Mr. Roland did not look at Xia De’s cards; instead, he took a glass from the bartender who was serving drinks.
“Although I consider myself capable of surpassing the knights of North Country, some small matters arose at home in the autumn, so I couldn’t make the trip to North Country. Actually, I had planned to go.”
Only after speaking did he notice everyone looking at the table. The middle-aged bartender, wearing an apron, did not leave immediately after serving the drinks. He glanced at the table, then smiled and patted the Poet’s shoulder.
“Mr. Roland, it seems you’ve met your match this time.”
Only then did the Poet look down. Xia De’s three cards on the table were Moon 2, Flower 11, and Sun 8, totaling 21 points.
“Such a thing exists?”
Mr. Roland whispered in surprise, but he didn’t say much more. Instead, as if inspired, he jotted down a few sentences in his notebook, then motioned for Xia De to begin the second round.
“I saw a photo of that Great City Player champion in the newspaper.”
The Poet said casually, receiving the first hole card of the second round.
“For some reason, all the newspaper photos of that Delarion knight never show a frontal view.”
“I know that.”
Xia De also took his own hole card.
“I’ve heard people say that although that gentleman is the champion, because he himself strongly dislikes gambling and only considers rhode cards a hobby and interest. Therefore, upon hearing that underground casinos were offering odds for the champion during the Great City Player, he decided not to show his face in the newspapers, to prevent his reputation from being tarnished.”
“He truly is a person of noble character.”
Mr. Roland praised him and continued to draw cards after confirming that Xia De also wanted a third card. Xia De smiled.
“After all, he is the only knight ennobled in Delarion in this era.”
“Carson Rick also hasn’t ennobled any titled knights for many years. That Hamilton of Leijiede is probably the only true knight of this era. I’ll stand with 19 points.”
Mr. Roland revealed his hole cards: Flower 9, Flower 1, and Star 9.
He looked at Xia De expectantly, while Xia De continued to ask for a fourth card.
“I’m actually very curious, Mr. Roland, since your luck is so good, why don’t you go to a casino to make a large sum of money for yourself, so you can have more time to write poetry? Translation work at a bookstore probably doesn’t earn too much money.”
“Because translation work itself is very interesting. The hamilton detective story collection we’re busy translating recently is a good book.”
Mr. Roland said, then watched as Xia De revealed all his cards: Sun 4, sun 10, star 1, and Flower 5, totaling 20 points, exactly one point more than Mr. Roland.
The Poet shook his head helplessly.
“Besides the work being interesting, it’s also because I’m afraid of meeting people like you.”
He took a large gulp of wine and said amidst the cheers of the surrounding people:
“I will continue to play. It seems I’ve truly met my match today.”
The third round continued, and Mr. Roland explained as he took cards:
“Alright, back to the main topic. Not gambling for money in a casino is partly because I’m a respectable person, and partly because I also believe that luck comes with a price.”
“Mr. Roland, I’d rather pay the price than have your luck.”
The bearded man standing beside the Poet, with a brown belt loosely tied around his waist, said jokingly, but Mr. Roland did not smile. He reached out and took the second card.
“If you were me, you probably wouldn’t think that way. Luck really does come with a price.”
Xia De noticed his expression was a bit strange, but before Xia De could delve deeper into the topic, Mr. Roland displayed the cards in his hand.
“Look, I drew a special card. star 1, 【Carson Rick Horror Story · Headless Knight Jack】. When this card is drawn, if the opponent’s first hole card is also of the star suit and its number is less than or equal to 5, you can choose to forcibly reduce the opponent’s total points by one.”
The onlookers immediately began to excitedly converse. The appearance of special rule cards always caused such excitement.
Xia De leaned forward slightly, also looking at the card face with interest. The card face was not a particularly terrifying image, but rather a headless knight in armor standing in a cemetery, with his back to the three moons behind him, holding his helmet in his hand. Because it didn’t depict whether there was anything in the helmet, this scene only looked slightly eerie.
“Carson Rick Horror Story series?”
Xia De asked with a smile. This series began to be sold twenty years ago and has been reissued four times to date. Corresponding to it is the 【Delarion Horror Story】 series. These special rule cards include traditional horror stories and modern urban legends from both countries.
Because of the uniqueness of their card faces, they are fanatically sought after by a small number of rhode cards enthusiasts. Not to mention special rule cards, even more common cards with special card faces have prices exceeding the average of similar special rhode cards of the same era.
