Chapter 31: A Keen Eye for People!

"One million," Zhang Yuan said indifferently.

These three words were clearly light, but to Zhao Decai's ears, they felt as heavy as a thousand catties!

"This... you're really lucky." Zhao Decai was highly unconvinced. "But the referee was clearly problematic, biased toward the host Koreans."

"If you set aside the referee factor, Portugal wouldn't have lost!"

Zhang Yuan gave a light chuckle. What Zhao Decai said wasn't without merit, but the 2002 Portugal team wasn't as strong as he imagined.

"Fine, then how about we bet on another one?"

"Sure." One million wasn't a massive sum for Zhao Decai.

"The Koreans won this time. Next up is the Round of 16; they should face Italy. Who do you think will win?"

"Italy, obviously!"

Zhao Decai spoke with absolute certainty.

"Juventus, AC Milan, Real Madrid, Inter Milan—all the legends are in that squad."

"Buffon, Maldini, Coco, Zambrotta, Totti, Del Piero..." Fatty Zhao listed them off like a family inventory.

"With that lineup, playing the Koreans is like playing against their great-grandchildren. They can just play around!"

How could Flying Dragon lose again!

"Oh, really?" Zhang Yuan intentionally used a flippant tone to provoke him. "What if the Koreans win?"

Zhao Decai snorted coldly. "Just listening to you, it's clear you don't understand football."

"I'm telling you, even with home advantage, even if the referee gives the hosts face, football still comes down to strength."

"Italy's strength means they can't lose!"

"Since that's the case, do you dare to bet another million? Same as before—no cash, just count it as an investment."

"Deal!"

Zhao Decai was seething with indignation.

How many years of football have I watched? Do you think I don't understand the game?

Three days later, at 7:30 PM, Zhao Decai sat in front of the TV just like last time, a drink in one hand and a beautiful secretary tucked under his other arm.

The whistle blew; the Round of 16 match between Korea and Italy began.

Three minutes in, a penalty!

Zhao Decai's face froze. This motherf***er...

Ahn Jung-hwan stepped up to take the kick. The Korean crowd erupted in a mountain-shaking roar, but the goalkeeper was Buffon, one of the greatest keepers of the 21st century!

Seeing the penalty saved, Zhao Decai breathed a sigh of relief.

"That's right, with Buffon there, they won't score."

17 minutes in, "The Wolf" Totti sent in a corner. Vieri broke through several Korean players who were illegally pulling and tugging him; relying on his invincible physical prowess, he headed the ball into the net!

"Yes!" Zhao Decai clapped his hands, immediately feeling a surge of excitement.

On the field, the Korean spectators responded to the goal with a massive, very "Korean" chorus of boos.

21 minutes in, Totti and Kim Nam-heui challenged for a header. A tiny physical struggle somehow resulted in the head referee issuing a yellow card!

Zhao Decai stomped his feet in anger.

41 minutes in, Coco was struck by a malicious elbow from Ryu Sang-chul, leaving him bleeding profusely, yet the referee acted as if he were blind, making no reaction whatsoever.

Seeing this, Zhao Decai smashed his wine glass.

Second half, 49 minutes, Del Piero was also elbowed just like his teammates, yet the referee blew the whistle to reprimand him instead.

53 minutes in, Lee Yong-pyo's dive earned Tommasi a "yellow card reward" from the referee.

59 minutes in, Korea was awarded a free kick in a prime position in the attacking third. Zambrotta, protesting the decision, stepped forward to argue and received another yellow card.

That was Italy's third yellow card!

Zhao Decai was stunned. Are these yellow cards free or something?

By this point, the Italian team had realized the conspiracy between the host nation and the referee. They began to strengthen their defense and instructed their players to be extra cautious of the opponent's "dirty tricks."

69 minutes in, Zambrotta was maliciously tackled and had to be substituted due to injury; the referee remained indifferent.

79 minutes in, inside the Italian penalty area, Lee Chun-soo delivered a heavy blow to the back of the head of the already fallen Maldini!

"Is this playing football or murder?!" Zhao Decai was nearly driven mad.

As usual, the referee remained indifferent. Years later, Lee Chun-soo would admit on a program that the kick was intentional, and he felt no shame, only pride.

81 minutes in, Totti broke into the penalty area and was tackled by a Korean player, yet the referee issued a yellow card to Totti for simulation. Totti received a second yellow and was sent off.

Five minutes later, a brilliant Italian breakthrough was called offside.

Finally, just before the end of extra time, Korea's Ahn Jung-hwan scored a header, ending the match 2-1.

Because of this goal, Ahn Jung-hwan was dismissed by his Serie A club, Perugia, a few days later and was never hired again.

"Italy... lost?"

In front of the TV, Zhao Decai's eyes were vacant, his vision blurred, completely unable to believe what had happened.

"How is this possible?"

"HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE!!!"

With his adrenaline spiking, Zhao Decai actually lifted his heavy solid wood coffee table and smashed it into the TV. After a burst of electrical sparks, the room fell silent.

The secretary beside him was terrified, curling into a corner, afraid the boss would take his anger out on her.

*Ring, ring, ring...*

At that moment, the sudden ringing of a mobile phone in the quiet room gave the little secretary a fright.

Zhao Decai picked up the phone that had slid off the coffee table and looked at the caller ID.

