Yomotsuki Runa's guess was correct; Togakushi Yukimi's deck of playing cards was indeed tampered with by her.
The creases used on those playing cards seemed random, but in reality, they followed a pattern. Togakushi Yukimi could find the corresponding cards by the different numbers of creases on the back of the cards.
She used this method to win against many gamblers who came to gamble.
She agreed to gamble with Ayanokoji also because she believed that with the rigged cards, her chances of winning would be greater.
However, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka named Yomotsuki Runa as the Dealer, and her cheating method was seen through by Luna from the very beginning, who immediately took out a brand new deck of cards.
Togakushi Yukimi did want to refuse, but the other party was a Student Council member. Not only did she have no reason to refuse, she didn't even have the courage to speak.
At this moment, she even comforted herself.
She had played this card-drawing game countless times. If it came to experience, she could definitely win.
All the books on the bookshelves in this library were bought by Togakushi Yukimi. When there was no one in the casino, she would stay here and read.
She read many diverse books, including those on behavioral psychology and micro-expression psychology. Based on these books, she summarized some experiences for dealing with gamblers.
When gamblers are in an unfamiliar environment, they will more or less feel some tension. Their trembling hands, wandering eyes, and fleeting micro-expressions can all expose some information.
Under the rules of the mutual card-drawing game, Togakushi Yukimi could naturally stare at the opponent's facial expressions. She could analyze the opponent's emotions from these subtle details, allowing her to gain the upper hand.
Although Togakushi Yukimi's emotions would also waver, her wearing gray glasses allowed her to conceal this very well.
With specially made poker props and her meticulous observation, she achieved an 80% win rate in this game.
This win rate was already extremely impressive, but Togakushi Yukimi was particularly afraid of losing. She always worried that she would lose all her assets in a gamble, so she was cautious and never gambled too much money each time.
Only this time, under Ayanokoji's instigation, she took the first step—putting this casino, which was extremely important to her, on the gambling table.
The early stage of this game was simple: two people alternately drew cards. When the unique single card was drawn, they would stop and let the other person draw.
The game progressed smoothly and quickly entered the mid-to-late stage, with both sides having fewer than ten cards left.
As the gambling continued, Togakushi Yukimi's expression gradually became unsightly.
When drawing cards, everyone has some doubts and becomes hesitant in the draw. These micro-expressions inadvertently revealed by the opponent during their thought process were Togakushi Yukimi's observation targets.
However, her usual micro-expression observation method seemed to be ineffective on Ayanokoji Kiyotaka. The only emotion she felt from Ayanokoji Kiyotaka was confidence.
It seemed Ayanokoji Kiyotaka was already convinced that he would win. He had no doubts or pauses when drawing cards, decisively pulling cards from Togakushi Yukimi's hand.
Even when he drew the single card, his emotions did not waver.
This made Togakushi Yukimi very uncomfortable. Her past experience seemed to have lost its effect in this round. It seemed only luck could determine the outcome of the gamble.
Soon, the two reached the endgame.
Ayanokoji had three cards left in his hand, and Togakushi Yukimi had two cards in her hand.
This was good news for Togakushi Yukimi, indicating that the single card was in Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's hand.
Now it was her turn to draw a card. There was a two-thirds chance of drawing a matching poker card and only a one-third chance of drawing the single card.
Togakushi Yukimi took a deep breath, then extended her hand, hovering it above Ayanokoji's cards.
She stared intently into Ayanokoji's eyes, trying to discover something from his gaze, but unfortunately, she found nothing. Finally, she took a deep breath and drew the leftmost card.
Great, this card matched the card in her hand!
Togakushi Yukimi secretly rejoiced, pulling out the card.
Now, she had only one card left in her hand.
This was the most crucial moment: a fifty-fifty choice.
As long as she chose correctly, she would get 500,000 Japanese Yen. She would not only have the money to pay the tribute but also enough funds to operate the casino...
At this moment, even if Togakushi Yukimi could hide her emotions well, her body couldn't help but tense up, her emotions becoming nervous, and her gaze fixed on the two cards in Ayanokoji's hand.
She extended her hand, trembling as she reached for the card on Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's left.
In a trance, she seemed to see a fleeting smile on Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's lips.
A smile? Why was he smiling at this moment? Could it be that she had chosen incorrectly?
