Chapter 119:
The Saint E-sports Club has always been very popular in the circle. Usually benevolent, they had a good relationship with any club. It was rare for them to have any disharmony with anyone. Now that even the very good-tempered Saint had become so angry that they were driven to go online to open a group, the other domestic e-sports clubs couldn’t bear it any longer.
The owner of Ten Thousand Mountains Club has always kept in mind how Free had shown friendship to their players when they went to play in their home court. He was the first one to follow. Their boss was utterly shameless, saying that ‘yes, we are trash, no better than smelly fish and rotten shrimp. Our club’s results have been very poor, so much so that we weren’t able to make it to the World Championships. Just try and mess with our morale! You can’t! Like h.e.l.l we’re afraid of you! It’s so boring at home without any matches so we might as well tear into you’.”
The rest of the clubs successively kept pace. In the end, even Team Bison who once had conflict with Free couldn’t help it either. As the captain, Violent Shu, applied for a Twitter account for their team and actively joined the battle. They were annoying troublemakers that tore everything into a mess.
While his own team was playing in their second loop of the group stage, Zhou Huo clutched his hair as he watched the various immortals battling it out online. This turn of events was making him jumpy and dumbfounded.
Before the start of the World Championships, Zhou Huo thought that after coming to Germany, his team might have some superficial clashes with Sacred Sword. In antic.i.p.ation of this, he had prepared some public statements in advance. However, he never expected that the situation would suddenly escalate and evolve. It has now become a war between compet.i.tive regions.
Everyone was letting this get to their heads.
Zhou Huo kept tearing at his hair. He collapsed. “There’s nothing wrong with my professional ability but how should I respond to this? Really, I kid you not… I worked together with my people to draft a lot of translated statements. We made it from an angle of making a firm stand. The wording was novel and exquisite. I wouldn’t be ashamed even if I had to take it to make a speech in front of the United Nations…”
Old Qiao and the data a.n.a.lysts were staring at the live broadcast screen. He found the time to throw in a few comforting words, “Trash it. No need to feel bad. Everyone’s already insulting everyone else’s ancestors. No one’s going to have time to read your namby-pamby PR draft.”
Zhou Huo’s heart dripped blood. Clutching his chest, he gritted his teeth, “Laozi stayed up all night and wrote so many beautiful bilingual PR drafts…”
Zhou Huo reluctantly deleted the drafts and moved to stand behind Old Qiao. He watched the video for a while but couldn’t really understand. He asked, “What’s the situation on the court?”
“Did you think they were only going crazy online?” Old Qiao had his eyes opened very wide, staring intently at the screen. “Things on the court can’t be controlled anymore. They’ve all caught on fire, except for Yu Sui who’s the same as usual. The other three practically have their eyes burning red…Even Puppy has followed after them to scramble for kills.”
Zhou Huo couldn’t understand the particulars of the game so he could only judge by the number of kills Team Free has made that was displayed on the screen… Their players were a bit vicious.
Zhou Huo asked cautiously, “In short…we’re sure to win, right?”
“What nonsense are you asking?” Old Qiao didn’t even raise his head. “Just take a look at the expressions of the Vietnamese team for yourself.”
The data a.n.a.lyst said pityingly, “That’s the expression of someone who just wants the game to end. And that’s the expression of someone praying for the G.o.ds on the other side to just stop…Although they’re our opponents in the group stage, I feel sorry for them.”
The camera showed close-ups of the Vietnamese players on the scene, their expressions were each stiffer than the last. Zhou Huo smiled dryly, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. We’ve got nothing against you. You just ran into the muzzle of a gun.”
Free’s fourth best of one match in the group stage ended in just 19 minutes and Free, like cutting with a sword through tangled hemp, took another point.
Old Qiao pounded on the table, “Nice! We’re through to the next stage!”
Zhou Huo was still trembling in fear and was startled when he heard this. “We’re through? We are? That’s not right! Don’t go giving a man false hope! In theory, shouldn’t you have five points to be guaranteed to make it through?”
“Theoretically, it is necessary to score five points but there are no other two teams in our group that have won four games.” The data a.n.a.lyst explained carefully, “There also hasn’t been any super Experience Baobao who has failed to score any points. So calculating based on the number of games that have been played now, even if the other teams finish all the matches, there won’t possibly be any three teams with four points to two situation. Your theory is no longer valid. We’re through. At least, we’re sure of going through as the second placer in our group.”
Zhou Huo didn’t understand a word, “What are you talking about…”
“It’s nothing. Just believe us, we’re through.” Old Qiao was too lazy to explain to Zhou Huo, “Tweet it. If we aren’t through, you can chop off my d.i.c.k.”
