svetikya Chapter 23 Alliance Investigation Agent Confronts
Chapter 23 Alliance Investigation Agent Confronts
Inside the training facility at Oracle Arena in Oakland, the crisp swishing sound of a basketball swishing through the net had barely faded when the large screen in the center of the arena suddenly switched to an emergency announcement from the NBA's official website. The headline, in black letters on a white background, slammed into the heads of the entire Warriors team, who had just finished practice, like a block of ice.
[Official Announcement: Regarding the irregularities in the vote count for player Lin Hao in the 2003 Atlanta All-Star voting, the league has officially launched a compliance investigation. The investigation revealed that the player received over 78% of the votes from China, indicating a serious regional bias and suspected vote-rigging. If the investigation confirms the allegations, the league will immediately disqualify him from the All-Star game.]
The moment the announcement started playing, the air in the entire training hall seemed to freeze.
Richardson slammed his water bottle to the floor with a thud. He rushed to the screen, stared at the text, and cursed, "These sons of bitches! Pure double standards! They just investigated Yao Ming and now they're investigating 'Canned Food Guy' (a nickname for Yao Ming). They pull this stunt when the votes are high! So Chinese fans' votes don't count?!"
The teammates around him instantly erupted in anger. Murphy ripped the towel off his neck, his face flushed red: "What do you mean by 'abnormal data'? There are over a billion people in China, isn't it normal for the vote count to be high? They just can't stand a second-round pick, a Chinese player, getting the most votes!"
"Internet celebrity? Vote rigging?" Backup center Dampier slammed his fist on the basketball hoop, making the net rattle. "A player averaging 28+7+4 is called an internet celebrity? How many guards in the entire league can put up those numbers? These media guys are blind!"
Everyone crowded around, berating the alliance for its double standards and expressing their indignation on Lin Hao's behalf. Only the person at the center of the storm remained, leaning against the tech table, slowly unscrewing a can of peaches, forking a piece of peach and stuffing it into his mouth, his face completely expressionless, as if he weren't the one being investigated in the announcement.
He glanced at his teammates, who were indignant, and waved his hand with a smile. His thick Northeastern accent floated out slowly: "What's the rush? If a dog bites you, can you bite it back? Let them investigate if they want. The votes were cast by the fans one by one, it's all aboveboard, there's nothing shameful about it."
"But they're clearly targeting you, Canned Food Bro!" Richardson stamped his foot in frustration. "They think you're unworthy to stand on the same court as Shaq and Kobe because you're a second-round pick and Chinese!"
Lin Hao chewed on a peach, placed the can of food on the scorer's table, picked up the basketball next to him, and casually threw a three-pointer, which swished through the net. He wiped the sweat from his hands, his eyes no longer showing the nonchalance of before, but rather a more confident look: "Whether I deserve it or not isn't up to them to decide with their words. The All-Star team is voted on by the fans; whether I can play or not is determined on the court. They think they can nail me to the 'vote-rigging' label with just an announcement? Not so easy."
The moment he finished speaking, his phone started vibrating incessantly. His agent in China, Zhao Dabao, was calling from across the Pacific. As soon as he answered, a loud, characteristically Northeastern Chinese voice boomed from the other end, almost cracking with urgency: "Haozi! Did you see that stupid announcement from the league? These foreigners are just stirring up trouble! Let me tell you, I've already compiled all the legal evidence of the fans' votes and the platform's backend data. I've booked a flight to Oakland tonight, I'm going there overnight! I want to see how their legal department can have the nerve to say that our Chinese fans' votes are rigged!"
Zhao Dabao is Lin Hao's childhood friend and his full-time agent in China. From the moment Lin Hao entered the league, he has been handling all domestic affairs single-handedly, and he is incredibly reliable. For this All-Star voting, he single-handedly managed the voting channels and organized support activities for domestic fans, keeping complete and compliant records for every vote, leaving no room for any wrongdoing.
"Don't rush, Da Bao." Lin Hao leaned against the technical table, his tone very steady. "Be careful on the road, and bring all the evidence, especially the voting data from various platforms, as well as the official certificate from the Basketball Association. Make sure you have everything."
