Chapter Five: The Deadline Triangle

Lu did not reveal the fifty-five-million forecast. He showed them the module removed from the testing machine. “The big club isn't the problem. The contract sells his knee and his data. Choose Madrid and I'll still negotiate for you—but read every page first.” Costa's hands shook at the perpetual medical authorization. On camera, he rejected the offer himself. “My body is not an appendix to a fee.” Public opinion reversed in minutes. With six hours remaining, Zero Point froze Ironbridge's account. Su had prepared a forty-eight-hour bridge guarantee from the players' union, conditional on Ironbridge publishing the debt's beneficial owner. Continue the freeze and Zero Point would be exposed; release it and the deal could close.