Togakushi Yukimi subconsciously wanted to draw the card on the right, but quickly, her hand stopped again.
No... what if that wasn't his micro-expression, but a deliberately fake smile? What if his actual goal was to make her switch cards?
Normally, Togakushi Yukimi wouldn't hesitate like this, but the stakes in this round were too high. If she failed, she would lose her casino.
At this moment, she became indecisive, falling into a chain of suspicion.
Togakushi Yukimi stared intently into Ayanokoji's eyes, even wanting to see what the card was from the reflection in his retina.
No, I can't keep thinking like this! It will never end!
Togakushi Yukimi shook her head abruptly. She should trust her first instinct.
That's right, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's smile was subconscious. He was very confident throughout the entire gamble, seemingly believing that he would definitely win this round.
He didn't even put her in his eyes. He didn't need to use a fake smile to deceive her. That smile was actually mocking her for guessing the wrong card!
That's right, she should draw the card on the right!
Togakushi Yukimi made up her mind and no longer hesitated.
She shifted her target and drew another card from Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's right side—this card she had seen many times before, a 7 of Diamonds.
Oh no!
She guessed wrong, this was the single card!
Too late for regret, Togakushi Yukimi quickly placed the two cards in her hand under the table, continuously swapping cards from a perspective Ayanokoji Kiyotaka couldn't see, as if doing so could give her some comfort.
It's okay, she still has a chance... Togakushi Yukimi closed her eyes and silently prayed in her heart.
When luck is bad, the last card draw will loop many times.
As long as Ayanokoji Kiyotaka didn't draw a card, she still had a chance.
At this moment, Togakushi Yukimi finally began to regret.
From the beginning, she shouldn't have agreed to this gamble. She was blinded by the huge sum of 500,000, and as a result, she pushed herself to a dead end...
It was too late to regret now. The initiative was now in Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's hands, and she could only pray that Ayanokoji's luck was bad.
Finally, it's my turn to draw a card... Ayanokoji Kiyotaka sighed with a hint of relief.
From Togakushi Yukimi's perspective, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka never hesitated when drawing cards, simply picking and drawing, as if he had already secured victory in the gamble.
But in reality, Ayanokoji was extremely flustered.
It wasn't because of this gamble, but because his guaranteed system had not appeared throughout the entire gambling process, which made Ayanokoji Kiyotaka panic.
Could it be that his and Saotome's behavior of farming for guarantees counted as a bug? Did the system think he violated the rules and banned his account?
Ayanokoji was very anxious throughout the entire gambling process.
He no longer cared about the outcome of this gamble, only wanting it to end quickly so he could find a secluded place to check what was wrong with his system, which is why he never hesitated when drawing cards.
This, in turn, led Togakushi Yukimi to misunderstand, thinking Ayanokoji had victory in his grasp.
The fleeting smile Togakushi Yukimi saw on Ayanokoji's lips just now was because Ayanokoji's system had finally come online.
At this moment, in Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's eyes, the two cards in Togakushi Yukimi's hand changed to different colors.
The poker card that matched the one in his hand had a faint golden back. And the single card that was once in Ayanokoji's hand was a warning red.
It turns out, during such long periods of card drawing, the system only comes online at critical moments... Operations that don't affect winning or losing are completely ignored by the card drawing system.
Could it be that it's worried that prolonged bright light will affect his eyesight? This guaranteed system is truly considerate...
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka couldn't help but sigh with such emotion.
Oh right, this gamble is bound to be won, isn't it?
What if Togakushi Yukimi drew all the cards in one go, leaving no chance for Ayanokoji to draw? How would the system maintain its guaranteed victory then?
What if... I didn't draw the card with the yellow glow, but instead drew the red card? What would happen?
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka had never intentionally tried to fail before. Should he try drawing the other card to see what would happen?
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's desire to tempt fate gradually surged. His hand reached for the card on the left in Togakushi Yukimi's hand—
Great, Ayanokoji didn't draw the card in her hand!
Togakushi Yukimi was secretly delighted, but outwardly, she put on a nervous and troubled expression, as if she would be finished as soon as Ayanokoji Kiyotaka drew that card.
However, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka did not draw the card without hesitation as he had before. His hand hovered over the card and stopped.
Then, Togakushi Yukimi saw a troubled expression appear on Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's face, as if he was thinking about which one to draw.
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