Even though Xia De won decisively, Mr. Lavende was still very excited. But unfortunately, his number had already been called, so he could only regretfully get up and leave, though he carefully put away Xia De's business card.
After the card game ended, with no organizer, people had no intention of playing cards anymore. Xia De sat there, somewhat confused, and was invited to join a discussion about royal anecdotes. He was forced to offer his opinion on the conflict between Prince Mogus Cavendish and Marshal Carad, Commander of the Army's Third Steam Equipment Division, a topic he knew nothing about.
Fortunately, his number was finally called. Seeing that he had an excuse to leave, he quickly stood up and, incidentally, handed out business cards to the people around him. This was a great opportunity to solicit business for himself, as those who played rhode cards were all wealthy.
He pushed open the side door of the room and entered, of course not forgetting to close the door. The previous rhode cards collector who entered here had already left through the main door of the room. At this moment, only an old gentleman behind the desk was in the room. He yawned and motioned for Xia De to sit down.
The room was not large, it could even be described as somewhat cramped. Only a few picture frames on the walls served as decoration, and the rhode cards appraiser's table occupied almost a quarter of the room's area.
As he sat down, Xia De noticed that besides a few gas lamps and various lenses, there was also a very obvious black metal box on the table. The box was full of torn rhode cards. On top was Mr. Lavende's "Flower 1" card from the Delarion Hero Series, which he had shown off to everyone. It had no special effects, but the card face was very pretty. Unfortunately, it was also a fake.
"Do you know that counterfeit rhode cards must be destroyed?"
The old man with glasses asked. Seeing Xia De nod, he motioned for him to display the card he wanted to appraise.
Carefully opening his diary, he took out "sun 3" 【Origin · Silver Moon】 and placed it on the soft mat on the table. The gloved old man reached out and took it. After a glance, he frowned:
"Founding Series' Silver Moon?"
He looked up at Xia De as if he were looking at a mental patient, clearly not believing that anyone would come to appraise this.
But he still dutifully pulled over the lotus-mouthed gas lamp closest to him, adjusted the light to its strongest, and picked up a magnifying glass to examine the card's details under the light.
Xia De sat there, waiting for his "found lottery ticket to be drawn," and suddenly felt less nervous. But the person sitting on the other side of the table grew more anxious as time passed. It was almost several minutes later that he finally looked up seriously at Xia De, his forehead, hidden by his hair, already sweating:
"Founding Series' Silver Moon?"
The question was identical to the one Xia De had been asked when he sat down, but the tone was completely different.
Xia De, who roughly understood the result, just shook his head:
"Probably."
He said with restraint. Even though he considered himself capable of controlling his emotions, at this moment, he still couldn't suppress his joy.
"Oh, sir, please wait, please wait. I cannot appraise this card. I will go and ask someone else to come."
The old appraiser tremblingly returned the card to Xia De, took off his glasses, took a towel from a nearby shelf, wiped his face, and then ran around the table towards the door:
"Sir, please don't run away, I'll be right back! Give me three minutes."
His voice even began to tremble.
"Why would I run?"
Xia De thought to himself, watching the door close.
He then looked down at the 【Origin · Silver Moon】 "sun 3" again, gazing at the lady on the card face, holding up a silver moon in profile:
"Speaking of which, I truly have an inexplicable connection with the Silver Moon."
The old appraiser didn't take three minutes, not even one minute, before he rushed back. He pressed against the doorframe, looking as if he was about to suffocate from running:
"Excellent, sir, you're still here."
"Why wouldn't I be here?"
Xia De thought to himself, picking up the card and standing up. It was then that he heard more running sounds from the corridor behind the old appraiser. Soon, he saw a tall, thin middle-aged man in black leather shoes run over. He was wearing a black formal suit with an ouroboros-emblazoned brooch:
"Cynthia Mark, Vice President of the Prophet Association's Tobesk Branch."
The middle-aged man, still panting, walked past the old appraiser and came over to shake Xia De's hand.
"You should catch your breath before speaking. I won't run away."
Xia De said, then quietly asked:
"So, is this card of mine real?"
Mr. Mark invited Xia De to the third floor of the association. This time, it was a very formal reception room, and there were even servants hired by the association to prepare tea for guests.
Xia De sat on the sofa in the reception room. After Mr. Mark also sat down, two more appraisers, probably older than Priest Augustus, hurried over:
"Regarding this Founding Series' Silver Moon, we need to conduct a more in-depth appraisal, but it will be right here, in front of you. Sir, would you mind waiting a little longer?"
Vice President Cynthia Mark said, wiping sweat. Xia De keenly noticed that the collar of his shirt inside his formal suit was already soaked with sweat.
"Of course, no problem, but the appraisal fee..."
Xia De deliberately hesitated.
"Of course, it's still five pence. You don't need to spend more."
Mr. Mark said, taking the business card Xia De handed him, and like Mr. Lavende just now, he was surprised by the address "Saint Delan Square No. 6."
He then asked:
"Mr. Hamilton, do you need any refreshments?"
"I don't think so for now."
Xia De waved his hand. Although the Prophet Association was a very formal global organization and there would be no incidents of murder or card theft, as a rootless outsider with little influence or power, it was always better to be cautious when out and about.
He looked at the three old appraisers who had been hastily summoned. The three had already spread out a dense array of tools and lenses on the long table on the other side of the reception room and opened various strangely shaped lamps brought by the servants. The impressive floor-to-ceiling windows of the reception room were tightly closed, keeping the misty morning silhouette of Yodel Palace outside:
"Regarding this Founding Silver Moon...if it's real, I don't think the association would widely publicize it."
Xia De didn't look at Mr. Mark, but spoke as if unconsciously.
"Of course, the association is absolutely fair in matters of rhode cards and will never harm the interests of any collector. This is our principle."
Mr. Cynthia Mark guaranteed, implicitly acknowledging Xia De, who possessed the card, as a collector.
He subtly observed Xia De from the corner of his eye. He was dressed decently but didn't look like a wealthy person, just had a very unique temperament. After a moment of hesitation, Vice President Mark asked:
"Then, would you be so kind as to tell us the origin of this card? No other meaning, it's just that the last time the association saw it was about 127 years ago at the 'Great City Player' rhode cards competition. That year, Baron Stilwell Byron used this card to enter the finals and truly stole the show. The association would like to record the card's whereabouts over the past century. I really didn't expect to have the honor of seeing it."
