After winning, Isabella's mole team was instantly eliminated, with four people out.
Most of the chips she had previously fed away now landed in my hands.
Once those four people had left the game, only Xu Shiyu, Isabella, and I remained at the gambling table.
In terms of numbers, we had a two-on-one advantage.
In terms of chips, after taking in the chips from the four players, my total chip count was now roughly on par with Isabella's.
Just as Xu Shiyu had said earlier, Isabella now held only a slight, almost negligible chip lead.
Isabella's miscalculation of one card's outcome had cost her a victory that was within her grasp.
With less than an hour remaining, if Xu Shiyu could seize the opportunity and take the chips I deliberately lost, then…
All the pressure would fall upon Isabella.
The two-on-one strategy was simple; there was no need to go head-to-head in every hand. We could simply adopt a strategy of attrition.
We would take turns playing hands we could win and fold any we couldn't.
Since Xu Shiyu's and my chips combined were enough to outweigh Isabella's,
As long as we avoided going all-in, even if we didn't engage Isabella directly, we could combine our chips to eliminate one of our own and win by accumulating an overall advantage.
This time, I felt victory was within reach.
No matter how the game continued, my chances of winning were higher.
...
Just as the dealer was preparing to deal new cards, Isabella unexpectedly requested a pause in the match, asking for a break to adjust her state.
In the rules of Texas Hold'em, players have one opportunity to request a break to relieve their highly tensed nerves and briefly release psychological pressure.
With the four members of the mole team eliminated, this was precisely the opportune moment for me to press my advantage and pursue victory. Yet, Isabella chose this moment to ask for a break.
I understood perfectly that she wasn't looking to relax and adjust her state, but rather to nip my momentum in the bud.
However, there was nothing to be done. The country that invented Texas Hold'em is known for its emphasis on human rights, so the dealer did not refuse and readily agreed.
At this crucial juncture, the final match was once again paused, granting all participating players a fifteen-minute break.
Because this break was very short, I did not leave the gambling hall. Instead, I went to the restroom to smoke a cigarette.
As I emerged from the restroom, Isabella, who was about to enter the venue, suddenly turned back.
After giving me a look filled with meaning, Isabella's lips suddenly curved into a smile without any warning. She opened her rosy lips and said, "You are not Han Jinlun, you are... Chen Xiang!"
Upon hearing this, a thunderous roar erupted in my mind, and I looked at Isabella with an expression of disbelief.
When I had casually mentioned Han Jinlun's name and registered it for the competition, I had indeed considered the possibility of exposure later on.
After all, this competition was initiated by Yun Jin. Although I hadn't seen any familiar faces, as long as the former was still on the cruise ship, Shen Mengqing was likely following behind.
However, whether the name was real or fake was irrelevant to the overall situation, as a large number of people had registered for the competition using pseudonyms and aliases.
It wouldn't be fair to disqualify me simply because I used a false name, would it?
But Isabella, choosing to reveal this now instead of earlier or later, especially at the final stage of the finals, made it hard for me not to suspect something.
At this point in time, what was Isabella trying to achieve by exposing my identity?
As I was lost in thought, the loudspeakers and sound systems around the hall suddenly broadcasted the dealer's voice.
"There is one minute remaining. All participants, please take your positions immediately!"
Seeing that the final decisive battle was about to begin, I had no choice but to cast aside those distracting thoughts and quickly walk to the table and sit down.
Once the three of us were in our positions, the match resumed.
Calming my mind and immersing myself in the competition, the moment the dealer dealt the hole cards, I picked them up to examine them.
At the same time, I made a silent decision in my heart to find an opportunity to eliminate Isabella directly, to avoid any further complications.
I don't know if it was my turn for luck, but this hand, the dealer dealt me a pair of Aces!
Anyone who doesn't bet with AK is an idiot, and anyone who doesn't bet with a pair of Aces is a complete fool!
I immediately decided to catch Xu Shiyu off guard!
Taking a deep breath, just as I was preparing to raise the stakes significantly after Isabella made her bet…
"All-in!"
Isabella had played a move to seize the initiative!
What was going on? Could she also have a pair of high cards? Or perhaps a flush with face cards?
It was already strange for her to go all-in in a disadvantageous two-on-one situation, and Isabella had done it with an all-in.
As the saying goes: things that are out of the ordinary must be supernatural!
I was certain she was up to something!
At this moment, Isabella's pink lips parted slightly as she looked at me and said, "If you don't want anything to happen to your two brothers, follow me into this hand, and then…"
"Lose to me!"
Hearing Isabella say this, all my nerves instantly tensed up!
She couldn't win fairly, so she was resorting to underhanded tactics now?
It seemed that Isabella had revealed some true information earlier to gain my trust.
At the very least, the casino truly had no intention of letting an outsider win this competition!
With this thought, I hurriedly turned to look for Cheng Minglang and Han Jinlun in the spectator area, only to find that at some point… they had disappeared!
I had considered that Isabella might cheat, but I hadn't expected her to be so insidious!
At this moment, Isabella leaned back in her chair with her arms crossed, looking completely confident and in control.
Meanwhile, I clenched my fists tightly, looking at her with a cold gaze, and gritted my teeth, saying in a low voice, "I can lose, but only if you keep your promise!"
"If you dare to renege, I guarantee... you will suffer a terrible fate!!!"
As soon as I finished speaking, without regard for Isabella's reaction, I pushed all my chips into the pot.
Although I didn't know what I was doing, Xu Shiyu dutifully played her role as a subordinate and went all-in with me.
Afterward, the dealer began to deal the community cards.
One, two, three…
By the time all five cards were dealt, before the dealer could speak, I preemptively said, "I concede!"