Chapter 182: Money Game (19)

“How are we supposed to deal with this? We lost again...” the Bray family's Eldest Young Master muttered.

The Second Young Master gritted his teeth. “It's all your fault! We were winning at first. We agreed that as long as we made more than fifty million, we'd leave. But after winning one hundred and fifty million, none of you wanted to go. That's why we ended up losing so much.”

The Eldest Young Master immediately glared at him. “You weren't exactly determined either. You only mentioned leaving once. As soon as Third Brother said he wanted to stay, you sat right back down.”

The Third Young Master's face was deathly pale as he murmured softly, “We won money too quickly. None of us could resist it. We could win that much in a single round... If we'd just played a few more games, wouldn't we have won back the full three hundred million?”

Last night, the three of them had lingered on the fourth floor of the casino for several hours before finally getting the chance to sit at a table after one of the wealthy gamblers went bankrupt.

They didn't have many chips. Both Madam Brays had gone through tremendous effort to secretly obtain them for them, keeping everything hidden from Patriarch Bray. If he found out, not only would the three brothers suffer, but the two madams would also be punished.

That had been their final hope.

They had all agreed beforehand that once they won more than fifty million, they would leave immediately.

Yet none of them had expected to win more than forty million in the first game, then another hundred million in the second.

It was unbelievable.

Their luck was simply incredible.

The Second Young Master tentatively suggested leaving. Of course, although he said the words, he never moved from his seat.

After only two games, his gambling addiction hadn't even been satisfied. How could he bear to leave?

The Third Young Master suggested taking advantage of their incredible luck and playing one more round. Maybe they could recover the entire three hundred million.

Neither the Eldest nor the Second Young Master objected.

What happened afterward was exactly what anyone would expect.

They lost again.

They lost everything.

Even the family assets the two Madam Brays had secretly taken out to support them were mortgaged to the casino—and eventually lost as well.

The three brothers could only return home in disgrace.

The Second Young Master sighed. “So what do we do now? There's no point blaming each other anymore. We have to come up with a solution.”

The Eldest Young Master grabbed his hair blankly. “Including what we lost before... we've already lost a huge portion of the Bray family's assets. Some of them were even stolen from Father... He only has the three of us as sons, but his temper is awful. He might actually beat us to death and have more children instead...”

The Second Young Master shuddered, his face full of terror.

The Third Young Master suddenly looked up, madness burning in his eyes.

“Then let's steal more capital and take it back! Next time we'll learn our lesson. We absolutely won't get greedy again. The moment we win fifty million, we'll leave. We have to leave!”

The Eldest and Second Young Masters looked at him.

Neither spoke.

But they had clearly agreed.

Again and again.

There would never be an end to it.

Nor could they stop halfway.

Once someone began sliding into the abyss, there was no pulling themselves back.

—

Ever since the casino opened, Money Planet had been flooded with news every single day.

Anything involving money always attracted enormous attention.

Everyone was watching the casino.

Every day they wanted to know who had won another fortune.

Every day they also wanted to know who had gone bankrupt.

When they saw someone getting rich, they felt nothing but envy and jealousy.

When they saw someone ruined, they watched gleefully, delighting in their misfortune.

“Look at this guy! He actually went bankrupt!”

“I know him. The Li family's son was beaten to death because he bumped into him. Back then he acted so superior. And now? Tsk.”

“How miserable. Their lives are going to be even worse than ours now. Hahaha. Maybe we'll get the chance to see how fallen tycoons live.”

“Look at this one. He won several billion! My god, that's unbelievably lucky.”

“Why isn't the winner me? Why him? He wasn't any better than us before!”

“Who wouldn't be jealous? Anyway, I've already decided to visit the casino tomorrow. Want to come?”

...

The endless discussions ensured the casino remained packed every day.

He Yu's wealth was also increasing at an astonishing pace.

Some of it came from his own winnings.

Some came from the casino's commission.

Some came from the dealer's profits.

Combined together, the figures were staggering.

However, every day there was someone who won even more spectacularly than he did.

As a result, public attention remained focused on those bigger winners.

Every day someone suddenly became fabulously wealthy.

Every day someone else suddenly lost everything.

The entrance to the casino was lively from morning until night.

