Whispering Verse

Mr. Roland did not look at Shade's cards, but took the wine glass from the bartender who delivered the wine:

"Although I thought I could defeat the knights of the Northern Kingdom, something happened at home in the fall, so I was unable to travel to the Northern Kingdom. In fact, I planned to go."

After finishing speaking, I noticed that everyone was looking at the table. The middle-aged bartender in an apron did not leave immediately after serving the wine. Instead, he glanced at the table, then smiled and patted the poet on the shoulder:

"Mr. Roland, it seems that you have met your opponent this time."

The poet then looked down and saw that Shade's three cards on the table were Moon 2, Flower 11 and Sun 8, totaling 21 points.

"Is there such a thing?"

Mr. Roland murmured in surprise, but didn't say much. Instead, as if he was inspired, he wrote down a few words in his notebook, and then signaled to Shade that he could proceed to the second round:

"I saw the photo of the Big City Players Champion in the newspaper."

The poet said casually and got the first trump card of the second round:

"I don't know why, but all the newspaper photos of the knight from Delarion don't have a frontal view."

"I know this."

Shade also took his own trump card:

"I heard people say that although the gentleman was the champion, he hated gambling and only regarded Rhodes as an interest and hobby. Therefore, after hearing about the players in the big city, the underground casino offered the odds of the champion. Afterwards, I decided not to appear in the newspaper to prevent my reputation from being tarnished."

"He is really a person of noble character."

Mr. Roland praised, and after confirming that Shade also wanted the third card, he continued to draw cards. Shade smiled:

"After all, he is the only knighted knight in Delrayon's era."

"It has been many years since Kassenrik has been crowned a named knight. That Hamilton of Rejed is probably the only real knight in this era. I'll stop trading, 19 points."

Mr. Roland revealed the hole cards, Flower 9, Flower 1 and Star 9.

He looked at Shade expectantly, and Shade continued to ask for the fourth card:

"I'm actually very curious, Mr. Roland, since you are so lucky, why don't you go to the casino to get yourself a large sum of money so that you can have more time to write poetry? I'm afraid I can't make money from the translation work in Shuxing Too much money."

"Because the translation work itself is very interesting, and the "Hamilton Detective Stories" we are currently busy translating is a good book."

Mr. Roland said, and then saw Shade uncovering all the cards, Sun 4, Sun 10, Star 1 and Flower 5, 20 points, just a little more than Mr. Roland.

The poet shook his head helplessly:

"In addition to the fun work, it's also because I'm afraid of meeting people like you."

He took a big sip of wine and said amidst the cheers of the people around him:

"I will continue to play. It seems that I really met my opponent today."

The third round continued. Mr. Roland explained while taking the cards:

"Well, back to the topic, I don't go to the casino to gamble, partly because I am a decent person, and partly because I also believe that luck comes with a price."

"Mr. Roland, I would rather pay the price than have your luck."

The bearded man standing next to the poet with a brown belt crookedly tied around his waist said jokingly, but Mr. Roland did not laugh. He reached for the second card:

"If you were me, you probably wouldn't think this way. Luck really comes at a price."

Shade noticed that his expression was a little strange, but before Shade could continue to delve deeper into this topic, Mr. Roland showed the cards in his hand:

"Look, I drew a special card. Star 1, [Kasenrick Horror Story·Headless Horseman Jack]. When this card is drawn, if the opponent's first hole card is also the star suit, and the number is less than or equal to 5, then You can choose to forcibly reduce the opponent's total points by one."

The onlookers immediately started chatting excitedly. The appearance of special rule cards is always so exciting.

Shade stretched his head slightly and looked at the card surface with interest. The picture on the card is not a particularly scary one, but a headless horseman in armor standing in a cemetery, with his back to the three-wheeled moon behind him, and his helmet in his hand. Since there is no depiction of whether there is something inside the helmet, the scene looks only slightly scary.

"The Carson Ricker Horror Stories Series?"

Shade asked with a smile. This is a series that was launched twenty years ago and has been reprinted four times so far. Corresponding to this is the [Delarion Horror Stories] series. These cards with special rules include traditional horror stories and modern urban legends from the two countries.

Because of the special nature of its card surface, it is enthusiastically pursued by a small number of Rhodes card enthusiasts. Not to mention special rules cards, even the more common cards with special card faces, the price is higher than the average price of special Rhodes cards of the same type and the same era.

