After seeing Priest Augustus off, Xia De first went to the Black Raven Library to inquire about detoxifying Miracles and curses. After failing to find a suitable target at a reasonable price, he then went to Old John's Pawnshop and the Seven Broomsticks Tavern in Coldwater Port, putting up a commission for "acquiring the blood of rare creatures."
Although Xia De couldn't even bring the magic potion materials back in time during the first time key, since a god requested him to bring blood this time, he believed that the blood could be brought to the ball.
Thus, Xia De had no other important matters to attend to before the end of the Great City Player rhode cards Tournament.
On Wednesday, the second phase of Great City Player officially began. That morning, Xia De took Mia to the Prophet Association. He first sought out Luvia to explain about the "God's Ball" before finding Vice President Mark.
After this rhode cards Tournament, which attracted the attention of players worldwide, Vice President Mark was less busy than during the preparation phase.
The Prophet Association had at least double its usual foot traffic today. People crowded the first-floor hall, jointly viewing the more detailed rules for the second phase of the competition on the bulletin board, or discussing interesting anecdotes from the first phase.
The expansion of the player base would lead to the emergence of some rare card games. People were very keen to discuss these games, and even regular newspapers and tabloids in recent days enjoyed using interesting stories from the rhode cards Tournament to fill the back pages of their papers.
Xia De found the Vice President on the third floor and explained the questions he wanted to understand.
"The number of people entering the second phase?"
Vice President Mark stood at the third-floor stairwell with his arms crossed, looking at Xia De with some surprise:
"No, no, this cannot be disclosed. Data concerning the competition is strictly prohibited from being revealed by internal association personnel."
He shook his head and emphasized:
"Even if we are friends, I absolutely cannot say."
In fact, even if this data were revealed, it wouldn't affect the outcome of the competition. However, for the sake of fairness and the entertainment of the competition, to encourage people to win as many copper coins as possible in the playoffs, all competition data would not be disclosed until the final champion emerged.
"Three digits?"
Xia De asked softly. Vice President Mark cautiously glanced around and then nodded.
He didn't "say" the answer, so it wasn't a violation of the regulations.
"115?"
The gentleman in formal attire lowered his head slightly.
"108?"
He then looked up slightly.
"Hmm, 112?"
"I didn't say anything."
The Vice President said very properly. Xia De couldn't help but praise him:
"Your mouth is truly sealed. It seems I can't get any answers from you."
Besides inquiring about information, he also came to the Prophet Association to collect that special invitation fee, which was the final payment for inviting him, a player holding a Founding series rhode cards, to participate in the competition.
Of course, the official term was not an invitation fee, but rather a compensation for lost work, clothing expenses, and transportation costs.
Mr. Mark took Xia De to the accounting office to withdraw money. Seeing Xia De with a cat, he curiously asked if bringing the cat was for good luck.
"Yes, my friend Baron Lavende has also entered the second phase, and he invited me to play cards together in the east and south of the City today."
Since the second phase involved multi-player card games, Baron Lavende naturally wanted to play cards with the holder of three Founding series cards.
"People say cats can bring good luck."
As he took the envelope from Vice President Mark's hand, Xia De said with a smile, then patted the head of the seemingly well-behaved cat on his shoulder:
"I believe my, ahem, this cat I'm raising, should also bring good luck."
"Meow!"
The cat rubbed against Xia De's hand, its eyes fixed on the envelope in Xia De's hand.
The second phase of Great City Player lasted from this Wednesday to Sunday, a total of five days, but one had to play a game in all six venues in the east, west, south, north, central, and University District before the final copper coin count could be tallied. Since he was invited by Baron Lavende today, Xia De planned to play two games today, and then one game per day thereafter. This would make the schedule easier and allow him to fully enjoy the fun of "Great City Player."
After leaving the Prophet Association, on Wednesday morning, Xia De played his first card game in the "1853 Great City Player rhode cards Tournament" at Marquis Martinez's mansion in the east of the City.
Besides Baron Lavende and his friend, Sir Solar, a horticultural artist who had managed gardens at Cold Spring Palace, the five-player game also included two other gentlemen who happened to be waiting to form a card game.
They were excited to hear that they could compete with Xia De, who had three Founding series cards in his deck. And besides the participants, after the game began, almost all the card players in the entire mansion gathered around.
Even though Xia De only drew Origin · Silver Moon in the end, and even though he didn't use the special effect of adjusting numbers, winning with 25 copper coins in hand, people were still very excited.
The host of the venue, Marquis Martinez, arrived only after Xia De and the others' card game ended. He warmly shook Xia De's hand and inquired about Xia De's competition schedule for the next few days.
It seemed the Marquis also wanted to play a game with Xia De.
After the morning card game, Baron Lavende and Sir Solar invited Xia De to have lunch together in the east of the City. Tobesk's east side was already an area where the wealthy gathered, and the living conditions and infrastructure there were very good.
