《Bloody Ball》


 Chapter 0: Prologue: Obsession with victory

    "I am Ming You. I am now sixteen years old, and I have three deaths on my hands ¡ª deaths of people close to me, close in the eyes of society."


    "Right now, I just want to play basketball, but to be more precise, I want to win. As I walked to the nearest basketball court, I decided to revisit some memories of my weak personality, which I also killed."


    "I don''t remember much before the age of ten, but at ten years old, which I''ll call my childhood, enough happened in my life to make me stronger."


    Late at night. A seemingly ordinary apartment with a minimalist style and white wallpaper. Ming You sat at the table drinking water, while a rather old man in his seventies sat a little further away. Despite his age, he had a muscular body and a long scar on his neck. This was his father, and he was reading a newspaper with news about missing children in the forest.


    A couple of minutes later, a woman in her mid-thirties with long black hair entered the kitchen. She looked both desperate and exhausted, and she forced out the words to her husband:


    "Darling, we can''t afford to pay off these debts."


    He gave her a stern look and crumpled the newspaper:


    "It''s not "we" anymore, it''s you. I''ve already filed for divorce, and tomorrow I won''t be here. You''ll have to deal with your debts on your own."


    "But what about Ming You? You can''t just leave him like this!", She desperately cried out, looking towards Ming You, but he was indifferent and didn''t even look up.


    "He''s old enough not to need such care, so I''m leaving you two alone''" his father stood up from the chair and slowly left the kitchen, gathering his things.


    "But how¡­" His mother began to cry, and Ming You simply patted her on the back and headed to his room.


    "After this event, day by day, I sought salvation in hobbies ¡ª something that could distract me from dark thoughts and add some color to my gray existence, because after my father left, my mother spent entire days working multiple jobs to feed us and pay off the debts."


    "At the same age, in elementary school, I tried different clubs: soccer, volleyball, baseball, and even hockey, but none of these activities brought me satisfaction, as I felt I had no talent."


    "But one day, sitting at a chessboard, I felt like I had found what I was looking for. Chess became more than just a game for me ¡ª it was a true art where I could showcase my mind and strategic thinking."


    "But soon, something more dynamic caught my attention ¡ª basketball. Passing by the school basketball court, I saw the ball flying into the hoop, the players fighting for victory, and I realized that this was exactly what I needed."


    As Ming You watched the game, the ball flew towards him. He caught it deftly and looked at his peers with mild surprise. One of them shouted to him:


    "Hey, want to join our basketball club? You''ve got pretty good reflexes!"


    "Sure!", He said with a smile, tossing his backpack on the bench and joining the game.


    "I don''t remember exactly if I won that day or not, but I know for sure that I have a talent for basketball. With each game, I became more convinced that talent decides the game. So I decided to prove that hard work can also beat talented players with less experience."


    "And so the next four years of my life passed. I trained day and night, improving my game with my teammates, and occasionally visited the chess club. I wanted to quit the chess club for the sake of basketball, but one beautiful day in my life, I met her ¡ª a girl with long light brown hair and brown eyes. Her name was Sun Hee, and she didn''t stand out much, but I accidentally fell in love with her on her initiative."


    "She was the only reason I spent more time in the chess club. She was kind and smiling with me, and when it got hot in the chess club, she would take off her shirt, and during my puberty, I would get a movements in my pants under the table, which is probably why I lost to her so often in chess."


    "After school, a couple of days into our friendship, as we were walking together, I confidently but indifferently asked her to become my girlfriend, and she was even surprised how such an indifferent and detached guy could make her such an offer, but she agreed quite quickly. Back then, I guess I just wanted to have sex with her, and I wasn''t thinking with my heart but with my friend in my pants."


    "It only happened after I suggested she spend the night at my place. Well, she didn''t know that, as the pretext was that we would just play chess and do homework, but in my head, I had other plans."


    So we did our homework and were about to play chess, but I touched her cheek and said to her:


    "Before we play, maybe we can have some fun in a different way?"


    Sun Hee looked away and blushed:


    "¡­How exactly?"


    Ming You pulled a condom out of his pocket and winked at her:


    "Get undressed."


    "¡­I-I''m kind of scared¡­ isn''t it too soon?"


    Sun Hee blushed even more, but Ming You made an indifferent and slightly contemptuous face:


    "Well, if I''m so repulsive to you and you don''t like me that much, then do as you please, I completely understand. Get the board, let''s play and go our separate ways."


    "N-no! You''re really handsome, I''m just not ready yet¡­"


    Before she could finish, Ming You interrupted her in a cold tone:


    "Don''t make excuses, if you think there''s no reason for us to love each other, then I can support you, so let''s play and part peacefully."


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    "I-I love you. O-okay, let''s have fun your way¡­"


    Sun Hee started to undress, and Ming You''s indifferent face turned to interest.


    "Convincing her back then was quite difficult, and in the end, we did what I wanted, but now I don''t really care."


    "A couple of weeks after the best day in the life of my former self, I came home from school and left my backpack by my room."


    The apartment smelled strange. Ming You saw the bathroom door open and decided to take a look. His pupils narrowed, and he unconsciously took a step back.


    In the bathtub, filled with blood, lay his mother with a slit wrist, and on the floor near the bathtub was a bloodied knife.


    Ming You sat on the floor by the bathroom door and pressed himself against the wall.


    "I don''t know how to describe my emotions¡ªit''s not sadness, it''s not despair, I''d call it a dead end and panic."


    Ming You sat like that for several hours until there was a knock at the door. He ignored the sounds, but a minute later, when the handle turned and the door opened, she walked in ¡ª Sun Hee.


    "Ming You?"


    She called out, not seeing him at first, as he sat hugging his knees and pressing himself against the wall.


    "M-Ming You? I-is everything okay¡­ AAAH!"


    She peeked into the door and immediately stepped back.


    Sun Hee took out her phone and called an ambulance, and when she told them there was a dead woman in the bathroom, the police arrived as well.


    "The police determined it was a suicide. I guess that''s obvious, considering that over the past four years, her debts had only grown."


    "I was lucky that Sun Hee stayed with me at home for a couple of days back then, and I was also lucky that I wasn''t taken to an orphanage, as the police didn''t yet know that my father had abandoned me."


    At home, on the couch, Ming You was hugged by Sun Hee, and she tried to cheer him up:


    "Ming You, are you okay? You look really sad, can I help you?"


    "I''m just thinking about my mom," he replied, trying to hide his emotions. "She wouldn''t want me to feel this way."


    "You''re not alone," said Sun Hee, taking his hand. "I''m always here. We''ll get through this together."


    "One day, during another chess game, I decided to play with her on the edge of manipulation. I made her sacrifice her queen, convincing her it was just a joke, that I was doing it for love, though back then, as now, I craved only the feeling of victory and superiority."


    "Are you sure you want to continue?", Ming You asked with a sly smile. "Maybe we should just play something else?"


    "Are you crazy?", Sun Hee was surprised. "Do you really want me to sacrifice my queen? That''s not fair!"


    "But it''s for love," Ming You said, winking. "You want me to win, right?"


    She looked at him in confusion, but in the end, she agreed.


    "Okay, if it makes you happy," she sighed, sacrificing the piece. "But you understand it''s not fair, right?"


    Ming You won, but his joy was overshadowed by the question she asked, looking at him in confusion.


    "Are you willing to even kill for victory?"


    She asked, looking him in the eyes.


    "What? No, of course not," he replied, embarrassed. "You''re more important to me than any victory. I was just joking."


    "I hope you haven''t forgotten that," Sun Hee said with a weak smile. "Sometimes victory can cost too much."


    "We''ll be together, no matter what," he assured her. "I won''t let anything separate us."


    Ming You confidently said, then kissed Sun Hee, and they fell onto the bed.


    "However, the happiness of my former self was short-lived. Soon, my uncle and aunt decided to take me under their care and move to another city. This meant I would have to part with the girl who had become a source of light in my darkest times."


    Ming You sat in the kitchen, surrounded by his uncle and aunt.


    "Ming You, we need to talk," his uncle said as they sat at the table.


    "About what?"


    Ming You asked, feeling his heart tighten.


    "We''ve decided it would be better if you moved in with us," his uncle said. "We want you to live with us. It will be better for you."


    "But I don''t want to leave!" Ming You exclaimed, unable to hold back his tears. "I can''t leave Sun Hee!"


    "This is not up for discussion," his uncle said, his voice hardening. "You need to think about your future."


    "But she''s important to me!" Ming You insisted. "I can''t just leave everything behind!"


    "Ming You," his aunt intervened, "we understand how hard this is for you, but this decision has been made for your own good."


    After the conversation, his uncle and aunt, along with Ming You, got into a taxi and headed to another city.


    "After the move, I desperately tried to train in basketball, as there was no one to play chess with, and I channeled all my aggression into the game, hoping to escape reality by completely immersing myself in it."


    "A whole year passed since I was forced to part with Sun Hee. That year became a true test for me. On the bright side, I got my driver''s license and a certificate of capacity, which allowed me to be somewhat independent."


    "But on the downside ¡ª I fell into depression, losing interest in everything around me, but trying to release my aggression during basketball training, though it didn''t help. Every day was the same as the last, and my only solace was thoughts of revenge and victory. I dreamed of how I would return and show everyone that I wasn''t broken."


    Ming You looked at himself in the mirror, seeing a sixteen-year-old boy, 178 centimeters tall, with black hair almost reaching his nose, his forehead and eyes uncovered, but his eyes were completely empty, like darkness, though one could still try to find some humanity in them. Ming You looked at himself, trying to figure out how to deal with his despair.


    One day, when his uncle and aunt returned home, Ming You couldn''t hold back the growing tension. He knew they didn''t understand his pain and would never appreciate his passion for victory. Suddenly, he was overcome with madness.


    "Uncle, aunt, or rather mom and dad, if you prefer, the shower in the bathroom seems to be broken, and I also wanted to talk to you". Ming You innocently called out, putting on gloves and hiding a knife under his t-shirt.


    "Dear, he called us parents. Finally, he acknowledged us today". His uncle said to his wife, "We''ll check it out and discuss what''s wrong".


    He replied to Ming You, not suspecting his intentions.


    "Ming You, I''m glad you called us, while your uncle fixes the shower, we can talk, after all, we''re the only ones who will try to help you". His aunt said kindly.


    "Yes, I have something to tell you, but I don''t think the dead will be interested," Ming You said indifferently, closing the bathroom door.


    "What are you talking about?" Meanwhile, Ming You had already pulled the knife from under his shirt.


    "The shower is fine, what''s wrong?" his uncle said before turning around, but Ming You was already cutting his aunt''s throat when his uncle saw what was happening.


    "Are you out of your mind?!" his uncle shouted, trying to break free as Ming You lunged at him.


    "This is for victory!" Ming You growled, ignoring their pleas.


    A stab... Splatter...


    Ming You plunged the knife into his uncle''s throat. Shortly after, he dismembered their bodies, erasing all traces as if it were just another task.


    When he finished, he carefully placed the body parts into garbage bags and took a shower, washing the blood off himself. Then Ming You took all the money in the house and went outside with the "trash" bags, throwing them into a dumpster.


    His heart raced in his chest, but he felt adrenaline coursing through him. He took a taxi back to the old city, determined to reunite with Sun Hee.


    When they met, she looked happy, and his heart shattered with pain.


    "Hi, Ming You! How are you?" she asked with a smile.


    "I''m... okay," he replied, trying to hide his feelings. "How about you? Is everything good?"


    "Yes, I have a boyfriend now," she said, and her words pierced him like a knife.


    "A boyfriend?" he repeated, trying not to reveal his pain. "Congratulations."


    "Thank you! Can we go for a walk?" she suggested, unaware of his internal struggle.


    "Yeah, sure, how about we walk to that abandoned building where we had so much fun?" Ming You said, doing his best to conceal his emotions and intentions.


    "Okay, how are you doing? Have you made any friends there?" Sun Hee asked as they walked together to the abandoned building.


    "I want to talk to you and discuss everything when we get there, is that okay? I just think that place is a bit quieter," Ming You said, his eyes slightly reddening, but he managed to say it without hesitation.


    "I''m fine with that; I like that place too," Sun Hee had no idea of her ex''s intentions.


    When they arrived at the abandoned building, Ming You, struggling to contain his emotions, led her inside.


    "You know, it''s so quiet and peaceful here," he said, sitting on a stone. "Let''s sit down and talk; grab that stone behind you."


    Sun Hee nodded and turned to pick up the stone when Ming You stood up, grabbed the stone, and aimed for her head, throwing it like a basketball, but he hit her in the back instead, as the weight of the stone was quite different from that of a basketball.


    "What are you doing?!" she screamed, turning around.


    After the stone hit her back, Ming You panicked and kicked Sun Hee''s legs, causing her to fall. Then he began to kick her in the throat to silence her. His mind was clouded. Ming You sat on his ex-girlfriend''s stomach and pulled the knife from under his t-shirt, tears streaming down his cheeks, dripping onto Sun Hee.


    "I''m sorry, Sun Hee," he exhaled, "it''s all for victory."


    "For... what... cough... victory?" she asked in a hoarse voice, looking at him in horror.


    But Ming You did not answer. He suddenly stabbed her by knife, and her eyes filled with fear. Sun Hee could no longer ask questions; her life was fading, and Ming You felt his obsession completely engulfing him.


    After that, Ming You, with trembling hands and a bloodied knife, aimed it at his veins, wishing to end his own life. But at that moment, something inside him stopped him, as if a second personality was whispering about the need for absolute victories.


    "No!" he shouted, realizing he couldn''t allow himself to lose.


    "By killing yourself, you won''t achieve absolute victory; don''t make yourself lose," the inner voice of Ming You spoke.


    "No! I''ve already lost! I have no place in this world!" Ming You said to himself, tears in his eyes.


    "I will replace you, granting you victory, absolute victory," the inner voice grew louder.


    "I hope you can win in my place," Ming You said despairingly.


    "Don''t doubt it; now go, I''ll take care of everything." Ming You calmed down, changing his desperate expression to indifference. After these words, the first personality of Ming You, which still held a trace of humanity, simply evaporated, leaving only his obsession with victory.


    He dismembered Sun Hee''s body, covered his tracks, and discarded her remains in the trash, just like he did with his uncle and aunt.


    Gathering his thoughts, Ming You headed to the streetball court, where a crowd was placing bets. He knew that there he could find his new goal¡ªa victory that would fill the emptiness inside him.


    "Hey, guys, want to play?" Ming You shouted to the crowd making bets on the players.


    "You''re pretty bold!" shouted one of the guys. "This isn''t child''s play, kid; we play for money, and quite a lot of it, heh-heh."


    "I have something to bet," Ming You replied, pulling out his uncle''s and aunt''s wallet. "So, how about a game?"

 Chapter 1: The Mad Player

    In the evening, the spectators at the streetball court were already waiting for the game. Two tall guys approached Ming You and agreed to his bet.


    "Two against one might not be fair against a little guy like you, but money is more important to us than some reputation. So, are we playing? We''ll give you a chance to get out of here while you can," said the guy with short hair named Shi Lei, looking down at Ming You.


    "I don''t like rules either, so I''m in," Ming You replied with a smirk on his face.


    "You really are crazy. Alright, let''s get started; you can begin," said the other guy, a more muscular one named Hong Ji.


    The crowd began placing bets, with everyone betting on Shi Lei and Hong Ji, but there were a few who placed small bets on Ming You, hoping that perhaps his appearance was deceptive and that he might have some hidden confidence.


    Ming You stood on the court, bouncing the ball in his hands, contemplating the best approach for the game. He knew that the opponents he was about to face were not just competitors; they were gamblers willing to do anything for victory, but Ming You was not much different from them.


    "Okay, two opponents is not a problem if I can outsmart them," Ming You thought to himself.


    He took a step forward and began to warm up, deftly dribbling the ball from hand to hand.


    "First, I need to create an illusion of weakness," he continued in his mind. "Let them think I''m not a threat. This will give me time to prepare, and they won''t pay attention to the time."


    Ming You noticed the two players, one tall and muscular, the other shorter and stockier, looking at him with disdain.


    "Look at him," one of them said. "He really agreed to play one-on-two. This will be an easy win."


    "Yeah, he has no idea who he''s dealing with," Hong Ji replied with a smirk.


    "Let them underestimate me," Ming You thought. "It will only help me later."


    The game began. Ming You slowly moved toward the basket, pretending he was in no hurry. The thugs, confident in their strength, began to close in, preparing to attack.


    "How about you guard the hoop, and I''ll intimidate him," Shi Lei explained.


    "Alright, you can play around with him for now; he''s pretty slow, so don''t sweat it," Hong Ji agreed with the plan.


    Shi Lei nodded and took a defensive stance against Ming You.


    "What idiots they are," Ming You smirked to himself as Shi Lei got distracted. He suddenly changed direction, slipping past the two defenders and tossing the ball into the basket.


    "How did he do that?" Hong Ji whispered in shock.


    "It was just luck," Shi Lei replied, but his voice sounded less confident.


    "Maybe this guy has some skill; should we play a bit more seriously?" Hong Ji suggested.


    "Agreed, but don''t overdo it; he''s still just a kid," Shi Lei and Hong Ji chuckled.


    Ming You heard their conversation and smiled to himself.


    "They don''t understand that this is just the beginning," he thought. "The next step is to make them expend their energy."


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    He started playing more aggressively, forcing his opponents to chase him around the court. Every time one of them tried to stop him, he used his agility and shorter stature to slip away.


    "Looks like the plan is working," Ming You whispered to himself. "Make them work hard. They''ll tire soon, and then I can deliver the final blow, but for now, I can give them false confidence."


    Ming You retreated to the three-point line and prepared to take a shot.


    "Haha, who''s underestimating whom now?" Just as Ming You jumped with the ball and shot it, Shi Lei blocked the shot and snatched the ball.


    "You could have let him take the shot; he would have missed anyway," Hong Ji sneered.


    "Looks like he really is hopeless," someone from the crowd said.


    "Let''s score a couple of dozen points before we watch him beg us to let him win so he doesn''t end up in debt," Shi Lei said, bouncing the ball on the pavement in front of Ming You.


    "I could have snatched the ball, but then they''d start playing seriously, and I don''t really want to exert myself against idiots," Ming You thought to himself as Shi Lei bypassed him and made a dunk.


    "Not bad, but let me have a little fun with him," Hong Ji exclaimed.


    "Whatever you want," Shi Lei agreed without objection.


    As Hong Ji took the defensive position, Ming You, with an indifferent expression, dribbled the ball on the pavement.


    "Well, kid, entertain me while you can," Hong Ji laughed before Ming You threw the ball in his face and slipped past the defense.


    "Asshole!" Hong Ji shouted loudly, chasing after Ming You.


    "Hey, Hong Ji, don''t embarrass me," Shi Lei said, stepping up to defend against Ming You.


    Ming You dribbled the ball through his right and left legs a couple of times before suddenly slipping past Shi Lei.


    "Haha, you fell for it, motherfucker!" Hong Ji shouted, positioning himself at the basket to block any shot, but Ming You jumped behind the backboard.


    "This idiot jumped behind the hoop; how arrogant can he be?" Shi Lei smirked, and then so did Hong Ji, just before Ming You tossed the ball and scored.


    "What?!" everyone on the court exclaimed.


    "This time, let''s take him seriously," Shi Lei suggested, to which Hong Ji silently nodded and took the ball in his hands.


    Meanwhile, Shi Lei moved a little closer to the hoop, ready for a pass if needed.


    "You''re quite lucky," Hong Ji sneered, faking a move as if he was going to throw the ball in Ming You''s face.


    But Ming You, knowing that the first attempt in the next round would be a regular fake, already had the confidence to snatch the ball.


    The hit.


    The ball flew out of Hong Ji''s hand and landed in Ming You''s.


    "Great, looks like I have to do everything myself again, Hong Ji, let''s head to the hoop," Shi Lei shouted.


    Hong Ji gritted his teeth and silently walked toward the hoop. Shi Lei, for his part, began to play seriously, blocking any chance to pass or shoot.


    "Here''s the moment," Ming You told himself as Hong Ji approached the hoop and Shi Lei took a serious defensive stance. "Time for the final maneuver."


    Shi Lei and Ming You stared at each other for a couple of seconds; the defender was full of confidence, but after a couple more seconds, he was overtaken by shock.


    "What the fu..." Shi Lei whispered to himself.


    "A monster on the court!" one of the spectators shouted.


    On the court, thanks to his speed, agility, distracting maneuvers, and quick dribbling, Ming You created the illusion of eight arms, four balls, and four heads. The movements were fast, and Shi Lei couldn''t tell if he would be outmaneuvered or scored on, but when it seemed to him that Ming You was about to throw the ball, he jumped, trying to block the shot, but Ming You slipped past him like a child.


    "What the...?" Shi Lei said in disbelief.


    Hong Ji was already at the hoop, and Ming You pretended to shoot, while Hong Ji jumped, trying to block the shot.


    "Don''t underestimate us, brat!" Hong Ji yelled.


    But Ming You took two steps back and quickly threw the ball into the basket.


    "No way! He''s unstoppable!" one of the spectators screamed. "He''s just invincible!"


    "Time''s up, the score is 3-2, Ming You wins," the referee announced.


    "What? How? What do you mean time?" Hong Ji exclaimed.


    "Idiot, he made us underestimate him," Shi Lei interrupted.


    After the intense game, as Ming You emerged victorious, his opponents looked at him in bewilderment. They hadn''t just lost¡ªthey had been annihilated.


    "You''re not just a player," one of the thugs said, rubbing the back of his head. "You''re a mad player."


    Ming You merely smirked in response and collected his winnings.


    "So your strategy was to distract us from the time?" Shi Lei asked.


    "Looks like you''re not such an idiot after all, unlike your buddy," Ming You smirked.


    "Hey, faggot, watch your mouth; now that the game is over, the rules don''t apply," Hong Ji scoffed, swinging at Ming You.


    "Calm down," Shi Lei grabbed Hong Ji''s arm and continued, "We just underestimated you, but if you want to play again, come back." Hong Ji gritted his teeth while Ming You began to gather his things.


    Once ready, he left the court with a sense of triumph. The thugs, spectators, and players were in shock, and Ming You knew that his strategic approach had made him not just a winner, but a threat.


    After that, Ming You decided to transfer to another school and join the Yoshido basketball club. He understood that his skills and ambitions required a new level of competition. In the new team, he hoped to find real rivals who could challenge him.


    The next day, at school in the middle of the day, Ming You headed toward the door of the basketball club.


    "Hi, I''m Ming You," he introduced himself as he entered the Yoshido club hall. "I''m here to play."


    "Welcome," replied the team captain, studying the new player. "I''m Jung Ho, captain of the Yoshido team; I hope you''re ready for some real challenges."


    Ming You nodded, determined to show everyone what he was capable of while also plotting intrigues against his own team.

 Chapter 2: The Game with the Captain

    After joining the Yoshido basketball club, Ming You arranged to meet the team captain on the school roof.


    "So what do you want to discuss?" Asked Jung Ho, sitting at a desk.


    "You''ll find out when we meet on the roof tonight." replied Ming You as he headed to his desk.


    The school bell rang. A couple of hours after classes ended.


    The sun slowly dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in bright shades of orange and purple. On the school roof, away from the noise and bustle, stood two people: Ming You, an ambitious basketball player with a determined look, and the captain of the Yoshido team, Jung Ho, who stood nearly 190 cm tall, with short red hair and a serious expression.


    Ming You looked confident, his hair blowing in the wind, and his heart raced with anticipation. He knew this would be an important conversation. He approached Jung Ho, who stood with his arms crossed, gazing into the distance.


    "Jung Ho," Ming You began, "thanks for coming. I wanted to talk to you about basketball."


    The captain turned to him, his eyebrows slightly furrowed.


    "What about? We have practice in half an hour, and I don''t want to be late."


    Ming You stepped closer, his voice becoming more serious.


    "I understand, but this is important. For me, basketball is not just a game. It''s war. And in war, the one who is willing to take risks wins."


    "War?" Jung Ho replied, surprised. "We play as a team, Ming You. Our goal is to win together. This isn''t war; it''s sport."


    "For you, maybe," Ming You said, looking the captain in the eyes. "But for me, it''s an opportunity to show who''s truly stronger. I want you to understand: victory is everything. Convincing myself of that is what matters."


    Jung Ho sighed, his expression remaining serious.


    "You''re too fixated on winning. Sometimes how you play is more important than just the result. We need to work together, not compete against each other."


    Ming You rolled his eyes, his patience wearing thin.


    "Listen," he started, "I don''t want to just be part of the team. I want to be the best. And for that, you have to take risks. Want to play streetball? But not just for fun. I know a place where the stakes are high."


    The captain frowned, not understanding what Ming You was talking about.


    "Stakes? Are you suggesting we play for money? That''s not what I want to do. We need to focus on the team and practice."


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    "Not for money," Ming You interrupted. "For something bigger. If you lose, you completely obey me. If I lose, I leave the team and become a your slave. Do we have a deal?"


    Jung Ho pondered, his gaze becoming more serious.


    "Are you really ready for this? It''s very risky, Ming You. Do you realize this is not just a game?"


    "I''m not afraid to take risks," Ming You confidently replied. "I know I can win. You don''t want to look weak in front of the team, do you?"


    The captain sighed, his doubts slowly beginning to dissipate.


    "Alright," he finally said. "If this is what you want, I''ll accept the challenge. But be ready, I won''t give up without a fight."


    Ming You smirked, his eyes gleaming with excitement.


    "Great. We''ll meet there an hour after practice. Don''t be late."


    "By the way, Ming You," Jung Ho said, "do you really think this is the right path? We could lose the team because of this."


    "The team?" Ming You interrupted. "I want you to understand that sometimes you have to take risks to achieve greatness. If you''re not ready for that, maybe you don''t belong on the team."


    "And you know," Ming You continued, "I''ve always admired you as a captain. But I want you to know: I don''t just want to be part of the team. I want to be its leader."


    "Leader?" Jung Ho echoed, his voice becoming more cautious. "Do you think just winning one game will make you a leader?"


    "Not just one game," Ming You replied, his voice growing more confident. "I want to change the rules of the game. I want the team to know that we have someone willing to risk everything for victory."


    "And you think that will make you a leader?" Jung Ho asked, his tone softening. "A leader is not just about victories. It''s about responsibility for the team."


    "I''m ready to take on that responsibility," Ming You declared, his eyes burning with determination. "I want the team to know that I am capable of more."


    Jung Ho looked at him, his expression becoming more serious.


    "Alright," he finally said. "I''ll accept your challenge. But remember, I''m not going to give up easily."


    Ming You smirked; his plan was working. He knew he could now control the team and use Jung Ho to his advantage.


    "Excellent," he said, surveying the school roof. "Now we will begin a new era in basketball."


    Later that night, on the streetball court where Ming You had beaten Shi Lei and Hong Ji, several people had started to gather around.


    Ming You stood at the corner of the street, his face calm and confident. He knew that to implement his plan, he needed temporary "allies"¡ªthe gangsters controlling the street games. He looked at the time on his phone: time was running out, but it didn''t faze him.


    Soon, three guys in leather jackets approached him, with Taek Jung standing out as the leader of the group.


    "You''re Ming You, right?" he asked, squinting. "We heard you want to organize a game, and we haven''t forgotten how you beat those two guys last time."


    "Yeah," Ming You replied, his voice steady and confident. "I need your help to make this event memorable."


    Taek Jung smirked, his eyes shining with interest.


    "And what do you propose?"


    Ming You took a deep breath, keeping his composure.


    "I''m ready to stake my career and the winnings from the last game. If I lose, I''ll leave the team and become my opponent''s subordinate. If I win, the person I play against will be my subordinate, and you can keep the betting money; for me, the game and fulfilling the agreement with my opponent are what matter."


    Taek Jung pondered, his expression becoming more serious.


    "Do you realize how risky this is? If you lose, you lose everything."


    "I''m ready," Ming You replied confidently. "I know I can win."


    Taek Jung nodded, his lips stretching into a smile.


    "Alright, I like your attitude. We''ll organize the game and guarantee the agreement will be upheld, but the betting money is ours."


    "Great," Ming You said, as his plan began to take shape.


    Minutes later, participants and spectators started gathering at the court. The crowd gradually grew, and the tension in the air became palpable. Ming You and the captain of the Yoshido team, Jung Ho, met on the court, their gazes locking.


    "Are you ready?" Jung Ho asked, his voice sounding confident, but there was concern in his eyes.


    "I''m always ready," Ming You replied, his face remaining impassive. This was not just a game; it was a chance to prove his strength.


    Taek Jung stepped forward, drawing the crowd''s attention.


    "Welcome to the game! The bets are placed, and the match will start right now!"

 Chapter 3: He’s a Real Monster

    The atmosphere on the court was tense. The crowd gathered around eagerly awaited the start of the match between Ming You and Jung Ho. Each of them understood that this was not just a game ¡ª it was a battle for recognition, for respect, for the chance to be the best.


    "Are you ready, Ming You?" Jung Ho asked, his voice full of confidence, but concern was evident in his eyes. He knew that Ming You was not an ordinary opponent, and that added to his tension.


    "I''m always ready," Ming You replied, his face remaining expressionless. "But remember, this isn''t just a game. It''s war."


    Jung Ho smirked, puzzled by Ming You''s words. He was confident in his abilities and believed he could easily handle his opponent.


    "Alright, let''s get started," Jung Ho said, lifting the ball and tossing it into the air. "I''m not going down without a fight."


    The signal sounded, and the game began. Jung Ho immediately took the initiative, confidently dribbling the ball toward the basket. Ming You seemed unhurried, watching the captain''s movements.


    "You won''t be able to catch me," Jung Ho said, confidently moving toward the hoop. He knew that his physical attributes were his greatest asset.


    "Oh really?" Ming You smirked. "Let''s see how you handle what I''ve prepared."


    Jung Ho took a shot, and the crowd erupted in applause. Ming You showed no emotion, merely nodding, understanding that this was just the beginning.


    "1-0 in your favor," he said, walking to the center of the court. "But this isn''t over yet."


    The crowd, unable to contain their emotions, cheered for both players. Jung Ho''s fans shouted, rallying behind their idol, but doubts began to creep in among them as they witnessed Ming You''s incredible agility and strategy.


    Jung Ho took the ball again and, confidently dribbling, launched another attack. He used his physicality to try to throw Ming You off balance, but Ming You remained calm and focused.


    "Do you think you can intimidate me?" Jung Ho asked, faking a move and trying to get around Ming You.


    "Intimidate? No," Ming You replied. "I''m just waiting for the right moment."


    At that moment, Jung Ho shot the ball again, but Ming You unexpectedly jumped, blocking the shot. The crowd gasped, and the captain was stunned.


    "What?" he exclaimed, unable to believe his eyes. "How did you do that?"


    "I was just waiting for you to make a mistake," Ming You said, his voice sounding confident. "And you did."


    From that point on, the game took a different turn. Ming You began to take control, outmaneuvering Jung Ho with his moves. Every action seemed calculated, and the captain started to lose his confidence.


    "You can''t play like that, Ming You!" Jung Ho shouted, trying to regain control of the situation. "That''s not fair!"


    "Fairness?" Ming You scoffed. "In sports, just like in life, there''s no room for fairness. The one who is willing to take risks wins."


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    The crowd, watching Ming You''s actions, began to cheer him on, chanting his name. They saw him using his unique technique, which he called the "Four-Headed Spider." It was something incredible: Ming You seemed like a phantom, controlling four balls with eight arms and appearing to have four heads to deceive Jung Ho''s defense. Each time he dribbled, spectators couldn''t believe their eyes ¡ª how could he maneuver so quickly and skillfully, as if his hands were not just limbs, but living entities?


    "Look at him!" shouted one spectator. "He really is like a real monster!"


    Jung Ho attempted to attack again, but Ming You was ready. He used his speed and agility to bypass the captain''s defense.


    "You have no chance of stopping me," Ming You said coolly, sinking the ball into the basket.


    The crowd erupted in applause, and Jung Ho felt his heart sink in despair. He realized he was losing control of the game and himself.


    "Why is everyone betting on you?" he asked, looking at the crowd.


    "Because they see you losing control," Ming You replied, smirking. "You''ve fallen into a trap."


    "A trap?" Jung Ho echoed, feeling his confidence begin to fade. "You can''t just deceive people like that!"


    "It''s not deception; it''s strategy," Ming You said. "You just don''t understand what''s happening."


    The crowd, cheering for Ming You, began to actively place their bets on him. Every shot he made sparked an explosion of emotions. People were exchanging bets, shouting, and raising their hands, showing that they believed in his victory. With each successful attack, Ming You grew more confident, and his fans felt it.


    "He''s a real monster on the court!" shouted one spectator, and the crowd echoed his cries.


    Jung Ho tried to attack again, but Ming You was prepared. He used his "Four-Headed Spider" technique to bypass the captain''s defense and score again. The score became 5-2, and Jung Ho began to panic.


    "This is impossible!" he exclaimed.


    "You''ve already lost," Ming You said, his voice sounding assured. "And this is just the beginning."


    With each new attack, Ming You drew closer to victory. The crowd began to actively bet on him, and Jung Ho noticed the stakes rising.


    Realizing that the situation was spiraling out of control, Jung Ho started to lose hope. He felt his confidence slipping away, and the crowd, cheering for Ming You, grew louder.


    "I can''t accept this," he said, his voice becoming quiet. "I can''t."


    "You have to accept it," Ming You said, his voice sounding confident. "Sometimes you have to take risks to achieve victory."


    Jung Ho, realizing he had lost, felt his world crumbling. He couldn''t believe he was losing to an opponent who had become a real monster on the court.


    "How could you do this?" he asked, his voice weak.


    "I just used my strengths," Ming You replied, bouncing the ball off the asphalt, his voice sounding confident. "And now you understand what it means to be a true player."


    With each new attack, Jung Ho felt his confidence waning, while Ming You grew more assured. He knew that this game was not just a sport, but an opportunity to show everyone who the real monster was.


    "I can''t accept this!" Jung Ho shouted, his voice sounding weak.


    "Why not?" Ming You replied with a smirk.


    Feeling his confidence fading, Jung Ho looked at the crowd, who rejoiced in Ming You''s impending victory. He understood that this match had changed his life forever.


    "This is just shameful!" he exclaimed, trying to gather all his strength for one last attack. "I can''t let this happen!"


    Summoning his spirit, Jung Ho decided to take a risk. He charged forward, and the crowd held its breath in anticipation. His heart raced, and he felt adrenaline coursing through his body. He maneuvered around Ming You, but it seemed Ming You anticipated his move.


    "You won''t be able to trick me," Ming You said, confidently taking his position.


    Jung Ho was about to shoot the ball, but Ming You easily intercepted it. The crowd erupted in cheers, and Jung Ho felt his hopes shatter completely.


    "This is the end, Jung Ho," Ming You said, sinking the ball into the basket and increasing the score to 9-2. "You should have understood that this game is for those who are ready for a real challenge."


    Jung Ho hung his head, realizing that his opponent was not only physically stronger but also psychologically. He had lost faith in himself, and now it was evident to everyone.


    "I can''t go on," he whispered, feeling tears welling up in his eyes. "I can''t accept defeat."


    "Defeat is part of the game," Ming You said, his voice sounding soft yet confident. "But what matters is how you rise after it."


    The crowd, watching this scene, held its breath in anticipation. They didn''t realize that this was not just a game, but a lesson that Jung Ho had to learn from Ming You.


    "Maybe I can come back," he said, his voice becoming more assured. "Maybe this isn''t the end."


    "Not a chance," Ming You smiled. "Now you''re mine, right guys?" Three people approached Jung Ho, led by Taek Jung.


    "No hard feelings, kid, but this Ming You is getting on my nerves a bit too, but a deal is a deal. I hope this explanation will suffice." Taek Jung said seriously.


    "Alright, I understand." Jung Ho said in despair.


    "Just don''t let me down, Jung Ho." Ming You said with a sinister smile.

 Chapter 4: Profitable Training

    After Ming You defeated Jung Ho, his plans began to take clear shape. He understood that to achieve his goal, he needed to put Captain''s team into debt, which would ultimately allow him to control them.


    "Jung Ho," said Ming You, already dressed in jersey number 44, "we need to have a training session. But not just an ordinary training session. I want us to play streetball with stakes."


    "With stakes?" Jung Ho frowned, surprised. His number used to be 4, but after the captaincy change, it became 10. "Are you serious? We need to focus on our game, not on money."


    "This isn''t just a game," Ming You insisted. "It''s an opportunity to test our strengths and earn some cash. You said you wanted the team to get stronger, right?"


    Jung Ho thought for a moment, his doubts beginning to dissipate.


    "Alright, if you insist. But I don''t want this to become a problem for us."


    "A problem?" Ming You smirked. "We''re just going to train, and if we win, we''ll get money. It''s extra motivation."


    When Jung Ho left to gather the team, Ming You quickly headed over to the gangsters waiting for him on the corner.


    "Hey, guys," he started, winking. "I have a plan. We''re going to have a training session with stakes, and the Yoshido team will become debtors."


    The gangsters burst into laughter at this.


    "Are you out of your mind?" one of them, Tek Jun, chuckled. "You''re going to make your team debtors? That''s outrageous!"


    "Yes, but it''s going to be interesting," Ming You replied, his eyes sparkling with gambling. "We''ll set up a real game, and they''ll get themselves into debt. I want them to feel like they''re losing, and that will give me the chance to control them."


    "Alright," said another gangster with a smirk. "We''ll set it up. But you realize this is risky, right?"


    "I''m ready to take the risk," Ming You said confidently. "The main thing is that they don''t know this is part of my plan."


    When the Yoshido team returned, Ming You was already waiting for them with a smile on his face.


    "Guys," he began, "I made a deal with the guys, and we can start training right now. It''s going to be something special."


    "What do you mean?" asked a tall player with dyed white hair, wearing a black jersey with number 6. He looked at Ming You in confusion before asking.


    "We''re going to play against each other," he replied, winking. "With stakes. It''ll help us get stronger and earn some money."


    "Sounds good," agreed the not-so-tall blonde, Lu Shen, raising an eyebrow. His number was 9. "But what if we lose?"


    "Don''t worry," Ming You said confidently. "We''ll train, and I''m sure you''ll do well. It''s just a way to test our strengths."


    Haru Lin, who had number 6, and Hong Ren, with short black hair and average height wearing number 12, nodded, encouraged by the idea. The team agreed, and soon they found themselves on the court, ready for training. Ming You felt his plan starting to bear fruit.


    "So," he said as they began to warm up, "remember that this is just training. We don''t need to go all out."


    The Yoshido team gathered on the court, ready for training.


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    "Alright, guys, let''s start with dribbling," Jung Ho suggested, trying to lift the team''s spirits. "We need to improve our technique so we don''t lose the ball in critical moments."


    Ming You stood aside, watching the team perform the drills. Lu Shen was the first to step forward.


    "Watch how I can dribble!" he exclaimed, confidently handling the ball. But soon he lost control, and the ball slipped from his hands.


    "Hey, Lu, focus!" shouted Hong Ren, laughing. "You''re not at a show; you''re in training!"


    "I know, I''m just a little nervous," Lu replied, picking the ball up off the ground.


    "Nervous? You''re the most experienced!" encouraged Haru Lin, patting him on the back. "Come on, show us what you can do!"


    Lu started dribbling again but fell again while trying to perform a trick.


    "How embarrassing!" he exclaimed, laughing. "I can''t focus!"


    "It''s all because of the stakes," Jung Ho noted. "We''re fixated on winning and losing instead of training."


    "But the stakes add adrenaline!" Hong Ren countered, grinning at his teammates. "Let''s bet on the next training session. Whoever loses has to fulfill one wish!"


    "I bet 10,000 won that Haru can''t score more than three in a row!" Lu said, winking.


    "Oh, that''s a challenge!" Haru replied with a smile. "Let''s do it. I''m ready!"


    "And I bet 20,000 won that he''ll miss!" added Hong Ren, laughing.


    The bets on silly wishes gradually turned into cash amounts, and the tension mounted. Ming You, watching their excitement, realized he could use this to his advantage.


    "Okay, let''s do it this way," he proposed. "If any of you can make three free throws in a row, you''ll win some decent money. But if not, each of you will have to do extra drills."


    "That''s not fair!" Lu exclaimed. "We''re already training hard!"


    "This is your chance to show what you''re capable of," Ming You replied. "And it''ll add a little excitement!"


    The team exchanged glances, and excitement filled the air once again.


    "Alright, I''m ready!" said Hong Ren. "I''ll make three in a row!"


    "I bet 50,000 won that you can''t!" Lu shouted, laughing. "Come on, I''m betting on you!"


    "And I bet 100,000 won that he''ll miss!" added Haru Lin, smiling.


    Hong Ren took the ball and confidently approached the line. He threw and made it.


    "One!" he shouted, raising his fist in the air.


    "That''s not all!" Lu reminded him. "Come on, show us what you can do!"


    Hong Ren threw again and scored again.


    "Two!" he shouted, laughing. "I''m on my way to victory!"


    "You can do this!" Ming You encouraged him. "Confidence is the key to winning!"


    Filled with confidence, Hong Ren took his third shot. The ball flew past the hoop.


    "Damn!" he exclaimed, lowering his hands. "I can''t believe this!"


    "I told you!" Lu shouted, laughing. "You''re just out of shape!"


    "That was close!" Haru cheered him on. "Don''t worry, you''ll get it next time!"


    Meanwhile, nearby, a group of gangsters, watching the training, recorded all the team''s bets. They exchanged glances, smirking.


    "Did you hear? They''re betting 20,000 won!" one of the gangsters said. "Let''s place our bets."


    "I bet 30,000 won that number 6 can''t score next time!" another added.


    Ming You, observing their reactions, realized that excitement and betting were becoming an important part of their interactions. He decided he could use this dynamic to boost the team''s morale.


    "Alright, guys," he said. "Let''s make another bet. If anyone can make five free throws in a row, I''ll organize a fun night for you with all the perks. But if not, everyone has to do 50 push-ups."


    "Now that''s more interesting!" Hong Ren exclaimed. "I''m ready!"


    "I bet 50,000 won that no one can do it!" Lu added, smirking at the others.


    "You''re just jealous!" Haru replied. "I''ll do it!"


    Ming You saw how excitement filled the team, and he understood this was a great way to lift their spirits and unity. But he also knew that his manipulations were leading the team into debt, fully aware of his actions.


    "So," he said as the team gathered around him, "remember that each of you who can''t meet the conditions will owe me. But for now, it''s just a game, and we''re all here to have fun."


    The players exchanged glances, unaware of the consequences of their actions.


    "We''ll do our best, Ming You," Lu Shen said, clenching his fists determinedly. "Next time we won''t let you down!"


    Ming You smirked, watching their excitement. He understood that by fueling disputes and pitting them against each other, he was increasing their debts without revealing his true intentions.


    Meanwhile, nearby, the group of gangsters continued to watch the training and record all the team''s bets. They exchanged glances, smirking at Ming You''s audacity.


    "Did you hear? Their debts are already around 500,000 won!" one of the gangsters said. "This guy is really going to make them debtors."


    "Yeah, and it''s going to be fun," another added, laughing. "Let''s place our bets on how long they can hold out!"


    Ming You, observing their reactions, knew that excitement and betting were becoming an essential part of their interactions. He realized he had the opportunity to use this dynamic to achieve his goal¡ªto make the Yoshido team dependent on him, leaving them unaware of the true consequences.

 Chapter 5: The Rookie Becomes Captain

    As evening approached, a few dozen meters away from the streetball court where the Yoshido team was currently training, a group of three gangsters led by Taek Jung stood waiting.


    Ming You approached them with his plan and began to act. "Taek Jung, how about we have a little fun at the expense of this team?" Ming You pointed at the Yoshido team.


    "Heh, I don''t think you''ve heard of something called shame," Taek Jung replied, calming his laughter. "I''m not against it; it actually sounds fun. What do you need?"


    "I''d say it''s more for your benefit; you need to remind someone about their debts, right?" Ming You said with a sly smile.


    "You''re right, but we would have done that without your reminder. So what exactly do you need?" Taek Jung asked again.


    "I need to stage a scene in front of my team to present myself as the captain who takes responsibility for the team and their debts. You just need to remind them of their debts and say that you''ll let them go if the team submits to me. I''ll also provide additional information about each player to intimidate them better."


    The gangsters laughed at his shamelessness. "You''re quite the egotist, Ming You, but what about the debts? Are you ready to pay them off for this little act?" Taek Jung continued to be surprised by Ming You''s audacity and asked questions.


    "I''ll handle their debts, and even more, I''ll earn much more than their debts, so what do you say? Deal?" Ming You confidently declared.


    "We might agree to the act, but you handle the debts yourself. If you can''t manage, I think you know what will happen," Taek Jung warned him.


    "No problem." Ming You and Taek Jung shook hands.


    After Ming You shared all the information about his players, including their addresses, parents, and so on, the Yoshido team had just finished their streetball practice. The guys, tired but full of enthusiasm, were about to head home when they were stopped by two gangsters. One of them, with a dragon tattoo on his forearm, stepped closer, his voice low and threatening.


    "Hey, guys, do you know who owes what?" he said, surveying the team with disdain.


    The team exchanged glances. They had no idea what was going on, but the tension in the air was palpable.


    "We don''t owe anything," Haru Lin replied, his voice trembling with fear.


    The gangsters smirked. The second one, with a buzz cut, added, "You don''t understand who you''re talking to. You have debts, and we''re here to collect."


    "Let us pass, or we''ll call the police!" Jung Ho exclaimed.


    "Hey, Jung Ho, you can certainly call, but I think you''ll say goodbye to your parents, and we''ll have to make them pay your debts. No one wants their family to know about your business here, right?" one of the gangsters sneered.


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    "Where did you¡­" Jung Ho was in shock and hadn''t even finished his question when Ming You stepped out of the shadows. He looked confident as always, and his presence immediately changed the atmosphere.


    "Guys," he said, addressing the team, "don''t worry, I''ll help you with the debts."


    "How are you going to do that?" one of the players asked, still not believing what was happening.


    Ming You turned to the gangsters. "How much do they owe?" he asked, as if it were just a regular deal.


    The gangsters exchanged glances, and one of them replied, "Each of them owes five thousand. This isn''t a joke, kid."


    "Five thousand won? That''s not a problem," Ming You smirked.


    "Haha, five thousand dollars, kid," replied the gangster with the tattoo, shocking the entire team. Ming You also pretended to be shocked.


    "What if I help them pay off their debts? What do you want in return?" Ming You innocently asked.


    The gangsters looked at each other, and their leader, Taek Jung, who had been watching from a distance, stepped closer.


    "We want them to fully submit to you," he said, his voice full of confidence, though it was hard for him to hide his amusement at Ming You''s shamelessness. "It''s a beneficial deal for everyone."


    Ming You nodded, understanding that this game was just beginning.


    "Okay," he said, "then we''ll make a deal. But first, I need to talk to the team."


    The team gathered around Ming You and began to listen to his plan.


    "Listen," he started, "we''ll use our debts as a means of control. If we win in streetball, they won''t be able to do anything to us. We''ll play with bets and earn money."


    "But what if we lose?" asked Lu Shen, his voice filled with concern.


    "We won''t lose," Ming You replied confidently. "We have a strategy. We''ll manipulate our opponents, making them think we have no chance, and then we''ll beat them."


    The team looked at him with skepticism, but at the same time, excitement began to build. Ming You continued, "We''ll practice here, at the abandoned court. The organizers will watch our games, and if we win, they''ll clear our debts, and we might even earn some extra. If we lose¡ªno big deal, we can always bounce back as long as we''re alive."


    After discussing, the team agreed to the plan. Ming You, feeling confident, headed over to the gangsters with his team.


    "Agreed," he said. "We''ll submit to you; my team submits to me, but only if you let us play with bets."


    Taek Jung, who shook Ming You''s hand, nodded, and the deal was made.


    The next day, the Yoshido team gathered at the abandoned court to discuss their next steps. Ming You stood at the center, his eyes gleaming with excitement.


    "So, guys," he began, "we''ll prepare for the next game. I suspect our opponents might be quite strong. We need to try to exploit their weaknesses."


    "How will we do that?" asked the former team captain, Jung Ho, who was starting to doubt Ming You''s plans.


    "We''ll play in their style," Ming You replied. "They, like most teams here, are used to a physical game, but we''ll use speed and agility. I''ll devise a few strategies to help us outsmart them."


    The team listened intently, and Ming You continued, "We''ll pretend to be weak, and then suddenly strike. This will throw them off, and they won''t be able to predict our moves."


    "And what if they figure out our plan?" asked Haru Lin.


    "They won''t," Ming You answered confidently. "I''ll keep an eye on their actions and adapt. The key is confidence."


    Meanwhile, the gangsters returned to their boss, Tae Hwan, who listened to their report.


    "This Ming You is quite the trickster," he said, his voice filled with respect. "He''s fooled you like children, and now we''re dependent on him."


    "But that''s not so bad," Taek Jung replied. "He''s bringing us money."


    Tae Hwan smirked. "Yes, but we need to be careful. If he becomes too powerful, he might take everything from us."


    "What should we do then?" asked another gangster.


    "We''ll watch and study his game," said Tae Hwan. "But as long as he brings us profit, we''ll support him. Let him play as long as he can."


    Returning to the Yoshido team, Ming You gathered them for their final practice before the game. He knew that for them, not only money was at stake, but also their reputation.


    "Guys," he began, feigning encouragement, "we need to show that we''re stronger than ever. This game is our chance to prove we can be champions."


    The team nodded, and Ming You felt their trust in him growing.


    "We''ll do this," he declared, filled with determination and confidence in his plans against his own team. "And we''ll do it for the win."

 Chapter 6: The Immoral Victory

    Ming You stood on the abandoned court, his eyes gleaming with confidence. He knew that the upcoming game would be decisive. At that moment, the gangsters ¡ªTaek Jung and Sung Wo¡ªapproached him, all three wearing sly smiles.


    "Well, Ming You," Taek Jung began, adjusting his leather jacket, "how are you doing? Are you ready for the next game?"


    "Ready," Ming You replied, keeping his gaze fixed on the horizon. "But I need to know which team we''re up against."


    Sung Wo shook his head and replied, "Remember Shi Lei and Hong Ji, the ones you beat? They have a team from school days called ''Tungdzo,'' but don''t think that just because you managed to beat them, it was because they underestimated you and weren''t paying attention to the time. In a five-on-five game, those two are real monsters."


    Ming You smirked. "Tungdzo," thanks to Shi Lei and Hong Ji, was known for their brutality, but he knew he could outsmart them like everyone else. However, his plan was more immoral. He turned to the gangsters.


    "I want to bet my team''s double debt on Tungdzo," he said, his voice steady.


    The gangsters exchanged glances, their faces showing surprise.


    "Are you serious?" Taek Jung asked, squinting. "If Tungdzo loses, you''ll lose everything you have."


    "Yes," Ming You replied without hesitation. "But if they win and Yoshido loses, I''ll get the amount of double debt from all my players. This will give me complete control over them."


    Sung Wo and Taek Jung laughed, their laughter filled with disbelief.


    "Are you really willing to risk everything for this? This is immoral even for you, Ming You. You''re putting your team in jeopardy."


    "Immorality is just a matter of perspective," Ming You countered, his dark eyes sparkling with excitement. "I''m not going to let them control me and drag me down without any benefit. If my team wins, I''ll be in debt. But if they lose, I''ll become their true captain and earn their double debt, while you, in the meantime, will profit from betting on Tungdzo."


    Taek Jung, still astonished by such absurd shamelessness, asked, "What if they don''t listen to you during the game? You know how stubborn they can be."


    "I''ll take care of that," Ming You replied confidently. "I''ve already prepared a plan. If it doesn''t work, I''ll make them understand that winning the first game is not an option."


    Sung Wo shook his head, but interest flickered in his eyes.


    "Alright," he said. "We''ll bet on Tungdzo and agree to your wager. But remember, Ming You, if you lose the bet, we''ll take everything you have."


    "I''m ready," Ming You replied, his voice full of confidence in defeating the opponents. "This will be a game they won''t forget."


    The gangsters exchanged glances, and Taek Jung nodded.


    "We''ll tell our guys to bet on Tungdzo, but you must be prepared for the consequences."


    Ming You smirked, his confidence only growing.


    "I''m always ready," he said. "And I''m not going to lose."


    After the agreement, Ming You and the gang dispersed. He headed home to the rented apartment he had secured after winning against Shi Lei and Hong Ji.


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    When he arrived, Ming You sat at the table, surrounded by cards and empty notes. The room was silent, interrupted only by the quiet murmur of the new captain analyzing his actions. Ming You knew that the upcoming game would be crucial, and his team needed to be prepared for defeat for his own benefit. However, another idea was brewing in his mind¡ªan idea that could completely break his team.


    "If I can create chaos on the court, it will give me an advantage," he mused.


    Leaning back, Ming You began to sift through ideas, his thoughts quickly forming into a plan. He understood that the physical condition of the court could play a key role in the game.


    "Oiling the floor is the perfect option," he continued, smiling to himself. "It will make the surface slippery. Sand will add unevenness, and water will create puddles. This should confuse the players."


    He contemplated how to implement all of this. "If I can make them fall and lose their balance, they won''t be able to showcase their best qualities. It will be the perfect trap."


    The next day, Ming You arrived at practice, filled with determination. He approached the team, who were warming up on the court.


    "Guys, let''s do something new!" he said, trying to sound inspiring. "I want you to work on your coordination and reaction. It will help us in the game."


    The players, unaware of his intentions, eagerly agreed.


    "Sounds great, Ming You! We''re ready!" Lu Shen replied.


    "Awesome! Let''s start with a few laps around the court. Try not to fall!" he said with a sly smile.


    The team began to run, and Ming You observed their movements, his heart racing with excitement. He knew everything was going according to plan.


    After the first half of practice, Ming You headed to the storage room to gather the necessary materials. He quietly talked to himself as he collected oil and sand.


    "No one must find out about my plan," he whispered. "If everything goes well, I''ll be able to squeeze out maximum benefit and solidify my position. These guys don''t understand that I''m doing this for their own good¡­ or at least for my own."


    When the team took a break, he poured oil on the court and scattered sand, then returned to the team, filled with anticipation.


    When Ming You came back, he saw the team starting to slip and fall.


    "Hey, Ming You, what''s going on here? The court is too slippery!" one of the players yelled as he fell to the floor.


    "It''s just a warm-up," Ming You replied, suppressing a smile. "You need to learn to deal with difficulties. It will help you in the game."


    The players laughed, but deep down they didn''t realize this was only the beginning.


    Ming You watched as the team began to tire. He approached them, trying to encourage.


    "Let''s add a bit of speed! Try to run again, but this time, try not to fall."


    The players, oblivious to his true intentions, rushed into action once more.


    "Oh, this is impossible! Why is it so hard?" exclaimed Hong Ren, falling again.


    "Ouch!" Jung Ho sprained his ankle.


    "Hey, be careful; in the game, no one will give you a chance," Ming You said with a deceitful smile.


    Jung Ho, gritting his teeth in pain, struggled to continue the practice after a short break.


    "Good job," Ming You thought, watching the chaos on the court. "The more they fall, the more confidence I have. I''ll be able to exploit their weaknesses in the game."


    He felt satisfaction as his plan began to unfold. Ming You knew a tough game awaited him, but for now, he relished the moment as his cunning bore fruit.


    After the Yoshido team faced numerous sprains and falls during practice, tension mounted. Ming You, observing their suffering, felt his plan starting to work. However, to avoid raising suspicions, he decided to take on the role of a benevolent captain.


    "Guys, don''t worry!" he said with a wide smile as he approached the team gathering for the streetball game. "It''s just practice. We all learn from our mistakes!"


    The players, despite their injuries and fatigue, tried to encourage one another. They knew the game was approaching, and they needed to rally. Ming You continued to hypocritically cheer them on, trying to create an atmosphere of confidence.


    "You have every chance! You''re strong, and I believe in you!" he said, although deep down he understood that their chances of success were minimal.


    Meanwhile, the team began to gather. They discussed tactics and strategies, but anxiety and uncertainty hung in the air. Each of them knew they weren''t in top form, which added to their worry.


    "We need to focus on our strengths," Jung Ho said, attempting to lift the morale. "We need to work together!"


    "Yes, exactly!" Ming You supported him, even though he knew their strengths were under threat due to his plans. "The key is teamwork and belief in each other! But don''t forget about winning."


    The Yoshido team began to prepare for the game, but fatigue and dissatisfaction were evident in their eyes. They tried to ignore their injuries and concentrate on the upcoming match. Ming You, in turn, felt increasingly confident as he watched his plan unfold.


    When they arrived at the streetball court, the air was filled with anticipation. The team stood in a circle, discussing the final details, but fear was already brewing in their hearts before the impending game.


    "We need to show what we''re capable of!" Haru Lin exclaimed, trying to inspire the others. "We''re a team, and we can handle any difficulties!"


    Ming You, standing a bit aside, observed their reactions. He knew their confidence was undermined by his actions, but he wasn''t going to show it. A hypocritical smile never left his face as he continued to cheer them on.


    "Yes, you can!" he shouted, raising his hands. "Let''s hit the court and show everyone what we''re capable of!"


    Despite his words, deep down the team understood that their preparation was far from ideal. But now they had no choice but to focus on the game and hope for Ming You''s strategies, which were, in fact, against them.


    "The game should start in 20 minutes; I''ll find out about the bets in the meantime. Maybe we can earn some extra on top after winning," Ming You began to plot a more ruthless plan.

 Chapter 7: Double Debt and Double Profit

    Night, the streetball court.


    "And the extra winnings are quite a strong motivator," continued Lu Shen, "Come on, guys, we can do this!"


    Meanwhile, Ming You made his way through the crowd toward Taek Jung.


    "Taek Jung," Ming You began, addressing the squad leader who sat opposite him, "I need to talk to you about my strategy for the game."


    Taek Jung raised an eyebrow, looking at Ming You in surprise. The other gangsters also froze, listening in on the conversation.


    "Is something wrong?" he asked. "You look like something heavy is weighing on you. Is your team ready to win, and you''ll be our debtor? Heh-heh." The other gangsters laughed as well.


    "Quite the opposite; I just need to stage a scene to get out of the game without looking like I''m throwing them under the bus," Ming You said confidently as the gangsters'' laughter faded. "I want you to help me."


    "With what?" one of the gangsters, named Han Gu, asked, bewildered. "We''re about to play, and you want us to help you?"


    "Yes, exactly," Ming You confirmed. "I want you to shoot me in the leg."


    The noisy court fell silent. The gangsters exchanged glances, unable to believe their ears.


    "Are you out of your mind?" Taek Jung exclaimed, his voice filled with shock. "I know you''re a bit of a lunatic, but this is too much!"


    "Listen," Ming You continued, "if I get injured, I won''t be able to participate in the game. This will give me a way to exit without suspicion."


    "But shooting yourself in the leg to get out of the game?" Taek Jung said, still in disbelief. "That''s dangerous for us and for you! You could seriously hurt yourself, and we could get caught."


    "I understand, but it''s the best option," Ming You replied, his voice growing more confident. "I''ve thought through all the details. If I get injured, all the attention will be on me, and the opponents will easily win since I''m the only one without injuries, and with a shot leg, I definitely won''t be playing."


    The gangsters exchanged glances again, and a silence hung in the air. Finally, one of them, named Sun Wo, spoke up:


    "I don''t know, Ming You. This is really harsh. But if you''re sure this is your only way out¡­"


    "I''m sure," Ming You interrupted. "Don''t worry; I won''t complain. But aim for the flesh; I still need the bones in my leg."


    "Alright," Taek Jung finally said, sighing. "If you''re set on this, we''ll support you. But don''t blame us later, okay?"


    Ming You nodded, feeling the tension gradually ease. He knew his plan was risky, but he had no other choice. He had to do this for his victory.


    When it was time for the game, Ming You and his team stepped onto the court. The opponents were already waiting for them, ready for a fight. Ming You felt adrenaline surging through his veins. He knew he had to act quickly.


    "Remember," he whispered to his teammates before the game began, "study the opponents closely and exploit their weaknesses."


    "We''re on it," Jung Ho replied confidently, and the others nodded in agreement.


    The game began. Ming You tried to look focused on the game. He moved around the court, dodging balls and shots, but excitement was building inside him. He knew time was running out.


    Suddenly, Lu Shen threw the ball toward him from the opposite side. Ming You caught it deftly but felt his heart race. He stepped back as if he were about to shoot from the center and suddenly shouted:


    "Hey, look!"


    All attention shifted to him. At that moment, one of the gangsters, Han Gu, sitting across the court, pulled out a gun.


    Bang.


    In that instant, Han Gu shot Ming You in the leg, but thanks to his experience in shootouts, he managed to hit without hitting the bone, and afterward, under the cover of the other gangsters, Han fled the court.


    Blood oozed everywhere, and Ming You felt a sharp pain as the bullet struck his leg. He screamed and fell to the ground.


    "Ming You!" Jung Ho shouted, rushing toward him. "What happened?!"


    The spectators froze. One of the spectators wanted to call an ambulance and the police, but he was stopped by Taek Jung and his henchmen, and the spectators remained seated in silence.


    Lying on the ground, Ming You closed his eyes and tried to portray greater suffering. He knew his plan had worked. All attention was focused on him, and the Yoshido team, seeing his injury, began to lose concentration.


    "Quick, call an ambulance!" shouted Lu Shen, rushing to Ming You.


    Ming You felt his plan unfolding. He didn''t want his team to win, and now he had the chance to avoid playing.


    "It''s alright," he said through gritted teeth, trying to look more exhausted. "Just¡­ just continue without me¡­"


    Lu Shen and Jung Ho lifted Ming You and carried him to the bench, while Ming You, gritting his teeth from the pain, pulled the bullet out of his leg with his bare hands. Then he tore a piece from his shirt, starting to bandage the wound.


    "You actually did it!" Taek Jung laughed, bewildered as they stepped aside. "You shot yourself just to avoid playing? That''s insane!"


    "This isn''t insanity," Ming You replied with a cold smile. "It''s achieving a goal for victory. I''m creating an image of a victim, and everyone will pity me. And when the team loses, they won''t be able to blame me."


    The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    "But that''s risky too," noted another gangster. "If they figure out that you''re manipulating them, it could backfire. Not to mention the leg wound and the chance of hitting a bone. If it weren''t for our experienced partner and your confidence, you might never play again."


    "Don''t worry," Ming You confidently replied, "What''s done is done, and now I have another proposal for you." Ming You showed a cunning smile.


    "Are you planning something crazy again?" Taek Jung asked.


    "No, probably just need to stage an interesting scene. But we''ll make it look like I just want to help the team."


    Meanwhile, a real battle was raging on the court. The Yoshido team was trying their hardest, but Ming You knew their chances of success were minimal. He saw Jung Ho, the team captain, trying to lift his teammates'' spirits, but the tension was mounting.


    "We have to win!" Jung Ho shouted, waving his arms. "We can''t let them take our money!"


    "Yes, we can do it!" the players supported him, but there was uncertainty in their voices.


    Ming You, watching this scene, couldn''t help but smirk. He knew their efforts were in vain. At that moment, he approached the gangsters and continued the discussion.


    "So, here''s how we''ll do it," he began, surveying his new "partners." "After the team loses, one of you should say that the captain''s debt has doubled."


    "That will look too suspicious," Taek Jung countered. "If we say the debt doubles, they might suspect something is wrong."


    "No," Ming You retorted, "that''s exactly what we need. They should think it''s standard practice. And then, when they''re in a panic, I''ll step in and say that I want to take on their debts too."


    "But you don''t plan to pay them back, do you?" Taek Jung asked, narrowing his eyes.


    "Of course not," Ming You replied, his eyes glinting with greed. "I just want them to believe I''m saving them. In reality, all the profit will remain with me."


    "That''s really immoral," Taek Jung mumbled, but there was interest in his voice. "I want to see how this works out."


    "It will work," Ming You confidently declared, "and we''ll all profit. I''ll have the team under my control, and you''ll get your money."


    As the game continued, Ming You returned to the bench, pretending to suffer from pain. He couldn''t help but notice how the Yoshido team was starting to lose confidence. Every miss, every fall only heightened the tension.


    "We can''t lose," Jung Ho whispered as his team missed the ball again. "This is our last chance!"


    The Yoshido team nodded in desperation, trying to muster motivation and strength for victory.


    On the other side of the court, the opposing team, led by Shi Lei and Hong Ji, looked confident and ready to attack. Shi Lei, a tall and powerful player, had already begun to showcase his skills, confidently dribbling the ball toward the basket.


