"Because Destiny is simply too difficult to obtain," Iluna complained in a low voice.
Luvia smiled and agreed, "Yes, Destiny is the most elusive Ling Rune."
However, among the purple-eyed girl's four core Ling Runes—Noble, Destiny, Destroyer, and Misfortune—Destiny was present. Luvia was a so-called "born Diviner"; her core Ling Runes directly pointed to the profession of "Diviner." Otherwise, the Prophet Association would not have given her the precious joint training qualification.
Iluna then said to Xia De, "Tomorrow morning, the Middlesburg Parish will help me hold a ceremony for my sublimation. This way, I can officially become Middle-Ring, so I'll be one ring higher than you again."
"Since I've known you, you seem to have always been one ring higher than me."
Xia De was also very happy for her. As for Luvia, she smiled as she looked at the two of them, "Although there were many unexpected incidents along the way, the matter of the third Chosen One has finally come to an end. Xia De, next week you'll still need to talk to Sister Devlin and inform her about what we are doing. Although Sister Devlin's relationship with us cannot be like Iluna's, she is still a trustworthy friend after all."
These words made Iluna even happier. The three of them were still the three of them, and she was still the only Chosen One among them, which was very important to her.
"This trip to Middlesburg was really exhausting. I really hope the fourth Chosen One doesn't appear so quickly."
Iluna leaned back on the sofa, looking at Xia De's home with satisfaction, "When I return to Tobesk, shall we go see an opera together? It's been a long time since we relaxed together."
She suggested it, and of course, Xia De and Luvia both nodded in agreement.
"Speaking of which, how is Priest Augustus doing now?" Xia De asked again.
"I know about this. The Old Priests transferred from the Old Continent returned to their original parishes in batches on Thursday. The church was worried that the strong death aura in Middlesburg would affect them. Although I will be taking a steam airship tomorrow, Priest Latt Augustus might return here even earlier than me."
Xia De nodded. He hadn't forgotten that the Priest wanted to talk to him about "angels."
Iluna and Luvia continued to discuss the Chosen One. Sister Devlin had not reappeared after the Battle of Middlesburg, but the church had already learned from Iluna's description that the contemporary leader of the Spiritual Cultivation Order was the Chosen One of death.
Although the Spiritual Cultivation Order acted strangely, overall, it was indeed a Ring術士 group of the good alignment. According to Iluna, the church was trying to contact the order—which was not difficult—and Sister Devlin, who was currently likely in contact with the Witch Council, should not mind contacting the church again.
As they discussed these things, Xia De took out his rhode cards deck from his pocket. Founding·Death automatically flew out and hovered in front of Luvia. The purple-eyed girl adjusted her focus to see the card clearly up close, then reached out and "picked" it up.
"Xia De, how many more times do I have to tell you, even if you gained the power to manipulate the all things are impermanent card, it's absolutely impossible for it to be—"
"No, what I mean is, I'll go to the Prophet Association with you in a while. This card needs to be appraised before it can be used, right?"
Iluna couldn't stay in Tobesk for long, nor could she leave Saint Delan Square Six to wander around the city. She quickly returned from the basement to the ruined tower in Sicar Mountain.
Xia De, holding Mia, went with Luvia to Silver Cross Avenue for dinner under an umbrella. At 1:30 PM, he dropped Luvia off at the Prophet Association for work, and then found Vice President Mark of the association.
The Prophet Association was still bustling on a rainy day. The rhode cards appraisal counter on the first floor had a long line, just like when Xia De first visited in midsummer.
Many people recognized the Great City Player champion and waved to him in greeting. Vice President Mark was originally dealing with a forged rhode cards on the first floor. Hearing that Xia De had arrived, he temporarily put down his work and walked upstairs with him.
"Mr. Hamilton, it's been several weeks. What have you been busy with lately?"
Vice President Mark was still so enthusiastic, inviting him to sit in the upstairs office.
Xia De smiled and explained his work over the past two months.
