Chapter 344
"Mackey, what did you call us here for? Is it Lucky Knight was too upright and we couldn't reach an agreement?"
The spokesperson was very respectful to these behind-the-scenes financiers, bowing slightly as he answered their questions:
"No, Mr. John. Lucky Knight realized the importance of this game to us and tried to blackmail us with exorbitant demands. They want 5% of the Commercial Union's shares before they'll agree to put in their best effort in the finals."
The oldest person present, Kuranta, leaning on a cane, sneered and said:
"Hmph, foolish and ignorant. Do you think you can cross social classes and rise above your station just by getting these shares? If you want company shares, then give them to you. In any case, the final interpretation right belongs to the Commercial Union."
The phrase "final interpretation right" amused the female director of Kuranta, who then added with a smile:
"Mackey, if you think agreeing directly might arouse his suspicion, start by cutting it to 3% and see how Lucky Knight reacts. If he remains adamant, then increase it to 4%. This is a verbal agreement between you two and has no legal effect."
The most urgent task is to calm him down. Focus on preparing for the game and winning this year's Knight Competition championship. Everything else can wait until we get through this.
If he wins the championship, let's take this opportunity to eliminate the negative impact on the company. The public is forgetful; there are plenty of ways to deal with Lucky Knight later.
Another man, Kuranta, chimed in:
"Yes, that's exactly right. As long as Lucky Knight is willing to win the championship, we're open to any conditions."
You haven't forgotten how the three-time champion Black Knight was ostracized, have you? No matter how strong he is, can he be stronger than the Black Knight? Ha, he's just a clown.
Mackey actually knew what to do, but he couldn't do it directly. He had to consult with these behind-the-scenes financial backers and have them propose similar solutions.
This way, if things are done well, the board members will think they've given him excellent guidance. They'll also find Mackey more agreeable and thus entrust him with more tasks.
Investors don't need capable people who can take the lead; they just want obedient tools.
This is how a spokesperson survives.
Mackey was humble and bowed in gratitude:
"Thank you, I know what to do."
"Tch, if you know that, then hurry up and do it! Don't bother us unless it's important."
"Hahaha, Mackey's just a gofer, why are you getting so worked up over him? Tomorrow I'm going to set up a betting pool and rake in a lot of money from those fools who bet on Maria Saria to win the championship. Anyone interested in participating?"
"Let's talk about this privately. Bye."
After the six directors ended their video call, only Mackey remained in the conference room. The empty room was completely silent, making him seem like an abandoned pet.
July 17th, 7:00 PM
The Doctor and Amiya stayed in a luxury suite provided by the Supervision Committee, passing the time by watching television.
At 7 p. m., the prime-time slot begins, Knight Competition special program sponsored by the Commercial Union starts airing.
The opening scene features a promotional video for a special tournament, accompanied by uplifting and passionate music. After a quick edit, the footage transitions to a pre-tournament interview with Maria.
Upon hearing her sister's name on the television, Margaret came out of the guest room.
Because of her withdrawal from the competition, she attracted the attention of various factions in Kazimierz. In order to protect the Doctor and to avoid the limelight for a while, she moved in with them.
"Miss Maria, is there anything you'd like to say to Lucky Knight about tomorrow's finals?"
When asked by reporters, Maria looked directly into the camera:
"I've watched Lucky Knight's fight videos, and honestly, he's just so-so. In the finals, I'll beat him to his knees and beg for mercy..."
Margaret's face darkened; she couldn't believe her sister would say something so offensive. She listened intently for a long time, then quickly realized what was happening:
"The Doctor, although the voice in this is very similar to my sister's, it's not her real voice. It's an edited version dubbed by the Commercial Union, so you can't take it seriously."
"I know, it's a common business tactic."
The Doctor treated it all as entertainment and didn't take it seriously. After watching TV for a while, he turned his head and asked:
"Are those measures ready for tomorrow?"
Upon hearing this, Amiya immediately nodded emphatically in response:
"Yes, the Doctor, everything is ready."
"Everything is ready now, we're just waiting for Doctor Zhong."
