Chapter 112: Chapter 102: Kelo’s Schemes, Nether Lord Calls
"Suddenly feel like money smells sweeter when you hold it yourself."
Old Cat glanced at Ryan Rowe, who was striding toward them with a dark look on his face, and spoke with a playful tone loud enough for him to hear.
Rowe heard this and his eyes darkened further. He truly hadn’t expected a girl to win, which is why he dared to raise the stakes to a billion.
Thinking back now, maybe that scene was a setup by these two, just to see him embarrass himself and lose money.
"You deliberately played me."
He said, his voice steady but with anger, glaring at the girl.
Claire Green’s lips barely curved into an enigmatic smile, nonchalant as she replied, "How could it be playing, wasn’t it something we both agreed on?"
Screw your "we both agreed".
If I had known your driving skills were this good, I wouldn’t have bet with you.
Rowe’s expression was as dark as ink, "You stayed right on my tail, refusing to overtake. If that’s not playing, what is?"
"Ever heard of a cat-and-mouse story?" Claire’s tone was indifferent, "Luring the mouse out step by step, watching it jump into the trap you laid."
"Who... exactly are you?"
Rowe realized he was the mouse she spoke of. Though anger boiled within him, he suddenly recalled that chilling gaze.
Claire chuckled coldly, "Do you deserve to know? Transfer the billion directly to this card."
With that, Claire casually pulled out a bank card and tossed it over, her eyes darting to someone watching the scene, lips parting slightly.
"Not leaving? Planning to stay here as a statue?"
In an instant, Old Cat snapped back to reality, "A handsome guy like me as a statue seems rather wasteful."
At those words.
Claire snickered, mischief lurking in her eyes, "No, you said you’re handsome, so there will only be more people coming to admire. Don’t you think that’s benefiting humanity?"
Old Cat was instantly at a loss, unable to come up with a retort, and just glared at the girl.
"Rowe, you don’t actually plan to give her that money, do you?"
Until the two figures vanished, a few people who’d been passive onlookers immediately approached Rowe, surrounding him.
Rowe remained silent for a few seconds before suddenly chuckling strangely, "I’ve always been the one to play others. If she wants my money, she’ll first have to survive for it."
Hearing this, the group exchanged glances. It seemed he wasn’t planning to let it slide; that girl was in trouble.
...
On the way back, Old Cat suddenly remembered something and couldn’t help but mention it.
"J, that guy Rowe holds grudges. You beat him today and embarrassed him in front of that crowd. I doubt he’ll give up the money easily."
Upon hearing this.
Claire’s lips curled slightly, her voice laid-back, yet her eyes bore no waves, "What a coincidence, I don’t have many strengths, but fighting happens to be a specialty."
Old Cat stared in disbelief. It was the first time he’d heard anyone describe themselves that way.
Fighting as a specialty?
Clearly, J didn’t understand the influence of the Rowe family. He reminded her, "But what if it isn’t ordinary fighting? Although he’s not the heir, he’s still closely tied to the Rowe family."
Upon hearing this, Claire’s eyes lifted slightly, a ferocity chilling Old Cat to his core, "Then I don’t mind destroying the Rowe family."
Hiss—
Old Cat drew in a sharp breath, looking at the girl before him, knowing she wasn’t joking.
He suddenly remembered the previous step-down of a high-level figure, mocking himself that he worried too much.
He forgot that the girl before him was J, a firewall against the Rowe family wouldn’t compare to the presidential palace, would it?
"Now I almost feel sorry for Rowe," Old Cat remarked with a meaningful smile.
Suddenly.
Claire focused on her phone, raising an eyebrow slightly as she connected the call and an urgent voice from Victoria Windsor came through.
"J, a strange virus has suddenly emerged in R Nation, and the people in the lab say they’ve never seen it before and don’t know what to do."
"What’s strange about it," Claire’s voice was low, "Tell me."
Victoria composed herself and began recounting the situation from the beginning to end, "Initially, no one paid any attention. Later, the first infected person started showing strange symptoms, their skin began to wrinkle, their body temperature exceeded normal without any issues, and they’d become agitated come nightfall."
The car ride was very quiet, with only Victoria’s voice breaking the silence.
Once she finished, Claire’s eyes held a trace of contemplation as she spoke seemingly indifferently, "Who was the first to be infected?"
She could hardly believe Victoria would seek her out for a virus they couldn’t solve temporarily, which could only mean there’s someone she cares about among the infected.
Victoria remained silent on the other end before chuckling wryly, "I knew it couldn’t be hidden from you, the first infected is my dad."
As she finished, Claire frowned, "Impossible, the serum I gave him should prevent further viral infection."
When it came to her own creations, Claire was confident there wouldn’t be any issues.
"I know, and that’s why I’m calling you today, to see why he suddenly contracted a strange virus."
Victoria’s voice was sincere and carried no hint of distrust.
Claire’s eyes momentarily flashed cold, suddenly infected by a virus, Nether Lord’s father was hiding something deep.
But she didn’t say it, only said flatly, "Alright, I’ll come over once I’ve dealt with things here."
"Thank you," Victoria responded with a gentle smile.
Suddenly, a familiar male voice reached her ears, making her body freeze.
"Nether Lord lass, when J and I arrive, be sure to entertain us well."
"Old Cat?" Victoria’s voice was filled with disbelief, "Are you with J now?"
Old Cat grinned, "Why do you sound so surprised? I have a collaboration with J, meeting isn’t unusual."
With his reminder, Victoria suddenly recalled that Drake mentioned in the group that J was collaborating with Thomas Skin on a holographic project.
"Sorry, I’ve been so troubled by the virus issue lately that I forgot about this."
"It’s fine," Old Cat said nonchalantly, "Don’t worry too much, wait until J and I get there to take a look."
It wasn’t until they hung up that Old Cat realized something strange.
He looked at the girl in disbelief, "That serum Nether Lord mentioned... is it what I think it means?"
With that incident also breaking out in R Nation, they naturally knew what happened to the Nether Manor then. Back then, she only said someone made her a serum but didn’t say who, and they hadn’t thought of J.
Claire nodded lightly in acknowledgment.
Seeing her admit, Old Cat was instantly thrown off track by the revelation, realizing J not only excelled in programming but also had medical expertise.
How did that brain develop?
"What virus do you think is affecting Nether Lord’s dad?"
After the initial shock, Old Cat quickly focused on the words Victoria had just said.
"You’d have to ask her dad," Claire toyed with her phone, her demeanor lazy, "Playing any new tricks now."
What does she mean?
Old Cat’s brain raced, and upon understanding the meaning behind her words, he froze instantly.
"Are you saying the virus on Nether Lord’s dad is his own doing?"
"I didn’t say that," Claire arched an eyebrow and replied airily.
Yes, you didn’t say it, but isn’t that what you meant?