The Prophet Association issues no more than three special series of rhode cards each year, with an uncertain number of sets released, but only a maximum of 54 special rule cards are mixed in, meaning at most one card of each suit and number.
It’s even possible that an entire set of cards contains only two special cards, and these are not sold on the market but given directly to people with special ties to the Association.
Therefore, obtaining a special series card is already difficult, and if that card also has special usage rules, one must have money if not luck to acquire it.
Although Baron Lavende and Baron Rwanda are wealthier than Xia De, they don't have enough money to buy precious rhode cards.
However, they are both rhode cards masters, winning cards from friends and out-of-town rhode cards enthusiasts through their card skills, and this kind of thing is not the first time it has happened today.
The gamble adopted a best-of-three format, and Baron Lavende and Baron Rwanda had to play at least once each, with their friends able to substitute for the remaining matches.
Since only two people were participating, each side used a deck of cards to compete; Mr. Candra, Baron Lavende's friend who works at the Prophet Association in Tobesk City, was responsible for shuffling and dealing.
Two cards were dealt initially, and both sides decided whether to stand or continue.
In each round, if one side won five times, the round ended, and one point was scored.
The first side to get two points won, taking the opponent's stake.
The stakes could be included in the deck, so after both sides provided rhode cards appraisal certificates to prove the authenticity of the cards, the game officially began.
"This deck of mine has been used for 5 years and has won me over 100 matches!" Baron Lavende said, leaning against the stone table while waiting for the shuffling process.
"This deck of mine once went to the battlefield with me; although there are no traces now, it was stained with my blood," Baron Rwanda retorted unceremoniously, clenching his fist.
Xia De activated the Destiny Ring in his soul, used the spell 【Echo of Blood】 to glance at Baron Rwanda's deck, and then kept a straight face without showing any expression.
The atmosphere under the grape arbor reached its peak at the moment both sides "talked tough."
Baron Lavende and Baron Rwanda both chose to play in the first round.
The fervent atmosphere also attracted partygoers near the garden's grape arbor, but upon realizing it was a rhode cards competition, only a few gentlemen chose to watch.
Xia De was forced to stand by the stone table, but he had no interest in this flashy gambling.
After noting the rules, he also paid attention to the distribution of bloodstains on Baron Rwanda's cards, then did not continue to watch the game.
Even though everyone around him was nervous and smiling, he was not affected by the atmosphere.
"What's so fun about cards?" Xia De didn't quite understand the thoughts of the people in this world, believing it was a difference in ideas caused by cultural differences.
So, he only paid attention to the progress of the game, mostly looking around, wanting to know what the big event the woman in his mind mentioned was going to be.
Halfway through the first round, as Baron Lavende began to sweat while holding his cards, Xia De saw another team of Orthodox Church Ring術士 appear on a side path not illuminated by the elegant garden gas lamps and candles.
They came from the direction of Schluch Lake, probably having been by the lake for a long time, but Xia De hadn't noticed them.
This team consisted of only six people, but Xia De recognized three of them; they had met at the exploding silver shop near the Silver Parrot Milk Delivery Company.
One was exceptionally strong, one had the demeanor of a scholar, and another had given him a Church flyer for relief food on the afternoon he first arrived in this world.
"These are Ring術士 from the War and Peace Church of the Orthodox Church's father peace."
Xia De averted his gaze from the group to avoid being discovered by them.
Although the Ring術士 also noticed the gathering under the grape arbor, they did not walk towards it but took the inconspicuous garden path around to the front courtyard of Lakeview Manor.
"Now there are two Ring術士 teams appearing, probably from different Churches... what exactly is going to happen?"
He thought to himself, then was startled by the exclamations of the men beside him; it turned out that Baron Rwanda had drawn the special card, the 【ancient fairy tale - match girl】.
Both parties who came for the rhode cards competition naturally brought dice.
Although Baron Rwanda rolled a 13 for the first time, meaning he could not use the special rules, this still made the onlookers extremely excited, and the not-so-tall Baron himself was quite proud.
This was also something Xia De could not understand, as he had not triggered the rules at all.
Baron Rwanda continued this "good luck," winning five times first in the first round, defeating Baron Lavende.
The latter pursed his lips and looked quite upset, but still managed to force a fake smile and praise his opponent's card skills as he stood up, his comical expression making the joyous atmosphere under the grape arbor even more intense.
Although Baron Rwanda won, he chose not to continue playing himself but let his friend, Mr. Sik, a factory owner who runs a flour mill locally, participate.
Similarly, Baron Lavende also called upon his friend, Sir Solar, a horticultural artist who had managed gardens at Cold Spring Palace.
These two were their true friends, and had appeared many times before, unlike hired friends like Xia De.
The game started again, and Baron Lavende was extremely nervous as he had already lost one round.
But the garden artist was very relaxed; he even had a toothpick in his mouth, twirling his small mustache with his fingers while explaining that he was quitting smoking.
By then, night had fully fallen, and three moons hung high above the night sky.
The lighting under the grape arbor was mainly provided by the elegantly designed gas lamps in the garden and the candlesticks fixed on the tables by everyone.
The rhode cards players squinted at their hands in the warm yellow light, and the watching men also eagerly awaited each card reveal.
Only the bored Xia De was not attracted by this card game; he looked at the purplish-red grapes hanging from the grape arbor, wondering if the owner of Lakeview Manor would mind guests secretly taking some of these plump fruits.
"Speaking of which, can cats eat grapes?"
Xia De's thoughts wandered quickly, but his main attention was still on observing whether there was anything unusual nearby.
As his eyes wandered, he saw two middle-aged gentlemen in black formal wear, holding wine glasses, passing by on the garden path next to the grape arbor.
They were discussing topics of psychiatry, roughly whether severely hitting the back of a person's head with sacred silverware could cure more serious mental illnesses.
Xia De saw Doctor Schneider, and similarly, Doctor Schneider, holding a wine glass.
During a casual glance towards the grape arbor in a lull in conversation with his friend, he also spotted the youngest Detective among the group.