July 18th, morning, sunny.
Today is the final day of the 24th Knight Competition Special Championship.
Perhaps because it was the weekend, there were more spectators than at the semi-finals.
The bustling crowds moved through the passageway like a dense river.
Besides bottled water, they also carried ribbons, flags, megaphones, and other support items, all so they could cheer for their favorite players when the competition started.
As a major event held every three years, Thor Industries has temporarily deployed 500 drones to monitor different areas of the arena and prevent any accidents.
The match hadn't even started yet, but the atmosphere on the field was already very lively.
Some people were engrossed in their phones, some were chatting with friends about match-fixing and gossip, and many more were discussing how many bets they had placed.
The audience was roughly divided into those who bet on Maria and those who bet on Lucky Knight; very few people didn't place any bets.
It has to be said that this is the result of the Commercial Union's massive advertising campaigns over the past seventy years. It has instilled a gambling habit in many young people from a young age.
As required by the Commercial Union, Shi Lei arrived at the First Club Arena at 8:00 a. m. ahead of time.
However, he wore a mask the entire time and never showed his true face. Therefore, the makeup artist was unable to work on him and couldn't think of any place to touch up his makeup or contour his features.
At nine o'clock, spokesperson Mackey arrived with bodyguards.
I definitely can't go to the locker room, lest the Lucky Knight inexplicably faint and collapse. Today is the finals, and if a player is unconscious, it would be a major disaster.
"Go to the first row of the audience now. There are reserved VIP seats there. These bodyguards will accompany you the whole time to protect your safety. Come on stage when the host calls your name, understand?"
"What do you mean, I'm going to jump off the sidelines?"
Mackey had already planned for this. He wouldn't fall into the same trap twice.
"Yes, someone will provide a ladder. You can step down slowly and you won't fall and sprain your ankle."
Seeing the spokesperson's arrangement, Shi Lei's lips curled into a grin beneath his mask, and he quickly came up with a wicked idea:
"Okay, whatever you say."
Shi Lei, holding the ticket, led more than ten bodyguards into the stands and headed to the first row at the edge of the arena.
Some spectators recognized him on the street and asked him in a loud voice:
"Lucky Knight, what are you doing here?"
Shi Lei could have chosen not to answer, but he deliberately replied:
"The Commercial Union told me to go down here, saying it was to avoid suddenly fainting." (Yu)
As everyone knows, the finals never start right away. Before the competition begins, several popular pop stars take turns performing to heat up the atmosphere.
I was originally going to interview Maria, but she learned about the dubbing and editing last night and declined to attend.
The narrator read out advertisements from more than twenty companies before finally getting to the main topic at 10:30:
"La Signora and gentlemen, welcome to the Grand Finals of the 24th Knight Competition. I am your commentator for today, Big Mouth Mob. Although the match has not yet started, I can already feel your enthusiasm! Now, please give a warm round of applause to the Lucky Knight who has been on a winning streak all the way and has never lost a game!"
As his figure appeared on the big screen, Shi Lei got up and walked to the edge of the arena.
Two staff members had set up a ladder below, waiting for him to appear from there. This protection would prevent a repeat of the Yellow Robe Knight tragedy.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Shi Lei turned his back and slowly climbed down the ladder. He had only stepped on two steps when he suddenly exerted his immense physical strength. What seemed like a light step completely crushed the sturdy steps below.
Protected by the Jade Shield, Shi Lei didn't hold back at all, and fell heavily to the ground due to inertia. He immediately clutched his right foot and rolled around on the ground, appearing to be in great pain.
From an outsider's perspective, the Lucky Knight fell from a height using a substandard ladder. This kind of sudden incident can no longer be considered a coincidence; it was definitely the work of the Commercial Union!
If they pull this stunt in the semifinals, why are they doing it again in the finals?
The audience in the audience went wild!
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413 Completely Out of Control 3K
"What's going on? Using such underhanded tactics to manipulate the game before it's even started? That's incredibly disgraceful!"
"Exactly, they've lost all sense of shame!"
