Logan looked at Richard Scar and let the accusation sit in the air between them. Richard's expression had shifted. The earlier composure was gone, replaced by something tighter, more controlled. His hands were at his sides, not quite clenched but close. Logan continued, his voice carrying easily across the stage. "Gordon Pilgrim needed someone who could guarantee a win. He found you, but you don't have any connection to Black Creek Falls. You visited once, you hated it. You told people you would never go back." He paused. "So why would someone with no connection to a city agree to represent it in a challenge worth billions?" The room was silent. Logan looked at Richard directly. "Because Gordon promised to aid your usual cheating habits. He offered to protect your secrets, keep your methods hidden, make sure no one looked too closely at how you got your ranking. In exchange, you came here and won for him." He raised an eyebrow. "Tell me I'm wrong." Richard's jaw tight

Logan kept his expression neutral, but inside he was pleased.The challenge was back on or at the very least, a window of opportunity had opened. All he had to do was keep pushing until the other side broke.He clasped his hands loosely behind his back and watched.Gordon turned from Logan's face to Richard's. The contrast between them was stark. Logan was calm, almost relaxed. Richard was coiled tight, his anger still simmering beneath the surface.Gordon spoke, his voice carrying the measured tone of someone trying to regain control. "Richard, I think you need to calm down."Richard didn't respond. His eyes were fixed on Logan."You're not thinking properly," Gordon continued. "This is exactly what he wants. He's trying to get you to react."Richard's body stiffened. His face, already tight with anger, went cold.He turned slowly to regard Gordon. The movement was deliberate, almost mechanical. When his eyes landed on the older man, there was something dangerous in them."Not thinki

The speculation continued, voices layering on top of each other.Gordon had moved to the edge of the special section. His voice carried across the noise. "Richard, you can't just.""I can. I just did.""You're asking him for ten billion dollars. He doesn't have that kind of money."Richard's voice was flat. "That's for him to prove."A Black Creek Falls merchant spoke up. "Richard, you already won. Why are you doing this?"Richard turned to look at the merchant. "Because I want to prove I can win again. And because I want everyone here to know exactly what he is.""What is he?""A liar."The merchant shook his head. "This is insane.""No. This is a competition."Gordon stepped closer, his voice urgent. "Richard, I'm telling you, this is a mistake.""You keep saying that.""Because it's true."Richard looked at him with cold eyes. "You just called me stupid in front of everyone. Now you want me to follow your advice?""I was trying to get your attention.""You got my attention. Now you

Gordon Pilgrim felt his heart shake.He had been in this business for decades. He had seen bluffs, seen lies, seen desperate men make desperate claims. He had also seen real confidence, the kind that came from actual capability.This was not a bluff.Logan stood on the stage with his hands behind his back, his expression calm, his voice steady. He had just declared willingness to place sixty billion dollars as stake for his challenge against Richard.Gordon's mind was racing. Sixty billion was not a number anyone threw around casually. Even for the wealthiest people he knew, sixty billion was a serious amount. The kind of amount that required actual assets, actual backing, actual proof.Logan didn't look dumb. He didn't look reckless. He looked like a man who knew exactly what he was doing.Gordon's voice came out tight. "This is absurd."Logan looked at him. "Is it?""You can't just throw out numbers like that.""I just did.""You don't have sixty billion dollars.""How do you know?"

Gordon stepped forward. "This is a trick. He doesn't have access to those channels."Logan looked at him with a cold smile. "How do you know?""Because." Gordon stopped. His mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out.Logan watched him struggle. "You don't know anything about me. None of you do."Richard's voice was tight. "If you're lying about this.""I'm not lying.""Then prove it.""I will. When the time comes."Gordon's voice was sharp. "This is absurd. You can't just.""I can." Logan's voice had shifted. The patience was gone, replaced by something harder. "I already have."He looked at Richard with a cold sneer. "Don't waste my time. You were ready to fight earlier. Now I'm giving you a better offer and you're hesitating?"Richard's jaw tightened. "I'm not hesitating.""Yes, you are. You're thinking about what happens if you lose.""That's what smart people do.""No. Smart people know when to take a risk. And this is a risk worth taking."Richard was silent. The calculation