Chapter 64: Chapter 64: Deng Kai’s Backing
"First of all, regarding the slander from certain institutions, I reserve the right to sue and will definitely sue!"
"Secondly, from the official content released, everyone can see that those suspected of being under my control to manipulate the football lottery, all acquired their tickets through legal and official channels."
"What, there’s a problem with the football lottery sold through official channels? Or is it that people should not make money from buying football lottery tickets and must incur losses?"
"If that’s the case, you should’ve said so earlier. Why would anyone buy these damn football lottery tickets then! You could have simply robbed everyone of their money, but instead, you gave them a worthless lottery ticket. Really... I’m crying!"
Deng Kai faced the camera without a hint of discomfort, his humorous and witty remarks almost made one believe they were watching a stand-up comedy show.
"As for issues like population distribution, the Chinese community and such, I want to ask just one thing – can’t Chinese people buy football lotteries? Can’t they make money if they do? Does this raise the problem of racial discrimination?"
"If that’s the case, I need an official response. If Chinese descendants face discrimination here, then what about Hispanic and African descendants... I really like Lisbon, but now, I’m beginning to doubt my choice."
After Deng Kai finished speaking, the entire hall fell silent.
Because the content was shocking.
It was sensitive.
They were all about putting labels on things.
Without care, journalists might even drag themselves into trouble.
A couple of minutes later, a reporter organized his thoughts and raised his hand to ask a question.
Reporter: "Deng Kai, everything you’ve said is too subjective and not based on facts. Let’s discuss some issues based on facts now, shall we? How come people from the Chinese community generally make money from the football lottery?"
"The chance of winning a lottery ticket is very small, but over there, it seems winning is a common occurrence."
"The relevant departments have every reason to harbor reasonable suspicions about you based on this."
Seeing the reporter’s name tag, Deng Kai laughed and said, "So, you’re from Bola newspaper; no wonder your first words are slanderous. I’m not surprised; this is your normal operation."
"The issues of racial discrimination I mentioned earlier are very evident in your publications. I have already collected evidence and compiled all sorts of outrageous statements you’ve made over the past decade."
"While suing the anti-football lottery association, I will take the opportunity to sue you as well. Don’t worry; your turn will come."
The face of the Bola newspaper reporter stiffened.
Deng Kai continued, "As for your question just now, it’s quite simple. Everyone can check the specific betting details of those winning lottery tickets. Never mind, I’ll just tell everyone directly."
"For the following content, I want every fan who wishes to buy Portuguese football lottery tickets to listen carefully because I am about to reveal a money-making secret!"
"That is... no matter the match, bet on Sporting Lisbon U15 to win!"
"This is why those lottery fans, supposedly winning unusually often, are making money."
"They bet on my team, and we win!"
"As is well-known, we Chinese people have very strong cohesion. When someone like me, a football prodigy, appears amongst us, make no mistake, everyone will support me with all their might."
"They will cheer for every match I play. They will tell me to play well outside the Alcochete Base because I am their pride. They will greet me warmly when I return to the community."
"They will buy a lottery ticket hoping that Deng Kai wins before my games."
"It’s not just my neighbors, not just Chinese and Chinese descendants, but all fans who trust me; they all do this."
"The only thing I can do for them is to play football well, to fight hard to win every match, and turn their support for me into my gratitude to them!"
"Many people ask why I have transformed so drastically after just two months of intensive training."
"Because when you carry the hopes of a nation, you must become better; you never want to let so many people down due to your poor performance and be looked down upon by others."
"Therefore, I call on all fans who support me, fans of Chris, fans of Sporting Lisbon, bet on us to win!"
"We are strong!"
"And we will definitely keep winning all the way."
"Even if we lose a match occasionally, trust us, in the end, we always come out on top!"
"What do you say?" Deng Kai looked at the bewildered reporters and said, "Does this seem like match-fixing to you? Is this manipulating the game?"
"Is it illegal to always bet on me winning?"
"Or is it that the betting companies can’t handle the business of losing money? Then why don’t you stop doing business? If you can’t afford to lose, don’t play! Instead, you specifically find some ridiculous organizations to investigate and slander me."
"What’s wrong, getting desperate? Lost your shirt? Now it’s only okay to make money but not to lose matches? Where on earth is there such an easy business? Do you really take Portuguese fans for fools?"
Looking at the increasingly agitated scene, Jiang Yunzhu left with a smile on her lips and then dialed a special phone number: "Hello, I... I need your help... Dad!"
A sound of a shattering glass cup came from the other end of the phone, the person reacting strongly to the last word.
...
"Deng Kai personally shares the secret to winning at football betting: Bet on me to win!"
"Can’t take it anymore! Portuguese betting companies can’t afford to lose!"
"Lisbon Sporting legend youth coach Trigella: Turns out football is a game that doesn’t allow a team to keep on winning?"
"This is clearly not gambling; it’s a player being responsible to his fans!"
"If England’s players had this awareness, we wouldn’t repeatedly become the laughingstock of European football! I’ve bet on England to win every major tournament, and that money could’ve found my kids a new mom by now, damn it!"
"I hope Beckham can learn from Deng Kai. It’s not that I’m sad about the money I spent betting on England to win the World Cup going to waste; I just want the England team to go further!"
"Sir Alex Ferguson: I must admit, I’ve started to appreciate this player named Deng Kai. He’s saying what many are afraid to say. I’d wager that many teams could have had more consecutive victories, but they lost matches for some inexplicable reasons. This season, we’ve faced too many unfair rulings—it makes me wonder!"
"Zidane: As professional players, we’ve always had friends who support us by betting on us to win. My best friend sent me a ticket for our team to win the World Cup before it started, and it became one of my motivations during the matches! I have to live up to everyone’s support! If Kai is guilty of match-fixing, then am I guilty too?"
"Guardiola: Of course, we know that betting on football generally means losing more than winning, but if betting companies think this way and retaliate against those who have won, then I believe the nature of the issue has changed, and the meaning of betting on football no longer exists! I support Deng Kai."
Public opinion was in an uproar.
On one side were ordinary fans of Deng Kai who made money by betting on him to win.
On the other side were betting companies slandering Deng Kai, and they hadn’t even lost their principal yet.
It was easy for people to choose their side.
Even the media’s attempts to set the tone were futile.
Deng Kai shot to fame overnight, becoming a well-known figure among European football fans.
Many people didn’t know him or had never seen him play, but they bet on him winning!
The betting industry is one of the important forces supporting the development of European football.
Many teams’ main sponsors are even betting groups.
If people give up on football betting, the loss to European football would be immense, potentially setting back the economic level of European football by five to ten years effortlessly.
Therefore, UEFA must maintain bettors’ confidence in football betting; they concoct a few big money-making special cases every year.
But now, bettors’ confidence had taken an unprecedented hit.
Some believed that strict measures should be imposed on Deng Kai, convicting him and sending him to prison.
If Deng Kai couldn’t play football, his words about everyone continuing to bet on their wins would be meaningless.
But this proposal was rejected.
This made the Portuguese Football Federation realize that Deng Kai might not be a rootless weed that could be pushed around.
He had support, and it was substantial.
He had a background, and it was very deep.