    "Out of the way, kid!" Shi Lei yelled as he sped past Haru Lin. "This is a walk in the park!"


    "Don''t let him through!" Hong Ren shouted, but his voice was too weak to stop the opponent. Shi Lei shot the ball, and it effortlessly went through the hoop.


    "7-2 in our favor!" Hong Ji said with a smirk, winking at his teammates. "This is just the beginning!"


    Feeling the pressure, the Yoshido team tried to regroup. Haru Lin took the initiative and charged forward, trying to bypass the defenders.


    "I''m going!" he shouted, but his attempt was thwarted by Hong Ji, who easily blocked his shot.


    "You''re not getting through," Hong Ji said mockingly. "Did you think this would be easy?"


    "We won''t give up!" Haru replied, lifting the ball for another attempt, but once again he faced a block. He fell, and his knee, already bruised from Ming You''s training, hit the asphalt.


    "Haru, are you alright?" Lu Shen shouted, rushing to him. "Get up!"


    "I''m fine," Haru replied, although his voice sounded weak. He struggled to rise, but it was clear he couldn''t play at full strength.


    Meanwhile, Shi Lei took the ball again and, using his strength, broke through the Yoshido defense. He threw the ball into the hoop and scored again.


    "Ha-ha!" he laughed, raising his hands in the air. "Where''s your defense? Or was it only Ming You who could play here?"


    The Yoshido team was in disarray. Lu Shen, sensing the situation was becoming critical, tried to rally them.


    "Guys, focus!" he shouted. "We can do this if we work together!"


    "And what do you think we''re doing?!" Hong Ren exclaimed, although his voice sounded uncertain. He understood that their chances of success were dwindling.


    At that moment, Lu Shen grabbed the ball and finally decided to take matters into his own hands. He pushed through the defenders with effort, but Shi Lei was once again in his way.


    "You''re not getting through," Shi Lei said, extending his hands to block the shot.


    "Give me a chance!" Lu shouted, throwing the ball, but his attempt was stopped. The ball bounced aside, and Hong Ren dashed for it.


    "I''ll take it!" he shouted, running toward the ball, but at that moment his ankle twisted, and he fell to the ground, clutching his ankle.


    "Damn it!" Hong Ren cursed, his face contorted in pain. "I can''t continue!"


    "Hong, get up!" Lu shouted, but it was too late. The Yoshido team was losing one player after another, and their chances of success were rapidly diminishing.


    "This is just pathetic," Hong Ji sneered, watching the scene unfold. "They can''t even get it together."


    "Let''s finish them off!" Shi Lei shouted, taking the ball again. He easily passed by Haru and threw the ball into the hoop.


    "We¡­" Lu Shen said in shock, his voice filled with despair.


    "Lost¡­" Jung Ho continued for him.


    The defeat of the Yoshido team became inevitable. The gangsters, laughing and celebrating their victory, approached the players who were filled with despair.


    "Well, guys," Taek Jung said, a smirk on his face. "Now you''re forever at our mercy. Your debt is $20,000. And your captain''s debt is double that. How do you want to pay?"


    "What?" Lu Shen asked, incredulous.


    "Double debt for the captain? Ming You?" Jung Ho was astonished.


    The team stood with their heads down, realizing their dreams of victory were shattered. At that moment, Ming You, who had been watching everything from the bench, stood up and approached the gangsters.


    "Wait!" he shouted, pretending to be alarmed. "You can''t leave them in servitude!"


    The gangsters began to laugh at his words. Taek Jung leaned toward Ming You and said disdainfully:


    "And who are you to tell us what to do? You have a debt too, especially a double one, don''t forget!"


    "Yes," Ming You replied, trying to maintain a serious tone. "But I can''t let you take my friends. We''re all in this together, and I''m ready to take on their debt."


    "Haha!" Sun Wo laughed. "Seriously? You''re going to take on the debt of the whole team? You must be out of your mind!"


    "This isn''t a joke!" Ming You exclaimed, his voice sounding genuinely distressed. "I can''t let you do this to them. I''m ready to pay for them, but give them their freedom!"


    The gangsters exchanged glances, pretending not to believe their ears. Taek Jung, still laughing at such audacity and shamelessness, said:


    "Do you really think you can pay off the debts? Especially the team''s debts?"


    "Yes," Ming You replied, raising his hands to calm them. "I''m saying this from the heart. I don''t want them to suffer because of me. I''m ready to take on their debt! And pay off my double!"


    "And how do you plan to do that?" Taek Jung asked, his interest piqued.


    "I¡­ I just can''t leave them in such a situation," Ming You said, trying to appear convincing. "I can work for you until I pay it off. Give them a chance!"


    The gangsters started laughing even louder. One of them even patted Ming You on the back.


    "You''re a funny guy, Ming You!" he said, laughing. "But maybe you''re right. We can leave them alone if you take on their debt."


    "What!? " Hong Ren shouted, not understanding what was happening. "Ming You, you shouldn''t do this!"


    "Shut up!" Ming You said, looking at his teammates. "I won''t let you become slaves. That''s not what I want!"


    The gangsters exchanged glances and finally nodded.


    "Alright," Taek Jung said, his voice becoming more serious. "We''ll let your team go. But remember, you now owe $60,000. And if you don''t pay, we''ll be back." Taek Jung and the others turned and left, no longer hiding their smiles and laughter at this theatrical performance.


    Ming You nodded, hiding a smile. He knew his plan had worked. The Yoshido team was under his complete control, and he was not only debt-free but had also made a profit. He could certainly pay off his team''s debt, but he had more ambitious plans at the moment.


    "Thank you!" Lu Shen shouted, not believing that the gangsters had actually let them go. "We don''t know how to thank you!"


    "Yes, you''re a real hero!" added Haru Lin, tears welling in his eyes. "We thought all was lost."


    "You''re truly a leader," Jung Ho admired.


    "Don''t mention it, guys," Ming You said, trying to appear humble. "I just did what I had to do. We''re a team, and we need to support each other."


    "But now you have double debt," Hong Ren noted, his voice sounding sympathetic. "That''s not easy. You shouldn''t have risked so much for us."


    "I know," Ming You replied, his heart swelling with pride. "But I''ll manage. The important thing is that you''re free."


    The team, unaware of his true intentions, began to sympathize with him. They thought Ming You had found himself in a tough situation, but in reality, he had won at their expense.


    "We''ll be there for you," Lu Shen said, hugging Ming You. "We''re a team, and we''ll get through this together!"


    Ming You smiled, knowing that his plan had worked perfectly. He left his teammates in the dark, enjoying his victory, and now his plan had brought him not only freedom but also the double debt of the Yoshido team. In this ruthless world of sports, he had become the master of the game, and no one could change that.

 Chapter 8: The Brilliant Move

    Tae Hwan, the head of the gangsters, sat on an old rusty chair, his laughter echoing through the abandoned lot. The sun was setting, casting long shadows on the ground.


    "Haha! Look at this guy," he said, rubbing his hands in amusement. "He really made us worry!"


    Taek Jung, sitting next to him, looked at his boss with confusion. "You mean Ming You? He won against us by making his team lose, Tae Hwan. Doesn''t that mean he''s smarter than we thought?"


    "Smarter?" Tae Hwan laughed again, but this time his laughter was filled with admiration. "He really surprised me! There''s something special about him. I see potential in him. This guy knows how to play, and he''s not afraid to take risks!"


    "But he put us in danger; we shot him in the leg at his instruction, and if he tells the police about the bullet, we''re all done for," Taek Jung pointed out, glancing uneasily at his companions. "Maybe we should be more careful?"


    "Careful?" Tae Hwan leaned closer, his eyes sparkling with eager anticipation. "You don''t understand! This is just the beginning. Ming You thinks he''s one step ahead, but I know how to catch him. He''s too overconfident, and that''s his weakness; besides, he''s just a schoolboy."


    The other gangsters began to exchange glances, their doubts gradually fading under Tae Hwan''s confidence.


    "And what are you going to do?" asked one of them, named Sung Wo. "We can''t let him keep doing this."


    "It''s simple," Tae Hwan replied, his voice growing more serious. "We''ll create a situation where he continues to manipulate things, thus bringing us money. We''ll make it so he has to come to us for help. It''ll be a brilliant move!"


    "But how?" asked Taek Jung, still skeptical about his boss''s plan.


    "We''ll set up a game," Tae Hwan said, his smile widening. "But not just any game. We''ll gather the best players from all around, and let Ming You try to deal with them. If he loses, he''ll be in our hands! Plus, to play the role of the caring captain, he''ll have to play our games."


    "That''s risky," Sung Wo noted. "What if he actually wins?"


    "If he wins," Tae Hwan raised a finger, "we''ll just set another trap. After all, he can''t play forever. He doesn''t have our experience. He''s just a kid who thinks he can control this game."


    "To brilliant moves and successful schemes!" proclaimed one of the gangsters, raising a glass of cheap alcohol.


    "To us!" the others echoed, and laughter filled the space again, creating an atmosphere of unity and confidence in their upcoming plans.


    After the Yoshido team went home, Ming You began to take action. His first step was to learn about his opponents, and since the gangsters had informed him about the opponents in the last game, they could do so again.


    Ming You approached the streetball court where Taek Jung and his crew usually hung out.


    Taek Jung was sitting on a bench, surrounded by his henchmen. Without hesitation, Ming You walked up to them.


    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    "Taek Jung," he began, "I''ve come with a proposal. I know you''re aware of the upcoming games. I''d like to know about the team we''re going to face."


    Taek Jung raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Interesting. And what are you willing to offer in return?"


    Ming You knew he didn''t have much time, so he quickly adapted. "The first time, you told me about the opponents just like that."


    "That''s because you wanted to place a bet, and now the games have become more serious. But for half a million won, I''m willing to tell you about the team, and for another half a million, we''ll find out all their weaknesses and tell you about them."


    "I could figure out the weaknesses myself, but my time is limited, so it''s important for me to know both the team and their weaknesses," Ming You stated confidently, tossing a million won onto the bench.


    "And your team won''t find out that you''re throwing money around here while they''re all in debt? Hehe," Taek Jung laughed.


    "Just tell me what team it is," Ming You insisted.


    "The team itself isn''t much, but their most dangerous player is the center, who controls everything and around whom his team revolves, making them unbeatable on the court. If you''re going to win," Taek Jung said, "you and your team need to focus on Hee Rak. He''s their heart and brain. If you can prevent him from attacking and intercepting balls, the others won''t be able to resist."


    Ming You memorized every word, realizing that this information could be crucial in their game. He felt the plan starting to take shape, and his confidence in his actions only grew.


    "Thank you, Taek Jung," Ming You said as the conversation came to an end. "It''s a pleasure doing business with you."


    "Likewise, Ming You," Taek Jung replied, counting the money once more.


    Returning home, Ming You realized that he now had everything he needed to execute his plan. He was ready to go to extreme measures to eliminate Hee Rak and elevate his team to a new level. With each passing minute, his determination grew stronger, and he knew this step could change everything.


    Meanwhile, Ming You sat at the table, surrounded by maps and empty notes. Leaning back, he studied the upcoming game where they were set to face a team known for its strength and skill. This team had a reputation in betting games, but Ming You knew that every team had its weaknesses.


    "Hee Rak," he said aloud, pointing to a photo on his phone of a muscular guy with tanned skin, who was the real star of the opponent. "He''s their ace. If I can neutralize him, a quick victory is guaranteed."


    Ming You knew that Hee Rak was not only an outstanding player but also the leader of the team. His presence on the court inspired his teammates and instilled fear in their opponents. Therefore, Ming You decided that the only way to win was to eliminate him from the game.


    "Assassination," he whispered, contemplating his words. "That''s the only way. In the game, he surpasses me in everything, but what about outside of it? Hehe. If I can take him out, the others will be disoriented."


    He began to devise a plan, considering all the details: timing, location, and method. Ming You understood that this was a risky step, but a clear picture formed in his mind. He needed to act quickly and discreetly to avoid raising suspicions.


    "The first step is to find a place that''s closest to Hee Rak and his usual movements; the second step is to buy plastic wrap; the third step is to extract maximum benefit from Hee Rak before eliminating him."


    Ming You spent several minutes preparing, meticulously planning every detail of his scheme. He knew he had to act alone so that no one would suspect his intentions¡ªneither his team nor the gangsters. He thought through every step to avoid unnecessary questions and suspicions.


    He started by tracking Hee Rak. Ming You studied his daily routine, memorizing the places he visited and the times when he was completely alone. It wasn''t easy, but he was determined. He used his stealth skills and asked Jung Ho to mark him during practices, saying he was preparing plans for the next game. That way, he already had an alibi to remain unnoticed, hiding in the shadows and observing every move of his opponent.


    One evening, when Hee Rak left the training hall, Ming You noticed he was heading toward the bus station. This was his chance. He quickly assessed the situation¡ªthere was no one around who could interfere with his plan. His heart raced with adrenaline, but he knew he had to stay focused. He had already killed out of desperation, but now it was time to kill for a purpose.


    Ming You chose the right moment when Hee Rak was distracted by a phone call, which Ming You had initiated. He approached from behind, using a crowbar to knock out the center player with one precise blow.


    "Ugh¡­" Hee Rak didn''t even have time to understand what was happening and instantly lost consciousness. Ming You quickly grabbed him and, trying not to attract attention, dragged him toward a nearby basement close to the bus station and where he trained.


    "There''s no defense against a crowbar, hehe," Ming You sinisterly smirked as he carried him like a drunken friend toward the basement.


    The path to the basement was not easy. Ming You felt the adrenaline surging through his veins, but he knew he couldn''t afford to make a mistake. He checked every corner, listening for sounds to ensure that no one noticed his actions. Finally, he reached the basement and struggled to open the door, trying to make no noise.


    Inside the basement, Ming You quickly covered everything with plastic wrap and tightly bound the center player to a concrete pillar, also covered in plastic.

 Chapter 9: The Elimination of the Center Player

    Hee Rak was slowly coming to his senses, his eyes struggling to adjust to the dim light of the basement. Ming You stood nearby, his face cold and resolute.


    "Hello, Hee Rak," Ming You said emotionlessly. "If you scream..." He pressed a knife to Hee Rak''s lips, "I''ll cut out your tongue and make you swallow it, so let''s talk calmly while we still can."


    "What do you want?" Hee Rak tried to get up but quickly realized his hands and feet were bound. "You won''t be able to keep me here!"


    "Actually, I can," Ming You replied, not breaking his gaze. "And I have a few questions that you need to answer."


    Hee Rak panicked, confusion evident in his eyes. "Please, let me go! I didn''t do anything and I don''t know anything!"


    Ming You stepped closer, his voice low and threatening. "You don''t understand the position you''re in. I don''t just want information. I''m willing to do anything to win. And if you don''t cooperate, the consequences will be less pleasant than you''d like. But I can give you a chance to survive, or you can stay silent for ten seconds and I''ll kill you, starting with your nails, then your fingers, and so on until your head." ¡ª Ming You moved even closer and widened his smile.


    Hee Rak gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with fear. "O-okay, what do you want to know?"


    "Tell me about your team and their plans, and I''d like to know how much money you can offer for your freedom." Ming You leaned in closer, his voice more insistent.


    "My team? Plans? You kidnapped me over some basketball game?" Hee Rak asked in a panic, but Ming You grabbed him by the collar and pulled him closer.


    "I ask the questions here," he said, using the knife to rip a nail from Hee Rak''s index finger.


    "AAAH!!!" Hee Rak screamed with all his might, but no one but Ming You could hear him.


    "You''d better not anger me. Talk, and maybe I''ll let you live." Ming You tossed the torn nail onto the plastic.


    Hee Rak hesitated, his fear reaching a peak. "I-I understand! I''ll tell you. But please, just don''t kill me."


    Ming You paused for a moment. "In this world, no one is safe from death, Hee Rak. But I can listen to you."


    Hee Rak swallowed nervously, took a deep breath, and began to speak:


    "All the plans of the team depend on me; without me, they don''t function, and as for the money, I''m in debt myself. According to the agreement with Taek Jun and Tae Hwan, I have to play streetball with other teams to cover the debts."


    "Sorry, Hee Rak," he said, his voice devoid of any sympathy. "You''re too useless to stay alive."


    "Please, wait!" Hee Rak shouted, his voice trembling with fear. "I can really be useful to you! Just give me a chance!"


    Ignoring his pleas, Ming You pulled out a knife that glinted in the dim light of the basement. Hee Rak shuddered, his eyes widening in horror.


    "What a pity that you''re also a debtor," Ming You said in an icy voice.


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    "Don''t kill me!" Hee Rak exclaimed, his voice pleading. "I have a family! My mother, my fath..."


    A blow...


    Before he could finish, Ming You raised the knife and struck at his neck. Hee Rak slowly bowed his head, his blood pooling on the plastic of the post to which he was tied, and on his clothes.


    Blood oozed everywhere, but he still had to dispose of the body. Ming You pulled empty trash bags from his backpack, but one of those bags was filled with tools. First, he took out a cleaver for dismembering the corpse, but before dismantling the body, he removed its clothing.


    After placing Hee Rak''s clothes into a trash bag, he began to dismember him, starting with the legs. He first cut off the feet, then he ran the cleaver across the knees, leaving the center player without legs.


    After discarding the legs, he moved on to the arms, first severing the wrists, then the elbows, and finally cutting out the shoulder bones. With the arms discarded, only the body and head remained.


    Ming You, emotionless as if he were simply playing basketball or eating, retrieved a kitchen knife from Hee Rak''s throat, and calmly placed it near the corpse''s ear before using the cleaver to cut off the head. Most of the blood from the arteries had already drained from the first knife strike, so there was less blood during the decapitation, and some of it had already begun to dry.


    After dismembering the body into ten parts, Ming You began working on the organs. He started cutting out the genitals with the cleaver, and after discarding the male organ, he began to open the stomach and pull out the organs. He piled the organs next to him.


    Once he finished with the organs, he began their more detailed dismemberment. He started with the intestines, slicing them like sausages, blood and feces oozing out, the smell was disgusting, but for Ming You, it was nothing in the pursuit of victory.


    With the smaller organs, excluding the skin, it was much easier. Ming You simply took them and chopped them up as finely as if he were preparing meat porridge and planning to make sausages. The organs, especially the heart, bled the most, but most of it dried on the cleaver.


    After finishing with the organs and placing them into trash bags, Ming You started crushing the bones and extracting the meat. The process of cutting the meat took the most time, but working with the bones was even harder, yet thanks to the plastic, no traces should have been scattered. However, the dust from crushing the bones with a hammer and cleaver could be noticed, and Ming You checked everything ten times before folding the plastic and wrapping it in trash bags.


    Only trash bags remained of the center player. The basement looked like nothing had happened. Ming You, with an indifferent face, changed his clothes and packed his bloody black clothes in a garbage bag with Hee Rak''s parts, and went outside, where it was already morning. He took out six bags of garbage and threw them into different containers on his way to school.


    "Now it''s more important to prepare the Yoshido team for the next game," Ming You thought calmly to himself.


    Ming You pushed open the door to the school gym, and the air was filled with the smell of sweat and fresh rubber. The Yoshido team was running in circles, diligently training for the upcoming game. But as if nothing had happened, as if he had slept well just a few hours ago and done nothing else, Ming You approached them with a confident smile.


    "Hey, are you all slacking off?" he said with a grin, interrupting their run around the court. "We have a serious game ahead!"


    "Ming You!" Jung Ho, the former team captain, exclaimed, stopping to wipe the sweat from his brow. "You scared us! We thought you weren''t coming."


    "I couldn''t leave you in trouble," Ming You replied, stepping closer. "You know we need to prepare for the game. We can''t afford to make mistakes."


    Lu Shen, always a bit skeptical, frowned.


    "Are you serious? We have to play against them? Do you understand what we''re getting into? Especially with your double debt!"


    "Yeah, I understand," Ming You nodded. "But we have an advantage. Their strong center is their weak point. If we can control him, the rest of the team won''t be able to adapt to him." Ming You spoke as if the center was safe and sound.


    "What if they decide to play dirty?" asked Haru Lin, his voice full of concern. "We can''t take risks."


    "We have no choice," Ming You said, his voice becoming more serious. "I took on your debts, and now we have to resolve this. We can''t afford to lose." Inside, Ming You was not thinking about how to pay off the debts but how to earn even more from this team.


    Hun Ren, who had been silent until then, finally spoke up:


    "But you don''t owe anything, Ming You! Why did you take on our problems?"


    "Because I''m part of this team," he replied firmly. "I won''t leave you in trouble. We need to unite and show them what we''re capable of."


    Jung Ho, sensing the growing tension, raised his hand.


    "Alright, let''s focus. Ming You is right. We need to develop a strategy. How are we going to act against their center?"


    "We can try to use a fast game," Lu Shen suggested. "If we move faster than they do, that will give us an advantage."


    "And we need to be ready for any surprises!" added Haru Lin. "If they start playing dirty, we need to be one step ahead."


    Ming You nodded, feeling the team beginning to unite. He knew they had a chance, for there was no longer any center.


    "Okay," he said, looking confidently at his teammates. "Let''s do this: Jung Ho and I will take care of the center, while the others will support the defense. Focus on agility and speed; the rest of the team, besides the center, doesn''t stand out, and that plays to our advantage."


    Everyone nodded in agreement, and the atmosphere in the gym changed. They were now ready for the fight, and nothing could stop them.

 Chapter 10: The Winning Bet

    The next day, in the middle of the day, Ming You arrived at the streetball court after school, where a group of gangsters led by Taek Jung was already sitting on a bench.


    Ming You approached them with his plan. "Hey, guys, how''s it going? Or should I just get straight to the point?" Ming You asked with a sly grin.


    "I see you''re up to another crazy scheme," Taek Jung said after he and his cronies chuckled. "Go on, tell me what you''ve got in mind."


    "I want each of you to bet 10 million won on my team," Ming You declared confidently.


    "I know you''re a bit of a madman, but asking us to bet such amounts is pushing it, even for you," Taek Jung said with a loud laugh.


    "I know you wouldn''t agree to it right away, which is why I''ll place the first bet," Ming You said unemotionally.


    "And what are you willing to bet that makes you demand 10 million won from each of us?" Taek Jung asked skeptically.


    "My life and freedom," Ming You replied with a manic smile.


    "Throwing your life around like that is quite a bold move, but your life is clearly not worth 10 million won from each of us," Taek Jung said with a serious expression.


    "Not just my life; I said freedom too. In other words, if I lose, I''ll become your slave and do whatever you say," Ming You said, gambling gleaming in his eyes.


    "But honestly, I''m not planning to lose, heh heh," Ming You smirked to himself.


    "Since you''re so confident, I might as well place my bet, but don''t expect everyone to follow suit," Taek Jung continued. "But if you lose, you''ll regret it. Don''t forget who you''re dealing with."


    "Great, so we have a deal, right?" Ming You extended his hand to Taek Jung.


    "Don''t let me down, Ming You," Taek Jung shook his hand.


    After the betting agreement, Ming You returned to his team, which was sitting in the school locker room. He opened the door and confidently walked in, where his team was already waiting for him.


    "So, are you all ready to win?" Ming You asked slyly.


    "Of course!" his team shouted in unison.


    The Yoshido team stood up from the benches in the locker room. Taking their belongings, they headed to the streetball court.


    When they arrived, spectators were already seated on the benches, waiting for the game to start and placing their bets. Ming You and his team stood by the first hoop, waiting for their opponents.


    "Are they not here yet?" Jung Ho asked.


    "Extra time is just in our favor," Ming You said without suspicion.


    "Oh, here come our opponents," Lu Shen pointed to four people approaching the opposite hoop.


    Meanwhile, with the opposing team.


    "Hey, where''s Hee Rak? Why did we come without him? Can anyone get in touch with him?" one of the players asked anxiously.


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    "I can''t reach him either," replied another taller player, named Gun Yi, in a panic.


    "Is he really okay? He hasn''t shown up for almost two days," said the third player, trying Hee Rak''s number again.


    "Alright, it''s time to start the game. The spectators aren''t going to wait long," Taek Jung exclaimed.


    "But we can''t start the game without Hee Rak!" the opponents shouted at Ming You.


    "I don''t care what''s going on with you; if I say start, then we play, or we''ll call it a loss for you," Taek Jung interrupted them.


    "But there are only four of us, and there are five of them! We don''t have enough players!" temporary team captain Jin Suk exclaimed.


    "And why should we care about that!? Just play! We''re already delayed!" insisted Sung Wo, the referee for the game.


    "Hey, guys, we don''t mind removing one of our players, and then it''ll be four against four. Would that work for you?" Ming You said with a deceitful smile.


    "We don''t care how many are against us; we just can''t get in touch with Hee Rak!" Jin Suk said with anger and panic.


    "Listen, bastards, either you play, or give me the money and you''re free, or do I need to explain this to you differently?" Taek Jung threatened them.


    "Fine, we''ll play¡­" the players agreed anxiously.


    "Then let''s start! Jump ball!" Sung Wo announced.


    The crowd erupted in cheers supporting those they had placed their bets on.


    As soon as the jump ball began, Jung Ho took the ball and drove it toward the hoop. Gun Yi stood in defense against him.


    "Without a center, you really are weak!" Jung Ho quickly passed to Lu Shen, who scored effortlessly, making the score 1-0 in favor of Yoshido.


    "Get it together!" Jin Suk shouted.


    Gun Yi began to dribble the ball, but as soon as he was about to pass, Ming You intercepted it.


    "You''re pretty predictable," Ming You said with a smirk, maneuvering around the defense and passing behind his back to Jung Ho.


    Jung Ho took the ball and jumped without any obstacles, scoring a dunk.


    "Gun Yi, next time, watch who you''re passing to!" shouted the player Gun Yi was supposed to pass to.


    "I know without you!" Gun Yi replied, getting back on defense.


    Meanwhile, Jin Suk, bringing the ball to the center, locked eyes with Ming You.


    "Well, hello there," Ming You smiled at him.


    "Behind you!" Jin Suk heard his teammate''s shout, but he didn''t react in time, and Haru Lin stole the ball from him.


    Due to the absence of a center, the team was noticeably disoriented. While Haru Lin dribbled the ball, Gun Yi stepped up to defend, but Haru Lin suddenly threw the ball from three-point range, and Jung Ho, having seen Haru Lin''s glance, ran to the hoop and made an alley-oop.


    Yoshido dominated the entire game. Thanks to the absence of their opponents'' center, they successfully scored points. It was time for the decisive shot.


    When Ming You received the ball from Jung Ho, he faked and dribbled past his opponents, positioning himself at the edge of the three-point line and took the final shot. The spectators held their breath in anticipation, and three seconds later, the ball went through the hoop.


    Whistle.


    The Yoshido team achieved an undeniable victory. Understanding that their debts were settled, they joyfully embraced in a circle.


    "We did it!" Lu Shen rejoiced.


    "Thank goodness we didn''t have to play against their center," Jung Ho said with joy in his eyes.


    "We were lucky to have Ming You! If it weren''t for you, we''d be in slavery right now," Haru Lin thanked him.


    "It''s thanks to your perseverance. Alright, go on, I have some unfinished business to attend to," Ming You said, stepping toward Taek Jung to collect the winnings.


    But as the Yoshido team was leaving, the boss of the thugs, Tae Hwan, approached Ming You and stopped him.


    "Bastard! What did you do to Hee Rak!?" Tae Hwan asked furiously.


    "What are you talking about? We just won, that''s all. You should have bet on us; it''s your problem for underestimating our team," Ming You replied cunningly.


    "Don''t lie, you scum!" Tae Hwan grabbed Ming You by his t-shirt. "I''m asking you again, what did you do to Hee Rak!?"


    "I told you, I don''t know," Ming You replied with an indifferent expression.


    "Please, boss, calm down. He really won and cleared his team''s debts, and if we try to squeeze more money out of him, our reputation¡­" Before Taek Jung could continue, he was cut off by Tae Hwan, who released Ming You.


    "I don''t give a damn about his money; I''m asking where Hee Rak is!"


    "I''m telling you for the last time, I know nothing. I really asked Taek Jung about Hee Rak, but all I did was plan how to break him in the game; my team can easily confirm that," Ming You confidently continued.


    "And how do I know your team isn''t in cahoots with you? Especially when they obey you without question!?" Tae Hwan pressed on him.


    "At another time, I was at school and training; I think you''d definitely believe the teachers and the coach, although I think it''s quite risky for you to talk to them, let alone ask anything about their students," Ming You confidently stated his alibi.


    "Damn it! Fuck! Where the hell could he have gone?" Tae Hwan cursed, continuing to ask questions.


    "That''s no longer my concern, so goodbye, and thank you for the game," Ming You said, taking his winnings from the bets with Taek Jung and leaving the court.


    "That bastard managed to earn about a hundred million won from us!?" Tae Hwan asked in shock.


    "Those are the rules, boss; you made them yourselves. If we break them, our reputation will be ruined, but we also made a good profit," Taek Jung replied.


    Tae Hwan, gritting his teeth, left the court along with the others.

 Chapter 10.1: Extra: The Carrot and the Stick

    Late at night, after the victory, Ming You met with his team near the school gates.


    "Guys, I have great news for you," Ming You announced with an honest smile.


    "Is there anything better than our victory today? Come on, tell us!" Lu Shen and the rest of the team were intrigued.


    "Besides winning and clearing our debts, we also made some money. Here''s your share for the victory. If you keep listening to me and winning, your boring school lives will change for the better." Ming You pulled out 20 million won. "Five million each; you''ve earned it today."


    The team, unable to believe their eyes, stared in shock at the amount of money Ming You had produced.


    "Uh¡­ this is¡­" Jung Ho and the others remained in disbelief.


    "What are you waiting for? Take it," Ming You insisted, and his teammates, with no choice but to accept, took the money.


    "We don''t even know how to thank you," Haru Lin and the others continued to be amazed.


    "No need to thank me; you earned it. Just keep obeying me and winning," Ming You knew that the carrot and stick approach was the best way to manage people.


    "But that''s not all; we need to celebrate our victory, right?" Ming You continued to excite his team.


    "I hope we have more victories than we did before," the team cheered even more.


    "Well then, let''s go." Ming You led them to the gang''s club, and the team followed him, discussing the game and teasing each other on the way.


    As soon as they arrived, their faces, except for Ming You''s, turned as red as tomatoes.


    "Ugh!" Lu Shen nearly fainted, while the others couldn''t take their eyes off the girls present.


    "Hey, Sung Wo, can we hang out here, huh?" Ming You asked slyly.


    "Actually, students aren''t allowed here," Sung Wo began, but was abruptly interrupted by Ming You, pulling out 5 million won.


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    "How about now?" Ming You gave the money to Sung Wo with a cunning smile, and he accepted it, saying, "Well, students shouldn''t have that kind of money, so you must be adults. Enjoy yourselves. Jin Xi, bring drinks for the guys and ask the girls to entertain our guests."


    A girl with long dyed hair and attractive features approached Ming You and Sung Wo. Her outfit revealed almost all parts of her body.


    "I love young guys, especially cold-blooded ones like you," Jin Xi said, touching Ming You inappropriately, but there was no reaction from him. "Hey, are you even interested in girls? Or are you just pretending to be normal in front of your friends?" Jin Xi asked, puzzled.


    "I''m only interested in winning, you stupid woman," Ming You replied, removing her hand from his pants. "Now go entertain my friends."


    Sung Wo chuckled quietly, while Jin Xi, looking disappointed and little bit disgusted, went behind the bar counter to fetch drinks and call over more girls for the Yoshido team.


    Ming You was the first to approach the table, and, at his team''s urging, they made room for him in the middle.


    Before the Yoshido team could propose a toast and praise Ming You, girls with revealing outfits sat on their laps. Blood flowed from the boys'' noses as Ming You remained calm, sipping a alcoghol cocktail.


    "Maybe we should start with a toast for propriety?" Ming You suggested, pushing the girls away.


    "I agree, but there''s one problem¡­" Jung Ho, still blushing, took a glass.


    "And what''s that?" Ming You inquired.


    "Lu Shen seems to have passed out," Jung Ho pointed at him.


    "N¡­ No! I''m fine! Let''s toast to Ming You!" Lu Shen managed to wake up.


    Everyone else grabbed a glass and shouted in unison: "To Ming You!"


    "Ugh!" Like the others, Lu Shen, who had never drunk alcohol before, jerked back and began to get tipsy.


    "Friends, maybe we should move on to the girls now?" Ming You''s words shocked his entire team, and Lu Shen fainted again.


    "Looks like you''re the only one here who isn''t a virgin, given how calmly you are with these girls," Jung Ho said enviously.


    "Hey, bitche... beauties, could you take my friends to separate rooms?" Ming You said straightforwardly.


    "We''re going to have our first virgins; how funny!" one of the girls said.


    "Uh, Ming You, what should we do?" his teammates asked.


    "Just imagine you''re shooting a basket from the closest distance, and now keep having fun. And you girls, be gentle with them."


    "Ah, I''m scared!" Lu Shen said as a girl led him away by the hand.


    Ming You sat alone at the table when Jin Xi approached him.


    "Hey, why are you spending so much on your friends while not having fun yourself?" Jin Xi asked, getting close.


    "I don''t know if a stupid slut like you would understand, but I''ll say it anyway ¡ª carrot and stick," Ming You replied with a mocking smile.


    "Oh, we''re so rude! If you''ve found such a good way with the carrot, I can only imagine what the stick means," Jin Xi said, looking at him with flushed cheeks.


    "You''re better off not knowing," Ming You replied emotionlessly.


    "No way, tell me, or better yet, show me," Jin Xi flirted with him.


    "Fuck off." Ming You said plainly, placing his empty glass down and walking over to Sung Wo, leaving Jin Xi perplexed.


    "Sung Wo," Ming You called, "when my friends finish, call them a taxi. I told you their addresses when I set them up, hehe."


    "Sure thing, but where are you going? You clearly aren''t a virgin, yet you really aren''t interested in women?" Sung Wo was puzzled by him.


    "Just regular pieces of rotten meat; sorry, but I''m not a fan," Ming You replied, exiting the club.


    "I wish I hadn''t asked¡­" Sung Wo was left even more bewildered.

 Chapter 11: Friendly Game

    The next morning. At school, in the locker room of the Yoshido basketball club. Ming You arrived first, and about twenty minutes later, the rest of the team came in, nursing hangovers from the victory celebration. After such a long, or for some, short night, everyone except Ming You had a headache.


    "What a night to remember! Thank you, Ming You, we''ll give it our all for victories like that!" Jung Ho said, happily recalling the previous night.


    "Yeah, I can''t get those girls out of my head," Haru Lin added.


    "Where''s Lu Shen?" Hong Ren asked.


    "Probably still passed out somewhere. I wonder if he managed to have fun with the girls? And did he faint during the process?" The team started laughing.


    "I didn''t faint!" Lu Shen entered the locker room, still with a red face.


    "We thought you''d be sleeping for a couple more days after a night like that," Haru Lin joked.


    "How could I not come to thank Ming You for such a night?" Lu Shen exclaimed.


    "If it weren''t for Ming You, you''d be a lifelong virgin!" The team laughed even louder, while Ming You pretended to laugh.


    "Alright guys, get yourselves together before the coach arrives. It wouldn''t be good if we trained looking like this," Ming You said without any emotion.


    "Yes, captain!" the teammates responded in unison.


    "Just call me by my name," Ming You replied.


    "Yes, Ming You!" the team answered.


    "Come on, get yourselves ready." After Ming You''s words, his team silently nodded and went to tidy themselves up.


    "You, Lu Shen, need to get yourself in shape more than anyone," Hong Ren teased him.


    "I''m fine!" Lu Shen protested while his teammates laughed.


    After everyone washed up and got ready, they sat on the benches, waiting for the coach. A few minutes after they sat down, the coach of the Yoshido team, Chang Wu, walked in.


    "Alright guys, it looks like everyone is here. The week of self-training is over, and judging by your matured faces, it did you good. I''m very pleased with your independence," Chang Wu praised them, unaware of how they had truly matured.


    "Now, let''s get to business. Oh, by the way, Jung Ho, did we really get a starting player so quickly to replace the one who left?" Chang Wu asked after shifting his gaze from Ming You to the former captain.


    "Yes, coach, he''s the strongest and smartest among us. Thanks to his strategies and strength, he can easily lead us to the top of the school league, so we decided to make him the captain of our team," Jung Ho said, winking at Ming You.


    "What? A new captain? Why did you give such an important position to a newcomer so easily?" Chang Wu was surprised.


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    "Because, as he said, I''m the most effective among them," Ming You replied indifferently instead of the former captain.


    "You''re quite arrogant, but since the team recognizes you, I have no objections. Just one thing: could you trim your hair? It''s below your eyes, and it obstructs your view during games," the coach said, pointing at Ming You''s hair.


    "If it were bothering me, I would have cut it a long time ago," Ming You said, knowing how to deal with those who hinder his victory.


    "As you wish, Ming You. Alright guys, let''s get to the point." Chang Wu continued, "A group of newcomers from other schools has joined us, and I have a task for you."


    The main team of Yoshido continued to listen attentively to their coach.


    "Each of you will take on a temporary captain role for each group of newcomers, and you''ll need to conduct friendly games among your groups. This way, we will select talented newcomers, thus replenishing our reserve players and allowing them to become members of the main team and participate in tournaments," the coach explained, raising his index finger.


    "Got it, but where are these newcomers now?" Ming You asked.


    Chang Wu, trying to get used to the new team captain, replied, "They''ll come after additional training. I''ll come back later to assign players to groups, but for now, prepare yourselves as captains. Good luck with the talent selection." The coach left, closing the door behind him, leaving the team alone.


    All eyes were on Ming You, awaiting his decision.


    "I don''t oppose the coach''s idea, but we will only select players who are loyal to us," Ming You declared to everyone.


    "As you say, we''ll give it our all!" Jung Ho said enthusiastically, and the rest agreed.


    "Now, we can shoot some hoops or do our own things while we wait for the groups of newcomers," Ming You instructed his team.


    After that, they nodded confidently. Jung Ho began shooting hoops, Hong Ren started practicing dribbling, while Lu Shen and Haru Lin began doing homework. Meanwhile, Ming You sat back on the bench, leaning his head back, waiting for the newcomers.


    Half an hour later, the coach gathered all the players and lined them up. The main team stood next to the coach, with Ming You closest to Chang Wu. Opposite the coach and the main team stood twenty-five new members of the Yoshido basketball club.


    "Attention, everyone! You will now participate in friendly games and go through selection for the reserve players, and perhaps you might even make it to the main team. I will now assign you to groups with each member of the main team."


    Chang Wu began dividing the players into groups of five and assigning them to Ming You, Jung Ho, Lu Shen, Hong Ren, and Haru Lin. After the coach assigned the players, he continued:


    "Now that you''re in a group with each main player, you can start following their guidance and competing against each other." After explaining, Chang Wu turned his gaze to the main team and said, "Once you finish selecting new team members, give me a list of recommendations."


    The main team nodded in response, and the coach left the gym. After Chang Wu left, the main team again turned their gaze to Ming You, waiting for his instructions.


    "I have an instruction for you, but I''ll say it away from prying eyes," Ming You said, pointing his finger at the locker room door.


    "And you, newcomers, wait a couple of minutes while we prepare a task for you," Ming You looked towards the newcomers as he headed in the opposite direction.


    The newcomers of the basketball club nodded silently and stayed in place. Meanwhile, the main team silently nodded and followed Ming You into the locker room, waiting for his orders.


    "At the moment, these new team members are our walking wallets filled with cash," Ming You said with a sly smile.


    "They''re all rich, and we need to rob them or demand money for training?" Jung Ho asked in confusion.


    "No, we''ll do something much better and smarter. We''ll take them to the streetball court and tell them to play for stakes, thus earning money for us and increasing their loyalty to us," Ming You explained dispassionately.


    "Great idea! But what if they get into debt or aren''t loyal to us?" Lu Shen asked.


    "In that case, I already have a solution. We''ll use a rather dirty method, which is to make them drown in debt, and the gangsters know how to take care of debts," Ming You said with a slight smile, as if he hoped for such an outcome.


    "Alright, so shall we take them?" Jung Ho asked, agreeing with Ming You''s plan.


    "Yes, but I''ll be the one to call them over," Ming You replied straightforwardly as he exited the school locker room.


    The newcomers, dribbling the balls and chatting in small groups, turned their full attention to Ming You, who was in front of his main team. All eyes were fixed on them.


    "Alright guys," Ming You clapped his hands and continued, "We''ll compete in streetball and get used to crowds of spectators and fans. So gather your things, and then follow us."


    "Why can''t we play here in the gym?" one of the newcomers, named So Ho, asked.


    "As I said, you need to get used to the pressure of the spectators first," Ming You replied.


    So Ho nodded silently and headed with the others towards the locker room.


    After the new members of the Yoshido basketball club gathered their belongings, they followed Ming You and the rest of the main team towards the streetball court where they play for stakes.


    As soon as they arrived, a crowd was already gathering. On the central bench sat Taek Jun with his entourage.


    "You wait here for now, and I''ll talk to the organizers so you can all play," Ming You instructed his team and then headed towards Taek Jun.

 Chapter 12: Pseudo-Friendly Game

    As the sun began to set, a crowd of spectators and newcomers gathered at the Yoshido basketball club''s streetball court.


    Ming You approached Taek Jung to explain his new cunning plan.


    "I thought you weren''t coming, heh heh," Taek Jung greeted him. "I wonder what madness you''ve come up with this time, Ming You."


    "As you can see, I''ve brought you players, or more precisely, living profits," Ming You said slyly, pointing with his thumb at the new members of the basketball club.


    "I will never cease to be amazed by your shamelessness," Taek Jung laughed. Once he calmed down, he continued, "Alright, let''s figure out the rules; how exactly will the game go according to your plan?"


    "Isn''t it your job to organize the games and distribute them according to plan?" Ming You widened his smile, knowing he would be allowed to set the rules.


    "Don''t mock me! Even a baby who knows you would understand that you will introduce your own rules. Besides, your plans yield the highest profits, so don''t drag it out and tell me, and I''ll take care of everything," Taek Jung insisted.


    "Well then, let''s begin. My main team has a group of five newcomers, just like I do. Therefore, there will be four games. I''ll explain the scheme and branches of the games to make it clearer. The first branch is Team Lu Shen against Team Haru Lin. When one of them wins, they will play against the winning team from the opposite branch, which is the branch with Jung Ho and Hun Ren," Ming You explained, crossing his fingers.


    "What about your team of newcomers? And why four games instead of five?" Taek Jung asked.


    "It''s quite simple," Ming You''s eyes gleamed with greed, and he continued, "It''s about profit. The last team that wins both branches will play against my team, meaning I will play for that team and win the final bet. Thus, all these newcomers will become debtors, even those who played for me." Ming You''s gaze turned wild.


    "So the bets will only apply in the final against your team?" Taek Jung asked again.


    "No, in the final against my team, they will have a chance to reduce their debt by half, but if they lose, which they will, the debt of all teams will quadruple. To make it fairer and to entice the spectators to place more bets, a victory will only count if my team doesn''t allow a single point to be scored. We will then split the profits 50-50 and can use these players as we wish, but we cannot use them against each other. They''d better get used to being our pawns, so they will need my help," Ming You finished explaining the rules.


    "You know how to maximize profits, but unfortunately, you don''t understand reputation and moral principles, heh heh," Taek Jung continued to marvel at Ming You.


    "Well, are we agreed? We''ve kept our spectators waiting, and I''m eager for my profit and team," Ming You extended his hand to Taek Jung.


    Taek Jung smirked at first, then shook Ming You''s hand, and they made the deal. Ming You went to explain his plan to his main team while Taek Jung began negotiating with the referee and organizing the game branches as Ming You had explained.


    "Alright, team, it''s time to notify your groups of newcomers and get ready to play. Don''t forget to act supportive," Ming You told his main team.


    The team nodded and dispersed to their groups to explain the upcoming game branch to the newcomers.


    As the captains and newcomers scattered to their basketball hoops, the referee began the announcement:


    "The game between Team Lu Shen and Haru Lin is starting! Bets are placed, let''s tip-off!" Referee Sun Wo announced the beginning of the game.


    The game commenced. Team Haru Lin quickly took the initiative, with player Mei Yu skillfully maneuvering around the tall player from Team Lu Shen, Xiao Li. When stopped, he passed to an open teammate, who scored from near the free-throw line.


    "One-nothing in our favor!" shouted Mei Yu, winking at his team.


    "Don''t relax!" replied Xiao Li, raising his hands. "We just started!"


    Team Lu Shen reacted swiftly. Xiao Li, using his speed, rushed the ball down the court, bypassed the defense, and scored from the three-point line.


    "Yes!" exclaimed Lu Shen''s teammates, raising their fists in the air. "We''re in the lead!"


    The pace of the game intensified, and soon both teams exchanged baskets, but Team Lu Shen began to take control. Xiao Li skillfully outmaneuvered Mei Yu, made a perfect pass, and the receiving player scored without hesitation.


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    "We''re leading!" shouted Lu, rallying his players. "Let''s keep up the momentum!"


    "It''s not time to celebrate yet!" yelled Haru, gathering his team. "We can turn this around!" Their acting was top-notch.


    Despite Haru Lin''s "efforts" and his team''s genuine attempts, Team Lu Shen won with a score of 12-9. The players, unaware of the stakes, hugged each other in joy.


    "Great game!" said Lu Shen, rubbing his hands together. "Now we have the next match."


    After a short break on the court, only the teams of Jung Ho and Hun Ren remained, ready to face off.


    "Get ready, Jung!" shouted Hun Ren, winking. "I''m going to show you who the real master is!"


    "Don''t underestimate me," replied Jung Ho with a smile. "I''m not going down without a fight." His smile was overly rehearsed, but no one suspected anything.


    The game began with a fierce struggle. Team Hun Ren quickly scored a three-pointer.


    "Two-nothing!" shouted the player in glasses, raising his hands in the air.


    But Team Jung Ho wasn''t ready to give up. They focused on speed and blocking passes to the sharpshooter, intercepting passes meant for him, and one of the tall players scored two baskets in a row.


    "Tied score!" he said with a grin, winking at his opponent.


    The game continued in a tense atmosphere, but ultimately, Team Jung Ho won with a score of 10-8. He raised his hands in the air, celebrating his victory.


    "I knew I could do it!" shouted Jung Ho, hugging Hun Ren and sharing the information, "Soon we''ll rake in the cash from these suckers, heh heh. Say it was a good game."


    "Good game," Hun Ren replied, smiling. "But next time, I''ll definitely beat you!" he said hypocritically.


    Now came the moment for the penultimate game: Team Jung Ho against Team Lu Shen. Both captains understood they were in for a predictable battle.


    "This will be the decisive game," said Xiao Li, looking at Jen Ryu, who had dominated the game against Team Hun Ren. "Good luck, my friend."


    "You too," replied Jen Ryu, gripping the ball. "But I''m set on winning."


    The game started with a rapid exchange of attacks. Xiao Li scored quickly, making Jen Ryu sweat.


    "One-nothing, Jen Ryu!" shouted Xiao Li, rallying his team.


    But Jen Ryu wasn''t going to give up. He quickly responded, bypassing the defense and scoring a dunk.


    "Tied score!" he shouted, leaping off the rim.


    The game continued in a tense atmosphere, with intrigue building at every moment. However, in the end, Jen Ryu showcased his best qualities, scoring the decisive basket.


    "We won!" he shouted, embracing his teammates.


    Although Team Lu Shen lost, they smiled and shook hands with their opponents.


    "Great game, you really showed class," said Jen Ryu, looking at Xiao Li. "See you next time!"


    "The game was magnificent, Ryu," Xiao Li replied, shaking his opponent''s hand.


    "Well, great job, everyone. After the break, we''ll meet with the teams, Jung Ho," Ming You said with his sly smile.


    "I can''t wait for our game," Jung Ho played along.


    As only two teams remained on the court, something unexpected happened in Ming You''s team.


    "Hey, guy with the watch, what''s your name?" Ming You asked.


    "I''m So Ho. Do you have any instructions that can help us win?" he inquired.


    "Yes, there is; I''m going on the court, to be precise, I''m replacing you," Ming You ordered indifferently.


    "What do you mean replacing? We''re playing qualifiers among ourselves, newcomers; why do you need to go on the court?" So Ho was puzzled.


    "If I said replacement, it means replacement. Now go rest; I''ll handle this," Ming You commanded him authoritatively.


    So Ho gritted his teeth and headed toward the bench. Ming You then began giving instructions to his team of newcomers.


    "Here''s the plan: you pass me the balls, I''ll maneuver around everyone and score, while you hold the defense and set screens. Is that clear?" Ming You unemotionally issued orders to his team.


    "But how will this help in the qualifiers? We need to test our skills, not just win¡­" Before one of the players could finish, Ming You sharply interrupted him:


    "Do as instructed if you want to stay in this basketball club," Ming You slightly threatened them.


    The players complied and took their positions. Meanwhile, on the side of Team Jung Ho''s hoop.


    "Jung Ho, why is their captain on the court? Isn''t our goal to have qualifiers among ourselves?" asked Jen Ryu.


    "It''s fine; this is the final test for a spot on the main team. If you can beat him, a place on the main team is guaranteed," Jung Ho evaded.


    "Great, then let''s get started!" Jen Ryu rallied everyone.


    "Let the final bet begin! Tip-off!" Sun Wo announced the start of the game.


    Ming You allowed Jen Ryu to take the ball, but as soon as Jen Ryu was about to pass him, Ming You knocked the ball from his hands.


    "Huh?" Jen Ryu was shocked.


    Ming You quickly slipped past the defenders and scored from under the hoop.


    Jen Ryu began to use his speed, but Ming You knocked the ball away again and, bypassing the defense, scored once more from under the hoop.


    Jen Ryu, not realizing that Ming You''s actions were forcing him to ignore his team and act solo against him, lost the ball repeatedly, and Ming You did not allow him to score a single point.


    "I will beat you! I''ll definitely score at least one point!" Jen Ryu was furious.


    "Hey, don''t forget about us!" his team shouted.


    "Alright, then help me!" Jen Ryu replied to them.


    Thus, from a player who respected his opponents and teammates, Jen Ryu transformed into a selfish player due to Ming You''s strategy.


    Losing balls and the game, it ended with a score of 44-0 in favor of Ming You. However, his team was not pleased with this outcome.


    After the game, with night already fallen, Ming You approached Taek Jung for the money.


    "You really crushed them; I knew you would win, but to predict the victory of each team is quite a skill, heh heh. Here''s your share," Taek Jung smirked, handing the money to Ming You.


    "As always, it''s a pleasure doing business with you," Ming You bid farewell to Taek Jung.


    "Likewise, Ming You. I hope you come back with your crazy ideas," Taek Jung laughed one last time, and Ming You approached his main team.


    "Here''s your winnings, friends," Ming You dumped a stack of money, and his team divided it up.


    "Thanks, I didn''t think we could earn anything without doing much, heh heh," Jung Ho and his team chuckled and then triumphantly went their separate ways.


    The newcomers were also about to leave when a group of thugs stopped them.


    "Hey, kids, where do you think you''re going? You''re debtors, by the way!" Taek Jung threatened them.


    "Why do we owe you anything?" So Ho asked him.


    "Because you lost! We''ll give you a week to repay if you want to stay safe and sound; for now, you can go," Sung Wo threatened, stepping closer to Taek Jung.


    The newcomers were frightened and quickly went home.

 Chapter 13: The Club Split

    In the morning, twelve new members of the Yoshido basketball club gathered near the hall door, led by So Ho. They were unhappy about how they had been set up and threatened by others over debts, and they planned to report everything to their coach.


    When they entered the hall, they headed towards the coach''s office, which was located on the opposite side from the locker room.


    Knock, knock.


    "Come in," Coach Chang Wo said calmly.


    So Ho was the first to enter, followed by the other new club members, who stood behind him.


    "Coach Chang Wo, we would like to complain about the main team members of this basketball club," So Ho said, fearing that the coach might be on their side.


    "What happened?" Chang Wo was puzzled.


    "We were forced to play for money. At first, we didn''t know because we were told it was just friendly games, as you warned us about. But after we tried to leave, some people started threatening us, and these people were in cahoots with the main players of the team," So Ho expressed to the coach.


    "What!?" Coach Chang Wo stood up from his chair and continued, "How could my team treat potential talents like this? Was it someone specific?" Chang Wo first thought of Ming You.


    "But all the money went to the main team, so they are all in it together," So Ho replied.


    "Alright, guys, I will talk to them and reprimand them. If this escalates into serious threats, we should go to the police. For now, go ahead; I have a lesson coming up," Chang Wo said with a serious expression.


    "Thank you, coach," the newcomers thanked him as they left the hall, heading to their next class.


    After classes, when the bell rang, Chang Wo headed to the classroom of his main team. When he entered, he called the main Yoshido team together.


    "Jung Ho, Ming You, Lu Shen, Hong Ren, Haru Lin, I need you in my cabinet. I have bad news for you," Chang Wo said sternly.


    The class was surprised, and those he called nodded and packed their things.


    "Ming You, is everything going to be alright?" Lu Shen asked him.


    "Everything will be fine, don''t worry; I already know what to say," Ming You said confidently.


    "What''s going on?" one of the classmates asked.


    "Nothing bad. Alright, guys, let''s go," Ming You coldly replied, heading to the cabinet alongside his team.


    When they arrived, the atmosphere in the coach''s cabinet was already tense, and only Ming You remained calm.


    "Lu Shen, please close the door," the coach asked him.


    Lu Shen, with trembling hands, closed the door and continued to listen with the others to what the coach would say.


    "I was told that you forced your newcomers to play for money under the pretense of friendly games. Captains do not act like this," the coach began to reprimand them.


    "That''s right; I made them play so we could profit from them," Ming You said brazenly with a sly smile.


    "How dare you speak so shamelessly!" Coach Chang Wo was furious.


    "Take it easy, buddy; they need to learn the price of defeat. It''s their fault they couldn''t win," Ming You expanded his sly smile.


    "How dare you! Have some respect for others! Especially for me, not to mention your team!" the coach yelled at him.


    "Respect is only due to those who obey me, so if that''s all you have, we''ll be on our way," Ming You said, turning towards the exit.


    "Get out of this team! I will make sure you get expelled from school for such behavior!" Chang Wo lost his temper.


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    "You can kick me out, but the truth is that the whole main team will follow me," Ming You said, turning back towards the coach.


    "That''s right, coach, if Ming You is expelled, we will leave too," Jung Ho, enchanted by money, defended him.


    "Exactly! The basketball club will completely fall apart!" Haru Lin also defended Ming You.


    "Damn it, this Ming You..." Chang Wo cursed under his breath.


    "Alright, this time you''ll get off with a warning, but if this happens again, I''ll have to expel all of you. Better a weaker, good team than strong amoral ones," the coach finally concluded his reprimand.


    "Well then, we''ll be going," Ming You said, leaving the cabinet, followed by his team.


    As soon as the team left the hall, Coach Chang Wo was left alone with his thoughts.


    "This son of a bitch..." Chang Wo cursed.


    "What the hell is he doing here!? And how did my friendly team turn into such bastards! Ming You, one day I will outplay you..." the coach angrily ranted.


    Meanwhile, in the locker room, a group of new basketball club members sat around. The center of attention was So Ho, due to his persistence and sociability.


    "Those bastards got off with just a warning, what the hell!" So Ho cursed when he found out that the main team was still showing up in the hall.


    "The team itself is fine, but that Ming You is a real jerk," Jen Ryu corrected him.


    "I agree, the guys are really nice, but Ming You is ruining everything... He needs to be removed from the team!" Mei Yu suggested.


    "What about the former captain Jung Ho? Back when we were playing for money, I learned from him that he was the captain and gave up that spot to Ming You because of his leadership qualities. Maybe we should create a new basketball club, but without Ming You?" Jen Ryu presented the idea for everyone to think about.


    "You might be right. We should give it a try," So Ho agreed with the idea.


    "Great, let''s go!" Jen Ryu stood up from the bench, followed by the others.


    The group of newcomers headed towards Jung Ho''s classroom. When they saw him coming out, Jen Ryu called out to him:


    "Jung Ho, we have a proposal for you."


    "I don''t need anything from you," Jung Ho replied coldly, looking at him.


    "Well, you want to get your captain spot back, don''t you? We are going to create a new team where Ming You won''t corrupt us, please join us!" Jen Ryu insisted.


    "I''m not interested. I''m fine with my team, and Ming You rightfully took the captain''s position," Jung Ho replied.


    "Please, we have no one else to turn to for help!" Jen Ryu continued to insist.


    "I said no, get lost," Jung Ho flatly rejected his idea, then left them, leaving the newcomers in despair.


    "It seems the plan failed; he''s just as enchanted by money as the rest," So Ho put a hand on Jen Ryu''s shoulder.


    "Well, fine, we''ll create a team ourselves," Jen Ryu suggested, looking at his team of newcomers.


    "Great idea, I''m in," So Ho was the first to agree, followed by the others.


    "Wonderful! So Ho, let''s make you the captain, you were the first to stand up against Ming You!" Jen Ryu threw an arm over So Ho''s shoulder, then turned him to face the team.


    "I think it''s better if you are the captain, but since you insist and everyone agrees, I don''t mind," So Ho replied shyly.


    "We''re in!" the team of newcomers responded, raising their fists in the air.


    Meanwhile, in the school hall, the main team was gathering around Ming You, the last one they were waiting for was Jung Ho. As soon as he entered the hall, he called out to Ming You.


    "Ming You, we have bad news; the newcomers have formed their own separate team, which means the split of the Yoshido basketball club. They also wanted me to be their captain, but I refused," Jung Ho announced anxiously.


    "I anticipated this when they complained to the coach, which is why I wanted to discuss a plan of action we will take against them," Ming You said, raising his index finger.


    "Ming You, are you a clairvoyant? Can you please predict when I will get a girlfriend?" Lu Shen asked, tapping his fingers.


    "In that case, I can also be a fortune teller, and the answer from the heavens is... NEVER!" Haru Lin joked, after which everyone except Ming You started laughing.


    "You guys are unbelievable!" Lu Shen turned away from the team in displeasure.


    "Alright, enough jokes; we have an unfinished business," Ming You clapped his hands, then continued, "We will go to the newcomers, or rather, they will come to us, as their practice starts in 20 minutes, and when they arrive, we will offer them a game. I will explain the details of the game as soon as we meet them."


    The team silently nodded, changing their smiles to serious faces. After that, everyone headed to the locker room to wait for the newcomers.


    After 15 minutes of quiet waiting, the newcomers entered the locker room, and Ming You raised his head, beginning to explain his plans to everyone:


    "Hello, guys, we''re very glad to see you," Ming You greeted them warmly.


    So Ho dropped his backpack in shock.


    "Don''t be afraid, we won''t do anything to you; we just have a proposal for you," Ming You put on a sly smile.


    "What do you want!?" So Ho asked angrily.


    "It''s simple, I want to play against you, but this time you''ll have a pretty good chance of winning," Ming You wanted to continue, but So Ho interrupted him.


    "You think we''re not aware of your cunning plans? We won''t have anything to do with you, especially not play!" he exclaimed.


    "Then how about my next proposal? If you win, not only will you be free of your debts, but we will also take your double debt and pay it back to you, and I will make sure that none of us can break the agreement," Ming You offered them.


    "And what will happen if we lose, or if we refuse to play altogether? Which is likely to happen," So Ho asked again, trying to find loopholes in his words.


    "In case of your defeat, you will completely submit to us, your debts will remain, but if you show loyalty to me, you will have a pretty good chance of settling your debts. As for refusal, I''ll make a deal with someone, and your debts will increase tenfold, and you won''t get off with just a warning," Ming You said in a threatening tone, yet his expression remained indifferent.


    So Ho gritted his teeth, but Jen Ryu continued for him:


    "It would be great to have someone like you under our command, but first explain the rules of the game."


    "No problem. One captain, meaning one of the five main players, will play against your group of five players. An enticing offer, isn''t it?" Ming You put on a smile.


    "Exactly! Your offer is too enticing! You''re clearly up to something!" So Ho accused him.


    "Of course, you can refuse, but keep in mind that your team''s debt will increase tenfold," Ming You expanded his smile.


    "It seems we have no choice but to accept the game, so we will take the chance to kick you out of the team, after pissing on you and making you clean our shoes!" Jen Ryu said with a smirk on his face.


    "Great, I''m very pleased with your attitude. Then let''s meet tomorrow evening at the streetball court where you already lost," Ming You sarcastically rejoiced for them.


    "Excellent! I can''t wait for you to start running errands for us!" Jen Ryu laughed, leaving the locker room with the other players.

 Chapter 14: The Friendly Game Officially Begins

    Evening. Streetball court. Ming You arrived earlier than everyone else, intending to explain the plan and rules of the game.


    "Hello, Taek Jung, not bored yet?" Ming You said sarcastically to him.


    "Haha, well, spill it, what else have you concocted?" Taek Jung was intrigued.


    "I''ll start with the game plan. The game will be played with five players against one. And I''d like to ask you and the others to place bets on one player who will play against the five." Ming You began to explain his plan.


    "Why are you so sure about one winning against five? Are you planning to set up a game against one-year-old girls?" Taek Jung and the others laughed at his plan.


    "This is already related to the game rule that I''m going to establish. One point for the five players equals one point, while one point for one captain, meaning one player, equals two. For the five players, three-point shots count as two, just like in regular streetball, but the three-pointer from one player on my team will also be doubled. Simply put, for one captain, a three-pointer will equal four. Based on this advantage, I recommend betting on one player." Ming You explained calmly.


    "With such rules, one player will have an obvious advantage, and that''s pretty boring. So if you want to change the rules of the game, you need to make a contribution." Taek Jung''s eyes sparkled with greed.


    "No problem, is one million won enough to change the rules?" Ming You pulled out a stack of money.


    "Two million." Taek Jung smiled greedily.


    "One and a half." Ming You was greedy too.


    "One and six million won." Taek Jung was not going to back down.


    "Alright, but if you and your buddies are going to bet on one of my captains." Ming You''s eyes also sparkled with greed as he pulled out another 600,000 won.


    "Okay, we''ve settled the rules. But keep in mind," Taek Jung''s expression became more serious after handing the money to one of his lackeys, and then he continued, "if your captain loses after we all bet on him, don''t expect to get off easy, like you usually do." After saying this, Taek Jung adjusted his leather jacket.


    "By the way, these rookies are already your debtors, so it''s in your own interest to increase their debts." A sly grin appeared on Ming You''s face.


    The group of thugs began to laugh at his shamelessness.


    "When will I ever get used to your shamelessness?" Taek Jung sighed after calming his laughter, "Alright, it''s a deal, we''re betting on your player."


    This time, Taek Jung was the first to extend his hand, which Ming You shook, and they agreed.


    After some time, closer to night, Taek Jung and his companions had everything organized. The lights illuminated the court, and a small group of people, besides the organizers, awaited the arrival of the players.


    Five captains, led by Ming You, approached the first hoop, throwing their backpacks a couple of meters from the hoop. Then, at the opposite hoop, twenty-five experienced rookies from the Yoshido basketball club, led by So Ho, arrived.


    "These untouchable bastards¡­" Jian Ryu clenched his teeth, looking at the thugs and spectators.


    "I completely agree, but we still have to beat these bastards." So Ho agreed with him, looking towards Ming You''s team.


    "Just look at them, these scumbags are still placing bets on the game." Mei Yu said disdainfully, watching how the crowd eagerly placed money and handed it to the game referee, Sung Wo.


    On the other side of the court.


    "So, Lu Shen will play first, be confident in your victory, as you have a huge advantage." Ming You encouraged him without any tricks.


    "What advantage? I''m alone, and there are five of them!" Lu Shen was slightly nervous.


    "Since you''re alone and they are five, your points will double, including three-pointers." Ming You stretched his smile.


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    "So my three-pointers equal six? I really do have an advantage, heh-heh." Lu Shen cheered up.


    "Fool, in streetball, a three-pointer equals two. And with your advantage, it will be four points." Haru Lin chuckled lightly at Lu Shen.


    "Damn it!" Lu Shen''s confidence slightly crumbled.


    "Idiot! It''s still a huge advantage, so go out there and beat those losers!" Hong Ren encouraged him.


    "Yeah, I would beat them like children even without my advantage." Lu Shen''s confidence reached a peak again.


    After that, the team laughed at him, and Lu Shen, filled with confidence and eager to show who was better, stepped onto the court. The five rookies, among whom Mei Yu was captain, also confidently stepped onto the court, unaware of the changed rules of the game and thinking they had an advantage in numbers.


