As expected, Xia De's second card game in the Great City Player semifinals ended with him winning 25 copper coins, starting with 10.
This time, he didn't draw a Founding series card, but unexpectedly drew a demon card.
Although the four gentlemen who lost to him were regretful, they all expressed that Xia De played well in the end.
Mr. Virgil Cameron, who had connections with Carson Rick, showed great interest in Xia De, not only wanting to arrange a time to play cards together but also wishing to speak with him privately after the game.
Xia De politely declined, of course.
He could tell that Mr. Cameron wanted to be alone with him, and he understood that the other party most likely thought he was “Gray Headed Eagle” because he had seen Origin · Silver Moon.
However, even if Xia De wanted to complete the task for money, it was impossible to talk to the other party in such a sensitive place.
Moreover, he planned to wait until he received news about the blood acquisition and knew the specific price before deciding whether to complete that task worth 2,000 pounds.
After the card game, Baron Lavende stayed in Hall 3 to watch others play.
Xia De had been out all day and just wanted to go home and rest with Mia.
But before he left Hall 3, a maid dressed as an Opera House servant, after receiving permission from the Prophet Association staff, hurried into the side hall where the card game was taking place and, as expected, stopped in front of Xia De:
“Mr. Hamilton, Miss Cavendish would like you to come upstairs.”
“Which Miss Cavendish?”
The words blurted out, and only then did Xia De notice the strange expressions of the people around him.
“You’ll know when you go up.”
The servant said cautiously, and Xia De, embarrassed by his slip of the tongue, quickly left with Mia in his arms.
Then, in the private box on the third floor, the one with the best view of the Opera House's main auditorium stage, he met Princess Angelina Cavendish.
“Knight, so who did you think it would be? My Grand Aunt Jialinna? Or Sister Leia?”
The little Princess smiled happily and invited Xia De to watch the opera with her as a thank you for saving her last time.
A Princess who doesn't have to participate in government affairs and only has to worry about getting married truly lives a leisurely life.
Everything went according to plan.
On Thursday, Xia De went to the Shadis Cotton Mill in the west of the City for his third card game.
The Prophet Association didn't actually set up the game in an open space inside the factory building; instead, they redecorated the factory into a steam loom exhibition, inviting card players to play among the rusty or shiny new machinery.
This environment was very interesting, and today Xia De didn't encounter any acquaintances in the card game.
However, when he had lunch nearby after playing cards in the morning, he did meet a Black Stone Security Company team, which was a Ring術士 team from the Sun Church, on a mission in the west of the City.
Iluna was very happy to see Xia De, and her captain also knew that Xia De was her friend, so he specifically allowed Iluna to chat with Xia De for a few moments before leaving.
Later, Xia De heard from Luvia that the Black Stone Security Company team encountered a rare humanoid relic in the west of the City that afternoon.
Although the mission was completed, that encounter still resulted in nearly half of the team members undergoing at least a week of mental and psychological counseling and evaluation after treatment before they could resume work.
However, Iluna was clearly safe and sound.
On Friday, after the card games in the eastern, western, and southern parts of the City concluded, Xia De went to the Three Cats Inn in the north of the City.
He was already very familiar with this place, so he thought that this visit, at last, he wouldn't be teased by Mrs. Sangmei, the innkeeper, about “bringing another pretty girl.”
This time, he brought a cat.
Mrs. Sangmei also participated in the Great City Player, and although she entered the semifinals, she mentioned during a casual chat that she had lost all her copper coins yesterday.
While Xia De was waiting for the other four to start the card game, Mia actually started fighting with the inn's mouse-catching cats.
The cats at the Three Cats Inn were almost free-roaming strays, skilled at fighting their own kind and catching mice.
The three cats were all larger than Mia in her kitten state, but Mia still defeated them.
This should have nothing to do with Mia having absorbed divine power, as this cat's “fierce reputation” had already begun to show when Sparrow Detective found her and fostered her in a pet store.
The day's competition also ended with Xia De's victory.
Before leaving, Mrs. Sangmei, the innkeeper, smiled and wished Xia De good luck in winning the Great City Player championship:
“Instead of giving discounts to strangers, I'd rather give them to you, Detective; at least you're a very well-behaved guest.”
On Saturday, before going to Dr. Schneider's Psychologist clinic for a meeting, Xia De first went to the Prophet Association to finish his fifth card game in the central urban area.
This rhode cards competition involved many people in the City, and even the Doctor, who didn't play cards much, was very concerned about the final results.
When Luvia and Dorothy entered the Psychologist's reception room together, they heard Xia De discussing the odds at the underground casino with the Doctor.
Although Dr. Schneider didn't play rhode cards, he had long heard of the “Great City Player.”
