Thus, the stranger, after a wonderful game of cards on this autumn night, truly won the title of "King of the Big City Players Rhodes in 1853".
After the game, the official award ceremony was held according to the procedure. When Shad recalled it later, he could not remember how many people he had shaken hands with. He only remembered that people cheered and applauded him. He held the golden trophy with the words "1853 Big City Player Rhodes King" in his hand, shook hands with the vice president of the Prophet Association, and then received a draft of 3,000 pounds and the special rules Rhodes card, Star 12 Big City Player 1853 Tobesk Champion.
As for other awards sponsored by local clubs and shops, Xia De needs to come to the association within a week to sign some documents to claim them. As for the trophy, Xia De plans to put it in his living room so that every guest and client who comes to visit can see it.
As for that special card, the rules of all "Big City Players Champion" series cards are the same. When you draw this card, you have the right to view the opponent's hidden card that has not been turned over. This rule is jokingly called "the power of the champion" by card players.
Although not as good as the founding series, the rules of "Big City Players Champion" are really quite simple and useful compared to the various other weird rules that Shade has seen.
Moreover, the significance of this card lies not only in its value, but also in its honor. If Shade is willing to sell this card, the price must be greater than the prize money.
After all, every Rhodes card in the Big City Players Champion Series is a true Rhodes card that will never be reprinted and sold again.
The only surprise during the award ceremony was that the association had to take a photo of Shade as usual and hang it in a separate room at the Prophet Association's headquarters, together with other former champions. Although Shade didn't want to show his appearance to strangers too much, he agreed when he heard that the photo would be placed in a separate room and would not be open to all visitors.
After all, this is a sense of ritual, and it is also the most profound trace left by outsiders in this world so far.
After the game, Shade, feeling relieved, took the cat and the maid to attend the following dinner.
Although Tifa often accompanied Miss Carina to various banquets, she appeared as a maid most of the time. She rarely had the opportunity to attend banquets as a participant like now.
Both of them enjoyed the party very much, and they left together only after the last dance.
Miss Carina arranged for a carriage to stop at St. Teresa's Square to pick up Tifa, so they walked together towards St. Teresa's Square in the night.
But as soon as he entered the square, he saw two carriages parked in front of Shade's house. The drivers were standing together, smoking and chatting, while Shade's boss, Director Anlos, looked up at the lights on the buildings around Saint Teresa Square.
"Shad!"
He waved to Shad, and when the two came closer, he greeted Tifa cautiously:
"Miss Servet, it's nice to see you here."
"Good evening, Sir Anros."
Tifa responded politely, handing him the Shade coat draped over her shoulders. She winked and kissed the young detective on the side of his face.
"It's been a pleasant night. Goodbye, Shad, and sweet dreams."
“Sweet dreams!”
Shad and Tifa waved goodbye, and Tifa reached out to touch Mia on Shad's shoulder, but was blocked by Mia's little paw.
The maid got on the carriage and said goodbye to Shade again through the window before the carriage drove her away from Saint Teresa's Square. During this time, Director Dark Anros stood quietly behind Shade without making any comments.
"As I recall, your neighbor here is Mr. Smith?"
The first words the gentleman said after Tifa left were like small talk.
"Yes, I remember that he used to be a secretary in the kingdom's finance department."
Shade said, taking out the key and preparing to open the door, but was stopped by Director Anros:
"I won't go up. Congratulations, Shade, it's an exciting game."
He clearly didn't go to the Prophet's Association, but he seemed to know everything.
"Thanks."
"So, has Virgil Cameron made any unusual moves? He bought a train ticket for tomorrow morning and will return to the Principality of Set tomorrow. If there is nothing unusual tonight, I'm afraid there will be no chance."
Obviously, it was a crucial issue, but Director Anros was still able to mention it in a very calm tone.
The two stood between the carriage and the door. The shadow of the carriage blocked them. Xia De was very cautious:
"Except for me, Virgil Cameron did not have any contact with anyone during the game. Of course, this is just my opinion. Maybe the other party has some special means."
He told the truth, and then added:
"If the Gray Eagle really appeared, then it must have passed information to Cameron when I closed my eyes."
"Close your eyes" here is a metaphor, meaning when Shad is not paying attention.
"It's expected. He is an ace spy after all."
Director Anros said softly.
“But it’s not like there is no gain.”
