The Strongest Curse Master-Chapter 126: Challenge Completed

"Sure, please make the donation first and introduce yourself," Brooke remained, controlling her emotions and immediately regaining her professional smile for the camera. She gestured toward the donation box and register next to her twin, Brock, deliberately ignoring smug Mandy, who pulled out her phone and began filming. Mandy’s expression glimmered with satisfaction, ready to capture either her nephew’s or Brooke’s epic fail. Either way, it was worth the $100.

Walking toward the donation box, Ace pulled out the hundred-dollar bill. But as he prepared to stuff the bill into the box, he paused. Turning to Brooke, he said, "I’m Ace Lander and I would like you to repeat the rules and rewards once again before I sign up."

Brooke tilted her head slightly, her expression unflinching as she maintained her polished demeanor. "The rules are simple," she began, her voice steady. "You have to stand behind that line, use your dominant hand while keeping your other hand behind your back, and extract the gold bar through the opening in the glass within two minutes. Obviously, you’re not allowed to break the glass. If you do, you’ll have to donate $1,000 to the Rural Revival’s cause as a fine. However," she added, her tone brightening, "if you manage to take out the gold bar from the glass case following all the rules, you win that Polaris Ranger XP1000."

She delivered the explanation with a radiant smile pointing at the UTV/SxS displayed behind her, carefully mustering her most charming expression for the camera. Even though the footage wasn’t live, she needed excellent shots to create a stellar video with great content.

"Are there any hidden clauses I should be aware of? Also, you don’t have my permission to use me in your video," Ace said, nodding as he acknowledged the rules of the challenge. His tone was firm, masking his true intentions. He asked about hidden clauses to avoid being caught off guard later. At the same time, he warned Brooke about using him in her video, though he fully intended to have Dame Wasp hack into her devices and erase any photos or footage of him.

"No, there are no other hidden clauses," Brooke replied, her voice calm and professional. "As long as you manage to take the gold bar out of the glass case through the opening within two minutes, following all the rules, you can take that Polaris Ranger home right away. And rest assured, without your permission, I will not use your footage in my video." She spoke with patience, addressing both Ace and the audience while skillfully setting aside her personal issues with him and the Lander family. Her poised response impressed everyone, showcasing her capability as an influencer.

"Great. I’d like you to show that the hole in the glass case is big enough to take out the gold bar," Ace demanded as he finally stuffed the hundred-dollar bill into the donation box and wrote his name in the register.

"Sure," Brooke said gracefully, nodding. She opened the back of the glass case, used one hand to push the gold bar through the hole, and then retrieved it with her other hand. After placing the bar back in the case, she locked it again. Turning to Ace with a charming smile, her eyes betrayed a flicker of annoyance. "Satisfied? Now, will you begin the challenge?"

"Alright," Ace replied, shrugging off his denim jacket and handing it to Lola. He rolled up his sleeves, revealing his toned arm muscles, and stepped confidently behind the start line. A self-assured smile spread across his face. He had seen this challenge countless times on YouTube and knew the trick to completing it. Considering his physical stats, the weight of the gold bar and the time limit weren’t an issue.

With the crowd’s cheers echoing around her, Brooke pulled out a stopwatch pre-set to two minutes and a whistle. Standing next to the glass case and facing the crowd, she raised her voice above the noise and announced, "Ready, set, go!" She blew the whistle sharply while simultaneously starting the timer.

Ignoring the crowd’s cheers and shouted advice, Ace focused solely on the task. He carefully positioned himself behind the line, double-checking his stance. Slowly, he inserted his dominant hand into the oval hole of the glass case, his other hand neatly folded behind his back. Inside the case, his fingers extended toward the gold bar. His thumb and index finger pinched the bar, while the remaining fingers provided support. His grip was precise yet delicate, ensuring that his fingers were perfectly aligned to maneuver the bar through the narrow opening.