Today, after hearing Xia De's detailed introduction and learning that he wanted to bet some money but was troubled by the lack of a suitable and trustworthy channel, he tentatively said:
“An underground casino for betting on the champion… I think I can arrange something, but Xia De, how confident are you about winning the championship?”
“More than 60%.”
Xia De said cautiously.
“So conservative?”
Luvia, who had just entered, asked with a smile, and Dorothy, who followed her, also teased:
“Xia De, I heard that you've never lost when playing rhode cards.”
Xia De glanced at Mia.
Mia had no reaction to Dorothy, indicating that this was not the Princess.
“So you're that good? How much capital can you put up?”
The Doctor narrowed his eyes and thought for a moment before asking.
Considering his savings were only a little over two thousand pounds, and such “investment” carried high risks, Xia De gave a very conservative answer:
“1,200 pounds.”
This loss he could barely afford.
“Alright then, I'll add 800 pounds.
After the meeting today, I'll go place the bet.
It's already the final stage of the semifinals, so I imagine your odds are probably below 1.5, but there's still money to be made.”
The Doctor said.
His local connections were far more extensive than those of an Outsider, and as a single, middle-class Psychologist, his savings were also very substantial, so taking out 800 pounds was not a problem at all.
“Then, Doctor, count me in for 500 pounds.”
Dorothy said, sitting on the single sofa on the east side.
“Where did you get so much money?”
Luvia was very surprised.
“Royalties!
The first volume of the hamilton detective story collection is going to be printed after its serialization ends this month, and this is the advance payment.”
Dorothy was quite pleased.
“I can't afford that much, but 200 pounds is no problem.”
Luvia shrugged, sat on the single sofa opposite Dorothy, and then sighed as she looked at the empty seat next to Xia De.
Usually, during meetings, the two ladies would sit on single sofas, the Doctor on the long sofa, and Xia De and Priest Augustus on the long sofa opposite the Doctor:
“Good thing Priest Augustus isn't here.”
If Priest Augustus were here, he would definitely criticize them; he always disliked gambling.
“But don't assume I'm guaranteed to win.”
Seeing that everyone wanted to participate, Xia De cautiously reminded them.
“It's fine, I can afford to lose 800 pounds.”
The Doctor said indifferently:
“However, my luck isn't particularly good, so if you participate in this activity with me, just don't blame me for dragging you down.”
“I trust Xia De's luck.”
Dorothy didn't comment on the Doctor's words.
“I also trust Xia De's luck, especially his rhode cards luck.”
Luvia echoed, winking at Xia De.
“No, no, no, luck is a very unpredictable thing.”
Xia De thought of the fates of those who manipulated luck, and how he was almost killed by a sneak attack in the street.
“Then let's try our luck.”
The purple-eyed Diviner said, then took a six-sided die from her pocket and handed it to Xia De:
“Try it, roll three times.
A small wager: if the sum of the three numbers is greater than or equal to 30, I'll give you a small gift; if it's less than 30, your cat comes home with me tonight.”
“Meow?”
Mia looked up at her.
“That's not fair.”
Although Xia De objected, he first patted away the cat's outstretched paw, then took the die, which seemed to be made of ivory.
The first roll was a six, the second was a six, and the third was a five.
“Should I try to raise more money?”
The Doctor fell into contemplation, while Luvia, to Dorothy's surprise, stood up and then naturally kissed Xia De on the side of his face.
This was probably that small gift.
At last week's study session, Xia De asked the academy for recommendations for his “Two Ring” Ling Rune.
After a week of consideration, combining some of the information Xia De provided about himself, the academy finally recommended “Thunder” as Xia De's next goal.
The Ling Rune recommended by the academy to low-Ring術士 are mostly based on natural elements because they are less difficult and more practical.
As for choosing “Thunder,” on one hand, it's because in mysticism, the phenomenon of lightning tearing through the sky is often associated with abnormal spatiotemporal phenomena.
On the other hand, it's also because the academy believes that Xia De currently has too few offensive Miracles and too many auxiliary ones, so they recommended this Ling Rune, which can be linked to various powerful attack-type Miracles.
The book given by the academy was “Book of Mad Thunder,” written in obscure fifth epoch language, describing prophecies about lightning.
Unlike “crazy light chaser,” which tells chaotic and difficult-to-understand stories, all the prophecies in “Book of Mad Thunder” can be understood with normal logic.
It's just that the horror and strangeness of those ancient prophecies were mostly more terrifying than the Sea Return ritual Xia De personally experienced.
The academy advised Xia De to interpret the prophecies one by one and not read too much content at once.
But for Xia De, such books did not pose an influence on him.
