Chapter 485: Gambling with Destiny

Crazy, crazy! This is insane! 190 billion!

Hua Xi Battle Zone, Safe Zone No. 273.

Atop the city’s tallest anti-air tower, several Third-Stage Awakeneds and their subordinates watched the numbers dancing on the panel with bated breath.

Each shout of astonishment marked a shift in the digits, and every jump meant staggering wealth was pooling into the pot.

The sheer magnitude of the numbers made one wonder if they were even real.

To ordinary survivors, a thousand Credit Points was a fortune beyond reach, yet here it was reduced to nothing more than a number.

That is, until more than twenty merchant guilds suddenly emerged, each claiming backing from a Third-Stage and hinting at shadowy Military involvement…

Anyone would think this was nothing less than a massive scam orchestrated by several powerful factions.

“There’s nothing crazy about this! With so many Third-Stages and factions betting, it all adds up!”

“Let’s be honest – these funds may seem huge, but they could at best replicate the East Sea! For genuinely powerful and wealthy Third-Stages, this is nothing!”

At the metal counter, a Third-Stage Youth who had bet early glared with eyes burning red, as if simply taking part gave him the aura of a billionaire.

He pounded the table hard, glaring at the Middle-Aged Third-Stage sitting across as if reproaching him for his ineptitude.

“Cheng Yuan! I’m not trying to insult you here! Despite our age gap, we’ve been like friends from different generations!”

“When have I ever wronged you all these years? I was even planning to marry your daughter!”

“Trust me! Put everything on the line! Pledge all our equipment to the Tiancheng Merchant Guild – they offer the highest prices!”

“Take this gamble! Win, and we turn our fortunes around! You might even rise to a Third-Stage Mid-level, and your Settlement could become a full-fledged Safe Zone!”

“Isn’t that exactly what you’ve always dreamed of?!”

The Middle-Aged Third-Stage, seated at the metal table with a hesitant look, ignored the Youth’s scolding – he simply didn’t have the energy to be annoyed at the kid right now.

Both belonged to the same Battle Zone and, being close allies, shared a strong bond. Though the Youth was somewhat cocky, his judgment was usually spot on.

Just two hours earlier, he learned that the guy had risked it all – pledging every piece of his equipment and even borrowing a million Credit Points on his Third-Stage status, betting a staggering 6 million in total!

“The risk is too high… it’s just too enormous…”

“Zhang Kun, it’s not that I don’t trust you; if we lose, we’re done for!”

“Have you thought about what happens if we lose everything? What about everyone in our Settlement? You know that ever since the East Sea fell, food prices have been skyrocketing. One miscalculation and lives are at stake!”

After much hesitation, the Middle-Aged Third-Stage named Cheng Hong still couldn’t decide.

As an ordinary Third-Stage Awakener, he truly longed to establish his own Safe Zone instead of merely rallying a Settlement.

But with age weighing on him, he wasn’t as daring as Zhang Kun.

If he lost it all, his comrades would end up starving…

“How could we possibly lose?!”

“Cheng Yuan! Use your head! A Third-Stage Advanced against a Third-Stage Beginner…”

“An Honorary Committee member against a Standing Committee member!”

“Frankly, these two are worlds apart – not to mention that Committee Member Lu is with the Army!”

“This is literally throwing money away! We’re just giving money away!”

“Tell me, if you went up against a Third-Stage Advanced right now, how long do you think you’d last?!”

“It’d be a miracle if Yenir could hold on for even three seconds! You have no idea how many are betting that he’ll run for it immediately!”

Spittle flew.

Overexcited, the Youth, almost like he’d been injected with adrenaline, earnestly tried to convince them.

In his eyes, this was a golden opportunity to make a fortune!

Damn, even though he was a Third-Stage, he had neither backing nor influence. Despite his talent, he hadn’t amassed many Credit Points. Otherwise, he’d have bet everything he owned!

But forcing his supply team to pool together some Credit Points just barely helped him scrape by.

His eyes blazing red, he glared intently at the Middle-Aged man – and Zhang Kun nearly wished he could lay a knife on him.

Cheng Yuan had money. Having pledged his entire Settlement to various merchant guilds ensured there’d be buyers – after all, people are money! Although trading in slaves was forbidden, one could always sell oneself if desperate!

As long as Cheng Yuan scored a big win, it’d all be his! With that stash of Credit Points, he was confident he could climb the ranks!

“I’m just worried about that…”

Sighing, Cheng Hong, his mouth parched, couldn’t help but take a sip of tea.

Even though this was an anti-air platform, years of peace had transformed it into a viewing deck.

“Do you think these merchant guilds are idiots? Everybody knows Yenir is bound to lose…”

“Even with these low odds, bets still have to be settled… Look at it! Who’s even betting on him?”

“Everyone’s backing Committee Member Lu to win. Who would lose then?”

“I’m really scared…”

With a resigned sigh, the cautious Cheng Hong finally voiced his concerns.

Born into poverty, everything he now had was forged in battle against monsters. His life had taught him that after the apocalypse, free lunches were a myth – scams with no moral boundaries lurked everywhere, and everyone was out for themselves.

“That’s exactly why you don’t understand!”

“Let me put it simply: I have a friend in the Military Department. He may not be high-ranking, but he knows some of the inside details!”

“This time it’s a Death Duel! Do you know what a Death Duel is?!”

“Committee Member Lu and that kid have a massive grudge! That’s why in this battle, no matter what, Committee Member Lu will go all out – there’s no way something will go wrong!”

“What is Committee Member Lu’s status and strength?! He can’t afford to lose any more than we can!”

In his excitement, the Youth, his throat parched from all the talking, couldn’t help but drink some tea.

With a resounding smack on the metal table, he pointed toward the Capital and continued:

“Worried that no one will lose? Afraid that if everyone wins, there’ll be no money to pay out?!”

“That’s where you’re mistaken!”

“There are too many bets! There’s always someone foolish enough to bet on that kid to win! And look at how many are wagering on 15 or 30 seconds!”

“These idiots – Yenir can’t possibly last that long!”

“I bet those big shots have already crunched the numbers; the real fight will last no more than three seconds! They might even end up wrecking that kid!”

“In that case, 99% of the bettors will lose!”

With a gleam in his eye, seeing Cheng Yuan as stubborn as a rock in a cesspit, Zhang Kun finally revealed his true thoughts.

“Trust me! If you’re timid, bet on three seconds; if you’re bold, bet on that kid getting his limbs chopped off!”

“The big shots are banking on the fact that the kid won’t get hurt!”

Without any doubt about his judgment – or perhaps swept up by the fervor – Zhang Kun secretly longed to see Yenir get wrecked.

He had even signed up for the Fire Seed Plan, but due to his age and talent, he was eliminated in the first round.

He’d heard plenty about Yenir from his friends in the Capital. Besides the mystery surrounding his abilities, everyone’s envy for the kid was palpable.

“On what grounds?”

“Why is it that he’s hailed as a genius while I’m left in the dust? The pay gap is outrageous!”

“It’s just not fair!”