Chapter 169: Money Game (6)

Gamblers never meet a good end.

—Why didn't you say that last night?!

The Third Young Master desperately wanted to curse, but this had nothing to do with his mother. He had brought the wolf into his own house. It was his own greed. If he had stopped early, he wouldn't have lost so much.

If he hadn't been convinced he could kill He Yu, things never would have reached this point.

He had coveted effortless wealth and firmly believed he could kill He Yu afterward to clean everything up. He had never imagined that he himself was the prey walking into the trap.

He couldn't kill He Yu at all!

Every piece of equipment the Third Young Master wore was bought with "money power," yet none of it could do anything to He Yu. Either He Yu was incredibly strong...

Or there was something wrong with He Yu.

Whatever the reason, the situation had completely slipped beyond the Third Young Master's control.

Gamblers were all like this. While addicted, they would stake everything, convinced they could win or turn things around. But once they lost, their minds suddenly cleared and endless regret followed.

Yet the moment temptation appeared again...

They still couldn't control their desires.

Such was human nature.

And the people of Money Planet were even worse.

Taking a deep breath, the Third Young Master fixed He Yu with a fierce glare.

"You did it on purpose. Yesterday you deliberately approached me, and you deliberately let those city inspectors knock you down!"

If He Yu could ignore his attacks, why had yesterday's attack worked?

It had all been intentional!

He had deliberately approached him, deliberately been knocked down, deliberately made himself look appealing, lowered his guard, lured him into gambling boldly...

Until, in the end...

He had lost every bit of money he could access and even ended up six million in debt.

The fat on the Third Young Master's round face trembled violently. His face was flushed crimson, veins bulging across his forehead.

Tilting his head innocently, He Yu spread his hands with a playing card between his fingers.

"I did set a trap. But every decision was your own. Besides, I warned you twice. You were the one who refused to listen."

Third Young Master: "..."

His lips trembled as he pointed at He Yu, unable to say a word.

It was true.

He Yu had "warned" him twice.

He simply hadn't wanted to listen. It had been as though he'd gone mad, thinking only about continuing to gamble.

The Bullet Screen exploded.

"Damn, why were the Third Young Master's attacks ineffective against He Yu?"

"So yesterday was all an act? His acting is insane."

"I know why the attacks didn't work! Look carefully at the rules: contestants are protected by the rules. During the competition, they cannot die on Money Planet. That means Cheng Zhao can't win by killing He Yu, and other Money Planet natives can't kill He Yu either. They're basically invincible on Money Planet!!"

"Right! This is a one-on-one competition between He Yu and Cheng Zhao, not against the people of Money Planet."

"That's good then. He Yu's so weak, at least nobody can kill him."

"What's good about that? He Yu has no attack power. Even if nobody can kill him, he can't do anything to anyone else. Cheng Zhao is different. This rule makes Cheng Zhao invincible! He could ignore even SS- or SSS-rank experts and rob them!"

"Damn, doesn't that mean He Yu is guaranteed to lose?"

...

He Yu's eyes turned slightly cold.

Guaranteed to lose?

No.

There was no such thing.

Still, this instance clearly intended for either him or Cheng Zhao to die. Whoever died, it seemed like no great loss. More importantly, placing them on opposing sides completely cut off any possibility of cooperation.

Lowering his gaze, He Yu concealed the icy killing intent hidden in his eyes.

Although he hid it well, the Third Young Master still felt a chilling breeze emanating from him.

He shivered instinctively.

His reason finally returned.

Taking a deep breath, the Third Young Master abandoned the two plans he had originally considered and proposed a third.

"He Yu, I'll let you leave here alive. I don't care why you're immune to my attacks, but there's no way you can ignore the attacks of the entire Bray family."

He Yu neither agreed nor disagreed. He simply looked at him, silently signaling him to continue.

Finally regaining some composure, the Third Young Master straightened his clothes.

"It's not that I can't give you the money. But first, you have to return the money on the books to me so I can defeat my eldest brother in the capital competition. After I win, I'll give the money back to you."

His first two ideas had both failed.

Neither simply paying He Yu nor asking his father to deal with He Yu would work.

So he had chosen the third option.

Win the competition first.

Pay afterward.

The Third Young Master thought it was a brilliant idea.

