Chapter 313: Chapter 313 Nothing at All_1
Quinton Creed said indifferently, “When it comes to gambling, let’s just say it’s not always a pretty business. If I sign a mortgage contract and you do play dirty later on, what if you report me?
What’s more, the stock transfer contract is just a form of insurance.
Your Locke family is so prominent; even if you really do sign the contract, do you think I’d dare to swallow up your shares just like that?
You sign it first. Once you do, I’ll give you the money. Then whenever you repay it, I’ll rip up the contract, and everything will be settled, won’t it?”
“This…”
“Make a decision quickly, I don’t have the time to stick around with you.”
Joe Locke’s mind was utterly preoccupied with borrowing money to turn the tide, he barely gave any thought to the implications, hesitated for a moment, but felt Quinton Creed made sense and so he signed the contract.
Quinton Creed looked at the signed contract, nodded in satisfaction, and said, “Let’s get one thing straight. I can only lend you ten million, not a penny more. I simply don’t have it.”
“Fine, no problem.”
With Quinton Creed’s guarantee, Joe Locke directly took ten million in chips, and full of confidence, sat down at the table and declared:
“Come on, let’s continue!”
Cole Barnett and Max Milton exchanged looks, both seeing the shock in the other’s eyes.
They had also seen the stock transfer contract just now; twenty-three percent of the Locke Corporation’s shares, worth at least three or four hundred million, were put up as collateral by this prodigal son for just ten million.
What a sin!
Max Milton had been involved with Thousand Doors for many years but had never taken part in such a big game, and couldn’t help feeling some hesitation in his heart.
Cole Barnett’s heart was racing even faster, and his palms were sweating.
Seeing this, Greg Jensen knocked on the table again, jolting both men into suppressing the panic in their hearts.
The gambling resumed!
Under Joe Locke’s insistence, the betting limit was removed, and Quinton Creed and the others were more than happy with this arrangement; after all, their intended goal had been achieved, there was no need to drag it out further.
The first hand, Max Milton dealt the cards, resulting in a Set over Straight Flush.
Joe Locke’s freshly borrowed ten million immediately lost a third of its value.
The second hand, Set over Set, and the remaining seven million plus, all went in and were lost.
In just two rounds, the ten million borrowed against the Locke Corporation’s shares had been lost, without a penny left.
Joe Locke, like a drowning man, was soaking wet, his eyes bloodshot as he glared at Cole Barnett, “You must have cheated. Just wait, I’ll catch you in the next round for sure!”
Cole Barnett sneered, “Do you even have money to gamble with?”
Joe Locke trembled, clenched his teeth, and turned to Quinton Creed with a forced smile, “Big Brother Quinton, lend me another ten million, will you?”
Quinton Creed shook his head with a stern face, “Harold Butler, it’s not that I’m unwilling to lend to you, I really don’t have any left.
The money from today’s auction has to be lent out; I can’t move that money. Besides, we agreed earlier that your shares could only secure a loan of ten million.”
“Big Brother Quinton, lend me another ten million, please!”
Joe Locke’s face was full of entreaty, and it looked like he might kneel down to Quinton Creed if he didn’t get the money.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t lend you that money.”
Quinton Creed shook his head again and then added, “Also, you better hurry up and gather the money you owe.
If it were my money you lost, I might let it slide, but since it’s Cole’s money that I covered for you, don’t get me into trouble.”
He patted Joe Locke and said, “Stay here for a while; I need to leave. I have to go on a business inspection tomorrow.”
With that, he turned and walked away.
Seeing that the hall had emptied, Joe Locke finally came to his senses and collapsed into a chair with a thud.
It was only then that he truly felt regret.
He had originally brought over twenty million to buy the Amulet.
Now, not only had he failed to acquire the Amulet, but he also accumulated a mountain of debt.
After adding everything up, he realized he had lost more than thirty million in just half a day, and had even mortgaged away Locke Corporation’s shares.
If his old man found out, he would be dead meat for sure!
With that thought, Joe Locke suddenly panicked and quickly stood up to chase after him.
He caught up with Quinton Creed just as he was about to get into his car and pleaded urgently, “Quinton, do me a favor, just one more favor!”
Quinton Creed flatly refused, “If you’re looking to borrow money to keep gambling, you might as well not bother speaking. I’ve already said what needs to be said, and I believe you can understand my difficulty.”
Joe Locke hurriedly said, “Quinton, it’s not about money. Since my shares are still with you, could you give me the Amulet now? I need to have something to show when I get back.”
Quinton Creed feigned difficulty and sighed, took out the box with the Amulet from his bag, handed it to him, and said, “Harold, this is only because it’s you, if it were someone else…
Forget it, take the Amulet and get back quickly. Make sure you collect that money for me soon.”
Once he had the Amulet, Joe Locke breathed a sigh of relief and said, “Don’t worry, I’ll get the money together in a couple of days.”
“Mm, take it slow on your way back.”
Quinton Creed casually dismissed him and drove away.
Watching the receding taillights, Joe Locke felt as if all his energy had been sapped, almost collapsing to the ground.
The driver nearby saw this and hurried over to support him, asking, “Mr. Locke, are you alright?”
“I’m fine, let’s hurry home.”
…
Meanwhile, Greg Jensen was in a car on his way back to Jamae City.
Having finally recovered from the shock, Nathan Humphrey nervously asked, “Greg, what was the deal with that hand of cards?”
“Which hand?”
“The one where Mr. Barnett drew the 235 in the second round.”
Greg Jensen grinned and said, “Think about it, who else besides those playing the cards got close to the table for that hand?”
Nathan Humphrey was taken aback and fell into thought.
After a long while, he suddenly looked up at Greg Jensen, incredulously shocked, and exclaimed, “Are you saying… that it was you who switched the cards?”
Greg Jensen smiled, “Exactly, I swapped the cards while they were transferring the money. It was quite simple.”
He had known all along that Joe Locke would pull the same trick again, so he had hidden two sets of cards in advance; one was the 235, and the other was three kings.
Nathan Humphrey asked curiously, “But if you hid the cards and Joe Locke checked the deck and found extra cards, what then?”
“Heh, why do you think Max Milton kept folding every round?”
“Ah, I get it,” Nathan said.
The joy of solving the puzzle spread across Nathan Humphrey’s face as he explained, “After Mr. Milton folds, he uses the chance of getting a smoke to pull cards out of the deck.
That way, even if Joe Locke checks the deck, he won’t find any extra cards.”
“Haha, you’re quite clever!” Greg Jensen laughed. With five people playing cards, it was essentially four against one; no matter how they played, Joe Locke was doomed.
In other words, from the moment Joe Locke entered the game, his fate was sealed.
Praise made Nathan Humphrey beam with pride.
Even he didn’t realize that although Greg Jensen was about his age, he was still very pleased to receive the compliment.
Greg Jensen asked with a smile, “Did you learn anything from today’s game?”
“Uh…”
After thinking for a moment, Nathan ventured, “We should be careful when gambling in the future, and not play with strangers?”
“Nonsense!”
Greg Jensen knocked on his head and said seriously, “Today’s game shows that gambling is all about deceit; the bigger the game, the more deceit there is.
The saying that nine out of ten gamblers lose doesn’t even begin to describe today’s scene.
So, no matter how rich you are, never get involved with gambling, or you’ll end up broke and lose your family.
Understood?”
“Greg, I’ve understood!” Nathan affirmed.