Sure enough, Su Liuli's next words directly confirmed my guess.
On the phone, Su Liuli said that unless I could guarantee catching them red-handed on the spot, she wouldn't offer any overt assistance until I succeeded.
Because if she stepped out and I failed, unless she closed shop entirely, her establishment would likely be unable to do business smoothly once I left.
Therefore, if I couldn't guarantee a successful bust on the first try, she could only provide assistance covertly.
As for anything overt, it would all be up to me.
Hearing this, I immediately understood that, in addition to daily expenses, I would also have to front the cost of any chips consumed during the sting operation.
Normally, during a sting, the chips are provided by the host.
After all, the job of catching cheaters tests not only one's eyesight but also hearing, endurance, mental acuity, and even financial resources, all of which are essential components.
The fact that they would hire an "an deng" (spotter) or a fellow professional to catch cheaters was proof enough of their high caliber.
Catching cheaters is a war of attrition, lasting anywhere from a short two or three days to ten days or half a month.
No wonder Han Qingmei had paid me in advance in her personal capacity, and as an advance payment at that.
It seemed she had likely guessed that this job would be quite challenging.
Although the advance payment from Han Qingmei wasn't substantial, this gesture showed that she was a person of principle and followed proper procedures.
With this thought, I immediately formed a preliminary plan.
While I might still be lacking in the art of scheming and need more time to hone my skills, when it comes to setting up games, cheating, and catching cheaters, I am undoubtedly the most professional.
Even without prior experience in catching cheaters, it wouldn't pose any trouble or hindrance to me.
This is because catching cheaters is, after all, simply observing others cheat from a bystander's perspective.
And during my studies of cheating techniques, the person I watched cheat the most, and whose methods were the most formidable, was Uncle Tuo!
As I continually watched Uncle Tuo cheat, secretly contemplating and learning, and my skills rapidly advanced to a certain level...
Uncle Tuo once joked that even if I didn't have the nerve to become a cheater after graduating, I could still work legitimately as an "an deng" in establishments outside.
Therefore, I am confident that I can complete this sting operation effectively.
Of course, as a professional cheater, the most important thing when operating outside is to know how to conceal one's sharpness and maintain a low profile.
Even though I am confident that with these eyes, I can help Su Liuli identify the suspected cheating gamblers.
To maintain discretion and avoid any unforeseen incidents, after a day and a night of train travel, including a transfer, I arrived in Longxi and immediately went to a digital mall near the train station to purchase a high-definition pinhole camera.
[PS: To prevent any nitpickers from arguing, allow me to elaborate. A pinhole camera, also known as a micro-camera.]
[The complete set includes a pinhole camera lens, a signal transmitter, a signal receiver, and a battery, among other components.]
[Explanation complete. If you haven't understood, read it again! Don't accuse me of making things up later, claiming I can secretly film with just a pinhole camera.]
[Ignorance is not terrifying; what is terrifying is not knowing one is ignorant.]
The reason for buying a pinhole camera, besides adhering to the principle of catching them red-handed, was also because I wanted to operate discreetly.
For those audacious enough to cheat in casinos, being defeated by an "an deng" or another cheater is a vastly different experience from being caught by high-tech equipment.
To put it more plainly, a pinhole camera can effectively share and divert some of the animosity and attention.
I came for the reward and had no intention of making a name for myself in Longxi.
Therefore, once any suspicious targets entered my line of sight, I would let the pinhole camera do the surveillance work until absolutely necessary.
To be honest, accurately identifying who is cheating in a casino isn't simple, but it's not overwhelmingly difficult either.
The truly difficult part lies in catching them red-handed at the moment they make their move!
Besides that, you also need to do your best to avoid being retaliated against or subjected to revenge.
This is precisely why I shamelessly asked Helian Shan to lend Cheng Minglang to me...
...
By the time Cheng Minglang and I arrived at the casino run by Su Liuli, it was exactly as she had described.
There was no one to meet me along the way, nor did anyone contact me upon my arrival.
From this moment on, until the sting operation is successfully concluded, every step I take... will be a probing move, with no one to assist me!
As soon as I reached the casino entrance, I noticed that Longxi truly lived up to its reputation as one of the premier gambling cities in all of Gansu Province; the gambling culture here was exceptionally strong.
Take the entrance of this casino, which boasted a "Fierce Tiger Seated at the Hall" motif, for example. I had never seen anything like it in the casinos of Anhai!
While the people of Anhai also enjoyed gambling, they weren't superstitious about such things.
Although such things might not necessarily be effective, and the key ultimately lies with the person... of course, this is just my personal opinion, but from this point alone, it's evident that Longxi's gambling culture is not only prevalent but also quite meticulous.
Upon entering, what I saw immediately confirmed my earlier assessment.
The establishment run by Su Liuli wasn't large in scale, but the stakes were incredibly high. The interior was practically filled with every type of gambling machine imaginable.
From slot machines and fishing games to Baccarat, Blackjack, Stud Poker, and roulette tables...
It's no exaggeration to say that if you couldn't think of it, you wouldn't find it here!
And there were many people playing, creating a veritable cacophony of noise.
When I entered, the security guards manning the entrance didn't even give me, a new face, a second glance before letting me pass.
This, too, was different from Anhai.
Under normal circumstances, in such private casinos, the guards at the entrance have responsibilities that extend beyond merely watching over the premises.
In a strict sense, they are the first line of filtering and vetting for gamblers.
Whenever a new face appears, they would typically conduct an inquiry.
Although this kind of perfunctory questioning has little practical significance, and those who intend to lie will have already prepared their responses.
However, not everyone can maintain a calm demeanor when facing these intimidating casino bouncers.
After all, some people are naturally timid and easily intimidated.
In Anhai, including Huadu, in all the establishments I've visited, regardless of their size, the guards at the entrance would usually stop unfamiliar faces and question them individually.
This was the first time I had ever encountered a situation where they didn't stop anyone and simply let people in.