Chapter 506
Renata glanced at Alex
“Since we’re friends,” she said, “don’t you think it’s time you tell me what you actually put on the table p>
Alex leaned back. “What do you want it to be p>
“Something valuable,” Renata replied without hesitation. “A real diamond. Or anything worth millions p>
Alex rolled his eyes. “You think making a million dollars is that easy p>
He shrugged. “That stone? It’s just a colorful rock I found on the street and thought looked interesting. Well-not exactly the street, but close enough. I picked it up from an antique street peddle for 50 buck p>
Belinda froze. She was the one who had bought the stone for a hundred thousand dollars.
“What?” she snapped. “Fifty dollars? A colorful stone?” Her voice turned sharp and ugly. “Don’t you dare joke with me p>
Alex looked genuinely surprised. “What? Is it wrong to gift a colorful stone? Didn’t you say the spirit of this class reunion auction was that people should give what they love, and everyone bids the most they can p>
“What is useless may yet be the most useful, depending on how the mind perceives it.” Alex smiled.
“I see a beautiful fifty-dollar stone. You saw something worth a hundred thousand.” His gaze was steady, unflinching. “My colorful stone added a hundred thousand dollars to the reunion fund. Don’t you think that’s a huge success p>
Belinda’s face flushed—this time, a deep, furious red. She was the fool who had paid for it.
Renata burst out laughing. “Looks like you’ve met your natural enemy, Belinda. You’ll never beat Alex p>
“Give me my money back!” Belinda screamed.
“What’s wrong with you?” Alex shot back coldly. “You didn’t give that money to me. You put it into the class reunion fund.” His eyes sharpened. “If you want it back, go take it from there p>
He paused, then added with a cruel smile,
“Oh-right. I forgot. You’ll have to ask everyone here first.” His gaze swept across the crowd. “And see if they’re willing to agree p>
Alex ignored her completely.
Suddenly, sirens blared throughout the entire stadium, cutting through the chaos.
“To all participants,” a mechanical voice announced, calm and authoritative. “The second competition will begin shortly. This round will test mobile suit Al performance in a simulated battlefield war zone. Please prepare. The event will start in twenty minutes p>
The entire class exploded into motion.
“Come on!” someone shouted. “Let’s start betting. Who do you think will come out first p>
The crowd surged away, already forgetting Belinda.
Everyone deliberately looked away and pretended not to hear her.
No one was stupid enough to let Belinda take a hundred thousand dollars out of the class reunion fund. That kind of money could keep them partying for a very long time.
Belinda glared at Alex, her eyes blazing with hatred.
“This isn’t over,” she hissed, then turned and walked away.
She still had bets to place.
If she wanted to win, she would have to calculate every possible outcome.
Renata folded her arms. “Be honest with me, Alex. Are you actually rich, or do you just enjoy confusing people p>
Alex tilted his head. “Why would I confuse people on purpose p>
“Because you walk like someone who owns a country,” she said, her voice sharp
and amused, “but you dress like you lost a very ugly bet at a gas station at three in the morning p>
“That’s called strategic camouflage,” Alex replied calmly.
Renata squinted. “Camouflage from what p>
“Expectations,” he said. “If people think I’m broke, they only try to rob me once p>
Renata blinked. “And if they think you’re rich p>
Alex smiled. “They never stop trying p>
Not far away, Tobias sat alone. No one approached him.
“Are you rich?” Renata asked bluntly.
“I work for Eden Group, remember?” he replied bitterly. “Three thousand dollars a
month—and I just got fired p>
Alex left Renata and walked over, stopping beside Tobias.
“Hey,” he said. “You’re not joining the competition p>
Tobias looked up, startled.
“Oh-Alex. Right p>
He let out a tired breath.
“Bluthelm has been too focused on refining the mobile suit itself. There wasn’t any
time left to upgrade the Al driving system p>
“This competition tests how well an Al can handle extreme conditions,” Tobias said grimly.
“Multiple obstacles. Combat terrain.