Zhou Huo had already been shaken stupid by the flames of war online. He tried counting it off his fingers but still couldn’t quite understand it. He didn’t dare believe it. Only when he logged onto Weibo and saw that the fans were already happily drawing a lottery, did he finally feel relieved. He nodded and murmured, “Although I already knew we were basically a.s.sured of making it to the next stage playing in Group A, I was still a little worried that something might happen…We’ve qualified. We’ve qualified. We’ve qualified…. The team I’m leading has managed to make it to the next stage in the World Championship. Our new team has also met such a day. We now have the confidence to tear into Sacred Sword. We can continue to play. Thank you, everyone. Thank you! Thank you…”
Zhou Huo held his mobile phone and muttered these words, his eyes reddened for no apparent reason. Afraid that he would be found out by Old Qiao and the others, Zhou Huo ordered the other staff members to post on Weibo and he himself went to the bathroom to wash his face.
When Zhou Huo came out of the bathroom, he was faced with the players returning from the stage with their peripherals. Zhou Huo looked at his heavenly team of male G.o.ds. He felt so very close to every one of them. For a while, he felt a lump in his throat. He wanted to find someone to hug but then, he saw Chen Huo slap Shi Luo’s back with gritted teeth.
The corners of Shi Luo’s mouth raised slightly. He didn’t even try to dodge it. He stumbled forward a bit and laughed softly, “…good-for-nothing.”
“Kill-stealer! Kill-stealer! Kill-stealer!” Chen Huo was so angry that he couldn’t help repeatedly slapping Shi Luo’s back with the mouse pad. “You’re a rookie, what does it matter if you show off or not? I’m an old player sharing the same job you are. Up til now, I still haven’t gotten an MVP t.i.tle. Do you know how absolutely disgraced I am already? You little b.a.s.t.a.r.d…”
Shi Luo was chewing gum and he was pushed through the door of their lounge by Chen Huo. “You’re old and you can’t keep up. Who’s to blame for that?”
Chen Huo was so angry, he wanted to hit Shi Luo again but was suddenly blocked by Yu Sui. “That’s about enough. Do you have to fight in front of me?”
Chen Huo wanted to fight with Yu Sui but before he could move, Zhou Huo hugged him.
Zhou Huo was in very high spirits now that they’ve made it past the group stage. He squeezed Chen Huo tightly as he hugged him.
Except Zhou Huo, everyone else was very calm, including Shi Luo, who was also a newcomer to the World Championships.
When everyone entered their lounge, they put all joking aside. They sat down and drank a bit of water as they listened carefully to Old Qiao and the data a.n.a.lysts’ game review of the previous match. Time waits for no one and the result of who was going to quality for Group A was going to be released today. Yu Sui and the others were going to have to get back on stage after about an hour’s rest.
After a quick review of the last match, they gave each player pointers on what they each needed to optimize. Old Qiao turned back to Zhou Huo and said, “Now that we’ve won four games and we’re a.s.sured of making it through, now… close the door. Turn off the cameras and the mics. Is anyone wearing a portable mic? Turn it off. If you can’t turn it off, then take out the battery.”
Yu Sui met eyes with Old Qiao, sneered and said nothing.
Chen Huo and Puppy were stunned and then quickly understood. They nodded, “Close the door and lock it.”
Zhou Huo was confused and did what he was told.
The data a.n.a.lysts all made excuses and left the lounge before the door was closed.
Shi Luo looked around the lounge. There was nothing you could hide from a his top student brain and after a few seconds, Shi Luo understood.
Shi Luo took a piece of paper and spit out his gum. “Yeah. We’ve got four points. If we want to go in for something, we’re going to have to start now…”
Zhou Huo: “…”
Chen Huo’s smile faded away. He rolled his mouse pad into a tube and bit the inside of his cheek. “Give me a few minutes to think about it.”
Puppy was in a daze, “Hmm…”
Old Qiao was silent.
Zhou Huo wiped the tears that had leaked out from the corner of his eyes because he’d been so emotionally moved just now. At the end of his patience, he finally humbly asked, “Since you’ve decided to let me stay, can you… give this ordinary player a way to live? What are you talking about? Can you explain it to this ordinary player?”
The other five people in the room were stunned and looked at Zhou Huo in astonishment.
Zhou Huo endured the shame, “Excuse me, oh venerable immortals. But what are you thinking about?”
Old Qiao subconsciously turned to look at the cameras in the room that have all already been turned off. He was speechless, “Can’t you understand that you can’t talk about this matter openly?”
Shi Luo said, “I’ll explain to you…”
“Don’t!” Sensitive about the matter, Old Qiao interrupted Shi Luo, “I mean…in case it spreads, I’ll carry it. In any case, I’m already retired.”
Old Qiao gave Zhou Huo a tired look and lowered his voice, “When the lots are drawn for the quarterfinals, the no. 1 qualifying team in each group during the group stage becomes a first seed. First seeds cannot meet in the quarterfinals, do you know that? ”
There was nothing wrong with Zhou Huo’s brain. He was just unfamiliar with the compet.i.tion rules. Hearing this, he understood instantly.
