<h4>Chapter 28: Fundraising through Gambling Part 2</h4>


    The security control room at Newport Man was a hub of activity, with monitors lining the walls disying various angles of the casino floor. At the center of this vignce sat the head of security, a seasoned professional named Mr. Ruiz, his eyes scanning the screens meticulously.


    On one of the monitors, a particr individual caught his attention. It was a young man, focused and calm, steadily umting chips at a ckjack table. Mr. Ruiz observed the yer''s mannerisms and betting patterns, noting something peculiar in his y.


    "Check the footage of this guy," Mr. Ruiz instructed one of his staff, pointing to the screen showcasing Michael. "He''s been winning consistently. Find out how much he''s up by now."


    The staff member quicklyplied, pulling up various camera angles and tracing Michael''s movements through the casino. "He''s been moving around, ying at different ckjack tables. It''s hard to determine the exact amount he''s won, but he''s definitely on a hot streak."


    Mr. Ruiz''s eyes narrowed. "How long has he been at it?"


    "Several hours now," the staff member replied. "He''s ying smart, varying his bets. But his winning streak is unusual."


    "Looks like he might be card counting," Mr. Ruiz muttered, a hint of suspicion in his tone.


    While card counting wasn''t illegal, it was a frowned-upon practice in casinos, and yers suspected of it were often closely monitored or asked to leave.


    He stood up from his chair, a decision made. "I''m going down there. Keep an eye on the other tables."


    Walking through the casino, Mr. Ruiz blended in with the crowd, his eyes fixed on the young yer who continued to amass chips. He approached the ckjack table nonchntly, observing Michael''s y from a distance. His years of experience told him that if the yer was indeed counting cards, he would be doing so subtly, to avoid detection. @@novelbin@@


    After watching a few hands, Mr. Ruiz stepped closer, making his presence known. "Enjoying your game?" he asked in a friendly yet firm tone, gauging Michael''s reaction.


    Michael sighed. "Did I manage to get your attention?"


    "You sure do," Ruiz said as he nced at his stacks of chips.


    "Well...I think I have used all of my luck in my lifetime to earn this," Michael said, chuckling.


    "You think you are funny?" Ruiz said.


    Michael, noticing the underlying tone of suspicion in Ruiz''s question, met his gaze confidently. "Funny? Not particrly. I''m just here to enjoy the game like everyone else."


    Ruiz studied him for a moment. "You''ve been on quite the winning streak. That''s unusual for someone ying at multiple tables."


    Michael nodded, "I understand why that might seem odd. But I assure you, I''m just ying the game with the same rules as everyone else. Is there a rule against winning?"


    Ruiz couldn''t help but raise an eyebrow at Michael''s response. "No, there''s no rule against winning. But we keep an eye out for... irregr y. Are you familiar with card counting?"


    "I''ve heard of it," Michael replied nonchntly. "But my understanding is that it''s not illegal. Just a skill some yers might have, like a good memory or a knack for mathematics."


    "That''s true, it''s not illegal," Ruiz admitted, "but it is against casino policy. We reserve the right to ask yers to leave if we suspect they are using such methods."


    "I respect the casino''s policies," Michael said, shuffling his chips casually. "But I''m not using any illegal methods or devices. Just ying the game to the best of my ability. Look, I''m just trying to get another 100 thousand so I can join the VIP section because as I have heard, that''s where all the big games are yed. I''m not looking to cause any trouble."


    Ruiz eyed him, a hint of skepticism in his gaze. "VIP section, huh? That''s quite ambitious for a neer."


    "Everyone has to be ambitious to get what they want right?" Michael shrugged his shoulders. "Now, whoever you are, I''m still ying, so can you please leave me alone?"


    Ruiz scoffed softly. "You got a sharp tongue kid. Just remember, we''re watching."


    "Understood," Michael replied, turning his attention back to the game. Ruiz stepped back, his eyes lingering on Michael for a moment longer before he returned to his surveince duties.


    Michael resumed his gamey, conscious of the watchful eyes around him. His focus was unwavering as he strategically yed each hand, inching closer to his goal. He was careful not to draw further suspicion, maintaining a bnce between winning and losing hands.