Since the casino occupied property belonging to the Bray family, Patriarch Bray frequently passed through Rich Street, often stopping to look at the busiest part of the district.

The butler looked ahead, his expression complicated.

“So many people. Rich Street has existed for so long, but it's never been this crowded.”

Patriarch Bray's eyes were filled with both envy and jealousy.

“I have to admit it. He Yu really does have some ability.”

“The prosperity of Rich Street benefits us as well. After all, many of the shops here belong to the Bray family. Master, you should be happy,” the butler sincerely comforted his rather sour master.

Patriarch Bray immediately smiled.

“You're right. Thanks to the casino, this entire street has become lively, and business everywhere is booming. Although these properties are managed by my wives, they still belong to the Bray family. They belong to me.”

Just imagining that He Yu's casino was helping him make money put him in a wonderful mood.

After a pause, the smile on his face grew even brighter.

“Besides, now only the Bray family remains in City A. The Shu family and the Nan family have both gone bankrupt. In the end, we're the only winners.”

Just as he mentioned the Shu and Nan families, he saw Patriarch Shu and Patriarch Nan approaching the casino.

Patriarch Bray froze before immediately stepping out of his hovercar with a broad smile.

“Well, well. Isn't this Old Shu and Old Nan? What brings you two here?”

The two men noticed him as well.

Their faces immediately darkened.

But their status was no longer equal.

They didn't dare raise their voices to Patriarch Bray and simply lowered their heads.

Patriarch Bray had no intention of letting them go.

Mockery filled his face.

“You're already bankrupt. What right do you have to come to Rich Street? This is a place for wealthy people. Why hasn't anyone stopped them?”

He deliberately raised his voice while speaking to the butler.

The butler merely smiled without answering.

Patriarch Bray was doing it on purpose.

Ever since He Yu opened the casino, this place had no longer belonged exclusively to the rich.

Anyone carrying money could enter.

Patriarch Bray was simply bringing up outdated rules to humiliate the two men.

Patriarch Shu and Patriarch Nan opened their mouths.

Their faces flushed crimson.

Yet after a long while, neither managed to say a word.

Everything was different now.

Not only were they oppressed by the wealthy, but every aspect of their lives had changed.

Like at this very moment.

They no longer even owned a hovercar.

They had walked all the way to the casino.

Seeing that neither of them spoke, Patriarch Bray arrogantly lifted his chin.

“Men, throw them out!”

He absolutely had the authority to do so.

Patriarch Shu and Patriarch Nan's expressions changed dramatically.

Neither dared resist.

They feared Patriarch Bray might actually have them killed.

At that moment, a voice sounded from behind them.

“Wait, Patriarch Bray. They're my newly hired employees. Please be magnanimous and let them go.”

Patriarch Bray immediately turned around.

It was He Yu.

His expression shifted slightly before he forced a radiant smile onto his face.

“He Shao? Aren't you busy today?”

He Yu shook his head and sighed.

“Busy. Every day I'm busy counting money. That's exactly why I hired them. They can help lighten the workload.”

Counting money...

Damn.

That humblebrag was unbearable.

Patriarch Bray's eyes flickered.

Only after a long pause did he say, “He Shao really doesn't stand on ceremony. But hiring them... isn't that a bad idea? They were both family heads before. Can they really devote themselves wholeheartedly to working for you?”

He Yu smiled faintly.

His tone was calm yet domineering.

“If they don't work wholeheartedly, I'll simply fire them. They have no money and no income now. This high-paying job is the best opportunity they'll ever get.”

Patriarch Shu and Patriarch Nan both lowered their heads and sighed.

Their eyes met.

Each saw the words we're in the same boat reflected in the other's gaze.

They had no choice.

Their entire families depended on them.

Everything required money.

Especially after bankruptcy.

The only thing left to them was the house they lived in.

Back when they had money, no one dared target them.

Now not only were people targeting them—

They were even targeting their house.

At a time like this, He Yu's high-paying offer truly was their best opportunity.

No matter how humiliating it felt, they had to accept.

Patriarch Bray had no desire to see their lives improve.

He continued, “Do they even have the ability to manage a casino? He Shao, wouldn't hiring them just be throwing money away?”

He Yu continued smiling.

“They were once family heads. Their management skills are perfectly adequate. They'll do.”