With fluid control, Ace lifted the bar to the level of the hole, drawing murmurs of surprise from the onlookers. Tilting the gold bar at an angle, he carefully aligned one end with the hole to aid in maneuvering it through. He slowly and methodically inserted the angled end into the hole, applying just enough pressure to guide it through without risking damage to the glass. His movements were deliberate, demonstrating both strength and precision.

When Ace successfully inserted the gold bar into the hole in under twenty seconds, the crowd collectively held its breath, not wanting to disrupt his concentration. Many observant onlookers had already noticed the clever design by the Rockworth twins: the gold bar was unusually heavy, and the hole was positioned higher from the ground, making it nearly impossible for most participants to hold the bar long enough to extract it. Yet Ace moved with a graceful ease, showcasing his toned forearm muscles, biceps, and triceps as he worked.

His display of strength and finesse earned Ace admiration from both men and women in the crowd, their awe evident in the murmurs and exchanged glances.

Meanwhile, the Rockworth twins were beginning to panic as things weren’t going according to their plan. They had carefully designed the challenge to be nearly impossible, using the time limit, the requirement to use only one hand while the other remained folded behind the back, the minimum distance from the glass case, the weight of the gold bar, and the height of the opening in the glass case from the surface. Despite all these measures, someone was actually close to completing the gold bar challenge.

Ace showed no sign of rushing as he continued to carefully maneuver the rest of the bar through the hole. His movements were precise and controlled as he adjusted his grip and the angle of the bar to ensure a smooth passage. Once the entire bar had passed through the hole, he lifted it triumphantly out of the case and shouted, "Yeah!"

The crowd, who had been holding their collective breath, erupted into cheers, celebrating his victory as if it were their own.

"Ace, you did it!" Mandy exclaimed, her voice ringing with excitement as she stood with Lola and Danny. But her attention, and her phone’s camera, was focused on Brooke and Brock. She made sure to record the visible shift in their expressions as Ace completed their rigged challenge with ease.

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The Rockworth twins were devastated by Ace’s victory. This was not part of their plan. The UTV had been intended solely as a prop to attract participants, not as a prize to actually be given away. Panic flickered across their faces as they considered their options: should they go back on their promise and face the wrath of the crowd or give away the UTV and face their father’s fury?

The thought of the winner being a Lander only added to their dread. Either way, they knew they’d face their father’s anger, but going back on their word against a Lander would disgrace their family in town. Reluctantly, they decided to give away the UTV without causing a scene and braced themselves for the inevitable reckoning they would face back home.

Pushing aside Danny, who was enthusiastically hugging him, Ace turned to the twins and extended the gold bar toward them. His grip tightened on it, signaling that he had no intention of letting go unless they handed him the papers and keys to the Polaris Ranger. His piercing gaze made it clear he wouldn’t back down.

To his surprise, the twins reluctantly handed Ace the keys and papers while taking back the gold bar. "The Polaris Ranger is now yours," they said, their voices stiff but resigned.

Brooke’s eyes darted over the crowd, her expression hardening as she noticed a few shady figures lingering among the onlookers. With a subtle movement, she slipped the gold bar into her LV handbag, her fingers brushing the smooth leather as she zipped it shut. Keeping her composure, she subtly signaled a nearby school security guards and a beat cop, her expression conveying urgency. They nodded in understanding and began making their way toward her.

Brooke leaned slightly toward Brock and whispered, her tone firm, "Carry the donation box, we are heading to the school gymnasium where Mom and Dad are. We’ll be safer there." Together, they began moving with the guard and cop, determined to avoid trouble while maintaining a dignified front.

Holding up the keys and papers with a triumphant grin, Ace turned to Mandy and said, "Looks like I’ll be heading back in a Polaris Ranger." His tone carried a teasing edge, and his eyes sparkled with satisfaction.

Mandy rolled her eyes dramatically, crossing her arms with an amused smirk. "I don’t care about that," she said, waving her phone in front of him. "I got the best angle of the Rockworth twins’ devastated faces when you won. Their expressions were priceless—pale as frozen popsicles!" She chuckled, her excitement bubbling over. "I can’t wait to get back home, edit it, make memes, and post them online."