Xia De pretended to hesitate for a moment before saying:
"I met Virgil Cameron at the poker game, and when we talked about Midhill Castle, he seemed a little unusual..."
So Shad told the story he had made up, which was about Mr. Cameron's abnormal behavior when he heard the word "Midhill Castle".
Director Anros frowned as he listened, then squinted his eyes and nodded:
"Midhill Castle? That city is very close to the Principality of Set... I see. This is very useful."
He did not tell Xiade what the Sixth Division thought of this information:
"But don't take such risks next time. If anything goes wrong for you, I won't be able to explain it to Miss Carina."
"Since I am from MI6, I naturally have to work for MI6."
Xia De said very seriously, which made Director Anlos smile:
"It would be great if all my men were like you."
"Like me..."
Although Xia De's expression did not change, the woman beside him began to chuckle.
"Well, Shad, I should leave too. Remember, this matter has nothing to do with you, so don't get involved."
Director Anros patted Shade on the shoulder:
"As for your salary increase, someone will inform you in a few days. Great job, champion of the 1853 Big City Players."
He smiled and nodded, then also left St. Teresa's Square in a carriage.
Xia De, with his hands behind his back and the cat on his back, watched Director Anros's carriage disappear from the square entrance under the street light at the door of his house.
Instead of going home immediately, he squinted his eyes and looked up at the moon above his head:
“Is my identity becoming more and more complicated?”
Stranger, as you wander this world and witness these stories, the direction of your destiny is your own choice.
"Yes."
Shad sniffed and noticed the cat on his shoulder patting his collar with its claws. Shad reached out in surprise and pulled out a long black hair from his collar. Shad only knew one black-haired girl, so this hair must be Tifa's.
After hesitating and sniffing it, I found that it indeed had the scent of that special perfume called "Witch's Scent".
"This makes me look like a pervert... but it's a fun souvenir."
He shook his head and reached out to open the door.
The hair and the £3,000 bill were stuffed into the drawer of Shad's study, the trophy was placed on the cabinet in the living room, the special coins "bought" from Mr. Cameron were first put into the gift box in the basement, and the pen containing the information would be delivered tomorrow.
After packing up everything, Xia De stood in the living room and let out a long sigh. He planned to give himself a day off tonight, not reading until the early morning, but going to bed early. When the sun rises again from the east, he will plan his schedule for the next half week.
He had a lot to do. The key to 3014 had been delayed for three days, and Father Augustus should have arrived at Midhill Castle. He was still waiting to receive a postcard from the priest.
"Today, nothing will be able to disturb my good mood."
While brushing his teeth in front of the mirror in the bathroom in his pajamas, Shad thought to himself that he was in a good mood.
Yeah
She sighed softly in his ear:
Do you feel like a similar conversation has happened before
With a toothbrush in his mouth, Xia De looked at the mirror in front of him. In the mirror, there was no one behind him:
"Of course I remember. We had a similar conversation before the Lord of the Blood Feast descended for the second time. But it's impossible for the evil god to appear tonight. There is no sign at all. So, even if I have a nightmare like 'Shad died in the fight with Mia' after I fall asleep, it won't affect my mood."
He thought happily.
After washing up, she checked the doors and windows of her home, turned off the gas lamp in the bedroom, drew the curtains, and then climbed onto the soft bed. Mia had already jumped onto the bed and walked around the pillow, as if looking for the softest spot.
Shade sat on the bed and waved at the desk in the bedroom. A stack of 54 Rhodes cards placed on the corner of the desk flew over one by one and then arranged in four rows in front of Shade. There were 13 cards in each row, and the king and queen floated to the side.
Mia, who was standing beside the pillow, looked up at the floating cards. Shad's hand tapped each special card in turn:
“That’s really good.”
With a wave of his hand, the cards flew to the bedside table one by one and stacked up on the cabinet. Shade got into bed, smiled and touched Mia beside the pillow, as if to say goodnight to the cat. Reaching out to turn off the gas lamp on the bedside table, Shade patted the pillow, lay down and closed his eyes, and soon fell into a deep sleep in the darkness.
The consciousness fell into a daze. In the safety of the home, even a vigilant stranger could enjoy sleep. However, in the dream, a low and ethereal, illusory and hoarse voice was repeated again and again, and it sounded little by little:
"Shad Hamilton, open your eyes. I am Rat Augustus. These are my last words to you from the world of the dead."