All contestants were required to have their decks checked before the game.
Xia De was delayed by the witch for a while, so by the time he arrived at the back garden, everyone else was already there.
The 16 tables for the first round of games were scattered in various corners under the grape trellis, surrounded by large crowds of spectators, so Xia De had no chance to know who the other contestants were.
After checking his 【Life Ritual · Wedding】, he temporarily bid farewell to Baron Lavende and Baron Rwanda.
He found the long table, which had been set up earlier, in the center of the garden path on the west side of the grape trellis.
Sitting at the other end of the table was Colonel Lisbon, 42 years old, who didn't exude much of a military aura, though this might be related to his glasses.
The two didn't say much.
Once Xia De was seated, under the illumination of the gas lamps, Mr. Sikh of the Prophet Association immediately announced the start of the game.
"Mr. Hamilton, I've heard much about you."
Colonel Lisbon had a brown beard and was wearing a navy uniform for the banquet, with military boots on his feet.
A standing gas lamp was nearby; it was a garden lighting fixture, similar in general design to the streetlights on Silver Cross Avenue, just a bit shorter.
The warm yellow light illuminated them.
Tifa stood behind Xia De, holding Mia, while the Colonel, who knew Xia De's identity, greeted him politely.
They both received their first card, and the surrounding crowd lowered their voices slightly, anticipating the Great City Player champion's game.
It must be admitted that playing cards in an aristocratic manor under the starry sky was indeed very pleasant.
"Colonel Lisbon, I heard you just returned from the New World?"
Xia De asked, taking his second card with the Colonel.
"Yes, I disembarked at Coldwater Port and returned by steam train, as the year-end conferment season is approaching."
The Colonel smiled.
Delarion, like Carson Rick, holds nationwide conferment ceremonies at the end of each year, strictly adhering to the rule of a small conferment every four years and a major one every ten years.
This is somewhat similar to the concept of a "year-end bonus" that exists even in this era, and also similar to the Five Gods Church distributing gifts to core believers at the end of the year.
Of course, the lower-class laborers in the steam factories could only receive blessings from their factory owners; middle-class citizens could receive some cash from their employers; wealthy merchants and factory owners rewarded themselves with their own money; and those who could participate in the year-end conferment received true status and honor.
"Conferment season?"
"Yes, 1853 is coming to an end in the blink of an eye."
Xia De agreed, then declared he would stand, but did not immediately reveal his face-down card.
According to the rules, standing does not require immediate display of the card face.
His friend, Captain Lades, had earned merits during the Battle of Middlesburg and had written recently, saying he would return to Tobesk in winter to receive his reward, though it was uncertain if Captain Lades would be able to advance further.
The Colonel looked at his two cards, totaling 17 points, hesitated for a moment, then also chose to stand, and then saw that Xia De had a star 10 and a star eight.
"This year has been truly hard.
I hope every day can be peaceful."
Xia De said, taking the first card of the second round, then smiled and flipped it over:
"The Queen, 【New World Exploration History · Wind of Exploration】.
I can draw another card randomly, and if it's a sun suit, the Queen is considered a King.
But I won't activate the effect, Colonel, I don't believe you can draw a King or 21 points, do you want to try?"
"Alright, I concede."
The Colonel regretfully stood up and shook hands with Xia De, who also stood up:
"I hope we can play cards together again next time.
It's a pity I didn't get to see those Founding series."
Xia De's second game was held next to a small white stone fountain on the south side of the grape trellis.
The fountain depicted a small angel holding a water bottle, looking exceptionally elegant.
Under the gas lamp, Tifa pulled out a chair for Xia De, and Xia De's opponent arrived late after Xia De had already taken his seat.
Wearing a red jacket and white knickerbockers, and a feathered hat, was Viscount Chekhov, a local Tobesk noble.
This Viscount had considerable wealth, but his main profession was that of a moderately famous Poet.
Like Colonel Lisbon just now, Viscount Chekhov first expressed his admiration for Xia De before playing cards with him.
He recognized the maid standing behind Xia De as Duchess Jialinna's personal maid, so after receiving his first card, he subtly began to praise Xia De as a handsome gentleman.
But this praise did not help him win the game.
In the first round, the Viscount continued to ask for cards with two 16-point hands, and unfortunately busted; in the second round, he cautiously stopped at 16 points, only to be defeated by Xia De's 18 points.
The observing guests laughed and pointed out that the Viscount had fallen twice in the same place, in different postures.
The Viscount was not angry; instead, he gracefully stood up and shook hands with Xia De:
"I knew it wouldn't be easy to defeat the Great City Player champion."
"I arrived a bit late, are there any interesting contestants in this card game?"
Xia De asked with a smile, while Tifa helped him organize his deck.
Viscount Chekhov thought for a moment:
"It seems a lady participated in the card game, which is quite rare, but I don't know that lady who seems to be from Carson Rick."
"A lady playing cards?"
Xia De frowned slightly.
The third card game took place at the edge of the garden maze on the west side of the grape trellis.
By this time, due to the decreasing number of remaining players, the number of guests watching each table had increased.
Of course, to avoid suspicion, no one except their own servants was allowed to stand behind the players.
Xia De's opponent this time was Mr. Luwatz Belson, a gentleman in his thirties who was not a noble himself, but he married Baroness Liana Pompey.
It's worth noting that the noble lady was forty-five years old this year.
Mr. Belson also greatly admired Xia De's reputation.
After they were seated, he even wanted an autographed photo of Xia De, but Xia De politely declined with a smile.
Their card game also held no suspense, though in the second round, Mr. Belson drew a special rule card, 【Game of the Brave · Wildean Wrestling】, which piqued people's interest.
The rule of this card, of course, did not require the players to wrestle, but rather required the holder and one of the players at the table to roll a 20-sided die.
If the numbers on both dice matched, then this Moon 9 card could be adjusted within the range of 7 to 11.
It should be known that among all the rhode cards Xia De had seen so far that could adjust numbers, only his 【Founding · Silver Moon】 could span five numbers.
And while the activation conditions for this 【Game of the Brave · Wildean Wrestling】 were extremely strict, the rule of adjusting across 5 numbers meant that if luck truly struck, this card would play a decisive role.
Xia De rolled a 1, and Mr. Belson rolled a 13, so the card rule did not activate, which drew sighs of regret from the onlookers.
After their game ended and they shook hands, Xia De revealed his desire to purchase this card.
"No, no, Mr. Hamilton, I will not sell this card."
Mr. Belson shook his head, his tone firm:
"I will keep it in my hands until the day I die, and then have my children open my diary and take out this card, telling them that this is the most precious gift I left for them."
His words drew laughter from those around, and Xia De also smiled.
He suddenly thought of Sparrow Detective; the former Detective had left 【Founding · Silver Moon】 in his diary before his death, allowing Xia De to inherit it.
------Digression------
PS: Last year on Children's Day, the story had just developed to the "gun of kindness," and it was also playing cards under the grape trellis at Lakeview Manor.
A year has passed, and the story has just returned to the grape trellis at Lakeview Manor.
It's truly Feelings.
Happy Children's Day, may The Innocent Creator bless all those with childlike hearts.
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