148: Chapter 148: The Art of Flattery! Odds Soar! Thor Becomes Suspicious!

"Qi-ge, this... how could it be Xiao Kuangyun?" Zhang Wei's voice cracked. He looked up at Lin Qi, his face filled with panic.

Lin Qi's expression was calm. He took the communicator from Zhang Wei and scanned the match information on the screen.

Xiao Kuangyun.

The name was ordinary.

But behind this name stood the Kyoto Xiao Family.

A powerful Family with a deep background in the Federation.

"It seems they can't wait any longer," Lin Qi said softly.

Zhang Wei didn't hear Lin Qi's words clearly. He was still shocked by the match result.

"Qi-ge, Xiao Kuangyun is not someone to be trifled with!" Zhang Wei stomped his feet in anxiety.

"His brother, Xiao Aotian, was known as the 'Sword Son' during the Prodigy Championship back then. Although he lost in the end, his strength was top-tier!"

"As his younger brother, Xiao Kuangyun definitely won't be weak!"

Lin Qi handed the communicator back to Zhang Wei.

"And?" he asked.

Zhang Wei was stunned.

"So... so we have to be careful! They're definitely going to target you!" Zhang Wei said.

Lin Qi smiled.

"Target me?" he said. "Aren't they already targeting me now?"

Zhang Wei thought about it; Lin Qi was right.

Ever since Lin Qi signed up, he had become the laughingstock of the entire internet.

"All 5s Blank Slate," "Mascot," "Fraud."

These terms were already tied to Lin Qi's name.

"But Qi-ge, the Xiao Family is different," Zhang Wei said. "They are a major Family with many tricks up their sleeves."

"Look at the news online."

As Zhang Wei spoke, he quickly refreshed the page on his communicator.

"Look at this!" He opened a news link and held it in front of Lin Qi.

"An exclusive interview from the Federation Sports Daily! Xiao Kuangyun has been interviewed!"

Lin Qi took the communicator.

Xiao Kuangyun's face appeared in the headlines on the screen.

He was wearing the Kyoto University uniform and sitting in a luxurious lounge.

A confident smile was on his face.

"Xiao Kuangyun: Player Lin Qi's spirit is worthy of recognition."

Lin Qi read the headline aloud.

Beside him, Zhang Wei's face turned red with anger.

"Qi-ge, look at the crap he's saying!" Zhang Wei said.

Lin Qi looked down.

In the interview, Xiao Kuangyun did not directly attack Lin Qi.

He even "praised" Lin Qi.

"Although Player Lin Qi's stats are average, he dares to challenge himself and stand on this stage. This spirit of not fearing authority and challenging limits is something all our contestants should learn from."

"He has used his actions to interpret what it means to say 'it's the taking part that counts'."

"I believe that regardless of the outcome, Player Lin Qi will become a unique sight in this year's Prodigy Championship."

"He represents a kind of courage, a persistence for dreams."

"I personally look forward to facing him and hope that at that moment, he can show his true style."

After Lin Qi finished reading, he handed the communicator back to Zhang Wei.

Zhang Wei was trembling with rage.

"Qi-ge, this... this is too insidious!" Zhang Wei said.

"He's not praising you; he's killing you with praise!"

"What does 'it's the taking part that counts' mean? What does 'unique sight' mean?"

"He's clearly saying you're just here to make up the numbers, a clown seeking attention!"

Zhang Wei got angrier as he spoke.

"This is even more frustrating than those people who curse at you directly!"

"If they curse at you, you can curse back. But when he says it like this, you can't even argue!"

Lin Qi watched Zhang Wei's agitated state.

He knew Zhang Wei was right.

The Xiao Family's methods were indeed much more sophisticated than those of ordinary people who only knew how to shout insults.

Direct insults only provoke a rebellious attitude.

But this "killing with praise" could shape Lin Qi into a pity-seeking clown who knew he would lose but wanted to gain sympathy and attention.

This kind of narrative was more disgusting than direct abuse.

It turned all of Lin Qi's efforts into a calculated performance.

[A bunch of idiots.] Lin Qi thought to himself.

[They think they can break me like this?]

[They're just adding bricks and mortar to my foundation.]

Lin Qi didn't speak.

He just looked at Zhang Wei calmly.

