In the early morning,
As expected, the English Team lived up to expectations, and within half an hour of the game, they were down 0-90 to the Transylvania team.
The few Britain fans present were quite disappointed.
Each of them is individually very strong, and they also have a good sense of teamwork, so how could they be defeated like this by the other side?
Bagman in the studio was completely numb.
Despite the Bulgaria team's particularly fierce attack last night, the Peruvian team adjusted their tactics quickly, giving the impression that they could pull off an upset.
And what about the English Team? With this performance, scoring even one goal would be a miracle from Merlin.
"Uh... Transylvania has the upper hand right now, but we can see that the English Team players are all unwilling to give up, so it feels like they still have a chance to turn the tide."
Bagman made a few boastful remarks, only to be proven wrong by Quaffle from the Transylvania team's Chaser.
0:100, setting a new record!
Without a doubt, Goblin Mansion has adjusted the real-time odds to an extremely exaggerated number.
Just when the more than 300,000 wizards at the scene thought the game was over, the English Team suddenly exerted their strength and scored a goal over many obstacles.
"Beautiful!" Bagman in the studio stood up excitedly. "This goal by the English Team is a signal, a signal that they have finally begun to fight back!"
However, two minutes later, Transylvania scored, and five minutes later they scored again.
"It's just a minor setback. I believe the English Team will quickly regroup and launch another fierce attack!"
No sooner had he finished speaking Transylvania scored another goal.
The odds for English Team, which had just fallen back down, are likely to skyrocket again.
With such a dismal performance, even if the broadcast were interrupted, not many people would bet on them to win.
10:150...
10:180...
10:200...
Bagman sat back down in his chair, exhausted.
Oh no, we've really lost big this time.
Even if the odds for Transylvania teams are adjusted to 1 to 1.01, the bookmakers won't win many Gold Galleons after taking their cut, so no one will continue to bet on English Team.
Gamblers like to win big with small bets, but they are not fools.
Even if the English Team eventually beats the Golden Snitch, so what? They'll still lose.
Bagman was now too embarrassed to even offer praise, and could only slump helplessly in his chair.
"Well... the Transylvania team played exceptionally well tonight. The English Team needs to keep up the good work."
Before long, the score had reached 10:240.
Bagman's lips trembled violently. "Winning or losing isn't important. The main theme of this World Cup is to embody the spirit of the planet, namely the values of unity, cooperation, and friendship first..."
His long string of official jargon was finally brought to an end by the referee's whistle.
The game is over, and the Transylvania team's Seeker has successfully captured the Golden Snitch.
10:390, what a disgrace!
Bagman in the studio immediately muted his microphone.
He was tired and didn't want to explain anymore.
Despite all the good words, they couldn't turn the tide. If it weren't for a goal scored midway through the game, the English Team would definitely be nailed to the pillar of shame in the history of Quidditch.
After the grand and solemn awards ceremony, Bagman returned to the staff lounge of the stadium, exhausted.
He rubbed his furrowed brows, secretly calculating the approximate losses for the night.
One... ten... hundred... thousand... ten thousand...
No matter how he calculates it, it should start at least at tens of thousands.
Fortunately, the Goblins Hall was the bookmaker, so the losses weren't actually that much when spread out.
Bagman went to the window and found that the stadium was already dark; the fans had probably gone back to their camps outside.
He took a quick shower, changed into his pajamas, and fell into a deep sleep on the bed.
Tomorrow night's match is between Scottish Team and Luxembourg Team. Both sides have equally matched lineups, so the situation that happened tonight is unlikely to repeat itself.
In his sleep, Bagman dreamed that he won every bet and earned more Gold Galleons than he could ever spend in several lifetimes.
But as he continued to dream, he felt a chill running through his body.
In his dream, he looked down and found that his clothes were gone and his skin was covered with a thin layer of frost.
It must be a nightmare.
Suddenly, with a "snap," Bagman was startled awake.
He sat on the bed, staring blankly at his wet clothes.
Not a dream?
Just as he got out of bed to change his clothes, he came face to face with an iron skull mask that gleamed with a cold, sinister light.
"Ah!" he screamed and threw a punch.
The iron skull mask moved to the side and then actually started talking.
"You're finally awake, Ludo."
Bagman's pupils, which had been dilated in fear, contracted instantly, as if he recognized the deep, hoarse voice.
"Don't be so nervous, I won't hurt you."
The iron skull mask slowly stepped forward. It wasn't some terrifying supernatural event, but rather a figure dressed in a black robe.
The man took off his mask, and Bagman was immediately terrified and trembled all over.
"You... you weren't dead? How... how could you still be alive?"
The man put the mask back on. "Dead? Ludo, you're still as naive as ever."
Bagman didn't dare to breathe. "You... you're still alive, then... why... why did you come looking for me?"
The man sneered, "Because you know our secret, Ludo."
A secret? What secret do you know?
Suppressing his inner confusion, Bagman forced himself to remain calm, saying, "Whatever I know, I swear I will never tell anyone."
"Heh..." the man sneered repeatedly, "Ludo, after what happened 13 years ago, do you think we'll still trust anyone?"
Bagman stiffly turned his neck and looked towards the window beside the bed.
Even though he has been retired for more than ten years, he has not neglected his exercise routine.
The passageway outside the staff break room isn't very long; you should be able to escape by climbing out the window.
Moreover, he just called out, and his colleagues living nearby should have heard it.
Even if they don't wake up, shouting while running away will eventually wake them up.
"Ludo, I advise you not to act rashly—".
Before he could finish speaking, Bagman leaned back and smashed the glass with his shoulder, then rolled over and escaped outside.
The man didn't give chase immediately. Instead, he quietly gazed at the broken window. "Ludo, you still love gambling as much as ever."
The passageway outside the lounge,
Bagman ran frantically, yelling, "Help! Help! There are intruders!"
As he continued to call out, he felt increasingly uneasy.
Under normal circumstances, everyone would have woken up long ago.
However, even as he approached the gate at the end of the passage, not a single person responded to him.
As he recalled the other person's identity, his fear and anxiety quietly reached their peak.
However, when he grabbed the doorknob at the exit, all he felt was relief at surviving the ordeal.
He could reach the audience seats outside by going through another passage behind this door.
The Ministry of Magic's Special Squad responsible for night patrols are all elites among elites; that person is definitely no match for them.
Without thinking twice, Bagman forcefully pulled open the door.
But the next second, he plopped down on his bottom.
"Ludo, you lost your bet again."
The person was already outside the door, with two shadowy figures wearing identical masks standing behind him.
Bagman's face changed drastically, and he slammed his head heavily on the floor. "Please... please don't kill me... I promise... I promise I won't tell anyone..."
He kept his eyes tightly shut and never raised his head. "If you don't believe me... I can... I can make an Unbreakable Vow to you..."
"Heh heh—" Two chilling laughs came from behind the person in front of him.
"Don't worry, Ludo, we won't kill you."
The man squatted down and gently patted his shoulder. "After all, we've known each other for a while. It's just that you might have to suffer for a while."
Bagman looked up with a belly full of questions, and then suddenly felt a sharp pain all over his body.
"What... what exactly do you want to do..."
The man leaned close to his ear and whispered, "We're back now. What else can we do?"
Bagman looked on in astonishment and slowly closed his eyes.