On MSN, the four close friends were excitedly howling.
Eric typed on the keyboard and asked, "How much did you guys make?"
Billy: "$15,000. With 9 times the odds, I had $135,000 in the blink of an eye. This is like living in a dream. Eric, you're my god."
Bordeaux, however, sent an angry emoji: "I'm going to ask my mom if she secretly gave you money. Why do I only have $10,000? Now I have $45,000 less than you. This isn't fair."
Warren kept sending silly smiling emojis: "Bordeaux, I don't think you should ask your mom this question. You always like to buy meaningless electronic products, and you're the only one among us who smokes. All your money has been contributed to nicotine!"
Billy: "Thanks, brother, at least there's someone sensible. Bordeaux, we've all advised you to quit smoking. It's not a good habit."
Eric didn't smoke and disliked people who smoked in the living room or office. The smell of smoke clinging to clothes was truly annoying.
"Bordeaux, you really should quit smoking, or go to the hospital and check your lungs. You'll be pleasantly surprised."
Just then, an account screenshot suddenly popped up in front of everyone, showing a balance of nearly $500,000.
Then came Judy's arrogant laughter: "Bitches, come and lick my shoe soles. I can tip you some money."
"OMG! Why are you so rich?" Warren was incredibly surprised.
"Because while you guys were playing games and attending parties, I often worked at the gym."
"Really? Why didn't you tell us?"
"Uh, because my job was to entice customers to sign up for memberships, by displaying my sexual tension, you know, but it wasn't glorious."
"Wow, it seems your work was very effective, but is the salary in this line of work so high?"
"It's decent, because I not only entice those leering men to sign up, but also their wives or daughters. I do stretching exercises with them, shower with them. In short, I can't let myself suffer a simple loss, right?"
Upon hearing this, all four simultaneously gave a thumbs up.
After several rounds of betting, Eric's assets soared from $10 million to nearly $800 million at rampage.
However, the World Cup group stage was almost over. Next up was the Round of 16 knockout stage. On June 18th, the stadium welcomed Italy and South Korea.
If there was still controversy over whether the referee was bribed in the match between South Korea and Portugal, then this match was blatant favoritism. The referee didn't even bother to pretend.
In this match, Italy's odds were 1:5, and South Korea's odds were 1:5.
After the group stage, all the teams had fought their way through. Although there were differences in strength, there would no longer be any ridiculously high odds.
The four close friends once again followed Eric and bet on South Korea to win, all staring intently at the TV.
Italy, dressed in blue, was star-studded. Well-known players included Buffon, Maldini, Zambrotta, Totti, Del Piero, Vieri, and on the bench sat Cannavaro, Inzaghi, Gattuso, and others—a truly all-star lineup.
As for South Korea, there was no need for an introduction; no one recognized them anyway.
Another heavyweight figure in the match was the referee, Moreno, an Ecuadorian and a leading figure among notorious biased referees in football. His most famous work was this very match.
Watching Italy's golden generation about to face tragedy, Eric could only mourn for them. Of course, they still had to lose, because if they didn't lose, how would he make money?
As the match began, after only 3 minutes, Moreno started to exert his influence.
A South Korean player faked a fall in the penalty area, and without any physical contact, Moreno directly awarded a penalty kick.
Even if Italy expressed dissatisfaction, it was useless. Moreno had already taken the money, so how could he make a fair judgment? It was just a pity that the penalty was saved by Buffon.
"FUCK! They can't even score a penalty. Are the brains of these Koreans filled with shit?"
"What a bunch of wastes. Why let that guy take the shot? Are the other ten people all cripples?"
The match continued, and Italy began to charge towards South Korea's goal. Soon, Vieri scored with a header, giving Italy the lead.
Warren: "OMG! Italy scored first, you sons of bitches, the South Koreans are indeed wastes!"
Judy: "These Latin guys, you should learn from your ancestors. Their performance in World War II is what you should emulate."
Eric was speechless: "Calm down, guys, the show hasn't started yet. Keep watching."
Judy: "Alright, just don't let my money go to waste, otherwise I'll have to move into your homes."
Perhaps because they were trailing, South Korea clearly became agitated, and their movements became increasingly aggressive.
Suddenly, during a corner kick scramble, a South Korean player violently swung his elbow, and Coco instantly fell to the ground. After rolling a few times, blood stained the surrounding grass red, as if he had been hit with an iron bar.
Billy slammed the keyboard in anger: "FUCK! South Korea fouled. Such a serious injury, they'll probably get a red card."
Eric, however, smiled: "Don't worry, Moreno is there."
Sure enough, Moreno acted as if he were blind and made no call, infuriating the Italians to the point of cursing.
Soon after, Totti was again brought down by two South Koreans, and the referee still pretended not to see anything.
The match quickly entered the second half, and after only a few minutes, a South Korean player again elbowed Del Piero, knocking him to the ground.
At this moment, Moreno was less than ten meters away. He was not nearsighted, yet he called a foul on Del Piero for holding, and instead appeased the South Korean player.
Shortly after, South Korea's number 19 directly slid tackled Zambrotta with his studs showing. By rights, this action should have warranted a red card, but Moreno still ignored it.
Soon after, Totti was brought down in a double-team for who knows how many times, and South Korea's number 19 again slid tackled Zanetti with his studs showing. Of course, Moreno still maintained his no-call stance.
And just one minute later, Maldini was brought down, and South Korea's number 14 took the opportunity to fiercely kick him in the back of the head. This was no longer playing football, but murder.
After that, Italy continued to be elbowed, brought down, and pulled, with many players having bandages wrapped around them.
And South Korea also knew that after this match, they would inevitably become a laughingstock of the world, but since they had already done it, they might as well go all the way and simply stop pretending, directly engaging in an all-out brawl.
Until the match was nearing its end, South Korea finally scored a goal to equalize, forcing the match into extra time.
Extra time, of course, continued with the all-out brawl. Moreno even gave a thoughtful assist, not only sending Totti off for faking a fall but also disallowing a good Italian goal by citing offside.
This kind of blatant favoritism infuriated Italy's veteran coach Trapattoni on the sidelines, causing him to curse loudly and furiously throw things.
Finally, South Korea scored a goal, winning 2:1, and this wicked match finally ended.
After watching the match, Eric, though feeling stifled, had cursed it too many times in his previous life, so he wasn't surprised by the outcome.
However, on MSN, there was an unusual silence at this moment.
Eric: "Why aren't you talking? This isn't like you guys."
Judy sent a sighing emoji: "Although we won, I don't feel the excitement of making money."
Warren: "Yes, I have a sense of guilt. The Koreans are truly despicable."
Billy furiously: "I feel so repressed. Korea is truly a dirty country. Every person in this country seems to have dirty blood flowing through them."
Bordeaux also echoed: "Looking at those cheering Koreans in the stands, I feel a wave of nausea."
Judy: "I don't even have the mood to find a girl. Forget it, let's rest today. My heart feels uncomfortable."
Seeing that his friends were all depressed, Eric decided to give them a heads-up: "If your psychological tolerance is low, then don't watch South Korea's next match."
Judy: "Are we still betting on South Korea next time?"
"Yes."
"FUCK! These pieces of shit, I hate the feeling of making money by using pieces of shit, it's terrible!"
"Relax, guys, it's only a few more days."