64 – Exchange Event 6 –
Match-fixing.
Undoubtedly, one of the actions that should never be taken in sports.
It poses a problem because it goes against the integrity that sportsmanship demands and damages the fairness of the league.
But I don’t know about it.
This isn’t even a sport, and I have no professional pride. It’s, in my view, a reasonable way of doing things.
Everyone has agreed, and as long as we don’t get caught, no one will get hurt.
“Moreover, even if match-fixing were to be exposed, I wouldn’t be suspected… So, is there any reason not to do it?”
As I mentioned, when something happens, the first group to be suspected are those who benefited the most from the incident.
The second group to be suspected are those who benefit when the group that benefited the most is suspected.
But the world is not a novel, and the culprit could be an entirely different entity.
Like me.
“So, will you be taking room service? If you do and leave a review, we’ll repay you with better service in the future.”
Room service.
Of course, such words should never come up in this situation, but I could understand what the other party meant.
It meant to decide whether to accept the money or not.
And it conveyed another intention.
This is just an advance payment. There is a separate initiation fee.
“I… I…”
I don’t know if the other person is in need.
But the other person doesn’t know me, and I don’t know them.
So, it might be possible.
But trying and regretting is better than regretting without trying, according to my creed.
“Through this… what do you gain from it…?”
The woman with a vaguely given name asked me.
Even if I don’t answer, she might be hoping I will.
I looked towards the other party, signaling her to think for herself.
She seemed to have convinced herself and nodded.
Although she appeared gloomy, her hands were sincere.
It was pleasing to see how well her left hand followed Jesus’s words, doing things without the right hand knowing.
“Then, I’ll come back later.”
Of course, there is no relation between me and the opponent.
I don’t even know who the opponent is.
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However, it is impossible for the opponent to have no involvement in the manipulation of the game.
It was a logical judgment, but the world has gone beyond imagination and common sense.
I just confirmed my defeat.
I only bet on the opponent with a higher odds.
“And how many people have received the proposal for match-fixing?”
I don’t know either. How match-fixing proposals are being exchanged.
Even I, who have lived in the information age, don’t know much about it.
So, even if it’s sloppy, no one can figure it out, so I deluded myself.
I didn’t say anything.
I just asked if I could lose and gave the money.
Even if this matter is revealed, they won’t be able to find me.
I was just a person who bet against the odds.
So there should be no problem.
With that belief, I immediately headed to the betting arena.
“Welcome!”
Many people have gathered for the exchange match so far.
Even though there is no particular reason for it.
The prize money for winning is quite large, but it is limited to students from the academy and other educational institutions.
There can’t be many participants.
And there are no other festivals, so it has difficult conditions for attracting crowds.
However, due to one factor, the exchange match always attracted a huge crowd.
The fact that it is legal gambling organized by the country.
It is said that many speculators are waiting for the exchange match to be held because it is one of the rare gambling activities where there is no need to consider fraud.
I didn’t know until just now either.
Considering the fairness is difficult due to aura and magic, in a world where there is no sports league to speak of, the exchange match is one of the few things that can be called a sport.
It is truly ironic.
Since athletes are usually deployed for real battles, the concept of friendly rivalry itself does not apply.
And there is something most important.
I have no intention of paying an advance.
It’s for the same reason no one can talk about being caught buying drugs.
The very attempt is illegal, and it erases one’s honor.
What will you do if things go wrong?
In fact, the plan is to recover the money even if the truth is revealed.
“Welcome. Who are you betting on in the living room?”
The dealer called to me, asking how much I would bet on whom.
The odds for this match were 1.2 times for Elly Elly Belverbel, Sangdo, to win and 3.6 times for a loss.
So, my bet was already decided.
“I’m going ALL-IN on Elly Elly Belverbel’s loss.”
I’m just here to make money.
—
Elly Elly Belverbel, she was facing the biggest dilemma of her life right now.
It was because of the order she received.
[The time will come soon. Whether it will be you or someone else… but when Princess Alice Tantalota is alone. Activate your ability at that time.]
She was a member of the cult of evil spirits.
‘What should I do?’
Her thoughts were complex.
This issue was not only a problem for her family.
Her country was slowly declining.
And it was all because of the presence of the Imperial Court of Success.
Although her homeland, with a smaller population compared to other countries, had engaged in various businesses as a nation leader.
In the process, they had disregarded the lives of a few individuals.
But the problem was that the Imperial Court of Success had found out about this.
