• CHHAPTER 51: The Game of Geniuses (10)

A humiliating defeat.

A crushing loss.

Lee Sang-moon had to swallow his pride.

It was the kind of blow that would shatter the average person’s mental state.

But Sang-moon wasn’t an average person. He was a seasoned veteran of the entertainment industry—he’d been through hell and back.

He pulled himself together, steadying his shaken composure.

“It’s fine, Lee Sang-moon! You’ve survived worse, you son of a—!”

He gave himself a pep talk and snapped his eyes wide open.

Watching him, Do-joon smiled faintly, intrigued.

‘Good. You’re not giving up already. That wouldn’t do, considering all the crap you pulled, Sang-moon.’

Do-joon’s revenge wasn’t over yet.

The second game was where he planned to completely break Sang-moon’s spirit.

To the point where just hearing Do-joon’s name would give him PTSD.

The announcer wasted no time moving the competition forward.

“We’ll now begin the second game of the finals.
This game is called [Number Battle].
Each player will use tiles numbered from 1 to 10. The higher number wins.
The winner of each round earns 1 point.
If both tiles have the same number, it’s a draw. Used tiles are discarded.

Each player also receives two [Joker Tiles].
A Joker Tile can transform into one of your already-used numbers, with a +1 bonus.
For example, if you’ve already used the number 3, a Joker can become a 4.

Winning with a Joker earns you 2 points.

The game ends once all tiles are used. The player with the most points wins.”

With the rules explained, Sang-moon received black tiles. Do-joon got white.

As he accepted his tiles, Sang-moon fell into deep thought.

‘Securing early points will be key in this game.’

If he gave away too many points early on, even holding higher numbers later wouldn’t guarantee victory—pressure could wreck his decision-making.

But if he built a lead early, he could play with confidence in the final rounds.

‘Ideally, I want to win with a slim margin, and if Do-joon plays a high number, I’ll throw away a low one.’

The real heart of this game was the Jokers.

Specifically, when to use them.

The catch? You could only use a Joker to mimic a number you’d already played.

‘That means I need to play my 10 early. Then I can turn the Joker into an 11.’

That would give him the strongest possible hand.

This was a game Sang-moon could actually win.

No need for spatial awareness or weird talents—just pure psychological warfare.

‘There’s no way I, a battle-hardened vet, lose to a high schooler in a mind game.’

His confidence grew.

Right then, Do-joon spoke up.

“Hyung, just a heads-up—I’ll beat you 6 to 2.”

Sang-moon scoffed.

“Predicting the future now? Funny.”

Only 2 points for him?

The game began.

“Please submit your first tile.”

Sang-moon shuffled his tiles thoughtfully.

‘Let’s test the waters first.’

He played a 4.

If Do-joon played low, he’d win. If high, it wasn’t a big loss.

Do-joon also placed his tile.

“Revealing tiles—
Do-joon: 9
Sang-moon: 4

Do-joon earns 1 point.”

Sang-moon lost, but smiled inwardly.

‘Perfect. Losing a 4 to a 9? I’ll take that.’

It confirmed Do-joon was also aiming to grab early points.

‘He’s thinking like me. This is where it gets real.’

He couldn’t afford another cheap loss.

‘If he’s still in early-point mode, he’ll play a high number next.’

Do-joon still had 8 and 10.

Sang-moon submitted a 10.

‘At worst, a draw.’

Do-joon placed his tile.

“Revealing tiles—
Do-joon: 1
Sang-moon: 10

Sang-moon earns 1 point.”

Sang-moon flinched.

‘I fell for it.’

He’d assumed Do-joon was thinking like him—and that was his mistake.

He won, but in reality, it was a loss.

He’d been read like an open book.

‘It’s fine. I can still turn it around.’

He reset his focus.

‘Stick to the plan—score early.’

This time, he played a 9.

“Revealing tiles—
Do-joon: 10
Sang-moon: 9

Do-joon earns 1 point.”

Sang-moon’s mental state wavered.

The worst-case scenario.

‘I should’ve played 1 instead…’

Now 1 had lost its usefulness.

He’d missed the timing, and that made it practically worthless.

‘Whatever. If I can land both Jokers, I get 4 points back!’

He still had a chance to turn the game.

But he needed to keep racking up points before then.

‘Time for the mid-number battles.’

These rounds would shape the final outcome.

Sang-moon cautiously played an 8.

“Revealing tiles—
Do-joon: 8
Sang-moon: 8

It’s a draw.”

Sang-moon sighed internally.

‘Maybe I should’ve used the Joker.’

But no, the Joker was a trump card. Not yet.

He started discarding middle numbers.

But something felt off.

“Revealing tiles—
Do-joon: 7
Sang-moon: 7

It’s a draw.”