He looked at Patriarch Bray and tilted his head slightly.

“I actually admire Patriarch Bray's financial management abilities very much. If you'd be willing to become my casino steward and manage the accounts for me, that would be absolutely perfect.”

Humiliation.

Although He Yu was wealthier than him, he was still the dignified Patriarch of the Bray family.

His family hadn't gone bankrupt.

How could he possibly become He Yu's steward?

Patriarch Bray's chest rose and fell with anger.

Only after a long while did he mutter, “He Shao, please don't joke around.”

He Yu looked completely serious, his bright eyes full of sincerity.

“I'm not joking. Patriarch Bray values money immensely. You're especially suited for financial management. You'd also be excellent at persuading gamblers not to cash in their chips and to keep playing.”

Given Patriarch Bray's personality, asking him to exchange gamblers' chips for cash would undoubtedly pain him to no end.

He would certainly do everything in his power to persuade them not to cash out.

To keep gambling instead.

Patriarch Bray wasn't the kind of gambler He Yu wanted.

But he would make such an outstanding casino employee.

Patriarch Bray fell silent.

The corners of his mouth twitched.

He didn't dare fall out with He Yu.

After a long moment, he stiffly changed the subject.

“If I remember correctly, you still haven't paid the rent for the casino. When do you plan to settle it, He Shao?”

As soon as he finished speaking, he quickly excused himself and allowed the butler to help him back into the hovercar.

Behind him, He Yu called out loudly,

“Patriarch Bray! If you're looking for a high-paying job, come find me at the casino! You only have two days! If you don't come tomorrow, I'll have to hire someone else!”

Patriarch Bray shouted,

“Quick! Drive!”

The hovercar immediately shot away, leaving He Yu together with Patriarch Shu and Patriarch Nan behind.

Once the vehicle had flown far into the distance, Patriarch Bray's face darkened.

He slammed his hand heavily onto the seat.

“He Yu! You've gone too far!!”

The butler's expression was equally unpleasant.

“He's practically cursing you, Master...”

Patriarch Bray's face shifted through every shade imaginable before he finally took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

“As long as I never step into his casino, I'll never go bankrupt. I knew from the beginning that fellow had sinister intentions. Destroying the Shu family and the Nan family wasn't enough—now he wants to destroy the Bray family too!”

The butler immediately flattered him.

“Fortunately, Master is wise. You've never entered the casino, nor have you ever gambled.”

Only then did Patriarch Bray's expression improve somewhat.

There was nothing else he could do.

He Yu's wealth now far surpassed his own.

He had no way to yell at He Yu.

Nor could he do anything to him.

He could only swallow the humiliation himself.

Comforting himself happily, he said,

“It's fine. Anyway, he can't get a single cent from me. On the contrary, I even made one hundred thousand from him.”

“Master is truly wise!” the butler praised.

While the two talked, the hovercar arrived at the Bray family estate.

By now Patriarch Bray was no longer angry.

Instead, he sighed emotionally.

“Setting everything else aside, He Yu really is an extraordinary person.”

Why couldn't he have such an outstanding son?

The moment the thought crossed his mind, Patriarch Bray paused just inside the entrance.

Somewhat puzzled, he asked,

“Where are my sons?”

The butler froze as well.

Patriarch Bray muttered,

“It feels like I haven't seen them for several days. Since the Nan family went bankrupt, there was no need to continue comparing family assets. Then the casino appeared, and... I forgot. Did they forget too?”

That's right.

He had completely forgotten about the competition among the younger generation of the Bray family.

So why hadn't any of his three sons brought it up?

Not only had his sons remained silent—

Even the two Madam Brays hadn't mentioned it.

The Bray family naturally had more than two wives.

However, only the mothers of the Eldest Young Master and the Third Young Master possessed real influence.

They were able to interfere in family affairs and had always paid close attention to the competition.

In the past, whenever the competition approached, undercurrents would surge throughout the Bray family, creating no small commotion.

So why had everything been so quiet recently?

It was as though everyone had suddenly become invisible.

Not a single person had appeared before Patriarch Bray.

Something wasn't right.

Patriarch Bray immediately ordered,

“Go find out what the three young masters have been doing.”

“Yes, Master.”

The butler acknowledged the order and hurried away.

