Because on Wednesday night, St. Byron's Astronomy School will announce this year's activity rules to all students participating in this year's autumn astrology activities, Luvia will not be able to accompany Shad to the "Big City Players" finals on Wednesday night.
However, she did some divination for Shad and thought that the possibility of Shad losing the championship was lower than the possibility of Mia suddenly turning into a human tonight.
"What kind of metaphor is this?"
Shade asked curiously while touching the soft cat. The purple-eyed girl smiled and shook her head, probably teasing Shade.
Not only Luvia, but Dorothy was also not free tonight. So after thinking it over, Shade sent a letter to Miss Carina, thinking that maybe the witch would be interested.
But on Wednesday afternoon, when Shad was in front of the closet choosing clothes for the evening's card game, it was not Miss Carina who knocked on the door downstairs, but Tifa.
She changed out of her usual black and white maid dress and put on a red dress that was different from the last time she played the detective's assistant. Not everyone is suitable for wearing such a brightly colored dress, but the black-haired girl is the perfect fit.
The finals of the big city players will be held on Wednesday evening. After the final winner is decided, the Prophet Association will hold a dinner party inside the association to celebrate the end of the competition. Because they are going to attend the banquet, they naturally have to wear formal clothes. Miss Carina asked Tifa to come to St. Teresa Square at noon to help Shade pack his clothes.
The Duchess seemed certain that Shade had no intention of packing his clothes.
An afternoon passed quickly as they sorted out their clothes and talked about interesting things in the city. But before the two of them set off for the Prophet's Association, which was just one street away, an unexpected guest knocked on the door downstairs.
It’s Shade’s boss, Director Anros.
"Oh, Miss Servet, you look beautiful."
After this ordinary-looking chief agent went upstairs, he first praised Tifa's outfit, and then hurriedly pulled Shad to the study to discuss something.
"Shad, the surveillance of Cameron Sewell has come to an end. If the intelligence is correct, then I am certain that the person who will contact him will show up tonight."
Director Anros stood by the window of the study, leaning against the wall and looking at St. Teresa's Square outside as if he was peeping. The evening sun shone on his face, making his face illuminated by the light on one side and in shadow on the other.
Xia De sat at the desk and took a look at the three novels on the table that could serve as code books:
"It seems that tonight is the key to catching the other party."
"Yes, my people cannot enter the final venue. But it doesn't matter. I have already obtained the list of people who received the invitation letters. MI6 agents will also be monitoring the intersection of Silver Cross Avenue and counting the suspicious people who enter the Prophet Association tonight. Shade, what happened in the final venue..."
"Leave it to me."
Shade said confidently. He heard Mia prying at the door and then being picked up by the maid. The cat probably thought Shade was stealing something in the study.
"I can guarantee that as long as I keep my eyes open, no one will be able to secretly contact Virgil Cameron. I will keep a close eye on him tonight."
Director Anros smiled:
"That's good. Don't be too nervous. Just do what you should do. Tonight is indeed very important. We even received news that the legendary agent 'Grey Eagle' will meet with Cameron during the game in the big city."
Shade looked up at Director Anros by the window. The latter's face was half light and half shadow, while Shade at the table was completely in the shadow of the setting sun:
"I heard that... he was a very powerful person."
"Yes, even our opponents, I have to admit that they are very powerful. They are good at disguising themselves and hiding. Sometimes I even suspect that the Grey Eagle is not just one person, but a group of people."
The middle-aged man picked up his hat from the windowsill and prepared to leave:
"The other party must be hiding very well. I don't think I will have a chance to see him tonight, but even if there is a small clue, it will be a victory for us."
Then he looked at Xia De and nodded to him:
"Although I may not have the chance to see the gray eagle, my carriage will be at your doorstep at ten o'clock tonight, waiting for your news. I wish you good luck in the card game and have a good time tonight."
The director of MI6 left the home of the Grey Eagle. Tifa was very curious about the strange expression on Shade's face after he sent Anros away:
"Shall we set off too?"
He did not explain, but adjusted his mood and said to the maid. The latter hesitated for a moment, approached Shade and kissed him on the face:
"Lucky kiss."
The dark-haired girl said with a smile.
Today, the Prophet's Association is still decorated with lights and colors as if it were a festival. When the lights come on, the entire association is illuminated by bright yellow gas lamps.
Even when Shad and Tifa walked side by side to the red carpeted entrance of the association, they saw a glass sign taller than Shad standing on the side of the gate. The shape of the glass sign was the abbreviation of "Prophet's Association", and inside was a section of lit gas lamps.
