As expected, in the second round of the Grand City Players’ rematch, Shad still finished with 10 copper coins when he started and a total of 25 copper coins. This time he did not draw the founding series in the game, but unexpectedly drew the Devil card.
Although the four men who lost to him were disappointed, they all said that Shade played well in the end. Mr. Virgil Cameron, who was involved with Carsonrick, showed great interest in Shade. He not only wanted to ask him to play cards together, but also wanted to talk to him alone after the game.
Of course, Shad politely declined.
He could see that Mr. Cameron wanted to be alone with him, and he also understood that the other party had most likely seen the founder Silver Moon and thought he was the "Grey Eagle". But even if Shade wanted to complete the task for money, he would not talk to the other party in such a sensitive place.
Besides, he planned to wait until he got the news about the blood purchase and learned the specific price before deciding whether to complete the task worth 2,000 pounds.
After the game, Baron Lavender stayed in Room 3 to watch others play cards. Shad was out for the day and just wanted to take Mia home to rest.
But before he left Hall 3, a maid dressed as an opera house servant, after getting permission from the staff of the Prophet Association, hurried into the side hall where the card game was going on, and as expected, stopped in front of Shade:
"Mr. Hamilton, Miss Cavendish wants you to come up."
"Which Miss Cavendish?"
These words came out of his mouth, and then Xia De noticed the strange expressions of the people around him.
"You'll know when you get there."
The servant said carefully, and Shade, who was embarrassed by his wrong words, left quickly with Mia in his arms. Then, in the box on the third floor, the one that had the best view of the stage of the opera house's main auditorium, he met Princess Ajelina Cavendish.
"Knight, then who do you think it could be? My great aunt Carina? Or sister Leicia?"
The little princess smiled happily and invited Shade to watch the opera with her as a way of thanking Shade for saving her last time.
A princess who doesn't have to take part in government affairs and only needs to worry about getting married has a very comfortable life.
Everything went according to plan. On Thursday, Shade went to the Shadis Cotton Mill in the west of the city to participate in the third card game. The Prophet Association did not really set up the card game in the open space inside the factory, but rearranged the factory into a venue like a steam loom exhibition, inviting card players to play cards among those rusty or brand new machines.
This environment was very interesting, and Shade did not meet any acquaintances in the card game today. But when he was having a meal nearby after playing cards in the morning, he did meet the Blackstone Security Company, which was the ring warlock team of the Church of the Sun, who were carrying out a mission in the west of the city.
Iluna was very happy to meet Shad. Her captain also knew that Shad was her friend, so he let Iluna chat with Shad for a few words before leaving.
Later, Xia De heard from Luvia that the Blackstone Security Company team encountered a rare humanoid relic in the west of the city that afternoon. Although the mission was completed, the encounter still caused nearly half of the team members to receive at least a week of mental and psychological counseling and assessment after treatment before they could resume work.
But Iluna was apparently safe and sound.
On Friday, after playing cards in the east, west and south of the city, Shade went to the Three Cats Inn in the north of the city. He was already familiar with the place, so he thought that this visit would finally save him from being teased by the innkeeper, Mrs. Sangmei, for "bringing a new beautiful girl".
This time he brought the cat.
Mrs. Sang Mei also participated in the Big City Players. Although she entered the semi-finals, I learned during the chat that she lost all the copper coins she had yesterday.
While Shad was waiting for the other four to start the card game, Mia the cat actually started fighting with the cat that caught mice in the hotel.
The cats in the Three Cats Inn are almost free-range stray cats, and they are good at fighting with their own kind or catching mice. The three cats are larger than Mia in her kitten state, but Mia still defeated them. This should have nothing to do with Mia's absorption of divine power. After all, when this cat was found by Detective Sparrow and fostered in a pet store, its "notoriety" had already begun to show.
The game of the day still ended with Xia De's victory. Before leaving, the innkeeper, Mrs. Sang Mei, smiled and wished Xia De the championship of the big city players:
"Instead of giving the discount to a stranger, it's better to give it to you, the detective. At least you are a very well-behaved customer."
On Saturday, before going to Dr. Schneider's psychological clinic for a meeting, Shade went to the Prophet's Association and finished the fifth card game in the core city.
This Rhodes card tournament involved many people in the city, and even the doctor who didn't play cards much was very concerned about the final result of the game. When Luvia and Dorothy entered the reception room of the psychological clinic together, they heard Shade talking to the doctor about the odds of the underground casino.