    When Lu Shen stood opposite Mei Yu, waiting for the jump ball, Mei Yu decided to mock him:


    "Haha, you''re the dumbest one on this team! The first victory will definitely be ours." He said confidently.


    Veins bulged on Lu Shen''s forehead, and he irritably replied:


    "I''m the most experienced among them! Who''s the dumb one here, huh? You''re the loser here!"


    "Idiot, idiot, heh-heh." Mei Yu sang out.


    Lu Shen:


    "¡­"


    His face turned red with anger:


    "Who do you think you are¡­"


    "Bets have been placed. And¡­ Jump ball!" Song Wo announced the start of the game.


    Before Lu Shen could finish, Mei Yu intercepted the ball during the jump and quickly passed it.


    "Damn it!" Lu Shen shouted angrily.


    The tall player who received the ball was already standing at the three-point line. Lu Shen, gritting his teeth and getting even angrier, chased after the ball. But it was too late; he couldn''t catch up, and the ball was scored in his hoop from the corner of the free-throw line.


    "I told you you''re dumb!" Mei Yu laughed with the player who scored, giving each other a high five right after mocking Lu Shen and ran towards their hoop.


    "I''ll show you who''s really dumb here!" Lu Shen shouted.


    "Haha, come on, show us your stupidity!" Mei Yu and his team laughed at him out loud.


    Lu Shen:


    "¡­"


    Main Yoshido team:


    "¡­"


    Twenty remaining rookies on the bench:


    "¡­"


    Spectators, referee, and organizers:


    "¡­"


    After a minute of laughter from the rookie team and a minute of silence, Lu Shen dribbled the ball to the center, and when he approached the three-point line, he was surrounded by two players: Mei Yu and the one who scored first in the first round.


    "Do you think we''ll let you through? Idiot!" Mei Yu laughed.


    "Heh-heh." Lu Shen also laughed confidently, leaving the two defenders confused: Is he really that dumb or is this absurd?


    But when he took the ball in his hands and stepped back, he threw the ball from a position between the center line and the three-point line.


    "Well, you''re an idiot¡­" Mei Yu laughed before seeing the ball go through the hoop.


    "Well, who''s the idiot now, huh?" Lu Shen smirked as he ran back to his hoop.


    Lu Shen led the score, but the rookies hadn''t seen the score yet and thought they were only one point behind.


    The game continued, and Lu Shen kept using his advantage. He made long shots, and almost every time the ball went in. However, the rookie team led by Mei Yu also didn''t give up. They scored more balls, creating the illusion that they were leading. Lu Shen sometimes missed, but his ability to score from under the hoop and from the free-throw line made him an unpredictable and dangerous opponent.


    Once, when Lu Shen intercepted the ball at the opponent''s free-throw line, Mei Yu and another player immediately surrounded him. Lu Shen made a fake move, causing the defenders to jump, and at the last moment, he ran past them. He jumped to the hoop and made a shot from underneath. The ball flew through the hoop effortlessly.


    "You''re such idiots!" Lu Shen exclaimed, running back.


    Mei Yu, irritated, passed the ball to one of his teammates, who quickly ran to attack. They scored, narrowing the gap. But the truth was that the rookies thought they were winning with a lead since no one had told them the rules.


    "We''re ahead!" shouted one of the rookies. "Lu Shen isn''t as strong as he seems!"


    Lu Shen smiled but didn''t say anything. He received the ball again and was met with even tighter defense. Lu Shen made a feint, allowing him to bypass the defender, and ran to the hoop. The other defenders couldn''t coordinate in time, allowing the ball to fly into the basket again.


    "Got it!" Lu Shen raised his hands, looking at his team.


    Yoshido team:


    "¡­"


    The rookies didn''t give up and continued to attack. They scored again, objectively tying the score. However, Lu Shen didn''t lose concentration. When he received the ball again, he was met with tight defense. Lu Shen made several moves, trying to find open space, and ended up getting knocked down when one of the players accidentally elbowed him in the nose due to his height. The referee, despite his love for toughness in the game, immediately blew the whistle, awarding a free throw.


    "Free throw!" Lu Shen shouted as he got back on his feet. "Let''s see how you handle this."


    "Don''t get cocky, idiot!" Mei Yu interrupted him.


    Lu Shen approached the free-throw line and calmly shot the ball. The ball flew through the hoop without touching it.


    Lu Shen smiled at Mei Yu. "How do you like my free throws?"


    Mei Yu, gritting his teeth, passed the ball to one of his teammates, who again tried to attack. However, Lu Shen intercepted the ball again and ran to attack. This time he made a shot from under the hoop, and the ball went into the basket again. The other players began to be puzzled but accepted the scored ball easily until they saw the score on the scoreboard near the referee.


    "What the¡­?" Mei Yu also noticed the score.


    "We clearly scored more balls! What the hell!?" The rookie team was completely baffled.


    "16:12!" Lu Shen raised his hands, celebrating his success. "Who''s the idiot now, huh?"


    The rookies began to realize that Lu Shen was playing by the rules they hadn''t considered. They exchanged glances, realizing that Lu Shen was using the rule whereby the captain''s points were multiplied by two. This gave him a significant advantage.


    "You''re cheating!" one of the rookies exclaimed.


    "This isn''t cheating; those are the rules," Lu Shen replied calmly. "You just didn''t know the rules."


    Mei Yu and his team were furious but couldn''t do anything. Lu Shen continued to score, despite the fact that the rookies were clearly scoring more balls than he was. And his advantage kept growing.


    When the final whistle blew, the score was 21:14 in favor of Lu Shen. The rookies were stunned, realizing that their confidence in victory had been misleading.

 Chapter 15: The Next Plan for the Friendly Game

    Late at night, a few dozen meters from the streetball court where Lu Shen had just claimed victory.


    On a bench sat four people, among whom stood out a massive gang boss with a gold cross around his neck and a short haircut with a bit of gray at the sides.


    "That guy keeps surprising me more and more," said Tae Hwan with a smirk on his face.


    "Considering how well he brings us money, I completely agree with you," one of the henchmen chimed in.


    "He brings the most money to himself. He took a risk by investing in these five games, and if all five games are conducted successfully with the same stakes as the first game, he might become even richer than I am," Tae Hwan''s competitive spirit was awakened.


    "How is that possible? We also take a percentage from the bets, so how will he become richer than you?" asked another associate with a dragon tattoo on his neck.


    "The thing is, when debts are owed by other players from his team, they will pay him back first, and only then us. So unless we sell these guys into slavery, which can only happen if Ming You agrees to it himself, I''ll be dead from old age by the time these rookies can pay off their debts, meaning Ming You will profit more than me," Tae Hwan said a bit sadly.


    "You''re talking about me, aren''t you?" Ming You asked slyly as he approached from the basketball court.


    "What do you want?" Tae Hwan was not expecting to see Ming You.


    "More like what do you want from me? The thing is, these rookies are likely to leave due to their dissatisfaction with the rules of this game, and it would be worse if they complain. So I have a proposal for you," Ming You suddenly changed his indifferent expression to a more cunning smirk.


    "Unlike Taek Jung, I''ve started to get used to your shamelessness, heh. So go ahead, lay out your proposal," Tae Hwan chuckled at him.


    "All you need to do is threaten these rookies. I can give you all their information: their addresses, parents, and so on." Ming You''s eyes lit up with cruelty, but his face remained indifferent.


    "That''s quite a useful and profitable proposal. I''m all ears," Tae Hwan spread his arms across the bench, awaiting the information.


    Fifteen minutes later, after Ming You had provided Tae Hwan with all the information about the players, Lu Shen and the core team of Yoshido were celebrating a light victory on the well-lit basketball court.


    "Well, how''s that, you idiots!" Lu Shen shouted triumphantly, pointing a finger at Mei Yu and his team.


    "If it weren''t for knowing such rules, we wouldn''t have let you score a single point!" Mei Yu said angrily.


    "To hell with that. We''re not going to pay any made-up debts just because some assholes said so. Guys, let''s go; consider that this game never happened," So Ho addressed his team as they left the court.


    "Exactly! No one told us about such rules, and we''re not going to fall for such a setup!" shouted Jen Ryu, giving the middle finger to the core team of Yoshido.


    But just as the rookies were stepping out of the light, fifteen people in leather jackets emerged from the shadows, wielding bats and brass knuckles.


    "Hey, pussies, where do you think you''re going? The losers owe us money," a muscular man said threateningly, holding a bat with both hands over his shoulder.


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    "What do you care? If you don''t let us pass, we''ll call the police, and they''ll take care of you!" So Ho replied in a threatening tone as well.


    The group of gangsters began to laugh loudly, some of them holding their faces from laughing so hard. The rookies looked at them in confusion and disdain.


    "Haha, you''re pretty brave, So Ho, but your mother, who works as a nurse and lives six blocks away, won''t be very happy if you refuse to pay your debts and dump it all on her," one of the gangsters with brass knuckles said after everyone calmed down.


    "How do you know¡­" So Ho couldn''t finish as a bat was pointed at his chin.


    "You shouldn''t give a fuck, but you, other pussies," one of the gangsters removed the bat from So Ho''s face, then looked at the entire rookie team and continued, "we know a lot about you too, so either you keep playing, or you can pass all your debts onto your relatives."


    The rookies looked at the gangsters in fear, then gritted their teeth.


    "Fine, we''ll play, just don''t touch our families! This is a personal matter between our teams and nothing more," So Ho exclaimed with difficulty.


    "That''s the spirit we like much better," the gangsters put away their weapons and removed their brass knuckles.


    "Alright, you little suckers. You can go and prepare for the games. But if you decide not to show up, we''ll definitely find you, and even if by some miracle we don''t, we always know where your parents are, heh," one of the gangsters threatened while smirking.


    The rookie team silently lowered their heads and walked past the gangsters.


    "We''ll have to prepare to play at full capacity and not let them take any shots; we should also work on our passes," Jen Ryu tried to motivate the team.


    "Then we need to train harder," Mei Yu also encouraged the team.


    "Yes! Forward, real Yoshido!" So Ho further motivated the team, after which the entire team picked up his slogan and repeated it three times, raising their fists in the air.


    The next morning, at school after classes. So Ho, Jen Ryu, and Mei Yu were making plans for the next game on their way to the gym.


    "Maybe we should find out who will play against us?" Mei Yu asked, throwing his hands behind his head.


    "Do you really think that cunning bastard will tell us anything?" Jen Ryu said anxiously.


    "It''s worth the risk; it''s better to at least hope to find out who will be playing against us," So Ho remained calm.


    The three guys, gritting their teeth in hatred toward the core team, entered the school gym. After that, they opened the door to the locker room, where Ming You was already sitting with his head thrown back over the bench.


    "Ming You," So Ho called him.


    "Hey, guys, how are you? How''s the weather today? Did you make it here okay?" Ming You greeted them sarcastically, lifting his head.


    The veins on the foreheads of the arriving rookies bulged, but So Ho calmed down first, so he asked:


    "We have a question for you. Who are we going to play against in the next game?"


    "Good that you asked. You''ll be playing against Jung Ho, our former team captain," Ming You replied, fixing his hair back.


    "Thanks, Ming You," So Ho said sarcastically as he and his teammates left the locker room and then the gym.


    "Anytime!" Ming You replied slyly.


    The rookie team dispersed, and Ming You leaned his head back over the bench, continuing to sleep.


    After a while, closer to evening, Ming You gathered his things and headed to the streetball court.


    The lights were already illuminating the court, there were no spectators yet, but a group of people led by Taek Jung was sitting on the bench. Ming You approached them and greeted them:


    "Hello everyone, I have an interesting proposal for you," he said slyly, waving his hand.


    "Hehe, we''re all ears," Taek Jung smirked.


    "How about making bets on tomorrow''s game?" Ming You stretched his smile.


    "You really don''t mind taking risks, so go ahead, lay it out," Taek Jung was already prepared for another one of Ming You''s tricks.


    "If the captain''s points, meaning one player''s points, are a hundred times more than the points of five players, I win a hundred times more money than I bet on one player. But if it''s even one point less than a hundred times, then the amount you already bet on five players, I will pay you a hundred times more than the amount you bet," Ming You explained unemotionally.


    "Okay, now lay out what trick you''re planning, why you''re so confidently making such a large bet," Taek Jung started to suspect him.


    "Nothing special, I just like to take risks," Ming You was completely confident in himself.


    "If I didn''t know you, I might have fallen for that, but considering how cunning and shameless you are, I have two theories about your proposal ¡ª either you''re clearly up to something shady, or you''re just a crazy madman. There can be no other options," Taek Jung said with a serious expression.


    "You can think whatever you want, but the fact is that I''m completely confident in my player''s strength and in my instincts as a gambler. So, are we going to make bets, or are you scared of an ordinary schoolboy?" Ming You slightly pressed him.


    "Haha, you and an ordinary schoolboy?" Taek Jung and his henchmen laughed. After everyone calmed down, he continued, "The bet is quite decent, and I also love to take risks. But be warned, if you can''t pay the amount a hundred times more than what we bet, death will seem like a consolation for you," Taek Jung became serious.


    "So we have a deal?" Ming You extended his hand.


    "I advise you to find some jobs to be ready to pay our hundredfold bet," Taek Jung shook his hand, after which Ming You left the court with a sly smile.

 Chapter 16: The Game Against the Former Captain

    The next morning. In the school hallway after classes, Jen Ryu and So Ho decided to approach the former captain who would be playing against them.


    "Jung Ho." ¡ª Jen Ryu called out to him, waving his hand.


    "What do you want?" ¡ª Jung Ho replied, turning to face the newcomers of the club.


    "We have a request for you. Can you help us in the game?" ¡ª Jen Ryu asked anxiously.


    "Why would I help you?" ¡ª Jung Ho looked at him in confusion.


    "You clearly want to reclaim your position as captain and play as a team, not as a lackey, right?" ¡ª So Ho asked him.


    "My team is perfectly fine with me, and Ming You rightfully earned the role of captain. I think I''ve already said that, so you can go." ¡ª Jung Ho turned away from them.


    "But you can''t just betray part of your team for some money. Put yourself in our shoes! We just want to train and improve in basketball together with the team, just like you!" ¡ª Jen Ryu exclaimed.


    Jung Ho stopped and for a moment thought about the team that existed before Ming You. The joyful and happy scenes of training and harmless games with the team, the sense of respect for opponents even after a loss.


    After a brief pause, Jung Ho hesitantly said:


    "Fine, I''ll think about your proposal, but don''t forget to train and prepare for the game." ¡ª Jung Ho headed towards the school gym.


    "Thank you! At least Ming You hasn''t completely stripped you of your humanity; we will be very grateful!" ¡ª Jen Ryu shouted.


    So Ho and Jen Ryu also parted ways.


    Meanwhile, in the school locker room. Jung Ho opened the door and entered, calling out to the sleeping Ming You, who had his head thrown back:


    "Ming You, the newcomers approached me asking for help in the game. It wouldn''t be such a big deal if I let them win one round, right?" ¡ª he reported uncertainly.


    Ming You lifted his head and replied:


    "Why would you lose?"


    "I haven''t given them a final answer yet, so I wanted to know what your decision would be regarding this." ¡ª Jung Ho spoke slightly insistently.


    "You already know that winning is the main thing for me, even if the game is against my own. But I have a better solution for an easier victory for you." ¡ª A cunning look appeared in Ming You''s eyes.


    "Okay, I understand. I won''t let them win." ¡ª Jung Ho was about to turn and leave, but Ming You stopped him:


    "Wait, you haven''t heard the plan for the next game."


    "What plan?" ¡ª Jung Ho turned back towards Ming You, waiting for instructions.


    "First, tell the newcomers that you agree to a draw, so they think I have complete control over you and that if there''s a draw, I won''t suspect anything." ¡ª Ming You said as if he didn''t control him.


    "So this round will be a draw?" ¡ª Jung Ho asked in surprise.


    "Of course not, you need to score as many points as possible, so your score is a hundred times more than theirs." ¡ª He said cunningly and confidently.


    "Then what''s the point of agreeing to a draw?" ¡ª Jung Ho asked again.


    "Listen, you''ll tell them to let you score easy points in the first half of the game, and in the second half, you''ll pretend to be exhausted, so I supposedly won''t suspect anything and will let the newcomers score. But in reality, in the second half, you''ll play at full strength since you won''t have to exert yourself in the first half." ¡ª Ming You finished explaining, preparing to execute his previous plan.


    "I got it, but why do I need to score a hundred times more points than them? I''ll win anyway." ¡ª Jung Ho still had doubts.


    "It''s simple, you need to completely crush them so that in the remaining three games, they are in total despair." ¡ª Ming You showed a sinister smile.


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    "Alright, I''ll try." ¡ª He finally said, waving his hand as he left the school gym.


    Meanwhile, Ming You began to get ready, while Jung Ho was already heading to the streetball court to talk to the newcomers of the club.


    As he walked along one side of the sidewalk towards the basketball court, on the other side, So Ho, Jen Ryu, and three other unremarkable players were approaching. As the newcomers were packing their things and getting ready to warm up, Jung Ho waved his hand and approached them:


    "Hey, guys, about helping in the game..." ¡ª he said slightly uncertainly.


    "So you agree?" ¡ª Jen Ryu and the others already looked happy.


    "Partly, but the problem is that if I lose, Ming You will start to suspect me, and if he finds out about the betrayal... Who knows what he will do." ¡ª Jung Ho portrayed fear, but he had a rough idea of what Ming You might do for betrayal.


    "That bastard. We definitely need to kick him out of the team! Or better yet, out of school altogether!" ¡ª Jen Ryu said angrily.


    "But we can play to a draw, then he won''t suspect me." ¡ª Jung Ho said calmly.


    "Great! So we score two points, then you score one, and so on until the end of the game. Thanks for your help!" ¡ª Jen Ryu was already on edge.


    "N-no, not quite. If we score like that, Ming You will definitely figure out that I''m in cahoots with you, but I have a better idea." ¡ª Jung Ho tried to portray fear as best he could, but in the end, he just looked insecure.


    "You''re right. We''re listening." ¡ª So Ho agreed with the decision, waiting for the game plan.


    "Basically, in the first half of the game, you let me score, and in the second half, you''ll score. This way, I''ll pretend to be exhausted in the second half of the game, thus not raising any suspicions from Ming You and allowing you to make a draw." ¡ª Jung Ho was still unsure, but he said it as his captain instructed.


    "Jung Ho, you''re the real captain of this team. We won''t let you down!" ¡ª Jen Ryu raised his hand, and Jung Ho uncertainly high-fived him.


    A few minutes later, as the sun set, players and a crowd of people began to gather at the court. Jung Ho was warming up on one side of his hoop, while the five newcomers were on the other side.


    As the spectators placed their bets, Ming You approached Jung Ho and gave him instructions:


    "Jung Ho, you''d better warm up your three-point shots; in the first half of the game, you''ll be scoring like that."


    "Why take unnecessary risks?" ¡ª he asked in confusion.


    "Did you already forget that your points are doubled? Your three-pointers will count as four shots with your advantage, instead of two for a regular game." ¡ª Ming You insisted.


    "Okay, I got it." ¡ª Jung Ho ran to the three-point line and began warming up his shots.


    When the spectators finished placing bets and the players lined up at the center line, referee Song Wo announced the start of the game and made the jump ball.


    The ball flew up and was already coming down, and Jung Ho grabbed the ball and ran to the corner of the three-point line. Two defenders rushed at him, but they only pretended to block him. As soon as Jung Ho took the ball in both hands and assumed a shooting stance, the two defenders were slightly surprised but jumped only a couple of seconds after he leaped.


    As if in slow motion, he watched the ball, after his shot, effortlessly glide into the hoop.


    "Yes!" ¡ª he shouted, raising his hands to the sky. ¡ª "This is just the beginning!"


    Applause and cheers erupted from the crowd. The newcomers exchanged glances, slightly surprised at how confidently Jung Ho had started the game.


    "That was amazing!" ¡ª Jen Ryu exclaimed, unable to hide his excitement. ¡ª "If he keeps it up, we won''t have to worry!"


    "Yeah, but don''t forget that this is just the first half of the game," ¡ª So Ho replied, holding back his enthusiasm. ¡ª "We need to keep an eye on his game."


    Referee Song Wo blew the whistle, and the game continued. Jung Ho took his position again, preparing for the next shot. This time he decided to try something new. He deceived the defenders by bouncing the ball off the pavement and suddenly, with both hands, standing on his toes in a shooting stance, but it was just a trick, and the defenders fell for it, even though they were acting lazily, but then Jung Ho quickly changed direction and slipped past them.


    "Hey, where are you going?!" ¡ª shouted one of the defenders, trying to catch up with him.


    Ignoring the shouts, Jung Ho rushed to the hoop and, making a powerful jump, threw the ball from a distance. The basket accepted the ball again, and the spectators erupted in applause once more.


    "He just knows no bounds!" ¡ª someone in the crowd commented.


    "This isn''t just a game; it''s a show!" ¡ª another spectator replied, admiring Jung Ho''s skills.


    Meanwhile, on the bench of the newcomers, Jen Ryu and So Ho exchanged glances, realizing that Jung Ho''s plan was working.


    "He really is scoring, just as we agreed!" ¡ª Jen Ryu whispered, his eyes shining with excitement.


    "But we must not forget about the second half," ¡ª So Ho reminded him. ¡ª "He has to pretend to be tired to avoid suspicion."


    As the game resumed, Jung Ho, as agreed, began to feign exhaustion. He moved slowly across the court, pretending that he was struggling. But deep down, doubts tormented him. On one hand, he wanted to follow Ming You''s plan, who promised him generous rewards for victory. On the other hand, he felt drawn to the newcomers, who seemed genuinely trying, as he had once been a newcomer to the club who wanted to show what he was capable of and move forward with the team.


    "Maybe I should ease up a bit?" ¡ª he pondered, watching the newcomers trying to score. ¡ª "But what if Ming You gets angry? He might take away the pleasures he offers for victories."


    Nevertheless, the excitement and allure of money, girls, and fame that awaited him after a win proved stronger. He decided not to let the newcomers score; instead, he would show them who was in charge.


    "It''s time to act," ¡ª he whispered to himself, gathering all his strength.


    Suddenly, he surged forward, deceiving the defenders, and with two quick steps, executed a powerful shot from the three-point line. The ball flew into the hoop again, and the spectators erupted with cheers of excitement.


    "Incredible!" ¡ª shouted one of the fans. ¡ª "He''s back in the game!"


    Feeling the thrill take over him, Jung Ho continued to attack. He scored one after another, leaving the newcomers in complete shock. They hadn''t expected him to switch gears so quickly and start dominating the court again.


    "What''s happening?" ¡ª So Ho exclaimed as Jung Ho scored another three-pointer. ¡ª "He''s not going to stop!"


    "We need to regroup!" ¡ª shouted Jen Ryu, realizing that the situation was spiraling out of control.


    With each new shot, Jung Ho increased his lead. He felt the support of the spectators, and it fueled him. He was not going to stop.


    "This is just madness!" ¡ª commented one of the spectators, watching as Jung Ho scored basket after basket. ¡ª "He''s leaving no chances for the newcomers!"


    Eventually, the game came to an end, and Jung Ho proudly looked at the scoreboard. The score was 101-0 in his favor. He knew he had shocked the newcomers and left them in complete bewilderment.


    "How is this possible?" ¡ª Jen Ryu whispered, unable to believe his eyes. ¡ª "We were sure we could handle it..."


    "He just left us no chances," ¡ª sighed So Ho, realizing their plan had failed.


    Jung Ho turned to the newcomers and smiled:


    "I hope you''re not too upset. It''s just a game. But I would advise you to practice more."


    As the spectators erupted in applause, they began to gather, discussing Jung Ho''s incredible performance. He knew his plan had worked, and although he wasn''t going to betray Ming You, he had still left the newcomers in complete shock and confusion.

 Chapter 17: The Gangsters Debts

    At night on the same day, the streetball court was illuminated by the lights. As soon as the final whistle blew, Jung Ho emerged victorious. The rookies left the court in despair, and Jung Ho headed towards Ming You, but before he could boast about his victory, Ming You interrupted him:


    "You didn''t let me down! You can leave as soon as we finish taking care of these rookies; the reward will be waiting for you."


    Jung Ho nodded and then started to leave the court.


    After that, Ming You stretched his sly smile as wide as possible and turned to Taek Jung and his buddies:


    "So, my friend, I won, as always."


    Taek Jung and the other henchmen were in a bit of shock:


    "Why are you grinning like that?"


    Ming You didn''t let his smile fade for a second:


    "You owe me a hundredfold payout for the bet. I wonder, does your profit from games and brothels with whores and drugs add up to that? Or are you just a small gang of petty thugs?"


    Taek Jung, with a shocked and angry look, said:


    "Who are you calling a small gang? You think we can''t keep our word? Hey, Sung Wo, how much did he bet?"


    When Taek Jung shifted his gaze from Ming You to the game referee, Sung Wo was in complete shock:


    "Five... fifty thousand..."


    Taek Jung replaced his anger with a smirk:


    "So, considering the hundredfold profit, that''s five million won? Easy."


    Ming You continued to smile:


    "Haha, five million dollars, kid."


    His response left all the gangsters in shock and confusion.


    "This madman bet fifty thousand dollars!? Sung Wo, check quickly!" Taek Jung was furious.


    Sung Wo pulled out the fifty thousand dollars that Ming You had bet and showed them to everyone with a shocked expression.


    "This is fucked up." Taek Jung couldn''t contain his surprise.


    "What are we going to tell Tae Hwan?" Sung Wo asked in panic.


    "So, kids, where''s my five million?" Ming You brazenly interjected.


    The gangsters exchanged glances, and one of them threatened:


    "Who the fuck do you think you are? You''re just a little fucking pussy! Be grateful that you''re free of debts and we didn''t smash your fucking little faggot face!"


    Ming You chuckled slightly, then stepped onto the basketball court and addressed the departing spectators:


    "Hey, esteemed audience, this gang of clowns is too scared to pay me my winnings from my bet. My bet was high, and these little guys are so poor they can''t even pay a regular schoolboy! Just look at them!"


    As the spectators turned and listened to him, Ming You mockingly pointed at Taek Jung and the other organizers. The rookies were already long gone in despair, and Jung Ho was not paying attention, but the other people looked at Ming You with disdain and then turned the same look towards the gangsters, with one of them shouting:


    "Seriously? You can''t give the rightful winnings to some kid? Or is he just mocking you?"


    "It seems true, considering the shock on the organizers'' faces; are they really cheating schoolkids?" one of the spectators pointed out.


    "Haha, I didn''t expect such serious guys to be unable to pay a schoolboy his winnings. I guess I won''t be betting on kids'' games anymore." agreed another spectator who was already heading towards the sidewalk.


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    The gangsters looked at the spectators in panic, and one of them shouted:


    "Hey, he''s a fraud! He didn''t bet anything! Why are you running away? Do you really believe some kid?"


    Some of the spectators stopped, watching the new show.


    "Haha, how can you cheat those who saw with their own eyes how I was betting hundred-dollar bills instead of change? Right, esteemed spectators?" Ming You turned back to the crowd again.


    The spectators were slightly stunned, but still, some of them nodded silently.


    "What? So you really don''t pay out big winnings? What a bunch of frauds." someone from the crowd shouted.


    The gangsters gritted their teeth in anger and shock. But Taek Jung, not wanting to lose face, shifted his gaze from the crowd back to Ming You and said loudly:


    "We will pay you your winnings! It''s just that the amount is such that we need the boss''s decision."


    Ming You laughed heartily:


    "Hah! Did you hear him?" Ming You abruptly turned his head towards the crowd and then pointed at Taek Jung, "They can''t pay out the winnings properly! They admitted that they owe me, but as you can see, they aren''t giving anything!"


    The remaining crowd began to look at the gangsters with disdain and whisper among themselves, mentioning words like "Frauds" and "Cowards."


    Taek Jung and the other organizers were stunned, but Sung Wo, somewhat calmed down, decided to intervene:


    "I apologize for the misunderstanding! Ming You, we will definitely pay your winnings and provide additional compensation for what happened."


    The gangsters were even more shocked. While Taek Jung was calling his boss to come to the court, Ming You slyly replied:


    "I can''t wait to see your provided compensation."


    When Taek Jung called his boss and asked him to come, after he hung up, he turned to Ming You:


    "Your money is on the way, and you, our esteemed spectators," Taek Jung looked at the crowd, "I apologize for this scene; we truly made a mistake, and it will never happen again. Next time, your winnings from the bets will be increased by fifteen percent."


    Upon hearing that their winnings would now be increased, the spectators nodded with forgiving looks and began to disperse.


    "Hey, wait a minute, you still haven''t seen how I was paid my winnings. Did you really fall for the trick that your winnings would be increased when they haven''t even given me the money?" Ming You shouted, addressing the departing crowd.


    "And he''s right; how can they increase our winnings if they haven''t even paid him?" One of the spectators stopped, and others agreed with him.


    Taek Jung angrily turned his eyes towards Ming You, and then, making a calmer expression, addressed the spectators:


    "Okay, friends. To avoid suspicion about our inability to pay, you can stay and watch us pay the winnings with compensation."


    Some spectators decided to sit on the benches, some left, while others continued to stand, waiting to decide whether to come back next time.


    Just then, a black jeep with heavily tinted windows arrived. A muscular man in a black jacket got out of the front door. He approached the back door of the car and opened it, and out stepped another muscular man with gray hair, but shorter¡ªTae Hwan. He, along with his henchman, headed towards Taek Jung, passing by the crowd. The first thing that caught his eye was Ming You''s sly face, who had profited from his games before. The group of gangsters immediately bowed in respect, and Taek Jung began to report in panic:


    "Boss, the situation is that we owe five million dollars, and we have no way to refuse."


    Tae Hwan was engulfed in shock; first, he looked at Ming You, then at the spectators, and back at Taek Jung:


    "This... This..."


    Tae Hwan began to sort through his thoughts:


    "This schoolboy has really become a threat, what the hell!"


    He continued to reflect, imagining a chess game against Ming You:


    "If I don''t give him the money, I will lose my reputation, and no one will bet anymore, but on the other hand... I don''t have that kind of money!!! He beat me!"


    In his thoughts, Ming You had checkmated him on an imaginary board.


    After a moment of contemplation, he turned to Ming You and said:


    "You won. I admit defeat. You really are a wolf in sheep''s clothing."


    Ming You pretended to be puzzled:


    "And where''s my winnings, since you acknowledged your defeat in front of everyone?"


    Tae Hwan lowered his head and said:


    "We... We don''t have that kind of money. From today, we are your debtors."


    Ming You leaned closer to Tae Hwan:


    "In that case, I have a condition."


    Tae Hwan raised his head and calmly asked:


    "What is it?"


    Ming You returned his wide grin:


    "You will fully submit to me, bow your heads." Ming You took Tae Hwan''s head and tilted it down. Taek Jung, Sung Wo, and the other gangsters were engulfed in unimaginable shock at such audacity. But after a moment, he continued: "Once your debts are paid, I will acknowledge your authority, and you can consider this as never having happened, but for now, do as I say."


    Tae Hwan wanted to kill Ming You with his bare hands and skin him alive, but, struggling to contain his unprecedented rage, which seemed to make his hair grayer, he gritted his teeth and said to everyone:


    "Bow your heads before our new boss!"


    The gangsters, like the spectators, were in shock, but they managed to bow their heads towards Ming You.


    "Alright, now I will address the esteemed spectators." He looked towards the crowd and continued, "I annul my objections and allow the organizers to take on debts and pay them to me. Since I am now also considered an organizer of these games, your next winnings will indeed be increased by fifteen percent."


    The crowd was in confusion, and one person shouted:


    "So if I place a huge bet, I can also become the boss and have such subordinates? If so, I can''t wait for the next game!" The rest of the crowd was excited, and everyone began to disperse little by little.


    When Ming You was left alone with the gangsters, Taek Jung said:


    "What about the debts of the rookies in your basketball club? Aren''t you going to annul their debts? You don''t have to play against them."


    Ming You replied with a smirk:


    "Of course not, debts are debts; besides, I want to play myself, rather, to win, so I will stomp them into even greater debts." His gaze turned sinister.


    "Alright, we got it." Taek Jung said, but inside he was thinking differently and didn''t know if he could say such things aloud anymore: "Damn, it''s obvious that this shameless trickster has no feelings even for his team members."


    "Alright, guys, until the next game." Ming You waved his hand and left the court.


    "We can give you a ride if you need it." Tae Hwan shouted without looking up.


    "Thanks, but I can walk." Ming You said, not turning back and continuing to leave the court.


    A vein bulged on Tae Hwan''s forehead, but he said nothing.


    As soon as Ming You exited the court''s territory, the gangsters raised their heads, looking at their boss.


    "This fucking faggot! How dare he! Damn, damn... fuck!!!" Tae Hwan cursed angrily as he headed towards his car.


    "This immoral, unscrupulous, and ruthless trickster! He used not only his reputation but mine too! Damn you, Ming You!!!" His nerves were on edge.

 Chapter 18: Tempting Bet

    The next morning, the new members of the club gathered in the school locker room, who had already lost to the main team more than once. On the central bench, with a serious expression on his face, sat So Ho, and next to him was Jen Ryu.


    "Nobody in this team, except for you and me, can be trusted. After Ming You, you can''t call any of them human anymore," So Ho declared with contempt.


    Jen Ryu decided to support him: "That''s true. Even Jung Ho, with his principles, has become inhumane. We need to figure out what to do when the main team consists of such bastards."


    "What about just not playing? Even if something happens to us or our relatives, we can just go to the police, right?" Mei Yu interjected.


    "Hey, we don''t want anything to happen, so that''s not an option," interrupted one of the newcomers.


    The team was in confusion, as they had no real way out. But when the locker room door opened and Ming You walked in, the team was even more bewildered.


    "Hey, guys, miss me?" he said indifferently.


    The newcomers didn''t know how to react, but So Ho was the first to exclaim: "What the hell do you want?"


    "Chill, chill, I''m here with a pretty good deal," Ming You replied, raising his hands.


    Jen Ryu stood up abruptly and shouted angrily: "What kind of deal? We''re not going to dance to your tune!"


    Ming You''s face remained indifferent as he continued: "Why so rude? I came to help you, by the way."


    Veins bulged on the foreheads of the newcomers, their faces twisted in anger. None of them had words for such audacity, but So Ho, having calmed down, decided to ask: "So what help are you offering us? And what''s in it for you?"


    "Help in the form of canceling the captain''s point increase rule; in fact, your points will be increased. As for my benefit," Ming You smirked ominously, "you''re just pathetic weaklings, and I''d enjoy crushing you even without my advantage."


    The locker room fell silent for a moment, but Jen Ryu grabbed Ming You by his shirt and shouted: "Bastard, who are you calling weaklings, huh?"


    "All of you. And not only are you weak, but you''re also stupid," Ming You taunted.


    Jen Ryu was about to hit him, but So Ho stopped him: "Don''t fall for his provocation."


    After Jen Ryu stepped back, So Ho moved closer to Ming You and said: "Let''s say you want to play fair, which we''ll never believe, but regarding the game¡­ You''re clearly planning to set your own rules, right?"


    Ming You feigned a smile: "You''re quite perceptive, so yes, you''re right, but you''re mistaken about one thing; I''m going to make the rules in favor of your team."


    So Ho and the others were puzzled, but he still asked: "And what rules will benefit us? You clearly have something up your sleeve!"


    "Partly right, it will be a one-round game with me, but if you lose, heh-heh," Ming You grinned wickedly, "the rules will be in my favor. But if you win, not only will I wipe out all your debts, but I''ll also leave the team. So, what do you think? Tempting offer, isn''t it?"


    The team remained confused, but Jen Ryu decided to clarify: "So what rules are you going to set?"


    Ming You continued indifferently: "It''s quite simple: my points will count as one, like in regular streetball, meaning a three-pointer will be worth two. But your points will be doubled. It would be foolish to refuse, wouldn''t it?"


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    "So what''s the catch?" So Ho asked loudly.


    "The catch is that if you somehow manage to lose with such an advantage, in the last games your points will be halved, and my player''s points will be quadrupled. To be precise, your points will equal 0.5 instead of 1, while my player''s points will equal 4. The same goes for three-pointers: your shot is worth one point, my captain''s shot is worth eight points," Ming You explained slyly.


    "So it''s like a gamble? If we win, we''re debt-free; if we lose, we''re definitely losing in the last games too¡­" So Ho said uncertainly.


    Ming You gave a thumbs up: "Exactly. So, do you agree? Or do we stick with the same rules as before?"


    "Why can''t we just play by normal streetball rules?" Jen Ryu asked aggressively.


    "Exactly! Why complicate things?" So Ho supported him.


    Ming You shot them a menacing look: "You still don''t understand who the debtors are, do you? I''m just giving you a chance to get out of a tough spot, so you should be grateful to me. But if you refuse this chance, it will be solely your fault."


    "Well thank you fuck, you''re a saint!" Jen Ryu said angrily and sarcastically.


    "Suit yourselves, it was my job to offer." Ming You was about to leave, but So Ho decided to take the chance: "Wait, we need time to think about your offer."


    Ming You turned around and mockingly said: "What''s there to think about? You either have a chance to cover your debts, or I''ll bury you deeper in them with my advantage, so it''s either yes or look for some jobs."


    So Ho, like the others, started to panic: "Hold on, give us five minutes!"


    "You had time, but you wasted it on doubts and bad language towards me," Ming You said coldly, turning his back to the team.


    "Fine, we agree! Guys," So Ho turned to the stunned team and continued, "logically thinking, in the round with Ming You we have a chance not just to win one round, but to wipe out all our debts, plus with an advantage, so we shouldn''t pass up this opportunity."


    "But how¡­" One player tried to interject, but Ming You interrupted: "Great, it''s settled. I''ll see you tomorrow evening at the same court. If you manage to lose, blame only yourselves." Ming You waved goodbye and then closed the locker room door, leaving the rookie team in complete bewilderment.


    When the locker room door slammed shut, Mei Yu shot up from his seat and said, looking distrustfully at So Ho: "What the hell do we have to dance to his tune? You know he''s plotting against us, why did you fall for it?"


    So Ho, silent for a few seconds, replied anxiously: "This is our only chance, and I don''t want to miss it. It''s certainly strange that the rules are in our favor, and he''s definitely up to something, but if we left things as they are, we would definitely lose, since Ming You is the strongest in this team not just due to his strategies but also his physical strength."


    An anxious silence enveloped the locker room, but Jen Ryu decided to speak up: "Maybe he really has something planned, but damn it, we have to take the chance! We have no other opportunity, so let''s gather our strength and crush him in this game. Everyone wants to see Ming You leave the team, right?" He raised his fist, and the team was inspired.


    "It''s decided, we''ll take him down!" shouted Mei Yu, and the team was energized. All the rookies headed out to the gym, preparing for the upcoming match.


    The evening of the next day, at the outdoor court. Spectators began to gather by the benches, with Ming You arriving first, dressed alone in a black jersey with the number 44. He tossed the ball into the air, and a cunning smile never left his face, revealing only his empty eyes.


    "You''re here again, Ming You?" came the voice of Taek Jung, who bowed respectfully before approaching him, then asked thoughtfully: "Are you sure your plan will work?"


    "Of course," Ming You replied, skillfully catching the ball. "I''m going to set the rules in favor of their team and cancel my advantage of doubled points."


    "Rules in favor of five players?" Taek Jung raised an eyebrow in surprise. "That''s unexpected. Do you really believe they''ll accept it?"


    "They already have," Ming You smirked, shooting the ball into the hoop. "The point increase is just a way to make the game more interesting. And they''ll think they have the advantage."


    "Aren''t you afraid it might backfire?" Taek Jung asked, admiring his confidence. "That''s quite a risky move."


    "Risk is what separates winners from losers," Ming You said, effortlessly sinking the ball. "I know how to control the game, and they won''t be able to stop me."


    At that moment, the team of five players, led by So Ho, approached the court, and the tension in the air became palpable. So Ho looked at Ming You with suspicion but said nothing.


    "Ready for the game?" asked Mei Yu, scanning the team.


    "Always ready," So Ho replied, his voice sounding confident, though a flicker of doubt crossed his eyes.


    Noticing the team warming up, Ming You stepped closer to the court line. He could feel the tension from his opponents, but it only fueled his gambling.


    "Come on, guys, don''t relax," So Ho shouted, his voice full of determination.


    Ming You and So Ho exchanged only glances. So Ho''s gaze was filled with hatred and rivalry, reading that this game would be more than just a match; it would be a true battle. But Ming You wore only a mocking empty look, which unnerved So Ho.


    "So, friends," announced referee Sung Wo, drawing the crowd''s attention. "Today we have a special game! Ming You will face off against the five-player team!"


    The crowd erupted in applause, and Ming You smirked at his opponents.


    "For the five-player team, points will be doubled!" the referee continued.


    Whispers and doubts spread through the crowd, but most decided to bet on the five players. Taek Jung looked at Ming You with admiration: "You really thought everything through," he said with a smile. "That''s impressive."


    "This is just the beginning," Ming You replied, his seemingly empty eyes sparkling with eager anticipation. "Time to show them what real game means."


    So Ho, standing on the opposite side of the hoop, clenched his fists, ready for the confrontation. The tension escalated, and everyone understood: it was going to be a heated evening.

 Chapter 19: The Game with Ming You

    Ming You stood still, his legs slightly apart, the ball swaying in his hand. He looked at the newcomer, who seemed determined to sink the ball into the hoop. Ming You''s gaze was cold, but in his mind, scenarios were already playing out. He knew the newcomer didn''t expect that his plan could collapse in an instant.


    "Hey, why are you so relaxed?" came the voice of one of the players from So Ho''s team, who watched Ming You with confusion. "Aren''t you going to defend?"


    Ming You merely smirked, not taking his eyes off the ball the newcomer was holding. He felt the tension rising, and it only fueled his gambling. At that moment, the newcomer, unaware of the danger, stepped forward and began his shot.


    "Come on, come on!" shouted So Ho, encouraging his teammate.


    But Ming You, like a predator ready to pounce, reacted instantly. He shot out of his position, snatching the ball from the hands of the bewildered newcomer.


    "What?!" gasped the newcomer, his eyes wide with surprise.


    In an instant, Ming You was already at the hoop, and his shot was precise. The ball thudded into the net, and the crowd erupted in applause.


    "Wow!" someone in the crowd shouted, clenching their fists in excitement. "How did he do that?!"


    "This is unbelievable!" added another spectator, unable to believe their eyes.


    So Ho stood frozen, gritting his teeth. He couldn''t believe what had just happened. All his expectations that his teammate could score were shattered in an instant.


    "What the hell?!" he whispered, looking at Ming You, who returned to his position with a smirk.


    "It''s just a game," Ming You said, scanning the crowd. "But I''m not going to let you relax because of the scoring advantage."


    So Ho''s team exchanged glances. The newcomers began to whisper among themselves, their confidence clearly shaken.


    "Hey, don''t worry," one of them said, trying to encourage the others. "We can do this!"


    "Yeah, we just need to focus," another added, but his voice sounded uncertain.


    Ming You, sensing that his opponents were losing hope, decided to continue playing at a relaxed pace. He wasn''t in a hurry, letting them think they had a chance while he controlled every move.


    "Come on, guys," So Ho yelled, rallying his players. "Don''t give him a chance!"


    The next shot belonged to So Ho. He confidently approached the hoop, but Ming You, as if anticipating his actions, was already nearby. So Ho tried to maneuver around him, but Ming You was too quick.


    "You''re not getting through," Ming You said, skillfully intercepting the ball.


    The crowd erupted in applause again, and without wasting time, Ming You headed back to the hoop. He threw the ball, and it hit the net once more.


    "Two points!" the referee shouted, and the crowd responded with enthusiasm.


    "This can''t go on!" So Ho exclaimed, his voice filled with despair. "We have to do something!"


    "We need to regroup," said one of the newcomers, his voice trembling. "We can''t let him keep going like this."


    "Yeah, let''s go!" So Ho encouraged them. "We have to work together!"


    Ming You, watching their attempts to regroup, simply smirked. He knew that their team was full of inexperienced players, and his plan was working perfectly.


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    "So, who''s next?" he said, looking over his opponents. "Or are you just going to stand there and watch me score?"


    "We won''t give up!" shouted one of the newcomers, rushing forward.


    He tried to get around Ming You, but Ming You easily predicted his actions and intercepted the ball again.


    "That was too easy," Ming You said, throwing the ball into the hoop once more.


    The crowd erupted in applause again, and Ming You felt his confidence growing. He knew the game was almost won, and it was only a matter of time before his opponents completely broke down.


    "So Ho, unable to watch this, closed his eyes for a moment. He knew that if he didn''t rally the team, they would lose.


    "Listen," he said, opening his eyes. "We need to be a united team. Don''t let him break us!"


    "Yeah, we can do this!" the others supported him.


    But Ming You, watching their attempts, only smirked. He knew they had no chance, and it only fueled his gambling.


    "Come on, guys," he said, throwing the ball into the hoop. "This is just the beginning."


    Ming You seemed to be on the verge of exhaustion. He moved slowly around the court, pretending to be tired from the intense game. Each of his shots became less accurate, and his movements more sluggish. So Ho and his team, noticing this, began to feel more confident.


    "Look, he''s giving up!" whispered one of the newcomers when Ming You missed the hoop.


    "Yeah, let''s keep this going!" So Ho encouraged his players, feeling that they could take the initiative.


    In the first half of the game, So Ho''s team managed to exploit Ming You''s weaknesses, and despite his confidence at the start, they began to score points. Each time Ming You missed a shot, his smile grew more strained.


    When the whistle sounded to end the first half, Ming You headed to the bench, his face hiding his cunning. He knew that it was just his plan to confuse his opponents and his confidence was at its peak.


    "I wonder who you bet on, Taek Jung," he said to him.


    "I don''t make bets; I just win. You played well, but did you really tire out so quickly?" Taek Jung replied, although he himself felt the game wasn''t going according to plan.


    "Of course I did," Ming You replied sarcastically, leaving Taek Jung puzzled.


    The break was filled with tension. So Ho and his team gathered in a circle, discussing their successes and new strategies.


    "We did it!" shouted one of the players, his voice full of enthusiasm. "Ming You is tired, and we can use this to our advantage!"


    "But don''t relax," So Ho said, his face focused. "He might start playing at full strength again. Maybe this scoring advantage was his plan to give us false confidence, and after we lose the balls, we''d be in greater despair. We need to be ready for anything against a bastard like him."


    "We should keep acting as we have been," another player added. "He won''t be able to maintain this mask of fatigue for long."


    Meanwhile, Ming You stood aside, watching his opponents. He knew his plan had worked, and now they weren''t expecting him to start playing at full strength again.


    When the game resumed, Ming You returned to the court, but now his confidence seemed to be at its peak. He began to move slowly across the court, as if he were still tired, but in his eyes, a fire burned.


    "Well, friends," he said, looking over his opponents. "This is just the beginning."


    So Ho, noticing that Ming You looked more confident, felt his own confidence begin to waver. He knew Ming You could take the initiative again.


    Ming You started with slow, unhurried movements, making his opponents think he was still tired. But then, in an instant, he activated the ''Four-Headed Spider'' technique.


    His movements became sharp and unexpected. He maneuvered around defenders, creating the illusion that he had multiple heads, arms, and balls. With each of his movements, the opponents became lost, unsure of where he was heading or what he was about to do.


    "What''s happening?!" shouted one of the newcomers as Ming You skillfully dodged him and sank the ball into the hoop.


    "Is this his trump card?" So Ho thought to himself.


    "Alright, guys, come on, don''t let him do it again!" he yelled to his team, but his voice didn''t sound as confident as before.


    Ming You continued to use his technique from time to time. He moved so quickly that it seemed like he had eight arms and four balls. Each time he scored, the crowd erupted in applause, and the newcomers'' confidence plummeted, opening the path to despair.


    "He just can''t be that fast!" one of So Ho''s team members exclaimed as Ming You zipped past him again.


    "We have to stop him! Don''t forget about our advantage!" So Ho shouted, but his team had already begun to panic.


    With each new shot, Ming You felt the pressure mounting on his opponents. They were losing focus, and his confidence was growing. He knew that now they couldn''t handle his technique.


    "This is just unbearable!" one of the newcomers said, his voice trembling with fear. "We can''t stop him!"


    "We have to regroup!" So Ho shouted, but his words sounded like a cry in the void.


    Ming You, seeing his opponents falter, continued to attack. He used his technique, making them think he could do whatever he wanted. Each of his shots was precise, and with each new point, So Ho''s team lost confidence.


    "We can''t lose!" shouted one of the players, but his voice sounded less confident.


    "He''s just not giving us a chance!" another added, his face twisted in despair.


    With each new shot, Ming You felt his opponents starting to panic. He knew they couldn''t stop him now.


    "You guys can''t stop me," he said coolly, throwing the ball into the hoop. "Your defeat is inevitable."


    The crowd erupted again, and Ming You knew victory was already in his hands.


    When the final buzzer sounded, Ming You raised his hands, accepting the crowd''s enthusiastic applause. So Ho and his team, standing on the court, felt that their efforts had been in vain.


    "We tried," one of the newcomers said, his voice sounding dejected.


    "Yeah, but it felt like we never had a chance," another added, clenching his fists in despair.


    "This is the end," So Ho said, his voice filled with exhaustion. "The scoring advantage didn''t matter when the ball always ended up in Ming You''s hands.


    Ming You, turning to his opponents, said with a sinister smile:


    "I wish you good luck losing gracefully in the next games, heh heh."

 Chapter 20: Enhanced Advantage

    The next day, in the evening, Ming You and his players headed to the streetball court. The atmosphere was quite cheerful and relaxed, but so far, no one was aware of the captain''s prepared plans. Jung Ho decided to inquire about this and asked:


    "By the way, Ming You, who is going to play?"


    Ming You turned his eyes towards him and calmly replied:


    "Actually, anyone can play against them, but it would be much more interesting if each of us five shows them who''s in charge here. So the only two who haven''t played yet are Haru Lin and Hun Ren."


    The two players he mentioned first silently looked at Ming You, and then at each other.


    "What about me? Hun Ren, are you okay with that?" Haru Lin asked him emotionlessly.


    "I don''t really care," he replied, equally emotionless.


    Lu Shen, intervening with a playfully disgruntled expression, said:


    "Hey, why are you all so sour?"


    All four players from the Yoshido team glanced at him for a couple of seconds:


    "¡­"


    "Am I a joke to you? What''s with the ignoring?" Lu Shen waved his hands.


    Jung Ho decided to speak first:


    "Everything''s fine, it''s just that we have the advantage." Jung Ho turned his head towards Haru Lin and continued, "But still, don''t lose your vigilance, Haru."


    Haru Lin scratched his head and indifferently said:


    "Yeah, yeah, I know."


    Lu Shen, not wanting to miss the chance to boost the team spirit, added with a smile:


    "Remember how I tore them apart in the last match? Or you, Jung Ho, when you made that three-pointer from the center of the court? We absolutely have to show them who''s in charge!"


    Jung Ho nodded with a smirk:


    "Yeah, that was something! But don''t forget, we have a chance to earn double points. If we play smart, we can not only win but do it with flair!"


    "Smart play, you say?" Haru Lin scoffed, finally showing a bit of interest. "I hope you don''t mean I''ll just stand around waiting for them to fall over."


    Lu Shen, undeterred, continued:


    "Yeah, yeah, you should be like a tiger! Or like¡­ like¡­" he paused, trying to find a suitable comparison, "like a superhero on the court!"


    Ming You, walking ahead, maintained his indifferent expression with empty eyes, observing how his team discussed strategy. He knew that despite their jokes and indifference, deep down, each of them was ready for a fight.


    When they finally reached the court, the team dropped their bags by the bench. Taek Jung and his followers, seeing Ming You, respectfully bowed to him.


    Lu Shen, trying to lighten the mood, commented:


    "Look at our bags! If they could talk, they''d probably say, ''Don''t forget, we''re here to win!''"


    "Or ''Don''t leave us alone with this court!''" Jung Ho chimed in, laughing.


    Haru Lin, looking at his sneakers, added:


    "If bags could talk, they''d probably be asking not to be dragged to games like this."


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    "What if they just want to play basketball?" Lu Shen jokingly suggested. "Maybe they have their own plans for the evening!"


    Ming You pretended to smile:


    "Alright, enough joking. Let''s show them who''s in charge."


    On the other side of the court, when So Ho, Jen Ryu, and Mei Yu approached the benches, their faces were serious, and despair was evident in their eyes. They had just suffered a crushing defeat from Ming You, and that thought wouldn''t leave them alone.


    "What a bastard," So Ho muttered, looking at Ming You, who seemed to be enjoying the moment with his team. "Damn it, I knew he would trick us!"


    "Yeah, he''s just mocking us," Jen Ryu added, clenching his fists. "We prepared, he even talked about some advantage, and he just came out and tore us apart. Are we really that weak?"


    Mei Yu, standing a bit apart, crossed his arms over his chest and looked at his teammates:


    "We need to change something. If we can''t handle his game, we''ll keep losing forever. He knows how to manipulate us, and it''s infuriating."


    "Yeah, and his team isn''t stupid either. They know what to do to crush us," So Ho noted, eyeing their opponents. "We have to be ready for that."


    "As much as we don''t want to, we need to give it our all in this game," Jen Ryu said, his voice sounding resolute. "We can''t let him humiliate us again. We need to find a way to beat him."


    Mei Yu nodded, his eyes shining with determination:


    "With rules like these, where one point is less than one and his player has four times more, it''s just absurd!"


    So Ho, having gritted his teeth, declared to his team:


    "Whatever happens, we still need to be stronger than ever."


    Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the court, as Haru Lin was about to start warming up, sitting on the bench and bouncing the ball against the asphalt, Ming You approached him and said:


    "Before you start, I''ll tell you about your advantage: your points are quadrupled, while your opponents'' points are halved."


    Seemingly indifferent to this game, Haru Lin became very surprised:


    "What? You''re not joking right?" he asked again, but judging by Ming You''s indifferent face, this was a serious statement.


    "This information is just for your confidence," Ming You said, sitting on the bench. "I just want you to know that you now have a greater advantage than before."


    "How did you arrange this?" Haru Lin asked, still squeezing the ball in his hands.


    "I just made a deal with the referee, that''s all," Ming You replied, suppressing a smile. "You''ll win easily, but don''t lose confidence and don''t relax too much."


    Haru Lin shrugged, realizing this was his chance.


    "Great, thank you, Ming You."


    Ming You put on a smile and leaned back against the bench.


    On the court, Sung Wo blew the whistle, and the team started to come out. Haru Lin looked at So Ho''s team and then dashed to the center of the court, waiting for the tip-off.


    The referee blew the whistle a second time, and the game started as soon as he made the tip-off. Haru Lin won the tip and, without wasting any time, dashed toward the basket. He dribbled, bouncing the ball between his legs, his movements quick and precise.


    "Come on, Haru!" Lu Shen shouted from the bench.


    "Do I sense that you just distracted him¡­" Hun Ren remarked, who was sitting next to him.


    But soon, Haru Lin was surrounded by two players¡ªJen Ryu and Mei Yu. Haru tried to break through the defense, but in the end, Jen Ryu knocked the ball out of his hands.


    "Don''t underestimate us!" he shouted, then ran towards the opponent''s basket.


    The ball rolled to So Ho, who immediately passed it to Jen. Without wasting time, he leaped into the air and slammed the ball down.


    "Yes!" Jen Ryu shouted as he landed. "Suck it, Ming You!" Jen Ryu showed his middle finger towards Ming You, but he was sleeping on the bench with his head thrown back.


    So Ho just gritted his teeth, realizing that one point was now equal to 0.5. They were in despair, but Haru wasn''t going to give up. He got the ball back and focused on a three-point shot.


    "I need to concentrate," he thought, breaking toward the corner of the three-point line. "This is my only chance."


    Haru Lin, as the defenders rushed toward him, threw the ball, but it bounced off the backboard and missed. The ball ricocheted to Jen Ryu, who started passing it back to his teammates again.


    The five players began to confuse Haru, passing the ball to each other at incredible speed. Haru ran after them, trying to catch up, but they were too coordinated.


    "Ha, you can''t keep up!" Jen Ryu laughed as he made a dunk.


    Finally, the ball returned to Haru, and he, not wasting any time, dashed to the center of the three-point line. Despite two defenders closing in, he confidently shot the ball, and to his delight, it swished through the net. The score became 1:8.


    "Damn!" So Ho exclaimed, his face contorted with anger. "We can''t lose because of these stupid rules!"


    "It''s all Ming You," Mei Yu added, his voice full of disdain. "He turned the game into a farce."


    Haru Lin, hearing their conversation, felt a surge of confidence. He knew he could win even if everything was against him. He went on defense, but to no avail, as soon as he took a defensive stance, the players immediately passed the ball, allowing So Ho to calmly and steadily make a three-pointer. The score became 2:8.


    On the bench, Ming You finally opened his eyes and raised his head. He looked at the game with slight interest.


    "Hmm, not bad," he said, stroking his chin. "But it''s not over yet."


    Jung Ho broke away from his thoughts and looked at Ming You.


    "Aren''t you going to intervene?" he asked.


    "No," Ming You replied with a smirk. "He''ll manage on his own; besides, this pressure will keep him from relaxing despite his enhanced advantage."


    Hun Ren remained silent, but his eyes sparkled with greed. He also wanted to win to get his share of the money from Ming You.


    Sung Wo, standing in his place, observed what was happening. He was only interested in the bets. He knew many had bet on Haru, and that only fueled his greed.


    "Come on, guys!" shouted one of the spectators who had bet on the five players.


    The game continued, and the five players tried to play according to their strategy, but each time the ball got to Haru, he used his unlimited attempts at three-pointers to score, since the three-point shot could be said to have increased fourfold.


    "We can''t lose!" So Ho shouted, his voice full of despair. "We need to get it together!"


    But Haru was relentless. While the five players were in despair, he advanced to the free-throw line and made a confident shot. The two defenders, distracted by the score, failed to react, and the ball swished through the net. The score became 2:12. The atmosphere on the court was tense, and every player understood that the stakes were high.


    "This is impossible!" Jen Ryu exclaimed, his face flushed with anger. "We can''t lose to this bastard!"


    "Calm down," Mei Yu said, trying to keep his composure. "We can still win if we work together."


    Sung Wo blew the whistle, signaling the end of the first half. Haru Lin stood in the center of the court, his heart racing with excitement and adrenaline. Meanwhile, the five players were in deep despair and confusion.

 Chapter 21: The Final Game?

    Meanwhile, sunlight streamed through the windows of the school gymnasium as the rookie basketball team of Yoshido, who had not shown up for the games, gathered around Coach Chang Wo. The atmosphere was tense, and each of them understood that today they needed to discuss something important.


    "Coach Chang Wo, we... we wanted to talk about the recent games," one of the rookies began, his tone nervous.


    "Yes, go ahead," the coach nodded, raising an eyebrow. "What do you have?"


    "We played streetball," the rookie continued, his voice trembling. "Against one of the main players. Ming You."


    "What happened?" Chang Wo asked, his eyes narrowing.


    "We... we lost all three games," he confessed, looking down. "And now the fourth is already underway. We had to pay money to the thugs for the losses."


    "Thugs?" the coach exclaimed, his face paling. "What do you mean?"


    "They organize these games," the player explained. "We play for money, and if we lose, we have to pay back the debt. And Ming You... he has become the leader of these thugs."


    Silence hung in the air. Chang Wo clenched his fists, his face turning stone-like.


    "This is unacceptable," he said, trying to maintain his composure. "Do you understand that this could end badly? You can''t play with fire."


    "We didn''t know he would become a thug," the same player said, his voice shaking with fear. "We just wanted to show that we could play."


    "And now we have huge debts," another player added, tears welling in his eyes. "If we don''t pay... They are threatening us and our parents."


    "I can''t just call the police," the coach said, his voice becoming quiet. "Nothing serious has happened. But that doesn''t mean I will leave you in trouble."


    "Coach, what should we do?" asked the player who had first reported the games, his voice barely above a whisper. "We can''t keep playing, but we can''t just walk away either."


    "We need to go to the court," Chang Wo said firmly. "I won''t leave you alone with this problem. Let''s see what''s going on."


    The rookie team exchanged glances, and a mixture of fear and hope was evident in their eyes. They quickly dressed and headed outside.


    Moments earlier, the signal for the end of the first half had sounded, and Haru Lin, having given his all as the ball was passed from hand to hand among the five players, stopped, breathing heavily. He had just won against five players, and his individual score looked impressive. Cheers erupted from the spectators who had bet on him, but he paid them no mind, his thoughts occupied with what awaited him on the bench.


    Haru made his way to his team, where Ming You, Jung Ho, Hun Ren, and Lu Shen were already seated. Ming You, with his cold and impassive expression, sat with his arms crossed. He showed no emotion, but his eyes were sharp.


    "Keep playing how you want," he said, his voice steady and calm. "But don''t let your guard down. They will try to catch you off-guard."


    Haru Lin nodded, though emotions swirled within him. At that moment, he needed to focus on the game.


    "You played great," Jung Ho encouraged him, his voice full of enthusiasm. "But don''t relax. You have the advantage, but that doesn''t mean they can''t outmaneuver you, especially with such quick passes."


    Hun Ren, sitting next to him, simply nodded silently, his face indifferent, as if he were in another world. Haru knew that Hun always remained on the sidelines, but in moments like these, his support was important.


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    "Hey, Haru!" Lu Shen exclaimed, grinning at his teammate. "You''re not going to relax when we have a chance to make this game even more interesting, are you? Make sure they don''t catch their breath!"


    Haru smirked in response, but deep down, he felt the tension. He understood that the second half would be decisive, and he needed to show everything he was capable of.


    Meanwhile, on the other side of the court, the team of five players gathered around their captain, So Ho. So Ho, with a serious expression, looked at his teammates.


    "We can''t let them continue like this," he began, his voice full of determination. "These rules are absolute nonsense."


    "That bastard Ming You thinks he can break us so easily," exclaimed Jen Ryu, his eyes blazing with anger. He couldn''t contain his emotions and showed middle finger towards Ming You''s bench. "We need to show them that we can beat these scum even by their own rules!"


    "We need to focus on fast play," Mei Yu interjected, his voice calm and measured. "If we keep emphasizing quick passes, we can bypass his defense faster. He won''t be able to catch us if we act quickly and cohesively."


    "Yes, exactly!" Jen Ryu chimed in. "We need to seize every opportunity. If they think they can intimidate us, they are sorely mistaken. We will show them that a real team is not just one player!"


    So Ho nodded, his confidence growing. He looked at his teammates, and a flame of determination ignited in his eyes.


    "Mei Yu is right, we need to play as one," he said. "Each of us must do our part. We can''t let Haru Lin and his team think they have already won. We will do everything we can to take this game back!"


    Mei Yu, with his perfect understanding of team play, added, "Let''s focus on passing the ball quickly and effectively. If we can create space and use it, we have every chance of success."


    "I sincerely hate Ming You for being a scumbag," Jen Ryu shouted again, his voice full of fury. "He doesn''t understand that we won''t give up so easily!"


    "Yes, and we won''t give him a chance to beat us," So Ho concluded, his confidence resonating in every word. "We will show them that a team is not just one player, but a whole group that can work together."


    The whistle blew from Sung Wo to signal the start of the second half. So Ho, the team captain, stood at the line, his eyes gleaming with determination. He silently took the ball, and it flew from his hands, heading straight to Jen Ryu.


    "Take him down!" So Ho shouted, and Jen Ryu, like a bullet, surged forward, catching the ball. He was full of energy, his heart pounding in sync with the rhythm of the game. Haru Lin, standing still, realized that his opponents were moving as one.


    "Don''t give him a single chance!" So Ho yelled as Jen Ryu, after being chased by Haru Lin, passed the ball to Mei Yu. Mei Yu, handling the ball with ease, quickly passed it back to Jen Ryu as he slipped past the defense.


    Haru Lin barely had time to react as Jen Ryu received the ball again and, without a second thought, threw it at the hoop. The ball sliced through the air, and at the moment it hit the rim, Haru felt his heart clench.


    "Great start, guys!" So Ho shouted, raising his arms in the air.


    "Their confidence is quite strange," Haru whispered, gathering his strength. He found himself in a tough situation. He rushed forward, trying to steal the ball, but So Ho''s team was too coordinated.


    "Not so fast, you little lapdog of a bastard!" Jen Ryu taunted as Haru attempted a three-point shot. Jen Ryu easily blocked the ball, sending it flying off to the side.


    "You''re too overconfident!" he yelled after blocking the shot as the ball landed in Mei Yu''s hands.