In Group D, aside from Sacred Sword, all the other teams were weak ones. Sacred Sword was basically guaranteed to be number one in their group.
According to the current situation, Free was also guaranteed to be number one in Group A.
Give this development, according to the rules that state first seeds cannot meet in the quarterfinals, Free won’t be able to meet Sacred Sword at least until the top four. And because of the division of the regions, their chances of running into Sacred Sword in the top four as a first seed was actually a little lower than as a second seed.
Irrelevant to the drawing of the lots, based on objective facts, it would be impossible to be fulfilled.
If they wanted to have a chance to meet in advance, they would have to start controlling theirs points now. Free would have to intentionally lose their matches and if they qualify as second for their group, then there was a good chance of that they would encounter Sacred Sword in the quarterfinals.
“I remember talking about it once before. We all want to meet Sacred Sword as soon as possible and take our chances against them. As a coach, I certainly don’t recommend you to control points. As a former professional player, I also detest this kind of thing. But… …” Old Qiao narrowed his eyes, “As a mere person…the animosity between us has already grown this big. If you want to make trouble, I won’t stop you.”
There was a rare roguish look on Old Qiao’s face. “Those people practically stepped all over our faces. Before, they even tried to make you ‘meow’… We’re all human. We all have life. None of us are working machines. Don’t give me those high-sounding, dignified words. If my brothers want to fight them at all costs then I understand.”
“We’re just adjusting from no. 1 to no. 2. We’re not harming anyone. It won’t affect our group and there’s no psychological burden.”
“Of course, the only thing I’ll do is not stand in your way. It’s the three of you who were sold and it’s the three of you who were made to suffer. You’ll have to decided but hurry up.” Old Qiao said quickly, “If you want to qualify as second in the group, then you’re going to have to start paddling at the beginning of your next match. If we take the second spot, then it will be all down to the Will of Heaven in the drawing of the lots. If we do run into them, then it’s going to be a fight to the death.”
Old Qiao calmly said, “As your old teammate, I’m only here to remind you when you should start controlling points if you want to.”
The training room was quiet for ten seconds.
Old Qiao looked at Zhou Huo and smiled, “Does the manager want to strangle me to death now?”
“Of course, I want to strangle you to death… I want the safest results.” Zhou Huo was silent for a moment and sighed, “But… no one here’s a saint. If you want to go for it, then go. Hurry up. Let’s do it this way, secret balloting. In the future, if we get eliminated then no one can blame anyone. There’s no name placed down anyway.”
Yu Sui couldn’t help but smile, “You’re thinking quite far ahead.”
“Shouldn’t I?!” Zhou Huo was just unfamiliar with the compet.i.tion system but he was familiar with team management. “If we get eliminated in the quarterfinals in the future, even if you regret it, you won’t be able to find anyone to blame. Fine, I know you guys have a good relationship. I’m the one who’s overthinking this, right? Come on…”
Zhou Huo took four pieces of paper of the same size and found pens of the same make and handed them over. “If you want to control points and qualify as the second team then draw a circle. If you want to quality the normal way, then draw a cross. You have half a minute. Hurry up. Once you’ve finished writing, cover it on the table. Don’t leave a crease.”
Everyone took paper and pen and after writing, placed the ballots on the table.
Zhou Huo was still somewhat selfish. He didn’t want them to control points. After everyone wrote their votes, he said, “It’s easy for the votes to be tied if there’s four votes. Shi Luo’s won’t be counted. In any case, you weren’t sold.”
Shi Luo was taken aback. Zhou Huo made sense. Shi Luo nodded and took his own piece of paper and crumpled it into a ball.
“No more dawdling!”
Zhou Huo took the remaining three pieces of paper and indiscriminately shuffled them around. He pressed his hands on the three pieces of paper, his heartbeat gradually quickening. A layer of sweat quickly formed on his forehead.
Zhou Huo gritted his teeth, “In the end, was I lucky or unlucky to have met you group of players…”
Zhou Huo took a deep breath, took a piece of paper and spread it out!
Cross.
Zhou Huo’s eyes lit up. Not control points.
Zhou Huo quickly opened another piece of paper.
Cross.
The third sheet:
It was still a cross.
All three of them chose not to control points.
Beads of sweat fell down Zhou Huo’s forehead and he let out a long sigh of relief, “d.a.m.n it… Were you all putting on a show to scare me to death?! Everything is as usual. Just play as usual and get the no. 1 spot.”
