The Secretly Rich Man

Chapter 1741

“Your move, Mr. Crawford!” said Xanry as he turned to look at Gerald once he was done.

It was now the start of the second round, and Gerald knew that he couldn’t afford to obtain zero marks again or the gap between his score and Xanry’s would become too large for him to turn the game around later.

With that, Gerald picked a bowling ball up before slowly walking toward the lane.

The second he got into position, however, Gerald heard Xanry yell out from behind him, “Just make some bold toss, Mr. Crawford! It’s fine if you don’t hit anything, just take it as practice! After all, you need a lot more of it to even be able to take on me!”

As roars of laughter ensued, Gerald simply closed his eyes… Before slowly opening them again.

Taking a step forward, Gerald then tossed the bowling ball!

Rather than swerving to the side this time, the ball instead rolled straight for the pins, momentarily surprising Xanry and the others.

While the sound of bowling pins getting knocked over could be heard, Gerald only managed to hit five pins. With that in mind, he was now twelve marks behind Xanry.

Since there were six more rounds before the game ended—with the game consisting of eight rounds in total—Gerald felt that being twelve marks behind Xanry wasn’t really a particularly large difference. After all, he simply needed to get a higher final score than him to win.

“…Not bad, Mr. Crawford! I guess you really do have some talent to be able to hit five pins!” said Xanry as he insincerely praised Gerald. Truth be told, the fact that Gerald had managed to hit five pins in the first place was truly vexing him. How lucky!

While that hit was certainly surprising, Xanry quickly summarized that Gerald still wasn’t a threat to him. He’d definitely still be able to win and obtain that hundred and fifty dollars!

With that, their little contest resumed and the third round began.

Using his usual tactic, Xanry tossed the ball as easily as the first two rounds… and following the clattering of falling pins, only a single pin remained standing!

Since he had managed to gain nine points, Xanry now had a total of twenty-six points and this led those surrounding him to instantly cheer.

Even before Gerald made his move, however, he could already tell that that same crowd was going to jeer at him no matter what score he got. Still, it was clear to him that those spectators were simply fools fawning over Xanry. With that in mind, their jeers meant little to Gerald. Gerald hadn’t even displayed his true capabilities yet.

Whatever the case was, Gerald then retrieved his third ball and tossed it skillfully without the slightest hesitation, a clear contrast to how he tossed his ball in the previous two rounds.

This was all according to plan, of course. Gerald had applied perfect amounts of force to his throws to display increasing amounts of strength and skill in each passing round. That way, not only would Xanry not be too quick to be suspicious of him, but he would also be able to ensure that he was making progress in the game.

If everything went smoothly, everyone would surely have a vastly different opinion of him by the end of the bowling match.

Regardless, as the ball rolled seamlessly on the lane, the familiar clatter of bowling pins could be heard… Gerald had managed to hit seven pins this time, and he now had twelve points, which meant that he was now only fourteen marks behind Xanry!

Seeing that Gerald had managed to hit even more pins this time, Xanry’s expression turned even more unpleasant. To think that Gerald would be able to progress so quickly! He knew he couldn’t afford to go easy on the youth anymore or their scores would just keep getting closer!

“…It appears that you’re getting the hang of the game extremely quickly, Mr. Crawford! I guess I can’t go easy on you anymore!” declared Xanry, making sure to make it obvious that he had been going easy on Gerald this entire time.

Upon hearing that, Gerald couldn’t help but chuckle in his mind as he thought, ‘I wonder who’s truly going easy on who now…’

Whatever the case was, the fourth round soon began…

Since Xanry was up first, he got his ball before concentrating hard on the pins before him…

Once he was ready, he tossed the bowling ball toward the pins extremely swiftly!

Chapter 1742

Xanry realized that he had made a miscalculation the second the ball hit the lane with a loud ‘thud’ before swerving right into the gutter! With that in mind, Xanry ended up getting no points for that round.

Seeing that, Xanry couldn’t help but frown. To think that he would actually make such a mistake at the worst possible time! How dissatisfactory!

Gerald himself wasn’t about to miss the chance to ridicule Xanry. Laughing aloud, Gerald then scoffed, “I guess you made a mistake just in time for me to catch up to you, Monitor! You have my thanks!”

Hearing that, Xanry grew immensely annoyed, though he didn’t really have anything to retort. After all, he was the one who had been careless.

Laughing bitterly in response, Xanry then replied, “…That’s right! I guess you do have a chance now!”

While Gerald didn’t say it out, in his mind, he was thinking, ‘Go on pretending! You’re still trying hard to put up an act even after I’ve given you a platform, huh?’

Now that it was Gerald’s turn again, he figured that it was high time he started closing the gap between their scores even more. As long as he remained a few points behind Xanry, he wouldn’t make his capabilities too obvious, and Xanry would surely continue being smug about it till the very last moment.

With that in mind, Gerald then got up and took yet another ball. Tossing it in one fluid motion, the ball rolled so steadily that by the time it got to the bowling pins, all ten of them ended up falling!

