online sports betting platforms were buzzing. 

Countless fans had joined the frenzy. 

Some had won substantial sums overnight, while others lost their savings, homes, and even their lives. 

News outlets reported daily suicides over gambling debts—a grim mix of triumph and despair. 

But Benjamin? He was destined to win. 

He logged into a licensed sportsbook. 

The first match listed was between Aquaria and Ursalia, kicking off in eight minutes. 

Aquaria's team, despite its citizens' notorious "selective memory" about history, ranked top-five globally in soccer. 

Ursalia, though a close ally of Dragonland and known for its rugged spirit, lagged far behind in the sport. 

Most bettors favored Aquaria. 

But Benjamin saw the hidden prompt: 

**[This is a soccer match. Betting on Ursalia yields 4.5x returns. Betting on a 2:5 scoreline yields 13.6x returns.]** 

Without hesitation, he dumped his remaining $100,000 into the 2:5 odds. 

His account balance hit zero, but he stayed calm—in two hours, he'd pocket over $1.3 million. 

Next was Dragonland vs. Westria, scheduled for 11 PM. 

Bets overwhelmingly favored Westria. 

Dragonland's team was infamous for its struggles, and the hidden prompt confirmed a 0:6 rout. 

But Benjamin skipped it—the low returns weren't worth it. 

He then opened a lottery number generator, creating strings of five-digit codes. 

In the West, lotteries like Powerball (five digits), Mega Millions (eight digits), and Super Jackpot (eleven digits) offered escalating prizes. 

Five-digit games had the highest odds but capped at $1 million. 

Super Jackpot, nearly impossible to win, boasted $50 million prizes. 

His girlfriend's brother, Liam, had once lucked into the latter. 

Benjamin scanned hidden prompts at lightning speed: 

[This is a generic number.]

[This is a deceased doctor's phone number.]

[This is a winning five-digit code for next Thursday: 47921.]

... 

In two hours, he uncovered 13 winning codes across the next month, guaranteeing $13 million. 

He bookmarked the page, planning to hunt for eight- and eleven-digit jackpots later. 

"Benjamin!" Noah approached, holding a tablet. "The first batch of materials has arrived. We'll start demolishing and rebuilding today. Here's the preview." 

The 3D render showed a futuristic fortress: bulletproof walls, a transparent nano-carbon roof, and self-sufficient utilities. 

It could withstand everything short of a meteor strike. 

"Proceed," Benjamin said, flashing his $1.3 million betting balance. "I'll pay the remaining deposit tomorrow." 

Noah's eyes widened, but he nodded. "No rush. We'll deliver excellence." 

--- 

Later, at a flea market, Benjamin browsed stalls cluttered with "antiques." 

[A cheap Victorian vase replica: $50.]

[A cracked faux Ming vase: $3.]

[A poorly forged Greek urn: $1.]

... 

He nearly left in disgust until a tattered painting caught his eye: 

[A low-quality Renaissance forgery ($15). Contains a hidden Raphael masterpiece worth $50 million.]

His heart raced. Casually, he picked up the "junk" painting—until a crack split the canvas. 

"MY PRICELESS MASTERPIECE!" the vendor shrieked. "PAY UP, SUCKER!" 

Nearby vendors shook their heads. Another mark had taken the bait.