"Qi-ge, are... are you okay?" Seeing Lin Qi's calm face, Zhang Wei became even more worried.

"What could be wrong with me?" Lin Qi countered.

"But aren't you angry when they say that about you?" Zhang Wei said.

Lin Qi shook his head.

"Angry?" he said. "Why should I be angry?"

"The more they talk like this, the more money they're sending my way."

Zhang Wei was stunned.

"Sending money?" He didn't understand.

Lin Qi pointed to the communicator in Zhang Wei's hand.

"Look at the odds," he said.

Zhang Wei quickly looked down.

He had been following Lin Qi's championship odds.

After Lin Qi's "All 5s" data was released, the odds had soared to 1:500.

And now, guided by Xiao Kuangyun's "killing with praise" rhetoric.

The public was even more convinced that Lin Qi was fragile.

He was just a gimmick, a joke.

In various underground betting pools, the odds for Lin Qi winning the first round continued to drop.

Meanwhile, the odds for Xiao Kuangyun winning were suppressed to an extremely low level.

But at the same time.

The overall odds for Lin Qi winning the championship, pushed by this storm of public opinion.

Began to climb toward an even more exaggerated figure.

On Zhang Wei's communicator, the odds data kept refreshing.

1:500.

1:520.

1:550.

Finally, that number jumped to a staggering level.

1:600.

Zhang Wei stared at the number, his eyes widening.

The fear in his heart was replaced by a sliver of greed.

He looked nervously at Lin Qi.

Lin Qi put down the communicator.

An imperceptible smile appeared on his face.

[The Xiao Family.]

[What good people.]

[They've sent me another great gift.]

"Qi-ge, these... these odds..." Zhang Wei's voice trembled slightly.

"Not enough," Lin Qi said.

Zhang Wei was taken aback.

"What?" he asked.

"I said, it's not enough," Lin Qi repeated.

"Our previous bet wasn't big enough."

"Mobilize all the funds we can."

"Keep betting on me to win the championship."

Zhang Wei's face turned pale again.

He felt that Lin Qi had gone completely mad.

"Qi-ge, are... are you crazy?" Zhang Wei said.

"These are 1:600 odds!"

"If... if we lose, we'll have nothing left!"

Lin Qi looked at Zhang Wei.

"Fatty," he said, "didn't you say you wanted to take me as your master?"

"Yes!" Zhang Wei said.

"Then you have to trust me," Lin Qi said.

"Trust that I can win."

Zhang Wei looked into Lin Qi's calm eyes.

He couldn't see a single trace of panic in those eyes.

Only a kind of near-obsessive confidence.

He grit his teeth.

"Fine! Qi-ge, I'll listen to you!" Zhang Wei said. "I'll go handle it right now!"

He knew he was already on Lin Qi's pirate ship.

Now, he could only follow this path to the very end.

...

Inside a luxurious lounge at Kyoto University.

Li Pojun sat on a sofa, holding a cup of a special energy drink.

His deputy, a shrewd and capable young man, was reporting the situation to him.

"Brother Li, some abnormalities have appeared regarding Lin Qi's betting pool," the deputy said.

Li Pojun raised an eyebrow.

"Oh?" he asked. "What kind of abnormalities?"

"His championship odds have soared to 1:600," the deputy said.

Li Pojun's brow twitched slightly.

"1:600?" he repeated.

"That's right," the deputy said. "This has already broken the record for the highest odds in the history of the Prodigy Championship."

"However, I think it's just a carnival for retail investors."

"After all, a Blank Slate with all stats at 5 is just a joke in everyone's eyes."

"The market's reaction to a joke is often emotional."

"These odds are just the final struggle of gamblers holding onto a fluke mentality."

The deputy analyzed.

Li Pojun didn't speak.

He just looked at Lin Qi's "All 5s" panel data on the screen.

He always felt that this matter had a strange, illogical air to it.

A guy that even an old monster like Old Mo values.

A guy that even a retired powerhouse like Instructor Su Qing supports.

Would he be a pure joke?

Li Pojun's intuition told him things weren't that simple.

"Send someone to check it out," Li Pojun said to his deputy.

The deputy was stunned for a moment.

"Check what?" he asked.

"Check the accounts that are making large purchases on Lin Qi to win the championship," Li Pojun said.

His voice was very calm.

"I don't want to see any surprises."