"And the extra winnings are a pretty strong motivator," continued Lu Shen. "Let's go, guys, we can do it!"
Meanwhile, Ming You, making his way through the crowd, headed towards Taek Jung.
"Taek Jung," began Ming You, addressing the team leader who was sitting across from him, "I need to talk to you about my strategy for the game."
Taek Jung raised his eyebrows, looking at Ming You in surprise. The other gangsters also froze, listening in on the conversation.
"Is something wrong?" he asked. "You look like something heavy is weighing on you. Could it be that your team is ready for victory and you're going to be in our debt? Hehe." The other gangsters laughed as well.
"Quite the opposite. I just need to stage a scene to exit the game and not make it look like I'm betraying them." After the gangsters' laughter had completely died down, Ming You continued confidently. "I want you to help me."
"With what?" one of the gangsters asked perplexedly. "We're about to play, and you want us to help you?"
"Yes, exactly," confirmed Ming You. "I want you to shoot me in the leg."
The noisy court seemed to be filled with silence. The gangsters exchanged glances, not believing their ears.
"Are you fucking crazy?" exclaimed Taek Jung, his voice full of shock. "I know you're quite the madman, but to this extent?"
"Listen," Ming You continued, "if I get injured, I won't be able to participate in the game. This will allow me to withdraw without raising suspicion."
"But dropping out by having us shoot you in the leg?" said Taek Jung, still bewildered. "That's dangerous for us and for you! You could seriously hurt yourself, and we could get caught."
"I understand, but it's the only best way," replied Ming You, his voice growing more confident. "I've already thought through all the details. If I get injured, all the attention will be on me, and the opponents will be able to win easily, since I'm the only one uninjured. With a shot leg, I definitely won't be playing."
The gangsters exchanged glances again, and a silence hung in the air. Finally, one of them, named Sung Wo, spoke:
"I don't know, Ming You. This is really brutal. But if you're sure it's the only way, according to you…"
"I'm sure," Ming You interrupted him. "Don't worry, I'm not going to complain. But aim for the skin; I still need the bones in my leg."
"But I have a question," Taek Jung rose slightly from his seat, "how do you think the team will take it, not to mention the spectators?"
"I've thought about that too. We just need to say it was a request, let's say for two hundred million won, to have my leg shot."
Taek Jung looked at him in surprise.
"Then why don't we just say that for two hundred million won, a spectator wanted you not to play? Why take unnecessary risks?"
"No, you don't understand. This isn't an unnecessary risk; it's a precaution. Do you think my team won't suspect the fact that I just came up to you and asked to be taken out of the game? We need a show, Taek Jung."
"Alright," Taek Jung finally said with a sigh. "If you're set on this, we'll support you. But don't blame us later, okay? And maybe, give us some kind of signal when you're ready?"
Ming You nodded, feeling the tension gradually easing.
"I'll shout 'hey, look!' when I'm standing in the center of the court with the ball in my hands."
"Ha, alright then, you madman."
…
When the time for the game came, Ming You and his team stepped onto the court. Their opponents were already waiting for them, ready for the fight.
"Remember," he whispered to his teammates before the game started, "watch the opponents carefully and use their weaknesses."
"We know," Jung Ho answered confidently, and after his response, the others nodded.
The whistle blew!
The game began. Ming You tried to look as if he were focused on the game. He moved around the court, avoiding balls and throws.
Suddenly, Lu Shen from the opposite side threw the ball towards him. Ming You deftly caught it, but immediately felt his heart beat faster. He took a step back, as if preparing to throw from the center, and suddenly shouted:
"Hey, look!"
All attention switched to him. At that moment, one of the gangsters, sitting across from the court, pulled out a pistol.
BANG!
A sharp gunshot rang out at that moment, and the bullet, whistling through the air, grazed Ming You's leg. The hot lead only slightly skimmed the skin, leaving behind a shallow but painful groove on the side of his thigh. The fabric of his pants tore, revealing a reddened streak of blood that slowly welled up from the scratch.
Ming You, feeling a sharp pain, cried out and fell to the ground, clutching his leg:
"AAAAH!"
