[GAME OVER.]
The die had just stopped.
The 3.
this time.
Viper stood frozen, his eyes wide open.
Yet it was the number he always played on, why, why he had to change.
F-02 dropped his watch.
F-05 stepped back with his head in his hands, unable to believe it.
And I... I felt this pleasant warmth, the fear, the vibration that did not want to die out on their faces.
[Hehehe… you just condemned them all.]
[THE WINNER IS: KI-MOON.]
[TRANSFER OF EARNINGS IN PROGRESS.]
The numbers scrolled by.
A flood of zeros, a digital ocean.
The watches were flashing, overheating, almost sizzling.
F-02 fell to his knees.
- It's... impossible... impossible...
Viper hit the table.
- HE CHEATED! IT'S NOT POSSIBLE!
[SILENCE, YOU ARE VERY BAD PLAYERS]
The circle went dark for a second.
Then the light rose slowly, like a reborn flame.
OBSERVATION ROOM
Panic GENERAL
Screens turned red, systems flashed like doomsday alarms.
Shoppers screamed over the din.
- ALL MY MONEY!
- We lost to that thing?
- The dice are rigged, I hate this kind of game
The woman threw her tablet to the floor.
- Is this a joke?! This kid, this insignificant little being!
The bearded man pounded his fist.
- Shut up, everyone! There has to be a logical explanation!
But even his voice was trembling.
On the monitors, Ki-Moon's face remained fixed, illuminated by the red glow of the circle.
He had this calm expression.
Almost too quiet.
The young buyer with the wine glass stood up slowly, a smile on his lips.
- I told you. It's really the best, I'll have to buy it.
Another one issued an order.
- Launch the emergency alert.
A mechanical voice sounded.
[ALERT: EMERGENCY CALL TO MASTER ENTITY.]
The bearded man gritted his teeth.
- What?! No, we don't need her, it's too soon!
Too late.
The entire room froze.
The screens go black.
A figure descended from the virtual ceiling.
The light focused, and her red dress appeared first.
Then the ribbons, the black hair, and finally the smile
But distorted
The Doll.
His gaze swept the room, empty, cold, murderous.
- So... you dare call me for that?
His voice echoed like shattering crystal. Who was the fool who called me with an alert?
The woman tried to explain, stammering:
- H-he's cheating! He's manipulating the results! He... he's breaking the odds!
A soft laugh escaped from the doll.
- Cheating? Isn't that the point of the game?
She tilted her head.
- If someone can destroy your rules... then they deserve to exist in the game. You, on the other hand...
She raised a slender hand, and the screens flickered.
The glass in the control room suddenly cracked.
- …you have forgotten your place. You are only buyers, trash even lower than some gamblers, puppets who bet without understanding, you are the dust that remains after the harvest, you were saved and appointed as buyer but I see that you the sub shit will never change.
Absolute silence followed.
Then she brought her face so close to the main screen that her eye occupied the entire field of vision.
- If you want to reach the international scene, then prove it, or die here with your players
- Make him suffer and entertain our VVIPs, but according to our rules.
His voice suddenly softened.
- Otherwise, I'll take away your seats... and your credits, and send you back to the cage.
The bearded man looked down, trembling.
The young buyer with the glass of wine was still smiling, a thrill of excitement in his eyes.
"All right," he said softly. "Then we raise the stakes."
The doll laughs.
- Yes. Entertain us a little.
She turned her head towards the screen where Ki-Moon resumed the game, alone in the golden circle.
- Show me what you're worth, little player. And maybe you'll get a real place.
- The real game begins now.
The screen blurred.
The systems started running again.
And in the center of the circle, a new rule appeared:
[NEW RULE ADDED BY THE SUPREME SYSTEM:
DO WHATEVER IS IN THE INTEREST OF THE GAME.]
GAME CIRCLE
I slowly raised my head.
A new sentence had just appeared before me.
My heart skipped a beat.
[Hehehehe… I'll take half of your winnings.]
I smile.
- and why that…
The die shone again in my hand.
And behind the cameras, somewhere, the doll was looking at me.
[because that's the price of membership, if of course you succeed, then good luck]
A real scam.