Chapter 885: Is this even right?

"I can’t! I don’t bet on unfair bets! How can Max take on the basketball team when most of the players are now playing in the professional major league?! I do betting pools, but this is not morally right!"

Sports gambling or betting, in general, was already a huge topic of debate—whether it was morally acceptable or a moral disaster. So, what Penny said contradicted itself. However, people didn’t focus on that.

Everyone slowly shifted their eyes to Hugo and the basketball team, with whom Max was arguing.

"She’s right, though," one person commented quietly. "Although not all of them pursued basketball, the majority of them are professional players, including the captain and even a few who are in the starting five lineups."

"They’ve also won championships a few times."

"Besides, Max didn’t pursue basketball and stopped playing after that game twelve years ago. So, even if Max was good in the past, I don’t think he’s still as good as he was before."

"This is overkill, and I don’t think anyone here would find it fun to watch a game like that."

"Is it really that overkill?"

"Of course! Even if Atlas played, he wouldn’t need to do anything if four of his team members are star players."

"Oh, so it’s easy money?"

"The money isn’t what actually matters here, but the fun of it."

Listening to the crowd’s opinions, Penny secretly smiled in satisfaction. She started this argument with Hugo and Max, so she had to put a stop to it as well. However, just as she was mentally giggling to herself, Ginnie suddenly spoke.

"If that’s the case, then Hugo and Max, are you okay with settling this by apologizing to each other?" Ginnie asked, but what she received from both men and the basketball team was a resounding "NO!"

Ginnie and Penny’s faces twitched, but Ginnie managed to keep her calm. "Then, if this won’t be settled gently, how about the basketball team just doesn’t play?"

"Huh?!" was everyone’s reaction, making Ginnie chuckle.

"Since Max and Atlas are basically on the same standing, we can call it a good match," Ginnie remarked. "We can arrange a game, but I don’t think any of the basketball players who play in the major leagues can join."

"What?! That makes no sense at all!" the basketball team protested. "Ginnie, what are you saying? Max deliberately said something offensive, and we all took it personally. It’s our right to settle this!"

Ginnie smiled at the men protesting against her. "Right?" With her change in tone, some of the basketball players almost bit their tongues, as it seemed Ginnie would soon take this personally as well.

"For now, be the cheerleaders of your chosen team," Ginnie flashed all of them a sweet smile. "However, I’ll allow Senior Hugo, since he doesn’t play professionally either. So, Senior Hugo’s team will have Senior Hugo and Senior Atlas. You still need at least three or four more."

"Me! Me!"

When everyone heard the voice who was volunteering, they all turned to see who it was. Everyone’s eyes fell on Ray, who was raising his hand and then holding Dean’s arm to raise it as well.

"The two of us!"

Dean’s face twisted, looking at Ray in dismay. "I didn’t—"

"I don’t want him or them on my team!" Hugo spat, making Ray frown deeply.

"Second Brother, how can you be so vengeful?! Haven’t you learned that forgiveness is the key to happiness?!" Ray complained, speaking into Hugo’s ears as if they were just a buzz from a fly.

Ginnie rocked her head. "Well, it’s not good to play with someone you don’t like on your team. Who else wants to join Senior Hugo’s team? We still need three or four more—just in case, the last person is the extra. Hehe."

"Him?" Hugo didn’t wait a second and pointed in Atlas’s direction.

Everyone followed Hugo’s pointing finger, only to realize he wasn’t pointing at Atlas, but at the person standing beside him.

"Oh, right!" Ginnie slapped the bottom of her fist against her palm, smiling at Zoren. ’Right, Penny’s husband is surprisingly here. So, it’s Penny’s brothers, and then, their brother-in-law.’

"Then you guys still need two more!" she mused, searching the crowd, expecting Slater to join as well. It would be interesting to see the Bennet brothers playing, and all the other ladies in the gymnasium thought the same thing.

The Bennets were all talented and handsome. Although they each had different beauty and personalities, they were all equally popular among young girls during their time. However, Slater was nowhere in sight.

"Is this even right?" Jonathan wondered aloud, seeing that no one was raising their hands, even though there were quite a lot of men in the gymnasium. Just as he was wondering, he suddenly felt a poke at his side.

"Ah!" Jonathan jolted in surprise and raised his hand. The sound he made quickly drew attention since it was surprisingly quiet at that moment.

"Oh, there we have another one!" Ginnie happily announced, making Hugo, Atlas, and almost everyone else furrow their brows. However, since Ginnie had already taken that as a volunteer, she quickly moved on to find the last member of Hugo’s team.

Meanwhile, Jonathan was in utter disbelief at how he was suddenly on the team without having had the chance to clarify himself. However, instead of clarifying himself—knowing it would be ignored, just like how he tried to reason with everyone in this cult—he looked back to see who had poked him.

"Third Brother...?" Nina called, gazing back when she noticed someone standing behind them.

Slater waved a feather in his hand, smiling at Nina and then at Jonathan. "Good luck, Mister," he cheered Jonathan with a grin before walking away, using the feather as a hand fan.

Jonathan, on the other hand, frowned as he watched Slater walk away. ’What’s up with the little fool of the Bennet family?’ he wondered to himself, only to hear Nina chuckle.

"Good luck, Mr. Russel," Nina said, watching him look back at her. "I didn’t know you could play basketball."

Jonathan blinked at her.

To be honest, he knew nothing about basketball.

"The fifth member of Senior Hugo’s team is complete!" Just then, Ginnie happily announced with her hands clasped together. "Now, who would like to join Max’s team?"

And many of the people—mostly men—raised their hands.