Chapter 11: The Initial Wager: A Calculated Risk

Opting for a safer approach, Arthur Cavendish ultimately invested only £40,000 into the opening World Cup match. For the sake of caution and to avoid being too conspicuous, he didn't sign a single check to one betting company; instead, he shrewdly spread his bets across four different establishments. If calculated according to the odds of 1:15 for Senegal defeating France, Arthur stood to receive a pre-tax prize of £600,000. This single wager had the potential to increase his principal more than tenfold! Consequently, Arthur Cavendish eagerly anticipated the World Cup's opening ceremony.

While Arthur meticulously prepared, Ramos, his personal valet, observed the proceedings with growing unease. Male servants were no longer exclusively from noble circles as in bygone eras; indeed, even previously, key positions in high-ranking noble families were often filled by individuals from middle-class backgrounds, or even university students, who saw it as a stepping stone for networking. Thus, Ramos was not entirely ignorant; watching Arthur sign checks for such a seemingly lopsided bet, his heart grew heavy. Even casual football fans understood the vast disparity between powerhouse France and an unknown team like Senegal. Ramos feared this impulsive young master might squander the family fortune even faster than he had initially anticipated.

Arthur Cavendish noticed Ramos's silent apprehension but offered no explanations. He adhered to his principle: words, while powerful at times, are often less convincing than tangible achievements. No matter what he said now, it wouldn't change others' minds before the results were in. Moreover, as a noble lord, he felt no need to justify his actions to his servant; each simply had their part to play.

"Young Master Arthur, your clothes have arrived. You can try them on now." In the London apartment, Ramos meticulously laid out several sets of clothes for Arthur.

This trip to London, beyond placing bets on the 2002 World Cup, held another crucial purpose: to attend the Queen's Golden Jubilee. June 2nd of this year marked the 50th anniversary of the Queen's accession to the throne, an occasion for which the entire United Kingdom would celebrate. Many Jubilee events had already commenced in early May, with golden buses appearing on London's streets. As one of the only two dozen non-royal ducal families remaining in the United Kingdom, the Duke of Devonshire Family had long received an invitation from the Royal Family to participate in certain events.

Originally, Arthur's father and elder brother were the invited representatives. Their unexpected deaths, however, meant Arthur Cavendish, as the sole heir, now had to represent the family at this significant celebration. Tradition dictated that Arthur should avoid entertainment activities during a period of mourning, but exceptions could be made for extremely important events. Furthermore, in the new century, such restrictions had significantly loosened. This particular celebration was of paramount importance for Arthur, and indeed, for the entire Duke of Devonshire Family.

Firstly, as the sole heir, Arthur Cavendish had not yet completed the inheritance and ennoblement process. His public appearance at such a high-profile celebration served as a crucial official introduction for the Duke of Devonshire's Family. Moreover, in the eyes of the family trust fund manager, Yulia, and Butler Sean, the Cavendish family faced immense difficulties. Arthur's attendance at the Golden Jubilee on behalf of the family could potentially open doors to assistance from the Royal Family or other influential noble families. After all, with only a few dozen non-royal ducal families remaining, mutual support was a natural expectation.

Given the hasty change in representation from Arthur's father and elder brother to himself, there wasn't enough time for fully custom-made ceremonial attire. He had to select the most suitable high-end ready-to-wear formal wear and then have tailors make minor alterations. Fortunately, Arthur's physique was standard, requiring minimal adjustments.

Once he donned the suit, Arthur was a striking sight. His inherently handsome features, devoid of effeminate softness, projected a very sunny demeanor. Coupled with his nearly 190cm height and well-proportioned physique, he was the perfect canvas for the suit, which flawlessly accentuated his innate aristocratic aura.

"Young Master, you will surely become the dream man of all women that day..." Even Ramos, his personal valet who saw him daily, couldn't help but lavish praise upon seeing him in formal attire.

"I also think these clothes are quite good. Let's go with these then." Arthur surveyed his reflection in the mirror, thoroughly satisfied with his appearance.

The 2002 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by Japan and South Korea, presented match times that were manageable, though not perfectly convenient, for the United Kingdom. London time was earlier than the host nations, so the opening match between France and Senegal, held at 7:30 PM local time, was at noon in London. While acceptable, matches kicking off at 2:30 PM in Asia would mean 5 or 6 AM in London, requiring dedicated fans to rise early.

The match result unfolded precisely as Arthur Cavendish remembered from his past life: France lost to Senegal 0:1. This meant that with the 15-to-1 odds, Arthur successfully recouped £600,000 from his £40,000 wager.

First victory!

Witnessing such a result, particularly after successfully redeeming his winnings, filled Arthur with unbridled joy and excitement. For him, the greater significance lay in the fact that history had remained unchanged, had not veered off course! This validated his memories, confirming that the "future" he recalled could be trusted and leveraged. Armed with this knowledge, he now possessed immense confidence in achieving a substantial win throughout this World Cup.

Of course, strategic betting was crucial. Unlike the 1998 France World Cup, the 2002 tournament, fueled by four years of online betting development, saw global wagering volumes once again set a record. Online research indicated that the opening match between France and Senegal alone generated over €1.5 billion in total betting volume from legitimate companies worldwide! However, even within this massive market, Arthur needed to carefully plan his betting amounts within the United Kingdom to avoid attracting undue attention. Fortunately, it was 2002, and the UK's "2005 Gambling Act" had not yet been implemented. Had it been, its real-name registration and betting limits would likely have forced Arthur to place his bets in neighboring France.