"How can they go in directly? We have to queue here," Li Changle complained, feeling frustrated by the situation.
Li Changle's friend, Liu Yong, glanced at him with a smirk. "Idiot, that's a VIP ticket," he retorted, emphasizing their privilege.
Understanding their advantage, many onlookers watched enviously as Liu Yong led Li Changle, accompanied by four imposing bodyguards, and entered through the VIP passage. Given his VIP status and affiliation with the influential Global Shipping Group, Liu Yong was no stranger to such exclusivity. Money was of little concern regarding securing VIP tickets, as the company had its own channels for such arrangements.
The VIP experience proved to be much more convenient. Liu Yong and his companions swiftly settled into the VIP area, revelling in the splendid view and prime location afforded to them by their exclusive tickets.
Excitement filled the air as the opening ceremony of the Rio Olympics unfolded. After a wait of approximately thirty to forty minutes, the ceremony finally commenced. Seated comfortably in the VIP section, Liu Yong and Li Changle relished the visual spectacle before them.
Applause erupted sporadically as the athletes made their grand entrance into the arena. Among the delegations, the arrival of the Yan Guo team garnered a memorable standing ovation from the crowd. Liu Yong's gaze scanned the athletes, and his eyes locked on Chen Hu, whom he recognized among the group. Although Chen Hu wasn't serving as the flag bearer, he stood prominently at the forefront of the team, unmistakable in his sports attire.
Chen Hu, too, noticed Liu Yong's presence, and their eyes met in an unspoken acknowledgment.
In his heart, Liu Yong silently urged Chen Hu to perform well and strive for nothing short of eight gold medals. The opening ceremony lasted for several hours until noon, after which the festivities spilled onto the streets in the form of a triumphant carnival.
Liu Yong, accompanied by Li Changle, ventured into the bustling streets, immersing themselves in the joyous atmosphere and the celebratory spirit that engulfed the Olympic Games.
"Brother Yong," Li Changle gently tugged at Liu Yong's clothes, drawing his attention to a group of people not far away. Among them stood Luo Men, his right wrist wrapped in a plaster cast and bandaged with thick white gauze. Behind him stood a cohort of seven or eight individuals.
"The people with him have changed, but those who were with him last night are all in the hospital," Li Changle whispered, fear evident in his voice.
Liu Yong's expression softened as he empathized with the severity of their injuries. While serious, none of them had suffered fatal wounds. Luo Men, in particular, had only sustained a broken wrist without any other significant injuries.
Reassuring Li Changle, Liu Yong gently patted the back of his hand. "Don't worry, he won't dare to do anything," he reassured, glancing confidently at Luo Men, who approached them upon spotting Liu Yong and Li Changle.
Speaking in English, Luo Men warned, "Boy, remember this, I will seek revenge, and you won't be able to leave Rio City."
Liu Yong chuckled. "It seems I haven't taught you enough of a lesson. Believe me, I can even disable your other hand," he asserted, exuding an air of confidence that momentarily shook Luo Men. Aware of the nearby police presence, Luo Men snorted in frustration and left.
"Lily, you see? He won't dare to touch us. Don't be afraid of him. I'll handle everything," Liu Yong assured, his voice filled with conviction.
With Li Changle no longer feeling afraid, he accompanied Liu Yong to continue enjoying the carnival atmosphere with the people of Rio.
They noticed a lottery shop nearby as they strolled through the lively streets. Intrigued by the possibilities, Liu Yong's curiosity got the best of him, prompting him to step inside. To his delight, he discovered that the shop offered detailed odds for each Olympic Games event.
For instance, the men's 100-meter event listed the winning odds for every participant. Surprisingly, the underdogs had the highest odds, while the most promising contenders, like Chen Hu, had relatively low odds of winning. Even though Chen Hu held the world record in the men's 100 meters, his odds stood at a modest 1:1.12.
The highest odds belonged to a player with a mere 1:15 chance of winning the championship, making it unlikely that anyone would place a bet on them.
Liu Yong's attention was immediately drawn to the eight events in which Chen Hu would participate. In the men's 200 meters, Chen Hu's odds of winning were slightly higher at 1:1.56. However, it seemed that most people didn't expect him to secure victory in the 1500 meters, as his odds were set at 1:4.2. The general perception was that sprinting and long-distance running were two distinct disciplines.
But the men's javelin event caught Liu Yong's interest the most. The odds of Chen Hu winning the championship were as high as 1:8.1. Placing a $100 bet on Chen Hu to win would yield an impressive $810 in return.
The odds were undeniably tempting.
Considering the threat he had just received from Luo Men, Liu Yong made up his mind to place a bet—a substantial one. Determined, he wondered if he could do so in the most prominent possible manner. He had heard rumours that the gaming companies behind these lotteries were not affiliated with official institutions but had connections to the influential figures of Rio City.
Leaving the lottery shop with a plan in mind, Liu Yong turned to Li Changle. "Lele, go back to the hotel for now. I have something to take care of," he instructed.
Concern filled Li Changle's eyes as he asked, "Brother Yong, what are you planning to do?"
Liu Yong grinned. "I'm going to make some money. You saw it earlier—the odds for Chen Hu to win are not bad. I'm going to place a bet on him in every event, with a bet of $50 million for each."
Worried, Li Changle inquired about the risks involved.
Liu Yong's confident demeanour put Li Changle at ease. "There's no risk at all. Just wait for me at the hotel, my good boy."
Obediently, Li Changle nodded and was escorted back to the hotel by two female bodyguards. Once they had left in a taxi, Liu Yong, accompanied by his male bodyguards, hailed another taxi and headed toward the Yamos Gaming Building.
With Rio City's godfather's backing, the Yamos Tower gaming establishment held a semi-public, semi-official status. As Liu Yong stepped out of the taxi and gazed up at the towering building, it seemed more official than he had anticipated.
After briefly observing the structure, Liu Yong walked inside and expressed his purpose to the staff. Soon, a senior manager, who exuded an air of authority, greeted him.
Liu Yong explained his intention to bet on all eight events, inquiring about the maximum amount he could wager on each. The senior manager appeared taken aback by the enormity of the bet and quickly sought instructions from his superiors. Liu Yong remained calm, sipping his coffee while patiently awaiting the senior manager's return.
Behind the scenes, Evan Joyce, a key gaming establishment figure, noticed the substantial bet. With the help of their professional team's analysis, they determined that for Liu Yong to keep his capital intact, Chen Hu would need to win four championships—an outcome they deemed highly unlikely. Despite the doubts surrounding Chen Hu's chances, Evan Joyce made a decision.
After a waiting period of around 30 to 40 minutes, the senior manager returned to Liu Yong.
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