The final match is played in a fairly traditional best-of-three format, with a win worth 2 points, a draw worth 1 point each, and a loss worth 0 points. The first team to accumulate 10 points wins the game.
In addition, there will be a ten-minute break after each round, but players cannot leave the floor during the break to prevent cheating in other ways.
The first game went very quickly. Not only Shade, but even Tifa could see that Mr. Virgil Cameron was obviously absent-minded. The most obvious manifestation was that in the third round of the first game, after Mr. Cameron got the queen with his second card, he still asked for more cards. After being reminded, although he apologized embarrassedly, the onlookers still discussed it quietly.
"If I didn't know I was innocent, I would have suspected that I had drugged him."
Xia De said quietly in his heart, but in fact he knew very well that the other party should be thinking about connecting with the "Grey-headed Eagle".
"I didn't contact him in advance, which caused him to be distracted while playing cards. I don't know if this can be considered a cheating method outside of the card game."
With Mr Cameron absent-minded, Shad easily won the first round 10-4, but the method of this victory did not give him much satisfaction.
Mr. Cameron seemed to not care about winning or losing at all. After the referee, President Stan, announced the end of the first game and took a ten-minute break, he immediately stood up and told his female companion behind him in a voice of appropriate volume that he was going to the bathroom, then hurriedly left the competition hall.
Before leaving, he clearly glanced at Xia De, which undoubtedly meant for Xia De to follow him.
At first, Shade didn't want to get involved in the Grey Eagle's affairs, but when he saw the special coin, he had already made up his mind. Although he didn't move, the maid behind him seemed to be able to read Shade's mind and saw that Shade wanted to follow him.
She leaned over again and whispered in Xia De's ear:
"I should remind you that Mr. Cameron is hanging out with the current Grand Duke of Stan."
"I know... huh? Oh, don't worry, I only like women..."
Shade said casually, glanced at Tifa, and suddenly said jokingly:
"Especially a girl of your size."
Tifa was not shy, but smiled:
"Then I'm relieved. Although the lady likes the same sex, she will never allow you to do this. So do you have any other relationship with Mr. Cameron?"
"Yes, I want to get a coin from him... Tifa, do you think it's worth the risk of getting into trouble for a coin that can be very useful?"
The black-haired girl thought for a moment and lifted the hair by her ear:
"Does the 'troublesome matter' you mentioned also have something to do with people like us?"
This is a public place after all, and even when they were whispering, the two of them were avoiding using sensitive words.
"No, ordinary people's things."
"Then it's totally worth it."
Tifa said.
Xia De nodded and stood up, and also spoke in a suitable voice:
"I'm going to the bathroom and I'll be right back. Please help me take care of Mia."
"OK."
The orange cat Mia was not used to such crowded places, and had been lying next to Shade's hand. Now that Shade stood up, it wanted to follow, but was picked up by Shade and handed to Tifa.
Although this cat was not very familiar with the maid, it felt very comfortable being held by her, so it just called out to Xia De in grievance and did not struggle to follow Xia De.
Afterwards, Xia De walked out of the auditorium on the third floor very naturally. After politely asking the staff at the door, he went to the public washroom at the corner of this floor.
Of course, Mr. Virgil Cameron was not the only one in the bathroom. When Shad entered, Mr. Cameron was standing in front of the sink, drying his hands with the hot steam from the steam pipe.
Seeing Xia De coming in, he deliberately took out the cigarette box and showed it to Xia De. Xia De nodded slightly to show that he understood.
Checked the note in the bathroom and it said - Is that you
Obviously, the other party was a little confused by Xia De's long-term non-contact.
Xia De used the restroom normally. After leaving the restroom, he did not return to the main hall immediately, but walked to the smoking room on this floor. The Prophet Association, like other formal clubs, does not allow smoking inside, but also has a special smoking room for smokers.
At the door of the smoking room, Shad saw Mr. Cameron.
After the two shook hands, Mr. Cameron asked again in a low voice:
"Is that you?"
"I think we need to hurry up."
Xia De said with a serious face, and Mr. Cameron's eyes widened and he gasped for breath, as if he couldn't breathe. He was probably under a lot of pressure:
"Is that you?"
He asked again.
"Don't ask about my identity."
Xia De said with a cold face:
“You just have to do what you have to do.”
He held out his hand, and Mr. Cameron nodded quickly while wiping his sweat:
"Yes, you are really professional. I was almost dying of nervousness. You actually acted like you were here to play cards. But, did you foresee that we would both make it to the finals? I tried to talk to you alone a few days ago, but you always avoided me."
"Don't ask so many questions. This is also for your safety."
Shade warned again, and Mr. Cameron nodded in agreement:
"I understand, I understand. I've read in novels that you may be one of theirs, but you may also be one of ours, and you may not even know who you are. The you I see may not be you, and the you I think you are definitely not you. However, you are really amazing. The lady behind you is Grand Duchess Carina's personal maid, right?"
As he spoke, he reached for his belt and took out a thin fountain pen from the side of his waist. Xia De took it with his eyes closed.
It was brass in color, about as long as Shad's middle finger, but only one-third as thick:
"The information is inside the pen, but don't open it casually. There is a very thin metal wire inside. Once it is torn, it cannot be restored."
Mr Cameron warned that this was supposed to prevent intelligence leaks during transmission.
"I know."
Shade replied with a cold face.
"Remember, according to the agreement between you and me, you can't reveal my identity to anyone."
Mr. Cameron said what Shad wanted to say, then he sighed with relief, patted Shad on the shoulder and wanted to leave.
"Wait a moment."
Xia De called him and said with sharp eyes:
"We have been alone here for so long, we need an excuse in order not to arouse suspicion."
"What's the excuse?"
Mr. Cameron asked, and Shad pretended to think:
"I want to buy those two commemorative coins you have."
"Hmm? Oh, okay, that's a good excuse."
He reached out and handed the two coins in his pocket to Xia De. When he was about to leave briskly, Xia De stopped him again:
"I haven't paid yet. Our wallets have been checked just now. If they are really checked later, the wrong amount of coins will also be suspected. How much are these two coins worth?"
"What a professional... These coins are worthless. I suspected I was being secretly monitored a few days ago, so I was just wandering around the city and bought them at a thrift store on the street."
It seems that this is another relic that somehow fell into the hands of ordinary people.
Shade then took out two one-shilling coins and handed them to the other party. Mr. Cameron took them with a smile:
"Thanks."
Virgil Cameron put two shillings into his wallet.
"You're welcome."
Shad Hamilton put the coin, which could be sold for at least a couple of digits of gold pounds as a relic, into his pocket along with the real commemorative coin.
"Please allow me to express my respect and gratitude to you again."
Mr. Cameron shook Shad's hand again and then walked away lightly. If it wasn't for the public occasion, he might even hum a little tune.
Xia De stood there without moving, watching his back disappear, then looked down at the pen in his hand.