    Haru Lin felt anger boiling in his veins.


    "Just one shot, just one!" he said to himself, gathering all his will.


    He tried to shoot the ball again, but So Ho''s team worked together seamlessly. So Ho, receiving the ball from Jen Ryu, made a quick pass back to Jen Ryu as Haru Lin stood in front of him, and Jen Ryu confidently tossed the ball into the hoop once more.


    "Come on, guys! Another point!" So Ho yelled, and his team scored again. Haru Lin, standing still, felt his chances slipping away. He couldn''t afford to give up. He knew he had an opportunity, and he had to use it.


    Gathering his thoughts, Haru decided to try shooting the ball from the center of the court. He took a deep breath, focusing on the hoop.


    "Hey, look at him," Jen Ryu pointed at him with a smirk.


    But to Haru Lin''s dismay, the ball flew wide.


    "Damn!" he cursed as he saw So Ho''s team launching another attack.


    "Stick to the same plan!" So Ho encouraged them as they began passing the ball to each other again. Mei Yu, specializing in passes, skillfully maneuvered around the defense, and soon the ball was in the hands of one of the players. He shot, and the ball hit the rim with a dull thud.


    "You''re too predictable, Haru Lin!" Mei Yu smirked as Haru Lin tried to intercept the ball again. He realized he needed to change things up. He decided to use fakes to outsmart the defense.


    "Catch me if you can," he called coolly, starting his dribbling. He quickly maneuvered the ball around himself, trying to confuse the defenders. But Mei Yu was too attentive. Suddenly, he swiped the ball from behind Haru, and it rolled across the court.


    "Catch!" Mei Yu yelled, passing the ball to Jen Ryu, who, without hesitation, shot again. The ball easily swished through the net.


    Haru Lin felt his chances dwindling. He knew So Ho''s team was working in harmony, but he refused to give up hope. He resolved not to surrender.


    "Persistence!" he told himself, gathering all his strength and focus.


    He rushed to the center as the five-player team gathered at the hoop. Haru Lin saw the hoop in front of him and, without thinking, shot the ball from the center of the court. At that moment, all eyes were on him.


    "Wow..." Lu Shen commented.


    The ball arced through the air, hit the rim, and to his surprise, went inside.


    "I made it!" Haru Lin shouted, raising his arms in the air. His score increased by 8 points, and he felt a rush of adrenaline.


    "That bastard... his points... screw him!" Jen Ryu growled angrily.


    But Haru Lin''s joy was short-lived. Suddenly, Coach Chang Wo stepped onto the court with several players.


    "Stop! The game is over!" he shouted, interrupting Haru''s moment of triumph.

 Chapter 22: Fuck the Coach

    The noisy court fell silent for a moment.


    "What do you mean the game is stopping? This is basketball!" exclaimed Haru Lin, his voice full of confusion and anger. He had just made a shot from the center of the court, and the joy of his successful throw was instantly replaced by anxiety.


    Coach Chang Wo, ignoring the protests, stepped closer to the referee, his face serious. He knew that what was happening on the court was beyond a mere competition. Coach Chang Wo''s gaze darted between the players and spectators, who began to whisper among themselves, realizing that something was wrong.


    "I''m not joking, Haru," the coach said, his voice turning harsh. "I will call the police if this doesn''t stop. You don''t understand what you''re dealing with. This isn''t just a game; it''s gangsterism!"


    The coach''s words triggered an immediate reaction from So Ho''s team. They exchanged glances, and relief sparked in their eyes.


    "Finally!" shouted Jen Ryu, his voice dripping with smugness. "That bastard Ming You is going to get what he deserves!"


    "Yeah, his time has come!" chimed in Mei Yu, his face glowing with joy. "We won''t put up with his arrogance any longer!"


    So Ho, observing his teammates'' reactions, felt a surge of confidence. He knew they now had a chance to rid themselves of Ming You and his influence.


    "He thought he could do whatever he wanted," So Ho said with disdain. "We''ll show him that a real team doesn''t need people like him!"


    The spectators, realizing that the game might end, began to murmur discontent. Almost all of them were unhappy that the game was interrupted and their bets on the players became uncertain.


    "Scumbag!" shouted one of the spectators. "We came to watch a game, not a showdown!"


    "Yeah, that old man doesn''t understand what he''s doing!" another echoed, his voice filled with outrage.


    A commotion arose among the spectators. They didn''t want to see their bets turn to nothing.


    Meanwhile, a group of thugs, sitting behind Taek Jung, gathered in the corner of the court. They exchanged glances and began to whisper, their faces full of malice. But Taek Jung, for his part, took no action and calmly watched the unfolding events.


    "This old man has no right to interfere," one of them said, his voice threatening. "We need to show him who''s in charge here."


    "Yeah, let''s just get rid of him," another added, his fists clenched. "We can handle this our way, right, Taek Jung?"


    Taek Jung was indifferent but still said, "Do what you want; the main thing is the spectacle."


    The thugs silently nodded in his direction and menacingly approached the coach. But at that moment, Ming You, observing the situation, stood up from the bench. His confidence was undeniable, and he approached the thugs, stopping them.


    "Wait, guys," he said, his voice authoritative. "Don''t interfere. This is my game, and I''ll deal with the coach myself."


    The thugs, dissatisfied but obedient, took a step back. Ming You, with a cunning smile, looked at Chang Wo. He stepped forward, pretending that nothing was happening.


    "Hey, coach!" he shouted, raising his hands in a peaceful gesture. "It''s just a game; there''s no need to get so worked up! Let''s continue; everyone wants to see us play!"


    Laughter and approval from the spectators echoed in response to his words. Ming You knew how to manipulate the crowd, and he was using that skill to its fullest. He saw some spectators beginning to succumb to his charm, forgetting what was happening on the court.


    The coach, however, was not about to back down. He stepped closer to Ming You, his face filled with determination.


    "You think you can just ignore everything?" he said, his voice filled with anger. "I won''t let you ruin the team with your antics. If you don''t leave the court, I''ll call the police!"


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    Ming You just smirked and, leaning toward the coach, retorted, "Police? Are you serious? You know this is just a game. No one will get hurt if we continue."


    With those words, he returned to his teammates, leaving the coach in a fury. The fire burned in Chang Wo''s eyes, and he realized he needed to act now. But Ming You knew the coach wouldn''t back down, and it was only a matter of time before his actions would lead to consequences.


    Chang Wo had no choice but to leave and wait for him at school. "You won''t get away with this, Ming You. I''ll be waiting for you at school," Chang Wo said, almost calling him a "bastard," though he desperately wanted to express what he truly thought of him.


    "Good luck, coach," Ming You sarcastically replied, then turned his gaze to the players still on the court. "Well, guys, it''s time to continue the game."


    So Ho and his team knew that thanks to the coach, they would be safe, so they simply headed to their backpacks, and Jen Ryu decided to say a few harsh words to Ming You:


    "Fuck you! We''re not going to play your games anymore."


    "Exactly, Ming You, from today on, you can consider yourself out of this basketball club," So Ho added, picking up his backpack.


    The game organizers were in a bit of a confusion, their eyes falling on Ming You, waiting for him to allow them to beat these debtors.


    "Ming You, should we stop them?"


    "Let them go, I''ll handle this myself. It''s to my advantage that my player wins," he replied indifferently but authoritatively.


    Son Wo, hearing Ming You, then made an announcement on the court:


    "Then the victory in this game goes to player number six ¡ª Haru Lin."


    Haru Lin himself was still unsure whether to be happy or not, as he wanted to completely crush So Ho.


    Jung Ho turned to Ming You:


    "What should we do in this situation? Personally, we don''t care what the coach says; you will always remain the captain of the team for us."


    "Yeah! We''re with you!" Lu Shen chimed in.


    Ming You, for his part, was indifferent but still said:


    "Thank you, but I''ll take care of this, don''t worry. Now, you can disperse; we''ve won."


    His team obediently nodded and got up from the bench, heading home. The spectators also began to disperse.


    The next day in the school corridor, Ming You encountered Chang Wo. The coach stood by his office, his face filled with determination. He began to scold Ming You, his voice strict and threatening.


    "You will no longer play for the team," he said, not hiding his anger. "I''m expelling you from the Yoshido basketball club and, if necessary, from the school. If you don''t stop your antics, I''ll call the police. Consider yourself lucky I haven''t called your parents."


    Ming You, realizing that this was not just a threat but a real danger, smiled. His mind was already working on a plan that could eliminate this problem once and for all. He knew the coach was not threatening him lightly. He had a family, and that was his weak point.


    "You don''t understand, coach," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I''m not going to give up so easily. You know what streetball is ¡ª it''s a game, and I''m just playing."


    The coach, unwilling to listen any longer, turned and walked away, leaving Ming You with his thoughts. As soon as the coach passed him, Ming You put on an absurdly wide smile, mentally contemplating: "Now it''s time to act."


    After school, Ming You decided to meet with his "friends" from the gang. He approached the bench where Taek Jung and the other thugs were sitting. They looked at him with a hint of confusion but still greeted him with a respectful nod. The first to ask him was Taek Jung:


    "Good to see you, Ming You. Do you have a new plan?"


    "No, I just need a van, and I know you or your underlings have one," Ming You said indifferently, with a deadly aura.


    "Why do you need a van, Ming You? You''re not planning a picnic, are you?" Taek Jung asked with a smirk, and the other thugs chuckled to themselves.


    With a cunning smile and a hint of threat, Ming You replied, "That''s none of your business. You know you owe me. This is just a temporary measure. I''ll return it when needed."


    Taek Jung, though displeased, silently handed over the keys and said, "The van is parked at the house a hundred meters to my right."


    Ming You took the keys and silently left the court.


    "Is he taking the van to go to school or something?" one of the thugs asked.


    "I hope so; who knows what this madman is planning," Taek Jung said with doubts.


    Already in the van, Ming You began to track the coach.


    Before borrowing the van, Ming You had found Chang Wo''s address in his cabinet on his phone. He already knew his schedule and had mapped out the routes he took. Every day he observed him until he left school with his family. It wasn''t easy, but he was ready to do anything.


    One evening, when the coach was leaving a caf¨¦ with his wife and children, Ming You made his move. As the coach and his family headed home, Ming You waited for them in the shadows. He emerged from the van with a bat in hand, dressed in a black hoodie and khaki pants, his face covered by a medical mask, and a black woolen hat obscuring his hair. He waited for the moment when the coach''s family would be close enough to act.


    As the coach and his family passed by the alley to get into their car, Ming You, emerging from the shadows, swiftly struck the coach on the head. He fell to the ground, and his wife panicked, nearly screaming. Ming You didn''t give her a chance ¡ª he struck her as well. The baby in the stroller began to cry, while the coach''s daughter, frightened, tried to run away with the stroller. But Ming You quickly dealt with them too. The only problem was the unquiet baby; Ming You could have hit him, but he was troubled not by conscience but by the thought that he couldn''t kill the baby in front of the coach if he struck him now. So, he used his t-shirt to gag the infant.


    Ming You dragged them all into the van, confident that he now had control of the situation. He drove to a pre-prepared abandoned building where no one could find him.


    Once they arrived, Ming You got out of the van and began to prepare the space. He laid plastic on the floor to cover his tracks. Then, while the coach and his family were still unconscious, he tightly bound them to the columns of the abandoned building, pushing the stroller away from the coach.


    Looking at them, he began to voice his thoughts aloud:


    "You thought you could just stop me? That I would let you ruin my victory? Now you understand what a real game is. There''s no room for weakness in this game."


    He walked around them, enjoying his power. In his mind, a new plan was already forming ¡ª to get rid of the coach and his family so that no one could stop him again.


    "I''ll make it so that no one remembers you," he said, his voice full of confidence. "And then I can play the way I want."


    Although Ming You understood that logically it would be best to kill them right now, he wanted to torture them. However, he had another peculiar quirk related to his past ¡ª he only psychologically tortured men, mocking their moral values, while he physically tortured women, as one of them had caused him immense pain.

 Chapter 22.1: Extra: Meeting at the Chess Club

    Two years ago, the hallways of the high school were filled with an atmosphere of lightness and youth. Ming You, a fourteen-year-old boy with black hair that fell just below his eyes and a thoughtful gaze, walked past a crowd of students who were laughing and discussing the upcoming competitions. He was smart and reserved, preferring to spend his time on the basketball court or in the chess club, where he could escape the hustle and bustle.


    On that day, he noticed her. Sun Hee, a student from the parallel class, was sitting on a bench in the hallway, engrossed in a book about romance. She had long chestnut hair that she constantly adjusted, and a light smile that instantly drew attention. Ming You couldn''t help but notice her, but as always, he remained indifferent.


    "Hi," she said as he walked by.


    Ming You glanced at her, raising an eyebrow slightly.


    "Hi," he replied, not stopping.


    Sun Hee felt a slight disappointment but was not going to give up. That same day, after classes, she entered the chess club. There, among the boards and pieces, she saw Ming You again, who was focused on playing a game with one of the classmates.


    "Hi!" she called again, approaching closer.


    Ming You looked up and nodded without taking his eyes off the board.


    "Do you play chess?" she asked, sitting down next to him.


    "Why would I be in the chess club if I didn''t?" he answered, his voice quiet and indifferent.


    Sun Hee decided this was her chance. When the classmate Ming You was playing left, she sat in the spot he had occupied and began to talk about her favorite strategies and her dream of becoming a champion. Ming You listened, but his eyes were filled with contemplation. He was interested, but he didn''t want to show it.


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    "You know," she said, looking at him hopefully, "I noticed that you always seem so... detached."


    He raised his eyes, and for a moment, their gazes met.


    "I''m always like this," he brushed it off, but deep down, he became curious about why she cared so much about him.


    Sun Hee didn''t give up.


    "I''m sure there''s something more behind that mask. Maybe you just don''t know how to open up?"


    Ming You felt his heart beat faster.


    "Maybe," he admitted, "but not everyone is ready to understand what''s behind the mask."


    At that moment, the captain of the basketball team entered the club, calling out loudly:


    "Ming You, let''s go, we have practice!"


    He glanced at Sun Hee, and a flicker of regret appeared in his eyes.


    "Sorry, I have to go," he said, getting up.


    "Wait!" she exclaimed, not wanting to let him go. "Don''t you want to finish the game?"


    "Maybe later," he threw over his shoulder as he left.


    Sun Hee was left alone, watching him leave the club. Inside her, a strange desire to get to know him better arose. She decided to wait for him after practice.


    When Ming You came out of the gym, he noticed her sitting on a bench.


    "You''re still here?" he was surprised.


    "Yeah, I wanted to see you play," she replied, smiling.


    "It''s not as interesting as you think," he said, but his voice sounded softer.


    "Maybe, but I''m interested." She stood up and walked beside him. "You play well, right?"


    "Sometimes," he replied, not wanting to reveal his true feelings.


    They left the school together, and despite his cold demeanor, Sun Hee felt that something was beginning to grow between them.


    "Do you mind if I come to the chess club more often with you?" she asked, hoping he wouldn''t reject her.


    "Why not," he said, and for a moment, a slight smile lit up his face.


    Sun Hee realized that this boy with the indifferent face wasn''t so unattainable after all. She was ready to uncover his secrets, even if it took time.


    She felt that something more was developing between them. She knew that behind his intellect and coolness lay kindness, and she believed that one day he would be able to show it to the world.


    Her dark eyes¡­ A knife plunged into the center between the ribs¡­ Above her, Ming You looked down with a desperate gaze, and tears dripped onto her.

 Chapter 23: Self-Coach

    Returning to the present, Coach Chang Wo began to gradually regain his senses.


    "What the hell!? Where am I!?" Chang Wo shouted in panic.


    His wife also started to come to, wanting to get up but realizing she was tied up and began to panic:


    "What''s happening!? Where are we!?"


    "Chang Soo Yeon! My dear!" Chang Wo searched in the pitch darkness for his wife, and when he saw her tied to a post opposite him, along with his daughter, he panicked even more and called out to them: "Chang Mi! Chang Soo Yeon!"


    His daughter was still unconscious, but Chang Soo Yeon, with a trembling voice, panickedly asked:


    "My dear, what''s going on!? Chang Mi, Chang Mi!" She looked at her daughter, who was tied to a post two meters to her right.


    Chang Wo was also in a panic, not understanding what was happening or why they were there, but just as he wanted to try to answer his wife, he suddenly remembered the second child:


    "Chang Yeon!!! Where is he!?"


    "Chang Yeon!!!" His wife panicked even more.


    "Chang Yeon... Chang Mi... My dear¡­ My dears¡­" Chang Wo began to fall into despair, while his wife continued to scream and plead for help, but after a few minutes, she too fell into despair, and her pleas for help became quieter and quieter.


    Just at that moment, when the family fell silent, Ming You emerged from the shadows, thinking about the past. He thought of Sun Hee when he tied up the coach''s daughter ¡ª Chang Mi. She slightly resembled his ex, but only Chang Mi was two years younger than the former Sung Hee he had dated.


    Ming You''s face showed no change; nothing tormented him. All he wanted now was to eliminate the obstacle for his victory.


    He approached the posts to which the coach and his family were tied and said to them:


    "To be honest, the only obstacle here is the coach, Chang Wo, to be precise. But unfortunately, and regrettably for my wasted time, I''ll have to take you all along with him. After all, when you got married, you swore to die together, so consider that vow fulfilled."


    Chang Wo lifted his head and looked at him with both anger and horror:


    "Ming You... you bastard! What the hell are you doing!? Have you sunk to such a level of scum!? Why are you doing this!? Why!?"


    Chang Soo Yeon looked at her husband in confusion, then at his student. Ming You calmly replied:


    "Finally understand" Ming You leaned closer to the tied-up coach, "you are hindering my victory, which means you have to be eliminated."


    Chang Wo began to sweat in panic and decided to ask him:


    "And where... Chang Yeon!!!" He saw his son in Ming You''s hands.


    "Is this what you''re looking for?" Ming You held the baby with one hand, as if he was about to toss him.


    "Chang Yeon!!!" The coach''s wife screamed in tears.


    "Ming You!!! Please don''t touch my family! Yes, you''re right, I''m to blame for kicking you out of the basketball club, me! So don''t touch my family, you can kill me, but let them go!" Chang Wo was also in tears.


    "By the way, coach Chang Wo, I decided to remember your instructions about shooting the ball; I''m holding it correctly, right, coach?" Ming You held the baby in his hands as if it were a basketball and took a shooting stance.


    "Ming You! Please stop! I''ll do anything you want, but don''t touch him!" The coach shouted in panic.


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    "My son!" His wife was also in a panic.


    But Ming You didn''t care about their pleas; he jumped slightly and threw the child like a basketball, and he crashed straight into the ceiling, then bounced onto the plastic-covered floor and smashed his head.


    "Chang Yeon!!!" The coach and his wife screamed in shock.


    But Ming You didn''t stop there; he moved closer to the baby and began to kick him with all his strength. The baby''s bones were thin, so blood oozed everywhere, and small organs stuck to Ming You''s shoes.


    "AAAH!!!" Chang Wo and his wife turned away from such a sight and began to scream in agony, but no one heard them, not even Ming You, as he satisfied himself with violence against others and enjoyed it.


    After finishing kicking the baby, when he stuck to the floor as if it were a leather layer of a bag, only a mush of bones, flesh, and small organs remained from the child.


    Ming You decided to gather these remains in his hand and show them to the coach:


    "Well, Chang Wo, did I make the shot correctly? Oh, right, you can''t use your feet in basketball; what a bummer." He sarcastically feigned regret for not being able to make the shot.


    "Y-you''re not human! Who are you? More precisely... What are you!? You''re not that honor student I saw in school, and not that brat I met in the school court, y-you..." Before Chang Wo could continue, Ming You threw the mush of the baby right into his face.


    The coach vomited, and he threw up directly onto his pants. His gaze was filled with despair; he could no longer utter a word. His wife also had no words left; she trembled, not because she was trying to break free, but because she was having convulsions from such a sight.


    "I think I forgot someone... Ah, right, your daughter; she''s attractive, heh-heh." Ming You touched her cheek with his bloodied hand.


    "N-no... P-please..." The coach desperately tried to plead with him, but Ming You only glanced at him for a moment.


    "Don''t worry, I''m not going to rape her, at least not with my body." Ming You pulled scissors from his pocket and began to snip them.


    "S-stop... Aa... AAAAAH!!! STOP!" Chang Wo screamed with all his might.


    Ming You, without lifting her skirt, removed his coach''s daughter''s underpants, then slightly opened the scissors and began to push them deep under her skirt.


    Chang Mi, as the blades of the scissors were pushed into her in two places under her skirt, she weakly opened her eyes. Blood was already flowing from beneath her skirt, but as soon as her vision cleared, she saw Ming You. For the first few seconds, she felt nothing due to the shock of pain and the shock of the situation, but as soon as she looked down at her condition, she immediately tried to scream:


    "Aa... Aah..."


    When the blades of the scissors went in as deep as they could and stopped at the screw of the scissors, Ming You tightly closed them with both hands, joining the two holes together.


    "AAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!" - Chang Mi screamed with all her might from such pain, and her body convulsed; from the pain, she began to vomit, and alongside the vomit, there was foam coming from her mouth.


    Blood was seeping heavily from beneath her skirt and spreading all over the plastic. The coach and his wife vomited again, and they tried to scream through their vomit, but unsuccessfully.


    Ming You plunged those same bloody scissors directly into Chang Mi''s eyes and slowly pushed them from her eyes to her brain. Chang Mi screamed with all her might through the vomit until the scissors finally reached her brain.


    "Chang Mi!!!" - her parents screamed in unison.


    "You bastard, what did she ever do to you!? Why!?" - the coach''s wife screamed desperately.


    "Chang Soo Yeon! Don''t provoke this psycho!!!" - Chang Wo was trying with all his strength to break free, but it was too late;


    Ming You turned his head towards the coach''s wife and left the scissors in Chang Mi''s eyes, pulling a kitchen knife from a black garbage bag, the one he used to kill everyone, and slowly walked towards Chang Soo Yeon.


    "N-no! Wait! She hasn''t done anything wrong!" - Chang Wo was trying with all his strength to stop him, but his student didn''t care.


    Ming You approached the coach''s wife and pinched her nostrils. Chang Soo Yeon opened her mouth, and he grabbed her tongue and began to cut it out with the knife.


    "Ming You!!!" - the coach screamed desperately.


    When Ming You cut out the tongue and held it in his hands, blood gushed from Chang Soo Yeon''s mouth. He threw the tongue right at Chang Wo, causing him to almost vomit, but there was nothing left to throw up.


    Ming You didn''t stop there; he grabbed Chang Soo Yeon''s hair and tilted her head back. Then he plunged the bloody knife straight into her throat, holding her hair down with one hand while with the other, he steadily struck her throat with the knife.


    Chang Soo Yeon began to choke on her blood and lose consciousness, but Ming You decided to shove the knife into her trachea and let go of her hair, leaving her to choke in her blood, leaving her in agony.


    "Bastard! You won''t get away with this! The police won''t turn a blind eye to this! This is no longer a game, this is..." - Chang Wo couldn''t finish his sentence when Ming You shouted coldly at him:


    "Shut up." - He jerked the cleaver into the coach''s throat, and he too began to choke on blood, but unlike his wife, he was in shock and gradually lost consciousness.


    In Chang Wo''s eyes, everything became blurry, but his eyes filled with despair when he saw what Ming You was doing to his family.


    When Ming You pulled the cleaver from the coach''s throat, he began to dismember Chang Wo''s wife from head to toe.


    "Ch-Chang... Soo Yeon..." - These were the last words of the coach as he saw Ming You packing his wife''s remains into garbage bags.


    After finishing packing the coach''s wife, he proceeded to Chang Wo himself.


    He dismembered the bodies according to his usual scheme: using the cleaver to divide the body into ten parts - two halves of one leg from the knee and the same with the other leg; two halves of one arm from the elbow and the same with the other arm.


    Then he had to finely chop the organs, scoop out the meat from all parts of the body, and finally strike the cleaver with a hammer to crush the bones and the teeth.


    After packing the coach''s remains into garbage bags, he did the same with Chang Mi''s body, the only difference being that her brain was a little smaller. But not because she was a girl, but because Ming You had previously shoved the scissors deep into the brain, slightly compressing it, making it a bit smaller.


    Having completed the packing of the remains, he began wrapping the bloody plastics. Ming You always laid the plastic in several layers to ensure that blood or bone dust did not get on the floor, ceiling, or walls. After wrapping the bloody plastics, he rolled up the clean ones and put them all into garbage bags.


    Before leaving, Ming You checked every square meter of the room with a UV flashlight. Ensuring that he left no traces, he took the garbage bags and stuffed them into the van.


    In total, Ming You, carrying six bags at a time, transferred twenty bags of "garbage" into the van.

 Chapter 24: The Annoying Rookie

    The morning sun was already rising outside, but the streets were still empty. Ming You checked the time on his phone ¡ª it was only five in the morning. The morning air was so fresh that it almost masked the faint smell of dried blood in the plastic bags, which seemed to linger with him despite all his efforts to get rid of it. He took a deep breath, trying to enjoy the purity of the morning, but quickly remembered what awaited him ahead. Work was waiting, and it was a time when the city was still asleep.


    Getting into his van, Ming You started the engine, and its sound broke the silence, signaling the start of a new day. He headed towards various trash cans that stood along the streets like silent sentinels waiting for their time. There were three hours until school, and he had enough time to finish disposing of the bodies.


    "Well, here''s your new home, Chang Wo," he muttered, stopping at the first dumpster. He jumped out of the car and began pulling out the trash bags. Each one was heavy, but he didn''t complain. This was his precautionary measure, and he approached it with responsibility.


    "One, two, three¡­" he thought, tossing the bags into the dumpster. "How I love this morning time. It gives me a sense of control, even when everything around is so chaotic."


    After an hour of driving, Ming You scattered the trash bags into different bins, stopping at every corner to complete his task. He had a clear system: first, he processed the central areas, then moved to the outskirts, where the trash cans were less noticeable. Thoughts about the upcoming final game against the rookies were already swirling in his head, specifically thoughts about defeating them.


    When he finished, Ming You headed back to the parking lot near the streetball court from which he had come. He got out of the van and, instinctively looking around, walked past several empty benches that were usually filled with students. Thoughts about the upcoming game were already running through his mind, about how he would use his skills and strategy to secure victory. He felt the adrenaline starting to rise, and it gave him confidence.


    When he entered the school gym, his team was already gathering. The atmosphere was tense but full of determination. Hong Ren, noticing him, immediately approached.


    "Ming You, you''re early today, got good news?" he asked, although his face displayed indifference.


    "Yes, there''s one," Ming You replied with a smirk. "The final game against the rookies."


    "You changed the rules?" Hong Ren asked, raising an eyebrow, his seemingly empty eyes sparkling with curiosity.


    "The rules are the same," Ming You said, scanning his teammates. "You can play however you want. Remember, your points increase fourfold."


    "Great," Hong Ren said, slightly encouraged. "It''s time to completely crush them."


    "Exactly," Ming You nodded. "Don''t forget to show them who''s in charge here. Don''t let those losers get the upper hand."


    "Don''t worry," Hong Ren promised indifferently, his confidence palpable.


    Ming You was about to leave when Haru Lin stopped him.


    "Are you going home already? Not going to practice?"


    Ming You looked at him with slight confusion and said, "Aren''t we having classes now?"


    Haru Lin smirked slightly. "Today everyone is busy in their school clubs; there are no classes."


    Ming You nodded silently and tossed his backpack into the corner of the gym.


    At that moment, Lu Shen approached them, his face expressing mild concern.


    "By the way," Lu Shen noted, "don''t forget we have a deal with the rookies, not with each other. I hope you haven''t forgotten how to play, Hong Ren? Or do you need a reminder from all of us? Especially from the most experienced player here ¡ª me."


    "Yeah, maybe you should just watch how I do it," Hong Ren retorted, maintaining his composure.


    "Oh, this will be fun," Haru Lin remarked, laughing. "I hope you both don''t forget we have a deal with the rookies, not with each other."


    Ming You, aiming to strengthen his position as captain, suggested with a grin on his face, "Guys, what if we celebrate our victory in advance? Everyone remembers how we celebrated after streetball games with other teams, right? There''s everything we need to celebrate properly."


    The team was surprised for a moment, then one by one, they began to smile widely and exchange glances.


    "Are you serious? Before the game?" Jung Ho asked, raising an eyebrow. "Why not? I''m in!"


    "But we know victory is ours," Ming You confidently replied. "It will be great motivation. Plus, we have a chance to have some fun."


    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    "Yeah, yeah," Hong Ren chimed in, his eyes shining with eager anticipation. "I''m in!"


    Lu Shen, who had been silent all this time, frowned.


    "Hey, maybe we should play first?" he asked, looking at his teammates in confusion. "I don''t want to wear myself out before the game."


    Everyone burst out laughing, and Ming You joined in, feigning laughter.


    "Oh, Lu Shen, are you still a virgin?" Haru Lin teased, grinning at him. "Did you really get scared and run away last time?"


    Lu Shen blushed but tried to maintain his composure.


    "I didn''t get scared or run away!" he replied, trying to sound confident. "I just had too much alcohol and¡­"


    "Oh, so you need to hang out with the guys?" Hong Ren quipped.


    Lu Shen blushed even more.


    "Not that I don''t know we''re a team and support for each other is important and all that, but¡­"


    Haru Lin added, laughing, "Haha, so you really want that kind of support from the team? I didn''t know much about you, Lu Shen¡­"


    "Dammit, no!" Lu Shen protested, but it was useless as the whole team was already laughing out loud, even Ming You genuinely smiled.


    "Alright guys, let''s go, and about you, Lu Shen, we''ll take you to a gay club." Even Ming You couldn''t miss the opportunity to tease him.


    The whole team started laughing even more.


    Lu Shen: "¡­"


    "Wait, you seriously want to go to a gay club?" Jung Ho blurted out.


    Veins bulged on Lu Shen''s forehead.


    "Dammit, no! I just had too much alcohol back then and couldn''t do what I needed to; this time you''ll see I''m good at this!"


    "Alright, enough already, let''s go." Ming You called them, and everyone nodded with smiles, grabbing their backpacks and heading to the club with prostitutes.


    Meanwhile, So Ho was searching for the coach all over the school. He headed to the cabinet but found it empty. Frustrated, he stepped out into the hallway and ran into a teacher passing by.


    "Excuse me, do you know where our coach is?" So Ho asked, his voice sounding insistent.


    The teacher shook his head.


    "Unfortunately, I don''t know. He was supposed to be here, but it seems something has delayed him."


    So Ho felt irritation building inside him.


    "Damn, where could he be?" So Ho muttered, contemplating the possible consequences. "If Ming You doesn''t calm down and no one stops him, it will be a disaster."


    He walked around the hallway again, peeking into classrooms, but couldn''t find the coach anywhere. Suddenly, he was overcome with a feeling that something was off. He remembered how Ming You said he would deal with the coach, and for some reason, So Ho at that moment changed the meaning of those words in his mind.


    "Could it be him?" he whispered, his thoughts starting to revolve around suspicions. "Maybe he knows something about the coach''s disappearance? Or did he scare him himself?"


    At that moment, his friend, Jen Ryu, approached him.


    "So Ho, are you okay? You look tense."


    "I can''t find the coach," So Ho replied, his voice gloomy. "If he doesn''t show up, threats from the gangsters might not be jokes."


    Jen Ryu felt his tension but still said to him, "If anything, we can just call the police, so don''t stress out too much."


    So Ho nodded and resolutely said, "Maybe you''re right. Well, let''s go play or something."


    Jen Ryu agreed, and they headed to the gym.


    Meanwhile, Ming You and his team decided to celebrate their upcoming victory. They gathered in a den where there were more prostitutes than people. Alcohol flowed freely, and the atmosphere was relaxed. Jin Xi, one of the girls, approached Ming You with a cocktail in hand.


    "Oh, so you''re my boss now¡­ That''s pretty exciting," she said with a playful smile.


    Ming You, maintaining his composure, replied coolly, "Yeah, you''re right, it''s pretty exciting. So, Jin Xi, get the fuck out of here."


    "Oh, how rude, I hope you really got excited," she teased and started to inch closer to him.


    "Sung Wo," he said, turning to the manager in a leather jacket with a black tie. "Get this bitch out of here."


    Sung Wo, with a slight look of surprise on his face, approached Jin Xi, who seemed oblivious to what was happening around her. She thought Ming You was joking and trying to play hard to get. But at Sung Wo''s command, her expression darkened.


    "Hey," he said, leaning slightly towards her. "You''re fired now. Sorry, but the rules are set by Ming You now."


    Jin Xi, not expecting such treatment, looked at him in shock.


    "What? I''m just having fun," she replied, but there was already a hint of irritation in her voice.


    "Have fun somewhere else," Sung Wo coldly said, pointing to the exit. "No offense, but that''s Ming You''s decision."


    Rolling her eyes, she got up and, casting a disdainful glance at the team, headed for the exit.


    Meanwhile, the team continued to have fun, discussing how Hong Ren would crush the rookies in the game. Ming You, raising his glass, said, "Victory will be easy. We''ll come back here again after defeating the rookies."


    "Yeah, and this time I''ll bring more girls with me," Lu Shen jokingly added, causing everyone to laugh.


    "Oh, Lu Shen," Haru Lin teased him, "are you sure you can handle at least one? Don''t forget, you need to stay conscious!"


    "Yeah, don''t worry, I''ll teach you how to do it," Hong Ren chimed in, smirking. "Maybe you''ll manage not to embarrass yourself for once."


    "Haha, very funny," Lu Shen replied, trying to keep a serious face. "I just prefer quality over quantity."


    "Quality?" Haru Lin teased again. "Wasn''t there quantity before?"


    Everyone burst into laughter, and Lu Shen, blushing, tried to joke it off: "Alright, alright, this time I''ll really try! But only if you all are around to cheer me on!"


    "Ugh," Jung Ho assured him, laughing. "Are you really going to look at us?"


    Lu Shen contorted his face as much as possible. Loud laughter erupted across the table where the team was sitting.


    The atmosphere was light and carefree, full of friendly jabs and laughter, creating a sense of unity and support within the team.


    But after a while, the team decided not to overdo it and to start the game.


    "Alright guys, let''s play, we''ll leave the girls for the end," Jung Ho declared, placing an empty glass on the table.


    "I agree, let''s go guys, it''s time to win," Ming You confidently concurred, to which the team smiled and nodded, heading towards the exit.


    The team headed to the school locker room to meet the rookies for the final game. Outside the school, the rookies were already waiting, led by So Ho. He approached the core of the team and, looking Ming You in the eye, said, "I''m not going to play. Where''s our coach?"


    Ming You, maintaining his composure, replied, "I haven''t seen him. You have debts, and you''re obliged to play to avoid problems."


    "Problems?" So Ho asked, his voice turning gloomy. "Are you serious? Are you threatening us?"


    "I''m just trying to help you get back on track, but if you prefer debts, that''s your choice," Ming You said sarcastically, turning to his team to leave. "Alright guys, let''s win against these losers another time, you can disperse."


    The core team exchanged glances but still said their goodbyes.


    "Alright, everyone, see you in the game," Jung Ho said, leaving with the team.


    "Bye bye," Ming You said to them.


    "Asshole," So Ho threw at Ming You''s back, but he just smirked.


    "Yeah, yeah, see you later," he sarcastically said, waving his hand, "maybe for the last time," he whispered to himself as he headed home, contemplating how to resolve this problem.

 Chapter 25: Eliminating the Threat

    Late at night, Ming You was already sitting in his room, immersed in dark thoughts. His mind was spinning with thoughts of So Ho, how he had become a real threat to him.


    "His suspicions could indeed be a danger to me, not to mention his rebellious attitude," Ming You thought, mentally sorting through the details of his plan. He knew he needed to act cautiously and without making a sound.


    Ming You opened his laptop and began searching for information about So Ho. He knew that So Ho often spent time with his team, and he needed to find a moment when he would be alone.


    In the morning, as the first rays of sunlight broke through the curtains, Ming You was already at school.


    Leaving his backpack at his desk, he approached the teacher and asked:


    "Can I take my chemistry assignment from the teacher''s lounge? I was in a rush when I did it, and I think I need to fix it," he said, scratching the back of his head.


    "Aren''t you already turning everything in with flying colors?" the teacher looked up, distracted from his phone.


    "I''d like to make everything flawless; that''s just the kind of person I am," he said, putting on a shy tone.


    "Well, since you feel the need to improve your work, I''m impressed. Here are the keys," the teacher picked up the keys from the desk and handed them to him.


    Ming You nodded silently, pretending to be shy, and headed for the exit of his classroom.


    Once in the teacher''s lounge, amidst the clutter, he found an old directory that listed students'' addresses. His heart raced as he saw the entry he needed.


    "So Ho, 12 Chonggil Street," he whispered, mentally noting the address.


    After classes, Ming You was already on his feet. At home, he meticulously prepared everything he needed: tools, plastic sheeting, gloves, and his personal symbol of achieving all his "victories" ¡ª a kitchen knife.


    "I need to make sure nothing is left behind," he thought, gathering his things. A plan of action was already forming in his mind.


    He changed into a black hoodie and khaki pants, stuffing a medical mask into his pockets.


    Ming You confidently made his way to So Ho''s house, trying to remain unnoticed. The basement he had chosen for his purposes was not far from the house. Ming You approached it, looked around, and made sure no one was watching him. The place was perfect ¡ª abandoned, dark, and secluded. He layered the floor with white plastic sheeting to leave no traces.


    "Here, I can do everything," he pondered, feeling gambling build in his chest.


    Ming You began to watch So Ho. He observed him and his sister, who often trained at a nearby field.


    "This is the perfect opportunity," he thought, sitting on a bench behind the trees. He carefully monitored their movements, analyzing every action. So Ho was focused, and his sister seemed always ready to support her brother.


    The training was intense. So Ho and his sister stood on the field surrounded by tall trees. The sun was beginning to set, casting its last rays on their training ground, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere. So Ho, dressed in the "Yoshido 54" sports uniform issued by his coach, held a ball with a focused expression.


    "Come on, So Yeon!" he shouted, winking at his sister. "Try to get past me!"


    So Yeon, with her long black hair tied back in a ponytail, smiled and confidently stepped forward.


    "Don''t think I''ll give up that easily, brother!" she replied, winking back.


    So Ho began dribbling, skillfully maneuvering the ball around himself. He knew his sister was always a step ahead, and that motivated him even more. So Yeon clenched her fists and started chasing him, trying to intercept the ball.


    "Hey, aren''t you running too fast?" So Ho teased, laughing as she almost tripped over a stone.


    "Ha-ha, just wait!" So Yeon replied, making a sudden sideways move to try to get past him.


    So Ho, anticipating her move, swiftly changed direction and dodged her attempt. He felt the adrenaline pumping through his body, giving him strength.


    "Like this!" he shouted, executing a feint they had practiced in their last training session and confidently moved aside.


    "How did you do that?!" So Yeon exclaimed, stopping for a moment. "You''re a magician!"


    "Just a lot of practice," he replied, smiling. "You can do it too if you try!"


    They continued to play, while Ming You, sitting on the bench behind the trees, watched them with a cold gaze, waiting for his moment. He enjoyed how So Ho and So Yeon seemed completely absorbed in their game, unaware of anyone around them.


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    So Ho and So Yeon, oblivious to him, continued their training, and soon So Yeon suggested:


    "Let''s play streetball! I''ll attack, and you defend!"


    So Ho nodded, his eyes lighting up with excitement.


    "Alright! I''m ready!" he shouted, taking his position, preparing for her attack.


    So Yeon, gathering her strength, charged forward, trying to get past him from the flank. So Ho, seeing her movement, quickly switched gears, and it felt like they were playing a game of tag.


    "You won''t catch me!" So Yeon laughed, but there was a hint of fatigue in her voice.


    "I won''t give up!" So Ho shouted, chasing after her, his heart racing with tension.


    At that moment, Ming You noticed how completely absorbed they were in their game.


    "When they finish, I can act," he thought, counting the seconds and putting on his medical mask and black beanie.


    Finally, as the sun began to set and darkness enveloped the street, So Ho and his sister decided to wrap up their training. Ming You felt adrenaline boiling in his veins. He knew the moment had come. So Ho, distracted as he put the ball away in his backpack, didn''t notice Ming You sneaking up from behind.


    A strong blow with a rock to the head caught So Ho off guard. He didn''t even have time to turn around. His sister, who was nearby, managed to scream, but her cry was cut short by another strike. Both were knocked to the ground, losing consciousness.


    Ming You, not wasting any time, quickly shoved them into his van.


    "Now everything will go according to plan," he thought as he closed the van doors and headed to his prepared location.


    The road was deserted, and the only sound was the engine breaking the silence of the night.


    When he arrived, Ming You opened the van doors and leaned over So Ho and his sister. He knew he had the whole night ahead of him, but he needed to get them into the basement quickly.


    He carefully grabbed So Ho by one arm and So Yeon by the other, trying not to hit their heads so they wouldn''t wake up.


    Struggling, he began to drag them toward the basement. Each step was heavy, as if his legs were rooted in the ground. Ming You felt cold sweat trickling down his back, but he couldn''t allow himself to give up.


    "Almost¡­ almost¡­" he muttered to himself, urging himself forward.


    Finally, they reached the entrance. Ming You kicked the door open with difficulty, and it creaked, revealing the path to the plastic-sheeted basement.


    "Come in," he said sarcastically, slightly lifting So Ho and So Yeon as he securely tied them to the pipes wrapped in plastic.


    The basement, though covered in white plastic, still seemed to stretch into endless darkness. Ming You, skillfully maneuvering in the cramped space, cautiously reached for So Ho, who lay on the floor.


    In his right hand, Ming You held a basketball ¡ª the very one that So Ho loved, with bright stripes and scuffs that testified to countless games in the yard. Ming You squeezed it as if it was the only way to keep reality under control.


    "Hey, wake up!" he said sarcastically, trying to rouse So Ho, but he merely stirred and groaned.


    When So Ho finally opened his eyes, his gaze fell on the ball. He straightened up abruptly, his heart racing. He recognized that ball, and in that instant, panic engulfed him.


    "You!" he shouted, fixing his gaze on Ming You. "What have you done to me? Where am I¡­ Where is my sister?!"


    Ming You, ignoring the cries, threw the ball into So Ho''s face. He tried to dodge, but the ball hit him squarely in the head. So Ho let out a soft groan of pain.


    "Calm down," Ming You said, his voice steady, as if he were talking about the weather. "Look to your right."


    So Ho, still confused, turned his head. His heart sank in horror. His sister, So Yeon, lay on the floor, unconscious, her face pale, without her sweater, and cuts visible on her arm.


    "So Yeon!" he shouted, trying to break free.


    "Don''t touch her!" he said threateningly, but with a hint of panic.


    Ming You merely smirked in response: "She''s safe as long as you behave."


    "What have you done to her?" So Ho asked, his voice trembling with fear and anger. "Let us go, I beg you!"


    Ming You looked at So Yeon, then back at So Ho. His expression remained unchanged.


    "I can''t. We have matters to settle," he said, as if it were something completely ordinary. "You don''t understand what''s happening, do you?"


    "I only understand that you''re a psycho!" So Ho shouted, tears filling his eyes. "Let us go, please!"


    Ming You sighed and, lowering his head, said:


    "As much as you want to, no one will let you go, but I just want you to understand something."


    "Understand what?" So Ho asked, not breaking eye contact. "That you''re a maniac who kidnapped us?"


    Ming You smirked slightly, but there was no joy in his eyes.


    "I''m not a maniac. I''m just a person who wants to achieve victory at any cost, and since you''re here, it means you''re a threat to my goal."


    "What victory? What threat? What are you talking about?!" So Ho demanded angrily.


    "You and your sister ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time," Ming You began, his voice turning serious. "But you need to understand: the weak have no place on the team."


    "What the hell do you mean?!" So Ho asked, not comprehending what Ming You was saying. "What does So Yeon have to do with this? Why did you hurt her?"


    "The cuts on her arms are a result of your weakness. She did this to herself because of you. You''ve never been able to protect her, and now she''s suffering," Ming You said coldly, recalling how he had "protected" Sun Hi for the sake of his own victory.


    So Ho felt a cold sweat run down his back. He couldn''t believe what he was hearing.


    "You''re lying!" he shouted, his voice trembling with rage. "Neither I nor she is to blame! You did all this!"


    "Well, as you wish, I''ll just help relieve her suffering," Ming You said, displaying a cunning, sinister smile as he pulled a kitchen knife from a trash bag.


    "What are you¡­ N-no¡­ NO!" So Ho screamed with all his might as Ming You slowly approached So Yeon.


    But the pleas were in vain, Ming You began to drag his knife across the cuts on So Yeon''s arms, causing her to stir slightly.


    When she regained consciousness, the picture was completely blurred. She moaned softly and tried to see what was happening.


    "So Yeon! So Yeon!" So Ho shouted at her.


    But his sister could barely hear his voice, and she was gradually dying from blood loss. She felt as if her arms were burning, and her face was turning pale.


    "So Yeon!!!" Tears welled up in So Ho''s eyes, but he continued to scream desperately.


    His sister seemed to want to say something but couldn''t, as Ming You plunged the knife into her eye and slowly pushed it into her brain.


    "Aah..." So Yeon cried out sharply in pain, but she couldn''t scream loudly and died.


    "So Yeon!!! Bastard, you won''t get away with this!!!" So Ho cursed him.


    But Ming You wasn''t listening; his next task was to dismember her body. He took a cleaver and began chopping at the body.


    "AAAH!!!" So Ho screamed, but then he vomited.


    Ming You didn''t stop there; he started ripping out organs and chopping them into pieces, then began to scoop out the flesh and, taking a hammer, started crushing the bones.


    So Ho was completely desperate and couldn''t bear to watch such a sight; it seemed he had vomited everything possible.


    "S-So... Y-Yeon..." he slowly and desperately repeated.


    But Ming You had already finished dismembering the body and packed the remains into garbage bags, after which he turned to So Ho and said to him:


    "Alright, my friend, I will ease your suffering."


    So Ho lifted his head in his direction and looked at him with a desperate and disdainful gaze. It seemed he wanted to say something or even shout, but So Ho couldn''t, as Ming You plunged a kitchen knife into his throat.


    Blood spread across the plastic, but Ming You wasn''t too worried, as there were enough layers of plastic. He picked up the cleaver that lay next to So Yeon''s remains and began to dismember So Ho''s body.


    Ming You followed his standard procedure: cutting the body into ten parts, opening the abdomen and slicing the organs, scooping out the flesh and bones, and finally packing all these remains into garbage bags.


    Having finished with the body, he began to pack the bloody plastics in the basement. Once done with the plastic, Ming You started shining a UV flashlight on every square meter. Ensuring he left no traces, Ming You confidently left the basement with the ''garbage'' bags.

 Chapter 26: The Necessity to Play

    Morning enveloped the city in a soft light as Ming You emerged from the dark basement. He reached for the heavy trash bags that concealed the remains of So Ho and his sister So Yeon. This process had become routine for him, and he felt neither fear nor remorse. Thoughts of an upcoming basketball game already swirled in his mind. He even felt a slight relief from having eliminated a threat that had loomed over him for a short time.


    Ming You''s footsteps echoed dully in the emptiness as he headed toward the van. He opened the doors, tossed the bags onto the back seat, and without wasting any time, started the engine. The sound of the motor sliced through the morning silence as he pulled onto the road. The journey to the nearest trash bins seemed endless, but Ming You was focused on his thoughts of how to make the newcomers play, or rather ¡ª lose.


    Stopping at the first bin, he quickly disposed of one of the bags. He felt a sense of relief as the bag landed with a dull thud at the bottom. Ming You moved to the next bin. The second bag also found its way inside, and a heavy weight fell from his shoulders. Ming You felt a slight satisfaction ignite within him ¡ª another step towards victory.


    Parking the van in the shade, he checked the time on his phone. Time was pressing, but it did not cause him any anxiety. He exited the van and, leaving everything behind, headed to the school.


    The noisy corridor greeted him with its familiar hum: laughter, chatter, and tattle. Ming You walked forward with an indifferent expression, as if nothing had happened.


    Ming You entered the Yoshido club locker room, where his teammates were waiting. Inside, there was an atmosphere of light excitement and anticipation. Jung Ho, slightly serious and focused, sat on the bench dribbling a ball. Lu Shen, sitting on the floor, was doing homework, while Haru Lin and Hung Ren simply stared blankly at the ceiling.


    "Hello, everyone," Ming You began, catching their attention. "I have an announcement for you."


    Jung Ho looked up, his expression becoming more focused.


    "What happened, Ming You?" he asked, setting the ball aside.


    "Today is the final game against those losers, and the only one of us who hasn''t demolished those losers is you, Hung Ren." Ming You glanced at Hung Ren, then paused for effect. "And the rules remain the same: points are quadrupled."


    Lu Shen, not missing the chance to tease, replied with a smirk: "So it''ll be six losers on the court?"


    Hung Ren, who had been staring at the ceiling, finally turned his head toward Lu Shen.


    "If I''m a loser, then you''re an eternal virgin. I hope you won''t interfere with my game."


    Laughter erupted in the locker room, even Ming You joined in, and Lu Shen, raising his hands in surrender, said: "Okay, okay, I won''t interfere. I''ll just sit back and watch you demolish those losers."


    Haru Lin finally chimed in, breaking away from his thoughts. "If you two keep chatting like this, we might not live to see the game. We need to practice, not discuss Lu Shen''s eternal virginity."


    "Oh, don''t worry, Haru," Lu Shen replied with a grin. "After Hung wins against those losers, I''ll show who''s a virgin and who isn''t!"


    "I think it''s pretty obvious already," Haru Lin quipped, causing veins to bulge on Lu Shen''s forehead.


    Jung Ho, observing their interaction, couldn''t suppress a smile.


    "Alright, enough jokes. Hung Ren, demolish them completely. Our job will be to support you."


    The team nodded confidently, and as Ming You prepared to leave, he added over his shoulder: "Good, I''m glad for your spirit, but now I need to warn those losers that today is the final game."


    The players nodded, and sounds of bouncing balls and laughter mixed with the tension before the game filled the locker room.


    Exiting the school, Ming You approached the basketball court, where the sun was beginning to set slowly, painting the sky in warm shades of orange and pink. He noticed a group of newcomers from the Yoshido basketball club gathered in the corner of the court, animatedly discussing something among themselves. Discontent and slight irritation were evident in their eyes.


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    "Where is So Ho?" Jen Ryu asked, tossing his hair back. His voice sounded sharp, like a knife''s edge. "He promised to come, and here we are like fools."


    "Maybe he just doesn''t want to play with us," Mei Yu scoffed, crossing his arms.


    Ming You, sensing this was his chance, stepped closer.


    "Hey, losers," he began, trying to sound confident. "You have a game on the line, you know? One against five. If you haven''t forgotten."


    Jen Ryu turned around, his face contorted with disdain.


    "You kidding me? You think we have to play with you?" He stepped forward, his eyes glinting with hatred. "Get the fuck out of here, Ming You!"


    "Yeah, do you really think we''re going to waste our time on some social reject?" added Mei Yu, his tone calm but the threat palpable in his voice. "We''re not obligated to play with you, and you can''t make us."


    Ming You wasn''t backing down.


    "You know you have debts," he said, his voice turning cold. "And if you don''t play, your families could be in serious trouble."


    Silence hung in the air. Jen Ryu clenched his fists, his face flushed with rage.


    "Are you threatening us?" His voice trembled with anger. He stepped forward and grabbed Ming You by his shirt, pulling him close. "You have no right to talk about our parents!"


    "This is a provocation, Jen," Mei Yu intervened, trying to calm his friend. "Don''t fall for it."


    "Provocation?" Jen Ryu shot Ming You a contemptuous look. "Even if it is, that bastard has no right to say anything to us."


    Ming You, not breaking eye contact, smirked and said, "If you refuse to play, I, or rather the organizers of these games, will take care of your families. Think about what will happen if you can''t pay your debts. Especially you, Jen Ryu; your lecherous mommy will have to work in some club to pay off the debts, heh heh."


    Jen Ryu couldn''t take it anymore. He punched Ming You in the face. The blow landed on his nose, and Ming You staggered back, feeling the blood start to flow. He reached for his face to wipe away the blood, and his smile only widened.


    "Is that all you can do?" he said slyly.


    The newcomers exchanged glances, and Jen Ryu, despite his desire to keep fighting, was thrown into confusion. Mei Yu pushed him back.


    "Calm down," he said with cold determination. "We can''t let him provoke us."


    Feeling the tension rise, Ming You added, "You''re going to play anyway. Or I''ll have to act differently."


    "Alright, alright," Mei Yu muttered, his voice becoming calmer. "We agree, but only because we have no choice."


    "In that case, I wish you luck," Ming You said sarcastically, turning his back to them. "I hope you won''t regret your decision."


    He left, leaving the newcomers alone. As soon as he was out of sight, Jen Ryu erupted in curses.


    "What a motherfucker!" he spat, clenching his fists. "I''m not playing with that faggot!"


    "But we have to," Mei Yu said, his voice filled with fatigue. "He''s threatening our families, and calling the police will only make things worse. We can''t just back down; we need to gather ourselves and prepare. If he thinks he can intimidate us, he''s sorely mistaken."


    "Maybe you''re right¡­" Jen Ryu reluctantly agreed, trying to suppress his anger.


    Later that night, Ming You and his team headed to the streetball court, where the illuminated hoops beckoned them like beacons in the dark.


    "Are you sure they''ll play?" Jung Ho asked, squinting as they approached the court.


    "Sure," Ming You replied without looking back. "They''ll have to play if they don''t want to drown in debt."


    "Unless they decide to take revenge," Lu Shen added, winking at Haru. "But that''s not our style, right?"


    "Don''t get distracted," Haru Lin said, his voice steady and cold. "The main thing is to focus on the game."


    They reached the court, and a group of organizers led by Taek Jung greeted them. Taek Jung, with an expression that could hardly be called friendly, welcomed Ming You with a slight bow.


    "Ming You, good to see you again," he said, his voice sounding sly. "You know expectations are high."


    "I have no doubt," Ming You replied, his eyes shining with confidence. "My player is ready to show what he''s capable of."


    Sung Wo, the game''s referee, stood next to Taek Jung, his face expressionless. He nodded in agreement, but a shadow of discontent flickered in his gaze.


    "The crowd has already gathered," he noted, pointing to the people eagerly discussing the upcoming game. "They''re waiting for a show."


    "There will be a show," Lu Shen said, grinning at the crowd. "Especially when Hong Ren starts taking these losers apart."


    Haru Lin shot him a stern look.


    "Don''t forget this is a game, not a show."


    The crowd began to gather around the court, and soon a team of five players approached them. Jen Ryu, with a fiery gaze, stepped forward, his face twisted with hatred.


    "Where the hell is So Ho?!" he shouted, dialing his number on his phone.


    "I can''t get through to him either; maybe he''s sick?" Mei Yu suggested.


    Jen Ryu gritted his teeth and put his phone away, glaring at Ming You.


    "Bastard!" he said, clenching his fists. "What the hell are you doing here? Do you think you can intimidate us?"


    "Intimidate?" Ming You smirked, his voice full of mockery. "I just came to watch how you''ll endure defeat."


    Mei Yu, standing next to Jen Ryu, gritted his teeth.


    "Don''t be so arrogant, bastard."


    "Oh, I think I''ll be more arrogant than I really am," Ming You replied, his voice cold and confident. "Good luck losing."


    Hong Ren, standing a little to the side, merely raised an eyebrow, showing neither emotion nor interest. His indifference contrasted sharply with the heated atmosphere around them.


    "Is everyone ready?" Taek Jung asked, raising his hand to attract attention. "We start in five minutes."


    The crowd buzzed with excitement, and the thrill began to fill the air. Ming You leaned back on the bench, his gaze sharply darting to the five players, but after a moment, he began to look at the court.


    "Time will show who is stronger," he said, his voice confident and commanding.


    "We''re not afraid of you, jerk!" Jen shot back, his eyes flashing with fury.


    "And that''s your main mistake," Ming You sneered, his words like an icy wind.


    All eyes were fixed on the court, where the game was about to begin. Hong Ren took his position, and the tension reached its peak. Time seemed to stand still, and the entire crowd held its breath, ready for a spectacle that promised to be thrilling at first glance.

 Chapter 27: The Final of the Friendly Games

    The game began, and tension hung in the air. The spirit of competition was palpable, felt even by the spectators on the bench. Hong Ren stood at the throw-in line, focusing intently on the ball.


    On the other side of the court stood five opponents, ready to attack. The leader among them, Jen Ryu, stood out from the rest. He glared fiercely at Hong Ren, as if his fury could unbalance him.


    "Come on, Hong, do it!" shouted Jung Ho, cheering on his friend.


    "Yeah, jump like a ball, not like an autistic!" teased Lu Shen, unable to contain his laughter, but quickly froze when he received disapproving looks.


    Hong Ren glanced at the other players. Jen Ryu and Mei Yu took defensive positions, preparing for the press. A moment later, a whistle blew from Sung Wo, and the game began.


    The first dribble. Hong Ren grabbed the ball with both hands and began to move slowly, his feet gently touching the asphalt. He dribbled with a low squint, carefully watching the movements of the defenders. Ahead of him stood two: Jen Ryu and Mei Yu¡ªlike predators eager to catch their prey. Hong Ren, gathering himself, suddenly changed direction, sending the ball between Jen Ryu''s legs.


    "Wow," Lu Shen marveled.


    "Asshole!" Jen Ryu shouted, clearly offended that he had been tricked.


    Hong Ren surged forward, navigating the press with quick right and left steps. Jen Ryu was not about to give up, as if his leg was glued to Hong Ren''s. Eventually, he managed to run up behind him and knock the ball away, sending it rolling toward the edge of the court. But Hong Ren did not give up, and at the last moment, when the ball seemed lost, he tossed it up and caught it, deceiving the defenders.


    "Bravo, take it!" Lu Shen shouted sarcastically.


    Without wasting time, Hong Ren took a few steps toward the three-point line. He crouched, his knees bent, his body consuming the space around him as if it was pressing him down. However, he changed pace again, added a feint, and somehow the ball was behind his back before it was back in front.


    "Don''t think I''ll let you go!" Jen Ryu yelled, trying to block him again.


    The ball was back at Hong Ren''s chest level. All his thoughts focused on the moment of the shot. He raised the ball high above his head, and it sparkled in the stars like the sun. However, the forces of the triple defense caused the shot to fail. Returning to his body, he noticed Jen Ryu talking about how easily he had been bypassed.


    "Watch and learn, you''ll never get past me!" Jen Ryu said aggressively, fueling the fire.


    In a game where five players faced Hong Ren, he continued to find space. Hong Ren began dribbling again, deceived Jen Ryu, moving toward the three-point line, lightly swaying back as if about to shoot when there was a flurry of arms!


    At that moment, two defenders, Mei Yu and Xiao Li, aggressively rushed at him, trying to confuse him, not giving him time to relax. Their bodies pressed tightly together created a wall, clearly intending to trap him. But Hong Ren, with his agility, executed a through-the-legs feint, the ball suddenly leaping over his hip, and, like a comet, he found himself two meters away from the hoop, unguarded.


    "Good job, now forget about agility ¡ª just shoot!" Lu Shen shouted.


    At that moment, Hong Ren took the shot. The ball flew toward the hoop and with a gentle sound, it swished through the net. Suddenly, there was a loud sound as the ball bounced off the rim, and to everyone''s surprise, it went straight into the basket. The score became 0:4.


    "What the fuck?!" Jen Ryu shouted, his voice ringing with hatred. "You''re just a lucky bastard!"


    On the bench, Lu Shen tilted his head, waiting for Jung Ho''s reaction, but he just smiled, unsure how to respond.


    "Fantastic, Hoon! Now I expect you to hit a three-pointer to match their attempts," Lu Shen shouted with a grin.


    Now Jen Ryu became more aggressive. He tightened up as he received the ball from Mei Yu and, with some madness, threw it at the basket, trying to show his strength. He stretched like a bow, tense as a string, and the ball flew with agility.


    "Suck it!" he shouted, right in front of the hoop.


    And just like that, the ball went into the basket, bringing half a point to their team. Emotions were running high again.


    "You got lucky," Haru Lin assured from the bench, but Hong Ren just raised an eyebrow, continuing to focus.


    The five-player team tried to extend their success through precise passes. Mei Yu paved the way through Hong Ren, and his pass to the center allowed Xiao Li to set up his shot. The ball flew like a bullet, and when it landed in the basket, the opponents closed the gap, increasing their score by half a point.


    Everyone on the bench groaned, but Hong Ren felt his confidence growing. Now he understood he needed to act more aggressively. Even though he had far more points, he still positioned himself, determined to finally get past the defense, but Jen Ryu and Mei Yu did not leave him alone.


    Hong Ren, remembering in his thoughts not to give up, tried to create a situation again. He dribbled at varying speeds, deceiving the defenders with light feints here and there, stepping on their feet and floating around them. All this time, the ball seemed to fit perfectly into every movement. Changing directions, semicircles ¡ª all of this created a kind of fireworks in self-deception, allowing him to remember every move.


    But at the moment of the shot, his hands did not work properly, and the ball flew past again. Those three attempts had already cost him the chance to lead the game, and seeing his panic, Jen Ryu darted for the ball, passing it to the other players.


    "Get your dreams out of here!" Jen Ryu said, expressing his hatred and ambitions as the ball hit Mei Yu''s sneaker. But Mei Yu, receiving it on the go, passed the ball to Xiao Li, who shot from under the basket.


    Hong Ren knew it was time to act. In his last shot, he three times positioned himself under the defender, deceived Jen Ryu, and ran to where there was space. Again he focused, confidently relying on self-assurance; a feint, a crouch...


    "Fuck!" Hong Ren shouted.


    Mei Yu knocked the ball away from behind and passed it to Jen Ryu.


    Jen Ryu passed the ball to Xiao Li, and he, standing behind the three-point line, took the shot. The ball soared through the air, and he managed to sink a three-pointer.


    "I didn''t think I''d fall for such a trick, hehe," Hong Ren said, determination sparkling in his eyes as he prepared for the next move to score even more points.


    The situation heated up again, and Jen Ryu was inspired. He rushed for a shot, but Hong Ren, without wasting time, pressed him and dribbled around again, this time approaching the hoop.


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    But he was surrounded on all sides, and the ball was knocked from his hands again. Hong Ren tried to catch up with the players, but he couldn''t keep up with the sharp passes, and Mei Yu made a shot from under the hoop.


    Hong Ren felt slightly dissatisfied, but as soon as the ball was in his hands, he surged forward.


    "Hold onto the ball like it''s your dick!" Lu Shen shouted at him.


    "Lu Shen... what a moron," Haru Lin said, holding his face.


    Hong Ren paid no attention, focused on the game. His opponents were about to surround him on both sides, but Hong Ren ran as fast as he could, getting further into the three-second zone and jumped.


    Jen Ryu jumped after him and tried to block the shot, but failed. Hong Ren dunked.


    Just at that moment, referee Sung Wo blew the whistle, signaling the end of the first half of the game:


    "The first half of the game is over, the score is 2.5:8 in favor of player number twelve!"


    Jen Ryu lowered his head, trying to catch his breath. He knew he had not handled Hong Ren in the first half, and now his team was trailing by almost ten points. On the bench, Ming You gathered his players.


    "Hong Ren," he began, "despite your advantage, I want you to play at full throttle. Score eight times more points than the rookies. This is your chance to prove your worth."


    "Eight times? Are you serious?" Hong Ren asked in surprise.


    "Yes, seriously," Ming You replied coolly, pointing at the scoreboard.


    "Easy for you to say," Hong Ren muttered, rubbing his neck. "I can''t just score eight times more, but I''ll try."


    Jung Ho, overhearing the conversation, couldn''t help but interject:


    "If you keep thinking that way, you''ll definitely fail. Just play your game!"


    "Yeah, keep your eyes on the ball like it''s porn!" Lu Shen teased, crossing his arms with a smirk. "Don''t let it get away!"


    Everyone laughed, and Ming You shook his head, watching his team.


    "Alright, enough talking," he interrupted. "Hong Ren, get back on the court and destroy those losers."


    Hong Ren nodded, and, encouraging himself, he began to rise from the bench.


    Sung Wo made a second whistle, and the game began. The five-player team immediately decided to strengthen their defense. Jen Ryu charged at Hong Ren, his movements quick and aggressive. He began to press, leaving his opponent no chance for an open shot. Hong Ren, feeling the pressure, sidestepped, then sharply moved the ball through his leg, trying to get past Jen Ryu. But he stood firm like a wall and knocked the ball from Hong Ren''s hands.