Old Qiao raised his eyes and looked at the three of them. There was a complicated look in his eyes. He was gratified but also a big unresigned. He couldn’t help saying, “Brothers… let me be the wicked one. You really don’t need to be like this… Isn’t it tiring to be a saint every day? We’ve f*cking persisted in cautiously and conscientiously maintaining our integrity for so many years. What good did it do us when we fell before? Did anyone see it? Did anyone show us more care and consideration because of this? There’s no shame in wanting to regain your dignity!”
“No one saw it and no one thought well of me because of this.” Yu Sui was not surprised by this result, otherwise he would not have indulged Zhou Huo’s voting. Yu Sui said softly, “But…I saw it and I know it myself. Ah, forget it, I sound pretentious saying all this…”
Puppy was also a little unwilling. He reluctantly said, “I wanted to do it for a second, but…no.”
“Sigh. No one’s saying anything because no one wants to look pretentious. So, I’ll say it.” Chen Huo’s expression looked a little unnatural. He usually spoke very ruthlessly and now he was finding it really hard to say good things. Chen Huo’s face went slightly red. He said gruffly, “I have worn Sacred Sword’s uniform for two years. That’s not something I can’t wash clean anymore. I realize that. If that’s the case, then… I have to have something that is clean, right? We’ve never controlled points! We’ve never done this kind of thing.”
Old Qiao felt choked with emotions and he was embarra.s.sed to say anything more. He got up and grabbed the three pieces of paper. He tore them to pieces without saying a word and threw them into the trash bin.
Zhou Huo rubbed his face. He smiled trying to dispel the tense atmosphere. “It’s fine. Let’s just pretend like this never even happened. Come on…Is there any snacks you want to eat? The next match is going to start soon.”
“Wait.” Yu Sui looked at Shi Luo, “Evil, let’s have a look at your vote.”
Shi Luo took the ball of paper in his hand and was startled.
Chen Huo squinted at Shi Luo, “He should have voted to control points, right?”
“Of course, Shi Shen wants to make trouble. In any case, it’s not going to affect the result.” Puppy looked at Shi Luo, also curious. “How did you vote?”
Shi Luo unfolded the paper ball in his hand and slammed it on the table.
Impressively, there was also a cross on the paper.
There was also a hint of unwillingness in Shi Luo’s eyes. He raised his eyes and glanced at Yu Sui. He then whispered irritably, “When I entered this industry, Yu Sui taught me each and every rule one by one. How could I possible control points? What were you thinking? ”
The corners of Yu Sui’s lips ticked up slightly and he said softly, “Good boy.”
The others chuckled. Shi Luo was a little bit embarra.s.sed and he irritably tore his note.
On that same day, the group stage for Group A group officially ended and Free was the undisputed number one team in the group with a score of 6-0. They became the first team to make it past the group stage for this year’s World Championships.
After their last best of one match, the staff hurried to the soundproof room to inform Yu Sui that as captain, he was going to be interviewed.
Yu Sui took off his headphones and got up. He was about to leave when Shi Luo, to one side, frowned and said, “Why is it the captain that has to go again?”
The staff was dumbfounded for a second. They looked at Shi Luo in confusion and asked in reply, “It’s usually the captain who goes. Is there a situation…?”
Yu Sui also looked at Shi Luo.
Shi Luo, who had just taken first place in Group A and has thus missed the chance to play against Sacred Sword earlier, was not happy. He said firmly, “I want to go!”
Yu Sui: “…”
Chen Huo, who was in the middle of dismantling his peripherals, choked.
“That’s weird.” Puppy was stunned, muttering to himself as he dismantled his peripherals, “Turns out there are still people who like to be interviewed these days. I have seen some weird powers working in this year’s World Championships…”
Yu Sui didn’t hesitate. He said to the staff, “I suddenly feel a little unwell and I’d like to take a rest. Is it ok if one of our teammates replace me?”
The staff was shocked by Slag man Yu’s ability to lie through his teeth. They didn’t dare accuse Yu Sui of feigning illness. They gulped and reluctantly said, “Of course… it’s okay.”
Since watching Sacred Sword’s interview, Shi Luo’s expression finally improved.
Yu Sui whistled to Shi Luo, “Captain representative, go on. I shall take care of your peripherals.”
Shi Luo gave an ‘en’ in response and followed after the staff.
The power vested in the captain representative was not small. While walking, he confirmed with the staff, “Will there be a lot of reporters in the interview?”
“Are they tough?”
“Are your translators good? I can speak in English. It’s fine if you insist on using a translator but don’t soften my sharp wordings, understood?”
“Free is awesome. We’re a favorite to win this time. You guys should consider extending the interview time.”
“I can cooperate.”
“I… Ah, have, a lot, of things, I’d like, to say.”
Shi Luo, after qualifying from the generally recognized “if you don’t qualify, then you’re trash” Group A, with a cap on his head and hands in his pocket, walked with the gait of a World Championship winner and condescended to accept an interview.