Chapter 457
The reporter chuckled, clearly intrigued. “Then how confident are you in taking the crown?”
Shermaine replied casually, “Isn’t it basically a hands-on win?”
The reporter nearly choked, thinking, “If winning were just about having hands, I’d be a millionaire by now!”
But that was the thing about people with real talent. Even their arrogance somehow came off as honesty. Especially when it was Shermaine speaking, it just sounded right, like it belonged to her.
He cleared his throat and pressed on. “Have you done any research on the players you’ll be up against in the next round?”
Shermaine didn’t even blink. “They’re all going to lose. Why would I waste time on them?”
Meanwhile, over in the players’ lounge, Simon burst out laughing. His eyes gleamed with amusement and something a little darker, maybe even conquest. “This woman is fascinating. I can’t wait to meet her. I’d love to sit down and really talk.”
He wasn’t the only one thinking that. Other male contestants had similar ideas. But with Simon this interested in her, it was clear they wouldn’t even get close.
Any woman Simon had his eye on was practically guaranteed to end up on his team.
Mandy, however, looked visibly upset. “Simon, don’t let her attitude fool you. She’s all talk, just trying to get attention.”
“You’ve got it wrong, Mandy,” Simon said. “She’s not like the others.”
Mandy folded her arms, frowning. “You don’t trust my judgment anymore? I’ve always had a good eye for people.”
Simon didn’t answer.
Her jaw tightened. “What if I told you she’s not even as good as me?”
Simon gave a low, almost weary sigh. “Your problem is you keep underestimating people. How many times have I warned you not to judge by appearances?”
Mandy rose abruptly, her voice sharp. “I’ll prove it to you. She’s not better than me!”
After her interview, Shermaine made her way back inside.
In the hallway, Jasmine tugged her arm and whispered, “Ms. Hanks, do you realize how many people are going to want a solo match with you after what you just said?”
Shermaine looked unfazed. “Let them come.”
Before the official tournament began, there was a warm-up phase: the solo challenge matches.
Contestants were allowed to challenge others to one-on-one duels. Whoever lost would be disqualified from the tournament entirely.
Refusals were allowed, but only three times.
After that, any challenge had to be accepted.
Jasmine bit her lip. “I have a feeling Mandy’s going to come after you.”
Mandy, after all, was the only female protégé of Baykeep’s reigning gambling king. No way she could stomach the internet saying Shermaine was not only better than her but prettier, too.
And sure enough, Mandy showed up.
Jasmine’s face stiffened.
Shermaine, as calm as ever, simply said, “Take Gracie to the rest area and wait for me. It’s crowded here. Don’t wander off.”
Jasmine nodded and hurried away with the child.
Mandy approached, standing tall as she looked Shermaine over with a cool, appraising gaze. Then, without ceremony, she pulled out a letter and handed it over. “I’m curious about a woman who talks as big as you do. Let’s see if your skills live up to your mouth.”
Shermaine took the letter without hesitation.
News of their pre-match solo duel spread like wildfire.
Almost instantly, the entire luxury cruise ship was abuzz with speculation.
At the headquarters of the Eagle Assassins, Joshua stood silently in front of a floor-to-ceiling window, a cigarette poised between his fingers.
Dressed in all black, he looked like a shadow carved out of the dim, fractured light. Smoke curled around him in slow spirals, softening the edges of his sharp, ruthless profile. His face, partly veiled by the haze, looked distant and unreal, like a ghost painted in grayscale.
Zane stepped inside. “Mr. Reaper,” he said cautiously, “a new job came in. The client specifically requested you.”
Joshua tapped the ash from his cigarette without turning around. “Not interested.” His voice held not a flicker of warmth. “Tell them to find someone else.”
Zane hesitated. Joshua ran the organization with brutal efficiency, but lately, his temper had been like walking a minefield.
And Zane knew it was because of Shermaine. There was still no trace of her, and the silence had hollowed him out.
“The client’s offering a massive payout,” Zane tried again. “Fifty billion Xyperia Tokens. It’s a clean job, easy for you.”
He tapped his Orthish device. A holographic stream bloomed into view. “It’s tied to the International Gambling Tournament. Familiar with it?”
Joshua didn’t even glance at the projection. But the way he inhaled on his cigarette, sharper and deeper, betrayed the sudden shift beneath his still exterior.
“The client wants you on that cruise ship,” Zane explained. “Eliminate the targets on the list, and in return, we’ll be allowed to expand our reach into Baykeep.”
It was, without question, a rare opening. For the Eagle Assassins, it could mean a foothold in one of the most lucrative territories left unconquered.
Zane wanted Joshua to see it for what it was: a perfect opportunity to elevate their empire.
But instead of enthusiasm, the air grew heavier. The temperature seemed to drop. Joshua’s silence turned oppressive.
Zane felt it in his chest, a weight that pressed down until every breath felt strained. It was the kind of atmosphere that said one wrong word might get him killed.
‘Maybe I pushed too hard,’ he thought grimly. ‘Maybe this isn’t the time to bring up expansion. Not when he’s like this.’
Then, a voice cut through the heavy silence, a woman’s voice, ringing bold and bright through the office speakers.
“I’m not here for top ten. I’m here to win.”
The tension around Joshua evaporated. His killing aura dissolved like mist under sunlight. For the first time, he turned to look at the screen. His gaze locked onto the woman speaking.