Everyone present knew the odds: not looking at a hidden card, following an all-in, and betting on a single card — the chances of winning based on luck alone were incredibly slim!
But as Ethan Wu spoke, it seemed to dawn on them. Having a card you've already seen versus blindly betting on luck are two entirely different things. It's like in poker: aggressively betting without looking at your cards and hitting a high-ranking hand is worlds apart from seeing your hand first, knowing it's a sure win, and betting big to maximize gains. The former is a miraculous stroke of luck; the latter is just smart, calculated play.
"You…you looked at your card? That's impossible! When did you…" Ben Yao suddenly shrieked, losing all composure. His usual calm demeanor was gone, and his eyes were bloodshot. The way he had lost this game had completely shaken him.
"Why do you think, from the first game to the thirty-eighth, I always straightened my card first before deciding to look at it or not?" Ethan said as he pushed back his chair and stood up.
"You gambling veterans… Yes, you have experience, and that's not wrong. What's wrong is your arrogance! Did you really think you could figure out my strategy after just a few rounds?"
"What if I was acting to fool you?" Ethan's smile was calm as he stepped toward Yao.
Yao's eyes widened. Ethan hadn't spelled it out explicitly, but Yao understood. Ethan's seemingly compulsive habit of adjusting his hidden card was intentional! He had been using that moment to glimpse his card.
In fact, Ethan didn't trust luck at all. Luck exists, but it plays a minor role in the hands of a gambling expert. From the very first game, Ethan had been checking his hidden card. Sometimes he looked at it last as part of his act; he always knew what his card was.
Ethan's technique was flawless and incredibly fast. No one, not even Ben Yao, a top-tier gambling expert from Macau, had noticed. To everyone else, Ethan had just been straightening his card.
For thirty-eight rounds, Ethan had done this every time!
"I initially thought that without cheating, I'd need at least fifty rounds to set up an absolute win. But it looks like I got lucky today and wrapped this up in thirty-eight rounds!" Ethan said, moving around the table to stand in front of Yao.
Isabella Li followed him closely.
Ben Yao's eyes were wide with shock, bloodshot and red. He was trembling. Losing big wasn't uncommon for a gambler, but the way he had lost this time was terrifying!
"Did you really think I trusted luck?" Ethan tilted his head slightly, smiling mockingly at Yao. "Did you think my so-called flaws in strategy and mindset were real? That my 'habit' of adjusting my card was genuine? Or that, because I bluffed once, I'm a fan of taking risks and was bluffing again this time?"
"And you think you're qualified to be my teacher? To teach me? Just because I'm younger, you assumed I'd be inferior?" Ethan didn't hold back his sarcasm.
This was a setup from the beginning.
Yao now understood that Ethan had been setting him up from the very first game. Ethan hadn't played blind. He hadn't trusted luck. The little habits, the aggressive bluffs — they were all part of this trap.
Everything had been fake.
Yao could no longer recall how he had fallen step-by-step into Ethan's trap. His mind was now a chaotic mess. All he could feel was regret. Regret for following Ethan's final bet, for agreeing to Ethan's proposal to raise the stakes by 100 million.
He finally understood: Ethan's victory wasn't due to luck at all. The thirty-eighth round was the hand Ethan had been waiting for. Hands where Ethan's cards were slightly better than his were bound to appear eventually, but the key was maximizing those moments. The thirty-seven rounds before this had all been preparation for delivering this crushing blow.
Even a small pair could win big money!
Throughout the thirty-eight rounds, Ethan hadn't waited for any major hands — no straight flushes or four-of-a-kinds, which are rare. But with just a pair of nines, he had won 190 million from Yao.
The hand's strength didn't matter as long as it beat the opponent's.
This time, Ethan hadn't just won Yao's money; he had shattered Yao's confidence as a gambling expert.
Ethan hadn't wanted to go this far, as they had no personal animosity — it was simply a matter of "each representing their own side." But Yao had broken the rules.
Ethan stood before Yao, with Grant Shen a step to the side. At that moment, Mr. Shen's face was grim, even worse than if he'd lost everything. His forehead was covered in sweat; he was out of money and deeply in debt.
The last time he gambled, he'd lost his company's cash reserves, and this time, the 150 million he'd brought was all borrowed.
Of the 150 million, he had lost 130 million, leaving only 20 million. A meaningless 20 million! He knew he couldn't make a comeback with that amount.
Moreover, the 20 million wasn't even enough to pay his debts!
A business without cash flow is terrifying, even if it's worth billions; it can collapse overnight. And Shen's company was only worth a few billion at most. He was in serious trouble.
"Mr. Shen, I…" Yao turned stiffly, looking at Shen, unsure of what to say.
Shen had spent a fortune hiring Yao, but Yao had lost — and lost big.
Shen's face darkened as he realized he'd been outmaneuvered by Tyler Li again. However, on Tyler's turf, he couldn't throw a tantrum or make any threats.
Even though he believed Tyler's downfall was coming soon, right now, Tyler was still untouchable.
"Let's go. We'll talk later," Shen said heavily, casting a venomous glare at Ethan before turning to leave.
Yao followed him.
"Hold on! We're not done yet," Ethan called, glancing up.
One of Isabella's bodyguards immediately blocked the door.
"What's the meaning of this?" Shen's temper flared, his anger boiling over as he glanced at Ethan before turning to shout at Tyler, "Mr. Li! We lost money here, and now you're not letting us leave? How much more do you want me to lose? The Li family is going too far!"
Tyler looked at Ethan, unsure of the situation.
Why weren't they being allowed to leave?
Ethan didn't reply immediately. Instead, he took a few steps closer to them and grabbed Yao's left forearm, saying, "Don't move."
Yao froze for a moment, then began struggling wildly, like a cornered animal.
"What are you doing? Let me go! Let me go!"
He couldn't break free.
Ethan held onto Yao's forearm and gave it a firm shake.
A playing card fell from Yao's sleeve and landed face-up on the floor.
It was the ace of spades!
Everyone's expressions changed, and their gazes toward Yao shifted.
"When you asked to inspect the deck before the thirty-fifth round, you used the opportunity to sneak this ace of spades into your sleeve. Did you really think I didn't notice? Did you think I was blind? I didn't expose you right away because I hadn't won everything yet!" Ethan said coldly. "You broke the rules! Do you know the consequences?"
Yao's face was filled with terror.
Ethan, still holding Yao's left arm, gestured with his right hand.
Isabella pulled a short knife from her jacket and handed it to Ethan.
Ethan forcefully dragged Yao to the table, pinned down his left arm, and brought the knife down!
Slash!
Caught cheating? The price is a hand!
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