"Don't worry! Everything's taken care of!" Zhao Dabao patted his chest confidently on the other end of the line. "I've also contacted the leaders of the General Administration of Sport and the Basketball Association, and they'll issue an official statement supporting you immediately! And our fans across the country are absolutely ecstatic, all backing you up! Haozi, remember, you're not just backed by one person, you're backed by over a billion Chinese people! If they try to play dirty tricks, we Northeasterners aren't afraid!"
Less than ten seconds after hanging up with Zhao Dabao, overseas agent Harris called again. This veteran agent, who had been deeply involved in the NBA circle for over a decade, sounded barely contained his anger, yet still maintained top-notch professionalism:
"Lin, I've seen the league's announcement. First, I've contacted the most authoritative third-party data auditing agency in the US, and they've issued a complete voting compliance report. All your votes comply with league rules, and there's no trace of vote manipulation. Second, I've contacted the NBA Players Association's legal team, and they've clearly stated they're on your side. The league's investigation targeting a specific player without substantial evidence violates the league's draft and player rights regulations. Third, I've scheduled a formal meeting with the league's legal department tomorrow morning, and I'll bring all the evidence to confront their double standards."
Harris's thinking was frighteningly clear; in just over ten minutes, he had laid out all the possible countermeasures perfectly. He knew the league's tactics all too well. They simply saw that Lin Hao, a second-round pick and a Chinese player, had secured a landslide victory in the voting by leveraging the Chinese market, thus threatening the interests of those in power. So, they wanted to use the pretext of "vote rigging" to bring him down.
"Thank you for your hard work, Harris." Lin Hao smiled. "The key point is that we haven't violated any rules. The league's rules have never restricted fans' voting regions. They can't define it as abnormal just because the fans who voted are Chinese. Yao Ming could win the vote leader back then, and I can now too. This is the right of the fans, and it's not something they can take away at will."
"I understand," Harris said firmly. "I will let them know they've messed with the wrong person. In addition, Nike, Coca-Cola, and other partner brands have already contacted me, all expressing their support for you. They will not terminate their cooperation because of this investigation, and are even willing to cooperate with us to issue a joint statement to fight against the alliance's unreasonable investigation."
After hanging up two phone calls, his teammates in the training hall were dumbfounded. They originally thought Lin Hao was just a Northeastern boy who could play basketball and play the suona, but they didn't expect that the two lines behind him had already been set up steadily, with both domestic and international operations proceeding simultaneously, without the slightest panic.
At this moment on the internet, this storm has completely turned the world upside down.
The front pages of major North American sports media outlets were filled with sarcastic articles targeting Lin Hao. Bleacher Report ran the headline, "The most absurd vote-getter in history! A suona-playing internet celebrity, stepping on Shaq and Kobe, has become the face of the All-Star Game?" An ESPN columnist bluntly stated, "This is a desecration of the All-Star Game by the Chinese market. A second-round pick averaging less than 30 points per game doesn't deserve to stand on the All-Star starting stage." Even the Boston Globe joined in the chorus, saying, "The league should just cancel his eligibility and give the All-Star Game back to a pure arena."
On social media, the hashtags #InternetCelebrityVoteKing and #AllStarVotingJoke immediately topped the trending charts, with countless European and American fans joining the media frenzy, criticizing Lin Hao for not being worthy and accusing Chinese fans of vote rigging. Even many NBA players joined in. Boston Celtics' Paul Pierce stated in an interview, "I don't know who he is, and I don't want to know. Internet celebrities don't deserve to compete with us." Even Jay Williams, the second overall pick in the same draft class as Lin Hao, posted a message saying, "The All-Star Game is for truly talented players, not for those who can get in based on popularity and market influence."
Meanwhile, back home across the ocean, public opinion had already erupted into chaos.
The homepages of Hupu and Weibo were flooded with posts about Lin Hao's All-Star voting controversy. The hashtags #SupportLinHao# and #LeagueDoubleStandards# immediately topped the trending charts, garnering over 10 billion views overnight. Countless fans shared their voting records, criticizing the league's double standards: "We, over a billion people, cast our votes one by one to determine the top vote-getter, why doesn't that count?" "Now Lin Hao can't be the top vote-getter? Does that mean Chinese fans' votes are inferior?"
