Chapter Two: After Nine Matches

The room erupted. Graycastle's listed shares fell; three hours later, they accepted the hundred-thousand purchase and surrendered their sell-on share in exchange for secrecy. Lin refused secrecy. With personal details covered, he submitted the trap clause to the league. Marcus scored the winner in Round Two. Northport had four points, and ridicule turned to admiration. Then Su brought Seamount's revised Costaro offer. The price had fallen from five million to two, but Northport would owe a two-hundred-thousand “due-diligence fee” if it declined. “We never agreed to that,” Su said. “Which means they needed me to open it.” Lin studied director Roland Klein's signature. “Someone inside Northport opened a door for him.” Red text surfaced.