Boxing God-Chapter 236: The Gambling Den

When Coach Brown and Raul saw Jason Luo’s sudden change in demeanor, they immediately realized something serious had happened. They called Rod, and the group hurried to Jason’s home.
As soon as they entered, Tony’s father, Harold Huo, was pacing back and forth in distress. “Jay, thank God you’re here! How could I have raised such a son? What are we supposed to do? Should we just call the police?”
Jason slowly shook his head. “Uncle Huo, that won’t help. This is America—Atlantic Casino is a legitimate business. At best, we could accuse them of unlawful detention, but casinos use these kinds of debt collection tactics all the time. They’re experts at finding loopholes in the law, so it’s unlikely to work. And besides, Tony’s in their hands right now…”
“What should we do then?” Harold Huo said, voice breaking. “He might be an idiot, but I can’t just let him die!”
Not long after, Rod and the others arrived. Once they understood the situation, everyone’s expression darkened. Rod, the most experienced among them, spoke gravely. “Gambling debts are a nightmare to deal with. The money always has to be repaid, but the conditions vary wildly. If you don’t have the right connections, they’ll add sky-high interest and bogus fees. In short, they’ll bleed you dry.”
Harold Huo was stunned. “Interest too? Oh no… then he’s doomed!”
“That’s why you never touch gambling,” Rod said grimly. “Those people are predators. Unless someone with real influence steps in, no one will negotiate with them.”
Jason clenched his jaw. “Dad, Tony’s my best friend. We don’t have any powerful connections, so the only option is to pay the debt. How much can we gather right now?”
Henry Luo frowned but answered, “We’ve got less than three hundred thousand in cash. The rest is tied up in Treasury bonds and gold—it’d take too long to liquidate.”
Harold Huo immediately said, “Mr. Luo, I owe you big! I’ll try to raise the rest myself. I’ll borrow what I can and be back before noon!” He turned and bolted out the door.
Once he was gone, Rod stepped forward. “Honestly, the money’s not the real issue. Your fight purse and win bonus total close to two hundred thousand. It hasn’t been settled yet, but I can advance it to you. Still, Jason, even if you go with all that cash, I’m worried it won’t be enough. They’ll just keep squeezing you.”
Brown nodded in agreement. “Jason, if the talks break down, things could turn ugly fast. It’s too dangerous. You can’t afford to act rashly right now.”
Jason understood their concern. “Dad, listen. Tony got into gambling on his own, but I’m starting to think he was dragged into this because of me.”
He then explained the dinner at Tony’s house before the fight.
Henry Luo’s face went pale. “You’re saying someone used the gambling debt to pressure Tony into drugging you?”
Jason nodded. “That’s the only thing that makes sense. But since VADA’s tests came back clean, it means Tony chose to take the fall himself rather than go through with it. Dad, how can I not save him after that?”
Henry Luo nodded slowly. “If that’s true, then he’s not beyond redemption. Alright. Money’s just money—but we have to stay careful.”
Raul thought for a moment. “Atlantic City’s in New Jersey. I have a close friend there—works in the state’s power department. I’m not sure how much he can help, but it’s worth a shot.”
Jason briefly thought of Catherine but quickly dismissed the idea. This wasn’t the kind of trouble to drag her into.
Henry Luo said, “If Mr. Raul’s friend is willing to help, that’ll be much better than going in blind. Mr. Raul, please contact him. We’ll make sure to repay the favor properly.”
Raul stepped out to make the call and returned a few minutes later. “My friend Sost agreed to help. We’ll meet him in Atlantic City.”
The situation was urgent. By noon, Harold Huo had scraped together a bit over a hundred thousand, and combined with the Luo family’s funds, they managed to gather around four hundred and seventy thousand dollars.
The group set off—Harold Huo, Jason Luo, and Rod. Jason didn’t want to involve Rod, but Rod insisted. “I need to be there to ensure your safety from the company’s side.” Then he glanced meaningfully at the cash on the table, and Jason understood—if the money fell short, they might need corporate backup.
The three of them, plus Sost, made four. That was enough—any more would only complicate things.
By evening, they arrived in Atlantic City. After meeting up, the group headed straight to the Three Guns Casino.
They never even saw the owner. A manager met them in an office. Without hesitation, Sost handed over his business card. “It’s not a big issue. We’ve brought the money. Just release the man—there shouldn’t be a problem, right?”
The manager glanced at the card, placed it on the desk, and said politely, “Ah, Mr. Sost. My apologies! Please, have a seat. I’m afraid this matter’s a bit complicated. How much did you bring today?”
Sost narrowed his eyes. The tone was off. “We’re all friends here. Name your number—but don’t make me lose face.”
The manager smiled faintly. “Mr. Sost, you misunderstand. We wouldn’t disrespect you. But my boss made it very clear—without one million, the man doesn’t leave.”
“What?” Sost shot to his feet. “Yesterday you said the debt was four hundred thousand! We came to pay today, and now you’re asking for a million? Fine! Looks like your casino’s got powerful friends. Guess you don’t care about the power grid anymore!”
“Come now, Mr. Sost, no need to get upset,” the manager replied smoothly. “Our casino can’t survive a second without electricity. We’d never offend the power department. In fact, our boss is playing bridge right now in the VIP lounge—with your superior, Mr. Finier. Perhaps you’d like to say hello?”
“You…” Sost slumped back in his chair. “You people are ruthless. Every industry has its rules, but you don’t even bother pretending anymore.”
Seeing his tone soften, the manager’s attitude shifted slightly. “To be honest, we’re in a difficult position too. There’s more to this situation than money. Otherwise, we wouldn’t risk offending you for such a small sum.”
That cooled Sost’s temper a little. “Can you tell us what’s really going on?”
The manager hesitated. “I don’t know the full story. But it seems the man you’re here for offended someone important. That’s all I can say.”
Sost drew a sharp breath and glanced back at Jason. Jason, who had been silent the whole time, was increasingly certain that Tutkason was behind it all.
But speculation could wait—saving Tony came first. “Mr. Manager,” Jason said firmly, “just tell us straight. How much will it take to release him?”
The manager looked at Sost. “Eight hundred thousand in cash, and he walks free immediately. Otherwise, forget it. And one more thing—better act fast. The interest rate isn’t exactly friendly.”