    "You just can''t handle us, can you? Bastard doll belonging to a bastard!" Jen Ryu mocked, flipping him off as the ball bounced to his teammates.


    Hong Ren, ignoring the provocations, watched as Xiao Li took a shot from the three-point line. But he missed, and Hong Ren skillfully caught the rebound and, without wasting time, took another shot from the three-point line. The ball flew swiftly toward the basket and, to his delight, went in.


    Mei Yu, realizing the situation was worsening, took the initiative. He quickly passed the ball to Jen Ryu, who, without hesitation, made a penetrating pass to Xiao Li. Xiao Li, positioned at the corner of the free-throw line, skillfully deceived Hong Ren with a behind-the-back feint and threw the ball into the basket.


    "Not bad!" Jen Ryu shouted, winking at Xiao Li. He understood they needed to act together, or they wouldn''t be able to catch up with Hong Ren on points.


    Meanwhile, Hong Ren, watching the game, realized that the opposing team was starting to lose stamina from such sharp passes. He maneuvered to the free-throw line, deceiving a defender with a light through-the-legs feint, and shot the ball. To his joy, Hong Ren hit the basket.


    "What the fuck!?" Jen Ryu exclaimed, his voice trembling with anger. He realized their chances of winning were dwindling as he looked at the scoreboard.


    The five-player team gathered, and they began discussing how to act better.


    "We need more coordination," Mei Yu said. "We have to work together to stop him."


    "Easy to say, but how do we do it?" Xiao Li replied, his voice indifferent, but his eyes showed a desire to win.


    "I''ll make a great pass to you, and you shoot from the three-point corner," Jen Ryu suggested, confident in his abilities.


    He took the ball again and, after a few dribbles, passed it to Xiao Li as Hong Ren approached. Xiao Li, not wasting time, successfully shot the ball into the basket from the three-point corner.


    Hong Ren, watching as his opponents began to pick up the pace, understood that time was running out, and he needed to focus. He knew that every mistake could cost him the victory. Again taking the ball, he began to slowly move toward the center line, contemplating his next steps.


    "You''re fuck done for, Hong Ren!" Jen Ryu shouted, trying to throw him off balance. But Hong Ren just smirked and continued moving forward, confidently controlling the ball.


    As he approached the three-point line, he noticed his opponents closing in, trying to create pressure. At that moment, he made a sharp step to the side, deceiving Jen Ryu, and took a shot from a distance. The ball arced beautifully and miraculously went into the basket, despite its strange trajectory.


    "Fuck my ass, yes! He scored!" Lu Shen commented.


    The opposing team was also in shock. They exchanged glances, and disappointment and confusion were evident in their eyes.


    "What do we do next?" Mei Yu asked, realizing their strategy had failed.


    "We need to act quickly! We have to shoot the ball while we have a chance! He can''t keep up with all of us!" Jen Ryu shouted, raising his hands.


    He took the ball again and, after a few dribbles, tried to deceive Hong Ren. But he was ready. Hong Ren tried to anticipate his move and, stepping sideways, thought he would intercept the ball.


    But Jen Ryu smirked and passed the ball to Mei Yu.


    "Don''t underestimate us, jerk!" Jen Ryu growled.


    Mei Yu, stopping near the three-point line, threw the ball in hope, but it flew past the basket, bouncing off the rim.


    "Fuck! We can''t miss any opportunities!" Jen Ryu shouted, raising his hands in despair.


    Hong Ren, sensing that his opponents were starting to panic, continued to remain calm. He knew that this balance and confidence had become his greatest strengths. He grabbed the ball again on the rebound and, alone with the ball, understood that his indifference and confidence had become his strongest weapons.


    He knew, so he mentally said:


    "Victory doesn''t always belong to those who are more emotional or aggressive. Sometimes it belongs to those who stay calm, even when everything around is burning."


    Hong Ren barreled forward and almost took the ball in both hands, but he didn''t and no double dribble occurred. Hong Ren decided to retreat to the center, as his opponents surrounded him on all sides.


    He stood at the center line and made a decisive shot.


    "Come on, don''t mess this up!" Lu Shen supported him.


    "Interesting," Haru Lin commented.


    Ming You, who had been sitting with his head down, just saw the arc the ball was describing. His eyes seemed to follow the movement, but then he rolled his eyes.


    The ball bounced off the backboard, and Hong Ren missed.


    "Yes! Suck my..." Jen Ryu was already celebrating, but the referee interrupted his triumph.


    "Dear viewers, the game has concluded with a score of 4:32 in favor of player number twelve!" Sung Wo announced to everyone.


    Cheers and exclamations of joy erupted from the crowd. People who had bet on Hong Ren raised their hands in the air, embracing each other.


    "I knew he would win!" shouted one of the spectators, patting his friend''s back. "Now we have money for beer!"


    "Yeah, and for a couple of whores!" replied another, laughing. "Hong Ren, you''re awesome!"


    Meanwhile, on the rookie bench, an atmosphere of despair reigned. Jen Ryu, hot-headed and irritated, pounded his fist on the bench.


    "Fuck! How could we have lost this fucking game?" He shouted, looking at Mei Yu and Xiao Li. "It''s all Ming You''s fault! Let''s go beat him fuck up!"


    "Calm down, Jen," Mei Yu said, trying to keep his composure. "We all did our best. The rules just weren''t in our favor."


    "Not in our favor?" Jen asked, his voice resembling a roar. "Then let''s fucking beat Ming You!"


    Xiao Li, usually quiet, added: "As far as I''m concerned, that''s exactly what he wants; you''re not going to dance to his tune, are you?"


    Jen Ryu clenched his teeth in anger, realizing he could do nothing about it.


    But while the rookies were talking, thugs led by Taek Jung approached them, their faces grim and threatening. Sung Wo, the referee, stood nearby with his arms crossed over his chest.


    "Well, well, fucking little shits," Taek Jung said, his voice low and menacing. "Looks like you have debts. And we can''t just let you walk away."


    "We''ll pay it all back," Mei Yu tried to assure him, but Taek Jung just smirked.


    "You have a chance to redeem yourselves," he said. "We''ll organize another game. For stakes. And if you lose, your debts will only increase."


    Jen Ryu, unable to contain his anger, shouted: "We won''t play under pressure!"


    "Oh, but you have no choice," Taek Jung replied coldly. "Play until you pay off your debts. Otherwise, the consequences will be unpleasant."


    Meanwhile, Ming You''s team gathered together, preparing to celebrate their victory.


    "Well, guys," Ming You began, "how about we celebrate? I heard there are some great whores in the back alley. And you, Lu Shen, it''s about time you got fucking."


    The team laughed in unison.


    "Yeah, I''m ready!" Lu Shen exclaimed, his eyes lighting up. "But only if you don''t order anything too expensive."


    "And don''t forget, I''m not paying for you," Haru Lin added with an indifferent expression. "Just don''t tell me about your escapades."


    "I''m in! And you, Hong Ren, coming with us?" Jung Ho asked, turning to his teammate.


    Hong Ren, though indifferent, smiled. "Why not? It''ll be fun, especially after the game."


    Ming You, watching his players'' joy, raised his hand, stopping them.


    "By the way, guys," he said. "If anything, I''ll come by a little later..."


    He glanced at the thugs, who were his underlings. "Please escort my friends."


    The thugs nodded, and Ming You, enjoying the feeling of victory, stayed behind, anticipating an even greater win than any streetball or friendly game could offer.


    ***


    The three-second zone is a small area from the hoop to the free-throw line. It is visually marked in a different color. In streetball, this rule generally does not apply, but in any professional game, it does, and such a rule will be encountered in subsequent chapters.

 Chapter 28: Announcement of Inter-School Tournaments

    The morning after the celebration of their victory over opponents seemed to begin with the world around them slowly spreading out like a drunken puddle on asphalt. Ming You, unlike the others, had drunk heavily but still entered the locker room with a stone face, as if he hadn''t been part of yesterday''s fun. He looked at his teammates, who appeared to still be recovering from their hangovers.


    "Hey, how are you guys?" Jung Ho asked, rubbing his hands together. "I feel like I''ve been run over by a truck."


    "A truck?" Lu Shen smirked, throwing him a sly glance. "You probably were the truck when you were hitting on those girls."


    "Come on, Lu, don''t start," Haru Lin said, rolling his eyes. "We have more important things to do than to reminisce about how you missed your little buddy more than once."


    "My buddy is not little! My monster is fourteen centimeters! And what the hell were you staring at my dick for!?" Lu Shen protested, raising his hands in a defensive gesture.


    "Don''t worry, no one saw anything," added Hong Ren, not lifting his eyes from his phone.


    Ming You, standing by the wall, observed this chaos with an indifferent expression. He knew they had a lot of work ahead, and the hangover of his teammates did not concern him. Suddenly, a man with short black hair and a white shirt entered the locker room; it was the basketball club manager, San Liu, and his face was tense.


    "Where''s the coach?" he asked, looking around.


    "Don''t know," the guys replied in unison, fatigue evident in each voice.


    "Alright," San Liu sighed, "we have more important news. The inter-school tournaments start in two weeks."


    "Tournaments?" Jung Ho repeated, raising his eyebrows. "San Liu, are you serious?"


    "Yes," San Liu nodded, sitting on a bench. "This will be a great opportunity to showcase yourselves. But you need to prepare."


    "And which teams will be against us?" Ming You asked, his voice cold and calm as always.


    San Liu looked at him as if assessing whether to share information with this seemingly emotionless psychopath. But seeing his focused gaze, he continued:


    "In the first branch of the tournament, the teams are Shoguro, Shindzu, Yuromusho, Siomo, and of course, Gokudan. These are the strongest teams, and Gokudan is considered the favorite."


    "Gokudan?" Lu Shen asked, winking. "Aren''t they the ones who always win? Back in middle school when we played, they were like seniors; it was like they were fed steroids instead of food. In that case, we should surprise them with our game."


    "Or just tease them, like you usually do," Haru Lin smirked.


    "Not teasing, but strategies!" Lu Shen retorted, raising his finger as if making an important statement. "We need to be confident in our abilities."


    "And are you confident in your abilities?" Hong Ren asked, not tearing his gaze from the screen of his phone.


    "Yeah, I''m confident," he replied, but his voice sounded a bit less certain.


    "Okay," San Liu continued, "the second branch of the tournament will be known after the first games. But you need to focus on the first."


    "And what are we going to do?" Jung Ho asked, his tone becoming more serious. "We need to understand their playing style."


    "I''ve already gathered information on each of the teams," San Liu said, pulling out a notebook. "Shoguro is known for its tactical approach, Shindzu for quick passes, Yuromusho for excellent defense, and Siomo for its sharpshooter and accurate shots. Gokudan, on the other hand, possesses all these qualities at once."


    Ming You pondered, his mind already working on strategy. He knew the team needed to be ready for anything, and if they wanted to win, they would need to analyze each opponent thoroughly.


    "And one more thing," San Liu added, raising a finger. "You will need to work on team chemistry. It''s important that you understand each other on the court."


    "Team chemistry?" Lu Shen scoffed. "You mean we need to have more fun together?"


    "Not quite," San Liu replied with a slight smile. "But if you work together and trust each other, it will help you in the game. Now, I''ll leave you alone."


    San Liu stood up from the bench and left the locker room, then exited the hall.


    "Alright," Jung Ho said, "let''s do this. We can start by spending the evening together. Maybe repeat last night?"


    "Great idea!" Haru Lin exclaimed. "It will help us bond before the tournament."


    "Sounds a bit gay..." Lu Shen added.


    The team shot him a sideways glance, and Haru Lin said to him:


    "Fucking with prostitutes with the whole team don''t make us gay, moron!"


    "Come on, guys," Ming You interjected. "Let''s celebrate after victories; right now, focus on the games."


    Ming You looked at his teammates, and his eyes sparkled with determination. He knew that the upcoming tournament required full concentration and preparation. The team had to be ready for any surprises, and he was prepared to do everything possible for that. The team headed to the school gym and started their practice.


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    "Okay," Ming You began, picking up the ball, "let''s warm up. I want each of you to focus on your movements and understand what''s happening on the court."


    "Oh, this will be fun!" Lu Shen exclaimed, winking at Haru Lin. "Maybe you can teach us how to do fakes so we don''t look like complete idiots?"


    "I''ll teach you how to do fakes," Ming You replied, his voice remaining calm. "But first¡ªball control. We start with simple passes."


    He began passing the ball to Haru Lin, who deftly caught it and then sent it to Lu Shen. Ming You watched their movements, noting each mistake.


    "You need to feel the ball," he said when Haru Lin lost control again. "Don''t just catch it; understand how it moves and be ready to make an accurate shot."


    "I feel it," Haru said, winking. "But it doesn''t feel me!"


    Lu Shen burst out laughing.


    "You could try kissing it; maybe that will help! By the way, where the hole is, I mean the nipple, the opening fits the size of your dick, try fucking the ball this time!"


    "Oh yeah who would say" Haru Lin replied.


    Ming You rolled his eyes but couldn''t suppress a smile.


    "Alright, enough joking; it''s clear my dick is bigger than all of you," he said, raising the ball. "Now let''s move on to more complex passes."


    "That''s because when you fucked that whore, your condom was too thick!" Lu Shen exclaimed.


    The whole team shot him a sideways glance.


    "So you really looked at our dicks?" Jung Ho asked, puzzled.


    "No! I..." Lu Shen wanted to continue, but Ming You interrupted him.


    "Okay, enough. Let me show off my fakes."


    He began demonstrating various fakes, passing the ball behind his back, then between his legs, using agility to bypass an imaginary defender. The team watched, holding their breath.


    "Like this," he said, executing a fake and sending the ball to Hong Ren, who skillfully caught it. "Now it''s your turn."


    Ming You began giving instructions, observing each movement of his teammates. He saw Lu Shen trying to repeat the fake but instead got tangled in his legs and fell to the floor, causing the team to laugh.


    "You look like you want to fuck the ball," Haru Lin teased.


    "Shut up," Lu Shen muttered, getting up from the floor. "I was just checking how the scene works!"


    "I see you''re not in your element," Jung Ho said, suppressing a smile.


    Ignoring the jokes, Ming You continued:


    "Now that you''ve mastered the fakes, let''s work on strategic passes."


    He explained how important it was to control the game''s tempo.


    "Imagine you''re in a situation where defenders surround you," he said, pointing at Haru Lin. "Your task is to create space for an open player."


    Ming You demonstrated how he could pass the ball to Hong Ren, who, in turn, had to be ready to receive.


    "Let''s try this in practice," Ming You suggested. "Haru, you''ll be the ball, and we''ll be the defenders. Try to create space for a pass."


    Haru Lin, smirking slightly, stood in the center while the other players took their positions around him, ready for the game. Ming You watched as Haru started moving, trying to bypass the defenders.


    "Come on, Haru," Jung Ho encouraged him. "Don''t be afraid; just imagine it''s the tournament final."


    Haru began to fake, trying to trick Lu Shen, who stood opposite him. But Lu Shen was ready and wasn''t going to let him go. Realizing he wouldn''t be able to get around him, Haru quickly passed the ball to Ming You, who was in a better position.


    "Great," Ming You said, catching the ball. "Now, Hong Ren, you need to be ready for the next move."


    Hong Ren, watching Ming You''s actions, began to move to the side, opening space for the pass. Ming You, noticing this, quickly sent him the ball, and Hong Ren skillfully caught it, then ran past the defenders, taking a few steps forward.


    "That''s it!" Lu Shen shouted, raising his hands in the air. "Great job, Hong Ren!"


    "But that''s not all," Ming You said, raising a hand. "Now we need to work on defense. Hong Ren, try to keep the ball under pressure, and the rest of you¡ªtry to take it away."


    The team took their positions again, and the game continued. Hong Ren tried to hold onto the ball, but the defenders, including Lu Shen and Jung Ho, didn''t let him relax. They tried to intercept the ball, but Hong Ren showed agility and confidence, skillfully controlling the ball.


    "Good job, Hong Ren!" Ming You cheered him on. "Keep your head up and see where your teammates are! But also, don''t lose sight of your ball!"


    After a few minutes of intense play, the team took a break. Everyone was tired but confident.


    "This practice was great," Lu Shen said, rubbing his shoulders. "I feel like we''re getting stronger together."


    "Yeah, but we need to work even more on synchronization," Jung Ho added. "We can''t afford to lose the ball at critical moments."


    Ming You nodded, understanding that there was still much work ahead of them.


    "Let''s gather and discuss how we can improve our game," he suggested. "We need to know what to do in every situation."


    The team sat in a circle, and Ming You began sharing his thoughts on how they could enhance their strategy and interaction on the court. Each player contributed their ideas, and the discussion became increasingly engaging.


    "I think we should try a few new combinations," Haru Lin proposed. "For example, if I move to the left and Lu Shen to the right, it might confuse the defenders."


    "Great idea!" Jung Ho supported him. "We can use this as a distraction maneuver."


    "And what if we add a few deceptive moves to that?" Lu Shen asked, his eyes lighting up. "That could work!"


    "Alright," Ming You said as the discussion became less tense. "Let''s plan another practice for tomorrow. I want each of you to think about your strengths and weaknesses, and we can work on them."


    The team agreed, and although they were tired, there was a fire of determination in their eyes. They knew a serious challenge awaited them, but together they were ready for any trials.


    "Tomorrow we''ll show what we''re capable of!" Hong Ren shouted, raising his fist in the air.


    "Yeah!" the others supported him, and laughter and joy filled the air.


    After practice, the team began to gather their things and head home.


    Ming You, meanwhile, walked slowly down the narrow street. The sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in soft pink and orange hues. He thought about the upcoming inter-school basketball tournaments that were to take place in two weeks. His team was full of enthusiasm, but Ming You knew they needed more preparation.


    Suddenly, he noticed a familiar figure standing by the wall of an old building. It was Taek Jung. Taek Jung was a sturdy guy with a short haircut and sharp eyes. He was always alert when it came to finances and organizing games.


    "Hey, Ming You!" Taek Jung shouted, making a respectful bow before approaching closer. "We have news."


    "What''s new?" Ming You stopped and waited for Taek Jung to come closer. "Did you bring the money?"


    Taek Jung nodded and pulled out a small bundle of bills from his pocket, handing it to Ming You.


    "Here, this is our income from last week. People are actively interested in the games, especially after you won the last tournament."


    Ming You took the money, counting it in front of Taek Jung and his lackeys, who stood a bit away. Ming You''s gaze remained indifferent.


    "Good. We need more players, more spectators. I''m preparing for the inter-school tournaments, so try to handle this yourself."


    "We''ll do our best," Taek Jung replied, his voice becoming more confident. "I''ve already made arrangements with several teams. They''re ready to participate."


    "Excellent," Ming You nodded, "but remember, we need not only quantity but also quality."


    Taek Jung and his lackeys exchanged glances, and each of them nodded in agreement.


    "Alright," Ming You said authoritatively, "you can disperse now."

 Chapter 29: The News About the Missing Coach

    The morning at school began as usual. Students were bustling through the corridors, discussing the latest gossip and preparing for their lessons. But this time, the atmosphere was tense. The homeroom teacher entered the class with a serious expression. He stopped at the board, gathered the students'' attention, and began to speak.


    "Dear students," he began, "I have an important announcement. This concerns our basketball coach, Chang Wo, and his family. Unfortunately, they have gone missing."


    A tense silence hung in the classroom. The students exchanged glances, unsure how to react to the news.


    "We don''t know what happened," the teacher continued. "The police are already working on the case, but if any of you saw anything suspicious or know something that could help, please let us know."


    At the back of the classroom, Ming You sat, his emotionless face betraying no feelings. He knew his behavior might raise suspicion, but right now, he just wanted the whole situation to pass quickly. So, he professionally put on the same expression as his classmates¡ªslightly worried, but still with a hint of indifference.


    "It''s fucked up," Haru Lin whispered to his neighbor. "What the hell?"


    "I don''t know," came the reply with a shrug. "Maybe they went away for the weekend?"


    "Hardly," added Lu Shen, smirking. "If they left, they would have left a note. Maybe the coach just ran away from us?"


    "Lu, now''s not the time for jokes," Haru Lin said sternly, though a slight smile was in his voice.


    "What if he''s hiding from debts?" Jung Ho chimed in, unable to suppress a laugh. "That would make sense."


    "Enough," Ming You interrupted, trying to sound serious. "We need to focus on the training. If someone knows something, they should speak up. But we shouldn''t make foolish assumptions."


    "Alright," Jung Ho agreed, though his voice was uncertain. "But still, this is weird. Why did he and his family just disappear?"


    The homeroom teacher finished his announcement and left the classroom. In the corridor, a police officer and the club manager, San Liu, were already waiting. They were discussing something with the teacher.


    "We need to talk to the basketball team members," the officer said, looking at the group of students. "If any of you have seen the coach or his family, please let us know."


    Ming You felt nothing, as though he hadn''t been touched by the conversation. He knew there was no place for emotions here.


    "We don''t know anything," Hong Ren said, leaning back in his chair. "I didn''t even know he had a family."


    "Seriously?" Haru Lin exclaimed, raising an eyebrow. "He always left with his family after practice."


    "I don''t know," Hong Ren answered with a shrug. "I just didn''t pay attention."


    The officer nodded, writing something in his notebook. The club manager, San Liu, stepped closer.


    "If any of you remember something, please let us know," he said to everyone. "We all want the coach and his family to return as soon as possible."


    After the announcement, the students went about their business. Ming You, Jung Ho, Lu Shen, Hong Ren and Haru Lin headed to the locker room. The atmosphere inside was tense, and each of them understood that the situation wasn''t simple.


    "Don''t you think this is weird?" Ming You asked, trying to divert attention from himself. "It''s pretty strange that the coach and his family just disappeared." He said this with his usual lack of emotion, staying true to his nature.


    "Maybe they really went away for the weekend or are hiding from debts?" Jung Ho suggested, though his voice sounded unsure.


    "Hardly," Haru Lin replied. "I think something''s off here."


    "Maybe it''s something from his past?" Lu Shen chimed in, winking. "Or maybe he really didn''t want to coach us anymore after the rookie incident?"


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    Ming You involuntarily smirked. Lu Shen always knew when to make a jab.


    "Let''s not forget that we''re all on the same team," Ming You said, his voice sounding confident. "We need to focus on training. We can''t afford to be distracted."


    "Alright," Jung Ho agreed. "But what will we do without a coach? We need someone to lead us, like you."


    Ming You felt the weight of new responsibility. He knew that if he didn''t propose a solution, suspicions might fall on him.


    "Maybe we should talk to San Liu?" he suggested. "He should have more information."


    "Good idea," Jung Ho agreed. "Let''s go talk to him."


    The team made its way to the club manager''s office, San Liu. This time, the atmosphere was even more tense than usual. Soon, they entered San Liu''s office.


    The manager was sitting at his desk, going through documents. When he saw them, his face immediately became serious.


    "What''s going on, guys? Did you remember anything about the coach?" he asked, putting down the papers and looking at their slightly worried faces.


    "We heard about the missing coach," Ming You began, speaking calmly. "We wanted to know if you had any news."


    San Liu sighed and shook his head.


    "Not yet. The police are working on it," he said, looking at them with understanding. "But I understand this is important to you. How do you feel about it?"


    "We''d like you to temporarily appoint someone in his place," Jung Ho suggested. "Maybe Ming You? He''s the best fit for the position."


    Lu Shen, standing nearby, winked at Jung Ho.


    "Yeah, yeah, let Ming You be the coach! We all know he''s the biggest strategy nerd here, not to mention his strength in the game."


    Ming You ignored his jab, but San Liu seemed to consider the suggestion.


    "You know, I''m not opposed to temporarily appointing someone," he said, looking at Ming You. "Since everyone is for you, I have no objections."


    "No problem," Ming You said emotionlessly.


    "Great!" San Liu beamed. "Then work together until the situation clarifies."


    After the conversation with the manager, the team left his office and headed towards the school gym for training.


    Meanwhile, in the police department, there was a tense atmosphere. Xin Shi, a young investigator with tied black hair and a perceptive gaze, sat at her desk, sorting through documents. Her thoughts were focused on the disappearance of the school''s basketball coach and his student, So Ho. She knew these events couldn''t be coincidental.


    Lao Han, a man with short black hair and empty, soulless eyes, entered the office. His face showed concentration, and he immediately noticed something was off with Xin Shi.


    "Xin Shi, you look upset," he observed, sitting on the edge of the desk.


    "I''m just thinking about the situation," she replied, putting down the documents and meeting his gaze. "The disappearance of the coach and So Ho... it''s not just a coincidence. His sister, So Yeon, also disappeared. This all looks suspicious."


    Lao Han nodded, his face remaining serious.


    "I think so too. These three cases are not just random disappearances. I''ve already connected them. I have a theory."


    Xin Shi raised an eyebrow, intrigued.


    "What''s your theory?"


    "I think they''re dead," he said, his voice sounding confident. "A psychopath is walking free, and we have no evidence to catch him. This guy is probably a professional at what he does."


    Xin Shi felt a chill run down her spine.


    "Dead? That''s a pretty serious accusation, Lao Han. We have no proof."


    "But we have a link to the Yoshido school," he continued, ignoring her doubts. "Most likely, the coach had a conflict with someone on the team. That could have led to an altercation. And So Ho and his sister might have become victims of that conflict."


    "But why them?" Xin Shi asked, trying to understand his logic. "It doesn''t make sense. Why would a maniac target them?"


    Lao Han leaned forward, his eyes gleaming.


    "Because they were vulnerable. So Ho is a perceptive teenager, based on his parents'' descriptions. And his sister could have been a victim to apply pressure on him. This might be part of a bigger plan, or worse, she might have been a victim of rape."


    Xin Shi sighed, trying to process his words.


    "Do you think one of the students could be involved? That sounds too radical."


    "Why not?" he replied, his voice full of certainty. "Fear of losing their place on the team or in society could make people do horrible things. I don''t rule out the possibility that one of them could be involved."


    "I don''t agree with that," she said, shaking her head. "I''m more suspicious of the manager. He has a motive to get rid of them. If the team loses key players, he could simply replace them and keep his position."


    Lao Han narrowed his eyes.


    "The manager? That''s a serious accusation. But we have no evidence that he could go that far."


    "But he has access to the team," she insisted. "He could have manipulated the situation to eliminate those who aren''t loyal to him or who are unnecessary."


    "Or maybe he just doesn''t know what''s going on," Lao Han countered. "I''m not sure he''s capable of such a thing. But if you''re right, we''ll need to talk to him. But there''s one catch¡ªwe don''t have a single lead or connection, so he might just refuse to talk to us, and we won''t be able to do anything."


    Xin Shi nodded, realizing they needed to act quickly.


    "Okay, in that case, we also need to talk to the players. They won''t be as concerned with the law, plus we''ll just talk. And maybe one of them noticed something strange."


    Lao Han leaned forward again, his face serious.


    "And if any of them is truly involved, we need to be careful. We might be dealing with something terrible."


    Xin Shi felt the tension growing inside her.


    "We have to be on alert. If it''s really a psychopath, he may have his own motives. Maybe he wants to be recognized or loved."


    "Or it could be an obsession," Lao Han added. "We don''t know what''s in his mind. But one thing is certain: we need to act as quickly as possible."

 Chapter 30: The Plan for Inter-School Tournaments

    The school gym was silent, occasionally interrupted by the sounds of balls bouncing off the floor. Ming You leaned against the wall, intently watching his team. His expressionless face revealed no joy or excitement, only cold calmness. He knew it was time to take an important step forward.


    "Alright," he began, drawing the attention of his teammates. "We need to discuss the upcoming inter-school tournaments. Each opponent has their strengths and weaknesses, and we must be prepared for any surprises."


    Jung Ho, always ready to offer advice, leaned over to Ming You and quietly asked, "Are you sure we should be discussing this now? Maybe it would be better for Lu Shen to warm up first?"


    "Warming up is important, but strategy is even more important," Ming You replied, keeping his gaze fixed on his teammates. "We cannot afford to underestimate our opponents. Let''s start with Syoguro. They are known for their tactical approach. Their game is built on well-thought-out combinations and teamwork on the court."


    Lu Shen, always ready to joke, couldn''t help himself: "So, maybe we should just scare them with our dicks? They''re not used to that kind of tactical approach!"


    "Lu Shen," Haru Lin chimed in, teasing his friend, "you seem to not understand that your dick won''t help us make a three-point shot."


    Ming You continued indifferently, ignoring the jokes: "Next, we have Sinzu. They pass the ball quickly and are capable of lightning-fast attacks. If we can''t stop them at the start of the game, they will set a pace that will be hard to change."


    "And what if we just stand still and watch them play?" Lu Shen interjected again, laughing. "That would be very tactical!"


    "You don''t get it," Jung Ho said, suppressing a smile. "Ming You is trying to say that we need to be ready for their quick attacks. We must learn to anticipate their movements."


    "Exactly," Ming You nodded. "Then we have Yuromusho. Their defense is like a wall, and breaking through it won''t be easy. But if we can find their weak spots, we can strike."


    "How do you plan to do that?" asked Hong Ren, his indifferent tone unchanged.


    "I analyzed their recent games, which San Liu provided me," Ming You replied. "They often leave corridors open on the flanks. If we can exploit that to our advantage, we will have a chance."


    "Sounds good," Jung Ho said, nodding approvingly. "What about Siomo?"


    "Siomo''s ace is their shooter," Ming You continued. "His shots are as accurate as ever. We need to be ready for his attacks and not give him any space."


    Lu Shen couldn''t resist again: "Maybe we should just lock him in a closet before the game? That would be great defense!"


    Ming You paused slightly, considering it as an idea, but ultimately ignored him and continued: "Finally, we have Gokudan. They possess all the qualities at once. It''s a team that can adapt to any situation. Their main asset is their versatility. If we can anticipate their tactics, we will have a chance."


    "So we need to be ready for anything?" Haru Lin asked, raising an eyebrow.


    "Exactly," Ming You confirmed. "We must be flexible and respond quickly to changes in the game."


    After that, he paused, allowing his teammates to digest the information. Ming You knew his analysis had been thorough, but now it was time to move to practice.


    "Let''s work on our three-point shots," he said, picking up the ball. "This is our key to success. If we are confident in our shots, we can put pressure on our opponents."


    The team spread out on the court, taking their positions. Lu Shen, as always, was the first to start teasing.


    "I hope we have the same accuracy as Ming You," Lu Shen said, winking at his teammates.


    Ming You just shook his head, but he managed a slight smile.


    "Okay," he said, lifting the ball. "Let''s focus. Each of you needs to work on your shots. We''ll do some drills, and then move on to defense."


    The team began taking turns shooting. Ming You watched each movement closely, correcting technique when necessary. He knew that confidence in their abilities was key to success.


    "Haru Lin, your shot is too low," he noted as Haru Lin attempted to shoot the ball into the basket. "Lift your elbows higher, and don''t forget about your follow-through."


    "Yeah, yeah, I know," Haru Lin replied, slightly huffing. "But you haven''t seen how I shoot in other games!"


    "And that''s exactly why we''re here, to improve our skills," Ming You said, not relenting. "If we want to win, we need to be at our best."


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    After several minutes of intense practice, the team began to feel more confident. Ming You noticed how Jung Ho had started to control the ball better, and Hong Ren finally began to hit the basket.


    "Oh, and by the way, guys," Ming You began, "I want to tell you about a new technique that we will use in the upcoming tournaments. I called it ''The Cobweb.''"


    Lu Shen, standing a bit aside, winked at him. "The Cobweb? I hope that doesn''t mean we''re going to catch them like flies," he joked.


    "No, Lu Shen," Ming You replied coolly, "it''s a technique that will help us create the perfect tempo for defense. It only works in team play and allows us not only to contain the opponent''s attacks but also to steal the ball at the right moment."


    "Sounds interesting," Haru Lin said, tilting his head slightly. "But how does it work?"


    "Look," Ming You continued, "the ''Cobweb'' is based on a strategy that allows us to move across the court in such a way as to create a closed circle around the attacking player. We will act as a single unit, using our positions to deny the opponent any chance to pass."


    "That sounds complicated," Jung Ho remarked, squinting. "How can we be sure it will work?"


    "The key is timing and coordination," Ming You explained. "In the last minutes of the game, when opponents start to panic, the ''Cobweb'' will be especially effective. We can force them to make mistakes and intercept the ball."


    "And what about weaknesses?" Hong Ren asked, raising his hand. "Every technique has its drawbacks."


    "You''re right," Ming You nodded. "The weakness of the ''Cobweb'' is that we need to buy time and outsmart the opponent. If they figure out our strategy, everything will become much harder. So it''s important that we act quickly and cohesively."


    "So we need to be like spiders weaving their Cobweb," Lu Shen smirked. "I hope I won''t end up as the fly!"


    "I''m sure you''ll be the spider," Ming You replied, pretending to laugh. "Now, let me show you how this technique will work in practice. Lu Shen, you''ll be the referee."


    Lu Shen, with a smile on his face, nodded and raised the whistle. "Alright, I''ll keep an eye on things. Remember, this is just practice, but I expect fair play!"


    Ming You chose Hong Ren for his team, and against them stood Jung Ho with Haru Lin. Both opponents looked confident, ready for a fight.


    "Ready?" Lu Shen asked, raising the whistle. "Let''s go!"


    He blew the whistle, and the game began. Ming You and Hong Ren immediately took defensive positions, trying to create the "Cobweb" around Jung Ho, who held the ball.


    "Hong Ren, remember," Ming You said, "we need to act in sync. I''ll distract him, and you try to intercept the ball."


    Hong Ren nodded, watching Jung Ho''s movements closely. Ming You stepped forward, raising his hands to block Jung Ho.


    "Come on, Jung Ho!" Haru Lin shouted, encouraging his partner.


    Jung Ho confidently maneuvered around Ming You, but he quickly returned to position, denying him a chance to pass. Hong Ren, following Ming You, began to tighten the "Cobweb," closing in on Jung Ho.


    "Don''t let him get away!" Ming You shouted, and Hong Ren made a quick step forward, trying to knock the ball loose.


    "Hey, not so fast!" Lu Shen exclaimed, watching the game. "That''s a foul!"


    "Not at all!" Hong Ren laughed. "We''re just trying to apply pressure!"


    Feeling cornered, Jung Ho began to panic and tried to take a step back, but Hong Ren was already close, leaving him no chance to pass.


    "Now!" Ming You shouted as Hong Ren lunged forward, intercepting the ball at the last moment.


    "Great, we did it!" Hong Ren cheered, raising the ball in the air.


    Ming You, smiling, said, "See how it works? We created the Cobweb and forced him to make a mistake. Now let''s attack!"


    They began moving toward the hoop, but Jung Ho and Haru Lin were not going to give up easily. Haru Lin quickly returned to defense, trying to intercept the ball from Ming You.


    "Don''t think you''ll get through easily!" Haru Lin shouted, attempting to block the path.


    Ming You, confidently dribbling the ball, maneuvered around Haru Lin, but Jung Ho was already waiting for him on the other side.


    "Think faster, Ming You!" Hong Ren shouted, encouraging his partner.


    "I know what to do," Ming You calmly replied, raising the ball over his head. He faked to the left, deceiving Haru Lin, and passed the ball to Hong Ren.


    Hong Ren skillfully caught the ball and shot it at the basket, but Jung Ho managed to jump up and block his attempt.


    "Not bad, but not enough!" Jung Ho laughed. "I won''t let you go that easily!"


    "We need to be quicker," Ming You said, gathering the team. "The ''Cobweb'' has to work as a whole. If we lose the moment, the opponent will take advantage."


    Lu Shen, watching the game, noted, "Guys, you need to interact more. If one of you loses position, the other should be ready to back him up. That''s the key to the success of this technique."


    Ming You nodded, understanding the importance of the referee''s comment. He gathered the team and said, "Let''s focus. We can win if we act cohesively. Hong Ren, you''ll be my eyes. Keep Jung Ho under control while I try to distract Haru Lin."


    "Got it," Hong Ren replied, preparing for the next round.


    The game resumed. Ming You took position again, ready for the attack. He faked Haru Lin out, stepping left, then sharply returning right to get around him. Hong Ren, following him, created the necessary space.


    "Let''s go!" Ming You shouted as they both approached the hoop.


    Hong Ren, receiving the ball, threw it toward the basket, but Jung Ho managed to jump up and block the shot again.


    "You need to be more creative!" Lu Shen commented, blowing his whistle. "Try using combinations and deceptive moves."


    "Yeah, yeah," Ming You said, "let''s try a new strategy. Hong Ren, pretend you''re going to shoot, and I''ll distract them."


    They started the game again, and Ming You noticed how Hong Ren prepared for his maneuver. He made a sharp step to the side, drawing Haru Lin''s attention. Hong Ren, seizing the moment, lifted the ball and shot it at the basket.


    This time, the shot was successful! The ball flew past Jung Ho and swished through the net.


    "Great job!" Lu Shen cheered. "Now you''re showing how the ''Cobweb'' should work."


    The opponents looked a bit confused, but soon regrouped and started a new attack. Jung Ho and Haru Lin decided they needed to act more aggressively.


    "We can''t let them keep going like this," Jung Ho said, preparing for the next move. "Haru Lin, let''s attack them from both sides!"


    They began moving toward the hoop, and Ming You and Hong Ren quickly took defensive positions. Hong Ren, feeling the pressure, closed in on Jung Ho, while Ming You focused on Haru Lin.


    "Keep him under control!" Ming You shouted, trying not to let Haru Lin through.


    Haru Lin tried to maneuver around Ming You, but he was on high alert. At that moment, Hong Ren, noticing that Jung Ho was trying to break free, quickly shifted to block his path.


    "Not getting past me, huh?" Jung Ho smirked, trying to get around Hong Ren.


    "Not today!" Hong Ren replied, standing firm.


    Ming You used this moment to attempt to steal the ball from Haru Lin. He stepped forward sharply and managed to knock the ball out of his opponent''s hands.


    Haru Lin was slightly shocked, and Hong Ren quickly rushed to him, with Ming You passing the ball to his partner.


    "Take the shot," he shouted.


    Hong Ren, not wasting any time, threw the ball at the basket. His shot was accurate, and Ming You''s team celebrated their success once again.


    "We have a great chance to win if we keep working together like this," Hong Ren said, smiling.


    Lu Shen, watching the progress, remarked, "You guys are doing great! But don''t forget to stay alert on defense. The opponents can take advantage of any mistake you make."


    The game ended, and the team headed to the locker room before dispersing to go home.

 Chapter 31: Weaving the Cobweb

    Yoshido team, dressed in black uniforms with red and white text reading "Yoshido" and their numbers below, proudly entered the stadium. The air was thick with anticipation and excitement, and the stands were already filling with spectators ready to support their favorites. The club manager, San Liu, with a serious expression, gathered the team around him.


    "Alright, guys," San Liu began, "today we have an important match. The Shindzu team is no pushover, so we need to stay alert."


    "Hmm, not bad," Ming You replied, his voice sounding confident and indifferent. "I''m ready to crush them."


    "I''m glad for your confidence, Ming You," San Liu nodded, "but remember, confidence is one thing, and results are another."


    "We''ll crush them," Lu Shen chimed in with a smirk. "They have no chance against us!"


    "You should learn to hold the ball," Haru Lin teased him, eliciting laughter from the others.


    "I''m the most experienced here!" Lu Shen retorted, but his confidence didn''t seem too solid.


    "Get ready," Ming You interjected, "we''re going to wipe the floor with these losers."


    The team nodded, taking his words as a call to action. They stepped onto the court for warm-ups, and the atmosphere intensified. Ming You, as usual, focused on analyzing the game, watching the opponents closely. The Shindzu team, dressed in blue and white uniforms, was also warming up on the other side of the court.


    Players from both teams practiced their shots while chatting with each other. One of the Shindzu players, a tall forward wearing number 23, confidently sank three-pointers, drawing approving cheers from his teammates.


    "You''re good," said one of the Shindzu players, number 11, "Yoshido doesn''t even know what''s coming for them."


    "I hope they aren''t too cocky," replied another player, number 7, "we''ll show them they don''t belong in this league."


    Meanwhile, the Yoshido team continued their warm-up. Hong Ren, indifferent to what was happening, simply tossed the ball into the hoop without showing much enthusiasm.


    "Hey, Hong Ren," Lu Shen shouted, "are you even going to play or just stand there?"


    "Yeah, don''t worry," Hong Ren replied, "I''m ready to help at any moment."


    The referee blew the whistle, and the game began. The Shindzu team won the tip-off. The player wearing number 23, who had just been sinking three-pointers, quickly passed the ball to his teammate wearing number 5. Haru Lin didn''t react in time, and the opponent easily scored from under the basket.


    "Well, Yoshido," mocked player number 5, "aren''t you a bit too overconfident?"


    "Go suck my dick!" Lu Shen shot back. "Just wait until we get rolling."


    Player number 5 merely smirked in response.


    Without wasting any time, the Yoshido team began their attack. Jung Ho, positioned on the perimeter, received a pass from Haru Lin. He looked at the defender blocking his path and quickly passed it back.


    "Come on, Haru," Jung Ho shouted, "make a move!"


    Haru Lin, faking the defender with a burst of speed, passed to Ming You, who was already waiting on the three-point line. Surrounded by two defenders, Ming You made a forward dash to draw attention. When he was surrounded, he skillfully passed the ball behind his back to Lu Shen, who was ready for the shot.


    "Watch and learn," Lu Shen yelled, sinking the ball from the free-throw line.


    "What a shot!" Haru Lin chimed in, laughing. "You still can''t hold the ball, Lou!"


    They quickly ran towards the basket, preparing for the next attack. The ball was back with the Shindzu team. Hong Ren, lazily stepping up to defend at Ming You''s signal, allowed the opponent wearing number 11 to slip past him easily. Noticing the open space, the opponent passed to number 7, who took a quick three-pointer.


    "You''re such a show-off," commented the Shindzu player, "don''t you want to play?"


    Jung Ho smirked and replied, "Yeah, yeah."


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    The Yoshido team regained possession. Jung Ho passed to Haru Lin, who, under pressure from a defender, passed the ball back.


    "Don''t be scared," Jung Ho said, "just play!"


    At that moment, Ming You signaled Jung Ho again, snapping his fingers and smiling. Jung Ho pretended to lose the ball, dropping it to the floor. The Shindzu defender, not expecting this turn, lunged for the ball, and at that moment, Jung Ho deftly sidestepped him, reclaiming the ball.


    "How naive you are," he said quietly, passing to Ming You, who was already ready for a shot.


    Ming You, confidently stepping up to the three-point line, once again drew the attention of the defenders. He faked a move through his legs, deceiving them, and passed sharply to Lu Shen, who was in perfect position to sink the ball through the hoop.


    "That''s how you play," Lu Shen exclaimed, winking at his teammates. "I told you I''m the most experienced here!"


    "And the dumbest," Haru Lin reminded him, laughing.


    The ball was back with the Shindzu team. Player number 23, noticing that Hong Ren was again inactive, approached the basket and dunked the ball.


    "Look at us winning," he said, laughing. "You have no chance!"


    Hong Ren merely shrugged, ignoring it. At that moment, Jung Ho received the ball again and, seeing that Ming You was ready, passed it to him. Ming You, as always, acted coolly, and his confidence spread to the team.


    The teams continued to exchange attacks, and despite Yoshido losing points, thanks to Ming You''s strategy, they maintained an ideal pace of play. The Shindzu players, unaware of their opponent''s plans, continued to act actively, scoring points.


    The referee''s whistle sounded, marking the end of the first quarter. Both teams returned to their benches, discussing their actions and preparing for the next part of the game.


    "Well, how did you find the first quarter?" San Liu began, gathering the Yoshido team around him. "You showed that you can hold your own against them, but you need to improve your defense."


    "Yeah, especially against number 23," Jung Ho noted, rubbing his neck. "He gets to the basket too easily."


    "That''s all irrelevant," Ming You added. "Guys, didn''t you notice?"


    The whole team looked in his direction. Lu Shen asked in confusion, "Did something happen? Is our technique from the last training going to work now?"


    While the team blinked in surprise at Ming You, he merely smirked. "Hehe, that''s right. They''ve unknowingly walked into a trap from which they can''t escape. Now, all you need to do is remember our training and use our Cobweb to its full power."


    The Yoshido team, filled with determination, nodded confidently at him. Each player, with a sparkle in their eyes, recalled the training that had sharpened their tactics. They knew their strategy was not just a set of moves, but a real Cobweb woven from mutual understanding and teamwork.


    Meanwhile, on the other side of the court, the Shindzu players were discussing their actions.


    "We''re outplaying them," said player number 12, laughing. "They don''t even know how to counter us!"


    "Yeah, but we shouldn''t relax," replied number 5. "They have a few strong players, and they can come back into the game quickly."


    "Let them try," smirked defender number 11. "We''ll just wipe the floor with them in the next quarter!"


    The referee blew the whistle, signaling the start of the second quarter. The ball was in the hands of the Yoshido team. The players took their positions, and Ming You stood at the forefront of the attack, his cold gaze scanning the court like a predator ready to pounce. Jung Ho was on the perimeter, ready for a quick pass. Lu Shen and Haru Lin were positioned on the flanks, ready for shots. Hong Ren stood indifferently in his position, observing the game.


    The Yoshido team started with light passes, throwing the ball to each other. Jung Ho, receiving a pass from Ming You, quickly assessed the situation and passed the ball back. At that moment, one of the Shindzu players, number 5, saw an opportunity to intercept the ball and lunged forward. Number 5 easily intercepted the pass.


    "Hey, looks like they''re out of gas," he mocked, confidently holding the ball.


    But then Ming You, without wasting a second, knocked the ball out of the opponent''s hands and passed it to Jung Ho. Without hesitation, he dunked the ball, which erupted in cheers from the stands.


    "Who''s out of gas now, huh?" Lu Shen shouted, raising his arms in the air.


    The ball was back with the Yoshido team. They continued to make light passes, creating a tempo that they controlled. Ming You, noticing that the Shindzu defender was distracted, pretended to pass to Haru Lin. He looked at him, then at the last moment, sharply changed direction, deceiving the defenders. It was a move that drew neither fouls nor double dribbles.


    Thanks to his speed and agility, Ming You maneuvered past the defenders and, finding himself under the basket, tossed the ball, which easily passed through the hoop.


    "You''re so fast," commented Hong Ren, his tone indifferent, but respect shone in his eyes.


    The ball was back with the Shindzu team. The players began their attack, passing the ball to each other, but they had no idea they had fallen into a trap set by Ming You. He anticipated their actions, and when one of the Shindzu players, number 11, made a pass, Ming You, like a predator, intercepted the ball.


    "Hong Ren," he called, passing the ball to his teammate. Hong Ren, positioned at the three-second line, effortlessly sank the ball.


    "That was too easy," Lu Shen noted with a smirk as the team returned to defense.


    "What the hell!" cursed the Shindzu player wearing number 12.


    "Don''t worry, they can''t be this fast forever," number 23 encouraged him.


    The ball was back with the Shindzu team. They tried to organize their attack, but Ming You and Jung Ho, like two sentinels, pressured Shindzu''s ace, number 23. He tried to break through the defense but, feeling the pressure, passed the ball. However, at that moment, Haru Lin, who had been watching the situation, unexpectedly intercepted the ball thanks to the trap set by Ming You.


    "Damn, I didn''t expect that!" he exclaimed, surprised by his success. He quickly sank a three-pointer, and the ball was back in the hoop.


    The ball was once again in the hands of the Yoshido team. They continued to maintain a perfect pace of play, utilizing the "Cobweb" technique. Each player knew their role, creating pressure on the opponents. Ming You, like a conductor, directed the team, signaling when to make a dash and when to pass.


    Jung Ho, receiving the ball, passed it to Haru Lin, who, without thinking, threw it to Ming You. Ming You, positioned at the three-point line, once again drew the attention of the defenders, and, dribbling behind his back and faking them out, passed to Lu Shen. Lu Shen, in perfect position, sank the ball through the hoop.


    "We''re just tearing them apart!" Jung Ho commented, winking at Lu Shen.


    The Shindzu team, not expecting such pressure, tried to organize their attack, but each time they faced the agility and strategy of Yoshido. The Shindzu players began to exchange passes again, trying to find open space. However, Ming You, as if he could see through them, moved faster than the ball, anticipating their actions and intercepting the ball once more.


    "You''re too naive," he said with a smirk, passing to Hong Ren, who again sank the ball from the three-second zone.


    Soon the ball was back with the Shindzu team. They attempted to attack, but Ming You and Jung Ho again pressured the ace of the team, denying him any maneuvering space. Player number 23, noticing he was surrounded, tried to pass, but once again unsuccessfully¡ªthe ball ended up in Hong Ren''s hands.


    "Is the ball just magnetically attracted to our team?" Hun quietly said, sinking another three-pointer.


    The Shindzu manager could no longer bear it and approached the referee, asking for a timeout. The referee, observing the game, immediately blew the whistle after the manager''s words.

 Chapter 32: The Yoshido Cobweb

    The players, tired and frustrated, returned to their bench.


    "What''s this nonsense?" cursed number 5, rubbing his neck. "How the hell are they so fast!"


    "We need to regroup," said number 11, pointing to the strategy board. "We need to change our tactics."


    "Yeah, but how?" asked number 12, his voice full of doubt.


    "We need more movement," suggested number 23, who, despite being disappointed, still remained the team leader. "We have to make them chase us, not the other way around."


    The atmosphere on the court was tense as players from both teams prepared for the next part of the game. Meanwhile, the Yoshido team, gathered around Ming You, discussed their actions and prepared for the next round.


    "You did a great job," began San Liu, the team manager. "But don''t relax. They can get back into the game at any moment."


    "We just need to keep going like this," added Ming You, his cold gaze focused on the opponents. "They''ve already given up."


    The Yoshido team nodded enthusiastically, ready for the next quarter, full of confidence in their abilities and strategy.


    The timeout signal sounded, and the players returned to the court. The Sindzu team, determined, started with a quick attack. Number 5, with the ball in hand, confidently approached the three-point line but immediately collided with Ming You, who was always on guard. Ming You locked his gaze on his opponent, preparing for the moment he would make a move.


    "Come on, come on," whispered Lu Shen, standing on the perimeter. He was ready to help, waiting for when his team would need it.


    Number 5 began dribbling, trying to confuse Ming You. He used a dribble through his right leg, then sharply changed direction, going around the defender. But Ming You, like a cold-blooded predator, did not back down. He anticipated every move, and when number 5 tried to make a behind-the-back feint, Ming You instantly intercepted the ball.


    "You can''t trick me," he said, throwing the ball to Jung Ho, who was already preparing for a counterattack.


    Jung Ho, with the ball in hand, quickly moved toward the opponent''s basket. He used a dribble through both legs, going around defender number 12. The opponent tried to stop him, but Jung Ho was too fast. He noticed Lu Shen opening up in the corner and instantly made a pass.


    Lu Shen, without hesitation, took a shot from the three-point line. The ball flew past, but Haru Lin was there for backup. He instantly tossed the ball into the air, catching it on the rebound, and attempted to shoot again, but defender number 5 finally showed his defensive skills, blocking the shot.


    "Are you even in shape? This isn''t about sticking your dick in a whore; this is a ball that needs to go in the basket! Though you probably can''t even handle the first one," teased Haru Lin as he got back on his feet.


    "I can handle it! I was just waiting for my chance," replied Lu Shen, smiling.


    Meanwhile, the Sindzu team, regrouping, began to develop their strategy. Number 23, still the team leader, suggested:


    "Let''s make a quick attack. We need to make them chase us."


    With these words, he passed the ball to defender number 5, who, using his speed, dashed to the center of the court. He executed a dribble through his right leg, going around Ming You, who remained cool as always. Ming You wasn''t in a hurry; he knew that the Yoshido team''s defensive positions were already forming and waited for the moment to intercept.


    "What an idiot," he said with a smirk, as if he knew what the opponent was about to do.


    Defender number 5, ignoring the threats, sharply changed direction, trying to go left. But at that moment, Jung Ho, who had been watching the situation, seemed to activate. The Yoshido players instantly coordinated, creating a tight circle around their opponent.


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    "Don''t let him breathe!" shouted Lu Shen, encouraging his teammates.


    Number 5, realizing he was surrounded, attempted to pass to defender number 12, but Hong Ren, showing indifference, unexpectedly intercepted the ball as if it were easy. He quickly passed it to Jung Ho, who was already waiting in the center.


    "Come on, show them how it''s done!" shouted Lu Shen.


    Jung Ho, not wasting any time, executed a dribble with a burst, going around defender number 23, who was trying to stop him. He used a behind-the-back dribble to confuse the opponent and, seeing that Haru Lin was open again, made a pass.


    Haru Lin, positioned at the three-point line, confidently took the shot. But defender number 5 intervened again, blocking the ball. However, Hong Ren, unexpectedly, rushed to the ball and, using his long limbs, intercepted it, instantly passing it to Jung Ho.


    "You can''t be serious," commented Lu Shen, laughing. "We''re not in a whore; we''re playing basketball!"


    On the bench, manager San Liu heard him and grimaced, muttering to himself, "What''s he talking about? What other whores?"


    Jung Ho, not wasting time, executed another dribble with a burst and shot the ball into the basket. The crowd erupted in applause, but the Sindzu team wasn''t about to give up. Number 23, realizing they needed to act quickly, started dribbling, trying to confuse the defense.


    "Come on, guys, don''t let them move!" he shouted, rallying his team''s spirits.


    He used a dribble through both legs, but Ming You, as always, stayed one step ahead. Defender number 10, trying to intercept the ball, unexpectedly collided with Hong Ren, who, strangely, showed activity and confused the opponent, causing him to lose the ball.


    "You''re playing like you''re handling a little dick, not a ball," teased Haru Lin, watching the scene with a smile on his face.


    Meanwhile, the Yoshido team, using their speed and coordination, began a counterattack. Jung Ho, receiving the ball from Hong Ren, quickly passed it to Haru Lin, who was already preparing for the next shot.


    Haru Lin, confident in his abilities, executed a behind-the-back dribble, going around defender number 23. He noticed Lu Shen opening up at the three-point line and, pondering whether he would make it or not, decided to pass. Lu Shen, in an ideal position, took the shot, but defender number 5 intervened again, blocking the ball.


    "Fuck," cursed Haru Lin under his breath.


    However, Hong Ren, not wasting time, rushed to the ball that bounced off the rim, and, jumping high, intercepted it. He quickly passed it to Jung Ho, who was already preparing for the decisive shot.


    Jung Ho, not wasting time, executed a dribble with a burst, going around defender number 12. He felt the adrenaline surging, and seeing that no one was blocking him, he shot the ball. It went in, and the crowd erupted in applause once more.


    The score increased, and the Yoshido team began to take control of the game confidently. But the Sindzu team, realizing time was running out, started to play as if with renewed strength. They began to tightly press the Yoshido players, creating a closed circle around Jung Ho and Lu Shen.


    Number 23, realizing they needed to act quickly, started dribbling, trying to confuse the defense. He executed a feint, trying to throw Ming You off, but he, as always, remained calm.


    "Even a little kid wouldn''t fall for your tricks," Ming You said, staying in place and carefully watching every move of his opponent.


    Number 23, unable to find an opportunity to shoot, passed to defender number 5, who, in turn, tried to break through to the basket. But Jung Ho was always on guard. He quickly moved into position and blocked the shot, causing the ball to bounce aside.


    In the final attack, Sindzu players began to panic, not understanding how to get around Yoshido''s defense. Number 5, receiving the ball, tried to dribble through his left leg, but Hong Ren, showing indifference, unexpectedly intercepted the ball and passed it to Jung Ho.


    The referee, watching the last seconds of the game, raised his whistle. Players from both teams froze in anticipation, but the whistle blew, ending the match. The crowd erupted in cheers, and the Yoshido team, with relief and joy, began to celebrate their victory.


    "We did it!" shouted Lu Shen, hugging Jung Ho.


    "It was a real battle," added Haru Lin, rubbing his hands. "We showed them what we''re capable of!"


    "Our victory was already predetermined," Ming You reminded them, smiling at his teammates.


    The team, still filled with joy, headed toward the stadium exit. Lu Shen, not missing the opportunity to tease his teammates, exclaimed with a smirk, "So, guys, how about we celebrate the victory? Or should we just go and masturbate together?"


    Haru Lin rolled his eyes but couldn''t help but smile. "Masturbate is your specialty, Lu."


    Jung Ho chimed in, "Yeah, Lu, you''d better save your ''plans after victory'' for the next match."


    Ming You, maintaining his composure, just shook his head. He knew there was always room for light-hearted jokes in the team, but right now, he wanted to focus on the next stage.


    "We need to analyze the game, identify weaknesses, and prepare for the next opponent," he said, scanning his teammates.


    Hong Ren, standing aside, nodded in agreement with the captain. He had always been indifferent to everything except tactics, and his interest in the game was the only thing that mattered to him.


    Meanwhile, the bench players, standing in the shadows, watched their team''s celebration. Jen Ryu, clenching his fists, couldn''t contain his anger.


    "They don''t even realize how lucky they are!" he exploded, looking at the festive crowd. "Why the hell did that bastard make us come here if he didn''t even let us play!? And where the fuck is So Ho!?"


    Mei Yu, more composed, tried to calm his friend down. "Don''t worry so much, Jen. We''ll have our chance. The main thing is that we''re still together. And about So Ho¡­ I heard something terrible from his parents¡­"


    The group of bench players immediately turned their gazes to Mei Yu, and Jen Ryu asked anxiously, "What the hell? Explain!"


    "I wanted to announce this at school, but it seems I have no choice. To put it briefly, So Ho, along with his sister, has gone missing. And the police are already searching for them."


    All the bench players fell into shock. One of the players, recalling the coach''s disappearance, suggested, "Could it be somehow related to the disappearance of our coach? It''s like they both vanished on the same day."


    The bench players fell into even greater shock. Jen Ryu, clenching his fists, said, "This is fucked up. Could it be¡­?" The cunning face of Ming You and the faces of the thugs flashed through Jen Ryu''s mind.

 Chapter 33: Capturing the Threat

    The locker room of the Yoshido basketball club was filled with laughter and chatter. The team, sitting on the benches, discussed the upcoming party at the hangout where they planned to celebrate their latest victory.


    "Hey, Lu Shen," Jung Ho began, winking at his friend, "you know there are such ''jokes'' at the hangout that you couldn''t come up with yourself?"


    Lu Shen leaned forward with a smirk on his face. "Yeah? How about ''a vagina is like a ball ¡ª always in play''?" he blurted out, causing an explosion of laughter.


    Haru Lin, sitting nearby, teased him: "Lu, do you realize that your fucking jokes are like your game? A complete lack of strategy!"


    "Oh, come on!" Lu Shen waved it off, but his eyes sparkled with amusement. "If I were as good at the game as I am in sex, we''d already be in the finals!"


    Ming You, sitting at the edge of the bench, crossed his arms and looked at his teammates. His cold gaze made everyone freeze. "This is not a victory," he said, his voice quiet but sounding like a hammer strike. "This is just a step. We will celebrate a real victory only after we take first place in the interschool tournaments."


    Silence enveloped the locker room, but then Jung Ho, not losing his sense of humor, tried to lighten the mood: "Well, if you insist, Ming You, maybe we should just celebrate the ''step''? How about a toast to the ''first place'' in our hearts?"


    "Yeah," Haru chimed in. "And then we can ''fix'' our vagina jokes at the next meeting."


    Lu Shen grinned widely again. "Sounds like a plan! But I still won''t pass up on some fucking. Jokes aside, I need ''jokes'' in real life!"


    Ming You, not giving in to the provocations, stood up and adjusted his uniform. "Let''s put off the whores until we achieve our goal. I''m going to San Liu for the game records of the next team. We need to prepare."


    "Oh, plot twist!" Jung Ho exclaimed. "Ming You, you''re not going to watch the recordings without us, are you? This is a team effort!"


    "I''m not going to waste time on your jokes," Ming You replied, his voice as cold as ice. "We have work to do."


    The team, despite his cool demeanor, felt his determination lifting their spirits. They stood up, full of enthusiasm and readiness for the next challenge.


    "Alright," said Hong Ren, "let''s do this. We need to be ready."


    Ming You, not waiting for approving shouts, left the locker room. His footsteps echoed in the hallway as he headed to the manager''s office, his thoughts focused on the next step of their journey, or rather, his own path.


    "The team is just pieces on a board, and I''m the player. The captain may be the king, but the true captain is the one who knows how to manage both the king and his pieces," he mused.


    And with these thoughts, he left the school gym, his figure disappearing behind the door, leaving the team to practice.


    The manager''s office of the Yoshido basketball club was small but cozy. Photos of the team from their middle school days adorned the walls, with Coach Chang Wu and a tall player with dreadlocks at the center, and game result printouts lay on the desk. Ming You, with his indifferent expression, entered the office without knocking, which caused slight annoyance in San Liu.


    "Hey, don''t you know how to knock? This isn''t your apartment, Ming You," he said, looking up from his laptop.


    Ming You tilted his head slightly and replied, "Hi, San Liu. Don''t worry, I just came for information."


    "Information, you say? You''re not in a spy movie, guy. What do you need?" San Liu asked with a crooked smile.


    Ming You approached the desk: "Which team will be in the second round of the interschool tournaments?"


    San Liu, slightly surprised by Ming You''s directness, set down his mouse and looked at him cautiously: "It will be the Siomo team. They are known for their accurate shots. They have an ace ¡ª a shooter who can score from almost any point on the court."


    "Sounds interesting. I''d like to see the recordings of their games," Ming You said, shaking his head.


    San Liu, a bit taken aback by such insistence, opened a drawer and pulled out a flash drive, handing it to Ming You: "Here, take it. All their matches, including the latest ones."


    Ming You took the flash drive, his hand gliding over the surface as if he could already see the game he was about to play.


    "Thank you very much," he said with a sly smile.


    Ming You left the office and closed the door behind him. Outside, he paused, looking at the flash drive, then putting it in his pocket as he headed for the school exit.


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    Ming You entered his rented apartment, slamming the door shut behind him. Inside, it was quiet, like an abandoned temple, and only the faint sound of dripping water from the kitchen faucet broke the silence. He walked to the table where a black laptop lay and, without wasting time, inserted the flash drive. The screen lit up, and recordings of the Siomo team''s games began to play.


    "Well, let''s see what you have," he said, as if addressing invisible viewers, and settled in comfortably.


    The screen flashed with clips: players in uniforms, excited faces, the sound of the ball bouncing on the hardwood. Ming You watched every movement intently. Soon, his attention was drawn to Guk Chhol ¡ª a forward with incredible physical attributes and accuracy that one could only dream of.


    "Damn," he muttered, crossing his arms over his chest. "This guy is pretty good. I hope I''ll be better to humiliate you in the game, not outside of it."


    He turned up the volume and squinted, watching as Guk Chhol made another three-pointer. At that moment, an idea began to form in his mind, one that could be the key to his success.


    "I guess I''ll have to work a bit," he said, smirking ironically. "First surveillance, then ¡ª the final act."


    Ming You opened his browser and began searching for information on Guk Chhol. He knew that everyone had their weaknesses, and his task was to find them. Thanks to the manager and his recordings, he learned the school Guk Chhol attended, making it much easier to find him on social media. He quickly found a social media profile where Guk Chhol shared his training and successes.


    "Interesting," he muttered, clicking through links. "Friends, gym, cafes¡­ And all with the team. Not bad, Guk Chhol, not bad."


    At that moment, his phone rang. Ming You glanced at the screen ¡ª it was Taek Jun. He answered, trying to sound friendly.


    "Hey, Ming You," his voice came through.


    "Let''s get to the point," he replied calmly.


    "Your rookies, or the reserves, I don''t know what else to call these losers, well, they''re bringing in decent profit, and I need to know when to drop off the cash to you," he explained in a calm tone.


    "You can keep it for now; the money doesn''t interest me. What matters to me is victory. And if victory can be achieved with money, I''ll definitely rob this whole gang, Taek Jun," Ming You replied nonchalantly.


    "Haha! What a joker you are! Alright, kid, I mean boss, thanks for the cash, my job was just to report the situation," Taek Jun chuckled.


    "Okay." Ming You hung up and looked back at the screen, where Guk Chhol was laughing and teasing someone with his friends.


    "What a shameless guy!" Taek Jun said already on the streetball court when Ming You abruptly hung up.


    Meanwhile, Ming You felt a plan starting to take shape in his head. First surveillance, then ¡ª action. He leaned back in his chair and began to organize his thoughts.


    "If you''re so agile on the court," he said aloud, "how about testing your agility off it?"