Spectators at the edge of the field heard Lucky Knight say that walking this way was arranged by the Commercial Union.
Why not use the proper player entrance and instead jump into the arena from the audience? What's the point of building it if it's not going to be built?
Even if you explain that the locker room might be haunted and that it's safer to enter from the audience seats, look at this terrible ladder—no one can wash it properly here.
The Yellow Robe Knight suffered a defeat because they tripped and fell while jumping onto the field in the semi-finals, which greatly reduced their mobility.
This is the nationally Live Broadcast Knight Competition Finals, why are they pulling this stunt again? Do they really think the people of Kazimierz are idiots, so easily fooled?
Shi Lei fell to the ground, clutching his right leg and rolling around on the ground, looking very painful.
Normally, this distance shouldn't have caused such a big reaction, but Lucky Knight is different from other Competitive Knight.
He either tripped and fell backward, or he wasn't wearing armor. His injuries are more severe than the Yellow Robe Knight's, which is completely understandable.
Shi Lei knew his limits; rolling around too much would be excessive. He sat up from the ground, began rubbing his ankles and calves with his hands, and started the next part of his performance.
At this moment, not only the audience inside the stadium, but the entire nation's attention is focused on him!
The Lucky Knight looked at the sole of his shoe and pulled out a thin, long Originium crystal!
Shi Lei had been exposed to Originium for a long time and could even create Originium using his abilities. However, he didn't usually need it, so he mostly produced Pure Gold or Rock Pillars.
Today, after hearing Mackey's entrance plan, I spontaneously decided to add this scene.
According to the original plan, Shi Lei would feign defeat in the finals to disgrace the Commercial Union.
General MacArthur, a five-star general in the U.S., once said that a company that made its fortune through gambling and lost its credibility is like a man becoming a eunuch in the palace. Most of the time, they might survive. But no matter how they try to cover it up later, a lie is a lie, and they can never go back to what they were before.
Sharp declines in revenue, shrinking assets, and plummeting stock prices are all minor issues. If the Supervision Committee wants to go all the way, it can simply expose the identity of the boss behind the scenes.
Once the flames of suspicion take hold in your heart, they are hard to extinguish.
As the camera panned forward on the big screen, all the viewers could see what he was holding.
"Damn it, who the hell found this ladder? And what's with this Originium crystal?"
When Mackey saw this scene in the private room, he gasped.
To avoid suspicion, he didn't go to the audience seats. Instead, he sent bodyguards with him to protect the Lucky Knight's safety.
Now, not only is the ladder faulty, but it also has Originium crystal stuck in it. Mackey thinks that if he were in the position of the Lucky Knight, he would definitely be furious and unwilling to cooperate anymore.
Oh no, is he planning to surrender?
If Maria wins, those old guys on the board will definitely kill me!
Mackey wanted to comfort Lucky Knight immediately, but he was too far away.
Only if he is at the scene when an accident occurs can he effectively curb the other party's negative emotions.
In addition, athletes are prohibited from bringing mobile phones into the arena. Running into the arena now is definitely too late.
This is a nationwide live Live Broadcast, and he can't communicate with the Lucky Knight in front of so many eyes.
Tsk, damn it. Could it be that someone from the Supervision Committee tampered with the ladder?
Mackey's expression was grave, his mind racing.
He quickly devised a plan to shift the Misfortune Eastward onto the Supervision Committee. He planned to claim ignorance when questioned and steer the conversation toward his rivals.
However, Shi Lei will not give him that chance.
He walked straight to the commentary booth, ready to kill the game in another way.
Whether or not Maria is chosen to fight, or whether she wins the championship, is not the most important thing. The core objective of the entire plan is to disgrace the Commercial Union.
Seeing the situation getting out of control, Big Mouth Mob, with his exceptional professionalism, tried to calm the audience down:
"La Signora and gentlemen, there has just been a minor accident. Please don't worry, it seems that Lucky Knight's injury is not serious. We will send our most professional medical team to examine the athlete and see if he can continue to participate in the competition..."
Before he could finish speaking, a water bottle was thrown at him. This was followed by boos from the audience.