    After another hour of ying, Michael had sessfully gathered the additional funds he needed. He stood up from the ckjack table, his chip count significantly higher than when he started. With a nod to the dealer and a quick nce around the room, Michael made his way to the cashier''s desk to cash out his chips.


    He exchanged the chips for cash, feeling a sense of achievement. His strategy had paid off, and he was now equipped with the funds needed to enter the VIP section of the casino. Michael knew that the stakes would be higher there, but so were the potential rewards.


    He tucked the cash securely in his wallet and headed towards the VIP area. The entrance was guarded, and ess was restricted to high rollers and members. Michael approached confidently, showing his bankroll to the guard.


    The guard eyed the cash and nodded, allowing Michael entry into the exclusive section. Inside, the atmosphere was different – quieter, more intense. The yers here were experienced and serious, each focused on their game.


    Not only that, their attire was exquisite and formal, suggesting their affluent status. Michael assumed many of them were businessmen and wealthy heirs, a stark contrast to his own more modest appearance.


    His casual dress immediately drew attention. One of the yers, a well-dressed man with a smug expression, eyed him with evident disdain. "This isn''t a ce for amateurs. Do you even know how to y, or did you wander in here by mistake?" he jeered, eliciting chuckles from a few others at the table.


    Unperturbed, Michael replied calmly, "I know enough to be here. The amount of money I''m carrying says as much."


    The man scoffed, "We''ll see how long that confidencests."


    Michael sat at the table and then started ying with them. In ckjack, there is a technique called card counting. In poker, a technique often used by skilled yers is called "reading opponents" or "hand reading." This strategy involves observing and interpreting opponents'' behaviors, betting patterns, and tendencies to predict their possible hands and make more informed decisions.


    Michael used this technique effectively. For instance, he noticed that one opponent tended to bet aggressively when holding strong hands but became hesitant with weaker ones. By picking up on these patterns, Michael could often guess the strength of his opponent''s hand and adjust his strategy ordingly.


    In one round, Michael observed a yer who always checked his cards multiple times before betting with a strong hand. When this yer checked multiple times and then raised significantly, Michael, holding a decent but not outstanding hand, decided to fold. It turned out to be the right decision, as the yer revealed a strong hand at the end of the round.


    Another example of Michael''s skill was when he detected a ''tell'' – a physical or verbal signal that inadvertently reveals a yer''s thoughts or intentions. One yer, for instance, had a habit of drumming his fingers on the table when bluffing. Recognizing this, Michael confidently called the yer''s bluff on a crucial hand, securing a significant win.


    Of course, there would be some who are also good at lying, there is another technique for that, and it is more physiological.


    In addition to behavioral cues and betting patterns, Michael also employed a more physiological approach to reading his opponents in poker. This involved observing subtle physical changes that often ur unconsciously in response to mental and emotional states.


    One key indicator Michael focused on was pupil dtion. It''s a well-documented fact that pupils can dte in response to increased cognitive load or emotional arousal. For instance, when a yer was dealt a strong hand, the excitement or stress of deciding how to y it could cause their pupils to dte. Simrly, when bluffing, the mental effort of deception might trigger this physiological response.


    Michael also paid attention to changes in breathing patterns. A yer under stress or trying to conceal a bluff might have shallow, rapid breaths. Conversely, a yer who was rxed and confident in their hand might exhibit slower, more controlled breathing.


    Another subtle marker was microexpressions – fleeting facial expressions that ur almost imperceptibly and reveal a person''s true feelings. Michael trained himself to notice these quick shes of emotion, such as a brief grimace of dissatisfaction or a quick smile of genuine confidence, which could provide crucial information about a yer''s hand.


    On one hand, Michael noticed an opponent''s nostrils re slightly after looking at their cards – a possible sign of excitement or nervousness. Coupling this with their betting behavior, he deduced they likely had a strong hand and adjusted his y ordingly.


    In another instance, an opponent''s eyelids fluttered briefly when raising the bet, a potential sign of bluffing. Michael called the bluff and won the hand, further validating his observation.


    Using all those techniques, Michael was able to win consecutively, causing the other yers to gape their mouths.


    "Royal Straight Flush," Michael revealed, grinning. From five hundred thousand pesos to three million pesos in one sitting.


    "I see that you are quite good at this," said a woman from behind with a strong German ent.


    He nced over his shoulder and saw a woman standing behind him with an amused expression on her face.