Jin Zhengzhe felt as if a massive stone had dropped into his heart.
Who was Bai Xiongzheng? To outsiders, he was merely a genuine entrepreneur, just the head of an entertainment group, but only a few knew that a part of Bai Xiongzheng's business was of an unsavory nature.
Once, a fairly large corporation had a conflict with Bai Xiongzheng's group, and shortly after, a notorious major incident occurred, and it was said that Bai Xiongzheng was behind it!
Jin Zhengzhe couldn't understand why Bai Xiongzheng was getting involved in such a matter, but from his tone, it was clear that if he didn't follow Bai Xiongzheng's instructions, there would be severe consequences.
However, wearing a female hero's outfit to cheer for the ZZ team at the finals would be humiliating not only to Jin Zhengzhe but also to their nation, South Korea. By the time he returned, STT fans would eat him alive!
"But... but boss, this bet could have negative repercussions," Jin Zhengzhe stammered.
"You realize it could have a negative impact?" Bai Xiongzheng's suppressed anger finally erupted, "If you knew it could be bad, why did you make the bet in the first place? Do you really trust those useless folks under you so much?"
"I'm telling you, this order came directly from the Minister of Culture himself," Bai Xiongzheng said, "Do you think I have the time to deal with your nonsense?"
"How could that be?" Jin Zhengzhe looked incredulous. It was already surreal that Bai Xiongzheng got involved, but how did the Minister of Culture get dragged into this? He, a minister managing the nation's cultural affairs, shouldn't have time to meddle with a small team's coach.
"I'm telling you, you have no other choice. If you don't handle this well, our entire group will go down because of your stupidity, and I'll spend my life in jail. If I fall, don't expect a good life for yourself either!" The threat in Bai Xiongzheng's tone was unmistakable.
What Bai Xiongzheng didn't know was that even the Minister of Culture was under enormous pressure to call him. An incident that simple, Fang Jueyu just made a single call to their country's prime minister, and that was it.
In 1997, South Korea experienced a severe economic crisis. Every economic crisis is both a danger and an opportunity. The industries under the Fang Family rapidly invaded South Korea's various sectors, even holding many of their national economic lifelines.
Thanks to the funds flowing in from the Fang Family, South Korea's economy gradually stabilized, but the presence of the Fang Family loomed in every industry and field. The implications of this were self-evident.
"Eat jail food?" Jin Zhengzhe was already a bit bewildered. He knew Bai Xiongzheng's capabilities, who could be considered quite powerful. To think that such a small bet could land him in prison? Who was trying to deal with him? Could it be the owner of ZZ team, Wang Cong?
But even if he was wealthy, it shouldn't be enough to make their nation's Minister of Culture personally warn him, right?
"From now on, you have no connection with the STT team!" Bai Xiongzheng's statement marked the end of his coaching career. Getting expelled from the STT team would be a stain on his life, and no team would risk offending Bai Xiongzheng to take him in.
"You have one hour to deliver on your lost bet. Otherwise, you know the consequences!"
"Clap!" After saying the final words, Bai Xiongzheng directly hung up the phone.
"It's over!" Jin Zhengzhe collapsed on the sofa, not realizing when the wine glass in his hand fell to the ground, spilling red wine everywhere.
"Now, let's welcome the two teams of the finals onto the stage!" At precisely eight in the evening, the finals officially began, and the entire arena echoed with the names of the ZZ team and the GE team.
Many fans from Huaxia spontaneously gathered at the finals scene to ensure that, at least in spirit, they wouldn't lose to the opponent at an away game.
"Whaa!" At this moment, a sudden uproar of shouting erupted from the scene, as a camera captured a figure just stepping into the arena.
It was a cosplayer dressed as the female hero Ahri from League of Legends, holding the ZZ team flag and awkwardly chanting "Go ZZ team" in broken Huaxia.
"Oh my God! Isn't that Coach Jin?" The STT team members immediately recognized Jin Zhengzhe, who was well-known across the industry. Even the coaches from other teams were familiar with him.
In an instant, the STT team members felt countless eyes cast upon them. Their faces turned red with embarrassment, wishing they could hide their heads under their shirts.
"Look, isn't that the STT team's coach, Jin Zhengzhe? Why is he dressed like that? And cheering for ZZ?"
"Hahaha, look at that Ahri, there's leg hair, I'm dying of laughter!"
"This is so embarrassing. Did he lose his mind after losing to the ZZ team? If I were him, I'd never show my face again!"
"Who wouldn't say so?"
"Director, give him a close-up!" Fang Jueyu promptly commanded. The broadcasting of this match worldwide was handled by Fang Jueyu's media company. If he wanted to highlight something, all it took was a word!
The global broadcast suddenly showcased that peculiar scene—the once prestigious Coach Jin, who had lifted the trophy multiple times at world championships, now looked .
"Hahahaha, oh dear, I'm dying of laughter!"
"Holy crap, this is brutal!"
"Fang Jueyu, what good does it do you to laugh me to death? Hahaha!"
In the private theater, Fang Jueyu and others were already laughing so hard they were rolling on the floor. Jin Zhengzhe was naturally short, whereas Ahri was a hero with a very slender figure, making the outfit look terribly mismatched on him.
Furthermore, Jin Zhengzhe didn't have a proper makeup artist. His stubbly face made him unbearable to look at.
"It's over, I can't love the hero Ahri anymore!"
"Me neither. I swear, I'll never play her again, as I'm afraid I'll think of that disgusting face."
"Old Fang, you're a devil!"
The opening of the finals ended with farce. Jin Zhengzhe sneaked away after the match started. He realized that upon returning, only a human tragedy awaited him, but all of this was his own doing.
Had he not challenged the ZZ team at the outset, he wouldn't have placed a reckless bet with Fang Jueyu. But, alas, there's no "if" in this world.
The finals were exceptionally thrilling, though one-sided, with the GE team unable to put up a fight against the well-prepared ZZ team. Almost every match saw over twenty kills. If one were to describe it in four words, it would be "Holy crap, ruthless."
On the world stage, the ZZ team uplifted the champion's trophy, signaling the end of the ZTT dynasty and marking Huaxia's rise to the pinnacle of eSports!
When they 3:0 dismantled the GE team's base, the dorms of every university in Huaxia erupted into a deafening roar.