On the helicopter, Magus and Lina sat across from them, nestled against each other.
Tony glanced at Lina, then turned to Magus and asked, “How is she? Is she all right?”
Magus looked at the person in his arms, then shook his head. “She's fine. She's doing better than I expected!”
Tony nodded. “That's good. Don't worry. If someone says they can cure her illness, they definitely can!”
After Magus heard that, a glint flashed in his eyes, and he nodded firmly.
At that moment, Thalia, who was sitting at one side, watched their interaction and then chuckled lightly. “Tell me. How did you find out?”
Realizing the question was directed at him, Tony feigned ignorance and retorted, “What?”
“What? Cut the pretense?” Thalia asked impatiently, glancing at Magus and murmuring, “It's like pigs flying now.”
Tony slightly arched his eyebrows upon hearing that. “I seem to remember betting a hundred bucks!”
Thalia immediately turned her gaze toward him. “Are you really fussing over a mere hundred bucks?”
Tony retorted, “Is this a matter of a hundred bucks? This is about winning!” While saying this, he gestured toward them with a hook of his hand.
Thalia was extremely reluctant but had no choice but to admit defeat. She took out a hundred bucks from her pocket and slapped it directly into Tony 's hand.
Tony turned his head to look at Ben and Donna . Even though Donna was reluctant, she still took out the money and handed it to Tony .
Tony looked at Ben . “What about you?”
“I bet on you to win!” Ben said.
Tony furrowed his brows. “Is that so?”
“Tony, it's just a hundred bucks. This isn't worth it!”
“What are you talking about? How could I possibly covet this hundred bucks?” Tony denied.
No sooner had his words fallen than Miguel from the side spoke up weakly. “Master, what about me?”
Tony was slightly taken aback. “What about you?”
“I on you to win too!”
Tony was taken aback, looking down at the two hundred bucks in his hand. “Really? You're even concerned about this insignificant two hundred bucks?”
Ben spoke up. “Tony, this isn't about two hundred bucks. It's about our trust in you!”
Miguel nodded repeatedly. “Exactly!”
Tony steeled his resolution, rolled up the money, and stuffed it directly into his pocket. “This is a huge sum. I'll divide it among you all once I've calculated it clearly!”
Miguel was dumbfounded. Is there even a need to calculate this?
Ben chuckled lightly. He knew Tony all too well. It wasn't about the two hundred bucks for him. What he cared about was the feeling of winning. The two hundred bucks were like his good luck charm, so how could he bear to part with it?
Miguel's gaze fell on Ben , who returned a calm look. “Stop thinking about it. We won't be getting the money from him!”
“Why is Master so stingy?”
Ben hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “I'm glad you've come to realize that!”
“Why aren't you demanding payment?” Miguel asked Ben , looking at the latter.
“I know Tony too well since we came from the same womb. I would've sided with you if there were any chance of getting that money from him,” Ben said.
Miguel stared at Ben as clarity washed over him. It seems like receiving the money is impossible.
Looking at Ben , Miguel sighed helplessly.
Similarly, he didn't care about the sixty-six bucks.
What he cared about was whether his master would let him have a share of the pie.
However, it was useless.
Tony had already pocketed the money, and no matter what they said, he acted as if he didn't hear a thing.
At that moment, Magus, sitting across from them, looked at them with a puzzled expression. “What are you guys doing?”
“Isn't it obvious? We made a bet!” said Thalia.
“A bet?”
“We bet you'll end up joining us!” Thalia said, flashing him a slight smile. “Magus, you really are full of surprises!”
Magus was stumped.
Before he even had a chance to speak, Tony interjected from the side, “You lost, plain and simple. What's the matter? Can't the famous Darknetz Ace handle a loss?”
“Who says I can't handle a loss? Haven't I given you the money?” Thalia said with great vigor.
“Then why are you still trying to sway my subordinate?”
“I—” Thalia wanted to say something but suddenly realized that Magus would be making a fresh start with Tony instead of with Darknetz while she had been holding a candle to the devil.
A thought crossed Thalia's mind, and she fell silent, looking at Tony . “So, does this mean you're making a fresh start?” she asked.
After some thought, Tony responded, “I suppose so!”
Thalia pursed her lips. She just couldn't imagine Tony succeeding. At the thought of Darknetz's rules, she pursed her lips again. “Aren't you afraid Sam will find out and never let you off?” Thalia asked.
Tony appeared as unconcerned as ever. “If you don't tell, and they don't tell, how will Sam ever know?”
“Can the truth ever be concealed?”
“With the way technology is advancing, who knows, one day we might be able to do that!” Tony said, speaking nonsense with a straight face.
Thalia was rendered speechless. “Quit spouting nonsense. Even if you manage to conceal the truth, do you really think you can keep your affairs hidden?”
Seeing her flushed and anxious facial expression, Tony spoke up. “Thalia, you said you'd help me, so why are you questioning me now? You knew I was determined to achieve my goal from the beginning, didn't you?”
“I—” Thalia wanted to say something, but Tony 's remark, both overtly and covertly, insinuated that she was his accomplice.
“Who would have thought you'd actually succeed? Besides, I was just trying to ensure your safety, nothing more. I didn't do anything else!” Thalia refused to admit she was his accomplice.
Listening attentively, Tony nodded thoughtfully. “Yes, indeed. Hopefully, Sam will believe this explanation of yours!”
“You dare to tell him?”
“I'm certainly not telling him, but I'm just worried someone might spill the beans,” Tony retorted, his eyes riveted at her.
Thalia was on the verge of losing her patience. “W-Why would I do that? I've sided with you on every occasion!” she retorted, visibly frustrated.
Upon hearing that, Tony immediately lit revealed a flattering smile. “I knew you wouldn't say anything. Don't worry, Thalia. Since you've provided me with such great assistance, I will definitely return your favor in the future!”
Thalia stared at him. Tony was playing her like a fiddle, speaking at length just to trick her into uttering that one sentence.
At that thought, she squinted her eyes, looking at him with a gaze full of regret. “To think that I, Thalia, have been wise all my life, and yet I ended up crossing paths with you. This is truly an ill-fated relationship!”
Upon hearing her, Tony looked at her and said, “Don't say that. I'm such a good person. Anyone who's blessed enough to cross paths with me must have saved the Earth in their past life!”
“Pfft!”
Even though Thalia refused to admit it, Tony still felt extremely relieved. I can't begin to describe the wonderful feeling of having a friend who stands by me unconditionally.
With a slight smile on his face, Tony looked outside.
At that moment, Miguel looked at him and asked, “Master, have you come up with a good name for this 'fresh start' yet?”
Tony withdrew his gaze and nodded at him. “Yes!”
“What's it called?” Miguel asked.
At that moment, several people turned their gazes toward him.