Of course, although Mr. Roland drew a special card, he still ended up with a busted card and lost to Shade's 18-1=17 points.

In the next six rounds of poker, the poet also fully demonstrated his luck and drew another special card of his own, Star 7's [Modern Girl·Tavern Girl]. The card shows the side face of a lazy-looking girl sitting alone in front of the bar counter under the gas lamp, holding a goblet.

The effect is to throw a 20-sided die. If the result is 1 or 20, the card point can be adjusted between 6 and 7.

But even with the special cards drawn, in a total of 9 rounds of games, the poet Mr. Roland did not win a single game, and there was not even a draw. This is very abnormal. You must know that even if Shade plays cards with an opponent with ordinary luck, the opponent will not lose so miserably.

"Today is probably not a good day for gambling."

Mr. Roland looked at the queen drawn by Shade in the ninth game with a grimace. He was willing to admit defeat and was ready to rummage for money from his pocket. At the same time, he also smiled and drove away the people watching, claiming that his good luck was over today and he no longer wanted to play cards.

And when everyone left, the poet pushed the lost money to Shade and asked tentatively:

"Mr. Watson, you didn't appear here by chance and then played cards with me, right?"

He gave Shad three small 1-ohle silver coins and a few banknotes.

Shade raised his eyebrows:

"Mr. Roland, you are very perceptive."

He pushed the coins and banknotes back:

"Actually, I have always hated gambling. This time I just want to get closer to you, so I will act as your opponent."

He pointed to the money:

"Please take back the money, but I have some questions that I would like to take the liberty of asking you."

Mr. Roland squinted his eyes and looked at the young man in front of him:

"Have you seen 'Cherubim' too?"

"You mean the Lady of the Lake? Oh, no, no, I haven't seen her."

In local folklore, the "Lady of the Lake" has many names. Professor Drake, who is disabled in both legs, calls the lake the "Lake of Cherubim", so the goddess of the lake can also be called "Cherubim".

"I've never seen it before. Did you really win me with your card skills and luck?"

Mr. Roland was greatly surprised. Shade thought for a moment:

"Actually, I've always been very lucky."

As he said that, he briefly shuffled his deck, then randomly selected a card to display. The card turned out to be Sun One:

"However, I did come here for the 'Lady of the Lake'. I heard about you from Professor Drake and wanted to know more details."

"It turned out to be Professor Drake. Yes, I once mentioned my own affairs to the professor in order to find some information."

Mr. Roland's left hand held the handle of the wooden wine glass, and his expression began to relax:

"Young man, you are already lucky enough. I advise you not to look for the goddess in the lake again."

"I have a reason that I must look for. Mr. Roland, please tell me about your experience in the spring. To this end, you can make as many requests as possible."

The poet sighed and raised his right hand, which was missing two fingers, to show it to Shade:

"Everything comes at a price."

"I see."

Shade nodded.

"Do you really understand?"

Mr. Roland smiled bitterly. Seeing that Shade was serious, he nodded:

"I have been reluctant to mention that matter to others, but since you have better luck than me, I think even if I don't tell you, you will find it by yourself sooner or later. Well, I can tell you the specific experience, but You have to promise me something. If, and I mean if, if you can really see the cherubim, please ask Him on my behalf if you can take back my good fortune."

The afternoon atmosphere in the tavern was very leisurely. There were not many customers yet. After the card players left, no one paid attention to the two people at the table.

"Take it back?"

Shade asked hesitantly:

"You paid the price and achieved extraordinary luck, why do you want to take it back?"

"Excessive luck is a burden to mortals."

Mr. Roland touched his chest with his disabled hand:

“I made a wish to the cherubim, and they just took away a poem I had written at the time.

After returning home, outwardly I looked exactly the same as ordinary people, but starting from spring, I felt more and more clearly that I was carrying a huge mountain on my back. It's like an old steam engine with the latest fuel cylinder installed. Sometimes, people don't actually need things they don't use. "

The poet went to see Shade again, and the young stranger showed a clear expression:

"As a poet, your inspiration should be very high, so you can understand some things that ordinary people cannot understand."

"Yes."

Mr. Roland nodded:

"Mr. Watson, since you can understand, then come and listen to my story. This story is not long, but the process is a bit incredible. I hope you can believe me."

The two ordered more drinks and the poet began to tell his story.