Ronald stood at the table, the weight of the game pressing down on him. He had hoped for the opportunity to go second, but instead, they'd lost the mini-game and were forced to go first. His mind raced, and he couldn't help but think about the strategy they had prepared: block the +50 section to prevent their opponents from getting too many points. It had seemed perfect at the time. But now that they were going second, he wondered if they should change things. Was it the right choice?
He glanced at his teammates—Clara, Max, and Steve—all of them waiting for him to decide. Each of them looked at him expectantly. He thought he could read their faces, their eyes saying, We trust you, Ronald. He felt a moment of relief, thinking their nods meant they were on board with sticking to the plan. They were in this together, and they'd follow whatever he decided.
What he didn't realize, however, was that their nods didn't mean what he thought. They weren't nodding because they wanted him to stay with the original strategy; they were nodding in silent hope that he'd change it. But none of them had the courage to speak up.
He was sure of himself. With a quiet exhale, Ronald placed the modifier token on the +50 section, blocking it for both teams. This is the best choice. This is the right move.
But as soon as he did, he heard the collective shock from his teammates. Clara and Max were the loudest, shouting at him almost immediately. "Are you out of your mind?" Clara yelled. "That's the worst move you could've made!"
Max shook his head in disbelief. "You've got to be kidding me, Ronald."
Steve just stared at the token in place, silently cursing under his breath. They were all stunned. He had done the exact opposite of what they had expected—and hoped—for him to do.
Across the room, Finn was watching Ronald closely, assessing the move and thinking through their own strategy. In this game, it wasn't just about executing a plan—they also had to anticipate their opponents' next move. Every decision, every modifier token placed, had to be calculated with that in mind.
As Ronald placed his token on the +50 section, Finn analyzed the choice. Blocking +50? That's a strong signal. He was sure now that Ronald's whole team was focusing on high-value numbers—those +30, +40, and +50 sections. It made sense: blocking those sections would cut off a major source of points for Finn's team, limiting the potential for a comeback.
But it's still too early to say if that's really their full strategy. They could be trying to go for a high-risk, high-reward play. But one thing is clear... Finn thought. By blocking +50, they're setting up for a play around high-value sections. There's no way they'll change it unless something significant happens on our side. If we get a lot of points, maybe. Otherwise, they'll stick with it.
The more he thought about it, the more confident he became. We need to take a risk. Block those sections, sure, but we need to change things up. He stared at the wheel, a plan forming in his mind. If I swap the +40 section with the +20, I can turn the game on its head. It's a risk, but it's a calculated one.
Finn stood up, making the change without hesitation. The new layout of the wheel was set: -10, +10, +40 (swapped), +30, +20 (swapped), +50 (blocked), -50, -40, -30, -20, and -10 again.
His teammates watched in stunned silence as he made the switch. Lucas's heart sank as he realized what Finn had just done. Riskier? This is crazy. In his mind, Lucas was cursing Finn's decision. Why take the risk? We won the mini-game. We were in the lead.
Lyra and Greg looked equally stunned, unable to hide their confusion.
The voice from the speaker cut through the tension. "Ronald will spin the wheel first."
Ronald stepped forward, tense but determined. He was more focused than ever, his hand steady as he gripped the lever. He didn't feel the nervous energy in the same way his team did. His mind was on one thing: winning.
He pulled the lever with a swift motion, sending the wheel into a blur. His eyes followed the spinning arrow, watching as it began to slow. He couldn't afford to look away. Come on, come on... he willed silently.
The wheel slowed and clicked to a stop.
+40.
Ronald felt a rush of relief. Yes! He grinned as he turned to his team. "Luck's on our side," he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.
But when he saw their faces, his grin faltered. They weren't celebrating. Instead, they were staring at him as though he had just betrayed them. Lucas was silently fuming, Clara was shaking her head, and Max looked like he might burst out with frustration.
Fuck! Our opponents were the ones to benefit from my change. Damn It! Finn then stepped up, trying to shake off the tension that was now weighing heavily on him. This is it. Time to make our move.
He stepped up to the wheel, his heart pounding in his chest. I can't let this risk backfire. I've got to make it work.
He grabbed the lever, trying to push down his nervousness. The wheel began to spin under his touch, the hum of its motion making him feel even more on edge. He stared intently at the arrow, hoping it would land in his favor.
The wheel slowed, and Finn watched as the arrow neared the -10 section. His stomach twisted. Please, not now... he thought. Come on, just a little further...
The arrow was about to stop on -10, but with a final, almost imperceptible shift, it clicked into the +10 section instead.
Finn exhaled sharply. Thank you. He sighed in relief and turned to face his team, who had been watching with baited breath.
Lucas was the first to speak, his voice low and sharp. "That was foolish, Finn. You shouldn't have risked it."
Lyra's face was red with anger, her voice rising as she shouted at Finn. "You idiot! What were you thinking?!"
Greg stepped in, his tone more measured as he tried to mediate. "Lyra, calm down. Let's just focus."
Finn looked around at his teammates. They were all frustrated, but he felt an overwhelming sense of guilt. I took the risk... maybe it was too much. He met their eyes. "I'm sorry, guys," he said quietly. "I thought it was the right play."
The voice over the speaker interrupted the moment. "Teams, please decide on your strategy for the next round."
It was a brief respite, but the tension in the air remained thick as both teams pondered their next move.