    Ming You changed into a black hoodie and khaki pants, transforming into a shadow. He placed a medical mask and a black beanie in his pockets, hiding his face from prying eyes. He started stuffing empty trash bags and stacks of white polyethylene into his backpack, but there was also a black garbage bag with protruding tools. At the top of the bag was his symbol of victory ¡ª a kitchen knife that had taken a dozen lives. Below it were other equally important tools ¡ª a cleaver, a hammer, a saw, and a UV flashlight.


    Ming You knew that inside his backpack were not just tools, but opportunities. Ming You left his house, his steps quiet, almost imperceptible.


    "I hope I won''t have to deal with your relatives or buddies," he muttered to himself as he headed for the van.


    The van sat in the parking lot like an old dog waiting for its owner. Ming You opened the door and tossed his backpack onto the back seat, where scrap metal and a metal bat lay. He got behind the wheel, started the engine, and the van slowly rolled down the city streets like a ghost leaving no trace.


    The street basketball court was sparsely populated. The Siomo team, according to Ming You''s plan, was just gathering for practice, and Ming You knew his target ¡ª Guk Chhol, the ace of the team. He parked the van and got out, leaving his backpack beside him on the bench. Sitting there, he took out his phone, pretending to check messages, but his attention was focused on the court.


    Ming You continued to pretend to be on his phone, but he leaned back a few times, lost in thought.


    An hour and a half passed before he finally noticed the Siomo team. Guk Chhol, tall and confident, walked at the center of the group, his presence drawing attention. Ming You felt excitement rising within him.


    "Listen up, guys," Guk Chhol began, heading with his team to the court, his voice sounding confident. "Today we need to work on our combinations. We have to be ready for the next match."


    "Yeah, but we have other problems," interjected a tall player with a bowl cut.


    "Did you see their tactics last time? If we don''t pull it together, they might shake our confidence."


    "Don''t worry, Han," said another player, who was shorter than his teammates. "You''re just overthinking it. We have Guk. He''ll handle them."


    "This isn''t just about me," Guk Chhol replied, shaking his head. "We need to play as a team. Each of us has to be on point. Despite their weaker accuracy, they''re quite fast and coordinated."


    "They''re faster and more coordinated?" Han asked in confusion. "You mean we have a chance of losing?"


    "No, I mean we need to work on our potential weaknesses," Guk explained, his gaze becoming more serious. "We have to be one step ahead. If any of us falters, we could really lose to those kids."


    "Alright," Han said, patting Guk Chhol on the shoulder. "Let''s just work on the combinations. We''ll manage if we work together."


    "Exactly," one of the players agreed. "And if someone isn''t in shape, I''ll back them up. We''re a team!"


    "Okay," Guk nodded, his confidence returning. "Let''s start with simple passes. Han, you dribble the ball, and I''ll stay in touch with you. The rest ¡ª take your positions."


    The team had already entered the basketball court and taken their places, and Ming You, watching them from a distance, felt his plan beginning to take shape, but he didn''t realize a sly, sinister grin had appeared on his face.


    Ming You stood up from the bench, stretched, and taking his backpack with the tools, headed to the van. He knew he had about an hour, and this time needed to be used wisely.


    "How amusing," various thoughts swirled in Ming You''s head as he sat behind the wheel of the van. "People always think they have control. But control is an illusion. All they do is move according to a pre-written script."


    He started the engine, and the van rolled off. Ming You drove a few blocks, where Guk Chhol was supposed to come from according to his calculations. And when he spotted an abandoned garage, he stopped, got out of the van, and headed inside.


    "Hehe, silence," he thought to himself, closing the door behind him.


    Ming You stood in the abandoned garage, his face as indifferent as ever. He looked at the dusty floor where a car might have once stood and contemplated how easily one could change a person''s fate. In his hands were polyethylene films, which he began to spread on the floor, as if preparing the stage for the next act of his cold-blooded performance.


    He carefully laid out the film, his movements smooth and confident, as if they had become instinctive. Then, putting on gloves, he placed the trash bag with tools ¡ª the kitchen knife and cleaver ¡ª on the floor.


    At that moment, his phone rang. He glanced at the screen ¡ª it was Jung Ho, but Ming You declined the call, unwilling to be distracted from his thoughts. He knew it was time to act.


    When he got back into the van and arrived at the basketball court, the Siomo team was already dispersing. Ming You watched them, his gaze focused on one person ¡ª Guk Chhol. He knew that today his plan would work.


    "Time to act," he thought, putting on the medical mask and black wool beanie. Ming You hid the crowbar behind his back and, like a ghost, stepped out of the van and headed toward the alley near the parking lot.


    He saw Guk Chhol, who looked careless, walking and looking at his phone, completely unaware.


    And at that moment, Ming You sprang out from the alley.


    Ming Yu silently knocked him out with a crowbar, without any emotion or fear. The blow was precise and strong, and Guk Chhol fell to the ground.


    "Why are you all so huge, huh?" Ming You said mentally, looking around the parking lot. He quickly pushed Guk Chhol into the van, closed the doors and drove into the garage he had prepared.


    In the garage, he pulled Guk Chhol out of the van and slowly tied him to a pipe wrapped in layers of white plastic.

 Chapter 34: The Murder of a Threat

    Guk Chhol awoke in a dimly lit garage covered in plastic, where the air was thick with the smell of rust and something bitter. His heart pounded like a hammer on an anvil, and confusion reigned in his mind. He jerked, but the ropes binding his hands and feet wouldn''t budge. In a panic, he began to struggle, but each movement only worsened his predicament.


    "Hey, calm down," a cold voice echoed. Ming You, a smirk on his lips, stood in the corner, illuminated by a dim light. His eyes sparkled like a predator ready to pounce. "You don''t want your life to end here, in this hole, do you?"


    Guk Chhol gasped, looking at him.


    "What do you want?" he growled, fear evident in his eyes and voice. "I''m innocent!"


    Ming You stepped closer, his expression turning serious as if he had just made a decision.


    "And what are you willing to give for your freedom?" he asked, as if it were a standard business conversation. "Do you have anything of value?"


    Guk Chhol, realizing his life hung by a thread, began to flail in his thoughts.


    "I have nothing of value," he uttered, his voice trembling. "I''m just an ordinary man. I have no money, no connections!"


    Ming You leaned in, his face closer, as if searching for sincerity in Guk Chhol''s eyes.


    "Ordinary man?" he scoffed. "You know, I don''t like ordinary people. They''re too predictable and cling to their pathetic moral values."


    Guk Chhol felt a chill wash over him.


    "Please, listen to me! I can¡­ I can do anything!"


    But his words didn''t reach Ming You. A kitchen knife glinted in his hand, pulled from his belt.


    "W-wait, hold on, listen! I-I¡­" Guk Chhol didn''t even finish his sentence when Ming You, with the calmness of a professional, plunged the knife into his throat.


    Blood gushed out like from a broken faucet, and Guk Chhol had no time to scream or plead for mercy. His eyes widened in horror, but there was no life left in them.


    Ming You stepped back, watching as life drained from Guk Chhol''s body.


    "I''ve won," he said, dragging the blade of the bloodied kitchen knife across the edge, as if cleaning it of evidence.


    Setting the kitchen knife aside, Ming You began to strip the clothes from the corpse and dismember it. Cutting piece by piece, slicing organs and crunching bones and teeth, he placed the remains into garbage bags.


    Once finished with the body, Ming You started wrapping the plastic and putting that into garbage bags as well. In total, he ended up with six bags of ''trash''. When Ming You carried the garbage bags to the door, he began shining a UV flashlight. After checking every square inch, he left the premises and pulled out his phone.


    The clock on the phone read four in the morning when Ming You exited the abandoned garage, as if nothing had happened. His steps were quiet, like the rustle of autumn leaves. In his hands, he held six black garbage bags that seemed full not only of trash but of his own secrets. Inside each bag lay the remains of Guk Chhol, as if he were merely part of a failed experiment, not a man with dreams and fears.


    Ming You paused for a moment, inhaling the fresh morning air laced with the scent of decay. He looked up at the sky, veiled in clouds, and it seemed even the stars were hiding from his gaze.


    "It''s not the time for romance," he muttered to himself, tossing the bags into a van that looked just like his soul ¡ª tattered but functional.


    The van roared to life, its engine rumbling as if protesting the early wake-up call. Ming You paid no mind.


    Parking by the dumpsters, he exited the vehicle and, looking at the world around him as if it were a painting with all the colors blurred, began pulling out the bags. Each bag was heavy, but he felt nothing but relief.


    "So much trash," he said emotionlessly aloud.


    "Hey, are you fucking crazy?" a voice came from the darkness. It was a local homeless man who seemed to think the morning was the perfect time to observe others'' affairs.


    "Trash," Ming You replied, not bothering to look up. "You wouldn''t understand."


    "And you seem to not realize that trash isn''t your only problem," the homeless man chuckled, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You clearly don''t know what real problems look like."


    Ming You turned, his face becoming stone-cold. "Problems are what you leave behind when you can''t solve your issues," he said, his voice devoid of emotion, but in his mind, a new plan was rapidly forming. "By the way, want me to help you? I''ll give you some money, and all you need to do is take a few steps."


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    Ming You pulled a thick wad of cash from his pocket. The homeless man was quite surprised and jumped up suddenly.


    "Fuck, in kind? Tell me what to do!"


    "See that alley?" Ming You pointed, "I''ll toss these hundred thousand won over there, and your job is to run and grab them within ten seconds. Deal?"


    "Let''s do it! I''m ready!" the homeless man replied, energized.


    "On three. One, two¡­ Three!" Ming You threw the wad of cash into the farthest part of the alley.


    The homeless man bolted at full speed and in less than five seconds leaped into a shallow puddle, grabbing the bundle of cash.


    "Yes! Thank yo¡­" Before he could finish his gratitude, Ming You plunged the kitchen knife into his back.


    "Cough¡­" The homeless man coughed up blood, and his life gradually faded.


    Ming You withdrew the knife from his back and flipped the homeless man over, covering him with a piss-stained blanket and cardboard. He also stabbed the knife into the cash bundle, and they stuck to the bloodied knife like shish kebabs on a skewer. Ming You tossed the money into the dumpster and, looking around, returned to his van.


    "It''s not that I killed you over some pathetic principles or for fun; I just don''t need witnesses ¡ª I''m that kind of neat freak. In reality, I didn''t want to kill you; I even slightly respect people like you, as such free individuals stand against the pathetic society that shackles themselves with miserable morals. But unfortunately, in this world, if you don''t follow the script laid out by society, no one will look for your corpse, and your freedom won''t withstand the pressure. Therefore, there''s no point in breaking those limiting chains; in this society, they must be used. Used against the very society that created those restrictions and stomped into the ground in that manner," Ming You mentally conversed as he drove home.


    When he returned to his rented apartment, Ming You took a shower. The water flowed over his body, washing away not just the blood but also the memories. A scene flashed in his mind of how he killed his uncle and aunt, but he felt nothing and changed into clean clothes, as if putting on a new mask, and took his school backpack before heading outside.


    The school greeted him with its usual noise and bustle. Ming You walked confidently, as if he knew what awaited him. He calmly entered the school gates, for everything that happened overnight remained outside this place. He was just Ming You ¡ª an ordinary student with an extraordinary past.


    Ming You entered the school gym, which resembled an anthill: players, warmed up from practice, scrambled around, tossing the ball as if it were their only connection to reality. Ming You walked in, and for a moment, everyone froze. He was like a shadow gliding through the light ¡ª cold, calculating, with a smirk that could make anyone believe in his friendliness.


    "Hey, Ming You!" shouted Lu Shen, winking. "You came to teach us how to score or how to properly hold the ball between our legs?"


    "If you can''t hold the ball between your legs, Lu," Ming You replied, his voice steady like the surface of a lake, "maybe you should think about changing sports."


    "Oh, come on!" Haru Lin chimed in, skillfully winking as he picked up the joke. "Or maybe you just need to take lessons from Ming You? After all, you are the most experienced among us!"


    Ming You didn''t respond; his eyes scanned the team. Jun Ho, always ready for a discussion, sat on the bench, leaning against the wall with a serious expression.


    "What''s on your mind, Ming You?" he asked, looking at his captain with interest.


    "Listen," Ming You began, gathering the team''s attention. "Tomorrow, we have a game against Siomo. We know they have Guk Chhol. This guy is a sharpshooter, and if we don''t stop him right from the start, we''re in for a total disaster."


    Lu Shen, not missing a chance, interjected: "Oh, so that''s the guy who scores so much that we all end up wet in our pants?"


    "If you don''t shut up, I''ll shove a ball down your throat," Haru shot back, and the team''s laughter erupted like a gunshot.


    Ming You, ignoring their jokes, continued: "We''re going to play a 2-3 scheme. Hong Ren, you''ll be on Guk Chhol. Don''t let him breathe. If he gets the ball, he''ll kill us. Jun Ho, you''ll be backing him up."


    "I''m ready," Jun Ho replied, his eyes shining with determination.


    "Haru, you''ll be grabbing the ball after shots. Don''t give them second chances. And you, Lu Shen," Ming You looked at him with a feigned smirk, "just don''t get in the way."


    "Oh, I always get in the way," Lu Shen replied sarcastically, winking. "It''s my superpower."


    Ming You crossed his arms behind his back, his gaze turning cold as a steel knife. "Don''t forget that the game isn''t just about physics. It''s psychology. You need to make them think they''re weaker than they really are. Your job is to throw them off balance."


    "How do you propose we do that?" Jun Ho asked, his voice becoming serious.


    "We''ll play with their expectations. If they think we''re going to attack, we''ll defend. If they''re confident of their victory, we''ll take a step back and let them fall into their own trap."


    "You''re a damn genius," Lu Shen said, his joking tone shifting to genuine admiration.


    "And you, Lu, just don''t forget your fucking jabs," Haru Lin added, laughing. "They might distract the opponent."


    Ming You nodded silently, mentally conversing:


    "I know the team is ready. Their laughter, their energy ¡ª that''s what I can use. After all, I''m an actor on this stage, and they are my performers."


    "And remember," he added this time aloud, looking each one in the eye, "tomorrow we''re not just playing. We''re destroying. Destroying their hopes, their dreams."


    The team froze, and then approving shouts erupted. Ming You smiled. This was his game, and he knew he would win, for there was no Guk Chhol anymore.


    After practice, the Yoshido team arrived at the stadium. The floodlights blinded them, and the stands filled with spectators. Ming You, with a cold smile on his face, walked down the corridor to the basketball court. He knew his team was ready for battle. Behind him followed Jun Ho, Lu Shen, Haru Lin, and Hong Ren ¡ª each a unique element of this mechanism.


    "Listen," Jun Ho began, "I thought that if we start with a fast attack, we can throw them off. They look like they just came out of a mental hospital."


    "Yeah, and don''t forget they definitely have a couple of players who look like they don''t know what a ball is," Lu Shen added, winking at Haru. "I''d suggest they take some lessons. Or at least a few tips on how not to look like they just came out of the shower."


    "Don''t forget that in the shower, you also don''t look too appealing," Haru replied, laughing. "But seriously, let''s just make sure they don''t understand what''s happening. Besides, we''re playing against sharpshooters, not to mention their ace."


    Ming You stopped, turning to his teammates. His eyes sparkled, reading confidence mixed with a hint of madness.


    "Guys," he said, his voice low and cold, "remember that there''s no room for pity in this game. We''re here to take their soul. And if they look worried, that means it''s our advantage."


    Hong Ren, standing off to the side, nodded; his indifference concealed admiration. He always knew Ming You was not just a player but a true strategist.


    "And what if they suddenly start playing as if they have even a drop of brains? They''re pretty damn accurate!" Lu Shen asked, winking at Haru Lin, who, as always, was ready to tease him.


    "Then we''ll just show them what real basketball is," Haru replied, his voice full of confidence. "I''m ready to make them a target."


    The Yoshido team began warming up, their movements synchronized and confident. Ming You skillfully dribbled the ball, his face remaining still, as if he were an actor in a drama where every emotion was carefully calibrated.


    Meanwhile, the Siomo team stood in the corner, their faces expressing tension and fear. One player, a tall guy with an uncertain smile, looked at his teammates.


    "Hey, what the hell happened to Guk Chhol?" he said, his voice trembling.


    "Maybe he just doesn''t want to waste time on such weaklings," another replied, gripping the ball. "We just need to focus on our game."


    Ming You, catching their conversation, smirked to himself:


    "The fear of others is my best ally."


    He turned back to the Yoshido team and said:


    "Remember, guys, their fear is our weapon. And today, we''ll make sure they feel it."


    The referee, standing at the edge of the court, raised the whistle. Ming You and his team formed a circle, preparing for the game to start. At that moment, time froze, and all eyes were on them.


    The players lined up against each other, and the referee blew the whistle to start the jump ball.

 Chapter 35: The Missing Scorer of Siomo

    The tip-off.


    Jung Ho jumped high and grabbed the ball, easily passing it to Ming You, who, like a dancer, maneuvered around the defender and scored with incredible speed from under the basket. The crowd roared, and his team raised their hands in excitement.


    "Hey, did you see that?" shouted Lu Shen, winking at Jung Ho. "I''m having slower sex than he runs! And I have very fast sex!"


    "Lu Shen, speed isn''t something to be proud of," Jung Ho replied, stifling a laugh.


    "I meant I move quickly, not finish quickly!"


    Meanwhile, on the other side of the court, Siomo''s team looked uncertain. Their captain, Guk Chhol, was missing, and it showed. The player with the number 8 on his back, tall and athletic, tried to take the initiative, but his movements were hesitant.


    "Where the hell is Guk Chhol?" whispered the player with number 10, standing next to him. His face showed panic.


    "I don''t know," replied player number 6, who was stationed on the perimeter. "But if he doesn''t show up, we won''t be able to coordinate."


    Siomo began their attack. Player number 8, using his dribbling skills, tried to get past Hong Ren. He made sharp moves, but Jung Ho, returning to defense, blocked his path.


    "Are you out of your mind?" shouted Lu Shen as player number 8 passed the ball to player number 10. "He looks like he''s in a brothel, not on the court!"


    Ignoring the comments, player number 10 took a shot ¡ª and scored. The Siomo fans erupted in cheers.


    Ming You took the ball again and started moving. He went around player number 5, but immediately collided with player number 6, who set a screen. Ming You quickly assessed the situation, adapted, and sharply passed the ball to Jung Ho.


    Jung Ho ran away from the defender before catching the ball. But the defender caught up to him. However, the defender didn''t hinder him much; he skillfully maneuvered around defender number 6 and shot ¡ª score! The stadium erupted in cheers once more.


    "Yes, babe!" shouted Lu Shen, raising his fist. "We''re in the game!"


    Siomo attacked again. Player number 8, undeterred, received the ball and began dribbling, going around Haru Lin. But he was, as always, ready to back him up.


    "Come on, Haru! Don''t let him pass!" shouted Jung Ho, watching the game.


    "Dream on, weaklings!" shouted the defender opposite Jung Ho.


    Player number 8, noticing Haru Lin trying to cover him, passed the ball to player number 6, who was in the key. Player number 6 used his strength and jumped for a shot, but Ming You, like a predator, blocked his attempt.


    "Not so fast, buddy," yelled Ming You, raising his hand.


    The ball bounced off, and player number 5, who was on the wing, picked it up and passed it back to player number 8. He stepped back behind the three-point line and tried to shoot again. But Ming You rushed at him and attempted to block the shot. He felt the ball brush against his middle finger, but to his surprise, the ball still went in, albeit with a poor trajectory.


    "Quite surprising," Ming You quietly said as he activated his strategy again. He received the ball and began moving, going around defender number 5. After passing the ball to Jung Ho, who was again opening up on the wing, he knew his team could score.


    Jung Ho, using the screen from Haru Lin as per Ming You''s plan, managed to score from the left corner of the three-point line. The Yoshido team erupted in cheers again.


    Despite the pressure, Siomo continued to attack. Player number 10 received the ball and, moving across the court, tried to get past Haru Lin. He passed the ball to player number 8, who attacked again.


    "Come on, guys, we can do this!" shouted player number 10, but his voice sounded uncertain.


    Player number 8, dribbling, went around Jung Ho and attempted a shot¡ªthe ball ricocheted off the backboard and went in. But the Yoshido team wasn''t about to give up. Ming You organized a press, forcing player number 10 to make risky passes.


    "Come on, Haru," Ming You shouted with a grin as he intercepted the ball and returned it to his team.


    When Haru Lin passed the ball to Ming You, he quickly gave it to Jung Ho, who used Hong Ren''s screen and successfully scored from the perimeter.


    "Keep it going!" shouted Lu Shen, winking at Hong Ren.


    Player number 8, undeterred, received the ball again and began dribbling. He used a screen from player number 6 and tried to drive to the hoop. Jung Ho attempted to close him down, but player number 8 passed the ball to player number 10, who was open on the wing.


    "Miss it!" Hong Ren yelled as player number 10 took the shot but missed.


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    Both players raced for the rebound, and Ming You set a screen on player number 10, allowing Hong Ren to grab the ball and make a quick pass to Ming You, who transitioned into a counterattack.


    Ming You rapidly moved toward the hoop, passing the ball to Haru Lin. As Haru maneuvered around defender number 5, he noticed player number 6 trying to block him and passed the ball back to Ming You.


    He made a successful shot from the perimeter. The stadium erupted in cheers again. The Yoshido team confidently maintained the initiative.


    From the Siomo side of the court, player number 8 received the ball and attacked once more. He dribbled to get around Jung Ho, but Haru Lin shadowed him like a ghost.


    "Hey, you!" Hong Ren shouted, watching the game indifferently. "Don''t let him through!"


    Player number 8 made a risky pass to player number 6, who was under the hoop. He shot, but Ming You, like a hawk, jumped up and blocked the ball, raising his hand and leaving the opponent no chance.


    "You can''t win," he said calmly.


    The ball bounced back to player number 10, who, without wasting time, tried to seize the initiative.


    "Come on, don''t fall behind!" player number 5 shouted, watching the opponent''s actions.


    Player number 10 passed to player number 8, who attacked again. He tried to get around Jung Ho, but Jung wouldn''t let him budge. Player number 8 stepped back and took a perimeter shot, but missed.


    "Are you blind?" player number 10 yelled, unable to contain his emotions.


    The ball bounced again, and Hong Ren grabbed it as if it were a matter of life and death.


    With 30 seconds left in the first quarter, Ming You received the ball from Hong Ren and began moving, going around player number 5. He passed the ball to Jung Ho, who was opening up on the wing again.


    "Don''t let me down," Ming You shouted.


    Jung Ho, in a comfortable position, took the shot and scored.


    The buzzer for the end of the first quarter sounded, and players from both teams gathered at their benches. The Yoshido team looked confident, while the Siomo team tried not to panic over Guk Chhol''s absence and focused on giving their all in the game.


    "This is a disaster," Siomo''s coach said, looking at his players. "We need to come up with something."


    "Maybe we should try calling Guk Chhol again?" the manager suggested, but his voice sounded unsure.


    "No, he''s not answering," one of the players replied, rubbing his forehead. "We just need to focus on the game."


    Meanwhile, the Yoshido team discussed their strategies during the break. Ming You, confident in his abilities, looked at his teammates.


    "We need to keep it up," he said. "Don''t relax until the final whistle blows."


    "And don''t forget, Lu Shen is always ready to insure you up," Jung Ho added, winking at Lu Shen.


    "Hey, I don''t always insure your ass; I''m in the game too!" Lu Shen replied, a hint of annoyance in his voice. "We need to show them what we''re capable of!"


    "They''re pretty tense, by the way. And did you notice their ace didn''t show up for the game? Do they really underestimate us this much?" Haru Lin asked everyone.


    "Given their tense state, I don''t think everyone underestimates us, especially since we''re leading," Hong Ren added.


    "By the way, we''re really lucky their ace didn''t show up today. Ming You, did you make him miss the game? If so, thanks!" Lu Shen joked.


    Ming You didn''t seem worried for a second, as if he had forgotten what he did to Guk Chhol. He calmly turned to Lu Shen and sarcastically replied, "If I planned to take him out of the game, I would have done it with all of you, guys."


    "Well then, count on us; we''ll always have your back as a team!" Lu Shen replied.


    The referee raised the whistle, and the tension in the hall became palpable. The second quarter began, and both teams knew that every move could be decisive.


    The ball was in play for the Siomo team. Player number 10, a tall guy with sharp features and quick hands, skillfully received the pass. His dribbling was fast but calculated, each step like a planned move on a chessboard. Ming You, slightly leaning forward, closely monitored his movements.


    "You can only run," player number 10 smirked, adding a feint. His sharp turn at the three-point line made the spectators hold their breath. But Ming You was ready: he blocked the path to the hoop, extending his arm. The Siomo player abruptly stopped and made a behind-the-back pass.


    The ball ended up with player number 6, a hefty forward with broad shoulders. He powerfully pushed Haru Lin back, causing him to stagger. The sixth player paused for a moment, assessing the space, and took a shot. The ball traveled in a perfect arc and swooshed through the net. The Siomo bench erupted in support.


    Yoshido immediately seized the initiative. Lu Shen skillfully avoided his defender and, smirking, whispered, "Let''s see how you handle this."


    His quick pass reached Ming You, who was already at the three-point line. He instantly moved to the left, drawing defenders away, and sent the ball to Jung Ho.


    The center, despite being double-teamed, managed to turn and slammed the ball down with incredible power.


    The game continued to pick up pace. Player number 7 from Siomo, slender and incredibly fast, made a swift dash across the court. His sharp changes in direction confused Hong Ren, and he broke free to the three-point line. With a light jump, he released the ball. It seemed to fly for an eternity before it hit the rim with a dull sound and fell in.


    Ming You squinted at the scoreboard.


    "Lu," he said, stepping back, "stay closer to number 10. They''re playing through him."


    Lu Shen grinned, throwing a usual jab: "Don''t teach dad how to make kids, Ming."


    But Ming You''s words were true: every subsequent move from the Siomo team went through their number 10, who, despite the team''s panic, skillfully distributed the ball among his teammates.


    Midway through the quarter, after another interception by Ming You, Yoshido began to set up plays. Haru Lin, finding himself on the edge of the court, tried to push toward the hoop, but he was stopped by player number 8 from Siomo. Haru pivoted, faked the defender with a shoulder move, and passed to Hong Ren. Hong didn''t hesitate and took a long shot. The ball hit the rim several times before slipping inside.


    The whistle blew for a timeout.


    During the break, both teams were pushed to their limits. Siomo gathered in a tight circle, their coach took the floor.


    "Play tighter, don''t let them breathe. Bom Su, keep number 44 under constant pressure," his voice was quiet but firm as he looked at player number 10 ¡ª Bom Su.


    In Yoshido, the atmosphere was entirely different. Haru Lin laughed, teasing Lu Shen about his missed shot.


    "Your shot is like sex with you: everyone waits, and in the end, nothing," he threw out.


    "Funny, Haru, just like your height," Lu Shen retorted, sipping water.


    Ming You, standing aside, carefully studied Siomo''s behavior.


    "They''re going to start playing more aggressively," he quietly told Jung Ho. "Be ready for drives to the hoop."


    The whistle sounded to start the third quarter.


    After the break, Siomo indeed began to apply pressure. Player number 7, an athletic guy with a high jump, actively worked on rebounds. His aggressive style put Yoshido in a tough spot. Each of their attacks was accompanied by tight defense, every movement met with loud shouts from the bench.


    Despite the pressure from Bom Su, Ming You continued to showcase his skills. One of his steals ended in a swift drive to the hoop, where he spectacularly finished the attack with a turnaround shot.


    Meanwhile, Lu Shen tried to execute complex plays, but Siomo''s defense denied him space. Midway through the quarter, Hong Ren suddenly seemed to come alive. He made two accurate long-range shots in a row, one of which came right before the buzzer.


    The whistle blew for the fourth quarter.


    In the final quarter, the tension reached its peak. The score on the scoreboard was nearly even, and each attack turned into a battle. Bom Su tried to suppress Ming You, constantly colliding with him on the court. But Ming, remaining unfazed, repeatedly stole the ball.


    With three minutes left in the game, Yoshido took the lead thanks to a powerful dunk from Jung Ho. However, Siomo refused to give up: player number 8 executed an incredible three-point shot, restoring the tie.


    The final seconds became the climax. Lu Shen, drawing the defenders away, passed the ball to Ming You. Ming You, making a feint, tossed it to Jung Ho under the hoop. With incredible power, Jung finished the play, bringing victory to Yoshido.


    The hall erupted in applause. In the Yoshido locker room, they discussed every moment of the game.

 Chapter 36: The Serious Captain

    Ming You carefully folded his uniform, silently watching as his team ¡ª Jung Ho, Lu Shen, Haru Lin, and Hong Ren ¡ª packed their things. The victory over Siomo was well-deserved. Training, precise calculations, and well-timed combinations all worked like clockwork. They left the locker room with triumphant confidence.


    As Ming You stepped out, he felt someone''s gaze. In the distance, just around the corner, stood a player from another team. His stare was piercing, as if he saw not just a person but something beyond. Ming You froze for a moment, meeting his gaze. He noticed the stranger slightly raised an eyebrow ¡ª a kind of challenge.


    "Hey, Ming You, are you with us?" Jung Ho nudged him with his shoulder. "Come on, let''s celebrate!"


    Ming You huffed, smiling with feigned relaxation.


    "Of course. Just don''t forget: I won''t expect you at training tomorrow without being fully prepared."


    Loud laughter from Lu Shen echoed as they turned the corner. But the strange stranger lingered in Ming You''s memory.


    By evening, the team dispersed. Ming You, setting aside his usual masks, immersed himself in studying the next opponent. The screen of his laptop displayed clips of their matches: quick passes, confident dribbling, aggressive defense.


    He paid special attention to the team captain ¡ª a tall, strong player with a commanding presence. His actions on the court were nearly perfect, but even perfection had weaknesses. Ming You mentally played out scenarios for how to outmaneuver him in the game. At one point, he realized that physically, the opponent clearly surpassed him.


    "Then we''ll have to check him in another way," he whispered to himself, leaning back in his chair. His eyes sparkled with predatory fire.


    The school was almost empty when Ming You cautiously opened the door to the club manager''s office. Inside, it was quiet, only a faint light filtering through the closed blinds. On the desk lay a laptop with its lid habitually closed. Ming You turned it on, and the screen lit up, asking for a password. An ordinary person would have stopped there, but not him.


    His gaze fell on the laptop, where a sticker with the manager''s scribbles was stuck in the corner of the lid: "Password..." Ming You quietly huffed, quickly entering the combination. The system came to life, and he found himself on the desktop. Several folders, clearly intended for organizing tournaments, caught his attention. He opened the folder labeled "Players," then another titled "Contacts." Among the list of names, he found the line: Suk Chhon. The address and phone number were written next to it.


    Memorizing the information, Ming You carefully closed all windows and shut down the laptop. Everything had to look as if no one had touched it. He left the office with the same calmness with which he had entered, as if it were just another routine visit.


    It was easy to remember the address. Ming You exited the school with the demeanor of someone who had just delivered an important report. Not a muscle on his face twitched.


    Ming You set off toward the address. Twenty minutes later, he arrived at a new building surrounded by other constructions and began his observation.


    Ming You stood by the gate to the yard, blending into the shadows of the trees, as if he were part of the surrounding landscape. His face expressed mild interest, but his eyes remained cold and calculating. Every breath, every movement was meticulously thought out. He watched Suk Chhon''s house like a predator waiting for the right moment to strike.


    After forty minutes of waiting, Suk Chhon emerged from the house with a phone in hand. The screen glowed brightly, reflecting the orange hues of the setting sun. His voice was loud, but the rapid tempo of his speech betrayed his energy.


    "Yes, let''s meet at the same court... Great, I''ll be waiting!" he said into the phone, disconnecting with a sharp motion, his gaze revealing he was excited.


    Ming You moved forward. His steps were almost silent but purposeful.


    As they walked on opposite sides of the sidewalk toward the street court, Suk Chhon dropped his bag and pulled out a ball, warming up.


    "Hmm, maybe I should check him in a game before taking radical action?" Ming You pondered.


    Ming You confidently stepped onto the court, and the moment their eyes met, his broad smile lit up his face as if he were an old friend unexpectedly running into Suk Chhon.


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    "Hey, Suk Chhon," his voice was light, but with a note of confidence that left no room for doubt. "Recognize me? Team Yoshido, my name is Ming You."


    Suk Chhon froze, his gaze scrutinizing Ming You''s face.


    "It''s hard to forget you, Ming You. Need something?"


    Ming You took a step closer, his smile widening, but it still held a hidden challenge.


    "I think we could play one-on-one. Just for fun. You don''t mind, do you?"


    Suk Chhon squinted, as if weighing each word. Suspicion flickered in his gaze, but he nodded, as if deciding for himself that this offer deserved a chance.


    "Alright. Why not," he finally replied, casting a glance at his ball.


    They silently positioned themselves at the center of the court, and the light from the street lamps created a whimsical play of shadows on the asphalt. Ming You tossed the ball to Suk Chhon, inviting him to start.


    "Your first move," he said with a polite smile, but his eyes remained watchful.


    Suk Chhon began slowly, as if warming up. His movements were measured yet confident. Each feint was precise, and his dribbling was nearly flawless. Ming You didn''t rush; his movements remained minimal, as though he were gathering data on his opponent.


    "So, Ming You," Suk Chhon suddenly spoke, bouncing the ball from one hand to the other. "Are you always this¡­ mysterious? Or is it just for effect?"


    Ming You feigned a smile, dodging the direct answer.


    "And are you always this talkative on the court? Maybe it''s your way of distracting your opponent?"


    Suk Chhon laughed, his laughter echoing off the surrounding walls. He executed a quick feint, slipping past Ming You, and effortlessly sank the ball into the hoop.


    "Maybe, but not this time," he shot back, smirking.


    Ming You retrieved the ball. His turn. He began his attack slowly, as if intentionally creating a sense of predictability. But the moment Suk Chhon tried to anticipate his move, Ming You sharply altered his trajectory. A swift pivot, a fake to the right, an instant burst to the left ¡ª and the ball found its way into the hoop.


    Suk Chhon narrowed his eyes, his focus sharpening.


    "Were you preparing? Or is this also part of your show?"


    "I''m just doing what I do best," Ming You replied calmly. "And you?"


    Suk Chhon chuckled.


    "I didn''t think deceiving people was the best you could do. Not that I''m trying to offend you, just an observation."


    Ming You merely smirked in response but said nothing.


    Meanwhile, the game was heating up. They both were giving their all, but it was more than just basketball. It was a duel not only of bodies but of minds. Ming You carefully studied each of Suk Chhon''s movements: how he bit his lip before a fake, how his shoulders twitched slightly before a shot. All these details became weapons in Ming You''s hands, but he quickly realized that this was futile and focused on the ball.


    In one of the plays, Suk Chhon decided to make a deceptive jump, but Ming You didn''t fall for it. He stayed put, allowing him to knock the ball from his opponent''s hands. Suk Chhon quickly recovered, but the moment was lost, as he managed to regain possession.


    "You have something planned," Suk Chhon suddenly said, his voice quiet but firm. "I can see it in your eyes. Even though your gaze is empty, I can see a spark in them."


    Ming You smiled, this time wider than before.


    "Maybe I do have something planned, you damn psychic. But doesn''t that make the game more interesting? Besides, you''re thinking a lot during the game yourself."


    "And you''re quite rude," Suk Chhon remarked.


    Ming You nodded with a smile and took up a defensive stance. He pressed him, trying to knock the ball away, but Suk Chhon was also nimble and quick, so he began to employ a different tactic.


    He started moving toward the corners of the three-point line, and Ming You chased after him. Suk Chhon was about to make a sharp turn around Ming You, but he knocked the ball from his hands. However, the ball flew out of bounds, causing it to return to Suk Chhon according to streetball rules.


    "So this is your strategy, leading the ball to the corners of the court¡­ Interesting," Ming You thought to himself.


    Both players stood at the center and resumed the game. Suk Chhon moved toward the corners again, and Ming You saw the perfect opportunity to knock the ball away, but he knew it would go out of bounds, so he simply waited.


    "Heh-heh," Suk Chhon smirked, holding the ball with both hands.


    Ming You quickly reacted and prepared to block the shot, but Suk Chhon jumped behind the out-of-bounds line and took the shot. Ming You was surprised but didn''t show it.


    The ball seemed to fly through Ming You''s hands and with perfect trajectory, swished through the net.


    "You''re quite clever, but you lack strength. You''re an interesting opponent, Ming You," Suk Chhon said over his shoulder as he went for the ball.


    Ming You ignored him, waiting for the game to continue.


    The final play was tense. Suk Chhon decided to finish the game with flair. He started with slow dribbling, drawing Ming You closer, then suddenly burst to the side. By this time, his team had already arrived, and one of the players called out:


    "Suk Chhon! Warming up early again!"


    Suk Chhon sharply turned his gaze to his team and even managed a smile. Ming You decided to take advantage of this and attempted to knock the ball away, but Suk Chhon didn''t get distracted for even a second; rather, he used it to distract Ming You. In that moment, Suk Chhon leaped and the ball sailed into the hoop with perfect trajectory.


    "Game," he declared, tossing the ball onto the asphalt. His breath was slightly uneven, but he was smiling. "You''re good, Ming You. But not good enough."


    Ming You stepped closer, his face once again transforming into a mask of friendliness.


    "Good game, Suk Chhon. See you in the match, maybe even in the finals."


    "Always at your service," he replied with a slight smirk. They parted ways as if it had merely been a game.


    But Ming You didn''t rush. He watched for a while as Suk Chhon trained with his team.


    An hour later, Ming You discreetly followed him home. When Suk Chhon''s figure disappeared behind the doors of his house, his next move began to take shape in Ming You''s mind. After all, this was just part of the plan.


    "It was time to prepare," he told himself.


    Ming You returned home, feeling a slight chill of anticipation:


    "This time I lost, and I even knew I would lose. More than that, I wanted to lose to eliminate this obstacle. Suk Chhon, you are indeed an interesting player."


    His predatory smile graced his face once more, and the night lay ahead.

 Chapter 37: The Plan Against the Captain

    A dark basement. In the center, where there was a small patch of light, stood Ming You with an indifferent face, maintaining his composure.


    In one hand, he held a basketball; in the other, a bloody kitchen knife.


    He glanced at the basketball, and it seemed as if he heard women''s voices coming from it:


    "Love... Happiness... Love... Happiness..."


    Ming You turned his gaze to the bloody knife, and it also seemed to emit voices, mixed with both female and male tones:


    "Victory... Kill... Victory... Kill..."


    Ming You decided to look at the basement wall, and pools of blood began to flow from the floor. The voices mingled, growing stronger, as if they were shouting:


    "Love... Victory... Happiness... Kill... Love... Kill... Happiness... Victory..."


    The voices began to scream loudly, and the basement floor was already flooded with blood, reaching Ming You''s waist. The flow of blood was very fast, and soon he began to choke on it.


    ¡­


    Outside, it was still night, but you could tell dawn was approaching. Ming You opened his eyes, his impartial expression unchanged. He checked the time on his phone and thought to himself:


    "I still have two hours before the alarm. I love nightmares; even though they don''t scare me, they make me wake up earlier, feeling refreshed. It''s like my brain is trying to scare me, but instead, it makes me invent things to fear."


    Ming You sat on the edge of the bed, stretched, opened the curtains, and looked out the window. The dark sky was gradually beginning to lighten, and he could make out the outlines of trees lining the road.


    Getting out of bed, he headed to the kitchen. His steps were quiet, as if he was afraid of waking someone. Ming You opened the closet, and at first glance, it contained only his basketball uniform, school uniform, and a couple of black sweaters and jackets. But at the bottom of the closet was a board, slightly raised at an angle, though it was not noticeable at first glance. Screws were located along the edges of this board, but they were not fully tightened¡ªthey remained slightly elevated. Ming You carefully unscrewed these screws by hand, trying not to damage the material, and set them aside. Then, gently removing the board, he placed it on the floor and took out several items from it.


    A kitchen knife, cleaver, hammer, saw, scissors, screwdriver, plastic bags, gloves ¡ª everything was neatly arranged in one corner. He meticulously checked the tools as if preparing for a significant operation.


    "Everything must be perfect," Ming You thought to himself. "No accidents. Just me and my target."


    Then he approached the box near the stove where the plastic were kept. He carefully folded them so they wouldn''t take up much space in his backpack. In his mind, the plan was already unfolding. He envisioned every detail, every movement, as if preparing for a performance in which he was the only actor besides his victim.


    Ming You knew that before taking action, he needed to carefully analyze the surroundings of Suk Chhon''s house. He took out his phone from his pocket and opened the map. With his finger, he traced the street where Suk Chhon lived and began searching for abandoned buildings or basements nearby.


    "There are unfortunately no abandoned places or basements, but there''s construction going on around the house, albeit quite lazily," he analyzed mentally. "But it''s not that simple; I''ll need to deal with cameras and witnesses. The main thing is not to rush. Today is a day off, and I need to wait for the moment when he''s completely alone."


    Ming You glanced at the time on his phone again. Time was passing, and he knew he had to act. He gathered all the necessary items, put them in his backpack, but left the backpack at home for now. He put on a khaki sweater and pants, tucking a medical mask into his pockets.


    Ming You left the apartment, closing the door behind him. The silence of the corridor enveloped him, as if foretelling what was to come. Ming You descended the stairs, each step confident and calm.


    Outside, he was greeted by the fresh morning air. He took a deep breath, allowing himself to enjoy the moment. The night was gradually giving way to dawn, and the first rays of the sun began to appear in the sky. Ming You headed towards the new building where his target, Suk Chhon, lived.


    Ming You chose a spot from where he could watch the entrance to the building. He settled on a bench in the shade of a tree, where he couldn''t be seen. Time passed slowly. He checked the time on his phone, then looked back at the entrance. Finally, at nine in the morning, he noticed the door open, and Suk Chhon emerged. Sunlight played on his slightly muscular body as he, dressed in sportswear, headed into the yard.


    "Today is a day off, but practice is still on," he said on the phone.


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    Ming You observed him, noting every detail. Suk Chhon was not only physically strong but also smart. He always knew how to conduct himself in company. Ming You followed him like a shadow, trying not to miss a moment. Suk Chhon headed to a local caf¨¦ where his friends were already waiting, and Ming You followed them.


    Ming You decided not to go in but to wait in the alley.


    In the caf¨¦, Suk Chhon was discussing the upcoming game with the team.


    "Listen, guys, we need to be ready for their defense. If we can get past them, victory will be ours," he said with enthusiasm.


    One of his teammates laughed:


    "Well, Chhon, you know you''re our strategist on the field. But don''t forget, we have other players too!"


    Suk Chhon replied with a smile:


    "It''s tough, but I always find a way. But remember, the team we''re playing against has a strategist like me. So let''s gather later to discuss tactics."


    After breakfast, Suk Chhon and his friends went to the gym. Ming You decided not to lose sight of them. He watched them, hiding around the corner as they entered the building.


    Inside the gym, Suk Chhon talked with the coach, discussing tactics and strategies.


    "We need to work more on defense," said the coach, pointing to the tactical board. Suk Chhon nodded, absorbing every word.


    Time passed, and Ming You continued to watch Suk Chhon, noting his routes and actions. He saw how he interacted with other players, how they joked and laughed, creating an atmosphere of friendship and unity.


    As the day drew to a close, Ming You decided it was time to act. He had carefully planned his next move. Suk Chhon would likely be heading home along a certain route, and Ming You already knew what to do. He had chosen a construction building, and it was perfect since Suk Chhon''s route to his school was right through this building.


    Approaching the fence, he picked up a crowbar that was lying beneath it. Ming You knew that surveillance cameras guarded the area, and he couldn''t afford to be caught. Putting on a hood and a medical mask, he focused and began disabling the cameras, trying to work quickly and quietly. His heart beat in unison with his plan, and he knew that soon his strategic move would lead to the final game.


    With each broken eye of the security system, he got closer to his goal. Ming You felt adrenaline filling his body, giving him strength and confidence. He worked quickly, his movements precise and assured. Each camera shutdown brought him closer to the moment when he could execute his plan.


    When he finished, he stepped back a few paces to inspect his work. The construction site building was now under his control, and he knew he could use it to his advantage. He carefully checked to leave no traces, and, making sure his actions went unnoticed, headed toward the guard booth.


    Ming You approached the booth door and paused for a moment.


    "Security, huh. We''ll have to eliminate all of you."


    He gripped the crowbar with both hands and burst through the booth door.


    "What the fu¡­?" the guard shouted, but before he could finish, Ming You lunged at him and swung the crowbar. The strike was swift and precise, and he felt the tension in his body dissipate as the guard collapsed to the floor.


    The second guard tried to grab the radio.


    "What the hell, we''re being attacked by some fuck¡­!" He didn''t even manage to turn on the radio as Ming You swiftly struck his hand with the crowbar.


    "What a faggot!" the guard cursed, reaching for his baton.


    But he didn''t have time; Ming You struck him hard on the head, and he fell to the floor.


    After both guards were neutralized, Ming You looked around. He quickly analyzed the situation and went to the computer.


    On the computer, he turned off all the cameras and began erasing the recordings.


    Now he had to get rid of the bodies. He grabbed both guards by the legs and, with difficulty but decisively, pulled them towards the exit. Each step was not easy - heavy bodies trailed behind him, leaving behind a light trail on the dusty floor.


    As Ming You walked down the stairs through the construction site and into the basement, he felt the tension rising. Every sound seemed louder, every step more important. He reached the lowest floor, where darkness enveloped the space, and finally lowered the bodies onto the cold concrete floor. There was silence in the basement, and only the sound of his breathing broke the darkness.


    When he finished, his thoughts turned back to the plan.


    "Well, meet your new friends, Suk Chhon."


    He still had to prepare the place more thoroughly and clean up any traces of the guards, but he had one problem:


    "We''ll have to kill you," - Ming You said mentally, turning over the crowbar, which had a sharp edge.


    He sharply stuck a crowbar into the throat of one guard, at first a wound simply opened in the throat, but when Ming You took the crowbar out of the guard''s throat, blood began to flow from there. Ming You did the same with the second guard.


    He had to return home soon. Ming You knew that time was running out. He quickly got out of the building, trying not to leave any traces. He knew he had to act quickly and effectively.


    Ming You headed home, his steps quick and determined. Thoughts of what he needed to do swirled in his mind. He ran past familiar places, but they seemed foreign to him now, as if he were in another world. The scent of rain lingered in the air, and clouds gathered into a dense mass overhead, foreshadowing a storm.


    When he entered his room, he opened the closet and took out the backpack he had carefully prepared in advance. Inside were tools: gloves, knives, garbage bags, and several items that might be needed for cleaning. He gathered everything in a rush, but with cold calculation. Ming You recalled how he had planned this moment, how meticulously he had chosen each tool to ensure everything went smoothly.


    "It would be wise to prepare a change of clothes," he said aloud, as if encouraging himself, beginning to pack a spare sweater, shirt and school trousers into the backpack.


    Having collected his backpack, he went outside again. Ming You was focused on his goal. Every step brought him closer to his next victim ¡ª Suk Chhon.


    When he returned to the construction site, he passed through the bent fence. Ming You carefully examined the area, trying not to miss a single detail. The faint glow of the lamps cast long shadows, and Ming You felt the tension rising. He knew he needed to be especially cautious now. A plan was already forming in his mind: how to approach, how to act, how to avoid unnecessary noise.


    Going down to the basement, he saw the bodies of the guards lying on the concrete floor. However, Ming You decided to take the belt from the guard''s trousers.


    "This will still come in handy," he analyzed, putting the belt into his backpack.


    After that, Ming You took out plastic and began wrapping the bodies. Each of his movements was precise and confident.


    "Leaving traces means signing your own death warrant, but only I can sign it for other people who interfere with my goals," Ming You thought as he wrapped the bodies.


    After he wrapped the bodies, he took out rags and began cleaning up the blood. Each of his movements was mechanical.


    When he finished, Ming You took a roll of plastic and began covering the basement. He knew it was not just a precaution ¡ª it was his insurance. Each layer of plastic was like an additional wall between him and potential exposure. He worked quickly, analyzing the next steps.


    Finally, having finished the preparations, he straightened up and looked over his creation. The basement looked as if nothing had ever happened there, except for the wrapped bodies of the guards with bloody holes in their necks encased in plastic sheets.


    Ming You felt confidence and malicious glee growing within him. He left the construction site, preparing for the next victim. In his mind, he was already mapping the route to Suk Chhon''s house.


    "You won''t have a chance," he said, looking at the darkening sky. The wind blew stronger, and Ming You stepped forward, like a shadow, dissolving into the night.

 Chapter 38: Captains Off-Pitch Games

    Ming You stood at the edge of the construction site, his cold eyes carefully studying the surrounding area. He finished laying down the plastic sheeting in the basement, the perfect place to hide any traces of his actions. The night was dark, and only rare lights in the windows of neighboring houses illuminated the street. He climbed over the fence, his movements smooth and silent.


    He walked towards Suk Chhon''s house, his heart beating in unison with the rhythm of anticipation. Every step brought him closer to his goal.


    Finally, he reached Suk Chhon''s house. It was a new building, surrounded by fresh greenery, but in the stillness of the night it looked gloomy. Ming You noticed a bench nearby and sat down on it, tilting his head back to wait.


    Several hours passed, and the night gradually gave way to morning. Ming You sat on the bench, his eyes constantly watching the front door, mentally gloating:


    "Hehe, Suk Chhon, you definitely won''t stay long."


    Time passed slowly. Ming You felt the cold seep into his bones, but it didn''t matter. He was ready to wait even until dawn, because he knew that his patience would be rewarded.


    Finally, when the first rays of the sun began to break through the clouds, the door of the house opened. Suk Chhon walked out, stretching, yawning and unaware of what awaited him. Ming You felt a sly grin form on his face. He watched as Suk Chhon headed towards school, his thoughts occupied with everyday worries.


    "It''s time to act," Ming You mentally whispered, getting up from the bench. He took a step forward, his movements smooth and confident.


    As Suk Chhon approached the bent fence, Ming You, quickly and accurately, grabbed his neck with a belt and pulled him over the side of the bent fence. Suk Chhon tried to break free, his eyes filled with fear, but it was useless and he soon lost consciousness.


    Ming You, without wasting any time, picked him up by the hands and, like a sack of potatoes, carried him to the construction site. He carefully carried him down the stairs to the basement and looked around to see if there was anyone who could interfere with him.


    It was dark inside, only rare rays of light made their way through the cracks in the walls. He had already chosen the basement ¡ª an ideal place where no one could disturb him. Suk Chhon was not easy, but Ming You carried him without hesitation through an empty room filled with the sounds of dripping water and creaking construction boards.


    Ming You put Suk Chhon on the floor, which was covered with plastic, and then carefully tied him to a pole that stood in the corner of the basement. He used strong ropes, wrapping them around the victim''s body so that he could not escape when he came to his senses. Suk Chhon was unconscious, his face was pale and his breathing was even. Ming You looked at him, his eyes shining with satisfaction at the upcoming victory.


    He began to prepare his tools, taking them out of black garbage bags. Meanwhile, Suk Chhon began to come to his senses a little. The first thing he saw was the corpses of two guards wrapped in plastic, who were opposite him.


    "What the hell!?" Suk Chhon tried to get up, but quickly realized that his arms and legs were tied.


    But when he looked at Ming You, who was inspecting his kitchen knife, he immediately fell into bewilderment.


    "You? Ming You? What the hell is going on here!? Where am I!?" He asked in panic.


    Ming You only glanced at him out of the corner of his eye, turning his knife over with the tip down.


    "Time is running out. Sorry, but we won''t have time to chat, I still have to get to school," Ming You spoke calmly, walking towards Suk Chhon.


    "What the hell are you talking about!? Let me out..." Before Suk Chhon could finish speaking, his eyes filled with horror. Ming You sharply stuck the knife into his throat and blood gradually began to pour into the plastic.


    Ming You took out a kitchen knife and blood gradually began to splash in all directions. But he lost no time and began to get rid of the bodies.


    Ming You pulled the body of the guard towards him and first opened the plastic, then he began to take off his clothes.


    "Hmm, I think it will be just right for me." He thought, looking at the guard''s uniform.


    But the uniform was bloody, so he took only the belt on which there was a walkie-talkie, a baton, and a flashlight. However, the cap was surprisingly clean, so Ming You took it and put it away from the bodies.


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    When he returned, Ming You took out a cleaver from the trash bag and began to dismember the body of the guard. The blood flowed rather weakly, because the corpse had already lain there for half a day. But the body had not yet decomposed, so the organs were still fresh. When Ming You divided the body into ten parts with a cleaver, he ripped open the guard''s stomach and began to finely chop the organs. After that, Ming You began to scoop out the meat and chop it finely. After cutting the meat, he took out a hammer and began to crush bones with teeth using a hammer and a cleaver.


    When Ming You finished with the first corpse, or rather with its small remains, he put them in garbage bags. He did the same with the second body of the guard, but the second guard was fatter, so the remains of the second corpse took up one and a half bags more.


    Having finished with the guards, Ming You began to cut up Suk Chhon''s corpse, mentally mocking him:


    "Your body was quite athletic, but alas, your muscles are not able to withstand blows from a cleaver."


    He began cutting up the body and putting the remains into garbage bags. He dismembered Suk Chhon''s body in the same way as all his other victims.


    Ming You began packing the remains of the bodies and gradually rolling up the plastic. When only cleaner polyethylenes remained, Ming You began to change his clothes.


    He took off his bloody clothes, put them in his backpack and put on his spare clothes along with his black mask. He also put on the belt that the guard had and a black cap that he also borrowed from the guard.


    Ming You then began to cover his tracks. He removes the remaining plastic, puts them in garbage bags and after that Ming You takes an ultraviolet flashlight and begins to shine it on every corner of the basement.


    After making sure that everything was clear, Ming You, wearing a black shirt with a security belt and a black mask, walked out of the basement, dragging six heavy garbage bags with him. Ming You dragged six garbage bags onto the street and a total of eighteen bags of "garbage" came out.


    In the morning his figure seemed ghostly, but he felt neither fear nor doubt. It was quiet all around, with only occasional sounds coming from a nearby construction site. He stopped for a moment to look around - not a soul, not a sound, only a light wind stirring the debris on the ground.


    "I need to be more careful this time. I can''t just dump the bags in containers like I did before as I''m without a van today. Therefore, it will take more time and effort. There is no room for mistakes in my plans." - Thought Ming You.


    First he decided to look for a ready-made pit.


    "Digging is too risky," he thought, making his way through the construction site. His eyes quickly stopped at different places until he noticed a small hole left from previous works. Ming You smiled to himself:


    "It looks like the work has already been done for me."


    He headed to the nearest warehouse and, after carefully looking around, found several bags of cement.


    "Oh, how lazy they are," thought Ming You, dragging the bags to the pit. Each bag weighed a fair amount, but for Ming You it was just a physical exercise.


    When he reached the pit, Ming You quickly threw four garbage bags at a time and dumped all eighteen bags of remains into it. He worked quickly and confidently, his movements were honed to the point of automaticity.


    "The faster, the better," he whispered to himself, filling the hole with cement. Ming You could not afford to linger - time passed, and with it the risks.


    After filling several holes, he noticed a hose that the construction workers had left behind.


    "Perfect," he whispered, taking the hose and pointing it towards the holes.


    The water flowed, mixing with the cement, and soon he saw the mixture become homogeneous. Ming You worked, not noticing how time flies:


    "I should finish it before someone returns to the construction site."


    An hour later, when he had completed his work and was about to leave, he suddenly noticed a group of construction workers.


    "Very expected," flashed through his thoughts. He quickly made plans in his head as he walked past one of the buildings, trying not to attract attention to himself.


    However, one of the builders, noticing him, shouted:


    "Hey, you! What are you doing here?"


    Ming You quickly realized without losing his composure. He straightened up and answered confidently:


    "I''m just checking if everything is okay. I work here as a security guard on the night shift, if anything, and I have to make sure that no one enters the territory."


    The builder squinted, clearly not believing his words:


    "Security guard? You? How old are you? You look pretty skinny!"


    Ming You felt the tension rising, but quickly composed himself:


    "Yes, I''m a student. I''m just working part-time to earn some money. I have classes in the morning, so I need to be on time."


    The builder shook his head with displeasure and asked:


    "So what, are you here alone? Isn''t it too dangerous for such a young guy?"


    "I know what I''m doing," Ming You answered confidently. "I have experience, and I''m always on the alert. Just doing my job."


    The builder looked at him skeptically:


    "Okay, do what you want, the main thing is don''t interfere or interfere. But if you see someone suspicious, warn them. We don''t want any trouble here."


    Ming You nodded, because he knew that now he needed to act confidently:


    "Of course, don''t worry. I just want to finish my shift and go back to university."


    The builder looked at him again, but seeing that Ming You looked determined, he simply shrugged.


    "Okay, then I''ll go. Good luck, guy. I hope you can handle it." Said the builder, and, turning around, headed towards his colleagues.


    When he left, Ming You confidently walked towards the exit from the construction site. His steps were confident and purposeful.


    However, the builder fell slightly into a stupor:


    "Wait, why the hell did he have a night shift if now he went to study?"


    "Hey, why are you mumbling there? Let''s go haul cement!" His comrade called out to him.


    "Okay, to hell with it." The builder reconciled himself and soon went to do his work.


    Ming You, meanwhile, reached his home ¡ª a rented apartment on the third floor. He quickly walked up the creaky steps and opened his door. Ming You, having taken off his shoes, put the backpack with tools under a wooden lid in the closet, where no one was looking for it.


    "Hehe," he chuckled quietly, looking at his reflection in the mirror, holding "his" cap. "We''re done with the corpses, which means it''s time to change clothes."


    Ming You took off his guard uniform and wasted no time in putting on his school uniform ¡ª a white short-sleeved shirt and black pants. He looked at himself in the mirror, straightened his collar and, nodding with satisfaction, took the school backpack that stood in the corner. Inside was a basketball uniform ¡ª black, with the red and white number 44.


    "Time to get ready for the game," he muttered, looking at the form. "Now, Suk Chon, your plans and aspirations will go down the drain, or more precisely, down the drain."


    Ming You left the apartment with a feigned smile and headed towards the school.

 Chapter 39: Shoguros Backup Plan

    In the school hall, where silence usually reigned, today was bustling with activity. Ming You stood by the window, his tall silhouette casting a long shadow on the floor. Around him gathered his teammates, waiting for the next plan that would lead them to victory.


    However, the atmosphere among the team was tense. Three people emerged from the office of the former coach: the manager of the basketball club San Liu and two detectives ¡ª Xin Shi and Lao Han.


    "Hello, Ming You, we have a few questions for you," Lao Han addressed him.


    All eyes were on him; his team was slightly puzzled. San Liu had a serious expression, Xin Shi had a penetrating gaze, and Lao Han seemed quite friendly. Among all those present, only Ming You remained completely calm:


    "What do you want?"


    "Just to talk. Nothing special," Lao Han was friendly, but Ming You rudely pushed him away:


    "My parents taught me not to talk to strangers, so if you don''t have a warrant or I''m not under arrest, I''ll ask you to leave me alone. Today, my team and I have a very important game, and I don''t want to waste my time on unnecessary conversations."


    "Ming You, what are you..." Jung Ho wanted to intervene, but Lao Han stopped him:


    "It''s okay, we''re not forcing anyone. We just want to help in the search for your coach and your friend, who was also on this team."


    When Lao Han finished speaking, Ming You gave him a stern look and replied in a low tone:


    "If I or any of my friends remember anything, we will definitely let you know. But for now, I politely ask you to leave the hall and let us prepare for the game. Interrupting us without arrests or warrants is an overreach of authority. I am already worried about my respected mentor, not to mention my loyal friend, so please, don''t bother us. We''re all feeling bad about their absence, and we need to prepare for the game."


    Xin Shi got angry and didn''t want to show it, but the veins on her forehead bulged as she thought to herself:


    "What a cunning bastard! Based on the school journal, I thought he was just a nerd, but to be so brazen and devilishly smart! Ugh!"


    Lao Han shrugged and said goodbye in a friendly manner:


    "Sorry, we didn''t mean to offend you or anyone else and make the situation worse. We''ll leave you alone. Thanks for the talk, and if you remember anything, you know who to contact." He took Xin Shi by the elbow, and before he led her away, she blushed slightly but calmly headed towards the exit of the school hall.


    Lao Han waved his hand one last time and cheerfully said, turning his head towards the entrance of the school hall:


    "Good luck with your game!"


    "Thanks," Ming You said rudely, mentally smirking.


    San Liu sighed with relief and looked at Ming You with a hint of distrust, but his team decided to cheer him up, and Jung Ho was the first to speak:


    "You were quite rude to them; they might suspect you of something you didn''t do. But I agree with you, we''re all worried about coach Chang Wo, and now detectives are getting involved before the game."


    Lu Shen, stepping forward, also decided to show support:


    "The situation really sucks, but we need to focus on the game, right, guys..."


    "Yes, you''re right," Ming You interrupted, looking around at the team. "Let''s get to the game. Today we''re using the ''cobweb'' technique. This isn''t just a strategy; it''s our path to victory. We''ll act as one, like a cobweb covering the entire court."


    Jung Ho looked at him with interest:


    "The cobweb? Hmm, we''ve practiced this before, so we''re ready!"


    Ming You smirked, his eyes gleaming.


    "The technique is quite simple in practice, as long as none of us makes a mistake. We''ll control the pace of the game, forcing the opponent to play by our rules. Jung Ho, you''ll be the key player in the center. Your task is to distribute the ball and find weak spots in the opponent''s defense."


    Lu Shen couldn''t help himself:


    "I hope I don''t get tangled in this cobweb. Although, if it''s as sticky as my sperm, everything will be fine!"


    Haru Lin smirked and, winking at Lu Shen, added:


    "Don''t worry, Lu. If anything, I''ll pull you out of your own sperm. But maybe stop telling us about how you jerk off first?"


    Lu Shen pretended to be offended, but there was a glint of amusement in his eyes.


    Ming You, ignoring the banter, continued:


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    "Haru, your task is to create opportunities for my shots. You need to be everywhere and nowhere at the same time. We need to buy time and outsmart the opponent. Hong Ren, you''re our hidden ace. You need to stay in the shadows and appear at the most unexpected moment."


    Hong Ren, who always seemed indifferent, nodded.


    Manager San Liu, observing the discussion, decided to intervene:


    "If something goes wrong, I have a few ideas. But I hope they won''t be needed. Ming You, your strategy sounds impressive."


    Ming You nodded, accepting the compliment, but his thoughts were already on the court:


    "I''m expecting a pretty easy victory, heh-heh."


    As the team headed to the court, Ming You noticed that the Shoguro team looked unexpectedly confident. The absence of their captain, Suk Chhon, didn''t affect their morale. This was strange, and Ming You felt a slight unease.


    Meanwhile, in the Shoguro locker room, a conversation was taking place. The vice-captain gathered the team around him.


    "We can manage without Suk Chhon," he said confidently, looking each of them in the eye. "We have a backup plan. We need to use his ''court corners'' strategy. This will allow us to keep Yoshido at a distance while scoring points."


    The players nodded, their determination unwavering. They knew they had to act as one.


    After the warm-up on the court, both teams lined up.


    The referee blew the whistle, and the game began.


    Jung Ho won the tip-off, deftly passing the ball to Haru Lin.


    Opposite Haru Lin stood a defender, who pretended to try to get past him and made a sharp pass to Hong Ren.


    Hong Ren slipped past the defender, took the ball, but the defender stood in his way, forcing him to pass to Ming You.


    Ming You took the ball and quickly ran along the three-point line but suddenly stopped as a defender stood next to him.


    "You think you can get past me so easily?" the defender opposite Ming You smirked.


    "Heh-heh," Ming You smirked, making a sharp move with the ball as if he was going to get past the defender, but he passed the ball to Jung Ho.


    Jung Ho caught the ball and quickly shot from the corner of the free-throw line. The defender ran up to him and tried to block the shot, but to no avail. Jung Ho scored.


    Whistle: Ball to Shoguro.


    "Han Zhou, I''m counting on you," a tall player called out, passing the ball from under the hoop.


    "Don''t doubt it," he replied.


    On the other side of the court, the Yoshido team was fully motivated.


    "Nice one!" Lu Shen shouted towards Jung Ho.


    Han Zhou started dribbling the ball, with Haru Lin guarding him. He reached out for the ball, but Han Zhou passed it.


    However, Ming You deftly intercepted the ball and ran to the three-point line.


