Phoenix Rising: From Heartache to Heroism
Chapter 205 An Unexpected Feud

The staff member looked very embarrassed. "Sorry, but I'd like to speak with your captain."

Amara stepped aside. "Evelyn, they want to see you."

Evelyn put down her ID card and walked to the door. "What's going on?"

The staff member started apologising, "Ms. Evelyn, I'm really sorry-"

Before he could finish, Hattie bypassed him and strutted into the lounge, her eyes brazenly scanning the space. She spoke in a commanding tone, "Alright, we'll take this room."

The team inside was taken aback.

Evelyn asked, "What do you mean?"

The staff member explained, "Ms. Evelyn, this is Ms. Hattie from Flame Vanguard. She wants to switch lounges with you."

This room had windows and a nice view.

Hattie, arms crossed and fiddling with her nails, added, "Yeah, I like this lounge. Since you're only playing one match this afternoon, just give it to us."

Evelyn frowned. "What do you mean by 'only one match'?"

Hattie snickered, "Exactly what it sounds like."

In her eyes, neither 'The Spring Blossom' nor 'The Mighty Dragons' were making it to the finals, so it made sense to her that they should give up the spacious lounge.

If she had asked nicely, Evelyn might have agreed.

But her rude and unreasonable attitude was too much.

"I'm not switching. Get out."

The staff member looked troubled.

Hattie insisted, "Why not? Give me one good reason."

Amara cut in, "No means no. Can't you understand a simple refusal?"

Hattie blinked at Amara, her gaze dripping with disdain as she looked her up and down. "And who are you? If you're not the captain, you have no say here. You're just here for the prize money, right? How about I pay you to switch lounges?"

All of them are shocked.

That was truly disgusting!

Was she here just to bully them?

The two girls on the couch jumped up. "What's your problem? Think you're hot stuff just because you have some money? If you're rich, why not buy the whole sports arena and pick any room you want?" Hattie ignored them, looking a bit impatient. She sighed, then turned to Evelyn and said, "Cut the nonsense. How about 3,000 dollars? Deal?"

Evelyn replied, "I'd switch for free with anyone else, but with you? No way."

"Ha."

Hattie sneered and walked out of the room.

She wasn't giving up, though. She went straight to the organisers to negotiate.

The organisers would probably cave under her pressure and give her another lounge. But as for switching with them? Not a chance!

After Hattie left, the staff member apologised profusely to them.

After all, the staff job wasn't easy either.

Evelyn said, "It's okay."

Once they closed the door, the lounge erupted in chatter.

"What was that? Using money to insult people, what era does she think she's in? It's the modern age. Does she think she's some kind of aristocrat from the olden days?"

"What a joke! What team did she say she was on? 'Flame Vanguard'? Haha, I wish I could meet her. I'd teach her a lesson!"

"Yeah, and she even offered 3,000; it's laughable! Does she really think 3,000 dollars is a lot of money?"

Their gaming buddy team charged a high fee despite them being just teenagers. Each of them had strong earning capabilities.

They had seen money before; there was no way they'd be tempted by 3,000 dollars.

Evelyn intervened and said, "Alright, let's not bother with her."

Later, Hattie negotiated with the organisers and finally got the desired lounge.

However, this encounter began a feud between Hattie and 'The Spring Blossom'.

Violeta and her friends went to George's internet café.

They watched the preliminary matches of 'The Spring Blossom' online. They clearly had a strategic approach, and each member displayed impressive skills. They carefully analysed their gameplay, dissecting their rhythm and individual strengths to identify weaknesses and devise a strategy tailored to counter them.

"Give me five!"

"If we win this afternoon's match, barbeque tonight!"

"Sounds good."

After a simple lunch, they played a few more games.

George knew Violeta had been busy with the college competition and hadn't had time to check the black market.

But there was some recent news he felt he should share.

Knowing Violeta preferred to keep her identity low-profile, George approached her quietly while she was getting water.

"There's a bounty on you in the black market."

"Huh?"

Violeta paused slightly. "A bounty on me?"

George nodded. "Someone has put up a bounty of 150 thousand dollars based on your previous posts in the black market, tracing your IP to Quinston. The higher-ups in the black market are after you, and now many people are digging into you online. You should be prepared."