The General Administration of Sport and the Chinese Basketball Association issued official statements immediately, clearly stating that Lin Hao's All-Star voting was completely compliant, that Chinese fans' voting rights should be respected, and opposing the league's unreasonable investigations and biased statements targeting Chinese players. Fans across the country organized offline support activities, holding up posters of Lin Hao and suonas (traditional Chinese wind instruments), chanting slogans like "Northeast Big Flower, Charge Forward!" to support their hometown boy on the other side of the ocean.
Inside the training hall, reporters had already surrounded the entrance, with countless microphones and cameras shoved in, all aimed at Lin Hao.
"Lin Hao, the alliance has officially launched an investigation into your vote-rigging. What is your response?"
"Many sports stars and media outlets say you're an internet celebrity and don't deserve this vote leader award. What's your opinion?"
Would you voluntarily give up your All-Star participation spot?
A barrage of sharp questions rained down on him, but Lin Hao calmly picked up the ebony suona lying on the sidelines, casually slung it over his shoulder, grinned at the camera, and spoke with a resounding Northeastern accent:
"First, the votes were cast by the fans, one by one, openly and legally. I have nothing to say about it. If the league wants to investigate, let them. I'll see it through to the end. Second, whether I'm worthy or not isn't up to you to decide, nor is it something any star can decide by making a few harsh remarks. On the court in Atlanta, I will make it clear to everyone whether I'm worthy or not."
He paused, tapping the suona in his hand with his fingertips, a hint of ruthlessness in his eyes: "Also, stop calling me an internet celebrity. My internet celebrity status was earned by playing the suona, by hitting the ball. Instead of wasting time talking tough in front of the media, why not meet on the court and see who has the real skill?"
As soon as he finished speaking, a cold system notification suddenly rang in his mind:
[Ding! Temporary main quest triggered: Shatter Doubts]
[Task Requirements: During the final stage of the regular season, average 30+ points per game for 5 consecutive games, lead the team to 4 or more victories, and use on-court performance to refute all doubts about "influencer vote rigging"]
[Mission Rewards: 100% healing of left ankle injury, permanent +20% increase in shooting proficiency, temporary +10% bonus to all athletic attributes, lasting until the end of All-Star Weekend]
[Mission Failure Penalty: All-Star qualification automatically revoked, physical talent cap permanently locked]
Lin Hao's eyes lit up instantly.
He looked down at his ankle, an old injury that had been with him since the Summer Alliance. Even after the system repaired it, it still left some hidden dangers. But this mission reward could completely heal the old injury.
As for the task requirements? Five consecutive games with 30+ points, leading the team to four wins?
He smiled, picked up the basketball, raised his hand again, and launched a long-range three-pointer.
The basketball arced perfectly through the air and swished through the net.
Just then, the team's press officer strode in and loudly announced to the surrounding reporters: "The Golden State Warriors officially release a statement: We have 100% trust in player Lin Hao. His All-Star voting was completely compliant and legal. The team will fully support player Lin Hao in cooperating with the league's investigation and oppose any unreasonable prejudice and questioning against the player!"
The reporters erupted in a commotion, but Lin Hao simply gestured with his chin to his teammates who had gathered around, and shouted with a smile, "What are you all standing there for? Time for extra practice! If you want to play in the All-Star game, if you want to win, stop swearing here and put your energy into the game!"
Richardson was the first to grab a basketball and charged over, yelling, "Damn! Canned Food Guy was right! Let's beat the Kings next game! Let those foreign devils see if we're really internet celebrities!"
The setting sun shone through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the training hall, casting long shadows of the boys on the floor.
Lin Hao looked at the basketball in his hand, then glanced at the mocking press release still scrolling on the screen, a cold smile playing on his lips.
Do you think you can nail me down with just a public announcement?
Do you think you can dismiss the votes of Chinese fans with a few sarcastic remarks?
just wait.
I will use my performance on the court to slap you all in the face, one by one.