Chapter 5

Everyone couldn't help but laugh.

"Two hundred a set? And they dare use that?"

"When I first started, I saw that kind of stuff. Those carabiners aren't as sturdy as wire. Pure scams targeting beginners. Using that stuff for rock climbing—aren't they afraid of falling to their deaths?"

"We're guaranteed to win this time. The sponsors should keep investing in us!"

Ever since Johnson's team started winning first place every time, all the advertisers who used to sponsor Pratt's team had left.

Rock climbing competitions had high viewership, and each advertising sponsorship was worth three hundred thousand.

Over these years, Johnson had gone from a working-class guy who had to grit his teeth to buy three-thousand-dollar equipment to quitting his job and earning five figures a month from competitions alone.

That's why he was so eager to kick me out.

Three hundred thousand—one less person meant he could get a bigger share.

Before I knew it, competition day arrived.

At the team assembly point, Johnson and the others were waiting for Muniz to deliver the equipment.

I drove up to the assembly point with equipment loaded in my car. As soon as I opened the trunk, Johnson ran over to stop me.

"What are you doing, Elena? Didn't we say we don't want your equipment? Are you still trying to force a sale?"

"Aren't you done making dirty money? You can't sell your stuff without us, can you?"

Verna frowned too. "Elena, your behavior is really ugly."

Diallo pursed his lips. "Still trying to make us your suckers, huh?"

I said expressionlessly, "I'm here to compete. This equipment isn't for you."

Johnson looked completely annoyed.

"Compete? You're not part of our team anymore!"

"Our sponsorship and prize money have nothing to do with you!"

"I'm going to tell the referee right now that you're not a member of our team. Don't even try it!"

"Hurry up and take your stuff back home!"

Pratt ran over with his team members and pushed Johnson aside.

"Elena is our team member. It's not your place to boss her around."

The team members helped me unload the equipment from the car and distributed the bags with their names on them.

"Damn, this feels different!"

"How is this helmet so light yet so sturdy?"

"These shoes are so comfortable!"

Johnson and the others looked embarrassed, but finally turned away with a sneer.

"A bunch of idiots. Getting sold out and helping count the money."

Just then, Muniz's car pulled up.

She opened her trunk and called to everyone: "Come get your equipment!"

Johnson and the others grabbed their gear while shooting us sideways glances.

"Sigh, some suckers are going to be biting their teeth and crying when they see we bought our equipment for two hundred, right?"

Diallo laughed out loud.

"Captain, why are you provoking them? What if they cry so hard they can't climb?"

Verna covered her mouth. "No, they'll lose the strength to climb from beating up Elena."

Diallo picked up the bag with her name on it. "So light and convenient, even lighter than our old equipment!"

Johnson eagerly went to unzip it.

Muniz raised her eyebrows smugly. "What I'm giving you is the best—"

Before she could finish, Johnson's incredulous voice rang out.

"What the hell is this pile of crap!"