On Sunday, the 15th of harvest month, which was also the last day of the 1853 Big City Player semi-finals, Xia De participated in his final multiplayer card game in Tobesk City's University District that morning.
Thus, after six card games lasting five days, Xia De secured victories with 25, 25, 19, 25, 23, and 24 copper coins respectively. Winning six consecutive games gave him a total of 91 copper coins. (Note)
Xia De was not sure if he could rank first, but he was certain that it was enough for him to enter the final round.
So, after the copper coins were tallied at the Prophet Association that noon, he did not wait for the final results to be announced in the association like other players. Instead, he went to Coldwater Port to check on his commission to acquire special blood.
There was no news from Mr. Edmund, but at the Seven Broomsticks Tavern, someone was indeed interested in Xia De's acquisition and left relevant information. However, Xia De did not believe that the blood of magical creatures like "silver-blooded toads and three-headed seahorses" would meet the requirements of the God of Vampires.
In the sixth epoch, these creatures were already very rare, but in the fifth epoch, they were common.
After returning to Tobesk from Coldwater Port, Miss Jialinna sent a letter, saying that she had found suitable blood, provided by Miss Hivi Aurora. Specifically, it was found by the deep-sea Mermaids who were affiliated with the Aurora Family.
It was the blood of a creature called the "Abyssal-Eyed Dragon Squid." This creature lives in the deepest abysses of the ocean between the Old Continent and the New World. From its name, it is known to have dragon bloodline. However, what pure-blooded dragons and what creatures produced this terrifying and dreadful offspring is not definitively known by the current Ring術士 community.
The Mermaids, however, believed that pure-blooded dragons and some tentacled evil entities living in the sub-space gave birth to them.
Nevertheless, the blood of this terrifying creature is absolutely precious from any perspective. Moreover, although this blood contains toxins, it does not directly kill people. Drinking the blood of the Dragon Squid connects one to the deep-sea abyss in dreams, allowing one to glimpse terrifying abyssal scenes in the dream.
This is somewhat similar to the effect of the Mermaid's curse. As long as one's spirit is strong enough, although sleep will be affected for a few weeks, there is no need to worry about life safety.
"How much does Miss Aurora want?"
Xia De was very satisfied with this blood.
"She said she doesn't want your money, but I feel like she's up to something. So, I copied a small section from Miss Felianna's notes about marine creature populations for her, as if paying for you."
Miss Jialinna said.
Xia De's home did not have the conditions to store such precious blood, so the blood was first kept with Miss Aurora. When needed, Miss Jialinna would retrieve the blood through the Witch Council.
This way, Xia De only needed to find one more type of blood, but this was also not easy.
"Precious blood doesn't necessarily have great power, but it must be rare, or have a story. I've already helped you look, but you know it's not easy. However, are you looking for blood or wine?"
At Old John's Pawnshop, Old John, who had just finished dinner, welcomed Xia De, who had come to visit.
"I do know a story related to 'blood and wine,' but what I need is blood, not a story, nor wine."
Xia De was quite annoyed.
Old John, behind the counter, glanced at him and handed Xia De the newspaper he was holding:
"I forgot to congratulate you."
The Tobesk Evening News, still smelling faintly of ink, published the final list for "Great City Player." Because it involved honor and vanity, the Prophet Association's list header specifically emphasized that this was a ranking based on "semi-final results."
Xia De · Su Lun · Han Mi Er Dun's name was ranked first. Among the people Xia De knew, Baron Lavende was unlucky and stopped at the preliminary round, and Baron Lavende and Mrs. Sangmei from the Three Cats Inn both failed to enter the finals. However, Mr. Virgil Cameron, Sett Duke's lover, successfully entered the finals.
This also meant that Chief Anlos's surveillance mission for Xia De had to be carried out by him.
"It's not surprising, I had already expected to reach the finals."
Xia De put the newspaper aside and continued to talk about the blood:
"Old John, I know you have a wide network. Is there really no way you can help inquire again?"
"I've asked all my acquaintances in the Tobesk surrounding areas. If I inquire further, I can only write to old friends in other places, but that will take time."
The waiting time for the key could end tonight. But without two kinds of blood, Xia De wouldn't be able to attend the banquet even if he went back to the past again.
"Can it be done in a week? I can accept any price below 4000 pounds."
"Are you including the Great City Player prize money in this?"
Old John asked in surprise, but still nodded:
"Since you're willing to put out this much money, a week is definitely enough. Even if my old friends in other places don't have it, I can inquire with friends in the New World. However, blood storage is a big problem, I'll have to charge you for transportation. If you really win the Great City Player championship, I can waive the transportation fee for you."
"Old John, when did you become so generous?"
Xia De asked suspiciously, then seemed to remember something:
"You didn't bet, did you?"
"Don't talk nonsense, I'm not someone who bets at underground casinos."
The old man picked up the newspaper again, hiding his eyes behind it. But before Xia De left, he couldn't help but ask:
"How high do you think your chances of winning the championship are?"
He must have bet too.
"From the odds, I'm the one with the highest chance of winning."
This was a relatively objective statement.
"I know from the odds... *cough cough*, I'm asking about your own feeling."