But the way He Yu looked at him...

Was like he was looking at an idiot.

Third Young Master: "???"

His voice rose sharply.

"You refuse?!"

Expressionless, He Yu answered matter-of-factly,

"Of course I refuse. Once money enters my pocket, don't expect me to take it back out."

Besides, once the money left his hands, the Third Young Master would never pay him again.

That was simply how the people of Money Planet were.

IOUs probably meant nothing to them either.

There was absolutely no way He Yu would hand over money that had already entered his pocket.

Third Young Master: "!"

He jumped up in rage, the fat on his face shaking violently.

"He Yu! Don't reject a toast only to be forced to drink a penalty! At worst we'll both go down together! Don't even think about leaving the Bray family alive!"

Turning toward the door, he shouted,

"Guards!"

Behind him, He Yu spoke calmly.

"Your idea is truly foolish. That method won't let you win. It'll only maintain the status quo."

"Would you like to consider a fourth option?"

The Third Young Master froze.

There was a fourth option?

Turning back toward He Yu suspiciously, he asked,

"What fourth option?"

Without realizing it, he had already begun speaking with He Yu as an equal.

He Yu casually gathered up the chips and cards from the table, dusted off his clothes, then revealed an irresistibly enticing smile.

"Third Young Master..."

"You could also consider becoming a junket operator."

That damned familiar smile!

The Third Young Master no longer found He Yu attractive.

All he saw was a detestable devil.

Every time He Yu smiled, it felt as though he were dragging someone into hell.

Last night, He Yu had smiled twice.

The first time had lured him into poker.

The second had cost him ten million.

Now came the third smile.

It certainly didn't look like it would end well either.

Grinding his teeth, the Third Young Master asked,

"...What's a junket operator?"

He Yu smiled faintly.

"Introduce your eldest brother to me."

"Let me have a few games with him."

Third Young Master: "???"

Huh?!

Bring his competitor...

To gamble against He Yu?

...That actually sounded possible.

The Third Young Master's eyes lit up instantly.

If he could lose ten million...

Then maybe his eldest brother could lose twenty million.

When the capital competition came, his brother would have far less capital than he did.

He would still win.

The Third Young Master smiled.

At the doorway, Guard B knocked respectfully.

"Third Young Master, you called for us—"

The Third Young Master spun around and roared,

"Get lost!"

Guard B: "???"

He couldn't understand.

Wasn't it the Third Young Master who had shouted "Guards"?

It was already almost noon.

The Third Young Master still hadn't come out?

Was that beggar really that capable??

Guard B was utterly bewildered as he quietly left.

Not long afterward, however, the door opened again.

Standing in the doorway, the Third Young Master frowned.

"Where is everyone? Did you all die?"

Guard B: "..."

—You're the Young Master. Whatever you say is right.

He hurried back with a respectful expression.

"Third Young Master."

The Third Young Master coughed.

"Have someone bring over some clothes."

After a pause, he added,

"Choose the best ones."

After all, one had to maintain a proper attitude toward one's creditor.

Besides, he was still counting on He Yu to help swindle his eldest brother.

A proper attitude was necessary.

"...Yes, sir!"

From his angle, Guard B couldn't see inside.

But that didn't stop the reverence filling his eyes.

—He's really something.

The clothes arrived quickly.

Every set had been handmade by Bray family servants.

After looking them over, the Third Young Master pointed at one.

"This one."

The servant hurriedly took it down, and the Third Young Master carried it back inside.

The servants exchanged glances.

At that very moment, they all shared exactly the same thought as Guard B—

He really is something.

—

Ten minutes later.

The door opened once more.

The Third Young Master stepped outside.

The chubby nouveau riche wasn't what caught everyone's attention.

It was the man walking behind him.

Outside, brilliant sunlight bathed everything.

Compared to the dim room with its curtains still closed, the contrast was striking.

Step by step, the man emerged from the shadows into the radiant sunlight.

Tall and elegant as jade.

His fitted black suit trousers outlined a pair of flawless long legs.

He wasn't "tall" by Federation standards.

But on his body...

Those legs were unquestionably perfect.

His leather shoes clicked softly against the ground.

Sunlight reflected off the polished leather before climbing those perfectly proportioned legs, continuing upward to a flawlessly shaped waist and hips.

