Chapter 507
Sofina summoned Eve through her bracelet, then turned to Alex, concern flickering in her eyes.
“Are you sure Eve can actually pilot a mobile suit p>
Alex smiled faintly. “Sofina, let’s put it this way. Eve’s lifelong dream-as a humble service Al-has always been to drive a mobile suit in front of a massive crowd. She wants to feel big. Powerful. Why not let her climb into that cockpit and be happy for once p>
Using a Phantom mobile suit to indulge a cleaning robot.
The idea grew more ridiculous by the second.
Tobias found it absurd—but as long as Alex was willing to throw away eight million dollars, he was more than happy to play along. He grinned broadly.
“Then please,” he said mockingly, “enjoy your slow walk around the stadium p>
Moments later, Eve descended from the sky, her small, egg-shaped body gliding smoothly.
“Miss Sofina,” she asked politely, “what can I do for you p>
“Alex needs your help,” Sofina said.
“Eve,” Alex said, stepping forward. “This is Tobias. He built an excellent mobile suit called the Phantom. We want you to pilot it in the Al mobile suit competition p>
His voice sharpened slightly. “And if you can win first place, your mistress, Sofina, will be very happy p>
Eve turned and looked directly at Sofina.
“Miss Sofina,” she asked seriously, “would you be happy if I win first place p>
Sofina was caught off guard, but she nodded gently.
“Yes. I’d be happy if you win. But even if you don’t, that’s fine. Just enjoy yourself p>
Eve let out a soft, confident sneer.
“Losing with outdated Al technology would be an insult to my pride.” She turned toward Tobias.
Tobias scoffed.
“So, you’re a cleaning program p>
Eve rotated toward him.
“And you are a man who already accepted defeat p>
The room went still.
“You-Tobias. Enough talking. Let the professional do the job p>
She turned cold and precise.
“Show me your mobile suit. I will take first place and make my mistress happy p>
A brief pause.
“And I will do it cleanly p>
Tobias stared at the egg-sized cleaning robot in disbelief. In that moment, he became certain this would be the easiest eight million dollars he had ever made.
“Follow me,” Tobias said, leading Eve out of the room.
Sofina watched them leave, worry tightening her chest.
“Will Eve really be okay p>
“She’s going to enjoy every second of it,” Alex said with a laugh.
He turned and walked to a quiet corner, lifting his bracelet communicator to contact Marlena.
“I want Eden Group to bet everything on the Phantom mobile suit in the second competition p>
Countess Marlena paused for half a second, then asked calmly, “How much do you want me to put in? You do realize this is a bet on a losing game, right p>
“Eve will be driving the Phantom,” Alex replied.
The Countess laughed softly, a sharp, predatory sound.
“Then we go all in. I’ll open the betting market across all of Winchester—and all of Prussia. I’ll drag every fool with money into this pit p>
Her eyes gleamed.
“We bet everything on the mobile suit driven by Eve. Anyone who stands against it —we take every last dollar they put down p>
“That’s exactly the point,” Alex said with a smile.
He ended the call and walked back to Sofina’s side.
She grabbed his arm immediately, her voice low and tight with worry.
“Alex, are you sure about this? Will Eve really be okay? This is dangerous p>
“For who?” Alex asked calmly.
“For Eve p>
Alex laughed.
“You should be worried about her competitors p>
Meanwhile, inside the hangar, Tobias scoffed as Eve hovered closer to the Phantom.
“Just so we’re clear,” he said dryly, “this mobile suit is worth more than your entire operating budget p>
Eve tilted slightly. “Understood p>
“And it’s designed for war p>
“Understood p>
“And if you damage it p>
“I will not,” Eve interrupted politely. “I will improve it p>
Tobias laughed nervously. “Improve it how p>
Eve paused. “By removing inefficiencies p>
She turned her gaze back to him. “You p>
Before Tobias could answer, the stadium lights dimmed. The massive central screen flared to life.
The commentator’s voice thundered across the arena.
“We’ve just received shocking news,” he announced excitedly. “A betting house has stepped forward—not just for Winchester, but for all of Prussia. Theyre challenging common sense itself p>
The screen flashed with Eden Group’s emblem.
“Eden Group has officially opened full betting on the second competition!” the commentator continued.
“They are backing the Phantom mobile suit, manufactured by Bluthelm, to take first place p>
A pause. Then-
“And here’s the insane part: if any participant wins other than the Phantom, the
payout will be one hundred times p>
The entire reunion class went dead silent.
“What?” someone whispered.
Sofina stared at the screen, stunned.
“Eden Group is allowing anyone to bet,” she murmured, “with a hundred-times
payout They believe Eve and the Phantom will win p>
At that moment, Tobias returned from the hangar after seating Eve in the Phantom’s driver’s seat and completing the connection.
The words hit him like a hammer.
“They’re betting on the Phantom?” he blurted out, horrified. “Even I-the creator- don’t believe in it p>
Ten minutes before the second competition began, Eden Group detonated the largest betting advertisement campaign in recorded history.
Hundreds of millions were burned in a matter of minutes.
Every social media platform was hijacked at once. City screens, skyborne drones, massive holograms-Eden Group’s branding
swallowed the skyline and crushed
every competing signal.
“PHANTOM — ALL IN p>
“SECOND COMPETITION: TOTAL DOMINANCE p>
“BET NOW. HUNDRED-TIMES PAYOUT IF PHANTOM FALLS p>
The message roared across Winchester and all of Prussia, impossible to escape,
impossible to ignore.
This wasn’t advertising.
It was a declaration of war.
Inside the stadium, the battlefield transformed. The terrain shifted violently steel structures rose, mines deployed, and one hundred combat dummies. dropped into the arena from above.
The rules were simple and brutal.
Ten mobile suits would enter the battlefield.
One hundred targets.
One hundred mines.
Free-for-all combat.
The suit with the highest score would win.
Ten mobile suits lined up at the starting zone, towering and lethal.
The signal fired.
The second competition began.
And the Phantom mobile suit moved.
What it did next froze the entire stadium—and sent shockwaves across all of
Prussia.
“Wait-what the hell p>
“Is that even legal p>
“Is this allowed p>
The same question echoed everywhere.
No one had an answer.