[Zhang Yuan]

Gritting his teeth, he answered. From the other end came Zhang Yuan's characteristically calm voice.

"Two million."

"I don't accept this!" Zhao Decai's voice was nearly hoarse. "A rigged match, it was definitely a rigged match!"

"The Koreans have no shame!"

"President Zhao, do you think for the Koreans, face is more important, or winning?"

Zhao Decai fell silent.

"Next, Korea will face Spain. Do you still dare to bet, President Zhao?"

"Who says I don't dare!"

Zhang Yuan's provocation was highly effective. The heated Zhao Decai immediately agreed.

"Even if they dare to rig against Italy, the match against Spain is a battle for the semi-finals. I don't believe FIFA will allow a rigged match to occur in such an important game!"

"Fine, then it's another million," Zhang Yuan said simply.

Four days later, at 2:30 PM, the match between Korea and Spain kicked off.

This time, Zhao Decai did not bring his secretary. He had bought a new TV to replace the one he smashed and sat on the sofa, his leg shaking incessantly, his mind restless.

"It's impossible for Zhang Yuan to be right every single time!"

[Stubbornness]

But things went against his wishes.

Sweep kicks, palm strikes, shoulder charges...

Shaolin kung fu is good, truly good~~ Shaolin kung fu is great, truly great~~ You have the Vajra leg~~ I have the Iron Head technique...

Korean fouls? Not seen. Spanish tackles? Yellow cards served. Korean own goals? Whistle ignored. Spanish breakthroughs? Called offside.

Two goals were ruled invalid, eventually dragging the game into a penalty shootout, but even serious fouls like the Korean goalkeeper moving early during the penalties went unaddressed.

In the end, the Spaniards wept, while the Koreans laughed... and thus, the "strongest" record for an Asian nation in the World Cup was born.

*Ugh...*

Zhao Decai slumped on the sofa, looking like a deflated balloon, no longer having the strength to rage like last time.

He was numb.

He had thought it would be rigged, but he never imagined it would be *this* rigged!

Even a man who dealt with coal every day thought this was black!

*Ring, ring!*

The phone rang punctually, just like the previous two times. Zhao Decai didn't even bother to look at the caller ID.

"Three million," it was Zhang Yuan's voice again.

"How did you know the Koreans would win?" Fatty Zhao had lost his temper; he was merely curious.

"I may not understand football, but I understand Koreans!" Zhang Yuan's voice was calm, yet every word felt as heavy as a mountain to Zhao Decai.

"Fine, I submit. I truly submit."

"Don't be in a hurry, President Zhao. The World Cup isn't over yet. Next, Korea will face Germany."

"Is that even a question?" Zhao Decai slapped the table. "Korea will definitely win."

"If it were me, since they're already rigging it, I'd just rig it all the way to a World Championship!"

"Oh, our views differ again. I think Germany will win."

"Impossible. I understand Koreans now."

"Another million?"

"Let's bet then." The current Zhao Decai was so stubborn that even if he were cremated, a mouth would remain.

Fatty Zhao said that, but after hanging up, he thought it over repeatedly, and then, despite his words, he made a call.

"Hello, buy one million on Germany for the next match!"

He wouldn't admit it, but in his heart, he had already accepted Zhang Yuan's judgment.

Three days later, the semi-finals.

In front of the TV, Zhao Decai was surprised to find that the rigged officiating that had filled the matches of Portugal, Italy, and Spain had vanished!

The officiating was exceptionally precise and strict, impartial like a fair scale.

"This is truly strange..." Fatty Zhao was utterly perplexed.

"Could this match be manipulated by Zhang Yuan?"

Without the rigged officiating, Germany used their strength to secure the win steadily, without any suspense.

This time, Zhang Yuan, who was on a film set, picked up his phone and was about to call out just like the previous three times, but the phone rang first.

"Four million, hehe, I beat you to it!" Zhao Decai felt the thrill of a successful prank.

"I want to know right now, how did you guess this match wouldn't be rigged?"

Zhang Yuan smiled and replied, "I don't understand football, but I understand Koreans. Besides that, I also understand one person."

"Who?"

"Beckenbauer!"

That year, if the old man hadn't turned the tide by calling in favors from FIFA before the Germany match to temporarily change the referees, would you really think the Koreans wouldn't dare rig their way to a championship?

The title "The Emperor of Football" was not earned for nothing!

It wasn't just professional ability; it was connections and influence. The old man was a titan in the industry. Even so, they still had to rely on pressure and persuasion to obtain a relatively fair match.

In 2006, Italy lifted the trophy; in 2010, Spain lifted it.

The two teams that had been destroyed by Korean rigging in previous matches both won the subsequent two World Cups.

In the end, it still comes down to strength.

Zhao Decai listened quietly to Zhang Yuan's analysis and explanation, unable to speak for a long time. Finally, he spoke...

"You're really good at reading people!"

"President Zhao, thank you for the four million."

"Don't mention it. I should be thanking you!"

Zhao Decai had changed his mind at the last minute and followed Zhang Yuan's lead by betting on Germany, making a small profit in cash.

[Received thanks from Zhao Decai, XX length +0.3, X ability +5!]

*Damn!!!*

Seeing the attribute boost Zhao Decai had brought him, Zhang Yuan's eyes widened.

You really are...

"President Zhao!"

"Huh?"

"From now on, you're my brother. A real, biological brother!"

(End of Chapter)