Of course, although Mr. Roland drew a special card, he still busted, losing to Xia De’s 18-1 = 17 points.
And in the next six rounds of cards, the Poet also fully demonstrated his luck, drawing another special card of his, star 7’s 【Modern Lady · Tavern Girl】. The card face was a side profile of a languid lady sitting alone at a tavern counter under a gas lamp, holding a stemmed glass.
The effect was to throw a 20-sided die. If the result was 1 or 20, the card points could be adjusted between 6 and 7.
But even with special cards drawn, in a total of 9 rounds, the Poet Mr. Roland did not win a single game, and not even a draw occurred. This was very abnormal. One must know that even if Xia De played cards with an opponent of ordinary luck, the opponent would not lose so terribly.
“Today is probably not suitable for gambling.”
Mr. Roland looked at the Queen Xia De drew in the ninth game with a bitter face. He was a good loser and began to rummage for banknotes in his pocket. At the same time, he also smiled and shooed away the surrounding onlookers, claiming that his good luck for the day was over and he didn't want to play cards anymore.
And when the people had left, the Poet pushed the lost money to Xia De, while tentatively asking:
“Watson, you didn’t just happen to show up here and play cards with me, did you?”
He gave Xia De 3 small 1-oel silver coins and a few banknotes.
Xia De raised an eyebrow.
“Mr. Roland, you are very perceptive.”
He pushed the coins and banknotes back.
“I have always disliked gambling. This time, I only acted as your opponent because I wanted to get closer to you.”
He pointed to the money.
“Please take this money back, but I have some questions I would like to presumptuously ask you.”
Mr. Roland narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the young man in front of him.
“You’ve also seen ‘cherub’?”
“You mean the Lake Goddess? Oh, no, no, I haven’t seen her.”
In local folklore, the “Lake Goddess” has been given many names. Professor Drake, who is crippled in both legs, calls that lake “Lake Cherub,” so the Lake Goddess can also be called “cherub.”
“You haven’t seen her? Did you really win against me based on your card skills and luck?”
Mr. Roland was greatly surprised. Xia De thought for a moment.
“Actually, my luck has always been very good.”
Saying that, he briefly shuffled his deck, then randomly selected and displayed a card. The card face was surprisingly sun 1.
“However, I really came for the ‘Lake Goddess.’ I heard about you from Professor Drake and wanted to understand the situation in more detail.”
“So it’s Professor Drake. Yes, I once mentioned my affairs to the Professor when I was looking for some information.”
Mr. Roland’s left hand gripped the handle of his wooden wine glass, and his expression began to relax.
“Young man, your luck is already good enough. I advise you, do not go looking for that goddess in the lake anymore.”
“I have a reason I must find her, Mr. Roland. Please tell me about your experience in the spring. For this, you can make as many demands as possible.”
The Poet sighed and raised his right hand, which was missing two fingers, showing it to Xia De.
“Everything comes at a price.”
“I understand.”
Xia De nodded.
“You really understand?”
Mr. Roland said with a bitter smile. Seeing Xia De’s earnestness, he nodded.
“I’ve always been unwilling to mention that matter to others again, but since your luck is even better than mine, I think even if I don’t tell you, you’ll find out sooner or later on your own. Alright, I can tell you the specific experience, but you have to promise me one thing. If, and I mean if, if you can truly see cherub, please ask her on my behalf if she can take back my luck.”
The atmosphere in the small pub in the afternoon was very leisurely. There weren’t too many customers yet. After the card players left, no one paid attention to the two people at the table anymore.
“Take back?”
Xia De asked hesitantly.
“You paid a price and gained extraordinary luck, why do you want to take it back?”
“Too outstanding luck is a burden for mortals.”
Mr. Roland stroked his chest with his disabled hand.
“I made a wish to cherub, and she only took a poem I had written at the time.
After returning home, outwardly I was completely normal, but starting from spring, I increasingly clearly felt as if I was carrying a huge mountain on my back. It’s like an old steam engine being fitted with the newest model fuel tank. Sometimes, people don’t actually need things they can’t use.”
The Poet looked at Xia De again, and the young Outsider showed an understanding expression.
“As a Poet, your inspiration must be very high, allowing you to experience things that ordinary people cannot.”
“Yes.”
Mr. Roland nodded.
“Watson, since you can understand, then listen to my story. This story is not long, but the process is somewhat incredible. I hope you can believe me.”
The two ordered some more drinks, and the Poet began to tell his story.