"In autumn, I was handling the last commission Uncle Sparrow took before he left. You wouldn't believe the problems I encountered. There were some unexpected incidents, and I was forced to fight indecently with a drunkard by a lake in the countryside, but in the end, he was kicked away by me, allowing me to retrieve those two precious butterflies."
Xia De complained about his work, and Vice President Mark said with emotion, "The Detective profession is truly not easy. Mr. Hamilton, you must pay attention to your safety."
Xia De nodded and went up to the third floor with Vice President Mark. Seeing no one in the corridor, he whispered, "I'm here to appraise a rhode cards."
The tall, thin middle-aged man blinked, stopped, and leaned against the wall.
"You came all this way, so it's definitely not an ordinary card. A very old card? Or a very rare special card?"
"A very old card," Xia De replied. Vice President Mark took a deep breath, then slowly adjusted his breathing rate to suppress his rapidly beating heart.
"Older than that demon card?"
"Yes," Xia De nodded again, and the gentleman in front of him widened his eyes.
"It seems this is another big business. Now, you can hand me that card."
Xia De took Founding·Death from his pocket and handed it over. The gentleman immediately leaned back when he saw the card face. Fortunately, the wall behind him had been repainted by the association during the Great City Player event, so he didn't fall.
"Oh, this is truly—"
He breathed heavily, his face flushed with excitement, and his trembling hand held the card high under the gaslight, as if holding a peerless treasure. In fact, the Founding series of rhode cards truly were priceless peerless treasures.
"Mr. Mark, please appraise this card at the association. I'll pick it up in three days. The association and I are so familiar; I trust you all very much."
Xia De could draw Founding·Death from his deck at any time, so there was no possibility of Balance, Darkness, or death being lost.
"No problem, of course, no problem. Oh, Founding·Death, I really didn't expect it. Tsk tsk, it's truly pretty."
Xia De smiled, looking at the oil painting above Vice President Mark's head, which depicted a middle-aged professor imparting Knowledge to his students.
"This card is very likely real. I hope the association can issue the appraisal certificate as soon as possible."
"Of course. Mr. Hamilton, this is already the fourth Founding series rhode cards in your possession, isn't it? Silver Moon, Balance, Darkness, death."
Vice President Mark groaned, continuing to walk with Xia De towards the office.
"Let's have a couple of drinks to celebrate. I have a good 1843 vintage wine from a winery in Huntington City, the 'Wine Capital' of Carson Rick."
"Yes, four cards. I'd like to inquire if the two Founding series cards treasured by the association have any plans for sale? Of course, I can't afford them, but I'd still like to know."
Xia De asked again. Vice President Mark was not surprised by Xia De's idea; instead, he smiled.
"Detective, you are not the first rhode cards player who wants to buy those two cards from the association, and you are certainly not the last.
The cards are currently in the Prophet Association's headquarters in Ryan City, the capital of Ragson Duchy in central Carson Rick United Kingdom, under the highest security level of the association. The association has long had a rule that those two cards are not for sale and do not accept any other form of bartering."
Xia De was not surprised. If those two Founding cards were not for sale, they would have been bought long ago. There were quite a few wealthy and fanatical rhode cards players.
"So, there's no possibility at all for me to get those two cards?"
"Currently, that seems to be the case. However, I can ask President Stan. We can jointly write a letter to the headquarters to inquire about the current status of those two cards for you."
He opened the office door. The room was well-lit, but it was still raining outside the window.
"Please come in."
"Okay, I wonder what the two cards collected by the association are..."
Mr. Mark recalled, "One is Founding·Destiny, discovered from an ancient Diviner's notebook."
The ancient Diviner was Mr. Riddle, the "Most Fortunate Mortal" who had once played cards with the God of Gambling in Terror Castle during the fifth epoch with Xia De.
"And another was found by Mr. Charlemagne Rhode, the president of the Prophet Association who created the rhode cards game a hundred years ago. That is Founding Knowledge."