Again?

“Revealing tiles—
Do-joon: 6
Sang-moon: 6

It’s a draw.”

And then again.

“Revealing tiles—
Do-joon: 5
Sang-moon: 5

It’s a draw.”

Four straight draws.

It looked harmless, but it was dangerous.

‘One misstep and this game’s over.’

Current score: Do-joon 2, Sang-moon 1.

The smallest mistake could spiral into defeat—for either of them.

‘Is this the timing…?’

He had no choice.

He placed a Joker.

Do-joon had already submitted his tile and looked up.

“Hyung.”

“What?”

“You realize something, right?”

“What are you talking about?”

Do-joon smirked and pointed at his tiles.

“You haven’t noticed? I planned my tile order from the very beginning.”

“…What?”

Sang-moon scanned Do-joon’s setup.

He hadn’t shuffled even once—he’d been submitting them left to right, in perfect order.

“I predicted your moves and set mine in advance.”

Sang-moon’s hands trembled slightly.

“And to prove it—”

Do-joon suddenly laid all his remaining tiles on the table.

Even the dealer looked startled.

“I’m submitting them all now. Please reveal them in order. I won’t touch them again, no matter what happens.”

Was it arrogance?

No—it was overwhelming confidence.

He radiated authority, like a king commanding from a throne.

Even Sang-moon flinched at the pressure.

“Dealer, reveal our next tiles. I believe Sang-moon just played a Joker.”

“H-How…?”

Sang-moon stammered.

“Revealing tiles—
Do-joon: Joker
Sang-moon: Joker

What number will each Joker become?”

No hesitation.

“10.”

“10 for me as well.”

“Both Jokers become 11.
It’s a draw.”

Another draw.

Five in a row.

The score was still 2:1.

But with this draw, Sang-moon’s chance at victory slipped further away.

He had 1, 2, 3, and a Joker left.

Do-joon had 2, 3, 4, and a Joker.

Unless Do-joon deliberately lost, Sang-moon had no path to victory.

Then Do-joon spoke.

“My next tile is 2.”

Giving away his next move?

If that was true, Sang-moon’s best response was 3.

He played it.

“Revealing tiles—
Do-joon: 2
Sang-moon: 3

Sang-moon earns 1 point.”

Score tied: 2:2.

But the outcome was already written.

Sang-moon had 1, 2, and a Joker.

Do-joon had 3, 4, and a Joker.

‘No way to win.’

Even if he used a Joker to beat 3 and 4, that’s only 2 points.

He’d lose the rest.

Final score? 4:5. Do-joon’s victory.

‘Even if our Jokers clash, it’ll be 11 vs 11 again. Draw. That’d make it 2:4—still Do-joon wins.’

Sang-moon closed his eyes.

‘Guess this is it.’

Still, he committed to finishing with dignity.

A 4:5 loss sounded better than 2:4.

He played a Joker.

‘As long as Do-joon doesn’t use one…’

One in three chance.

But Do-joon’s order was locked in—so odds were meaningless.

“Revealing tiles—
Do-joon: Joker
Sang-moon: Joker”

‘Damn. Missed again.’

He cursed quietly.

“Mr. Lee, what number will your Joker become?”

“10.”

“Your Joker becomes 11.
Mr. Kim, your number?”

Do-joon looked him in the eye.

“I’ll make it 11. That’s allowed, right?”

“Yes. Your Joker becomes 12.”

“…What?”

Sang-moon blinked in disbelief.

Then realization struck.

‘Ah… a Joker mimics an already-used number. The one I used before was 11… So he used that to go to 12.’

“Mr. Kim wins the round with 12. He earns 2 points.”

Sang-moon dropped his head.

A total defeat.

Even in understanding the game mechanics, he’d been outclassed.

The remaining rounds were foregone conclusions.

1 vs 3. 2 vs 4. Losses.

“All rounds are complete.
Final score: 6 to 2.”

As the numbers echoed, something clicked in Sang-moon’s mind.

He looked at Do-joon with a blank stare.

Off-camera, Do-joon mouthed a silent sentence.

But Sang-moon understood it perfectly:

“I told you I’d beat you 6 to 2.”

From beginning to end, Sang-moon had played in Do-joon’s palm.

Then the announcer appeared on screen.

“With two straight wins, Kim Do-joon takes the championship!
Congratulations to our [Game of Geniuses: Season 2] winner!”

Pop! Bang! Crack!

Fireworks exploded behind them, glitter showering from the ceiling.

Base prize: 100 million won.

Bonus for holding 40 gems: an extra 200 million.

Do-joon became the 300-million-won champion of the hottest show in the country—by utterly dominating

his opponent.