Whispering Verse

All contestants were asked to check their decks before the game. Shade was delayed for a while by the witch, so when he arrived in the back garden, everyone except him had already arrived.

The 16-table competition in the first round was scattered in various corners under the grape trellis, surrounded by a large number of spectators, so Shade had no chance to know who was participating.

After checking the [Life Ritual and Wedding], he said goodbye to Baron Lavender and Baron Rwanda for the time being, and found the long table that had been placed in the center of the garden path on the west side of the grape trellis. Sitting at the other end of the table is the 42-year-old Colonel Lisbon. He does not have much military temperament. Of course, this may also have something to do with his glasses.

The two of them didn't say much. After Shade sat down, under the light of the gas lamp, Mr. Sikh from the Prophet Association immediately announced the start of the game.

"Mr. Hamilton, I've heard of you for a long time."

Colonel Lisbon had a brown beard. He attended the banquet wearing a navy uniform and military boots. The vertical gas lamp is nearby. It is a lighting fixture in the garden. Its general shape is similar to the street lamp on Silver Cross Avenue, but it is shorter.

Warm yellow light illuminated them. Tifa stood behind Shade and held little Mia, while the colonel, who knew Shade's identity, greeted him politely. They all got their first cards, and the crowd of onlookers lowered their voices slightly in anticipation of the big city player championship.

I have to admit that it is indeed very pleasant to play cards in a noble manor with pleasant scenery under the stars.

"Colonel Lisbon, I heard that you just came back from the New World?"

Shade asked, asking for a second card with the colonel.

"Yes, let's go ashore from Coldwater Port and take the steam train back. After all, it's the awarding season at the end of the year."

The colonel smiled. Delarion, like Kasenlik, would receive nationwide awards and commendations at the end of each year, and strictly abide by the rules of one small letter every four years and one large letter every ten years. This is somewhat similar to the concept of "year-end bonus" that exists even in this era, and is also similar to the way the Five Gods Church distributes gifts to core believers at the end of the year.

Of course, lower-level workers in steam factories can only get blessings from factory owners; middle-class citizens can get some cash from their employers; rich businessmen and factory owners can reward themselves with their own money; people who can participate in the awarding of medals at the end of the year , what you get is real status and honor.

"The investiture season? Yes, 1853 will be over in a blink of an eye."

Shade agreed, and then announced his suspension, but did not immediately reveal his cards. According to the rules, the suspended cards do not have to be shown immediately. His friend Captain Rades, because of his meritorious service in the Battle of Fort Midhill, also wrote a letter some time ago saying that he would return to Tobesk in the winter to receive his reward, but he did not know whether Captain Rades could go further.

The colonel looked at the two cards in his hand, which totaled 17 points, hesitated for a moment, and chose to stop. Then he saw that Shade had the 10 of stars and the 8 of stars.

"This year has been really hard. I hope I can be peaceful every day."

Shade said, getting the first card of the second round, and then turned it over with a smile:

"Queen, [History of New World Development·Wind of Development]. I can randomly draw another card. If it is the sun suit, then the queen is regarded as the king. But I don't activate the effect. Colonel, I don't believe you can draw the king. Or blackjack, do you want to try it?”

"Okay, I admit defeat."

The colonel stood up regretfully and shook hands with Shade who also stood up:

"I hope we can play cards together next time. It's a pity that we didn't see those founding series."

The venue for Shade's second game is next to the small white stone fountain on the south side of the grape trellis. The fountain is an image of a little angel holding a water bottle, which looks particularly elegant.

Tifa pulled out the chair for Shade under the gaslight, and Shade's opponent came belatedly after Shade took his seat.

Wearing a red coat, white bloomers, and a feathered hat, it was Viscount Chekov, a local aristocrat in Tobesk. This viscount has a rich family fortune, but he is a slightly famous poet by profession.

Like Colonel Lisbon just now, Viscount Chekov also expressed his admiration for Shade before playing cards with Shade. He recognized the maid standing behind Shade, who was Duke Carina's personal maid, so after getting the first card, he began to praise Shade as a handsome gentleman, intentionally or unintentionally.

But this kind of praise did not help him win the card game. In the first game, the Viscount continued to ask for cards with two 16-point cards, and then unfortunately broke the card; in the second game, he cautiously stopped at 16 points, but was defeated by Shade. Defeated by 18 points.

The onlookers laughed and pointed out that the Viscount fell twice in the same place and in different positions. The Viscount was not angry, but stood up and shook hands with Shade in a very graceful manner:

"I knew that it would not be that easy to defeat the champion of the big city players."

"I came a little late. Are there any interesting players participating in this card game?"

Shade asked with a smile, Tifa was on the side helping him put the deck together.

Viscount Chekov thought for a moment:

"There seemed to be a lady participating in the card game, which is rare, but I didn't recognize the lady who seemed to be from Carsonlik."

"Lady playing cards?"

Shade frowned.

The third card game was played at the edge of the garden maze on the west side of the grape trellis. At this time, due to the decrease in the number of remaining players, the number of guests watching around each table increased. Of course, in order to avoid suspicion, no one can stand behind the players except their own servants.

This time Shade's opponent is Mr. Louvac Belson. This gentleman in his thirties is not a nobleman himself, but he is married to Baron Liana Pompeii. It is worth mentioning that the noble lady is forty-five years old.

Mr. Belsson also admired Schade's name very much. After the two sat down, he even wanted a signed photo of Schade, but Schade declined with a smile.

There was also no suspense in the game between the two. However, in the second game, the special rules card Mr. Belsson drew [Game of the Brave and Wilde-style Wrestling] aroused people's interest.

The rules of this card, of course, do not make the players wrestle, but require the card holder and one of the players at the table to throw a 20-sided die. If the points of the two dice are the same, the card with the suit Moon 9 can be numerically adjusted in the range of 7 to 11.

You know, among all the Rhodes cards that Shade has seen so far that can adjust the numbers, the only one that can span five numbers is his [Original Silver Moon]. Although this [Game of the Brave·Wilde-style Wrestling] has extremely harsh activation conditions, the adjustment rules across 5 numbers mean that once luck really comes, this card will play a decisive role.

Schade threw the number 1, and Mr. Belsson threw the number 13. The card rules were not activated, which made the onlookers sigh with regret. When the game was over and they shook hands, Shade revealed that he wanted to buy the card.

"No, no, Mr. Hamilton, I won't sell this card."

Mr. Belson shook his head and said firmly:

"I will keep it in my hands until the day I die, and then let my children open my diary, take out this card, and tell them that this is the most precious gift I have left them."

His words caused the people around him to laugh, and Shade also smiled. Suddenly I thought of Detective Sparrow. The former detective left [Original Silver Moon] in the diary before his death and let Shade inherit it.

－－－－－－Digression－－－－－

ps: On June 1st last year, the story happened to develop into "The Gun of Kindness", and we happened to be playing cards under the grape trellis of Lakeview Manor. In the past year, the story happened to be back under the grape trellis of Lakeview Manor. It was really emotional.

Happy Children's Day, may the [Creator of Innocence] bless all those who are children at heart.

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