Chapter 203: Her money was on the line again!

It was no secret that Max and the rest of the basketball team had a complicated relationship. Max never trained with them and oftentimes in their practice play, things usually get heated. Although the team always won almost all games with Max and Hugo on the team, everyone knew every member was essential.

Not to mention the captain.

"One more thing why I found this team pathetic is because you chose that loser as the captain."

The basketball team stopped once more, and slowly, they faced Max again. This time, their faces were not just gloomy and annoyed. Their faces looked darker and somehow Penny’s surroundings dimmed.

’This is intense!’ Penny mentally gasped. ’Even my surroundings turned dark with just this!’

Just as that thought crossed her mind, she felt a light tap on her shoulder. When she turned, her eyes caught Atlas’s plain face looking down at her.

"First Brother?" she murmured, realizing the reason her surroundings suddenly went dim.

Atlas didn’t say or do any other expression as he stood beside her and lifted his eyes to the drama. Penny cleared her throat and watched this as well with interest. Although Hugo was there, she found it interesting to watch a drama that didn’t involve her.

"You..." one member of the basketball team scoffed. "You bastard...! How dare you?"

"Max, are you really looking for a fight?" another one took a step forward, ready to fight.

Another member also took a step forward, his chest out, chin high.

"Guys." The captain, who wasn’t also pleased by this, had to squash down his rising anger and stop them. "He’s just taunting."

"Max, if you think you’re that valuable to the team, why not play alone next game, hmm?" Hugo, who miserably fell into Max’s taunting, remarked. "Since you’re still bitter at the fact that we chose the captain as captain instead of you, then leave the team."

The captain turned to Hugo and warned. "Hugo, that’s enough."

"Captain, we always let this guy off every time!"

"Yes. We always stay quiet for the sake of peace for everyone. However, he is crossing the line now."

"We already let him dismiss our practice and training, stayed quiet about his arrogant comments, and even tried to play with him despite our internal problems with his attitude until now." Someone also expressed his displeasure. "But disrespecting the captain is another level of low."

"That right." Hugo nodded, casting his captain a stern look. "Captain, you are still the captain of our team. For him to disrespect you like that means he really has no respect for his team, for his captain, and even no respect for the game."

The captain sighed, knowing Max and his team were all a stubborn bunch. "Max, that’s enough —"

"Hey. I say it’s enough when it’s enough," Max retorted, cutting the captain off just to prove he had no respect for him. "Why are you all angry at me when all I’m saying is the truth? If you want my respect, you guys should earn it first. Obviously, none of you earned that yet."

His eyes gleamed with ridicule. "Not only do you have to cry about exams and lessons and keeping your grades just to stay in the team, you can’t even excel in the game you love. I don’t even like basketball. Do you think I like it? No. I do this because the school wants me to play and because I want some time off with some other things."

"So, don’t be surprised if I don’t put my heart and soul into this game or on this team. I’m already good at it without trying. It’s the same as staying in the star section. I’m in there, and none of you are not." When Max’s eyes landed on Hugo, he smirked. "Tell that to your brother, Hugo. He may try his best, but he will never get into the star section."

"So this is all is this about?" Hugo let out a dry laugh. "You’re throwing a tantrum and provoking the team because of my brother?"

"He’s probably threatened." One of the members quickly found an argument to hit Max.

Hearing this, others also laughed dryly. "Max, if you’re that scared of Atlas kicking you out, then we understand."

Atlas and Penny on the sideline: "???"

"Your problems with Atlas are different from ours, but well, I guess you’re born petty."

"This is someone from the star section, huh? I guess they’re all threatened since Atlas finally declared war on them."

Seeing their regaining confidence, Max laughed out loud. "Threatened? Haha! Why would I feel threatened by him? If Atlas is lucky, he might get in, or maybe he’d get a seat in our class... that is if any of us pitied him. Moreover, even if Atlas is undoubtedly smart and a hard worker, that’s the only thing he can do."

"You think so?" Hugo blurted out, earning strange looks from his team.

Thinking this wouldn’t escalate to the worst, they followed Hugo’s remarks to annoy Max.

"Max, not because Atlas isn’t in the team doesn’t mean he can’t play."

"I wouldn’t be surprised if Atlas is much better than him!"

Atlas and Penny on the sidelines: "?????!!!"

"Haha! How about you quit, Max? And maybe we can invite Atlas."

"First Brother, you play basketball too?!" Penny gasped and looked up at Atlas, only to see the grim look on his face. Her remarks, however, already gained everyone’s attention and shifted their eyes in their direction.

The team gasped in horror when their eyes landed on the shadow that was cast upon Atlas’s face. Hugo pressed his lips and avoided his brother’s deadly gaze.

Oh, no.

’I misspoke,’was what Hugo wanted to say at the moment, but he couldn’t since everything was already said.

Max, on the other hand, smirked. "Good! Atlas, did you hear everything they just said?"

"Loud and clear." Atlas’s tone was cold and low, adding more intensity to the oppressive atmosphere in the air.

"Is that true?" Max asked, but this time, Atlas only gazed at him. "Since that’s what everyone is saying, how about you play in the team next week?"

Everyone looked at him incredulously, only to see Max’s sneer. "Since next week is foundation week, we can set up a basketball game. The school’s basketball team versus Max’s team. What about that?"

’Another bet?’Penny’s expression turned solemn. ’But I betted on First Brother because I knew he’d eventually get into the star section. But this game is something I’m not sure of.’

Just as Penny was thinking about this bet Max was proposing, Atlas suddenly pulled her closer.

"Sure." Atlas nodded, placing a hand on top of Penny’s head. "Penny’s money on the school’s basketball team."

She looked up at her brother, aghast. ’I didn’t rope you in this bet this time! Why drag me now!?’

Atlas simply glanced at her as if telling her, "Hugo dragged me into this, and so we’re both in this together."

She hadn’t even gotten her payout from the first two bets, and her money was on the line again!