    "What the hell!" Han Zhou exclaimed, chasing after Haru Lin.


    Opponents ran up to the three-point line. Hong Ren ran to the free-throw line, but the defender easily kept up with him.


    Meanwhile, Ming You dribbled the ball on the floor. He gave a sly smirk and dribbled the ball through the defender''s legs, deftly getting past him.


    "You fell for it," the defender smirked, reaching out to knock the ball away.


    "You fell for it too," Ming You replied slyly, throwing the ball into the hoop with one hand.


    Jung Ho was already ready and ran towards the hoop. He caught the ball that Ming You threw and made an alley-oop.


    "Pak Jun Su, guard number 44, Lee Hyun Jung, you''re on the rebound, but if anything, we''ll use the combination," Han Zhou explained, pointing at the court line.


    Pak Jun Su, on the other hand, was full of determination. He knew their backup plan could work if they acted clearly and without mistakes.


    "Lee Hyun Jung, let''s do the corner combination!" he shouted, passing the ball.


    Lee Hyun Jung caught the ball and made a sharp shot, but the ball bounced off the hoop. Han Zhou picked it up and scored from close range.


    "Keep it up!" Pak Jun Su shouted, smiling.


    The ball was with Shoguro. Han Zhou started dribbling along the right line, his eyes looking for a passing opportunity. Haru Lin was on him like a shadow, his movements quick and precise.


    "Hey, don''t forget you''re playing against me," Haru teased, flashing a smile. "I''m not just standing here for no reason."


    Han Zhou didn''t respond. He made a sharp move to the left, trying to get past Haru, but he was ready. He reached out, almost touching the ball, but Han Zhou managed to pass to Lee Hyun Jung.


    Lee Hyun Jung caught the ball and immediately threw it towards the corner of the court, where Pak Jun Su was waiting. But Ming You was already there. He intercepted the ball with one quick movement, his eyes gleaming.


    "You can''t get past me," he smirked before quickly turning and throwing the ball to Jung Ho.


    Jung Ho caught the ball and immediately passed to Haru Lin, who was already running towards the hoop. Haru jumped, his arm extended, and the ball smoothly flew through the hoop.


    Whistle: Timeout for the white team.


    "Heh-heh, already out of breath," Lu Shen smirked, wiping sweat from his mouth.


    "Yeah, you''re sweating like a horny ugly whore during spring fever," Haru Lin teased, heading to the bench.


    Ming You, standing on the edge of the court, slowly wiped the sweat from his forehead. His cold gaze swept over the Shoguro players, who were slightly puzzled. He wasn''t smiling. He wasn''t angry. He was just observing. His brain was already working at full capacity, anticipating the opponent''s tactics and using the timeout to the fullest.


    "Hey, Ming," Jung Ho called out, running closer. "They''re definitely up to something, unless they''re just out of breath."


    Ming You slowly nodded, not taking his eyes off the Shoguro players.


    "They''re going to play passes through the corners. That''s their backup plan. But it''s strange that they needed a timeout two minutes before the end of the first quarter."


    "Maybe they''re not as strong as they seem," Lu Shen smirked, approaching them. "Just look at how they''re all sweating, even horny ugly whores during spring fever don''t sweat that much."


    "You asshole! That''s my joke!" Haru Lin snorted, but Ming You didn''t even smile. His eyes were cold as ice.


    "Shut up, Lu. Focus on the game. If you don''t give it your all now, I''ll personally make sure your dick turns into a pussy and you start sweating more than a waterfall."


    The whole team chuckled, but Lu Shen froze, feeling the icy tone in Ming You''s voice. He knew the captain wasn''t joking. Ever.


    "Okay, okay," he muttered, stepping back. "I''m focused. I promise."


    Ming You turned to the team, his voice quiet but heard by all.


    "Let''s discuss their next moves now. They probably think we''re weaker. They think we can''t handle their tactics. But they''re wrong. We''re the cobweb. We''re the trap. They''ve been in it for a while now. Now we just need to tighten the noose."


    Jung Ho nodded, his eyes burning with determination.


    "What do we do?"


    "We play our way," Ming You said, his voice calm but with a steely confidence. "They want to make us run? Let them run. But we''ll control every step they take. If they really use the backup plan, here''s what we''ll do: Haru, you take the left corner. Lu, the right. Jung Ho, you''re in the center. Hong Ren, you stay in the shadows. I''ll take care of their captain. They won''t be able to make a single pass without us intercepting it."


    The team nodded, their eyes burning with determination. They knew Ming You was always right. Even if his methods were ruthless.


    Meanwhile, on the Shoguro bench. The coach was the first to speak:


    "I have a strange feeling. Haven''t you noticed that you''re running slower but getting more tired?"


    "We''re running at a moderate pace, coach. We''re waiting for the right moment for the backup plan, so thank you for your support," Han Zhou replied confidently, looking up from the bench.


    "He''s right, we''re aware of the backup plan and timing, so why did you call a timeout two minutes before the end of the first quarter?"


    "You still don''t get it, Pak Jun Su. In these two minutes, we need to break them, right, Han Zhou?" Lee Hyun Jung smirked, glancing between the captain and the coach.


    "That''s right, we should thank Suk Chhon, even though he didn''t show up today," he replied with a smirk.


    "I think it''s forgivable for him to skip the game, considering he even overestimated these weaklings by giving us such a complex plan," Pak Jun Su agreed, taking a sip of water.


    Both teams were ready, and the referee blew the whistle, resuming the game.

 Chapter 40: Yoshidos Backup Plan

    Jung Ho took the ball and passed it to Ming You from the perimeter. He ran to the center of the court, where Pak Jun Su stood in his way:


    "You won''t get far."


    "Neither will you," replied Ming You, passing the ball to Haru Lin, who ran to the three-point line.


    Surprisingly, the defender gave him some space, which made Haru Lin slightly puzzled. He tried to maintain a perfect pace, dribbling the ball moderately on the court.


    Haru Lin decided to try to get past the defender, and just when it seemed like he was about to lose the ball, he made a sharp pass to Hong Ren, who was facing Han Zhou.


    Hong Ren tried to press the defender at a moderate pace, and seeing an opportunity to pass to Lu Shen, he prepared to make the pass.


    A strike.


    "Fuck it!" Han Zhou knocked the ball out of Hong Ren''s hands, dribbled it a couple of times, and passed it to Lee Hyun Jung, who was running to the corner of the three-point line.


    Lu Shen immediately ran up to him, pretending to try to steal the ball.


    Lee Hyun Jung took the ball in both hands and prepared to shoot, while Lu Shen jumped, ready to block the shot.


    "Heh-heh," Lee Hyun Jung chuckled, preparing to pass to the open Han Zhou.


    "Fuck!" Lu Shen cursed mentally, but when the ball was already flying towards Han Zhou, he smiled.


    "Huh?" Han Zhou was confused.


    Ming You intercepted the ball and sprinted towards the hoop.


    "Stop him!" Han Zhou shouted.


    Shoguro''s defense was spread out across the corners of the court, giving Ming You the perfect space.


    "Take them down, Ming You!" Lu Shen cheered, glancing at the timer.


    There were fifteen seconds left in the first quarter. The defense couldn''t react in time, and Ming You scored from under the hoop.


    Whistle: Shoguro''s ball.


    "Faster! We have ten seconds! We need to score!" Han Zhou encouraged everyone, but Ming You stood in his way.


    "Not so fast," Ming You prepared to steal the ball, but Han Zhou quickly reacted and passed to Pak Jun Su.


    Interception!


    Hong Ren took the ball and made a sharp pass to Jung Ho.


    "He won''t make it," Han Zhou smirked, but still ran towards him.


    Jung Ho also knew he wouldn''t make it, so he shot from the three-point line.


    Whistle!


    The ball flew in a curved trajectory, bouncing off the rim.


    Both teams headed to their benches. On Yoshido''s bench, Ming You started giving instructions:


    "They know that we know."


    "What are you talking about?" Lu Shen asked, puzzled.


    The team was also confused, but Ming You just smirked:


    "They''re aware that we know about their corner strategy."


    Jung Ho was full of surprise:


    "Are you saying they''re one step ahead?"


    "I''d believe anything, but not that Ming You could be outsmarted," Lu Shen moved closer to him.


    Ming You continued explaining his plan:


    "They think they''re one step ahead, but I''m sure their next plan will still be based on the corners. We just need to adapt to it, but don''t break the ''cobweb.''"


    The team was inspired, but Haru Lin decided to clarify:


    "I don''t want to sound dumb, but how exactly will their corner strategy work?"


    "Yes, and how did you figure that out?" added Lu Shen. Ming You confidently replied:


    "Even though it''s a simple guess, based on how their corner setup in the first quarter was aimed at studying all of us, in the next rounds, this setup will work perfectly. As for their corner strategy, they''ll use it for quick passes or quick shots. In other words, if any of us intercepts the ball, it will definitely go out of bounds, making the interception useless. Based on this, they''ll confidently score, and we won''t be able to do anything about it." Ming You also analyzed the team''s subsequent actions in his mind: "I''m sure Suk Chhon explained to them that I know about his ''corner strategy,'' so it''s no surprise they might have an alternative tactic. But I know for sure their tactic will be based on the corners, as it''s a foolproof option given their physical parameters."


    Jung Ho was still wary:


    "Okay, even if we know their plan, what will we do?"


    Ming You leaned his head back against the bench:


    "It''s simple. First plan: don''t let them get to the corners and keep the initiative. Second plan: if they do get to the corners, just keep your distance, which will greatly increase the chance of blocking a shot, stealing the ball, or intercepting a pass. And the backup plan: if the second plan doesn''t work, we''ll use double coverage, so we can definitely intercept the ball."


    "Great, let''s take them down!" Haru Lin cheered, and the team was fully motivated.


    Whistle: the start of the second quarter.


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    Han Zhou had the ball. He dribbled it, waiting for his teammates to position themselves in the corners.


    But as the players were about to position themselves in the corners, the defenders immediately ran up to them and started pressing.


    Jung Ho stood against Han Zhou. They were roughly equal in physical parameters, but Han Zhou with the ball in his hands was more agile and was about to get past the defense.


    Jung Ho deliberately took a step back, as he was already expecting additional defense. Ming You, meanwhile, moved past Pak Jun Su''s line of sight, and just as Han Zhou was about to get past Jung Ho, he suddenly saw Ming You''s predatory gaze and his outstretched hand, ready to steal the ball.


    "Screw you, not the ball!" Han Zhou was about to switch the ball to his left hand, confident that Ming You had miscalculated and had left Pak Jun Su for nothing.


    "I wasn''t planning to steal it, heh-heh," Ming You quickly shifted his gaze to Jung Ho, his hand barely touching the ball, and it was knocked towards Ming You.


    "Huh?" The entire opposing team was surprised as they watched Ming You pick up the ball with one hand and head towards the hoop.


    Pak Jun Su stood in his way and abruptly stopped him. He thought he could steal the ball, but Ming You dribbled behind his back, switched the ball to his other hand, and made a sharp pass over the defender''s ear to Jung Ho, who was running towards the three-second zone.


    "What?" The defender was surprised as Jung Ho caught the ball and prepared to shoot.


    Han Zhou ran towards him, almost managing to defend against him, but Ming You set a quick screen. He hoped Han Zhou wouldn''t notice him to draw a foul, but Han Zhou was surprisingly attentive.


    He had no choice but to hope for help. But none of the opponents managed to defend in time, and Jung Ho scored from under the hoop.


    "You''re the best, Jung Ho!" Lu Shen cheered, and Haru Lin, running next to him, added:


    "Definitely better than you. You should learn to hold onto the ball as tightly as you hold onto your dick."


    "I''ll tear them apart like a hymen!" Lu Shen was full of confidence in victory.


    Meanwhile, Han Zhou had already taken the ball in both hands and passed it to Pak Jun Su. He ran along the sideline, dribbling the ball quickly.


    Ming You stood against him and was already preparing to steal the ball.


    "Now!" Ming You said to himself and quickly extended his hand to steal the ball.


    But Pak Jun Su abruptly lowered his hand, and Ming You hit his arm, causing the ball to bounce away. The referee saw this and blew the whistle:


    "Foul! Player 44, Yoshido team."


    Jung Ho, Lu Shen, Haru Lin, and Hong Ren turned their gazes towards him and were surprised one by one:


    "What?"


    "Foul? What the fuck?"


    "A foul, and from Ming You?"


    "Is this part of the plan?"


    Among all the players, only Ming You remained calm. Even more, a slight smirk appeared on his face:


    "Not that I planned anything, but this out-of-bounds situation should disrupt their corner setup, though I was hoping for a stolen ball. But this situation works in my favor too."


    But according to the rules, the referee gave the ball to Pak Jun Su, who stepped back to the out-of-bounds line. All the players and spectators were waiting for the game to continue.


    Whistle!


    Lu Shen and Haru Lin rushed to the nearest opponents near Pak Jun Su, but he threw the ball to Han Zhou, who was standing further away.


    But just as Han Zhou was about to receive the ball, Ming You tried to intercept it.


    "Don''t even dream about it!" he shouted after him, but Ming You still couldn''t make the interception.


    "I don''t need the ball right now," he said with a smile, redirecting the ball with his fingertips to Jung Ho.


    Jung Ho was ready to receive the ball and extended his hands.


    Interception!


    The ball was in Pak Jun Su''s hands, and after the interception, he smirked and said to everyone:


    "Such a slow pass, even a child could intercept it."


    He quickly ran towards the hoop. Pak Jun Su moved along the sideline, but Ming You started running ahead of him, so he quickly cut him off.


    Pak Jun Su just smirked and started pressing him.


    "Seems like I miscalculated the physical parameters... I''ll have to maintain the advantage using other methods," Ming You thought to himself as Pak Jun Su pushed him back with his press.


    But Ming You decided to maneuver and try to knock the ball out of his hands. Pak Jun Su was on guard and made a sharp pass to Han Zhou, who ran to the corner of the free-throw line.


    He caught the ball, and Jung Ho stood against him, but Han Zhou started pressing him.


    "Heavy guy," Jung Ho thought to himself, trying to maintain the initiative.


    But Han Zhou just smirked, grabbed the ball with both hands, and took a quick step back.


    "Shot!" Jung Ho realized and jumped high, trying to block the shot.


    "Heh-heh," Han Zhou chuckled, as it was a fake move.


    He took another step back and jumped, throwing the ball with a perfect trajectory.


    "A fake?!" Jung Ho landed and quickly turned his head towards his own hoop.


    Score!


    "Fuck!" Lu Shen cursed, looking at the scoreboard.


    Whistle: halftime after the second quarter.


    On Shoguro''s bench, the atmosphere was tense. Their coach was the first to speak:


    "They managed to find a counter to Suk Chhon''s tactic, which is quite dangerous for us. But thank goodness their physical parameters are quite low."


    "Coach, don''t forget that besides our physical superiority, we''re not lagging behind them in strategy. Even if they have a counter against us, it doesn''t mean we can''t come up with something better."


    "Han Zhou, that number 44 is quite cunning, but he doesn''t have the strength to beat us, so I suggest we rely on our physical superiority," Pak Jun Su said, though he was still quite alert.


    Han Zhou took a sip of water and then started sharing his plan:


    "They''re really smart, especially that number 44, so we''ll use his obvious weakness: physical strength. He may be fast and agile, but with his physical parameters, his stamina must be limited. We''ll continue with the ''corner strategy,'' but I''ll tweak it a bit."


    The coach was slightly wary:


    "What exactly are you planning? I don''t think Suk Chhon''s plans can have any flaws."


    "It''s fine, coach, I''m not planning to completely change the tactic, I''ll just adapt it against number 44. To be specific, we''ll use enhanced pressing on the players. I think you all saw that our pressure in the game completely overwhelms them. We''ll also keep a closer distance so they can''t slip away from us and cleverly intercept the ball."


    Lee Hyun Jung, like the others, was intrigued:


    "Sounds interesting, and most importantly, easy to implement, so let''s beat them!"


    He stood up from the bench, and the rest of the players, including the substitutes, followed suit. They gathered in a circle and shouted enthusiastically:


    "Let''s go, Shoguro!"


    A few minutes earlier, on Yoshido''s bench. Ming You leaned his head back against the bench and emotionlessly said to everyone:


    "Nothing new, just follow the plans I discussed after the first quarter."


    "Hey, Lu Shen definitely needs a reminder, or he''ll mess up again," Haru Lin wrapped his arm around Lu Shen''s neck and pulled him slightly towards himself, to which Lu Shen quickly broke free and said with a hint of indignation:


    "Ugh, you''re sweaty! And I didn''t forget anything! And by the way, Ming, why are you sitting so strangely with your head tilted back?"


    Ming You turned his gaze towards him and impassively replied:


    "This way more blood flows to the brain, so I think faster. Plus, I''m just recovering my strength this way."


    "Damn, so if I tilt my head back like that, I''ll become as smart as Ming?" Lu Shen imitated him and decided to tilt his head back against the bench, to which Haru Lin immediately teased him:


    "In your case, it doesn''t work like that. For that, you need to not be mentally challenged."


    "Hey, you''re the one who''s mentally challenged!" he said with feigned offense, lifting his head.


    Haru Lin wanted to tease him again, but Jung Ho decided to intervene:


    "Let''s focus on the game. Ming You, no adjustments to the plan? It just seems to me that they might come up with something themselves."


    Ming You confidently raised his head and with a hint of coolness replied:


    "I was hoping you could adapt to the situation on your own, but I''ll say this: they''ll rely on their physical parameters, as they press quite well, so be ready for that and don''t take unnecessary risks."


    The whole team changed their cheerful mood to seriousness, and they all confidently stood up from the bench. Jung Ho raised his fist and said to everyone:


    "Let''s crush them!"


    "Yeah!" Haru Lin supported, and the team was even more confident.


    Just as both teams stood up from the bench, twenty seconds later, the whistle blew for the start of the third quarter.


    Ming You took the ball and made a sharp pass to Jung Ho. Lee Hyun Jung quickly stood against him and tried to press him, even though Jung Ho was slightly taller.


    "The chance to get past him is quite low, but I can''t make a pass either, as it might contradict Ming You''s plans..." Jung Ho thought, quickly glancing at Ming You.


    He, in turn, pointed his gaze towards the hoop, to which Jung Ho took the ball in both hands and got into a shooting stance. But Han Zhou was already preparing to jump, though he thought it was a fake, so he tried to knock the ball from below.


    "Did you really think you could fool me, heh-heh."


    "Damn it!" Jung Ho fumbled the ball, and Han Zhou was about to take it when Ming You appeared, redirecting the ball with his fingertips to Haru Lin.


    Meanwhile, Jung Ho ran to cover Pak Jun Su, who was standing against his captain.


    "Crap!" Han Zhou cursed, as his palm was about to hit Ming You''s face.


    Ming You already had a sly smirk, but Han Zhou reacted quickly and took a sharp step back, saying with a smirk:


    "I didn''t think you were this cunning, number 44."


    Ming You widened his smirk, and Haru Lin, meanwhile, had already caught the ball and quickly broke through to the free-throw line. But Lee Hyun Jung quickly cut off his path to a shot or pass, confidently saying:


    "Whatever you do, the ball will be mine!"


    "We''ll see about that," Haru Lin replied, jumping with the ball in his hands, ready to shoot.


    "I''m telling you, the ball is mine!" Lee Hyun Jung was already preparing to block the shot, but Haru Lin actually passed the ball to Hong Ren, who was ready to shoot near the free-throw line.


    But one of the defenders started running towards him to block the shot. However, Lu Shen set a screen in his path:


    "Not so fast!"


    The defender managed to brake in time, but Hong Ren had already taken the shot. The ball described a perfect arc and went into the hoop.

 Chapter 41: The End of Backup Plans

    Haru Lin raised his fists, heading towards his ring:


    "Great!"


    Lu Shen high-fived Hong Ren, and the players from Shoguro started their attack with sharp passes. Ming You suddenly stood against Han Zhou, who had the ball in his hand. They were standing between the center line and the three-point line.


    "Hope to stop me?"


    "I don''t hope, I''ve already stopped you," Ming You pretended to knock the ball out of Han Zhou''s hands, but he made a sharp dribble behind his back.


    But at the moment when he redirected the ball to his left hand from behind, Hong Ren ran up from behind with his arm outstretched.


    "Behind!" shouted his teammate, trying to catch up with Hong Ren.


    "Gah!?"


    "Heh-heh," Ming You smirked after Han Zhou''s surprise when Hong Ren successfully knocked the ball away.


    Ming You quickly grabbed the ball from the floor with one hand and bypassed Han Zhou, but he didn''t hesitate and quickly ran up to him.


    "You won''t get far!" he shouted after him.


    "I''m not running anywhere, idiot," Ming You stood in a shooting stance between the free-throw line and the three-point line.


    Pak Jun Su immediately ran up to him, preparing to block the shot. Han Zhou also managed to run up and suddenly jumped after Ming You.


    But it was a fake. Ming You, in mid-air, made a sharp pass to the open Jung Ho.


    Interception!


    The ball was with Lee Hyun Jung, who quickly bypassed Haru Lin and rushed to the three-second zone.


    "Block!" shouted Haru Lin towards Lu Shen, who immediately prepared to block the shot.


    However, his physical parameters were much smaller than those of the attacker.


    Lee Hyun Jung dunked, and Lu Shen, unable to block the shot, fell to the floor, then cursed loudly:


    "Fuck!"


    "Get up, you can speak after the win," said Haru Lin, extending his hand and helping him up from the floor.


    Hong Ren, in turn, took the ball in his hands and made a sharp pass to Ming You, who looked at his teammates and indicated with his eyes who to guard.


    Han Zhou slowly ran up to him. He was already preparing to defend against him, but Ming You slowed down, which puzzled Han Zhou:


    "Is he already exhausted or pretending? In any case, I, like everyone here, must play at full strength and follow the plan."


    Han Zhou was already preparing to stop him, but Ming You made a sharp feint.


    "Thought you could run past me?" Han Zhou took a sharp step to the side, not giving him a chance to pass.


    "Han Zhou, don''t fall for it!!!" shouted his coach from the bench.


    "Huh?" Before he could react, Ming You, after twisting a smirk, suddenly took the ball in both hands and jumped, preparing to shoot.


    But Han Zhou didn''t back down. His reaction was quite fast, and he managed to jump and block the shot.


    Although Ming You lost the ball, his emotions didn''t waver, but he was quite surprised and quickly reacted, not giving Han Zhou a chance to pass.


    The ball had already landed on the floor, and Lee Hyun Jung picked it up, with Haru Lin chasing after him.


    "Stop him!" shouted Lu Shen, moving away from the defender.


    Haru Lin tried to catch up with the attacker, but immediately clenched his teeth as a screen was set:


    "Not so fast."


    "Damn! Fuck!" Haru Lin cursed mentally.


    Lee Hyun Jung was about to jump and dunk with one hand, but Jung Ho was waiting under the hoop, already preparing to block the shot.


    Lee Hyun Jung underestimated Jung Ho, so he jumped. Jung Ho jumped after him, trying to block the ball, but Lee Hyun Jung was stronger, and the ball went into the basket, while Jung Ho fell to the floor.


    "Now is not the time to hang your head, Jung Ho," Ming You gave him a hand and lifted him from the floor.


    "Sorry, I overestimated myself."


    "It''s okay, I''d even say everything is going according to plan. Be kind, set a screen when I bypass the defense along the three-point line." Ming You slowly walked to the three-point line of his hoop with Jung Ho, who confidently agreed with his plan:


    "No problem."


    Hong Ren took the ball and passed it to Jung Ho. Lee Hyun Jung was about to block Jung Ho''s path, but he made a sharp pass behind his back to Ming You.


    He grabbed the ball with one hand and started dribbling it on the floor. Han Zhou stood against him, not giving him a way through.


    "Still hoping for your lousy tactics, huh?" Han Zhou smirked, planning to press him.


    But Ming You also smirked when he made a sharp dash to the left. Han Zhou also dashed, but he was stopped by a screen from Jung Ho.


    "What the hell, why didn''t anyone cover him?" Han Zhou said irritably when Ming You stood behind the corner line of the free-throw area and prepared to shoot.


    Pak Jun Su was already preparing to jump, but Ming You was faster.


    "Stop him!" Han Zhou shouted at him.


    But Ming You had already thrown the ball, and it arced into the basket.


    "Best!" Lu Shen rejoiced, followed by the rest of the team.


    "Don''t celebrate too early," Ming You, while running with his team to the hoop, patted Lu Shen on the back and said to everyone: "Now we''ll use speed, but don''t overdo it. However, if they can outrun us, they''ll be the ones celebrating, not us."


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    The team nodded in unison, and everyone took their positions. The ball was with Pak Jun Su, who initially dribbled it slowly, then made a sharp pass to Han Zhou.


    He caught the ball and ran to the sideline, following his team''s plans. But when he passed the center and was ready to act at full strength, Ming You blocked his path and unpredictably reached for the ball, trying to intercept it.


    "Still hoping to outplay me, huh? Last time you just got lucky, so don''t get cocky!" Han Zhou''s dribble sped up, and it was hard to predict whether he would pass or bypass the defense.


    But Ming You seemed to mimic his movements, modeling the dribble with the ball and keeping up with his pace.


    "What the hell?!" Han Zhou thought in surprise, causing his dribble to slow down.


    Smack!


    Ming You knocked the ball away, but it went out of bounds.


    Whistle: ball to Han Zhou.


    He smiled, but Ming You just ran back, and when he ran past Jung Ho, he sharply said to him with a smirk:


    "Move further away."


    Jung Ho listened and also ran back. Only three players from the Shoguro team were covered: Lu Shen, Haru Lin, and Hong Ren. They simultaneously looked at the ball and tried to cover their opponents, but two players from the opposing team were free, causing Han Zhou to start pondering:


    "What is he planning this time? Did he deliberately knock the ball out of bounds? Whatever, screw it, I''ll use the free teammates."


    Han Zhou passed the ball to Lee Hyun Jung, who was ready to receive it.


    "Run!" Ming You shouted towards Jung Ho, and they both covered Lee Hyun Jung, who was mentally puzzled:


    "Double coverage?"


    But Lee Hyun Jung still caught the ball and tried to find open space, but when he got distracted by Jung Ho and wanted to bypass him, Ming You knocked the ball away from behind.


    Jung Ho quickly reacted and took the ball in his hands, redirecting it to Haru Lin.


    Haru Lin passed through the center of the court, and when a defender stood against him, he saw the open Ming You and passed the ball to him.


    Ming You caught it with one hand and passed the three-point line, attracting the attention of two defenders who didn''t let him shoot.


    "This time you won''t slip past me!" shouted Pak Jun Su, as if seeking revenge.


    Ming You, with an indifferent face, started dribbling behind his back, redirecting the ball from one hand to the other. He accelerated faster and faster until he made a sharp pass to Haru Lin.


    He caught the ball, ran closer, and scored from under the hoop.


    Whistle: the start of the final quarter of the game.


    After the break, both teams were quite focused. The ball was with Han Zhou, who was confidently dribbling while his teammates ran to the center of the court. He passed to Pak Jun Su, who was guarded by Jung Ho.


    "Don''t think you can get through?" he calmly asked, not looking away.


    "Try to stop me," Pak Jun Su smirked, trying to bypass him from the right side.


    But Jung Ho was faster. He blocked the path, forcing Pak Jun Su to stop and make a return pass to Han Zhou. The ball returned to him, but a second later, Ming You, like a shadow, appeared in front of him.


    "You''re too predictable," said Ming You, his voice steady but with a hint of mockery in his eyes.


    Han Zhou didn''t respond. Instead, he quickly passed the ball to Lee Hyun Jung, who was already moving to the three-point line. But Lu Shen was already there.


    "Oh, look who decided to play the hero," Lu Shen smirked, grinning widely. "Are you sure you can score? Or are your hands more used to masturbation?"


    "Shut up, brat," Lee Hyun Jung muttered, trying to shoot.


    But Lu Shen was fast. He knocked the ball away, and it ended up in Haru Lin''s hands.


    "Well, Lu, your stories about masturbation in the girls'' bathroom again?" teased Haru Lin, starting to dribble towards the opponent''s basket.


    "And you, as always, are ready to pick up," Lu Shen retorted, running alongside.


    Haru smiled and passed to Hong Ren, who was already positioned under the hoop. Hong Ren caught the ball and easily scored.


    "They''ve really slowed down," he thought to himself, returning to his half of the court.


    The Shoguro team was losing control of the game. Their "corner play" tactic, which had previously brought them success, was now completely failing. Yoshido used their "cobweb," and every time Shoguro tried to pass, the ball ended up in the opponent''s hands.


    "What the hell?" muttered Han Zhou, looking at Ming You, who was already preparing for the next attack. "They''re reading our movements like a book; it''s our job to outplay them!"


    "They''ve somehow become much faster," said Pak Jun Su, wiping sweat from his forehead. "We need to change something."


    "Change?" Han Zhou smirked. "We don''t have time for changes. We have to play the way we know how."


    But even he understood that it wouldn''t work. Ming You was too fast, and his team was too cohesive. Every time Shoguro tried to do something, Yoshido was a step ahead.


    The ball was back with Yoshido. Ming You was leading it to the center of the court, his eyes focused on the basket. Han Zhou tried to stop him, but Ming You made a sharp dash to the left, then to the right, and Han Zhou lost his balance and accidentally stepped back.


    "Too slow," said Ming You, passing to Jung Ho.


    Jung Ho caught the ball and immediately passed it to Lu Shen, who was already under the hoop. Lu Shen shot, but the ball bounced off the rim. Haru Lin picked it up and threw it back into the basket.


    "Learn, Lu," said Haru, smiling.


    "Go fuck yourself! Next time I''ll definitely score!" Lu Shen retorted, running back to his hoop.


    Shoguro was losing hope. Han Zhou tried to take control of the game, but every time he faced an impenetrable wall.


    "We can''t keep going like this," said Lee Hyun Jung, looking at his teammates. "Our tactics are falling apart."


    "Don''t give up," Han Zhou sharply replied. "We can still win."


    But even he barely believed his words. Their opponents were too strong. Their "cobweb" had entangled Shoguro, and breaking free was impossible.


    The ball was back with Yoshido. Ming You was leading it, his empty eyes seemingly gleaming with confidence.


    "Jung, get ready," said Ming You, passing to him.


    Jung Ho caught the ball, and when Pak Jun Su ran up to him, he immediately passed the ball to the open Hong Ren. Hong Ren, without hesitation, shot. The ball flew through the hoop with perfect trajectory.


    Han Zhou picked up the ball and started dribbling it on the floor, trying to come up with a new plan.


    "Timeout!" shouted the Shoguro basketball club manager, raising his hand.


    Whistle: Shoguro team timeout.


    The players sat on the benches and first reached for water bottles. Their coach was the first to speak:


    "Adapt. That''s what you need to do now. You shouldn''t play to the tune of number forty-four; you need to outplay him!"


    Han Zhou wiped his mouth, raising his head towards the coach:


    "Our plan went down the drain. They''re not letting us get to the corners. They, or rather number forty-four, figured out our tactic."


    "But that''s no reason to give up, pull yourselves together!" intervened their basketball club manager, after which Han Zhou stood up from the bench:


    "I know! I''m not saying we should give up; on the contrary, we need to play with all our might!"


    The coach smiled and tapped him on the back:


    "That''s the attitude I like! I see one of you is already fired up, so why don''t I hear the rest?"


    The Shoguro team raised their heads, and Pak Jun Su was the first to shout:


    "Let''s crush them!"


    "Yeah!" the team supported, raising their fists.


    On the Yoshido team''s bench, the atmosphere was more relaxed, and every player was confident. But San Liu decided to speak up:


    "If they called a timeout, it doesn''t mean you can relax."


    "None of us are relaxed! The game isn''t over yet!" exclaimed Lu Shen, grabbing a second water bottle.


    "Ming You, what about the plans?" Jung Ho asked him, to which Ming You replied with a feigned smirk:


    "The structure remains unchanged, but since their team called a timeout, let''s take advantage of it and speed up our pace."


    Haru Lin put down the water and looked at him:


    "Won''t they be more relaxed after the timeout? No?"


    "No. But we need to speed up our pace to draw them into our cobweb," Ming You coolly replied, anticipating victory.


    Jung Ho stood up from the bench and raised his fist, confidently saying:


    "Great, then let''s crush them!"


    "Agreed!" Haru Lin bumped fists, and the team became even more confident.


    Whistle: Shoguro team''s ball.


    Lee Hyun Jung tightly gripped the ball with one hand, then made a sharp pass to Han Zhou. The ball flew through the air, but as soon as it touched Han Zhou''s fingers, Ming You, like a shadow, slipped out from behind his back and knocked the ball away.


    "Huh?" Han Zhou thought in surprise, but the ball had already bounced to Jung Ho, who immediately passed it to Lu Shen.


    "Hey, their hands are like vaginas ¡ª always wet!" Lu Shen shouted, grinning as he dribbled to the center of the court.


    "Lu Shen, you''re like a penis ¡ª always sticking out in the wrong place!" Haru Lin smirked, running alongside him.


    "Both of you, shut up," Ming You calmly said, not taking his eyes off the ball. "Focus."


    Han Zhou clenched his fists. His team was down by six points, and he felt the pressure mounting. He glanced at Pak Jun Su and Lee Hyun Jung, who had already started moving faster, trying to catch up.


    "Speed up!" Han Zhou shouted, and his voice sounded more like an order to himself.


    Ming You seemed to read his thoughts. He made a barely noticeable hand gesture, and the Yoshido team instantly regrouped. Their defense, like a cobweb, covered the court. Every player knew their place, every step was calculated.


    "They''re too fast," muttered Lee Hyun Jung, trying to break through the defense. "We can''t keep playing like this for long."


    "Don''t give up," Pak Jun Su sharply replied, but his breathing was already faltering.


    When Hong Ren received the ball, he looked around the court and decided to pass to Ming You, but¡­


    Interception!


    Han Zhou caught the ball and tried to break through to the hoop, but Jung Ho was already standing in front of him. Han Zhou faked, but Jung Ho didn''t fall for it. Instead, he knocked the ball away, and it ended up back in Ming You''s hands.


    "You''re losing your grip," Ming You quietly smirked, looking at Han Zhou.


    "Shut up," he hissed, but Ming You was already ahead, leaving him behind.


    Ming You quickly passed the ball to Haru Lin, who immediately passed it to Lu Shen. He, without wasting time, threw the ball towards the hoop. The ball missed, but Jung Ho, as if knowing it would happen, picked it up and finished the play with a dunk.


    Han Zhou felt his strength leaving him. He looked at the scoreboard: only two minutes remained. His team was speeding up, but it was only draining them faster.


    "Come on, one more push!" he shouted, but his voice no longer sounded as confident.


    Ming You seemed to sense it. He made another gesture, and the Yoshido team regrouped again. Their "cobweb" tightened, leaving Shoguro no chance.


    "They''re like spiders," Lee Hyun Jung thought to himself, trying to steal the ball from Haru Lin.


    "Don''t give up," Pak Jun Su said again, but his voice lacked its former confidence.


    Ming You caught the ball and, without wasting time, threw it into the hoop. The ball went through the net, and the score increased further in Yoshido''s favor.


    "It''s over," Hong Ren quietly said, standing aside. He hadn''t participated in the last minutes of the game, but his confidence in the team remained unshaken.


    "We''ve won," Jung Ho said for everyone.

 Chapter 42: The Loving Son and His Parents

    After the game, there was a panicked atmosphere on the Shoguro team''s bench. Han Zhou, after drinking some water and throwing the bottle away, took out his phone and started dialing Suk Chhon''s number:


    "Suk Chhon... Where the hell are you?!"


    "We''ve tried calling him hundreds of times. I don''t want to make things worse, but I think something happened to him," Pak Jun Su said slowly, lowering his head.


    Lee Hyun Jung, after sending another message to Suk Chhon, turned his head to his teammates and said anxiously:


    "No calls, no messages. Did something really happen to him?"


    "I''ll try calling his parents," their coach intervened, trying to calm everyone down. "In the meantime, go ahead. As soon as I find out anything, I''ll make an announcement."


    The Shoguro team sighed heavily, trying to convince themselves that Suk Chhon was okay. Then they gathered their things and gradually started leaving the stadium.


    On the Yoshido team''s bench, the atmosphere was the opposite. Everyone was celebrating the victory and looking forward to the next match against another team.


    "Not a bad game, friends," Ming You began with a friendly tone.


    Lu Shen spat out water:


    "It''s not just a good game, it''s the best game! Especially your strategies or whatever they are..."


    "You''re still far from strategic play, Lu," Haru Lin smirked, slapping him on the shoulder.


    "I''d even say he''s far from regular play, let alone strategic play," Hong Ren chimed in, causing the team to laugh.


    A vein popped on Lu Shen''s forehead:


    "I was ready to hear that from anyone but you!"


    "Easy, easy, I just couldn''t help myself," Hong Ren smiled, raising his hands in a defensive gesture.


    "Alright, enough, guys. Let''s go. We haven''t taken first place in the tournament yet, so no time to relax," Jung Ho intervened, putting on his backpack.


    Haru Lin nodded and with an even bigger smirk said:


    "Agreed, otherwise Lu Shen will start whining even more."


    "I''m not going to start anything!" Lu Shen stood up from the bench and grabbed his backpack.


    "By the way, where''s Ming You?" Hong Ren asked, standing up.


    The team blinked and looked around, but Jung Ho was the first to spot him, pointing with his eyes:


    "He''s with San Liu. Looks like they''re discussing the game without us."


    A few minutes earlier.


    Ming You, while the team was discussing the game, decided to approach San Liu to find out about the next team.


    "San Liu, what do you think of our game?" he asked slyly.


    "You''re not here to discuss the game with me, are you?"


    "That''s right. I''d like to know who we''ll be playing against in the next match."


    San Liu scratched the back of his head but answered seriously:


    "I don''t know yet. I''ll have the information at school, and I''ll definitely let everyone know."


    "Good, I''ll wait," Ming You put on his backpack with both straps and was about to head to the exit, but Jung Ho stopped him.


    "Ming, how about the game? Don''t you want to hang out with us? We decided to get together with our class. They watched our game too."


    "Sorry, but I have my own things to do. Let''s do it without me," he replied emotionlessly.


    Jung Ho raised his palms and said shyly:


    "No need to apologize. You already do a lot for us. I just thought you might want to relax too. If you change your mind, we''ll probably be in the park. Just call me if anything."


    Ming You forced a smile and waved at him, pretending to say goodbye in a friendly manner as he headed to the stadium exit.


    "So, is he with us?" Lu Shen asked, blinking at Jung Ho.


    "He has his own things to do," Jung Ho replied, shrugging.


    ...


    The next morning, at school, Ming You threw his backpack near his desk and, amidst the chatter of his classmates, left the classroom and headed to the basketball club manager''s office.


    Jung Ho and Haru Lin were on their way to meet him.


    "Ming You! Where are you rushing off to?" Jung Ho called out to him.


    Ming You forced a friendly smile and said:


    "I decided to ask San Liu who we''ll be playing against in the next match. It''s better if we find out their weaknesses in advance."


    Haru Lin asked in surprise:


    "Find out about the next team, without us?"


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    "Who, if not me, finds the opponents'' weaknesses the fastest?"


    "Ming You is right. We should rely on his strategies," Jung Ho patted Haru Lin on the back and, before leaving, turned to Ming You, "We''ll see you at practice, Ming."


    "See you," he waved at them.


    Jung Ho and Haru Lin entered the classroom, while Ming You opened the door to San Liu''s office.


    "Hi, San Liu. Did you find out who we''re playing against?"


    San Liu looked up from his laptop and raised his head, smirking:


    "Yes, I did. It''s the Yuromusho team. They''re known for their perfect defense, if you remember. And their ace player..."


    Before he could continue, Ming You rudely interrupted:


    "Thanks, I''ll take it from here. Give me the game recordings with this team."


    "You''re so shameless!" San Liu thought to himself, handing him the flash drive with the game recordings.


    "Thanks again," Ming You said, putting the flash drive in his pocket and waving before closing the door behind him.


    "Don''t forget to return the flash drive!" San Liu exclaimed, but Ming You had already left the office.


    Ming You, in turn, sat at his desk, preparing for class while simultaneously planning strategies against his opponents in his head.


    ...


    Police station. Vice department.


    At one table, filled with forensic reports and new missing persons cases, sat Lao Han, staring blankly at the reports. At the table to his left sat Xin Shi, who had far fewer papers but, unlike her partner, seemed to be racking her brains over the missing persons case.


    "Lao Han, it feels like every student, teacher, and basically the entire Yoshido school is suspicious. Don''t you think so?" Xin Shi asked, looking up.


    Lao Han also looked up, but his expression was rather lifeless:


    "It''s not the school that''s suspicious, but one of the students who cleverly adapted to the emotions of those around him and confused us by making sure no one wants to talk to us."


    "You mean that basketball nerd? By the way, he has the same lifeless look as you, did you notice? Or do all nerds have faces like that?"


    Lao Han feigned surprise, but his surprise was too exaggerated:


    "That was a bit hurtful, you know. But since you agreed that this student manipulated emotions and confused us, doesn''t that make him a suspect?"


    Xin Shi sighed loudly:


    "Again, you think the students needed to kidnap someone for some reason. I was also angry at that nerd who memorized his rights and thinks he''s the smartest now, but we can''t just make him guilty because of his arrogance, can we?"


    "First of all, these people are almost certainly dead..."


    "What?!" Xin Shi turned red in horror, not letting him finish.


    "If you want a detective badge, you''ll have to get used to the fact that one person can kill another."


    "It''s not about that. It''s just that you think it''s one of the students, and it''s somehow strange that a student would actually kill..."


    Lao Han smirked:


    "If it''s not about that, then take a look at this," he pulled out a folder labeled "Case No. 41: The Buddha-Reincarnator Killer."


    "Is this the case you solved only after four years?"


    "Yes, that''s the one. You can open it."


    Xin Shi smiled lightly at first, but when she flipped through a couple of pages, she came across a photograph of a skinless woman hanging from a rope with her arms and legs cut vertically, nailed to a brick wall, as if depicting a spider. Also, many parts of her body were missing flesh and some organs, and at the bottom of this, already under the photographs of the report, it was written that the killer ate the entrails of his victims¡­


    Xin Shi didn''t have time to properly examine the photo report before she vomited into the trash can.


    Lao Han seemed to mock her:


    "See, you''re not ready for such cases yet."


    ...


    Meanwhile, Ming You was already at home. The hallway was silent, filled only with the faint echo of his footsteps. Closing the door behind him, Ming You carelessly threw his backpack on the floor and sat down at his laptop, plugging in the flash drive and starting to watch the game recordings, mentally analyzing:


    "Yuromusho... a team known for their impenetrable defense. They think their defense is an iron wall that can''t be broken. But even the strongest wall crumbles if you remove its key element. And that element is Kai Rin Wu."


    Ming You opened the game statistics and immediately realized that this guy wasn''t just a good player.


    "His shooting percentage is abnormally high. He doesn''t shoot ¡ª he aims, and almost always hits. His game has a cold calculation, but something more ¡ª confidence. As if he already knows the ball will go through the hoop."


    "If he stays in the game, he''ll be a serious threat to my goal..." Ming You muttered, running his finger over the screen, going over his thoughts again:


    "Seems like the only way out is to eliminate him. But before acting, I need more information. How does he move? How does he react to pressure? What can throw him off balance?"


    Ming You started rewatching the game recordings. One after another, until his eyes started to tire. And then he stumbled upon something interesting.


    ...


    Middle school. The game was nearing its end. The score was tied.


    Kai Rin Wu stood on the three-point line, holding his knee after a hard contact. He was breathing heavily, but his eyes were burning. He was ready for the final push.


    "You still think you can win, you bastard?" someone''s voice rang out.


    Kai Rin Wu slowly turned around.


    In front of him stood a tall player from the opposing team. His lips twisted into a smug smirk.


    "Heard your parents are pathetic losers? That''s probably why you''re so desperate to be the best, huh?"


    The air in the gym grew heavy. It seemed even the spectators froze, sensing that something was about to happen.


    Kai''s eyes widened.


    "What did you say?"


    "You heard me. Your father''s a freak and a nobody. Your mother''s a whore. They can''t even..."


    He didn''t get to finish.


    Kai Rin Wu''s fist slammed into his jaw with such force that he flew backward. Gasps echoed through the gym. The referee immediately blew the whistle, breaking up the players.


    "Kai!" the coach called out, but it was too late.


    Unsportsmanlike conduct. Ejected from the game.


    Kai Rin Wu stood, clenching his fists, breathing heavily. His eyes darted from side to side. He knew he''d made a mistake. But in that moment, he couldn''t hold back.


    ...


    Ming You squinted, rewatching the recording over and over:


    "Insulting his parents. That set him off in middle school. But now? It''s been years. Is he still that emotional? Can he still be provoked like a child?"


    Ming You leaned back in his chair, interlacing his fingers.


    "If he hasn''t changed..." he muttered. "Then I don''t need to kill him. Just get him out of the game."


    Ming You pondered:


    "If I can provoke him... But... what if he''s changed? If he''s become more cold-blooded, then my words will just bounce off his self-control, causing no harm. In that case, I''ll still have to eliminate him."


    Ming You glanced at the time on his phone. It was already evening, but the decision hadn''t been made yet.


    "I need to see him in person," Ming You whispered, standing up. "Nothing beats observing the prey in real time. But first, I need his address."


    Ming You turned on his phone, opened social media, and started searching, mentally reasoning:


    "There''s not much available data, but I have enough of a starting point: the school he attends and his name. First, social media. Most people post too much information without realizing it."


    Ming You typed in his name, adding the school name in the filters.


    Result: several profiles with similar names.


    Ming You scrolled through the photos. Most were basketball, team photos, and occasional selfies. He carefully studied the backgrounds in the shots, as it wasn''t the people that mattered, but what surrounded them.


    And then ¡ª a lead.


    A photo of him standing on a basketball court. The shot was taken in the evening, with streetlights glowing, casting a yellowish light. In the background ¡ª a residential complex.


    He took a screenshot, opened a city map, and started searching. Basketball courts in residential areas ¡ª there weren''t many.


    Ming You opened the maps on his phone and compared them with the photo:


    "Found it. The location matches perfectly. A complex of five high-rises, the court next to one of them. So, he lives somewhere around here."


    But he decided to keep scrolling through his profile. One of the older posts ¡ª a photo from his balcony at sunset.


    Ming You was already mentally gloating:


    "He probably didn''t think the building in the background could give away his location, heh-heh."


    Ming You looked at the map and saw a match in the angle of the shot.


    He smiled widely, as he now knew where Kai Rin Wu lived.


    Ming You put away his phone, put on a black hoodie, and changed his school pants to blue jeans before leaving the house. In his pocket ¡ª a medical mask, just in case.


    He started making his way to the desired area.


    Ming You wasn''t in a hurry. He just walked by like a random passerby. But after a few seconds, he noticed the entrance door and started looking at the windows:


    "Now all that''s left is to wait."


    Half an hour later, a tall guy with short dark-blond hair came out.


    His athletic body was dressed in simple clothes ¡ª sweatpants and a hoodie. His hair was disheveled, as if he''d just gotten off the couch. He had a phone in his hand, but he wasn''t glued to the screen, just lazily spinning it in his fingers.


    But that wasn''t what mattered. What mattered more was that he wasn''t alone. His parents were with him.


    They walked together, talking and laughing. His mother adjusted his hood, his father said something, and Kai Rin Wu smirked.


    Ming You stood in the shadow of the trees, observing and analyzing:


    "He used to explode at insults related to his family. But what if his attachment to them hasn''t gone away?"


    He squinted.


    "So, you''re still the same as in childhood, huh?.." Ming You whispered, smiling slightly.

 Chapter 43: Provocation

    Late evening.


    Kai Rin Wu, along with his family, walked along the sidewalk illuminated by streetlights. Their faces were carefree and cheerful.


    But on the opposite side of the sidewalk walked Ming You, his predatory gaze fixed on them. He walked at a calm pace, occasionally glancing at his phone, pretending to simply read messages.


    After twenty minutes, Kai Rin Wu and his parents stopped at a small caf¨¦. They went inside, and Ming You noted this in his mind.


    He crossed the pedestrian crossing and put on a medical mask before entering the same caf¨¦.


    As soon as he stepped inside, bells jingled above the door. He scanned the tables and saw Kai Rin Wu, but Ming You chose to sit at the bar counter. The waiter greeted him:


    "Welcome! What would you like to order? Are you feeling well?"


    Ming You looked up and calmly, with feigned friendliness, replied:


    "Just a little cold. I''d like mint tea, please."


    "Got it, coming right up," the waiter said with a smile as he wrote down the order in his notebook.


    Once the waiter left, Ming You occasionally glanced toward Kai Rin Wu, mentally rehearsing his next moves:


    "I hope after the tired insults in the game, you''ll be as hot-headed as a child who''s had his candy taken away. But that still needs to be tested."


    "Your tea," the waiter said, placing a cup of tea on a saucer and putting the check underneath it.


    Ming You smiled with his eyes and politely thanked him:


    "Thank you very much."


    Ming You, still wearing his mask, simply spun the cup of tea, waiting for the moment when Kai Rin Wu would be alone.


    Fifteen minutes passed. Kai Rin Wu stood up from the table and headed to the restroom. Ming You noticed this and, a few seconds later, got up from the bar counter. The restroom was public, divided only into men''s and women''s. He entered the door and saw Kai Rin Wu standing at the urinal.


    Ming You stood at the urinal next to Kai Rin Wu, turned his head toward him, and with a mocking tone said:


    "If you saw my dick, you''d know who fucked your mother."


    Kai Rin Wu stepped away from the urinal and pulled it toward himself. He grabbed him by the shirt and said in a threatening tone:


    "What did you just say?"


    Ming You smiled even wider, his teeth visible through the mask. This time the smile was genuine:


    "I fucked your mother. Did you inherit your bad hearing from her?"


    Ming You was waiting for the moment he would be hit, as that would allow him to take him out of the game. But Kai Rin Wu just shoved him, causing Ming You to fall to the floor.


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    "I don''t know who you are or who sent you here, but you''re quite the idiot. Better stay away from me and don''t mess with other people, you moral freak." Kai Rin Wu adjusted his clothes and slightly slammed the door as he left the restroom.


    Ming You felt mentally disappointed that his initial plan hadn''t worked:


    "Since he didn''t beat me up in the restroom, I won''t be able to provoke him in the game either. I''ll have to eliminate you in a more familiar way, heh-heh."


    Soon, he exited the restroom, closed the door behind him, and headed back to the bar counter. Kai Rin Wu was already sitting with his parents, not even looking up at Ming You as he passed by their table.


    After sitting down at the bar counter, Ming You pulled out five thousand won from his pocket and placed it under the saucer where the check was. He left the caf¨¦ and stood by the alley, waiting for his prey. Ming You took out his phone, pretending to send a message, but in reality, he was just tapping his fingers on the empty screen.


    Thirty minutes later, Kai Rin Wu and his parents exited the caf¨¦, laughing and happily making their way home.


    Ming You noticed this and crossed the street to observe them from the other side of the sidewalk.


    He couldn''t hear what they were talking about, but he noticed them laughing and smiling. After a few minutes, Kai Rin Wu and his family arrived at their home. Ming You noted this in his mind and traced their route again, heading back to his own home.


    Ming You climbed the stairs to the third floor and opened the door. It was dark and empty, but for him, it was a more familiar atmosphere.


    He sat at a table with a closed laptop and leaned his head back over the chair, mentally planning his next moves:


    "So far, I only know one of his routes, and unfortunately, there are no deserted places along it. But I''m not going to give up, so..."


    He suddenly recalled the caf¨¦ where he kept an eye Kai Rin Wu:


    "In the alley where I waited for him to come out, there was a door to the basement, and surprisingly it looked abandoned, but that was clearly not the case. The door didn''t even have a lock; rather, it was broken, and apparently, no one intended to fix or replace it, which looked rather enticing. Besides, there are no other nearby places, so I''ll have to take the risk and act. But first, I need to prepare myself."


    Ming You lifted his head, stood up from the chair, and headed to his wardrobe. He opened the top drawer and pulled out a box containing screws and nails, but among them was a fist-sized lock with a small key inserted.


    He took the lock with the key and placed it on the floor. After that, Ming You opened the wardrobe, changed from blue jeans into khaki pants, and put on a black woolen hat. He also donned white rubber gloves, as this time the location was quite risky.


    Once he was dressed, he carefully unscrewed the screws at the bottom of the wardrobe and retrieved his backpack filled with tools and rolls of polyethylene, then placed the board back but didn''t screw it in.


    Ming You put the lock with the key into his backpack and left it by the exit of the room.


    Then he exited the apartment and closed the door behind him, instinctively looking around.


    The streets were already empty, but the streetlights still illuminated the way. Ming You walked down this road toward the caf¨¦ with the seemingly abandoned basement.


    When he arrived, Ming You quickly entered the alley, avoiding the camera that hung above the caf¨¦ entrance. He saw the rusty door and slowly pulled it toward him. The sound was creaky, and Ming You occasionally took a quick step back, ready to run if necessary.


    But when the door opened, the basement was almost empty. There were empty wooden crates, some containing rotten vegetables and fruits, but it was nearly impossible to discern which ones due to the pitch darkness in the basement.


    Ming You took out his phone and turned on the flashlight. He placed the backpack near the door and first took out the lock.


    Ming You stepped outside and removed the broken lock from the latch, accurately tossing it into his open backpack, then attached his lock to it and took out the key, placing it in his pocket.


    Once Ming You finished with the lock, he began preparing the place. He took out the rolls of white polyethylene and, by feel, started layering it on the floor, ceiling, and walls.


    The basement also had two columns, nearly impossible to notice in the dark, but Ming You covered them as well.


    After finishing the preparations, Ming You closed the door behind him and locked it with the key, then checked if the lock held. He pulled on the door, and it creaked slightly but didn''t open.


    On Ming You''s back was the empty backpack, as he had left the tools in the basement, and although he understood this was risky, he was confident in his elusiveness, as there were no traces of blood or fingerprints on the tools.


    After confirming everything was in order and going according to plan, Ming You headed to the residential complex where Kai Rin Wu lived. The narrow streets, illuminated by dim streetlights, led him to his target.


    Approaching the building, he stopped at the window of Kai Rin Wu''s apartment. His gaze slid across the glass, and he noticed the light inside had already gone out:


    "The darkness outside suggests he''s probably already asleep, unless he''s busy with something else."


    Ming You paused slightly, feeling the cold wind seeping under his coat.


    He decided to wait. Ming You found a nearby bench, sat down, and leaned his head back, gazing up at the night sky. The stars seemed to wink at him, but he paid them no mind. His thoughts were solely focused on Kai Rin Wu. Minutes turned into hours, and gradually fatigue began to take over. Ming You''s eyes began to close, but the cold prevented him from fully drifting off to sleep.


    He found himself in a strange state ¡ª somewhere between sleep and wakefulness, as if balancing on the edge of reality. His consciousness would slip away, then return, as if he were simultaneously here and somewhere far away.


    Time passed slowly. Ming You would wake from gusts of wind, then slip back into a half-dream. He felt the cold penetrating his bones but couldn''t bring himself to leave. Ming You waited. He waited, despite the cold, despite the fatigue, despite everything.

 Chapter 44: Capture Plans

    Morning had arrived. Ming You sat on a bench with his head tilted back. The sunlight began to shine on him, causing him to abruptly open his eyes.


    He lifted his head, looked around, and took his phone out of his pocket. Ming You checked the time ¡ª it was six in the morning.


    He decided to take off his gloves and hat, and instead, he pulled up his hood and put the hat and gloves in his backpack. Ming You stared at the window where Kai Rin Wu was supposed to live, while sorting through his thoughts:


    "Today is a day off, and you will definitely go outside. The only question is when, with whom, and where you will go."


    Ming You occasionally looked away from the window to scan the street. He waited for an hour¡­ two¡­ three. He often leaned his head back against the bench. It seemed as if his patience was limitless.


    After another three hours, when the streets were already filled with people, Kai Rin Wu finally left the house. But he wasn''t alone, and Ming You noticed this:


    "Today, just like yesterday, you''re with your family. So why couldn''t I provoke you when you care so much about them?"


    When Kai Rin Wu and his family moved a dozen meters away from the house, Ming You stood up from the bench and began to follow them.


    But Ming You immediately became alert when he saw that Kai Rin Wu and his family were heading toward the parking lot:


    "This is not good. If I lose sight of them, I''ll have to prepare a new plan."


    Surprisingly, Ming You was completely calm, but when he saw the family''s car ¡ª a blue sedan ¡ª he decided to note the car''s license plate number in his phone.


    The car had already started and was leaving the parking lot, heading onto a side road. Ming You first sketched out a rough route in his mind, and then, when the car disappeared from view, he calmly headed toward his house, analyzing the situation in his mind:


    "I have two leads in my head: either a new plan or take advantage of his stupidity."


    Ming You took out his phone and logged into social media, then he went to Kai Rin Wu''s page, secretly hoping for his mistake:


    "People who care about others'' approval are quite foolish. They are bound not only by morality but also by public opinion, and that is your weakness, Kai Rin Wu."


    He scrolled through the posts and occasionally refreshed the page, but there were no changes. However, Ming You wasn''t going to settle for this:


    "I''m sure you''ll want to show where you are. But even if you don''t, I won''t back down and will kill you anyway."


    Ming You was already on the stairs near his apartment. He entered the door, threw his backpack down, took off his shoes, removed his mask, pulled down his hood, and headed to his room.


    He sat on a chair, tilted his head back, and raised his hand with the phone, periodically refreshing Kai Rin Wu''s social media page.


    An hour passed like this until Ming You saw a new post: a photo of Kai Rin Wu wearing an orange T-shirt with white hieroglyphs that represented the brand of the clothing. He was also holding a basketball in one hand.


    But what caught his attention wasn''t just the clothing, but the background of the photo:


    "Thanks for making my job easier. Stores with this brand of clothing are practically everywhere, but the search circle has already narrowed. As for the background ¡ª such posters on the walls are in almost every supermarket, but not every supermarket has a notice written above it with the store''s name underneath."


    Ming You zoomed in on the photo, and although the supermarket''s name was slightly blurred and the text wasn''t clearly visible, it wasn''t a problem for him. He simply typed the beginning of the text into his phone, and the search engine automatically suggested the name of the supermarket.


    "Bingo. Even though there''s more than one such supermarket in the city, considering the information about the clothing brand, the search circle narrows instantly."


    Ming You opened the maps and entered the name of the supermarket, but he also added the name of the clothing brand to the search filters, which immediately narrowed down the search area on the map. But most importantly ¡ª Ming You had already seen the approximate route of the car, and as he ran his finger along the road on the map, he saw the marker for the supermarket, after which Ming You grinned ominously:


    "There you are, Kai Rin Wu."


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    Ming You stood up from the chair and headed to the hallway. He put on his shoes, grabbed his backpack, put on his mask, and pulled up his hood, then left the apartment and locked the door.


    The supermarket was four miles from his house, but the bus stop was closer. Ming You walked to the stop and began waiting for the bus.


    After three minutes, it arrived. Ming You sat by the window and waited for the right stop.


    Nine minutes later, the bus arrived at the desired stop. Ming You got off the bus and headed toward the supermarket, which was about thirty meters from the stop.


    Ming You first paid attention to the parking lot, aiming to confirm that Kai Rin Wu was indeed here. But he didn''t enter the parking lot itself; instead, he looked through the fence at the cars until he spotted the one he needed ¡ª the blue sedan. Ming You checked the license plate and confirmed it ¡ª it matched.


    After confirming his location, he decided to enter the supermarket and see him in person.


    Ming You opened the door and saw the storefronts. First, he began inspecting the first floor, but he didn''t find him among the crowd.


    Then he took the escalator to the second floor. Ming You looked around the storefronts and walked around the floor. Kai Rin Wu wasn''t there either.


    Ming You stepped onto the escalator and went up to the third floor. He took four steps and noticed the food court ¡ª Kai Rin Wu was sitting at a table with his parents, engaged in a lively discussion with smiles on their faces.


    "There you are," Ming You mentally noted, as he began walking around the third floor, planning his next steps: "If they stay here until evening, or even until closing, the main road will be clear, which means I can cut the brakes on their car."


    Ming You decided to take the escalator down to the first floor. When he reached the bottom, he exited the supermarket and headed toward the parking lot.


    But he didn''t enter the parking lot itself; instead, he began inspecting it.


    "Damn cameras," Ming You cursed under his breath, looking at the camera that was pointed at the cars.


    He didn''t get caught on camera, but he began planning his next steps:


    "In one of the service rooms, there should be security. All I need to do is get in there and turn off the cameras."


    Ming You re-entered the supermarket and turned his attention to a pillar. On the pillar was an evacuation plan, but it also had markings for service rooms. He traced the route to the desired room with his eyes and headed straight for the service door.


    After passing all the storefronts, he stopped at a corner where there were several service entrances. At the very end was an exit for emergencies, but according to the evacuation plan, security was located opposite that door.


    Ming You looked at the door, pulled the handle, but it was locked:


    "Shit." He quickly stepped away from the service doors and blended into the crowd.


    The door opened. A middle-aged man of short stature, wearing a security uniform, stepped out. He walked away and looked around:


    "Who the motherfucker thought this was a shop and not a fucking service room!"


    The security guard slammed the door loudly. Meanwhile, Ming You walked around the first floor, adapting to the situation:


    "All the service doors are inaccessible, and the security is annoyingly attentive. I''ll have to act differently¡­ hmm?"


    Ming You saw a counter where fireworks were being sold.


    "I could lure the security out with firecrackers, but¡­" He glanced at the camera, then continued to formulate further plans in his head. "A fire¡­ a good idea, but not here. The target is Kai Rin Wu, or rather his car. He must die by my hand, because this is my victory."


    Ming You walked past the fireworks counter and began devising new plans:


    "I need to get rid of Kai Rin Wu''s car, but after that, I''ll have to take other actions. Once the car is neutralized, I''ll need to neutralize him as well."


    He decided to sit on a bench that was a bit away from the counter, after which he continued to calculate his next steps:


    "When the car is gone, the smartest thing would be to take a taxi. In that case, I just need to identify the car and take the driver hostage. The second option: catch you on the street, but that''s unlikely. The backup plan is to catch you on the way to the bus stop."


    Ming You stood up from the bench and headed to the fireworks counter. He stood in front of the cash register and, with feigned politeness, addressed the seller:


    "Hi. Can I get a pack of firecrackers, please?"


    The seller first gave him a sideways glance, then clarified:


    "Which ones? Big, medium, small, and what kind of pack?"


    Ming You looked at the counter and pointed to a pack of firecrackers behind the glass:


    "This one, a medium pack of big firecrackers, please."


    "That''ll be 7,400 won," the seller said lazily, after which Ming You took out the exact amount from his pocket and took the pack of firecrackers, which he put in his backpack.


    Then he left the supermarket again and headed to the nearest gas station. It was about a quarter of a mile away, and Ming You walked there with confident steps. Along the way, he took out his rubber gloves from his backpack and confidently put them on, thinking:


    "Even though my appearance might look suspicious, to people, I probably just look like a sick nonconformist. At worst, they might think I''m a drug addict, but the important thing is that no one cares, just like me, which pleases me."


    After about five minutes, he reached the gas station and went inside. He looked around the shelves and took a one-liter canister. Approaching the cash register, he also grabbed a bottle of water and two chocolate bars.


    The cashier rang up all the items and said to him:


    "That''ll be 11,144 won, please." Ming You placed three 5,000-won bills on the counter and, while waiting for his change, he put the water and chocolate bars in his backpack.


    "Your change¡­" Before the cashier could finish counting the bills and coins, Ming You interrupted him:


    "I also need half a liter of regular gasoline at the third pump."


    "Okay, that''s 850 won. So your change is 3,006 won. Sorry, but we don''t have six won in the register." The cashier took out three 1,000-won bills and handed them over.


    Ming You took the money and, with a feigned smile that could be seen through his mask and in his eyes, he politely said:


    "No problem, thank you."


    "Thank you for your purchase!" the cashier said as Ming You left the gas station.


    He headed to the third pump, where there were no cars, and placed the canister next to the pump. Ming You took the hose from the pump and began filling the canister.


    In less than a minute, the canister was half full, after which Ming You put the hose back, took the canister, and walked away from the cameras to the curb.


    He sat on the curb and took the water bottle out of his backpack. Ming You opened the cap, pulled down his mask, and took a sip of water, then poured the rest out.