Patriarch Bray walked into the living room.

Servants brought him drinks and an assortment of delicacies.

Holding an elegant glass in his hand, he leisurely sipped his drink while calmly waiting for the butler to return.

Although He Yu could be rather infuriating...

With the Nan family and the Shu family gone, the Bray family stood alone at the top of City A.

As the Patriarch of the Bray family...

He felt glorious.

The more Patriarch Bray thought about it, the happier he became. He even started humming to himself.

However, it wasn't long before the butler rushed over, pale as a sheet, stumbling as he ran. His voice trembled uncontrollably.

“Master! This is terrible! Something horrible has happened!”

Patriarch Bray frowned.

“What happened?”

The butler took a deep breath before wailing in complete panic,

“Master! The three Young Masters went to the casino to gamble... They've emptied out the entire Bray family!!”

Patriarch Bray froze.

His first reaction was disbelief.

Impossible!

He suddenly stood up and stepped forward, shouting,

“Nonsense! Most of the Bray family's assets are under my name. How could they possibly lose everything? And when did they even go to the casino?!”

The butler cried,

“Master! The madams helped the Young Masters! They secretly transferred your properties, put them under the Young Masters' names, and then took everything to the casino and lost it!”

Boom—

It was as if someone had smashed a club directly into Patriarch Bray's head.

His eyes rolled back.

He collapsed.

Before losing consciousness, only one sentence echoed through his mind—

My money!!

—

The household fell into complete chaos as everyone scrambled to wake Patriarch Bray.

The two Madam Brays didn't dare show themselves and hid inside their rooms.

Patriarch Bray was on the verge of a complete mental breakdown, yet he still remembered to have the three Young Masters dragged before him.

The three brothers knelt beside his bed.

“Father, I was wrong! I was really wrong!”

“Father, I didn't do it on purpose! It was Elder Brother's fault! He was the one who—”

“Third Brother! How dare you dump the blame on me? You're the one who brought He Yu into the Bray family! You were the one who gave money to a beggar!”

“After losing so much last night, I said we should stop. You were the one who got carried away gambling and lost everything! Otherwise we'd still have enough capital to make a comeback. We still could've—”

...

Before Patriarch Bray even asked a question, the three brothers had already begun fighting among themselves.

Patriarch Bray roared,

“SHUT UP!!”

The three immediately fell silent.

None of them dared utter another word.

Patriarch Bray gasped for breath, his voice trembling.

“What... exactly... happened? Tell me... everything... that happened during this period... from beginning to end!”

The three exchanged glances.

Finally, the Third Young Master began speaking.

The moment Patriarch Bray heard that He Yu had originally been nothing more than a beggar...

His eyes rolled upward again.

He nearly fainted.

The butler hurriedly pinched the pressure point beneath his nose, barely keeping him conscious.

He had actually been deceived!

He Yu wasn't some young master from an influential family at all.

He had been a beggar!!

Patriarch Bray gasped violently, gripping the edge of the bed until his knuckles turned white.

Then he heard how He Yu had won three hundred million from the Bray family before leaving.

Patriarch Bray fell silent.

The biggest fool... was actually me!

He couldn't listen any longer.

Roaring at the top of his lungs, he shouted,

“Beat these three unfilial sons to death! Beat them to death!”

After yelling, darkness flooded his vision.

He collapsed back onto the bed, panting violently.

Money...

All... all of my money...

The moment he thought of it...

His eyes rolled back again.

He fainted for the second time.

—

After regaining consciousness once more, he immediately ordered the butler,

“Go calculate exactly how many assets the Bray family still has.”

The butler went.

He never came back.

Patriarch Bray blinked.

“???”

Supporting himself upright, he finally learned the truth.

After finishing the inventory of the Bray family's remaining assets...

The butler had simply resigned and left the Bray family.

Patriarch Bray forced himself to look through the accounts.

Very good.

The Bray family was left with only half of its residence.

Why only half?

Because his three useless sons had mortgaged the other half of the estate.

The entire Bray family had become nothing more than an empty shell.

Every valuable asset had been secretly transferred away.

Recently he'd been so distracted by everything happening around the casino.

There was no longer any wealth competition requiring his attention.

As a result...

He hadn't noticed a thing.

Even more astonishing...