No matter how much the Imperial Court of Success had declined compared to the past, its power could easily wipe out small countries and still remained.
Even now, powerful nations only tried to avoid the gaze of the Imperial Court of Success, not confront it directly.
As a result, her homeland, which had acquired such an excuse, was crumbling under the pressure of other countries.
When a nation falls, the family naturally falls with it.
That was the reason she entered the Cult of Darkness.
“If only the Shenghwangcheong… If only the Shenghwangcheong disappeared… I could live again.
If there is an alternative to Shenghwangcheong, they won’t be monitoring us but instead focusing on that side… It’s not abandoning the gods, it’s abandoning Shenghwangcheong.”
From the beginning, one individual cannot represent faith in the gods.
With that in mind, she made up her mind.
“But… what is that?”
However, she found herself facing a new dilemma.
No matter how much she thought about it, there were more appealing factors.
“…Even with the money I have received, I can flee to another country… And if they give me more money… maybe.
I can settle down safely in the Empire too… Then I won’t have to betray the gods. But… is it okay?”
She did not want to follow the Cult of Darkness.
Her parents felt the same way.
But the reason for betraying Shenghwangcheong was because.
Shenghwangcheong had accumulated power over a long period of ruling.
And recently, the problems that had been building up all this time had exploded, ultimately losing momentum.
“Before the internal chaos of Shenghwangcheong is resolved, let’s trample on them so they can never rise again… It is the right choice… but is it really okay?”
She continued to feel confused.
Like Abraxas said, humans do not necessarily want to be immoral.
Even humans who are not moral sometimes choose heroic action when the situation becomes serious.
The selfish gains she would obtain from Shenghwangcheong’s downfall and the well-being of the many people that would come with Shenghwangcheong’s revival kept coming to her mind.
Even if there was no way, she at least had a chance to survive now.
She just had to be defeated.
After her defeat, if she reported falsehoods to the Cult of Darkness, it would be over.
Then the Cult of Darkness would attempt to kidnap her and fail.
After receiving the initial payment, she could flee to the Empire.
The Empire easily grants asylum if you have enough money.
“And… judging by the personnel involved here… besides me, they have surely taken out insurance… So even if I fail, the responsibility will be shared less… Is it not okay?”
From the opening of the exchange battle.
With numerous factors involved.
She did not believe that she was the key to it all.
It was just one of many methods, I thought.
And that was the truth.
The Cult of Demons had actually planned their operation under the assumption of failure.
They had the mindset that it would be good if she succeeded, but it wouldn’t matter if she failed.
“For now… let’s think about it later. We have plenty of time anyway… The princess might not be alone… Let’s think positively.”
She decided to think positively.
Because she felt that her thoughts would only become more complicated if she dwelled on them.
Pung-
However, her thoughts did not continue.
The Cult of Demons. Even though they had given humans freedom and even encouraged rebellion against themselves.
They also approved of humans causing harm to each other.
And even if the demons didn’t know, the higher-ups of the Cult of Demons did not tolerate betrayal.
“Why did you think of betrayal, Ms. Ellie.”
They were beings like that. Even if they were considered fine by the gods, they were beings who thought only of themselves.
“I hope you find happiness by the side of demons.”
Demons always affirmed their own creations.
—-
The time for Ellie Ellie Bell Bell’s fight was approaching.
Her opponent was someone she didn’t know.
But judging from the low betting odds favoring Ellie Ellie Bell Bell.
It can be said that she is considered a higher-ranked skilled fighter.
“Now, let the duel begin! Fighters, come out now!”
As she thought that, the time came for the fighters to come out.
Ellie something or other’s opponent started coming out on the arena.
For a brief moment, cheers engulfed the arena, and then the arena fell into silence, waiting for the next cheer.
However, there was no next cheer to fill the arena.
Something must have gone wrong because she didn’t come out.
Even the officials of the match, who hadn’t expected this, seemed to be murmuring.
After a brief moment, someone suddenly entered the control tower and whispered to the announcer.
It seemed like there was some information.
At that moment when everyone’s attention was focused.
The broadcast resounded.
[Ah. I will tell you. Unfortunately, Elly Elly Belver Belver Sangdo was found infiltrated in the waiting room and encountered a situation where the duel could not continue.
The opposing Sangdo is a challenger, and in this unfortunate incident, Jerip Academy will provide the best response…]
And then, at that moment.
The news of her death reached us.
The Cult of Malice.
They began to act in earnest.