The Hunter's Game - Chapter 3

The moment he finished, the same astonishment and doubt flashed across every face.

My fist tightened. A film of sweat formed on my palm as a sense of foreboding rose inside me.

Before it could grow, Snake Nine spoke again.

“There’s a loophole in the rules. I’m going to explain how we can exploit it and take first place.”

“This round has an extra prize of three million dollars and an extra penalty of one million. If several people tie for first, the prize is split; likewise, if several tie for last, the penalty is split. In other words, both amounts are capped. Now suppose my brothers and I form a team, and both first place and last place belong to members of that team. What do you think happens?”

Just as I had feared. He had found the same loophole.

I rubbed my palms together, bitterly disappointed.

“Your team nets two million dollars,” one player said. Someone else had clearly noticed it, too.

“Exactly. Six of us working together will collect more cards than any one player could. At final settlement, we put all the exchanged game coins under one person’s name and make him first. That wins us the three-million-dollar prize. The other five hold no coins and tie for last place. Since the penalty is capped at one million, the team still clears two million dollars after paying it.”

“The guaranteed way to win is teamwork and superior numbers.”

“My team currently has six people. I intend to recruit five more, giving us eleven. Eleven against nine is an overwhelming advantage. Victory will be all but certain.”

“Once we win, the eleven of us will split the two-million-dollar prize. I’ve done the math. That comes to 1.3 million yuan each.”

“We can sign an agreement requiring the prize to be distributed directly into each member’s account. That eliminates any risk of someone backing out.”

“Choose quickly. Join us, or go it alone.”

Snake Nine delivered the whole plan in one breath. I had to admit he had a gift for speaking: clear logic, plain language, and just enough fire to stir a crowd.

It worked. Restlessness spread among the players almost immediately.

I watched the crowd fall under his spell, dejected. He had seized the initiative.

He and his lackeys already held the numerical advantage. Once he completed his team, I would have no chance at all of competing with him for first place.

I sat silently in the corner as players raised their hands and clamored to join him. The sight felt bitterly ironic.

Two years had passed, yet the villain had suffered neither punishment nor retribution. He was doing better than ever.

His abilities had improved, too. He had become even better at manipulating people.

The loophole in this game was obvious. The other players would have spotted it sooner or later.

But speed was everything. Snake Nine had given no one time to react. He had stepped forward first and taken complete control.

His adaptability and decisiveness really were superior to mine.

I smiled bitterly and shook my head, fully aware of the enormous opportunity I had lost.

So absorbed was I in self-pity that I failed to notice Snake Nine approaching.

“Well, Brother Mo? Want to join us?” He stood over me with a smile that never reached his eyes.

I looked up and answered with a question of my own. “Aren’t you worried the other nine will band together? How can you be sure nine people can’t beat eleven?”

Snake Nine scoffed. “If we reach the halfway point and the opposition looks capable of catching up, I’ll toss one or two of them a little something and bring them over to my side. You can’t be rigid when you deal with people. That stubborn brain of yours is why you lost so badly last time.”

He crouched until our eyes were level, suddenly seized my left hand, and examined the two missing fingers with admiring little clicks of his tongue.

“Truth is, Brother Mo, you’re pretty smart. Without your help in that last game, I would’ve been eliminated in the second round. But you don’t understand people. Everyone is selfish. Betraying your side and selling out your friends for profit? Happens every day.”

“Pay enough, and there’s nothing you can’t make happen.”

“Look at this crowd. They’re desperate to join me because they know I’m more likely to win. They’re a disorganized rabble. Controlling them is child’s play.”

Snake Nine patted my hand, then lowered his voice. “Mo, you were one step too slow. Even if you recruit the rest to oppose me, I have plenty of ways to deal with you. Remember what I said: pay enough, and there’s nothing you can’t make happen.”

He gave me a sinister smile, rose, and walked away without looking back.

His lackeys had already selected five recruits from the other players: three brawny men and two who looked sharp enough.

Those not chosen tugged at Snake Nine and begged to join. He refused, though he left the door open.

“Too many people means a smaller share of the prize. But if you earn enough cards during the game, we might reconsider.”

With his team assembled, Snake Nine called them upstairs to eat.

They followed their new boss like men who had finally found an anchor, beaming as if the prize money were already in their pockets.

The rejected players formed a team of their own. They lacked the numbers, but even that was better than wandering blindly on their own.

They invited me to join. I politely declined, and they did not press the matter. They remained in the living room to discuss their strategy.

I collected my room key from the steward and returned alone to my room without a sound.

The enemy had already seized the high ground. I would have to find another path.