The First Madam and Second Madam...

The Eldest Young Master and the Third Young Master...

Normally they were bitter rivals who constantly guarded against one another.

Yet this was the first time they'd actually cooperated.

Together...

They had managed to deceive even Patriarch Bray himself.

Now that everything had been exposed, a thorough investigation revealed the truth.

Only half of the house remained.

There wasn't the slightest capital left to rebuild the family.

Patriarch Bray's eyes rolled back again.

He fainted for the third time.

—

When he woke for the third time, he stubbornly continued checking whether there was anything left the Bray family could sell.

His wives' jewelry...

Anything at all that could be exchanged for money...

As long as money remained...

Perhaps he could rise again.

After all...

Everything he currently owned had been earned through his own efforts.

However...

At that very moment...

The casino sent over the debt notes signed by his sons.

Patriarch Bray's eyes rolled back yet again.

He fainted for the fourth time.

—

The following day.

With a deathly pale face, Patriarch Bray arrived at the casino to find He Yu.

He had no choice.

Without any assets, he couldn't even keep hold of the remaining half of the Bray family estate.

He couldn't even afford utilities.

Life had become difficult in every possible way.

The “high-paying job” offer remained open for only two days.

If he didn't come today, He Yu would hire someone else.

So despite still being mentally shattered...

Patriarch Bray forced himself to step into the casino.

He Yu was upstairs, engaged in another high-stakes gamble.

His former rivals, Patriarch Nan and Patriarch Shu, enthusiastically received him.

Their concern sounded incredibly sincere.

“Little Brother, calm down. Nothing's more important than your life. You have to take good care of yourself.”

“So you've finally figured things out and decided to work for He Shao. Great. Now we can put our talents to use together.”

“We started before you did, so you should call us Big Brothers now.”

“I thought as long as you never stepped into the casino, nothing would happen. Who would've guessed... tsk tsk.”

“Sigh. Sons who ruin their fathers really should be kicked out. Learn from Old Nan. His family doesn't have any inheritance left, so he simply threw out his good-for-nothing heir.”

“Little Brother...”

...

Patriarch Bray stood speechless.

He wanted to kill someone.

He wanted to hack those two smug bastards to pieces.

On the surface, every word sounded like concern.

In reality, every sentence stabbed straight into his heart.

Neither of them even bothered hiding the delight on their faces.

They were thoroughly enjoying his misery.

There was a saying—

As long as your enemy was worse off than you were...

You could sleep peacefully.

Patriarch Bray felt darkness repeatedly clouding his vision.

For a miser who valued money more than his own life...

His current situation was unbearable.

If he weren't too afraid to die...

He genuinely wouldn't have wanted to keep living.

After waiting for an entire hour, He Yu finally came downstairs.

He simply gave Patriarch Bray a few brief instructions, signed a contract, had someone change his clothes, and immediately sent him off to handle the accounts.

Patriarch Bray continued sighing endlessly.

He had expected He Yu to mock him.

Instead...

Nothing happened.

He blinked blankly.

With complete despair written across his face, he opened the account books.

Then he froze.

Holy shit!

The casino makes this much money?!

Yes.

The casino was unimaginably profitable.

Far richer than anyone could have imagined.

Countless wealthy people entered the casino and mortgaged their assets for high-stakes gambling.

Every one of them believed it was only temporary.

Once they made a comeback, they'd redeem everything.

But in reality...

Very, very few ever reclaimed their property.

Even those who redeemed it today...

Might mortgage it again tomorrow.

That...

Was the casino.

Once Patriarch Bray, Patriarch Nan, and Patriarch Shu began helping, He Yu handed almost all miscellaneous affairs over to them.

The casino remained the headquarters.

Patriarch Bray became responsible for finance.

Not merely the casino's finances—

But the finances of every single industry under He Yu's name.

By now He Yu owned an enormous number of businesses.

Even wealthy tycoons from Gold City, Silver City, and Qian City had mortgaged their properties to him.

Patriarch Bray managed all financial affairs.

Patriarch Nan oversaw the casino's daily operations.

Patriarch Shu managed all of He Yu's businesses throughout City A.

The old balance, where the three great families divided City A among themselves...

Had completely disappeared.

Every business once bearing the signs—

“Shu.”