This is truly a grand achievement. Although the glass-making process has been continuously improved and perfected in recent years, gas lamps of this specification and level of sophistication are still not cheap.
Vice President Mark had already arranged for someone to wait for Xia De at the entrance of the association. Seeing him coming, he immediately led him to the third floor.
Before the finals, Vice President Mark informed Shade about the process of receiving the award after the competition. It was not that the association believed that Shade would definitely win, but Mr. Cameron would also receive similar information to avoid any accidents during the award-receiving process.
"Shad, are you confident?"
Vice President Mark asked Xia De in his office. Tifa went to the auditorium on the third floor. Tonight's competition and banquet would be held there.
"Of course I have confidence."
Xia De straightened his bow tie and stood at the window, looking out at the Silver Cross Avenue:
“I must win.”
His tone was very firm.
"For that pretty lady?"
Mr. Mark joked, but Shad shook his head.
Of course, he did this to ensure that the gold pounds he bet on would not go to waste.
At 5:50 in the evening, seeing that the time was almost up, Mr. Mark set off and led Xia De to the competition venue.
As soon as I walked down the stairs, I heard a noisy sound coming from the direction of the auditorium. As I walked along the red carpet to the already open auditorium door, I could already hear President Stan giving the final explanation of the rules.
Another vice president of the association, led by Mr. Cameron, came from the other side of the corridor. Shade nodded slightly to the middle-aged foreigner as a greeting. The other party looked at Shade with bright eyes, still not giving up the idea of talking to Shade.
"Then we invite the final players to enter! Virgil Cameron and... Shad Hamilton!"
Amid applause and cheers, Mr. Shad and Mr. Cameron walked into the auditorium along the red carpet from both sides of the door. Inside the door, the two ladies who had been waiting for a long time followed them to the square card table covered with a green tablecloth in the center of the auditorium.
Walking from the dim corridor to the brightly lit auditorium of the association, Shade narrowed his eyes slightly. He saw the smooth floor, the magnificent crystal chandelier, the Ouroboros-shaped gas lamps on the wall, the long table filled with food in the auditorium, and the guests in formal attire who looked even more excited than the card players.
"1853 Grand City Players Finals..."
The clicking sound of the flash lights disrupted Xia De's thoughts. Even as a foreigner who claimed to have seen many big scenes, he couldn't help but feel excited and nervous at this moment.
He and Mr. Cameron, who was hesitant to speak, walked to the card table. It was a solid wooden rectangular four-legged table with legs that were ingeniously made to look like a long snake coiling around its body.
President Stan of the local association and Vice President Rick from the headquarters stood at the table:
"Please shake hands."
Shade turned around and shook hands with Mr. Cameron, but as he did so, he felt that the other party had hidden a piece of paper in his palm.
He paused in his swing of his arm, but this time he chose to take the note. Mr. Cameron nodded slightly to Shad, looking a little nervous.
After the two separated their hands, Vice President Rick announced:
"Please present the deck for inspection."
So Mr. Shad and Mr. Cameron handed their respective decks to the appraisers of the Prophet Association for final verification.
"Please show your belongings. After the game starts, any unshown items will not be allowed on the table."
Shade took Mia, who was very obedient, from his shoulder, and took out the house keys and wallet from her pocket and placed them on the table. As for the pile of small toys, they were now kept by Tifa.
Mr. Cameron also knew the rules of checking his belongings in advance, so he didn't have much on him either: matches, a cigarette box, two commemorative coins, a wallet, and keys.
When the two men raised their arms at the same time to allow the staff wearing white gloves to do a final inspection, Shad's eyes swept over the two commemorative coins.
Outsider, you touched the whisper.
"What?"
His eyes widened slightly.
The smaller silver coin is a relic, but the properties are not triggered.
"Special coin? I'm so lucky tonight?"
Shade kept a calm face and sat down on the east side of the card table after checking. Tifa stood behind him and hesitated for a moment. The maid leaned down slightly and whispered in his ear:
"Don't be nervous, you will definitely win."
She was encouraging Shad.
Xia De turned around and looked back. Their faces were very close:
"I'm not actually nervous at all."
He turned his head and put one hand on the table. Under his hand was the note that the other party had just handed him. The fingers of his other hand kept bending and straightening, as if he was exercising his palm. He squinted his eyes slightly and looked at Mr. Virgil Cameron across the table. The middle-aged man was obviously absent-minded and forced a smile at him.
"I was just thinking, I finally figured out whether I should take the initiative to contact the other party."
The light from the crystal chandelier made Mr. Cameron's oiled hair shine. Shade covered his neck and turned his head, then smiled and said to the dealer beside him:
"Deal the cards."