"What I'm about to say is something I've mentioned to everyone in previous years as well. This year, I won't be playing as a team with all of you, but I hope you all remember why we train so hard. "As for the prize money, CalX would not take any commission. It will be distributed to everyone based on each person's contribution to the game, just like in previous years. The after-tax income will be shared among everyone. I hope you show your best and give it your all tomorrow." Unlike other leaders who liked to give long-winded speeches, Alex briefly stated the main purpose of this gathering, raised his glass, and cheered with everyone.Even though they were just drinking beverages, it didn't dampen the joy.All who were seated at the table were peers. Although Alex was the leader, he didn't act like one. They usually lived together, so even though there was a minor disagreement like just now, it was quickly resolved, and everyone was back to being friendly.This was why Alex and
BlueMushroom was still trying to persuade Simon. He babbled on and on, and Simon's head started to hurt from listening to him.Simon did manage to hear the last few sentences clearly. "All in all, consider the offer. Our boss's offer is definitely higher than the prize money you'll get if you win the championship. Besides, how can you be sure that your CalX will definitely win the championship? "If you lose to Flashfocus, the money you'll get will be even less. If you accept our offer, you'll have a guaranteed bonus, plus the runner-up prize money. You won't lose no matter what." Simon quickly turned off his phone and looked at BlueMushroom. He doubted BlueMushroom’s words, but there was one sentence that stood out. His team, CalX, might not win. Looking at the results from the regular season, their club seemed to be on par with Flashfocus, with a 50% chance of winning. In these playoffs, according to official statistics, most commentators bet on CalX or Flashfocus as th
Although Simon didn’t regard this substitute player highly, he didn’t make it obvious. He pretended to be listening attentively and asked the young man to pour him a drink. He couldn’t have seemed more natural.Halfway through the meal, Simon didn't get what he was waiting for. He felt a bit annoyed. Alex couldn’t possibly want to wait until they finished eating, could he? Simon subtly glanced at Alex. According to the club's unspoken rules, Alex usually spoke before or after meals. He would rarely start a conversation during the meal. If he had mentioned the distribution of bonuses before the meal, the team leader would definitely have told him. Unless Alex planned to do it after the meal… Simon couldn't wait any longer. His mind was racing. He was analyzing how much money he could get if Alex and the club didn’t take any cut and comparing it with the offer from Blindstrike. Just as he was thinking, Alex, who was sitting across from him, got up and said he had somethi
At Wildgreen Café, Albert poured out the freshly brewed tea. His slender hands gleamed under the morning sunlight. The aroma of tea filled the air as Albert lifted the purple clay teapot and poured a cup for Daniel, who was sitting in front of him. "I heard you have sent somebody to take care of things over there?" Albert asked.Daniel picked up the small purple clay cup, brought it close to his nose, and took a deep breath. Then, he took a sip. After putting the teacup down, he responded, "Knowing oneself and one’s enemy paves the path for victory. We have to do something, so as not to be caught off guard later."Albert nodded and said, "I am grateful for your support over the years."He was clearly not talking about the future, but rather the past four years. The Johnson family had managed to make a name for themselves in Fairport due in part to Daniel’s help.Daniel smiled and said, "That was nothing. Mr. Johnson, you're being too generous."He didn't take advantage of this
"Hello, everyone." Rebecca had never dined with a group of strangers before, aside from the family dinner with the Johnsons. Despite this being their first meeting after her memory loss, there lingered a subtle sense of familiarity that couldn't be overlooked. However, this time was different. As Caleb guided her into the private room, a sense of reservedness settled in. Inside the private room, everyone was equally reserved. They were used to being around men, and their interactions with women were typically limited to encounters with the club's cook. None of them had ever seen a beauty as stunning as Rebecca. Even the beautiful hostess from the event paled in comparison. Were the Johnson family's genes truly this remarkable? Silence filled the private room, with nearly every gaze fixed on Rebecca. Each person stared as if seeing her for the first time. Despite Rebecca's greeting, she received no response. Hence, she looked at Caleb with a perplexed expression for he
Upon returning to the hotel, Rebecca didn't forget about the gifts she picked up for the club members two days ago. Seizing the perfect opportunity after today's lunch, she handed out the gifts to the club members. The club members were pleasantly surprised and expressed their gratitude politely. Rebecca felt a bit embarrassed by their courtesy. Little did she know, these polite and considerate guys were having a riotous celebration behind her back. Once Rebecca greeted everyone and entered her hotel room, they immediately erupted in excitement. The group chat exploded with strange remarks and images. It was all uproar and chaos. "Oh, the gifts from our goddess! If I round it up, I'm practically the goddess's sweetheart!" "The gifts picked by AlmightyAlex's cousin are so thoughtful. Although I already have a more expensive wristband, I feel like hers is the best." "I hope AlmightyAlex's cousin can visit more often and stop buying gifts. She can just stay at the club as a
As expected, just as Rebecca entertained these thoughts, Caleb declined the guest's request. Nevertheless, the guest remained polite and showed no signs of annoyance after being turned down. After exchanging a few pleasantries, he took his seat and continued watching the match. Dealing with well-mannered individuals made the interaction much more enjoyable, and one's mood could significantly improve. Recalling her earlier experiences on the red carpet when she first arrived in Amdale, Rebecca silently hoped for more encounters with people like this guest in the future. Even if it was an act, she didn't mind. In this emotional moment, Rebecca discreetly passed her phone to Caleb, displaying the words she had typed on the notepad. "Why didn't you take a photo with him?" Caleb glanced at Rebecca and took her phone to respond. Rebecca was simply curious. After all, Caleb had taken numerous photos with fans the previous day. Although he was portraying Alex, it was still hi
In her line of sight, Rebecca spotted Daniel. The dim lighting posed a challenge for her to discern whether the individual seated across from her was Daniel or David—until he spoke. "How ... how did you end up here?" Rebecca stared at Daniel for a moment before snapping out of her daze. She then shifted her attention to Caleb, seated on her other side, and discreetly pinched herself to confirm she wasn't in a dream. After that, she turned back to Daniel with a look of confusion. Daniel wore a faint smile and asked, "Does my presence surprise you?" Rebecca nodded. "Yes, a bit." She shifted her gaze to assess Daniel's attire and chuckled. "It's quite unexpected to see someone as accomplished as you embracing youth culture. I didn't see that coming." Daniel's gaze shifted slightly toward Caleb as he remarked, "Speaking of accomplishments, Mr. Crawford Junior should be even more accomplished. When I was his age, I was still at odds with my family." A hint of desolation passed