After lunch, Mia, who was forced out by Xia De, immediately started to feel sleepy, but because she was always held by Xia De, she didn't throw a tantrum about not being able to lie on the windowsill at home and sleep in the sun.
In the afternoon, Xia De, Baron Lavende, and Sir Solar did not immediately go to Hall 3 of the Delarion Royal Opera House in the south of the City. The six venues in the City had different opening hours, and the Opera House's opening hours were the same as the Opera House itself.
This meant that people playing rhode cards here could listen to opera while playing.
So Xia De was invited to the "Rochester rhode cards Club" to which Baron Lavende and Sir Solar belonged. This was a rather high-end aristocratic club, containing a bar, restaurant, Library, and casino, for members to entertain and socialize.
Xia De's arrival was warmly welcomed by the people, as Tobesk City was hosting "Great City Player," and those who had qualified for the playoffs in the club gathered to discuss the situation of this year's competition.
And besides Xia De, the guest, there were also some invited Outsider rhode cards players in the club. Among them were not only Carson Rick people but also nobles from small duchies affiliated with Delarion.
"Is that Virgil Cameron?"
Sitting in a soft booth at a corner round table, Xia De and Baron Lavende exchanged decks, examining each other's cards. Hearing the conversation not far away, Xia De secretly looked to the side.
Three fashionably dressed, somewhat "flamboyant" men were holding wine glasses, exchanging opinions on Tobesk's artistic style. It was clear that they highly praised the Cavendish Family's gold-themed decoration style, but also thought that Tobesk's City layout was too square and a bit too monotonous.
Just now, Xia De heard the man sitting with his back to him being called "Virgil Cameron." Although Chief Anlos had shown a frontal photo at the time, Xia De was almost certain it was this person.
Virgil Cameron was not only the person Xia De was tasked with monitoring during the final stage of Great City Player in MI6's mission but also the person from whom Carson Rick's mission for Gray Headed Eagle required a secret letter.
"Cameron? Yes, I heard he's Sett Duke's lover."
Baron Lavende said mockingly, but thinking of the rumors about Xia De, he didn't elaborate on the topic of "lover."
"This Mr. Cameron is a genuine rhode cards master. His deck has 6 special rule cards, and although many of them were obtained for him by Sett Duke, his record in the preliminary stage was quite astonishing."
"Do you think he can make it to the finals?"
Xia De asked curiously. Baron Lavende thought Xia De was evaluating his opponent, so he considered it very carefully:
"According to the odds at the underground casino, his chances of reaching the finals are very high."
"Underground casino."
Xia De sat in the chair, leaning back slightly, letting his entire head enter the darkness. But his hand, under the light of the table, was stroking the cat. Mia was very familiar with his appearance; it meant Xia De was considering the household expenses.
"Baron, do you know my odds?"
"One to one to reach the finals, twenty to one not to reach the finals."
If Xia De abandoned his dignity as a rhode cards player, he could probably get rich instantly.
"What about the championship odds?"
"Winning the championship is around 1.7. You are this year's big favorite, but this is the market information I got yesterday. Now that you've won your first playoff game in the east of the City, the odds of winning the championship will definitely decrease. Once the championship roster is determined, the odds will be even lower."
Saying that, Baron Lavende looked left and right, lowering his voice:
"I bet on you to win the championship. If you really win, that 'Ancient Fairy Tale · Flower Girl' that I temporarily entrusted to your keeping can be given to you as a congratulatory gift for winning the championship."
It seemed Baron Lavende had bet quite a lot.
The Prophet Association itself would not set up gambling for Great City Player, but this did not mean that others would not. However, such underground gambling carried risks, and even with Baron Lavende's introduction, Xia De was still worried that he might lose all his principal.
He recently needed to prepare a large sum of cash for two types of special blood—or three types if looking further ahead. But whether he should bet on himself to win the 1853 Great City Player championship for the sake of preparing funds, Xia De still needed to think carefully (Note).
"Outsider, don't you not gamble?"
"This can't be considered gambling. I'm not betting out of greed, but for my livelihood. Moreover, if I really bet, perhaps half of the money I win could be donated to the children's welfare home, after all, winter is coming in a few months."
Xia De thought to himself.
Because he had discussed the odds of the underground casino and the rhode cards masters participating this year with Baron Lavende, Xia De didn't pay too much attention to Mr. Virgil Cameron.
But when they had dinner together at the club and set off for the Opera House in the south of the City, Xia De actually saw Mr. Cameron again in Hall 3 of the Opera House.
Since they were acquaintances who had met before, and Mr. Cameron had heard that Xia De was the rumored player holding three Founding series cards, he joined them to form a multi-player card game.
To be honest, playing rhode cards while listening to opera in the formal and elegant environment of an opera hall, where everyone was dressed in formal attire, was indeed a pleasant experience.
The opera performance was also arranged by the Prophet Association, and the play was "Tiffany Seidelda." It told the story of a cross-dressing child who grew up in a casino and the grudges and loves after he became an adult, which was quite fitting for the atmosphere of "Great City Player."