Mission-style operations in hostile environments.” He exhaled. “We’re still running the old Al-the same one that placed last in the previous tournament. Honestly, I don’tsee how we can win this year p>
Alex nodded, already running calculations in his head. “So… no Al upgrade p>
Tobias rubbed his temples. “Bluthelm said the hardware mattered more p>
Alex nodded slowly. “Ah. The classic mistake p>
“What mistake?” Tobias asked.
“Building a perfect body and giving it a mediocre brain,” Alex said flatly. “That’s how
you end up with professional athletes who fall for pyramid schemes p>
Tobias let out a long sigh. “So you’re saying we’re doomed p>
Alex clapped a hand on his shoulder. “No. Just… creatively limited p>
Tobias stared at him. “That’s your optimistic version p>
Alex smiled. “My pessimistic version involves fire p>
His eyes glinted. “Want me to burn down the whole stadium so no one notices your
Phantom losing the second competition p>
Tobias looked at Alex, half-amused, half-exhausted.
“You really do have unlimited creativity p>
Alex’s smile didn’t fade.
“How about this. I just got eight million dollars from Ragnar. Let’s make a bet p>
Tobias’s eyes snapped up. “What kind of bet p>
“You let me use your Phantom mobile suit,” Alex said. “I’ll install Sofina’s Al into it and enter the competition p>
His voice stayed steady. “If your Phantom loses, you walk away with eight million dollars. But if it takes first place-number one overall you get nothing p>
Tobias stared at Alex as if he were looking at a complete idiot.
“Are you serious?” he said bluntly. “My Phantom is guaranteed to lose. You’re basically throwing money away p>
“We can draft a legally binding contract if you want,” Alex replied without hesitation. “This is eight million dollars we’re talking about p>
“Deal!” Tobias shot to his feet and grabbed Alex’s hand, shaking it hard. Desperation burned in his eyes. Eight million dollars could change his entire life— no, it could change the fate of the entire Bluthelm company. “Great,” Alex said with a smile. He immediately pulled Tobias along toward Sofina.
Sofina watched the two men walk toward her and lifted an eyebrow.
“Wow,” she said coolly. “I never thought you two would end up as friends p>
“Not there yet,” Alex replied flatly. “We’re only here to ask for your help if you’re willing p>
Sofina’s gaze shifted to Tobias. “Help with what p>
For some reason, Tobias’s face turned bright red. Sofina was stunning, and standing
in front of her made him look painfully awkward, almost fragile.
Alex cut in. “Can he borrow Eve for a few minutes p>
“Eve?” Sofina frowned. “For what p>
“To pilot the Phantom mobile suit in the competition,” Alex said.
Sofina blinked. “Eve? Are you serious?” She tilted her head. “Can she even do
that p>
“She’s an exceptional Al,” Alex said firmly.
“But isn’t she just a housekeeping Al?” Sofina asked. “She’s good at cleaning houses p>
Tobias nearly choked. His eyes widened in disbelief.
“You’re telling me,” he said hoarsely, “that you want to put a cleaning-service robot
Al into my Phantom mobile suit p>
His voice rose in panic.
“That thing is built for warfare-for
targeting, evasion, live combat
at Alex like
scenarios!” Hestare you want to
he’d lost his mind. And you want to use a cleaning robot to fightŷn a military-grade competition p>
“Do you want the eight million or not?” Alex asked, his tone flat and unforgiving.
“Yes!” Tobias’s eyes lit up instantly.
Greed erased every trace of doubt. “Please go ahead. Not just a clearing-service robot. You can even install & toaster Al if you want won’t say a word p>
Alex watched him carefully.
“Wow, you sold your pride fast p>
Tobias laughed, sharp and hollow.
“Pride never paid my debts p>
Coming in dead last had become Bluthelm’s trademark. Nothing surprised him
anymore.
“Perfect,” Alex said. “Call Eve. She’ll be here in three minutes. That’s more than enough time to integrate her with your Phantom p>