Chapter 738 The Finals
The highly anticipated Bide Cup finals finally kicked off, and the reigning champion for several consecutive seasons, Ace Team from Alton, arrived at the hotel for the event.
This time, Atticus led the team. He had recently gained fame in Alton for several groundbreaking research projects. Despite being a guiding professor at Ellinos Academy, he was surprisingly expelled from the institution some time ago.
Just when everyone thought Atticus might be down for the count, he rose back up with a few genius-level research projects that caused a sensation in the industry. He caught the attention of the backers behind the Ace Team and swiftly transitioned to become the mentor of the Ace Team.
The industry held high hopes for this new mentor. Their confidence in him mirrored their confidence in today’s competition. Whether it was the expert judges or the spectators watching the matches, everyone unanimously believed that the Ace Team would continue their championship streak.
Despite the impressive showings of the Styre Team in the past two rounds, they were merely compared to regular teams. Those teams didn’t stand a chance against the Ace Team.
Everyone knew the Ace Team’s prowess, and there was hardly any doubt about their potential victory. The Styre Team might have had luck on their side in the previous two rounds, but they wouldn’t have the same fortune this time.
As the chair of the competition, Richard went through his routine of visiting each team’s resting area before the final match. As he entered the Styre Team’s lounge, he unexpectedly came across Catherine. Unlike others nervously reviewing, Catherine sat quietly in a corner. Her small face was covered by a peaked cap, making it impossible to discern her features.
Even though the news was kept under wraps, as the chair, Richard still got wind of what happened within the competition grounds. He knew Catherine had been poisoned by a student from Styre University, which led to her absence during the second round.
He had presumed Catherine would continue to be absent from the finals. After all, he heard she had been staying in the hospital and only woke up two days ago. However, she was back at the venue now. Indeed, anything seemed possible when it came to Catherine.
“Catherine, how are you feeling now?”
At the sound of these words, Catherine opened her eyes and lifted the brim of her cap to look up.
Seeing her silence, Richard, who was seemingly accustomed to it, took a seat on a nearby stool. “Doesn’t seem like you’ve fully recovered yet?”
“Just a bit tired,” Catherine replied faintly.
Richard sighed lightly. He utterly despised the act of poisoning someone behind their back, but in the industry, this wasn’t the first instance. Higher- ups exerted their influence, which left him powerless.
Seeing Catherine in this weakened state tugged at his heartstrings. ” Catherine, the Ace Team’s strength is formidable. Their consistent championship wins aren’t solely due to Alton’s power but also their own remarkable abilities.”
The members of the Ace Team were elites selected on a global scale. Even a substitute from their team could lead another team. It was this intimidating strength that upheld their repeated victories.
Catherine remained composed. Her eyes darkened as she looked at Richard coldly. “What exactly are you trying to say?”
Richard hesitated and then voiced his thoughts. He said, “Catherine, perhaps you should withdraw.”
Richard wondered why Catherine attempted the impossible. If Catherine were in good health and at her peak, he would wholeheartedly support her. Even if they were to lose, they would lose with honor.
However, based on Catherine’s current situation, it felt like she was pushing herself. And it seemed that she hadn’t fully recovered from a serious illness. Richard didn’t want her risking her body for an impossible task. It simply wasn’t worth it.
Upon hearing Richard’s suggestion, Catherine sneered and replied with sarcasm. “You think I’m destined to lose?”
Richard didn’t want to divulge the truth to Catherine. But in his eyes, the odds of winning this battle were slim for Catherine.
From his gaze, Catherine saw it all. She didn’t argue. She lowered her cap and retreated into her own world to continue resting.
Seeing this, Richard had no choice but to leave. He had his own tasks to tend to, and deep down, he knew he couldn’t persuade Catherine. Once she made a decision, no one could change her mind.
After Richard left, Marshall came over and briefed everyone on the competition details. Catherine stood up after listening and headed toward the restroom.
At the restroom’s entrance, Catherine encountered an old acquaintance. Atticus, who was impeccably dressed in a suit, had reverted to his former pompous self. He sported a smug grin and seemed to have been waiting there for a while.
He glanced at Catherine with a meaningful look and then scrutinized her carefully. “Catherine, long time no see!”
Catherine stared coldly at him and replied, “This greeting is more fitting for friends. And you’re not qualified for that.”
Catherine mockingly implied that he didn’t even have the qualifications to be her friend. Atticus was livid. He swallowed his rage as he thought Catherine’s behavior was just bravado.
“Catherine, you can say whatever you want now. Your tongue might still be sharp, but you’ll only have tears after this competition ends. However, if you don’t want to lose too miserably, there’s a way out,” Atticus said.
He lifted one leg and placed it in front of Catherine. He stared at Catherine with his scornful eyes and said mockingly, “Come on. Kneel and beg at my feet here. Then I might persuade my team to go easy on you and give you a chance.”
Catherine stepped forward with a cold expression. Just when Atticus thought Catherine was about to kneel, she abruptly lifted her foot and forcefully struck his groin with her knee. Leaning in close to his ear, she cursed, “Fuck off…”
A moment of eerie silence ensued. Then, it was shattered by Atticus’s screams that echoed through the restroom, which started everyone inside.
Catherine patted her knee, cast a cold glare at the writhing Atticus on the floor, and then left the scene.
Catherine emitted an aura of coldness and had a fierce expression.
She thought inwardly, “Damn it! What the hell are these people thinking? Why do they all assume I will lose? Since they are all so eager for me to lose, I’ll win just to prove them wrong.”