While gasps could be heard from the audience, Xanry’s frown only deepened. Now that Gerald had twenty-two points, he was only four marks behind Xanry. If he wasn’t careful, Gerald was surely going to surpass his score in the next round!

“Looks like I’m about to catch up to you, monitor!” said Gerald with a chuckle.

Forcing a laugh, the awkward Xanry then moved to take his fifth ball.

He now understood that due to him wanting to win so much in the previous round, he had gotten impatient, which led to his terrible performance. As the saying went, ‘slow and steady wins the race’. With that in mind, Xanry made sure to calm himself before tossing his next shot.

Naturally, now that he was much more focused, Xanry was able to get a strike as well!

Seeing that, his classmates instantly began cheering once more!

“Hell yeah!”

“Awesome, monitor! You got a strike again!”

Now that he had returned to his normal performance, Xanry couldn’t help but flash a smile. He was going to triumph over Gerald if it was the last thing he did!

Gerald, on the other hand, simply retained his poker face. Standing there calmly, it almost seemed like he didn’t even care about Xanry’s performance…

The truth was, however, that Gerald was cooking up a plan in his head. In his mind, he was thinking that instead of simply winning the competition by a landslide, wouldn’t it annoy Xanry even more if he won with only a single point higher than Xanry?

Just as Gerald was thinking how interesting that outcome would be, his train of thought was cut short when Xanry scoffed, “It’s your turn now, Mr. Crawford! Could it be that you’re getting frightened of me?”

The fact that Gerald still hadn’t made his move made Xanry delighted to no end. His humiliation earlier was definitely being redeemed now!

Chapter 1743

Nodding slightly, Gerald then picked up another bowling ball before tossing it almost nonchalantly. Even so, he ended up getting yet another strike! How astonishing!

“I’m sorry, monitor! It appears that I’ve hit all of them again! I guess I’ve already mastered bowling!” replied Gerald as he smiled while looking at Xanry.

Currently, while Xanry was still ahead with thirty-six points, Gerald was only four points behind him. With only three rounds left, the competition was going to end soon. Who was going to be the victor?

“…A bit too early to celebrate, wouldn’t you say, Mr. Crawford? After all, we still have three rounds to decide the victor!” scoffed Xanry as he picked yet another bowling ball to start the fifth round.

After positioning himself, Xanry then aimed for the pins before swiftly tossing the ball toward them!

When tossing a bowling ball, the route the ball ended up landing in would alter the ball’s strength as well as the number of pins it could hit. With that in mind, not everyone could just hit a strike as they pleased. If they were really unlucky, then the bowling ball would even end up rolling into the gutter!

Even so, Xanry had made use of this knowledge—as well as his aiming skills—to perfectly calculate the direction and strength of the ball. With how straight the ball was now rolling, Xanry was more than certain that he had secured himself another strike!

As the ball crashed into the pins, everyone held their breath as they watched the ones at the sides wobble to and fro… Until eventually, only one pin remained standing! With nine pins knocked over, Xanry now had forty-five points in the bag!

Even so, Xanry felt that the results weren’t ideal. After all, now that he had missed one pin, Gerald was one point closer to catching up to him!

Regardless, it was now Gerald’s turn. As long as he managed to hit all the pins, there would only be a three-point difference between their scores!

Picking the ball up before Xanry even had a chance to taunt him, Gerald then casually tossed it down the lane… only to end up getting another strike! How stupefying!

Due to that, there was now only a three-point difference between the two. With only two rounds left in the game, the winner of the competition was soon to be announced…

Looking dead serious now, Xanry was worried out of his mind. After all, if he didn’t perform well in the final two rounds, missing a single pin would result in Gerald winning the competition!

“Ah… Sorry monitor, but it seems that I got another strike! Lucky me!” said Gerald in an apologetic tone as he put on an innocent façade.

Hearing that, Xanry was so infuriated that he wanted to pummel Gerald to bits! However, he knew better than to do that. After all, that would surely make him look like a sore loser!

that, the sixth round

quiver slightly. He knew that being defeated by Gerald would surely bring him immense humiliation, and understanding that

slightly hesitating, Xanry then tossed the ball

knew that the results wouldn’t look pretty. Fortunately, he still ended up hitting four pins. With that, he now had a

that you’ve made another mistake, monitor!” said

blind… I can see

case was, Xanry could now only hope that Gerald would also make a mistake. If that happened, then Xanry would

Chapter 1744

him, Gerald wasn’t about to

even having to look where he was throwing, Gerald then confidently tossed it toward

After all, he was simply doing the

from Gerald. With the scores being fifty-two against forty-nine now, Gerald’s score had

turn over, the start of the seventh and final

anymore. If he didn’t land a strike, then

of whether he managed to get that final strike or not… With that

picked his final bowling ball before walking toward

he took in a deep breath, Xanry heard as his classmates began

you can do

You’ll definitely win,

his

he had recovered his strength, he glared at the

in the end, all ten pins were hit

he instantly jumped in joy and excitement. At the very least his final

was over, it was now

then it would officially be Xanry’s loss. However, if Gerald flubbed his roll, then it would