"More than 60% probability, I haven't seen the grouping yet, maybe the opponent's special cards just happen to counter the effect of my special cards."
Xia De was still relatively conservative.
"Sixty percent, that's high enough."
The eight players who entered the 1853 Great City Player rhode cards Tournament were Knight Xia De Hamilton (Delarion), Baron Shepard (Delarion), Mr. Dirac, a mechanical engineer from Tobesk (Delarion), Mr. Kubrick, a merchant (Carson Rick), Professor Wilde, a mathematician (Carson Rick), Baron Cooper, a foreign noble (Ragson Duchy), Mr. Virgil Cameron, a noble consultant (Sett Duchy), and Captain Butler, who held dual nationality and frequently sailed between the New World and the Old Continent.
The names of the eight appeared not only in Sunday evening's evening paper but also in Monday morning's morning paper. Although the front-page headline was the King's public speech on "Important Instructions on Autumn Harvest Work," the attention drawn by the Great City Player still made Tobesk City this autumn more lively than in previous years.
The grouping was announced early on Monday morning. Xia De's first opponent was Professor Wilde, a mathematician from Carson Rick. According to gossip Xia De heard from the Prophet Association, the opponent participated in this year's Great City Player by taking the opportunity to attend a conference in Delarion from his school, and his ranking in the semi-finals was second only to Xia De.
The final stages of the Great City Player all took place at the Prophet Association. Besides having special invitations, each participant could invite one companion to watch the game.
Xia De originally wanted Chief Anlos to send someone to appear with him, so he wouldn't have to continuously monitor Mr. Virgil Cameron. However, Chief Anlos apparently believed that doing so might link Xia De to his MI6 agent identity, and therefore refused Xia De's request.
However, Chief Anlos did mention that Mr. Cameron's itinerary in Tobesk was normal, and so far no suspicious individuals had contacted him. With the Great City Player reaching its final stage, Mr. Cameron had even bought a train ticket to leave the area and return to Sett Duchy, so the Six Divisions were suspecting that the intelligence they received was problematic.
Gray Headed Eagle was dead; if someone appeared to make contact, that would be what would surprise Xia De.
On Monday, Xia De invited Dorothy to accompany him to his duel with Professor Wilde. Coincidentally, the Writer was free and agreed, witnessing Xia De's quick two-game victory over the professor.
After that day's match, Mr. Virgil Cameron again sent someone to pass a note, wanting to talk to Xia De alone. But Xia De declined, as he had an dinner appointment with Dorothy. During dinner, Xia De did not forget to bring the bottle of high-end red wine from Roselle Winery that he had taken out of the god's gift box that week, which greatly reduced the cost of the meal.
On Tuesday, Dorothy had to go to the Steam Bird Daily newspaper office to proofread her novel manuscript, so Xia De invited Luvia as his female companion to accompany him in his duel with Captain Butler. Although Luvia was a staff member of the Prophet Association, not all staff members could enter the venue.
Tuesday's duel took place in the afternoon. Xia De still brought his cat. Whether it was Luvia's luck or Mia's luck, although Captain Butler narrowly won the first game, Xia De won the remaining two games.
At the same time, Mr. Dirac, the mechanical engineer from Tobesk, and Mr. Virgil Cameron, the noble consultant from Sett Duchy, who were dueling in another venue, also determined a winner: Mr. Cameron won.
Mr. Cameron twisted his neck, relaxing his neck, which had become stiff from too much concentration. He tilted his head towards the other side of the venue, meeting Xia De's eyes.
Xia De politely smiled and nodded at him, but Mr. Cameron's face showed some nervousness. The latter looked away. Xia De was not surprised by this; perhaps the other party was very confused as to why he, holding Origin · Silver Moon, had consistently refused to meet him.
"This life is truly pleasant. Not having to think about being a Chosen One allows me, an Outsider, to enjoy the charm of the Steam Age."
Xia De stretched, then stood up and walked out with Luvia.
Outside the window, the green leaves on the branches gradually turned yellow, and with the slightly cold wind, the leaves drifted down behind the running newsboys, lying on the gray flagstones to be crushed by carriage wheels.
harvest month was entering its latter half; Summer had completely ended.
A newsboy in patched overalls, wearing a dirty flat cap, ran with stray cats through the misty streets. The ink-scented newspaper he waved in his hand displayed on its front page a silhouette of the Prophet Association and two rhode cards cut together.
"The champion of the 1853 Great City Player will be decided between Knight Xia De Hamilton of this city and Mr. Virgil Cameron of Sett Duchy."
That tender but loud voice seemed to spread throughout the streets and alleys of Tobesk City, carried by the sound of four-wheeled horse-drawn carriages crushing pebbles, the friction of shoe soles on the pavement, and the spreading thin fog, reaching thousands of households.
Tall chimneys in the distance spewed black smoke into the sky, and people crisscrossed on the bustling Silver Cross Avenue. As the streetlights began to glow, little Princess Angelina at the window of Yodel Palace saw Xia De and Luvia's figures passing by on the street.
The wind and steam trains would carry this news to even more distant places.
"Big City Player 1853" was probably the most lively event in Tobesk City this autumn.
