Chapter 10: A Gamble for the Cavendish Fortune

Initially, Arthur's grand vision was to leverage over £2 million in family funds, confident he could transform it into more than £35 million via the capital market within six months, thereby rescuing the Duke of Devonshire's Family. However, reality presented a far starker picture: his accessible funds amounted to a mere £100,000, a small fraction of his initial ambition, derived solely from a small cash reserve within the family's directly held assets.

Such a limited principal made achieving his short-term goal incredibly challenging. Even in the realm of startups and venture capital, where internet giants like Google and Facebook emerged, it typically took over a year or two for venture capitalists to realize a hundredfold return. Left with few alternatives, Arthur reluctantly turned to World Cup betting as his only viable path to significantly multiply his £100,000.

The timing was opportune; the 2002 FIFA World Cup was about to begin. This particular "World Cup" was memorable. This unique familiarity meant Arthur possessed an unusual advantage: a clear recollection of match outcomes. Furthermore, World Cup betting, particularly on upsets, offered tantalizingly higher odds. This specific tournament was notorious for its numerous upsets, with South Korea's controversial matches alone offering ample opportunity for substantial gains, given their blatant exploitation of "home advantage."

Football betting is immensely popular in England, home to industry giants like William Hill. London, too, boasts numerous betting stations from powerful companies, making the process remarkably convenient. Upon arriving in London, Arthur headed straight to his family-owned apartment. It was a normal asset for an ancient English aristocratic family like the Dukes of Devonshire, whose ancestors had once flourished, even if their overall economic standing was now somewhat diminished. They were, of course, a far cry from the Duke of Westminster Family, who famously claimed ownership of half of London.

Back in his London apartment, Arthur's thoughts drifted to the unexpected encounter he'd had in a hotel room upon his initial arrival in this timeline. At the time, still reeling from his "transmigration," he'd vaguely recognized the girl but hadn't dwelled on it. It was only later, at the family funeral, when he saw the current Crown Prince, the Prince of Wales, that a startling realization hit him: the girl who had shared a one-night stand with his predecessor was none other than the future Princess Catherine!

This discovery stunned Arthur. While he hadn't deeply researched the Royal Family in his previous life, Catherine's wedding to the Prince had been a global sensation, widely reported across the burgeoning internet. If his memory served him, Catherine should have been studying at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland at this time, where she would have already met the Prince. How then could she have appeared in a London nightclub and had such an "encounter" with his predecessor while intoxicated? Unable to reconcile the discrepancy, Arthur decided to set it aside. After all, if history unfolded as it should, she would marry into the Royal Family nine years hence. This incident was, at best, a fleeting escapade of his predecessor, witnessed by Arthur himself. His immediate priority remained making money.

English traditions regarding mourning periods for relatives, though less stringent than ancient Chinese customs, still suggested that children generally avoid parties or entertainment for several months. While these restrictions had relaxed over time, Arthur's visit to London remained low-key. He tasked Ramos with acquiring recent World Cup reports and meticulously searched online for further information.

Tomorrow, May 31st, marks the opening day of the World Cup. The inaugural match was scheduled between the previous World Cup's host and eventual champion, France, and Senegal. Seeing this fixture, Arthur's eyes lit up. He knew this match presented a massive upset: defending champions France would lose!

He immediately checked the odds, a surge of excitement rising within him. For this match, the mainstream odds were France to win at 1:1.2, and Senegal to win at an astonishing 1:15! Betting £100 on France would yield a meager £20 profit, while betting the same on Senegal would return £1,500! The odds clearly reflected the widespread belief in a French victory.

This favoritism was understandable; France was the defending champion, and despite lingering questions about their previous final against Brazil, their strength was undeniable. Most of the French squad for this World Cup comprised players from their victorious previous campaign. Even if their key player, Zinedine Zidane, might miss the opening match, what of Senegal? Few even knew this country's location in West Africa, let alone its football prowess.

This World Cup was truly extraordinary; starting with such a major upset seemed to foreshadow its unusual nature. Excited, Arthur felt an immediate urge to wager his entire £100,000 on Senegal. However, he took a deep breath, consciously suppressing the impulse. While his memory of this match from his previous life was vivid—he even recalled sneaking out of high school to watch it with roommates—there was a caveat. So far, this timeline seemed identical to his previous life, but the unexpected encounter with the future Princess Catherine left him wary.

What if?

Ultimately, he decided against going all-in. He would first verify if the match result would align with his memory.