His waist looked barely wider than a single hand.

The Third Young Master had secretly measured it earlier.

One palm had covered most of it.

His white dress shirt was neatly tucked into his trousers.

A black waistcoat accentuated his slim waist.

All three buttons were fastened perfectly.

Even his cuffs were buttoned tightly.

The abstinent elegance was overwhelming.

Yet one button of his shirt had been left undone.

His collarbone appeared and disappeared beneath the fabric, inviting the imagination.

His long neck was completely exposed.

As he swallowed, his Adam's apple rolled gently.

It carried an unmistakable sensuality.

Abstinence and temptation intertwined.

A delicate face worthy of a god paired with rimless glasses that gave him the air of a refined scoundrel.

A slender, almost fragile body contrasted with icy, unyielding eyes and a perfectly straight spine.

Contradictory.

Yet perfectly harmonious.

His suit jacket rested casually over his right forearm as he stepped from the dark room into the brilliant sunlight.

The sunlight illuminated his pale, jade-like face.

His bangs cast faint shadows across his forehead.

Perhaps because the light was too bright, he narrowed his eyes slightly.

Then he swept his gaze across everyone present.

His hoarse, low voice sounded calmly.

"Prepare all of these for me."

He handed several sheets of paper to Guard B.

Guard B stared blankly at him.

Almost instinctively, he accepted them.

"Yes!"

Only afterward did he realize what he had done.

He abruptly looked toward the Third Young Master.

Oh no.

He was supposed to obey only the Third Young Master's orders.

Yet just now, he had subconsciously obeyed He Yu instead.

The Third Young Master had already experienced the full impact of He Yu's appearance and could barely endure it now.

Seeing Guard B looking at him, he immediately kicked him.

"What are you standing there for? Hurry up!"

"Yes! Right away!"

Guard B bowed repeatedly as he rushed off with the papers.

Inside, however, a storm raged in his heart.

—Good heavens...

—That beggar became this handsome just by changing clothes!

—He looks more like a young master than the Third Young Master himself.

And he had directly given orders without even going through the Third Young Master.

Even more unbelievable...

The Third Young Master hadn't objected at all.

Th-this...

He really is something!

—

Two hours later.

He Yu and the Third Young Master finished lunch.

Everything had also been prepared.

Guard B respectfully carried it over, presenting it with both hands.

The reverence in his expression had reached an unprecedented level.

"He Yu... Young Master, it's finished."

He Yu nodded.

Calmly wiping the corner of his mouth, he tossed aside the towel, stood up, and accepted the case in one smooth, flowing motion.

It was a custom-made black briefcase.

Since it contained quite a few items, it was rather heavy.

Yet he lifted it effortlessly.

One hand carried the briefcase.

The other accepted the suit jacket offered by a servant and draped it over his forearm as before.

Every one of He Yu's movements looked perfectly natural.

As though being served by others was simply the way things ought to be.

Compared with the somewhat clumsy, chubby Third Young Master standing beside him...

The servants inexplicably felt that serving He Yu was the more natural thing to do.

They straightened his clothes.

They respectfully opened the doors.

They stood waiting on either side.

The Third Young Master didn't even notice.

Everything simply felt perfectly harmonious.

Someone like He Yu...

Not being attended to would have seemed strange.

Rolling his neck once, He Yu spoke calmly.

"Let's go."

Then he strode confidently toward the exit.

His bearing was effortless and graceful.

The Third Young Master immediately hurried after him, the fat on his body bouncing with every step.

Everyone watching their backs fell silent.

...Which one of them was actually the Young Master?

—Even the Third Young Master was trotting after him.

Then wasn't it perfectly reasonable that they instinctively wanted to serve Young Master He Yu?

The two walked outside together.

Lowering his voice, the Third Young Master asked,

"What's inside that briefcase?"

He Yu glanced sideways at him.

"Poker."

"Mahjong."

"Bridge."

"Dice..."

The Third Young Master's eyes widened as he stared fixedly at the case.

"So many kinds?!"

A faint smile tugged at He Yu's lips.

"Want to play?"

The Third Young Master swallowed hard.

Then he shook his head violently.

His voice was resolute, as though swearing an oath.

"No."

"I've quit gambling."

"Oh."

He Yu neither agreed nor disagreed.