The pain was sharp, burning, but shallow – as if someone had dragged a red-hot wire across the skin. The blood oozed lightly, merely dyeing the torn fabric fibers a dark scarlet. The wound throbbed, but there was no real damage – just a superficial mark that, however, reminded him of its presence with a burning sting with every movement.
Sung Wo, stepping closer to the court, spread his arms and announced loudly:
"The order for two hundred million won has been fulfilled. Player number forty-four, will you continue the game?"
After that, under the cover of the other gangsters, the shooter ran off the court, stopping at a street corner.
The spectators froze. One of the spectators wanted to call an ambulance and the police, but he was stopped by Taek Jung and his lackeys, and the spectators continued to sit in silence.
The opposing team was bewildered.
"Hehe, thank you to the rich spectator for such a surprise," snickered Hong Ji, looking towards the spectators' bench. Shi Lei protested loudly:
"You don't think this is fucked up? What if they pull something like this against us?"
"We should be glad that their most capable player is, you could say, out of the game."
"Ming You!" shouted Jung Ho, running up to him. "Get up, you need an ambulance!"
Lu Shen, also running up to him, was firing off questions:
"An order!? What the hell!?"
"Hey, you didn't prepare us for traps like this!" said Haru Lin with a shocked expression.
Ming You, lying on the ground, closed his eyes and tried to feign greater suffering. All attention was focused on him, and Team Yoshido, seeing his injury, began to lose concentration.
"Quick, call an ambulance!" shouted Hong Ren, rushing towards Ming You.
"It's fine," he uttered through gritted teeth, trying to look more exhausted. "Just... just continue without me..."
Lu Shen and Jung Ho grabbed Ming You, carefully lifted him, and carried him to an empty bench at the back.
"Maybe at least patch him up, since you won't let us call an ambulance!" Lu Shen snapped sharply, throwing a contemptuous look at Taek Jung.
The latter just smirked, adjusting his black leather jacket.
"We're more humane than you think, but the spectator's words and his money are the law. If you want, you can pay two hundred million won, and your opponent will be injured too."
Jung Ho turned sharply towards him, his eyes narrowing with rage.
"So, if I pay a lot more, you're willing to go as far as murder?"
Taek Jung laughed, as if he had heard a naive joke.
"Ha-ha! First, you and the rest of the team have debts. Second, we aren't going to take risks like that!" He glanced inadvertently at Ming You. "Besides, the bullet only left a scratch."
Lu Shen clenched his teeth so hard his jaw cramped. Jung Ho clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms, but he could do nothing.
At that moment, Sung Wo approached, tossing a pack of bandages onto the bench.
"Here. You'll patch yourself up."
Ming You, gritting his teeth against the sharp pain, didn't even flinch as he dug his fingers into the wound. The bullet was lodged shallowly – beneath a thin layer of skin, without damaging the muscle. Clenching his jaw, he yanked it out sharply, feeling hot blood gush down his leg.
Without wasting a second, he grabbed the bandages and tightly wrapped the wound, trying to stop the bleeding. Every movement sent a burning sensation, but he acted precisely, as if this wasn't his first bullet.
Sung Wo whistled sharply towards Jung Ho and Lu Shen, breaking the heavy silence.
"What are you staring at? The game continues!"
The team slowly, as if pushing against the air, returned to their positions.
The whistle.
The ball is in play.
Lu Shen surged forward, feeling anger burning everything inside him. But anger is a poor advisor in basketball. The very first pass was intercepted, and the asphalt froze once more under the shouts of bets.
...
"You actually did it!" laughed Taek Jung, with a mix of disbelief, when they had moved aside. "You got yourself shot in the leg just to not play? That's some insane level of madness!"
"It's not madness," replied Ming You with a cold smile. "It's achieving a goal for the sake of victory. I'm creating the image of a victim, and everyone will pity me. And when the team loses, they won't be able to blame me."
"But it's also risky," remarked the gangster who had shot him. "If they figure out you're manipulating them, it could backfire. Not to mention the wound on your leg and the risk of hitting the bone. If it weren't for my experience and your confidence, you might never have been able to play again."
"Don't worry, what's done is done. And now, I have another proposal for you." Ming You showed a cunning smile.
"Are you planning something crazy again?" asked Taek Jung.
"No, probably not. We just need to stage another interesting scene. But we'll do it so that everyone thinks I just want to help the team."