The cards I had secretly inserted were positioned at the very front of the dealing shoe, which was currently dispensing cards in a standard sequence. This presented a crucial opportunity for both Lord Alaric—playing as the initial bettor—and Eden Martha, seated at the end of the table—to place substantial wagers. Their prompt action would ensure that the two hands containing the tampered cards would indeed be dealt to them.
As soon as the cards were dealt, I signalled for both of them to escalate their bets. Lord Alaric wasted no time, placing a wager of one hundred thousand chips. Observing him, Eden Martha followed suit with a bet of fifty thousand. This had been our prearranged strategy, ensuring that their wagers would not match, thereby avoiding any suspicion of collusion.
Seeing Lord Alaric’s bold stake, the young dealer expressed her reluctance, advising him, "Gambling should be for pleasure; there's no need to wager so heavily..."