Although Dr. Schneider did not play Rhodes, he had heard of the "Big City Players". After hearing Xia De's detailed introduction today and hearing him talk about wanting to bet some money but being troubled by the lack of a suitable and reliable channel, he tentatively said:
"An underground casino that bets on the championship... I think I can run it, but Shade, how confident are you of winning the championship?"
"More than 60%."
Shade said cautiously.
“So conservative?”
Luvia, who happened to come in, asked with a smile, and Dorothy, who was following behind her, also teased:
"Shad, I heard that you never lose when playing Rhodes."
Shad glanced at Mia, who had no reaction to Dorothy, indicating that this was not a princess.
"So you are so capable... How much capital can you put up?"
The doctor squinted his eyes and thought for a while before asking. Considering that his savings were only over 2,000 pounds and that this kind of "investment" was very risky, Shade gave a very conservative answer:
"1,200 pounds."
He could barely afford this loss.
"Okay, then I'll add 800 pounds and place the bet after today's meeting. It's already the final stage of the rematch, and I think your odds are probably lower than 1.5, but there's still some profit to be made."
The doctor said that he had much more connections in the local area than outsiders, and as a single middle-class psychologist, he had a lot of savings, so it was not a problem for him to come up with 800 pounds.
"Then doctor, add my five hundred pounds."
Dorothy said as she sat on the single sofa on the east side.
"Where did you get so much money?"
Luvia was very surprised.
"It's the manuscript fee. The first volume of Hamilton's Detective Stories will be printed after the serialization ends this month. This is the deposit."
Dorothy was very proud.
"I can't afford that much money, but 200 pounds is no problem."
Luvia shrugged and sat on the sofa opposite Dorothy, then sighed at the empty seat next to Shad. During meetings, the two ladies usually sat on the sofas, the doctor sat on the couch, and Shad and Reverend Augustus sat on the couch opposite the doctor:
"Fortunately, Father Augustus is not here."
If Father Augustus were here, he would certainly criticize them, as he always hated gambling.
"But don't think I will win."
Seeing that everyone wanted to participate, Xia De reminded them carefully.
"It doesn't matter. I can still afford to lose 800 pounds."
The doctor said indifferently:
"But my luck isn't particularly good. If you guys join me in this kind of activity, just don't think I'm getting you into trouble."
"I trust in Shade's luck."
Dorothy did not comment on the doctor's words.
"I also trust Shade's luck, especially the luck of the Rhodes cards."
Luvia agreed, winking at Shade.
"No, no, no, it's hard to say about luck."
Xia De thought again about the fate of those who manipulated their luck, and how he was shot and almost died in the street.
"Then try your luck."
The purple-eyed fortune teller said, then took out a six-sided dice from his pocket and handed it to Shade:
"Try it. Dig the dice three times. Add a small bet. If the sum of the three numbers is greater than or equal to 30, I will give you a small gift. If it is less than 30, your cat will come home with me tonight."
"Meow?"
Mia looked up at her.
“That’s not fair.”
Although Shad objected, he slapped away the cat's outstretched claws before taking the dice that seemed to be made of ivory.
The first time was six, the second time was six, and the third time was five.
"Should I get some more money?"
The doctor fell into deep thought, while Luvia stood up in Dorothy's surprised eyes, and then kissed Shad on the side of the cheek naturally.
This is probably that little gift.
At last week's study session, Shade asked the academy for a recommendation for his "Second Ring" Spirit Rune. After a week of consideration, the academy combined the partial information Shade provided about himself and finally recommended that Shade's next target be Thunder.
The spiritual runes recommended by the academy to low-level warlocks are mostly based on natural elements, because they are less difficult and more practical. As for choosing thunder, on the one hand, in mysticism, the phenomenon of lightning breaking through the sky is often combined with abnormal space-time phenomena. On the other hand, it is also because the academy believes that Shade currently has too few lethal magics and too many auxiliary magics, so this spiritual rune that can connect multiple powerful offensive magics is recommended.
The book given by the academy is "The Book of Mad Thunder", which is written in the obscure Fifth Epoch language and describes the prophecies about thunder and lightning. Unlike the confusing and difficult-to-understand story written in "The Mad Light Chaser", all the prophecies in "The Book of Mad Thunder" can be understood with normal logic.
However, the horror and weirdness of those ancient prophecies were mostly more terrifying than the "Sea Return" ceremony that Shade personally experienced. The academy suggested that Shade interpret one prophecy at a time and not read too much at once. But for Shade, such books did not have an impact on him.