PAMPERED

213 First Quarter

The entire court fell into a brief silence as soon as those who knew realized who the people Max brought in for today’s game were. Those who were simply riding the hype had to ask around, and when they got the answer, they were stunned.

Professional players in this game?

”

“Oh, no Slater clasped his hands nervously and turned to innie. “Ginnic, did you know about

this?”

Bitterness appeared in Ginnie’s eyes and shook her head. “We had our assumptions, but none of us expected he would bring in professional players.”

“Isn’t this cheating?” Penny clenched her teeth in distress. ‘Even if it’s not about money, how could that guy bring professional players into an amateur game?‘

Their group was particularly nervous because this changed a lot of things+

On the other hand, the basketball team could only stare at the players on the enemy team in at daze.

“That… that guy…”

“We’re doomed.”

Someone clenched his teeth in anger. “Isn’t this cheating?”

“Hey, hey-!” Max approached them arrogantly, smirking. “Did someone just say cheating?”

“Max! How can you bring professional players here?!” someone on the bench harrumphed, pointing at the other players approaching the other bench. When one of the players looked back at them, his breath hitched. “That’s my idol…“You jerk!”

The captain’s face was also grimed. “Max, you didn’t tell us that you’d invite professional players for this game.”

“Max, is this why you’re so confident? Bringing professional players into an amateur game… aren’t you ashamed?” Another one expressed his dismay.

“Ashamed?” Max snorted. “Why would I feel ashamed? Is there a rule of who I can bring in this game and who I can’t?” This belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.

He tilted his head a little to the side, blinking. “It’s not cheating when I didn’t break any rules. Haha! It’s your fault for not clarifying this matter. So, why are you blaming me?”

The taunting smirk plastered on Max’s face irritated the entire basketball team to the highest level. This guy was truly something. They didn’t mention anything about who Max could bring because they expected he would only bring excellent players from other schools at their level.

They should’ve known Max always toed on the line even if he was playing with them.

“Come on! If you think you’re going to lose, then just raise the white flag” Max taunted with at sneer. “In that way, we don’t need to break a sweat. Otherwise, just play and stop talking bull. It’s

213 First Quarter

you neglected the terms you agreed with

“You jerk…” someone in the basketball team approached him and stood in front of Max. “Are you really looking for a fight?”

Max straightened his back and lifted his chin. “What now? Since you already know your chances of winning are low, you want to take this outside for a fistfight?”

“Hey, that’s enough, the captain squeezed his member’s shoulder. “That’s enough now.” However, despite the captain’s attempt to de–escalate the rising tension, some of his members stood around them. They all look like they didn’t mind if this would be a battle of the fists.

The tension in the court quickly leaped as Max and the other team seemed to have reached the end of their patience.

“Hey, that’s enough. There’s only five minutes before the game starts.” The referee and the coach of the basketball team approached and tried to separate them. “Prepare for that. This is basketball, not boxing.

Looking at their coach, the basketball team was filled with bitterness. However, they still took a step back while Max smirked.

Max shook his head and snapped his tongue. “Surely, you guys had nothing else to do other than point fingers when things are not in your favor. How sad.”

After saying his piece, Max strutted toward his team’s bench while laughing. He waved at his fans, making them squeal as they were the only ones who were making noises at the moment. Watching Max walk away so confidently and arrogantly, the basketball team clenched their teeth in irritation.

“That guy..! He really has to have the last say in every argument, huh?!”

“He is really annoying! Of course, we didn’t need to clarify who he could bring because it’s already obvious he could take anyone in his team except professionals.”

“Shit… that’s my idol!”

Their faces looked darker with every passing second, thinking that this was a losing game. They might be confident with their skills and training, but against professionals, they were like kids fighting adults!

“Hey, hey!” Suddenly, they heard Charles‘ voice.

The basketball team turned, catching Charles rushed to their bench. He was still in his suit while wearing their team’s cap. Since this

was the basketball team’s battle against their member,

the coach would be playing as the other referee to avoid being biased.

They didn’t expect Charles to come here, though.

“Come here, you guys!” He crooked his fingers, making the basketball team approach him. “You guys keep your head cool, alright?”

“I’m not angry, Atlas reassured, only to be ignored because they all knew whether he was angry

tha samal

12:29

213 First Quarter

The basketball team surrounded Charles and their demotivated moods worried him. He huffed and clapped, making them look up at him.

“Listen here, sons. You trained well and against the professional, just playing this game is already an honor,” he stressed sternly. “Win or lose… no, this is already a win. You said some of those that boy brought in are your idols. Having to play with him… isn’t that an honor already?”

The dark looks on their faces slightly disappeared, watching Charles grin until his teeth were fully displayed.

“That’s what I’m saying,” he said, tapping the captain’s shoulders. “Five minutes before the game! Review your game plan! Chop chop!”

“Yes, sir!” they shouted in unison, with the captain taking a whiteboard to discuss their game. plan.

With Charles’s incessant throw of motivation to them, the basketball team slowly regained their morale. And when the buzzer rang in the court, they all shouted one last time in unison as their war cry.

But alas…

One minute in and Max already scored a three–point, demoralizing the opposing team.

When the buzz for the first quarter rang, the score was as clear as day.

15 0

–

15 points for Max’s team and the opponent team, it was… 0.