    He placed the bottle on the asphalt and held it with one hand, while with the other hand he held the canister and poured gasoline into the bottle. When he filled the bottle to the brim, there was still some gasoline left at the bottom of the canister. He decided to throw the canister into the bushes, and he put the bottle in his backpack.


    When he finished with the gasoline, he headed back toward the supermarket, this time walking faster.


    After three minutes, he inspected the parking lot again, making sure not to get caught on camera. Confirming that Kai Rin Wu''s car was still there, he proceeded to the next part of his plan.

 Chapter 45: Spontaneous Terrorist Attack

    Ming You took off his backpack and placed it on the edge of the sidewalk opposite the parking lot fence. From the backpack, he took out a chocolate bar and put it in his pocket, while holding a bottle of gasoline in his right hand.


    He entered the parking lot and slowly approached Kai Rin Wu''s car. When he reached it, he positioned himself between Kai Rin Wu''s car and the neighboring one, but he was closer to the neighboring car.


    Ming You opened the bottle cap, turned his back to the cameras, and pressed the bottle to his lips through his mask, pretending to drink water. Although drops of gasoline dripped onto his clothes and left a stain on his mask, it wasn''t a problem for him.


    After a couple of seconds, he abruptly lowered the bottle, and gasoline began to pour out, forming a slightly iridescent puddle. With one hand, he took the chocolate bar from his pocket and stopped pouring the gasoline. He placed the bottle next to the wheel of Kai Rin Wu''s car and simply opened the chocolate bar.


    He slightly lowered his mask and began to eat it. His face wasn''t visible on the cameras, and it wasn''t fully visible anyway. When he finished eating, he pulled the mask back up and crumpled the wrapper, putting it in his pocket.


    Ming You took a sharp step toward Kai Rin Wu''s car and "accidentally" tripped over the bottle of "water," spilling everything. He bent down, picked up the empty bottle, and carried it in his right hand.


    After wiping his mouth with his hand, he turned the bottle upside down and headed toward the exit of the parking lot.


    Stopping near the fence, he folded the empty bottle and the wrapper into his backpack, then put it on and waited for the right moment:


    "Now all that''s left is to wait for the necessary victim. And no, not Kai Rin Wu, but someone who would stand opposite his car. This way, I''ll get rid of unnecessary attention and my problem with Kai Rin Wu."


    Ming You sat down on the curb and pretended to look at his phone, occasionally glancing at the parking lot:


    "Best of all, if the victim also has a bottle of water. That way, I can throw the firecracker in their direction, and the plan will go as I need."


    About thirty minutes passed, and Ming You noticed someone. A middle-aged man entered the parking lot, walking slowly past the cars. It seemed like he would stop near the blue sedan, but he walked past it. The man stopped near a gray Mustang, which was about ten meters away from Kai Rin Wu''s car.


    Ming You watched him closely, and when the man took out a cigarette and lit it, Ming You unconsciously smirked:


    "Don''t tell me you''ll do the job for me. I hope you don''t miss with your cigarette butt. It''s hard to believe, but I don''t even trust my teammates to make a successful throw as much as I trust a stranger."


    Ming You continued to wait and occasionally kept an eye on the man, but he decided to get up from the curb and move a bit further away from the parking lot to avoid suspicion.


    When the man finished smoking, he threw the cigarette butt near the wheel of his car and completely extinguished it. Then he opened the door of his Mustang and started the car.


    Ming You had moved quite far from the parking lot and waited another five minutes:


    "No incidents. It seems I was just hoping for luck in vain. I''ll have to wait a bit longer, but if Kai Rin Wu and his parents decide to leave by then, I''ll have to take an even greater risk."


    He started heading back toward the parking lot and watched the departing Mustang. He sat back down on the curb, took out his phone, and waited.


    Minutes passed. Many people were on the parking lot, and many cars had already left. About an hour and a half passed before a young woman in her twenties appeared.


    She walked straight toward Kai Rin Wu''s car and stopped near a green Matiz, which was parked right behind the blue sedan. The woman began rummaging through her purse and eventually pulled out a bottle of water.


    Ming You, sitting on the curb behind the parking lot fence, wanted to laugh with satisfaction at how his plan was working, but he kept his emotions completely under control and only mentally smirked as he began opening the package of firecrackers in his backpack.


    The woman, unaware of anything, simply drank her water. But after two minutes¡­


    Ming You lit the firecracker and, like a baseball pitcher, took a swing. The firecracker, sparkling, arced through the air and landed right in the puddle of gasoline under the wheel of the blue sedan.


    "Bang!" ¡ª a deafening explosion rang out.


    The gasoline ignited, and a light breeze instantly spread the flames. The fire crawled across the asphalt, first engulfing one car, then the second ¡ª Kai Rin Wu''s car.


    "AAAAH!!!" ¡ª the woman screamed as she saw the flames approaching her car.


    In fear, she staggered and dropped her water bottle. The liquid spilled onto the asphalt, but it was far too little to stop the fire.


    The flames, fanned by the wind, were already licking her hair. She panicked, waving her hands to try to put out the fire, but it only grew stronger.


    "AAAAH!!! Fuck, fuck, fuck!!! Why!?" ¡ª her screams echoed across the parking lot.


    She started running, but the flames had already caught her clothes. In desperation, she fell to the ground, rolling on the asphalt, trying to extinguish the fire and screaming in agony:


    "AAAAH!!! Help!!!"


    Meanwhile, the flames reached the fuel tank of the blue sedan. A dull thud echoed ¡ª the tank couldn''t withstand the pressure. A fiery flash momentarily illuminated the entire parking lot, and the car was completely engulfed in flames. The fire, as if in a chain reaction, began to spread to neighboring cars.


    Several people on the parking lot scattered in panic. Some called the fire department, while others shouted for everyone to move away. Smoke and the smell of burning filled the air, and the crackling of burning plastic and metal sounded like a death rattle.


    Ming You, on the other hand, simply walked away from the parking lot and the supermarket with a smirk on his face. When he confirmed that Kai Rin Wu''s car was now on fire, he began to wait for his exit:


    "It''s time for you to rest in peace, Kai Rin Wu."


    Meanwhile, inside the supermarket.


    The security guards were the first to react to the situation. One of them, seeing the flames, grabbed a fire extinguisher and rushed to the scene of the fire, but quickly realized that his efforts were useless against such a large blaze. He retreated, shouting into his radio:


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    "This is fucked up! Fire in the parking lot! Call the fire department immediately! Evacuate everyone from this fucking building!"


    Inside the supermarket, the fire alarm sounded.


    "What''s all the noise?" asked Kai Rin Wu''s mother, sitting with him and his father at a table in the food court.


    "I''m sure some idiot pressed the fire alarm button¡­" Kai Rin Wu replied with disdain.


    "What if it''s not? We can''t always assume that idiots, who make us unable to distinguish serious situations, are only increasing," added his father.


    Before they could leisurely gather their things, a supermarket administrator approached them:


    "Please, exit immediately! The situation is serious! There''s a fire in the parking lot, and the flames could reach the supermarket!"


    "So it''s true!? Damn it, our car is there!!!" exclaimed Kai Rin Wu''s mother, jumping up from her chair and grabbing her purse and shopping bags.


    Kai Rin Wu and his father quickly stood up and headed for the exit.


    The staff began guiding customers through the emergency exits to avoid a stampede. Some people on the parking lot panicked, dropping their purchases and running to safety. Others tried to help those closer to the fire, but the heat and smoke forced them to retreat.


    The woman whose clothes and hair had caught fire rolled on the asphalt, trying to extinguish the flames. Her screams attracted the attention of several people. One of them, a man in a leather jacket, took off his coat and covered her, trying to smother the fire. Another ran over with a bottle of water, but it was far too little.


    "Hold on!" the man shouted, helping her up. "Run to the fountain!"


    They rushed to the decorative fountain at the entrance of the supermarket. The woman jumped into the water, and the flames on her clothes began to die down. She was in shock, her hands trembling, but she was alive.


    A few minutes later, fire trucks arrived at the parking lot with sirens blaring. The firefighters, dressed in protective gear, quickly assessed the situation. The fire had already engulfed several cars and was threatening to spread to the supermarket building.


    "Water won''t help, use foam!" commanded the brigade leader.


    The firefighters deployed hoses and began extinguishing the flames with special foam, which suppressed the fire and prevented its spread. At the same time, another group of firefighters began evacuating the remaining people and checking for casualties.


    "Are there any casualties?" asked one of the firefighters, running over to the fountain where the woman was.


    "She''s burned, but alive," replied the man in the leather jacket. "We need an ambulance!"


    The firefighter nodded and relayed the information over the radio. A couple of minutes later, an ambulance arrived. The medics examined the woman: the burns on her body and face were serious but not life-threatening. They wrapped her in a special blanket and placed her on a stretcher.


    "You''ll be okay," one of the medics reassured her. "We''ll take you to the hospital now."


    The woman, still in shock, simply nodded. Her eyes were filled with tears, but there was a hint of relief in them ¡ª she had survived.


    The firefighters continued their work. The fire, which had begun to approach the supermarket building, was brought under control. The cars engulfed in flames gradually turned into piles of burnt metal. The smoke cleared, and the extent of the damage to the parking lot became visible.


    "Everything''s under control," one of the firefighters reported to the commander. "The fire is out, and there''s no threat to the building."


    The commander nodded and approached the group of witnesses gathered near the supermarket entrance.


    "Does anyone know how this started?" he asked.


    People glanced at each other. No one could say for sure what had caused the fire. Some suggested it might have been a careless cigarette, while others mentioned a possible malfunction in one of the cars.


    Ming You, meanwhile, stood to the side, watching the situation with a sly smirk:


    "Now all that''s left is to find you, Kai Rin Wu," he thought to himself, scanning the crowds near the supermarket.


    A couple of minutes later, Ming You saw them exiting the supermarket, carrying shopping bags. His mother was saying something, and his father was nodding along. But their calm was further disrupted when they saw the barricades and fire trucks.


    "What happened here?" asked Kai Rin Wu, stopping and looking into the distance.


    His gaze fell on the burnt cars, and his heart sank. He immediately noticed the blue sedan, which looked like their car. But he couldn''t believe it was theirs.


    "This... This can''t be our car," he whispered, but his voice already betrayed his anxiety.


    His mother, noticing his gaze, abruptly stopped. Her face turned pale.


    "No, no, no..." she dropped her bags and stepped forward, but a security guard blocked her path.


    "Please, don''t go any closer. The area isn''t safe yet," he said, raising his hand.


    "But that''s our car!" she almost screamed, her voice trembling. "We have to check!"


    Her father, who had been silent until now, approached the guard. His face was stern, but tension was evident in his eyes.


    "We understand that the area is dangerous, but we need to know what happened to our car. It''s a blue sedan," he pointed toward the charred vehicle. "Can we at least take a look from a distance?"


    The guard, seeing their condition, nodded.


    "Alright, but just don''t get too close. The firefighters are still checking the area."


    Kai Rin Wu and his parents approached the cordon. From there, they could see what remained of their car. The blue sedan they had cherished was now just a charred shell. The wheels had melted, the windows were shattered, and the interior was completely destroyed by fire.


    "No..." the mother clutched her head, her voice breaking. "That''s our car... How could this happen?"


    The father remained silent, but his face expressed shock. He clenched his fists, trying to hold back his emotions. His gaze wandered over the burnt vehicle as if he hoped it was a mistake, that it wasn''t their car. But the license plate, though charred, confirmed the worst.


    "Everything... Everything is burnt," he finally said, his voice sounding dull. "How did this even happen?"


    Kai Rin Wu stood motionless, staring at what was left of their car. His face showed a mix of shock and anger. He remembered how they had bought that car a few years ago, how proud he was when he first got behind the wheel. And now... there was nothing left.


    "Does anyone know what happened?" he asked sharply to the guard.


    "The fire started due to a gasoline ignition," the guard replied. "It''s still unclear what exactly caused it. The police and firefighters are investigating."


    Kai Rin Wu gritted his teeth. He felt helpless. The car was not just a means of transportation; it was a part of their family, their history. And now it was gone.


    Kai Rin Wu''s mother sat down on the curb, covering her face with her hands. She tried not to show her tears, but her shoulders trembled slightly.


    "How are we going to get home now?" she whispered. "And what about the documents? They were in the car..."


    The father, still standing next to the cordon, sighed and approached her.


    "Calm down," he said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "The main thing is that we are alive. We can buy a new car. And the documents... well, we''ll have to get them replaced."


    His voice sounded calm, but exhaustion was evident in his eyes. He understood that this was not just a loss of property; it also meant a lot of hassle that lay ahead.


    Kai Rin Wu took out his phone and was about to dial a number.


    Ming You had been watching them closely the whole time, and his mind was already working at full speed:


    "You have only two steps left: either a taxi or friends with a car. Whatever you do, I will always be one step ahead of you."


    "I need a taxi to the supermarket on Central Street," Kai Rin Wu said clearly, trying to sound confident. "We''re in the parking lot, near the main entrance."


    ¡ª ¡­


    "Thank you," Kai Rin Wu said shortly and hung up.


    He turned to his parents, who stood nearby, still in shock from what they had seen.


    "The taxi will be here in ten minutes," he said, trying to sound calm. "A white car, number ...244."


    His mother, sitting on the curb, nodded, but her gaze was empty. She still couldn''t come to terms with what she had seen. The father, standing nearby, sighed and placed a hand on his son''s shoulder.


    "Good thing you acted quickly," he said, trying to sound calm. "We need to get home somehow."


    Kai Rin Wu nodded, but inside he was still boiling.


    Ming You, standing at a distance, intentionally widened his already sinister grin, continuing to follow his plans:


    "When people are very upset or in shock, they tend to speak much louder, especially on the phone. Based on where the taxi is supposed to arrive, it won''t be hard to intercept the car and neutralize the driver."


    Ming You reached the edge of the main road and noticed another entrance to the main entrance, which had far fewer people.


    After about ten minutes of waiting, the required car began to approach, and Ming You started waving his arms at the taxi driver.


    "Over here!" he shouted with a smile, after which the car stopped.


    He got into the back seat, which was behind the driver''s seat, closed the door behind him, and before the driver could ask where they were going, Ming You placed a utility knife to his throat:


    "Let''s not do anything stupid. Right now, you''re going to drive a little further into that alley, just three hundred meters from here."


    "Okay, okay¡­ Do you need a car? Money? I''ll give you everything, just don''t..."


    "Shut up." Ming You made a small cut on his throat, causing the taxi driver to panic even more.


    As the car entered the alley and came to a stop, Ming You calmly instructed the driver:


    "Now you''re going to raise your hands and slowly get out of the car with me. If you understand, slowly open the door; if not, I''ll slit your throat."


    The taxi driver''s pupils dilated, and he slowly opened the door. Ming You also opened the door and abruptly stood up from the seat, forcefully throwing the driver out of the car, causing him to collapse onto the asphalt.


    "Please, I beg you, don''t hurt me, just take the car..."


    "Get on your knees and put your hands on your head." Ming You said in a threatening tone, and the driver complied.


    Ming You stood behind him and struck him sharply on the carotid artery, causing the driver to fall to the ground.


    First, he opened the trunk, then he grabbed the driver by the legs and dragged him toward the car. Ming You lifted him, stuffed him into the trunk, and closed it.

 Chapter 46: The Family Moves into a Garbage Container

    Ming You inspected the alley and, making sure no one saw him, started the car, continuing to follow his plans:


    "It''s been a little over ten minutes. I should hurry, but first I need to change clothes and prepare for the elimination."


    Ming You opened the trunk and took the taxi driver''s jacket, dark glasses, and cap. He also took a wrench from the trunk and placed it between the driver''s seat and the gearbox.


    After putting on the jacket, cap, and glasses, he slammed the trunk shut and got into the car. He also removed his mask to avoid raising suspicion.


    He drove out of the alley and headed toward the main road. As he drove, the taxi driver''s phone, which was near the gearbox, rang.


    But he ignored the call and was already approaching the main entrance of the supermarket. Stopping near the curb, he turned his gaze toward Kai Rin Wu and signaled.


    "Finally," Kai Rin Wu said with relief, heading toward the car with his parents.


    His father opened the front door and got into the car, speaking to the driver in a rough tone:


    "It''s nothing that you took almost twenty minutes to get to us!"


    "Sorry, I just heard the news about what happened and so¡­" Before Ming You could continue with feigned politeness, Kai Rin Wu interrupted:


    "Can you open the trunk, please? We need to put our things in."


    "Sorry again, but the trunk is completely full," he replied without hesitation.


    "It-it''s fine, Kai, we don''t have that much stuff," his mother said from the back seat, causing Kai Rin Wu to sigh heavily as he closed the door behind him.


    "So, where are we going?" Ming You asked, professionally pretending not to know where they lived.


    When Kai Rin Wu told him, Ming You drove onto the main road and followed the correct route.


    As they drove, Kai Rin Wu continued to reassure his mother:


    "Mom, don''t worry, we''ll be there soon, and everything will be fine."


    "O-okay, Kai¡­"


    "Kai''s right. Tomorrow we''ll solve all our problems," his father chimed in, trying to calm her down.


    Ming You appeared completely calm and silent. Although he wanted to laugh at their situation, he only did so mentally:


    "Yes, Kai, everything will be fine¡­ Pfft.. Hah-haha-hah!"


    The car was almost at the caf¨¦ where Kai Rin Wu had been the day before. When Ming You saw the right alley, he sharply turned the car, causing everyone to sway.


    "Are you crazy!?" Kai Rin Wu''s father exclaimed.


    Ming You didn''t respond. He locked the car doors and grabbed the wrench, then delivered a sharp blow to the back of his father''s head.


    "What the hell!?" Kai Rin Wu jumped up, lunging at Ming You.


    "What''s happening!?" his mother screamed.


    "You bastard!!!" Kai Rin Wu attacked him, but Ming You headbutted him in the nose and swung the wrench, hitting him precisely in the carotid artery.


    "Ah¡­ Arx!" Before his mother could scream properly, Ming You struck her head with the wrench.


    Only Ming You remained conscious in the car. He opened the door, got out, and walked to the door of the abandoned basement of the caf¨¦.


    Ming You took a key from his pocket and unlocked the door, then went inside, mentally analyzing the situation:


    "It''s late evening, but the caf¨¦ is still open, so I need to be very careful."


    He made sure no one else had entered the room and confidently headed back to the car. First, he moved all the items, especially the wrench, which had bloodstains and likely his fingerprints.


    After moving the items, the first person he dragged out was Kai Rin Wu. He was quite heavy, but Ming You managed to carry him to a pillar. He tied him tightly with ropes, then went back for his parents.


    Ming You slung Kai Rin Wu''s mother over his shoulder and then dragged his father by the leg. With great effort, he brought them to the pillars and began tying them tightly with ropes. In the basement, there were two pillars: he tied Kai Rin Wu and his father to the right pillar, and his mother to the left.


    After finishing with his main victims, he opened the trunk and took out the taxi driver. He carried him to a pillar and tied him to the same one where Kai Rin Wu''s mother was.


    "Someone here is unnecessary," Ming You thought to himself, picking up a kitchen knife.


    He approached the taxi driver and stabbed him in the throat.


    "Gha!" The taxi driver woke up, his eyes filled with fear.


    Stab!


    Ming You made a second stab to the throat, and the taxi driver finally died. He pulled the knife out of his throat, causing blood to gush out. But he stepped back in time, so the blood didn''t spray toward him, though there were bloodstains on his jacket, mostly on the sleeves.


    But that wasn''t a problem. He simply took off the jacket, threw it on the taxi driver, and packed a few items into a backpack: wet wipes and isopropyl alcohol. He put on the backpack and headed for the exit, pulling a medical mask over his face.


    Ming You locked the door and got into the car. He closed the trunk and all the doors, then drove out of the alley, continuing his thoughts:


    "All that''s left is to ditch the car and eliminate the threat. Wait for me, Kai Rin Wu, don''t you dare wake up too early."


    He drove one block and parked the car in an alley. Then he took out the wipes and alcohol from the backpack.


    He used the alcohol to wipe down the front seat, steering wheel, gearbox, and door handles. Then he took the wet wipes and began cleaning the car, wiping away his fingerprints.


    When he finished, he left the car and walked back to the caf¨¦ basement.


    After about ten minutes, he arrived and took out the key from his pocket to unlock the door.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    The basement was silent, but Ming You could smell the strong scent of blood. He closed the door behind him and bent down to the backpack. He took out rolls of plastic and lined the door with them.


    Ming You took a black garbage bag and placed a cleaver next to him. He decided to check the time on his phone ¡ª it was eleven at night.


    The caf¨¦ had already closed, and there was no one around. Silence.


    "Time for you to wake up, my dears," Ming You said in a friendly tone, slapping Kai Rin Wu''s cheek.


    But he didn''t wake up.


    Ming You decided to rummage through Kai Rin Wu''s backpack and took out a basketball. He tossed it in the air and then threw it sharply into Kai Rin Wu''s face:


    "Agh!"


    "Finally awake? By the way, you really overinflated the ball, I couldn''t have done that," Ming You said with a smirk, causing Kai Rin Wu to panic from the smell of blood and become enraged:


    "Who are you and what do you want!? Wait¡­ you¡­ You''re that bastard from the caf¨¦!!! Untie me now!"


    "I''m flattered you remember that incident. By the way, my words from that time might come true, as your mommy is completely at my disposal, heh-heh," Ming You walked over to his mother, who was tied to the pillar opposite her son, and touched her cheek.


    "You freak! Bastard! Motherfucker! Don''t you dare touch her!!! AAAH!!!" Kai Rin Wu struggled with all his might, but to no avail. He also noticed the corpse in the darkness, which made him panic even more.


    "Oh, calm down. Old ladies don''t attract me, she''s obviously all dried up, right, kid?" Ming You said with a feigned smirk, causing Kai Rin Wu to turn completely red with anger:


    "Die, you scum!!!"


    "Hey, don''t you believe in karma? What you wish upon others comes back to you, or does it not work that way for you moral people?" Ming You wanted to pick up the basketball, but Kai Rin Wu made a sudden lunge and tried to headbutt him, but the ropes held him back, making his anger even greater:


    "You sick bastard! Why did you kidnap me and my parents!? What did I do to you, you bastard!? You''re the one who insulted me that time!"


    Ming You picked up the ball and lowered his mask with one hand, saying coldly:


    "Actually, I only needed you. Your parents just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time."


    "You still haven''t answered my question! What do you want from me, you sick bastard!?... Wait, I''ve seen you somewhere before that incident at the caf¨¦¡­"


    While Kai Rin Wu tried to remember him, Ming You tossed the ball in the air and threw it at mother''s head.


    "Ah!" she groaned slightly.


    Kai Rin Wu continued to struggle, shouting in anger:


    "Bastard!!! Don''t you dare touch her!!!"


    "Agh¡­ What''s happening? Where am I?" his father asked in panic, just waking up from his sleep.


    Ming You turned his back to them and bent down to the garbage bag with tools, talking to them as he did:


    "Everything''s fine, everything''s under control. I just want to kill you, but I need some preludes. After all, I''m a gentleman."


    The basement fell silent. Kai Rin Wu''s mother, with a panicked look, glanced to the side and saw the corpse, then began to scream:


    "AAAAH!!! Help!!! Someone!!!"


    "Why can''t you all just calm down?" Ming You said coldly, punching her in the jaw.


    "AAAAH!!!" Kai Rin Wu screamed furiously, thrashing around.


    "What the hell are you doing!? Do you want something, or are you just a sick maniac!?" his father interjected in panic.


    Ming You just smirked but didn''t respond. He continued rummaging through the garbage bag until he pulled out a saw and placed it on the floor, which was covered with plastic.


    "Bastard! What are you planning!?" Kai Rin Wu asked in a rage.


    "Heh-heh, you''ll see," Ming You walked over to Kai Rin Wu''s mother, loosened the ropes, and flipped her upside down, tightening the ropes.


    "P-please¡­ don''t¡­ let us go, I beg you!" Kai Rin Wu''s mother said with tears in her eyes.


    "Don''t you dare!!!" Kai Rin Wu shouted.


    "Honey!!!" his father shouted.


    Her tears dripped onto the floor, and Ming You decided to take her purse, which gave her a glimmer of hope:


    "Th-th-then you need money? L-let us go, please, we''ll give you more¡­"


    "I''m upset that all of you think money is interesting to everyone," he replied coolly as he took out a thread and needle.


    "W-what the hell do you want from us!?" Kai Rin Wu asked desperately.


    He remained silent but answered to himself:


    "First: eliminate the threat, second: have fun by mocking you, society."


    Ming You tore the blouse of Kai Rin Wu''s mother, lowered the bra to her neck, and inserted the thread into the needle.


    "Motherfucker!!! Don''t touch her!!!", Kai Rin Wu moved faster and faster, as if he would soon break the ropes. His father also shouted angrily:


    "Scum!!! Stay away from my wife, you freak!!!"


    All these words passed him by. Ming You stuck a needle into her body and began to stitch up her sagging breasts, connecting them together.


    "AAAAH!!!", the mother screamed in agony, to which Ming You, while sewing, kicked her in the neck with his knee, which is why she began to cough.


    "Motherfucker!!! You won''t get away with this!!!", Kai Rin Wu and his father shouted at the same time.


    Ming You continued to remain silent. He even smiled sincerely when he finished sewing.


    The picture was this: a woman turned upside down, tied with ropes to a pole that was wrapped in layers of polyethylene. Her blouse was torn, her bra was bruised around her neck, she was bleeding from her mouth and her teeth were loose. Her breasts... they are now sewn together and there are drops of blood flowing from them, which drip down onto her chin.


    "Scum... YOU SCUM!!!", Kai Rin Wu shouted in rage. His father was also furious:


    "You''re sick bastard!!! Stop, please!!!"


    Ming You looked at them with a cool gaze for a second, but when he took the saw, he grinned loudly in their direction.


    "Y-you... please, stop!!! Please don''t kill her!!! I''ll do whatever you want, but please don''t touch her!!!", Kai Rin Wu shouted desperately. His father began to panic and shake.


    "Did you switch from anger to despair too quickly? Even though I can''t fake emotions so sharply, but you have real talent." Ming You replied sarcastically, standing in front of Kai Rin Wu''s mother, raising the saw and aiming for the groin.


    "Nobody fakes anything!!! Please stop!!!"


    Kai Rin Wu''s pleas did not reach him. Ming You, with a slightly dull saw blade, began to saw mother. First the seams on her jeans came apart, then the saw blade touched her skin, causing her to scream desperately:


    "AAAAH!!!"


    Kai Rin Wu and his father also fell into agony:


    "Mom!!"


    "Darling!!!"


    Ming You just increased the pace with a smile, starting to saw harder and faster, he did it with both hands.


    "AAAAH!!!" Everyone here was screaming, except for Ming You and the dead taxi driver.


    While he was sawing, blood gradually began to flow from Kai Rin Wu''s mother below, or rather above, since she was suspended. But when Ming You sang her to the thigh bone, the blood oozed out more like her agony:


    "AAAAH.. Blewgh... cough¡­" Vomit and foam began to flow from her mouth, which flowed down onto her eyes and hair.


    Kai Rin Wu turned away and prayed for his mother, and his father...


    "Blewgh... cough-cough." He vomited on his pants.


    Ming You did not stop there, he continued sawing and finally cut the femur, starting to saw the uterus, bladder, colon and then the entire intestine. The organs were sawed quite easily, but a lot of blood also flowed from them, or rather not from the organs, but from the arteries that Ming You touched with his saw.


    "Ah..." the mother gradually began to lose consciousness, but her pain did not subside.


    Kai Rin Wu began to shake in agony and almost vomited, and his father seemed to want to die.


    Ming You decided to finish her off. He continued sawing, cutting through the stomach, moving the saw between the esophagus and the lungs, and finally he began to cut through her neck and stopped the saw at her chin.


    Kai Rin Wu''s mother has been dead for about three minutes. Its halved parts smoothly fell down the ropes. Blood streamed from the arteries, making a bloody puddle on the plastic.


    "Why... WHY!?!?!?", Kai Rin Wu and his father screamed in agony, trying to escape.


    "Okay, I''ll ease your torment." Ming You took a kitchen knife and made a sharp blow to the throat of Kai Rin Wu''s father.


    "Gh!"


    "Dad!!! No!!!", Kai Rin Wu began to jerk harder and harder until the ropes broke.


    "AAAHH!!!", Kai Rin Wu attacked in despair, trying to grab him and take revenge, but to no avail.


    Ming You didn''t even raise an eyebrow as he stabbed Kai Rin Wu in the throat, mocking him:


    "What a pity that your obsession with revenge was interrupted so abruptly. I kill because I can, and you wanted to kill because it is pathetic revenge."


    Ming You took the knife from his throat and Kai Rin Wu began to die until he lost consciousness from loss of blood, and then his life.


    "The time has come to finally get rid of you.", Ming You picked up the cleaver and began to dismember the bodies, he also began to think about how Kai Rin Wu managed to escape: "Next time, I need more ropes and where to tighten them tighter. This time I broke Kai Rin Wu emotionally, so he did the stupid thing of attacking me with his fists when I had a knife. Maybe I was lucky, but I need to be more careful¡­"


    He chopped meat by meat, organ by organ, bone by bone, tooth by tooth. Several hours passed until Ming You put the remains of the bodies in garbage bags. In addition to the meat pulp, the bags were also full of rubbish: the victims'' clothes and belongings, as well as bloody plastic sheets.


    Ming You put his things in a backpack, carried the bags to the front door and took out an ultraviolet flashlight, starting to shine it on every centimeter of the basement.


    After thirty minutes of checking, he wanted to leave, as he was feeling sleepy, but he noticed a fresh mark on the corner of the post - it was a small drop of blood.


    Ming You took alcohol and napkins from his backpack and began to carefully wipe that corner until faintly visible smudges remained.


    When he has finally covered all his tracks, Ming You decides to change his clothes. He changed into a clean school uniform and put his sweater and khaki pants in his backpack.


    Ming You opened the door and the morning light hit his eyes. He looked at the time on his phone - five in the morning. He then closed the door and pulled out the lock, putting it in his backpack.


    Ming You picked up the black bags containing the remains of the corpses, there were seven bags in total. He noticed the trash containers outside the cafe, but he wasn''t sleepy enough to do such a stupid thing.


    "Meow...", two cats jumped out of the garbage containers and smelled the meat in the garbage bags.


    Ming You was wary, but he loved animals and opened one bag of meat porridge and put it with the cats. They ate the meat with great pleasure and purred; three more dark cats also ran up to the bag.


    "Please eat quickly." Ming You hurried them affectionately, stroking the thinnest cat.


    A few minutes later, the garbage bag with the meat pulp was almost empty. The cats'' bellies swelled, and Ming You picked up the bag and headed towards his house, simultaneously looking at the garbage containers along the way.


    He was throwing garbage bags into different containers, and when he threw out the last bag, he almost passed out. He had a strong desire to sleep, and it was still about twenty minutes to walk home.


    Ming You comes home only after half an hour, as he sometimes stopped to cheer himself up. He opened the door to his room, set the alarm on his phone to ring in an hour, and went to bed, passing out less than a minute later.

 Chapter 47: Yuromusho Panic

    Ming You was already asleep at his desk. His head rested on a chemistry textbook, its pages slightly damp with drool. He hadn''t noticed when he dozed off, but judging by the situation, it happened right after the teacher started talking about something related to organic compounds.


    "Ming You!" the sharp voice of the chemistry teacher rang out.


    Ming You barely had time to lift his head before a piece of chalk hit him. It bounced off his forehead and landed on the desk. He blinked slowly, trying to gather his thoughts.


    "Ming You," the teacher repeated, "if you''re so confident in your knowledge, maybe you can answer my question?"


    Ming You looked at the board. Something about methylamine was written there.


    "Methylamine," he began, still groggy from sleep, "is an organic compound, a derivative of ammonia, where one of the hydrogen atoms is replaced by a methyl group."


    The teacher nodded, but his gaze was full of suspicion.


    "And where is it used?" he asked, clearly expecting Ming You to stumble.


    Ming You yawned slightly, covering his mouth with his hand.


    "In the production of pesticides, dyes, pharmaceuticals..." He paused, feeling his thoughts slipping away due to drowsiness. "And, of course, in the synthesis of methamphetamine."


    The class froze. Some students exchanged glances, clearly not understanding what he was talking about.


    "Ha-ha-ha," Lu Shen chuckled quietly.


    But the chemistry teacher understood all too well. His face turned stony.


    "Correct answer," he finally said, "but next time, try not to delve into... specific details."


    Ming You nodded and laid his head back on the desk. Sleep was calling him back.


    ...


    The bell for break woke him up completely. Ming You stretched, feeling his muscles protest against the uncomfortable position. As he stood up, he noticed some of his classmates looking at him with slight confusion and smirks.


    "Seems like my answer in chemistry class made an impression," he thought to himself.


    Ming You headed to the Yoshido basketball club locker room. The team was already gathered.


    "Ming, you look like a zombie," Lu Shen was the first to speak, grinning. "Were you studying how to cook meth all night?"


    "Shut up, Lu," Ming You replied, sitting on the bench. "We have an important game."


    "Yeah, against Yuromusho," added Jung Ho, crossing his arms. "Their defense is a real headache."


    "Exactly," Ming You nodded. "But we have a plan."


    He leaned his head back against the bench and continued:


    "We''ll use sharp passes to throw them off balance. Lu, you''ll block their left defender. Haru, watch the right flank. Jung Ho, you''ll play center to intercept their passes. Hong Ren, as usual, is our trump card."


    "And you?" Haru asked, raising an eyebrow.


    "I''ll keep an eye on their ace."


    The team nodded. They were ready and began packing their bags.


    ...


    When the Yoshido team stepped onto the court, the atmosphere was tense. The Yuromusho team was already there, but their faces showed clear unease.


    "Where''s Kai Rin Wu?" someone from their team whispered.


    "I don''t know," another player replied, clearly nervous. "We''ve been calling him all day, but he''s not answering."


    "Jae Un, you''ll have to take his role," said a third, a tall guy with a serious face.


    "I''ll try, Eun Sok, but I''m no Kai Rin Wu," Jae Un replied, clearly unsure of himself.


    Ming You smirked from a distance. Their panic was obvious.


    "Look, they''re already shaking," Lu Shen said, walking up to Ming You.


    "Don''t relax," Ming You warned. "They''re still dangerous."


    "Come on, Ming You," Haru chimed in. "You see how nervous they are."


    "That doesn''t mean they''ll give up," Jung Ho replied. "Stay focused."


    "Hey, take a look," Lu Shen said, nodding toward the opponents. "Their star player isn''t here today! Ha-ha!"


    Haru Lin and Jung Ho exchanged surprised glances:


    "He''s really not here. Did they underestimate us again?"


    "That works in our favor."


    After warm-ups, the teams lined up on the court, ready for the game to begin.


    The referee tossed the ball. Jung Ho faced Jae Un. They were about the same height, and both jumped. The ball went to Jung Ho, but it bounced toward the opponents and was caught by Eun Sok, who smirked at the team:


    "Not a bad start!"


    "Fuck you!" Lu Shen shouted, cutting him off.


    But Lu Shen was blocked by a screen, causing him to curse under his breath:


    "Damn screens! Fuck! What kind of start is this?!"


    Each player took their defensive position. The teams lined up near the three-point line of Yoshido''s hoop.


    Eun Sok ran at a moderate pace until he reached the center. He stopped near the three-point line and tried to break through, but Haru Lin stood in his way.


    "You''re pretty confident," Eun Sok began, trying to find a gap in the defense.


    "I was about to say the same to you," Haru Lin replied, preparing to steal the ball, recalling the plan in his head: "Keep the pace moderate, don''t overdo it, and don''t miss an opportunity."


    Haru Lin raised his fingers toward the ball, and Eun Sok made a sharp pass to Jae Un, who had managed to break free. Ming You stood in his way, not letting him pass. Jae Un started dribbling sharply, looking for an opening.


    "Number forty-four¡­ interesting."


    "Can''t say the same about you, number eight."


    Jae Un made a sharp move, and Ming You even let him pass, smirking beforehand. Jae Un ran through the free-throw line and prepared to shoot, but Ming You started covering him, forcing him to make a risky pass to a teammate.


    The teammate caught the ball, took a quick step back beyond the free-throw line, and jumped, ready to shoot.


    "Don''t even dream about it!" Lu Shen shouted, raising his hand.


    Lu Shen jumped and tried to block the shot, but he couldn''t reach the ball.


    Whistle! Yoshido''s ball.


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    "Were you trying to jump on his dick or block the shot?" Haru Lin teased, tapping Lu Shen''s shoulder. Lu Shen replied irritably:


    "Just wait, I''ll wipe the floor with them, and they''ll be jumping on my dick themselves!"


    "Don''t fall behind," Ming You said emotionlessly, dribbling the ball beside him.


    He moved toward the center. Jae Un was already preparing to cut him off, but Ming You made a sharp behind-the-back pass to Jung Ho.


    Jung Ho caught the ball and made a quick pass to Hong Ren. Eun Sok tried to intercept and elbowed him, causing Jung Ho to curse while rubbing his elbow:


    "You son of a bitch!"


    Eun Sok smirked at him, not letting him pass:


    "Oh, sorry, I thought we were playing against men here."


    "Men? You sound like a castrated cat!" Lu Shen taunted as he ran to the three-point line.


    Haru Lin also stood at the line and heard their conversation:


    "Lu, how long are you going to keep this up?"


    Hong Ren, having stepped two steps back from the three-point line, passed to Ming You. Catching the ball with one hand, Ming You accelerated sharply. Jae Un rushed to defend, but Ming You faked him out, leaving him in the dust. Jae Un tried to catch up but failed:


    "Damn¡­ How is he so fast?!"


    Ming You ran to the out-of-bounds line, and while the defenders tried to coordinate, he passed to Haru Lin. Haru was already standing slightly beyond the free-throw line, and as he caught the ball, he got into shooting position. Eun Sok rushed at him, but at the last moment, Haru Lin passed back to Ming You, counting on him:


    "Fuck them, Ming!"


    Ming You caught the ball near the hoop and shot off the backboard ¡ª the ball went cleanly through the net.


    "Well, boys, do you like how we''re fucking you?" Lu Shen laughed, running to his hoop, prompting Eun Sok to yell aggressively:


    "In that case, you''re next, blondie."


    "Was that a pickup line just now?" Lu Shen asked in confusion, standing at the three-point line next to Haru Lin, who couldn''t resist teasing:


    "Hey, you''re not thinking of cheating on me with some faggot, are you?"


    Lu Shen:


    "¡­"


    The Yuromusho team was on the attack. Jae Un dribbled the ball from the center with his left hand, his eyes burning as he stared at Ming You.


    "Well, number forty-four, show us what you''ve got?"


    Hong Ren ran past him, and when a defender stood in his way, he smirked quietly:


    "Oh, he shouldn''t have said that¡­ Though I''m glad they''re underestimating us."


    The defender opposite Hong Ren heard him and smirked back:


    "You''re not lacking in arrogance, kids."


    Hong Ren stayed silent, but deep down, he was confident of victory.


    Ming You also didn''t respond to Jae Un. He just stood there like a statue, but the moment Jae Un tried to pass, his hand shot out like lightning¡ªthe ball was already his.


    "Huh?" Jae Un exclaimed in shock, followed by his teammates.


    Ming You immediately made a long pass to Jung Ho, seeing the double-team approaching beyond the three-point line. Jung Ho caught the pass and started accelerating.


    "Don''t let him through!" Jae Un shouted, but Jung Ho was faster.


    Jung Ho slammed the ball into the hoop from above, making the backboard shake. Eun Sok ran to his hoop, addressing Jae Un:


    "Did you seriously let him steal it?"


    "Shut up¡­ We''re already without Kai Rin Wu, and now we''re losing ball¡­" Jae Un gritted his teeth.


    Eun Sok received a pass from a teammate and ran to the opponents'' three-point line. Haru Lin stood in his way, spreading his arms and not letting him pass. But Eun Sok elbowed him hard in the ribs. Haru Lin unconsciously stepped back, giving Eun Sok the perfect opportunity to shoot. Eun Sok jumped and made the shot¡ªthe ball went in.


    Haru Lin, holding his side, muttered through clenched teeth:


    "Motherfucker¡­"


    "Ha-ha, what''s wrong, brat? Still want to joke around?" Eun Sok sneered as he ran back to his hoop.


    Lu Shen noticed this and approached Haru Lin, encouraging him:


    "You alive?"


    "Yeah¡­ but that bastard''s gonna pay," Haru Lin replied hoarsely, clenching his fist. But Ming You lowered his hand, smirking:


    "Heh, if they''re playing dirty, it means we''ve already won."


    "What do you mean?" Lu Shen asked in surprise. Ming You calmly replied:


    "Just play, don''t get distracted, and be ready for sharp passes. There''s less than a minute left in the quarter."


    Lu Shen nodded and ran off, while Ming You dribbled the ball toward the center of the court. Jae Un and Eun Sok converged on him, but he suddenly stopped and made a behind-the-back pass to Lu Shen.


    "Oh, baby, you know just how I like it!" Lu Shen smiled, throwing the ball into the hoop.


    Shot. A clean three-pointer. The net didn''t even move.


    The referee blew the whistle. End of the quarter. The teams dispersed.


    "Tsk!" Jae Un gritted his teeth, while Eun Sok yelled at the defenders:


    "Are you blind?!"


    In the stands, the audience discussed the game, with other school teams particularly active in their commentary.


    "Look, that number forty-four is really cunning," one of the tall guys dressed in a blue hoodie exclaimed.


    His friend, already in a white hoodie, scanned the court and reluctantly replied to him:


    "Hmm, interesting, but not that much."


    The referee sharply whistles, resuming the game. Eun Sok catches the pass, his sneakers squeaking unpleasantly on the parquet floor. Haru Lin immediately stands in front of him, fists clenched.


    Eun Sok, barely suppressing a laugh, dribbles the ball in front of him.


    "What''s up, kid? Are you going to stand there like a statue while I outplay you again?"


    Haru Lin, gritting his teeth, lowers into a defensive stance.


    "Try it, bastard. Just be ready to faceplant into the parquet this time."


    Eun Sok suddenly changes direction, trying to get past Haru Lin. He lunges ¨C but it''s a feint! The ball is already flying to Jae Un.


    Jae Un catches the pass and was about to run under the basket when he is met by the soulless gaze of Ming You, who is fixated on the ball.


    "Back at it again, forty-fourth. And you''re going to play cat and mouse again, huh?"


    "You talk too much for someone who''s already lost the ball twice," Ming You replied flatly, not dropping into a stance.


    Jae Un flinched slightly in response.


    "Twice? What an idiot, you can''t even count, ha-ha!"


    But at that moment, the coach''s shout rings out:


    "PASS, IDIOT!"


    Ming You steals the ball and with one hand passes it to Hong Ren. But Hong Ren is covered by two defenders. When he is a step away from the three-second zone, he passes to Haru Lin.


    Haru Lin is ready to receive the ball, but¡­


    Interception!


    The ball is intercepted by Eun Sok, and he immediately bolts towards the opponent''s basket.


    "Don''t underestimate our defense, idiot!"


    He bypasses Lu Shen with the help of a screen from another defender and makes a swift drive to the basket. Haru Lin tries to block him. Jae Un jumps up and is about to make a dunk, but Haru Lin jumps in response. He can''t reach and falls to the parquet. The ball is in the basket, and Jae Un jumps off the rim.


    Haru Lin lets out a slight cry of pain, trying to get up.


    "Fuck! Next time, that trick won''t work!"


    Lu Shen rushes to Haru Lin and grabs him by the shoulders.


    "Are you okay? Do you need a break, or is your hard-on still holding up?"


    "Shut up, Lu. I''m going to smash that bastard into the backboard today," Haru Lin spat, wiping sweat from his forehead.


    Meanwhile, Ming You silently takes the ball for the inbound, and Jung Ho moves into position alongside him.


    "Something tells me they''ve gathered strength."


    Ming You looks at Jung Ho and replies emotionlessly, "They''ll tire out soon enough, though we don''t even need to wait. It doesn''t matter how strong or smart they are; as long as the ball is in my hands, they can''t do anything to me."


    Before crossing the center of the court, Ming You passes the ball to Hong Ren, who instantly passes it back. Jae Un lunges forward, but Ming You already makes a deceptive move, darting to the left and creating space. He passes, and the ball flies through the free-throw line to Lu Shen.


    He catches the ball mid-air and prepares to shoot, but a defender has rushed to block him. Lu Shen glances back at him and says in a feigned voice:


    "Oh, little one, are you really going to hold me? Did your mommy let you stay out this late?"


    The defender flushes with anger and makes a reckless lunge ¨C Lu Shen immediately shoots. A clean three-pointer.


    Jae Un, furious, kicks the ball and looks at his teammates:


    "WHAT THE HELL?! WHO WAS GUARDING HIM?!"


    The Yuromusho team blinks in confusion:


    "¡­"


    Ming You, already at the three-point line of his basket, returns to defense. His eyes methodically scan the court like a radar. Next to him is Hong Ren, who quietly informs him:


    "I assume they''ll try to go through the center now."


    "Are they really that predictable? Heh-heh." Ming You nodded with a smirk, and Hong Ren began to slightly retreat, coordinating the defense:


    "I''m surprised myself."


    Jae Un dribbles the ball. When he reaches the corner of the three-point line, he pretends to shoot. Ming You does nothing, but at the last moment, Jae Un passes the ball under the basket. But Jung Ho is already there. He intercepts the ball and growls in his direction:


    "How predictable!"


    Jung Ho makes a long pass to Ming You, who swiftly runs half the court and goes through the open area under the basket. He jumps and scores from under the rim.


    "TIME-OUT!" the manager of the Yuro Musho basketball club jumps up, addressing the referee.


    The referee blows the whistle. A tense silence hangs in the air. Jae Un approaches Ming You, breathing in his face.


    "Forty-four, do you think you''re so fast and smart? We''re going to break you."


    Ming You calmly wipes the sweat from his chin and, with a feigned smirk, says to him:


    "You''ve been trying the whole first half. How''s that progress, son of a prodigal mom?"


    Jae Un boiled with rage. He raised his fist and almost hit him. Ming You widened his smile, hoping to take the hit, but the coach grabbed Jae Un by his shirt and dragged him to the bench. Lu Shen and Haru Lin quietly laughed on the side:


    "Ha-ha-ha."


    On the Yuromusho bench, there was a tense atmosphere. Their manager was the first to speak up:


    "At this pace, you won''t win."


    "We know that better than you, so please refrain from unnecessary advice," Jae Un replied rudely, finishing his water, but the team coach made a grim face.


    "These aren''t unnecessary tips. You almost lost it on forty-four! Can you keep any composure during the game?"


    "That forty-four turns out to be a complete moral scum. But I''m not going to fall for his tricks so stupidly; I''ll crush him in the game." Jae Un squeezed the empty bottle, and Eun Sok, sitting on the bench next to him, agreed:


    "You''re right; if we''re going to break them, it should be in the game. Just look at their physical strength; they''re all scrawny weaklings! Except for the red-haired one, he stands out a bit."


    The coach perked up and scratched his chin.


    "I think I''ve figured out their game. Their brain is the forty-four, and the red-haired one is their strength. The other players are just distractions and passers. To neutralize them, we just need to double-team the forty-four in case he gets past the defense beyond the three-point line, and keep a double-team on the red-haired one for the rest of the game."


    Jae Un stood up from the bench and decided to fully inspire his team:


    "Then let''s go, time to crush them!"


    "Yeah!" his team cheered in unison.


    Moments earlier on the Yoshido team bench, there was a strange atmosphere among the players ¡ª between jubilation and tension. San Liu silently watched the game while Lu Shen lounged on the bench, drinking water.


    "Well, guys, I told you we''d take them down! We''re really lucky their ace didn''t show up for the game!"


    Haru Lin turned his head in his direction and replied after a breath:


    "They haven''t given up yet. And their captain is clearly going to press us, especially after you provoked him, Ming."


    "I think it''s good that I provoked him. It works in our favor if he gets thrown out for unsportsmanlike conduct." Hong Ren defended him unemotionally, and Jung Ho added, placing his bottle on the court:


    "And he''s right."


    Ming You, taking a sip of water, tilted his head back over the bench and addressed everyone:


    "After the provocation, their captain will start making mistakes. They''ll press and pressure us since physical strength is partly on their side."


    The team nodded, and Lu Shen raised an eyebrow.


    "O-oh, so he fell for the joke about the moms?"


    "Well, for some, a mother is a joke, but for some, she really did suck me off yesterday." Haru Lin teased him, to which Lu Shen smirked and replied:


    "And your mom is so fat that when I put my dick in her, it gets sucked in like in a black hole!"


    Haru Lin laughed out loud:


    "Ha-ha-ha! It''s not her that''s fat; it''s just your small dick!"


    "Who are you to talk, crooked dick!" Lu Shen''s vein bulged, and Ming You raised his head, standing up from the bench.


    "You both shut up. Don''t get distracted from the game. I promise, when we win, I''ll personally throw an orgy with your moms."


    The whole team laughed, and Ming You also fake laughed. He looked at the opponents'' bench and saw that they had become more focused.


    The referee stood up from his place, ready to blow the whistle.

 Chapter 48: The Connection Between the Missing Players

    Whistle: The start of the third quarter.


    Ming You picked up the ball under his hoop and began dribbling. With a glance, he signaled his teammates where to move.


    When Ming You reached the three-point line near his hoop, he made a sharp pass to Haru Lin, who was positioned opposite the center line. Ming You then sprinted to the corner of the opponents'' three-point line, while Haru Lin took the central three-point line, dribbling slightly to the right.


    On defense, Eun Sok stood in his way, arms outstretched, trying to steal the ball. But Haru Lin stepped back, cradled the ball with both hands, and taunted the defender:


    "You''re not even trying to guard me, or are you just scared?"


    "Shut up and miss, you bastard. Though I won''t even let you shoot!" Eun Sok growled aggressively, attempting to knock the ball away. But Haru Lin dodged deftly.


    "Ha-ha, you''re funny."


    Eun Sok''s veins bulged on his forehead after Haru''s light laugh. Spotting an opportunity, Eun Sok tried to swipe the ball from below, but Haru Lin made a sharp pass to Hong Ren.


    "Did you really think you could take the ball from me?"


    "Shut up, bastard¡­ Huh?" Before Eun Sok could turn toward him, Haru Lin slipped past.


    Bang!


    Haru Lin caught the sharp pass from Hong Ren and shot the ball. The defense reacted too late, and the ball swished cleanly through the net.


    "Oops, I didn''t miss. Your turn to cry."


    "You damn worm!" Jae Un shouted, slamming the ball on the floor and clenching his fists.


    Lu Shen, walking away from the opponents'' hoop, laughed and spread his arms:


    "Wow, Captain Yuromusho is already on edge. Didn''t your mom teach you to control your emotions?"


    "Say one more word about my mother¡ªI''ll break your legs," Jae Un snapped, turning sharply, only to hear Ming You''s cold tone as he ran past:


    "She already ruined her own reputation. Remember the second quarter?"


    Jae Un lunged forward, seemingly ready to grab Ming You by the jersey and throw him down, but Eun Sok grabbed his elbow and pulled his captain back, whispering aggressively:


    "Not now. We''ll destroy them on the court."


    "Fuck," Jae Un cursed through gritted teeth.


    Eun Sok picked up the ball and passed it to a teammate, who dribbled it at a moderate pace toward the left corner of the center. After reaching the sideline, he made a sharp pass to Jae Un, who sprinted through the center.


    Before locking eyes with Ming You, Jae Un passed the ball back to Eun Sok. He caught it and tried to break through from the right flank, but Haru Lin blocked his path.


    "Wow, you''re really tense. I wonder, if I steal the ball from you, will you piss yourself?"


    "Tch, think you can distract me?" Eun Sok replied coolly, ignoring Haru Lin''s gaze.


    Haru Lin smirked and reached for the ball. The moment his middle finger grazed it, Eun Sok reacted sharply and passed to Jae Un.


    Jae Un caught the ball one-handed and charged through the three-point line, but Ming You cut off both his advance and his passing options. Jae Un tensed and shot Ming You a disdainful look:


    "Can''t you just leave me alone?"


    Jae Un dribbled more aggressively, while Ming You replied emotionlessly:


    "Can''t you just learn how to play?"


    "What the hell are you talking about?!" Jae Un glared at him but didn''t react in time as Ming You stripped the ball from his hands.


    The ball hit the court and rolled toward the right flank of the three-point line. Eun Sok reacted quickly, scooping it up one-handed, but¡ª


    "Eun Sok, behind you!" Jae Un yelled when he saw Ming You sprinting toward him.


    "What the¡ª?"


    Smack!


    Before Eun Sok could start dribbling, the ball was knocked from his hands. Ming You tapped it with his right hand, picked it up, and dashed through the center at full speed.


    "Where the hell do you think you''re going?!" Jae Un shouted after him.


    Ming You scanned the court and spotted an open player¡ªJung Ho. He was already stretching his arms near the opponents'' free-throw line, ready to receive the pass. Ming You fired a sharp one-handed pass from the center.


    Jung Ho caught the ball, but two defenders immediately shoved his shoulder. He snarled, holding onto the ball:


    "Hey, bastard, that''s a foul!"


    "What, are you a girl? Whining like that?" one of the Yuromusho defenders sneered.


    Jung Ho broke sideways, spun sharply, and passed back to Ming You, shouting loudly in support:


    "Here, fuck them apart!"


    Ming You caught the ball one-handed, and before he could blink, Jae Un and another defender stood in his way. He taunted them loudly:


    "Oh, two cowards instead of one."


    "I''ll break you, freak," Jae Un whispered like a wild animal.


    Ming You instantly blew past the defense.


    "Motherfucker!" Jae Un spat as Ming You confidently shot the ball from under the hoop, gloating:


    "Learn how to defend first, brat."


    Whistle: End of the third quarter.


    The teams retreated to their benches to discuss their next moves.


    In the stands, a tall guy in a blue hoodie turned to his friend:


    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    "First time I''ve seen Yuromusho play dirty. Aren''t you surprised?"


    His friend, a tall, athletic guy with short white hair and a white hoodie, replied disdainfully:


    "It''s not Yuromusho playing dirty¡ªit''s Team Yoshido¡­ number forty-four, to be exact."


    "You think he''s provoking them?" the first guy asked skeptically.


    His friend''s tone turned even more contemptuous, as if angry:


    "Didn''t you see how Yuromusho''s captain almost attacked number forty-four twice? That bastard''s trying to make them play dirty. The ref doesn''t hear the taunts, and neither do we, the audience. But knowing Yuromusho, I can confidently say number forty-four is one hell of a scumbag."


    "You''re pretty sharp," the first guy said, surprised.


    Whistle: Fourth quarter.


    Eun Sok picked up the ball, his face twisted in anger. He passed to a teammate and dashed to the free-throw line, receiving the ball back.


    Haru Lin stood in his way, arms wide. Eun Sok elbowed him in the chest, broke through, and scored from under the hoop:


    "Take that, trash!"


    "Faggot¡­" Haru Lin muttered through clenched teeth, rubbing his chest.


    "Hey, that''s clearly a foul!" Lu Shen yelled at the referee, who replied indifferently:


    "Keep playing."


    Jae Un dribbled the ball, crossed his own three-point line, and passed to a teammate. From beyond the center line, the ball was passed to Eun Sok.


    Eun Sok moved to the left corner and faced Haru Lin, shouting furiously:


    "You''re just a damn show-off! No shortage of nerve!"


    "More like you''ve got nerve standing in my way, ha-ha-ha!" Haru Lin laughed.


    Eun Sok played even more aggressively:


    "Arrogant bastard!"


    He charged through Haru Lin, but Jung Ho blocked his path. Eun Sok made a sharp pass to what seemed like an open Jae Un, but¡ª


    Bang!


    Ming You intercepted the ball one-handed, coldly addressing his opponents:


    "Offense is your biggest weakness."


    Ming You sprinted to the opponents'' three-point line, where two defenders met him. One yelled:


    "In that case, your team''s weakness is defense!"


    "We''re still better at it," Ming You sneered before making a sharp pass to an open Hong Ren.


    Jae Un, rushing to defend, thought in disbelief:


    "Why the hell didn''t the double-team work on him?!"


    Hong Ren, suddenly receiving Ming You''s pass, scored from under the hoop, glancing at the opposing team:


    "Hey, assholes, I''m still here."


    They ignored him, and Jae Un screamed at his defender:


    "Are you actually blind or just pretending?!"


    "Shut the hell up! You almost got ejected because of number forty-four!" his teammate snapped furiously.


    Jae Un gritted his teeth.


    Eun Sok dribbled confidently, scanning the court and his team:


    "Don''t slack off¡ªno time for arguments, especially in the final minutes. Stay sharp!"


    The team nodded and spread out. Eun Sok drove to the three-point line, but Haru Lin blocked him again, smirking first this time:


    "Where''s the fire? Try getting past me!"


    ""Teach your grandmother to suck eggs!" Eun Sok sharply changed direction.


    Haru Lin laughed harder:


    "Ooh, so feisty! Did someone hit you in the head with a ball as a kid?"


    "Shut up and lose!" Eun Sok''s eyes flashed with rage. Before he could break through, Ming You stripped the ball from behind.


    "What?!" Eun Sok turned in shock, meeting Haru Lin''s arrogant tone:


    "You don''t know much about our captain¡ªor, as all the losers call him, number forty-four!"


    Eun Sok clenched his teeth as Ming You quickly grabbed the ball and raced through the center. The Yuromusho defenders tried to catch up, and Eun Sok, panting heavily, shouted:


    "You think it''s that easy to get away from me?"


    "You''re wrong on two counts: you can''t catch me, and I know it!" Ming You grinned, passing to an open Jung Ho.


    Jung Ho was trapped between two defenders and had to pass back to Ming You.


    "Screw all of you!" Jung Ho yelled.


    Ming You caught the ball at the three-point line. Jae Un and Eun Sok rushed him, but he was already in the air. Jae Un jumped, trying to block the shot, snarling:


    "Don''t even dream about it!"


    The ball arced through the air and swished into the hoop.


    Whistle!


    Lu Shen smirked and yelled in Eun Sok''s face:


    "Where''s your double-team now, motherfuckers?"


    "I''ll tear you apart, punk!" Eun Sok lunged, but his teammates held him back.


    Jae Un, calming his teammate, stepped up to Ming You, breathing down his face:


    "Wonder if you''ll still talk big once we''re off the court, huh?"


    "You''re pathetic even without my words," Ming You said without blinking.


    Jae Un raised his fist, but the coach grabbed his arm and shoved him back. Jae Un spat on the floor and walked away, while the coach glared at Ming You:


    "Aren''t you ashamed of being such a scumbag in the game? This is a sport where respect matters, not trash like you!"


    "I don''t care about opinions, especially from losers. Your weakness is losing your cool in the game," Ming You retorted with a sly smirk, turning toward his bench.


    "How dare you!" the coach raged, but Ming You ignored him and joined his team.


    "Great game, guys," Jung Ho announced with a smile, slinging an arm over Ming You''s shoulder.


    "Can''t argue with that," Ming You forced a smile, but his gaze locked onto someone else.


    As the team celebrated, two tall guys walked past. One¡ªthe white-haired one in the white hoodie¡ªgave him a disdainful look.


    Ming You watched him before stepping away. He slowly approached San Liu, who already anticipated his visit:


    "The next¡ªand last¡ªteam you''ll face is Gokudan. No matter the tournament, they''re always first."


    Ming You replied coolly, without faking emotion:


    "Didn''t know you were so sharp. I might''ve bragged about our team taking second, but you ruined it."


    "Don''t act like you don''t care!"


    "Alright, San Liu, I''ll grab the game notes from you at school," Ming You turned to leave, but San Liu stopped him:


    "I think you''re forgot something."


    "The flash drive''s in my bag. Yeah, I forgot to give it back at school." Ming You took off his backpack, pulled the drive from the front pocket, and handed it over. San Liu snatched it.


    "Why the hell did you bring my flash drive to the game? What if a ball hit your bag and broke it? Ever think of that?"


    Ming You put his backpack back on and feigned regret¡ªbadly:


    "...Well, sorry."


    "Don''t play dumb!" San Liu''s veins bulged as Ming You waved and walked away calmly:


    "See you at school."


    ¡­


    Police station. Vice department.


    Lao Han sat at his desk, his empty eyes scanning the screen. Before him were files on the missing persons cases he''d been reviewing:


    "Chang Wo, basketball coach at Yoshido Club, disappeared with his wife and children. Wife: Chang Su Yeon¡ªcashier; children: Chang Mi¡ª12-year-old middle schooler; Chang Yeon¡ªinfant, 1.5 years old. So Ho¡ªYoshido student, and his sister So Yeon. Hee Rak¡ªcollege student, former basketball player. Guk Chhol from Siomo School, basketball club member. Suk Chhon, Shoguro School¡­ All connected to basketball."


    "Lao Han," Xin Shi''s voice called. She approached, holding a coffee cup. "See the new data? These disappearances¡­ they''re nonsense."


    Lao Han slowly looked up, meeting her gaze. He nodded and handed her a file.


    "Chang Wo," he began tonelessly. "Basketball coach. Vanished with his family. So Ho, Yoshido student, and his sister So Yeon. Hee Rak, college student. Guk Chhol, Siomo. Suk Chhon, Shoguro. All tied to basketball."


    Xin Shi sat across from him, narrowing her eyes.


    "Basketball? Seriously? You think it''s not a coincidence?"


    "No," Lao Han said. "Too many links. They vanished at different times, but the connection is clear."


    "Maybe a manager," Xin Shi said confidently. "Someone from the basketball clubs. Only a manager would benefit from kidnapping players. Maybe to weaken competition? Or money¡­ Or something else."


    Lao Han tilted his head slightly.


    "Possible. But here''s the thing: I think¡ªno, I know¡ªthey''re already dead."


    Xin Shi sighed.


    "Why do you keep thinking that?"


    "If they were taken for profit, we''d have demands by now. Ransom, threats¡­ anything. But silence. Silence means they were killed¡ªby a professional."


    Xin Shi frowned.


    "But why? Who benefits from killing basketball players? School players, not pros in some international league?"


    "Maybe it''s not about profit. Maybe it''s revenge. Or obsession. Someone tied to basketball who can''t play. Someone who hates those who can."


    "You still think a student started killing basketball players?" Xin Shi asked skeptically.


    "Yes. Maybe someone who was bullied, taking revenge. Or someone obsessed with basketball as a sport, imagining themselves a god. Basketball is their world. If they can''t be part of it, they''ll destroy it."


    Xin Shi paused.


    "That Ming guy, You know¡­ Ming You, captain of Yoshido''s basketball club. He''s¡­ strange. A nerd who plays basketball. Arrogant, knows his rights. When we tried to question him, he shut us down¡ªno evidence, no warrant, blah blah. But¡­ he was close to Chang Wo. The coach."


    Lao Han raised a brow slightly.


    "Close? Or just his claim?"


    "Well¡­" Xin Shi hesitated. "He said Chang Wo was a respected mentor. But who knows? Maybe he lied. Maybe he hated him. Or So Ho. Maybe it''s revenge, though he doesn''t seem bullied¡ªhe''s the team captain."


    "Anything''s possible. But we can''t theorize without proof. Ming You¡­ he''s interesting, but just one of many."


    Xin Shi leaned on her hand.


    "Yeah, you''re right. But he''s¡­ suspicious. Or maybe I''m just mad he wouldn''t talk."


    Lao Han''s empty eyes held hers.


    "Emotions hinder work. Don''t let them win."


    Xin Shi frowned.


    "I know. But¡­ it''s hard. You get it?"


    He didn''t answer. Instead, he looked back at the file. His thoughts flowed slowly, like cold water.


    "Yoshido''s manager, San Liu," he said suddenly. "We''ve questioned him. He''s clean¡ªno evidence, not even indirect."


    "Right," Xin Shi agreed. "But¡­ did we miss something?"


    "In cases like this, we always miss something. But we must look wider. Not just managers. Not just students. Someone else. Someone in the shadows."


    Xin Shi pondered his words, then nodded.


    "You''re right. But¡­ where do we start?"


    "With basketball," Lao Han said. "It''s the key. We need to find what links them. Not just playing basketball. Something deeper. Something we can''t see yet."


    Xin Shi stood to leave but paused.


    "Lao Han," she said softly. "Do you¡­ really think they''re all dead?"


    He met her gaze, his face blank.


    "Yes. But we keep searching. For their families. For ourselves."


    Xin Shi nodded, her eyes glistening.


    "You''re right. We''ll find them¡ªand their kidnapper."