Xanry by a single point. Of course, with how easily he had been getting strikes, hitting eight pins was nothing to

final bowling ball and adjusted the

clattering of pins could soon be heard as the bowling ball’s strike left only two pins

hoped for, he had managed to hit exactly eight pins, and with his score being sixty, he had managed to win against Xanry

To think that he would be defeated by someone who hadn’t even played

was no stranger to bowling, but Xanry didn’t

Gerald didn’t want Xanry to get too embarrassed. After all, in the end, he was still Juno’s monitor. With that said, Gerald knew he had

“I guess I won, monitor! Sorry for that! However, I

that, Xanry instantly caught on to what Gerald was trying to do. Since Gerald was granting him a chance to lessen his shame, Xanry was certainly

Chapter 1745

got his wallet before fishing a hundred

to say no to that money. After all, he deserved it,

then waved farewell to Xanry before heading back to Juno’s

was prompted to ask, “What

I got a bit tired so I’m back now!” explained

she was aware of it,

as Xanry walked over to them with a few bottles of wine

much of a good time

Juno couldn’t help but frown slightly as she looked at Xanry,

look for more trouble after I defeated you earlier? How reluctant to lose are you? I

Xanry was still pestering him, Gerald was no longer against hiding his true strength. If it was a game Xanry wanted, then Gerald was going to play properly to show Xanry just how powerless he truly

you’re planning to play?” asked Gerald with a subtle smile after

agreement, Xanry then placed the dice before Gerald before

Gerald then replied,

hear! I won’t be telling you the rules then. Regardless, what say we spice up the game by betting seventy-five dollars per round? I’m sure that that small amount won’t be an issue for you. Besides, you already gained a hundred and fifty dollars from me earlier!” suggested Xanry, a hint of annoyance in his tone. Since he had been

Whatever the case was, he was a veteran when it came to dice. With that in mind, he definitely had a major

problem! I

sitting at the side—couldn’t help but look

Juno then whispered, “Hey, don’t

sensible enough to know my capabilities!” replied Gerald as he

should believe in Mr. Crawford,

all, she, of all people, trusted that Gerald wasn’t one

then pushed the

them up, Gerald then

against Xanry. What more, he had a secret weapon that the others were unaware of, that being the fact that he could differentiate

exclusive skill that ordinary people could never hope to achieve.

that in mind, it was pretty much set in stone that Gerald was going to be

Chapter 1746

that, the duo then began shaking their dice around for a

smiled as he said, “After you, Mr. Crawford! Make

Gerald then

then!” shouted

knew that Xanry definitely had two sixes. Gerald

only way to properly deal with Xanry would be to deliberately lose to him for a few rounds. Allowing Xanry to be smug the first few rounds would definitely make

Gerald then

couldn’t help but

Gerald’s

the results, the points of the dice didn’t add up to five fives. Instead,

the loss was calculated, and Gerald was still perfectly under control

it seems you’ve lost, Mr. Crawford!” said Xanry

After all, it was only seventy-five dollars. In a way, he was simply returning Xanry’s own money

was worried that the money would disappear or something,

had finally won some cash, Xanry

Gerald as both of them

stopped shaking, Xanry instantly said, “Since you lost in the

and knowing for a fact—with the aid of his keen hearing—that Xanry had two threes and three fives, Gerald deliberately answered wrongly to let Xanry win again by

had the exact opposite digits, with

Xanry then shouted,

was a number that neither of them

want Xanry to lose that quickly. In order to make Xanry’s defeat really sting, Gerald was going to

Chapter 1747

after a brief pause, Gerald then declared, “Five

Xanry

After all, he had been waiting for Xanry to do so. Everything was simply

his

the clearly sarcastic Xanry said in an apologetic tone, “Apologies, Mr. Crawford, but it appears that you’ve lost again! Looks like you’ll be

was already drunk with power. Xanry

some, you lose some!” replied Gerald in a casual tone as he

dollars, Juno quickly looked at Gerald

continued losing, his monetary losses would surely stack up

Gerald then said, “Don’t worry, Juno! The show has only begun! Besides, I haven’t lost a single cent! I won a hundred and fifty dollars from him earlier, so all I’ve

simply chose to remain silent as the competition between Gerald and

to him, it was high time Gerald revealed his true strength. It was finally time to go

that, both of them began

saw Gerald stop shaking his

one three. As for

in mind, Gerald

Xanry yelled, “Three

Gerald, no longer planning to allow Xanry

To think that Gerald would choose to

opened his

but it seems you’ve lost!” said Gerald

dollars and handed it to Gerald while saying, “…Fine! You

return the money to Gerald

Xanry yet. He wasn’t going

about it, monitor? Do you still wish to

Chapter 1748

wasn’t holding back anymore, Gerald