“Nan.”

“Bray.”

Had all become...

“He.”

Patriarch Shu looked across the countless businesses throughout City A.

His emotions were indescribably complicated.

Overnight...

He had gone from wealthy patriarch...

To salaried employee.

For many wealthy people...

It truly was—

“Enter the casino today.

Become a wage earner tomorrow.”

—

Now that people were helping handle the work...

He Yu focused all his attention on his financial battle against Cheng Zhao.

Both sides had completely laid out their strategies.

On the fifth day after the casino opened—

The tenth day since He Yu arrived in this world—

The money war between He Yu and Cheng Zhao officially erupted.

Day Ten.

Cheng Zhao's assets: 49 billion.

He Yu's assets: 24.5 billion.

He Yu possessed exactly half of Cheng Zhao's wealth.

Day Eleven.

Cheng Zhao officially released Equipment Forging Techniques.

The Basic Edition sold for ten thousand.

The Intermediate Edition sold for one hundred thousand.

The Advanced Edition sold for one million.

Sales exploded.

Money flowed into Cheng Zhao's pockets like water.

That very night...

He Yu won another ten billion.

The fourth floor descended into complete madness.

One of Gold City's wealthiest tycoons went bankrupt.

Naturally, He Yu claimed enormous winnings.

Meanwhile, another gambler earned fifteen billion in a single night.

One wealthy man went bankrupt...

Several gamblers celebrated.

Day Twelve.

Cheng Zhao's assets: 60 billion.

He Yu's assets: 36 billion.

Both of them had climbed to the top ranks of the wealth leaderboard.

Because they had appeared so suddenly—

And because both accumulated wealth in ways that provoked enormous jealousy—

Assassination attempts against them became increasingly frequent.

Neither of them paid any attention.

At this point...

Each saw only the other's fortune.

Cheng Zhao's expression darkened.

Although he still led He Yu by more than twenty billion...

He Yu's wealth was growing far too quickly.

Ten billion in a single night.

A twenty-billion gap could disappear in only two evenings.

Furthermore...

The amount of money earned from selling equipment-forging courses could never compare to a universally applicable Combat Power Improvement Course.

Although Cheng Zhao had launched an aggressive campaign against piracy...

His profits remained limited.

Meanwhile...

He Yu's momentum was overwhelming.

“Why does gambling make money so quickly?”

Cheng Zhao couldn't understand it.

Browsing the online discussions, he noticed quite a few people questioning He Yu's fortune.

His eyes immediately lit up.

An ill-intentioned smile spread across Cheng Zhao's handsome face.

“Hehe, Yu Yu, I really wanted to compete with you fairly... but people are already starting to doubt you. I'm only giving things a little push~”

He immediately switched pages and began frantically contacting people.

That very afternoon...

Countless articles flooded the internet.

An enormous wave of criticism against the casino erupted.

The casino was currently the hottest topic on Money Planet.

Virtually everyone was paying attention.

Once these articles appeared...

Naturally, countless people clicked on them.

【Breaking! The casino's biggest winner is actually—】

【Counting just how much the casino owner He Yu has earned since opening day...】

【From having absolutely nothing to becoming a future hundred-billion tycoon—this is how he did it!】

【Click to see just how miserable bankrupt tycoons really are!】

...

Every headline directly attacked He Yu.

Every headline attacked the casino.

Together they delivered the same message to everyone on Money Planet—

The casino owner He Yu had made an enormous fortune.

The casino owner was the true biggest winner.

Many wealthy people had gone bankrupt after entering the casino.

Those bankrupt people were living miserable lives.

The Bullet Screen instantly exploded with discussion.

“Wow, Cheng Zhao is clever. This is a great move.”

“Hahaha, Cheng Zhao completely mastered He Yu's style. Even those clickbait headline formats are copied from He Yu.”

“This directly destroys people's trust in He Yu and makes wealthy people afraid to enter the casino. As long as the rich stop coming, He Yu won't be able to keep making huge profits. Smart move. He Yu's in real danger this time.”

“How's He Yu supposed to explain this? He really has won a tremendous amount of money from the casino himself.”

“If wealthy people become suspicious of He Yu, then unless he gives them an explanation that truly reassures them... they probably won't dare visit his casino anymore.”

...